My JellyBellies: I graduated . . . .

I graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Biology and Secondary Education . . . .

In the year 2002!

We moved to California for Wes' job when I was finishing up my degree. In order to graduate, I had to go back up to Provo for eight weeks all by myself to take three classes over summer semester. They were classes I couldn't take at Cal State and then transfer the credit. I was required to take these specific classes at BYU. I left Wes and the two babies (Ryanne was 2 and Mckay was 6-months-old) at home alone. Wes was on summer break (he was teaching high school). It was the longest, lonliest 8 weeks of my life. I lived with a house full of single gals, which was really weird after being married two and a half years. Fortunately, after a few weeks, I was able to move in with one of my married freinds (thank heavens)!

Wes was never the same after the "Mr. Mom" adventure--he has always appreciated me as a mom much, much more!

When I returned from Utah, I immediatley began my student teaching at Sultana High in Hesperia. My Dad helped me get a spot there (he's a teacher too). That was long and grueling and I have William and Angel to thank for watching Mckay and Ryanne day-in and day-out. Thank you for helping me graduate!

After finishing That Ordeal, I still had to tackle three classes at Cal-State San Bernardino. Two of them were the physics classes I had been dreading. I managed them just fine--the last one I finished the ninth month of my pregnancy with Leah. My classmates at Cal State were betting I'd "Pop" before the quarter was over, but Leah stayed put and I finished finals one week before she was born.

I was finished! But Utah was far away, I'd just had a baby. We were poor. It just wasn't practical for me to drive or fly up to Utah for Commencement. I never had a party, got a present, or enjoyed a feast with my family for graduating. That was fine. I had pleasure in the fact that I did it. However, I really wanted pictures of me graduating for my kids; I wanted them to know that I went to college, put myslef through it, payed most of my own way and finished it!

So now, 8 years later, I had a chance to steal some shots in Brice's cap and gown. I know it wasn't my graduation, and that's okay. But I did graduate! And this is the same cap and gown I would have worn if I hadn't been a Mamma to three small kids!

So, here's for posterities sake: