That's Right, I'm a College Graduate!!

I finally did it! 5 years and 14 days after I said goodbye to BYU and married the man of my dreams, I teetered down the sheer cliff steps of BYU's Marriott Center in my 4" heels, my blue graduation robes swishing noisily around my ankles - I'm quite certain the robes weren't supposed to hang that low, but that's why I was sporting the heels . . .

As the line of blue caps wound up to the stage, I looked at the graduates immediately surrounding me: Mothers, Fathers, Grandmothers - a small section of hard-working, dedicated people who, like me, had to leave school early but who took the opportunity to earn their degrees through BYU's Bachelor of General Studies (BGS) Program.

Somehow, in between work, travel, studying for law exams (true, Matt was the only one who earned his JD, but I somehow managed to learn all about torts, vested remainder, quasi in rem jurisdiction, and the rule against perpetuities), being pregnant, and then having a little baby to care for, I found time to work on my school. Five years, 22 courses, and over 50 credit hours later, I emerged from the Marriott Center with a Bachelors Degree of General Studies - with an Emphasis in Writing.

I have a few very important people who I need to thank for getting me to this status of College Graduate:

My mother who gave me the resolve to finish,

my son who was the motivation behind my resolve,

and my husband who pushed me through to the end.

My mother never had the opportunity to attend college and always stressed to her children the importance of a higher education. She is the reason that, even after I left BYU, I maintained my resolve to earn my degree.

My son Tanner motivated me - even before he was born - to finish my schooling. I thought of him as I sat for hours and hours in front of my computer, reading lesson materials, studying for exams, and writing essays, papers, and stories. I want him to be proud of my accomplishments and I want him to know how important education is to me, so I had to finish for him.

Those who know me well know that I'm really good at procrastinating - and let me tell you, procrastination and online classes really don't go well together. My husband Matt is a wonderful example to me of hard work, dedication, organization, and success. Matt played a vital role in keeping me organized, dedicated, and on track. I owe my success to his helping me set achievable goals and making me stick to those goals until the end.

Here is my plug for the BGS program: I could not have gotten my degree without having the opportunity to finish up my schooling online through BYU's Bachelor of General Studies program. I learned so much from this program. I was able to discipline myself, and to set and keep a schedule in order to complete my classes. I gained a great deal of knowledge and skill from all my writing classes and feel I have grown as a wife, a mother, and an intellectual.

Welcome Home Elder Amazing!!

My brother, Max, got home from his mission at the end of August. He served in the Atlanta, Georgia Mission - and was an Amazing missionary.

I'm so proud of him. He has grown so much in the two years he spent in service to the Lord. When we met him at the airport I was caught in between not being able to take my eyes off of him, and not being able to even look at him because here was my little brother all grown up and looking and acting like a man!!

It was so fun to have Max meet Tanner for the first time. They really bonded. Don't you think Tanner looks a little bit like his Uncle? Looks like the Tannerman might have some Chamberlain good-looks in him.

My brother is such an inspiration to me. First off, he not only survived being the only son in a family of all daughters, but he survived it well. He's such a sweet guy and yet is still super manly and into cars, electronics, skateboarding, rock-climbing, and all sorts of uber-macho things.

Secondly, he is very driven. It took him a bit longer than the other boys his age to get out on his mission. But one day, he decided to change his life and work toward his mission; and from that day on, he did everything he needed to prepare himself - and never looked back. So when he finally did leave, he was completely prepared - both mentally and spiritually.

He set many goals throughout his mission and accomplished every one of them. Teachers used to return his school papers because they couldn't read his handwriting, and now his penmanship is nearly flawless.

And you should take a look at his scriptures. They're organized with an intricate tabbed, color-coded system that helped him become a more effective and knowledgeable scriptural scholar.

Max loved the southern hospitality in Georgia, but it wasn't so great for his gut. However, he made a goal to keep himself fit and healthy. So he exercised, biked, and weight-lifted so he could return home looking slimmer, fitter, and trimmer than ever.

(here is Max sporting his Atlanta attire . . . and Elise, feelin' the flava)

And ladies, get ready for this one: the first thing Max did when he got home was take a seat at the piano bench. He turned to our mom and said that he had gained a greater appreciation for her while he was away on his mission and wanted to do something special for her because she had put up with so much with him while he was a teenager. So he had spent the last year learning a song for her. Then, my brother, who had never taken a piano lesson in his life, played "Called to Serve" for our mother. It brought us all to tears.

All that brother-bragging aside . . . Max, I just want you to know how much I love you and admire you. Thanks for being such a Amazing brother, brother-in-law, and uncle!!

THE BIG O-N-E!!

HAPPY 1ST BIRTHDAY TANNER!

Tanner turned ONE on September 16th,

and we celebrated a few days later with a big birthday bash.

(Don't even ask about Tanner's real birthday and how Mom thought it would be "fun" to go to the doctor right on his birthday to have him measured and weighed that day . . . and how she somehow didn't realize that babies get THREE shots on their 1-year appointments. It was definitely not the happiest of birthdays . . . but we made up for it).

THE INSPIRATION

THE PLAN

THE PRODUCT

THE DESTRUCTION

THE INSPIRATION

THE PLANNERS

THE PRODUCT

THE DESTRUCTION

THE GRUB

THE GUESTS

(those not pictured are likely off chasing their little ones)

THE GAMES

THE GUEST OF HONOR

(with all his loot)

THANK YOU ALL FOR MAKING

TANNER'S 1ST BIRTHDAY BASH

A TOTAL BLAST!

GO BYU!!!!!!

It has become a tradition for Matt and his brothers to travel to at least one BYU away game every year. This year was extra spectacular because BYU was playing #3 Oklahoma in the new Cowboy's Stadium . . . and won!!! Today is a great day for BYU and for the Mountain West.


Here we are outside the stadium . . . sweating in the Texas heat.



and inside, enjoying our view from the tippy-top of the indoor, air-conditioned stadium.




And here I am with my adorable niece, Kailee. We found a great way to entertain ourselves during the down time . . . though, if you watched the game, you'll know that there wasn't much down time! :)



And here is the CELEBRATION!!!

GO COUGARS!!!!