Today is the first day of the rest of my life..........

Ok, so maybe I'm being slightly dramatic!

But, yes, it is offical. I am a college graduate. Yesterday, Mom, Dad and I went down to West Lafayette for my 9:30am graduation ceremony.

I was at first a little indifferent about going through the ceremony...but I am so glad that I did. It was a perfect, brisk, SUNNY day...one that won't be soon forgotten. I enjoyed every moment of it.

Here are some pictures:

The wonderful 'rents. Thanks again Mom and Dad for your constant support and love! These guys have been awesome...they were great at giving me my independence yet full support and encouragement all the way through. It was fun to have them there yesterday to meet some of my school friends.

(and yes, I know, I look really wonderful in that little outfit of mine...)

This is a picture of me and my friend Juila. I met her my sophomore year and ended up getting to spend the summer with her at my internship. She is an amazing, bold, born-again believer and was a constant encouragement to me in my classes. :)

Marie, I don't know if you know Robin Overmyer. She is originally from Francesville. We reconnected a few years ago, knowing each other from a girls camp and ACYF from back in the day. Ended up having several classes together...she's really fun.

After graduation and the Management reception, we picked up my friend, Ai, a girl I met last year through a Global Connect program where you get paired up with an international student. She too graduated this year and is heading back to China. It was fun to have mom and dad met her...we had quite an interesting lunch...this girl loves to talk! She was so fun and it's really sad to think that I may never see her again.

Anyways...the whole thing is a little bittersweet. These past four years have been by far the best portion of my life thus far...and a little part of me is like, psh, it's never going to get to any better that...all down here from here.

And maybe it will. But that's ok. I'm trying to not be sad or depressed or cry because its over but smile and laugh because it happened! It was a great ride; and I don't regret a moment of it.

Praise the Lord for He is good...and even if EVERYTHING seems to be changing. He doesn't. And I love that.

Just like I love all of you.