GRADUATION!!!

This weekend I officially graduated from BYU!! Okay, technically I was already graduated--the diploma has been sitting on my shelf for the past four months--but it really didn't feel all that real until I donned the cap and gown--then suddenly it hit me. It was awesome--seriously, I didn't expect to have so much fun, but I did! It was one of the best days of my life. :)

Okay, to be honest, here is my favorite part of the entire day: for graduation, my absolutely AMAZING and talented mother made me this BEAUTIFUL dress!

and I made a few accessories to match:

and since during graduation only your shoes actually show under the graduation gown, I made some nice bright shoe clips to match my new dress:

and they even kind of match with the BYU gold and blue graduation gear.

That amazing mother of mine:

The ceremony went surprisingly well--I rather enjoyed the speakers, especially the Dean of the Humanities college, who focused his words on forgetting--at graduation they are always focused on what we need to remember, but he reminded us that the ability to forget is essential to. In the words of Borges,

"To think is to forget--to forget differences, generalize, make abstractions..."

Amazing.

After the ceremony the graduates all headed out the tunnel to say goodbye to our professors--I was so excited to see Dr. Tate there! It seems like I haven't seen him since our wonderful times in London--he is such a wonderful WONDERFUL teacher!

Then back into the sunlight--where I suffered the most epic fall of all time--okay, maybe not the best, but it was pretty awesome. Too bad it didn't occur when I went up on stage to get my diploma... anyway, I limped around and finally found my family, where my amazing parents were waiting to greet me. <3

And my wonderful grandparents--I walked today just for you Grandpa! <3

My Aunt Jeanmarie, Uncle Jim, and favorite cousin, Andy--I was so excited they came!!

It was surprisingly a ridiculously sunny day... :)

After pictures were taken and congratulations were said, the parents took me out for dinner at Outback Steakhouse--I couldn't believe how much I ate, but then again, it was basically my first meal of the entire day! (I was slightly stressed trying to get to graduation on time). Plus, the food was beyond delicious, so it was well worth it.

What a wonderful day! I love school, and I am so proud of my accomplishments, but the most important thing that the day reiterated for me was how wonderful my family is--thanks guys, I love you!!

P.S. Even after the fact graduation continues to bring joy to my life--this post was featured by Christine at Craft Geordi--and the one and only feature that day to boot! :)