Commencement

Commencement: the act or time of commencing; beginning; a start. I love this definition. Graduation is a start to a new life, the rest of life, the real world.

I flew back to St. Louis so I could be there for graduation and to celebrate all that Chant has accomplished. Friday, December 17 was the awards ceremony for graduates and their families to attend. Chant was given two awards. The first award we knew he would receive. It was the Health Center Achievement Award. Only one intern from each clinic gets that award, so it was quite an honor for him. The second we didn't know he was getting. When they called Kerry Williams, he just sat there for a minute and then he jumped and said, "That's me!" It was an award for excellence in the ability to perform and teach the Logan Basic Technique. That was only given to 4 people, so again an honor. I am so incredibly proud of him!
The day of graduation we got to the school early. (Chant had to be early and we had one car, so that meant we were all there early.) We were so early he was the only graduate there. Doesn't he look lonely?
Chant and his sister Kristy.
Chant and sister Jen. (Sorry Margi, I don't know why I don't have a picture of you!)

This graduation ceremony was amazing! It started by bagpipe players leading the way for the graduates. It sounded so amazing. I had chills! Chant gave us the insider tip and I am sitting right in front of the lead man. Awesome spot! The keynote speaker was Orin Hatch. He cracked a few Mormon jokes and gave a very nice speech.
After the speakers it was time for the graduates to be hooded.
Waling to the front to be hooded. The second girl is Teran Warner, our business partner.

They hold the hoods over their arms and then when they get to the president of the college, Dr. Goodman, he takes the hood and puts it on them. The hood is gray signifying chiropractic and inside is royal blue and white for Logan's colors.
Being hooded. (Me tearing up behind the camera.)

At the end of the ceremony, the bagpipe players formed two lines facing each other and the graduates walked between to exit the auditorium. Again, Chant and Teran walked right by me. Unfortunately my camera was being slow and I didn't get a picture of Chant. Sorry Honey!
Chant with Dr. Hogarth, the St. Peters Head Clinician.
Afterward we went to lunch at the Old Spaghetti Factory with our group (Chant's mom, sisters, my sister and brother-in-law, and Teran's parents, grandparents, and siblings.) It was quite the group at 16 people. I am so glad we had time to stop and celebrate their achievements. Chant worked hard through 4 years of school, late nights, taking care of kids and a wife, and church callings. I never could have done it. I am so amazed at what he has accomplished and I am so proud of him! Thank you for working so hard for us! We love you! And we are ready for what is next!

Keeping Track of Time

My life can be measured by songs, books, and movies. I think about the words to a song, a scene from a movie, or a chapter from a book and I am taken away, back to a specific time and place. Some of these are not merely a moment or a good memory, they have become a part of me. So, here is how I keep track of time.

Elementary School: The Indian in the Cupboard and A Wrinkle in Time (Where my true love of books started, in 6th grade in Mrs. Hamilton's class. Thank you Mrs. Hamilton, I will forever be in your debt.)

1989: Richard Marx- Right Here Waiting for You (Singing at the top of my lungs in my brother and sister-in-law's apartment. That song still holds great meaning to me.)

Early 1990's: Cher- Jesse James, If I could Turn Back Time (In the living room with a candle stick)
Wilson Phillips (Still have the whole CD memorized)
Steel Magnolias (Always have and always will love Julia Roberts. In fact, Julia was the name I always picked when playing dress up and my imaginary boyfriend was Kevin Costner of course)

Late 1990's: Cindy Lauper- True Colors
Belinda Carlisle- Mad About You, Heaven is a Place on Earth
The Standards (I have every CD they made in that decade and their autographed picture hung framed on my bedroom wall where I could see them at all times. I always knew I would marry a Williams.)
Jack Weyland- Charlie, Nicole, Lean on Me
Ariana Series
Julia Roberts- Runaway Bride, My Best Friends' Wedding
A League of Our Own
Ever After

Summer 2000: Where the Heart Is (book)
Soundtrack to Hope Floats (That soundtrack and book got me through the first few weeks in an apartment I had all to myself. I love the song Garth Brooks sings on there!)
Never Been Kissed (First time I held hands with a boy)

Freshman Year of College (2000-01):
Bon Jovi
Vertical Horizon
Savage Garden

Sophomore Year of College (2001-02):
Maren Ord (Got me through a hard time of missing my Honey while he was on his mission)
Serendipity (My roommate almost lost her arm because I was squeezing it so tight- will they find each other or not?)

Summer 2002: A Walk to Remember (Bawled my eyes out!)
Sara Evans (Every morning while getting ready for work, for the entire summer)

Hawaii: Michelle Branch (Cannot listen to her without thinking of sitting on my little bed in my tiny dorm listening to the palms lighting tapping each other in the breeze)

2003: Rascal Flatts (My first real concert, which I almost passed out at, and one of the only real dates I went on with Chant before we were married)

2004-2006: Gilmore Girls (I cannot think of that show without getting emotional. My best friends. We celebrated every holiday by getting a new season. I now own all 7. They are part of the family. We even made a trip to Connecticut to see their neck of the woods. Thanks for getting me through some rough times girls!)

Missouri: Twilight Saga (books and movies) (Another emotional one for me. These are the first books I had picked up, aside from textbooks, since high school. My dear friend Becca told me I had to read them and she lent them to me and that was it. I remembered what it was like to lose myself to another world and become engulfed in the story and characters. And I haven't stopped reading since. I also think of going to the midnight showings of New Moon and Eclipse. Miss you guys!)
Hunger Games Trilogy (My last books in Missouri. Ones I took forever to pick up and when I did I instantly fell in love. Yes Jena, you can say "I told you so.")
Mindy Gledhill (Thank you. I love you!)

If you've stopped reading, that's okay. Maybe this was more for me anyway. I look at my life and think of the people and what was going on that made these things so special to me, and all I can think is I cannot wait for the books, music, and movies to come that will touch me the way these have, that will come to signify Utah the way these have represented places and people of my past. And I say bring it on because I am ready to add to the list!

Moving Forward

I have been without my best friend and the love of my life for 9 days. It has been challenging, dealing with a new place and being the sole parent of three kids. But we are surviving just fine. The most challenging part has been the mental side. I am feeling homesick for my friends in Missouri and nervous and unsure of myself in this new place. I have met a few people and one dear girl even brought us dinner Monday night. I am so grateful to Michelle for that service and show of friendship. It came when I needed it most. Monday was a hard day for me and Tuesday rough as well. But last night I talked to my amazing friend and sister-in-law, Jenny. She said something that I needed to hear. It is okay to miss the people and place that I left behind, but I need to move forward as well. I cannot merely be here, a shadow that floats from one room to the next hardly leaving the confines of my home or talking to others. So, today is a new day. It actually started last night. I watched this:


And I have been reading this:

And I am wearing this:

It is turning out to be a good day! And I am even going to take Michelle's Tubberware back to her today. Ha! I am going to be social. It really is going to be a good day!

P.S.
I am noticing a theme. Okay, so I am a little obsessed with werewolves right now.