Graduation!

This past weekend I graduated from grad school!

Its crazy I know. Its neat to see the journey I took to get here. I was never really big on school and never really took advantage of the many opportunities God placed in front of me. I was blessed to go to a great high school - a VERY small, Christian school called The King's Academy. The school was really big on knowing God's call on your life and missions. I went on four mission trips while in High School (Mexico, Chicago, Dominican Republic & Kenya) and have always been in love with other cultures. I also always wanted to make a difference. While I did take advantage of some of the opportunities I also had a crappy attitude some of the time and I really wish that I hadn't wasted what was in front of me.

I went to college at Indiana Wesleyan University and I would eventually graduate with a Bachelors degree in Criminal Justice. Again, I wasted the first three years of college with a ridiculous attitude towards authority, terrible sleeping habits, and just getting by in my classes. While I never drank or made many of the mistakes that college kids make, I still didn't take full advantage of what was in front of me - like chapel. We had AMAZING speakers come and share with us - like Frank Peretti, Dr. Dobson, Dan Seaborn, Ken Davis, Josh McDowell and many others. . . thankfully I had my stuff together and hear the men that I just listed.

I truly believe that you become like the people you are around. Even "Christians" can bring you down and be the stumbling block. Find people who are on fire for God and who want to be the difference - then hang out with those people.

The end of my junior year of college I met my husband Kyle. He changed everything. He challenged me and encouraged me. He believed that I could do it. I started to really appreciate what opportunities I had and took advantage of them. I started doing better in school and having better habits, attitudes, everything. A year later I married him. A year after we were married I graduated (April 2006).

Summer of 2006 I tried finding a job, by August I hadn't found anything and decided to look into the grad school that had a table up at IWU about their counseling program. It was an hour and a half drive each way. I got accepted on probationary status due to my gpa in college. Dr. Tammy Schultz wanted to know what would be different about grad school - could I maintain a high enough gpa? I told her I could. She believed in me - that it was possible. Kinsey was born at the end of my second semester in grad school. I missed all my finals and flew out to California. They let me retake them all once I got back - the staff was just amazing like that.

That second semester in I fell just below the gpa I needed - I would have one chance to pull it up. I had to retake a class and get an A. It felt impossible. An "A" in Theological Foundations of Counseling?? But I had people believing in me, encouraging me, and I did it.

After that - I never let myself get that close to losing what I worked so hard for.

Now, I have graduated!

I now have a Masters in Interpersonal Relations (click for info).

I am just so thankful for the classes, the professors and the people who I have learned with. I completed a practicum/intership at an alternative learning school, addictions recovery group and a high school. I have been challenged and encouraged to be the person God has intended for me to be. Every class was a favorite. I traveled to Ukraine on a missions trip with my program and was challenged to jump out of my comfort zone. I just feel blessed to have met the people from the program and the professors who have really encouraged me.

Someday when all my kiddos are in school, I may work as a counselor in a school, a juvenile corrections facility...or where ever God leads me. But for right now my education is helping me to be a better wife and mom. That is truly all I have ever wanted.

My parents, 4 youngest of my 7 siblings, and my babies!


My amazing husband and two beautiful girls!