When I think back to starting my blog last January, I only have one regret: that I didn’t start it one month sooner! Last December was a one of the best times of my life for a lot of different reasons, with the main one being that it was the month I graduated with a masters degree.

In all my dreaming of what I would grow up to be and do (president of US, ballerina, doctor, nurse, teacher, mommy, day care worker and Miss America), I never once actually thought that I would continue my education past a bachelors degree. Just going to college was a big deal for me, much less graduating (a feat that seemed like it might not actually happen during that one summer of Spanish classes).

In fact, I didn’t even consider applying for grad school until I was nearly finished with my undergrad degree — it just wasn’t something that even registered on my horizon. I had Plans For My Life and they all involved marrying (someone, anyone!), having some kidlets and swimming with dolphins at some point in my life.

Somehow when I shot for the moon, I landed among the processed nacho cheese.

Those plans changed, of course, and 1.5 years later I put on my cap and gown and watched my family come into town to see me walk across that stage for a second time. I can’t explain why, but I just wish y’all had of been around then so I could have shared that experience with you.

Of course, I do currently have a cap and gown in my car that I could slip on and recreate the entire thing for you, captured with my trusty videography (is that a word?) skills.

Unfortunately, the cap and gown doesn’t exactly belong to me. I just picked it up for Allie, who you surely know by now (but if you don’t, Allie helps me lead Starlite AND is getting married in less than a month!).

Allie’s graduating this weekend with her masters in the same field as I did, Youth and Family Ministries. My last semester in the program was her first semester, so we even got to have a couple of classes together. I’ve watched her work her ba-donk-a-donk off for this degree over the last 1.5 years and I am so excited that she’s finished her thesis and is ready to get that diploma!

Except for one little problem: she’s currently got the flu. A bad, bad case of the flu.

I KNOW.

So, could you do us a big favor and pray that our girl gets better in the next 24 hours so she can actually walk across that stage? I’m taking her cap and gown to the dry cleaners later today to get it pressed in faith that she’s going to slip it on tomorrow night.

I may, of course, try the cap and tassel on myself, just to make sure it fits.

Anything for a friend.