Graduation Celebrations

SO I decided to just make a picture storyboard of my graduation weekend.  It was a pretty fun time with friends and family making the trip out to be part of my exciting day.  I am so blessed to have such a super group of people who stand behind me and have supported me through every step of this process of becoming a teacher.  IT's still kind of hard to believe that I'm actually done the whole university thing unless I choose to go back.  When people ask me what I do, my first response is still a student, but I know I will be able to retrain my mind soon.  So, without further ado, here are some of the pictures taken on my graduation weekend.

My baba came to celebrate with me.  This picture was taken Saturday before the ceremony.

My mom took a bunch of photos in the backyard before I left for the ceremony.  I still have to choose which ones I want to get printed up to share with people but I think they look nicer than the ones I had taken in the studio during the winter.  A bit more natural looking!

An action shot of me moving the tassel from the right to left side of my cap.  the official moment when we have graduated according to the marshall of the ceremony.

Receiving my diploma from the dean.  I had to stop and pose for a picture opportunity even though I wasn't planning on buying the photo at the end of the ceremony.

Back at the house, we had a bbq and celebrated with friends and family who were not subjected to the 3 hours ceremony at the Keystone.  Here's me and my Baba looking pretty happy.  I"m the first grandchild to graduate from university, so it's a pretty big deal in baba's books.

Some of the friends that joined me for my celebration.  It was fun to get dressed up and have a fun time with old and new friends.  If only the day could have been longer so that I could visit with everyone more thoroughly.  

I think we might be related or something:~)

The Happy parents...finally she is going to be out of the house!

Only the 2 brothers were missing from this friends photo....actually Julia wasn't in Brandon yet so she's missing too but keep looking for a picture of her.

Yes, we definitely ate at the party!  I'm not sure how, but I managed to get that whole plate done and then have room for some dessert too.  I guess all those hours of waiting in cap and gown gave me a bit of an appetite...

On Sunday, I went out with some friends and we had a bit of a photo shoot.  Here's one of the 4 of us!

ANd one of me and Julia to show that she actually was out here for the weekend!  Julia and I are going to China together...

THis last picture has nothing to do with graduation, but I took it on the long weekend out at camp.  K and I went for a hike on the island trail, and we stopped for a break at the top of the trail.  It was pretty bare out there but still a beautiful time.

So that wraps up the graduation photo tour.  Of course there are more pictures that can be shared in person if you so desire...

THanks for sharing in my journey in whatever way you were part of my life...this is not a path I could travel alone.

Kitchen Kraziness

So, I thought it was about time I checked in with my blogging friends. I'm still out at camp and loving it. I'm not sure how many times I"ve said it in the past week and a bit I've been out here, but I love camp. Even if I get tired, stressed, burnt out I still love camp. I love the beauty of creation that is all around, the community is fun to be a part of and I have really enjoyed singing and praying together. I have spent most of my time working in the kitchen, mostly as one of the crew but a few stints of head-cook as well. I am having a lot of fun cooking and feeding people! I call it my 'inner Baba' because I find great joy in feeding people. Creating delicious food and making sure people are never hungry is so important for me.

I've gone around the island on the trail a few times, but so far the weather/timing has not worked out to go for a paddle yet. I"m hopeful for tomorrow. I've also been trying my hand at some aerobics! that's right folks, exercise at camp! One of the staff that's out here for the summer is an aerobics instructor and she has been leading classes for us. We definitely get our hearts a pumping and the tunes going. We even got some of the guys to join us! I'd show you a picture or two, but cameras were banned from the room....

It's raining AGAIN! I don't think we've had three days consecutively where it hasn't rained. But that's ok because the tea is always hot, conversations good and fun to be had!

Saturday I graduate officially as a teacher. It's pretty exciting! I'm having a small party with some friends and family after the ceremony which will be nice. Again, good food, conversation and people...hard to find a better mix!

February!

Hi Folks.

February has arrived, which means lots of exciting things...only 4 more weeks of classes, Winter festival (a mini-folklorama for Brandon), the one-month Challenge (can you go for 1-month eating only fair trade chocolate and drinking only fair trade teas and coffees?), Louis Riel Day (which means a day off school and work), and lots of other things I"m sure. Oh, one other piece of excitement is that I will likely hear back from a school in China that has my application for teaching next year...I'll let you know what happens there:0

Life is moving along at a pretty quick pace these days. This last term of university seems to be flying by but at the same time there are so many details, assignments and decisions to make. At times it is overwhelming, but I try to take it one day at a time and keep things in perspective. (Easier said than done)

Thoughts of warm summer often flood my mind while I walk to school in yet another -40 morning...temperatures like that make it pretty easy to think about moving somewhere WARMER!

I have several BIG projects that need to get started, so I need to run. Till next time:)