It's Done.

 I finished grad school. It is over. I am done!

HOOOORRRAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYYY! YIPPPPEEEEEEEEEE!!!!! HALLELUJAH!!!!! 

I am so happy right now I can hardly contain myself!! My graduate work is complete; I am a Master of Education!!!!

The weight of a 300 pd gorilla and all 18 of her babies is completely off my back. I am breathing so much easier now!!

I am not the only one who earned this degree. I had a few others in tow:

My family has made several sacrifices during this time to help me through. I couldn't have done it without their patience, support, encouragement, and undying love. (Jaren, didn't want a picture with the cap; party pooper. But he earned it too!!) 

I am so grateful to my mom once again for taking 3.5 months away from her life to help me through the semester I had Larkin (Thanks to Dad too for sharing her.), and to all of my girlfriends (Vickie and Joanna especially) who watched Gunnar so willingly and thoughtfully on countless occasions so I could get to class on time. I am especially thankful for Jaren who believed in me for every paper, project, and assignment; he always reminded me that I was smart and that I could do it. I also appreciate how willing he was with the kids, to take them and then shut the door and keep them out so I could research, write, or read in quiet. I am grateful for my brilliant sister who kept such good tabs on me the whole time and would send me any article or idea I needed two seconds after I asked for it; she is a genius, and I love her. I am thankful for the support of another sister, Kim, who has been going through this exact experience the same time as I have. It has been nice to have someone who understood my feelings perfectly and could relate wholeheartedly. (One more week for you Kim! ENDURE!!) Thank you to everyone who believed in me and encouraged me to work towards this goal.

Several of my friends have asked why I was getting it. I am not currently teaching. What's the point if it isn't going to help me with a pay raise? Good question and sometimes I had to ask myself the same thing. A masters degree was always something I wanted to earn. When I finished my under grad I knew I wasn't going to be done there. I wanted this because I love academia, I really enjoy learning new things and writing about them. I like feeling smart. ;) I also wanted to do it as an example for my kids: you can do anything, no matter how daunting it might appear, if you really try. As cliche as it sounds, it's true! I know they won't remember much of this time, but I do hope someday it inspires them to seek education, have inquisitive minds, and become lost in books. I hope they always find joy in learning something new; I do believe educated people have every advantage in this world.

There is one more step before I completely close out this chapter in my life:

What's next? My friend Deanne and I always joke about how this time next year I will be working on a PHd. NO WAY!! I am done for a long long time. I am content with this. ;) I do have big plans for my photography business! Keep your eyes on kamee june photography...there are going to be some really cool things happening in the next month!! I am so excited about all of that I can hardly contain myself!! I am going to put all of my energies into that business now instead of spreading them between grad school and the biz. I also plan to play a little longer on the carpet with my children and read them extra books instead of rushing off to hit mine; I am going to talk a little more and listen more carefully to Jaren (instead of allowing myself to be writing the paper in my head while we talked); I am going to exercise a lot (I think that will be my new grad school. ;)); I am going to read books and magazines that have nothing to do with curriculum development or educational theory; I am going to breath a little deeper, and enjoy more free time.

Right now I am smiling because it's done, and because I DID IT!! (Oh, and I am smiling because I am graduating with honors!! I earned a 4.0 all 5 semesters! How that happened I have no idea, but GGGOOOOOOOOO KKKKKKKAMMMMMMMM!!!)