i. am. done. but this is a good thing. finally.

Stats for this semester: $750 in overload fees,10 classes, 25 credits, 27 books, 17 major papers, 4 major projects completed despite 1 MFA rejection, 1 ulcer, 1 kidney stone, 1 PTSD episode, and 1 broken heart (metaphorically and literally), and with the help of 4 wonderful boys, 8 close friends, and a Ninja. I cannot wait to shake the hands of the 2 PhD's that said I couldn't do it. Cause me and my 3.85 GPA did. Mmmhmmm.


This Saturday I put on my graduation robes, and my leather pants (because this is *me* we're talking about) and I walk the line. Like I'm Johnny Cash.

And just so you don't think I'm going to go soft now that I've done the stated impossible: I have round two of a job interview for a coveted PR/Marketing job tomorrow, a meeting to be brought on board to freelance with a new local entertainment and lifestyle magazine on Tuesday, two interior design jobs lined up, and the web design company I write for that just expanded into my area. Continuing to write and submit fiction and (fingers crossed) get this durned poetry manuscript published at some point and get into an MFA. Using every third Tuesday to work on that smart phone app to cure cancer. Plus, still rocking the best Mom in the world job by doing things like letting my kids play on the roof, liquefy peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and pretend to eat light bulbs...all in the name of art (Z and E now have their own YouTube channel. And they have clearly inherited my ?!?! sense of humor. Oh my.)

Also, while not letting him do the legal change he requested, I have conceded to let 5 year old J go by the name he has chosen for himself: Spike Volcano Poprock, even though the school district would not let me register him for kindergarten under it. The one bastion of normality in our family remains L, who--even at only 7--asks to sit at a different table than us when we go to restaurants. Bless his "I'm going to grow up to be an accountant and undo this damage with extensive therapy" heart :)

Anyway, I just wanted to say thanks for the support, kind readers--especially over the last 4 1/2 months, but over the last 4 1/2 years as well. Thanks for putting up with my spotty postings and even spottier commenting on your blogs. Thanks for loving me through my tangents. Thanks for loving me though, at times, my emotions appear to be like the scene in Tangled when Rapunzel has her first day out and spends it intermittently weeping and then twirling circles in the grass. Thanks for the countless prayers you've sent up on my behalf, the countless emails and gifts you've sent, and for T who sent me the most awesome birthday/graduation card combo featuring pastel-colored cats. Whatever victories I've experienced, or may yet experience, you all share a part in.  

I love my life. I love how it surprises me, love how it scares me, love how it makes me laugh, love how it drops wonderful new people in my lap, love even how it kicks my bum and keeps me humble just because it can. Of myself I can do nothing, but with God, nothing is impossible. I can now not only say that with deep faith, but hold up this chunk of my life as an example.