Accomplished.

Well folks, it's finally happened...I graduated.  It's a bizarre feeling, really.  I've been in school since I was two years old.  The longest break I ever had from school was six months.  Now, I'm done.

I've tried to decide how I feel about and realized that, in all honesty, I really just need some more time to adjust to this big transition.  And that's what it is.  I find myself having to adjust from living the life of a student to living the life of an "adult."  I've worked through high school, college, and grad school, so adjusting to work won't really be the issue.  It's the days off that will throw me.  Usually, my off days were spent reading mental health books, doing homework, or getting together with people from school to work on a group project.  Now, I can read books that I want to read, take my dog for walks, and get together with people just to be with them.

The hooding ceremony was amazing.  As I walked across the stage, holding my hood, and being greeted by Michelle and Keith, I realized that this didn't just mark me receiving my degree.  As I knelt down and had them place my hood over me, I realized that I was being welcomed and accepted by two outstanding professionals in the counseling field.

Thankful doesn't even begin to describe how I'm feeling.  The last two years have been painful, joyful, tearful, and prayerful.  I wouldn't be where I am today had it not been for a massive number of graceful, helpful, prayerful people.  This degree...the fancy letters that now follow my name...they belong to you all, too.  As cliche as it sounds, I could not have done it without you.  My life is richly blessed by you and love you all dearly.

Sincerely,
Shannon S. Lee, MA

Fifth.

When her mama told us that she was pregnant, I couldn't wait.  Another baby to love on, kiss, and snuggle?  Nothing is better than that.  I hoped the baby would be a ginger, just like her daddy.  But I knew I'd love this baby no matter what she looked like.

On Christmas Day, my family gathered for our annual gift exchange.  Carrie had planned it so that how we figured out our gift selecting order would also be how they revealed the gender of the baby.  The notecards eventually spelled out "we're having a..." and we all attempted to guess, and then they finally told us...it was a girl!  We couldn't believe it.  My grandmother had seven granddaughters and no grandsons...she was convinced her first great-grandchild would be a boy.  But to our beautifully pleasant surprise, it was a girl.

When she finally graced us with her presence on May 7, my heart almost exploded with joy and love for this new little girl...this new little girl with red hair.

Emerson Elizabeth was never a shy girl.  Even as a baby, she would happily go with others and smile so wide that the smile would spread all the way around the room.  She still isn't a shy girl.  She'll tell a stranger at a restaurant to push in their chair and will ask the little girl across the street on Halloween if she wants to come over for some candy.  For such a little girl, she has a big personality.  And that big personality comes with a big heart full of a lot of love.

To my Emerson,
Today, you are a whole hand...you are five years old.  I am always amazed by you and your contagious joy.  You love your brother, your cousin, Dora, and princesses.  And I love you.  I'm blessed to be a part of your life and cannot tell you how wonderful it is to have you as a part of mine.  Keep being you, because whoever you are, that is perfect.  Love you with every inch of me.