You know a lot of people go to college for seven years...

Obviously I can't sleep...

As I watch the rest of my friends graduate
this weekend... I am reminded of a quote

From Tommy Boy:

Tommy: Did you hear I graduated?
Richard Hayden: Yeah and just a shade under a decade. All right.
Tommy: You know a lot of people go to college for seven years.
Richard Hayden: I know, they're called doctors.

I have applied for and am en route to graduate...
Ironically when I decided to serve an LDS mission
I made the comment to a large congregation that:

"now I won't graduate until 2010..."
I didn't know that would come to fruition.

This has caused my mind to draw upon
the things I have accomplished, learned, seen & enjoyed
over the past seven years...

[in no particular order]
I swam with dolphins
Had a photograph published in an anthology
Finished a degree in massage therapy +the high5
Started my own business
Studied abroad in Italy, Switzerland, France & England
Spoke in Stake conference
Spoke in a funeral, weddings & baptisms
Served a full-time mission to Spokane Washington
Lived on my own in Florida
Became self-sufficient
Served as Relief Society President--twice
Worked as a temple ordinance worker
Sold a painting
Refinished furniture
Watched the sunrise over the ocean
Ran A1A Ocean blvd
Got hit by a truck
Got stalked by a BYU student
Was engaged
Traveled to Washington, Idaho, California, Ohio, NYC
Went to Disney World with the kids
Saw Disney World at Christmas
Received an academic scholarship
Sang a solo in church
Sang in BYU's Chorale
Aced Vocal Performance
Faced the fear of singing
Volunteered for AFSP in Florida
Raised money for and participated in the 20mi NYC Overnight
Ran the inaugural SLC suicide prevention walk
Visit taught every single person I was ever assigned to
and developed life long loving friendships with them
Was a nanny
Taught Institute for the LDS Church
Got a letter from President Hinckley
Lost perfect attendance award to take care of Syd when sick
Got thrown up on by syd the morning of Brad's wedding
Bought my own car
Got free of financial bondage
Weeded mom's front yard
Taught little kids as a ski instructor @ Snowbird
Got stitches
Jumped off a 75ft cliff
Learned to live with & love every roommate I ever had
Including crazy mission companions ;)
Started a blog
Pursued my photography dream
Was in the BYU newspaper twice
Ran 5k, 10k, half marathon & 20mi races
Shook Elder Scott's hand twice & had my picture taken with him
Attended President Hinckley's funeral with Courtney
Enjoyed a fun trip @ Lake Powell--Not the OTHER kind.
Hiked to Elephant rock
Ran the bridges in Rome
Painted the sunset over Ponte Vecchio
Studied in Italy
Bore my testimony in Italy & Switzerland
Stayed in a 5* chalet @ the base of the falls in Brienz Switzerland
Went to Chichen Itza with my brother
Went canyoning in Switzerland... we were the only sober ones!
Learned to love
Survived a broken heart
Am grateful for that broken heart
Caught a falling raindrop with a point and shoot
Skied off a cliff
Was invited to the ULLR competition @ Whistler BC
Had articles in the clippers
Got glasses
Had a root canal
Wrote lyrics to music for a children's choir
Sang at the assisted living places in Utah & Washington
Fixed a disposal, oven & lawn mower
Installed my own ski rack
Saw Andrea Bocelli live in the piazza in Sienna Italy
Won the Kennedy Center International Photo Compitition
Went to a Yanni concert
Was kissed by Nathan Pacheco
Competed in & nailed slalom courses
Faced undealt with emotional baggage
Found healing
Held my nieces the day they were born
(sorry Stockton I was in London..)
Saw Beauty & the Beast on Broadway
Saw Wicked in Los Angelos
Saw Phantom & Les Miserables in London
Made Homemade raspberry jam with my mom
Learned to can dill vegetables with my mom
Grew my hair out
Ran Little Cottonwood Canyon
Had paralyzed organs
Learned the Church of Jesus Christ is again on Earth
Learned to pray out loud or in front of others
Got Hyatt pillows for Christmas (not stolen)
Learned what loss feels like
Planted a garden
Brought my old roommates dead cactus back to life
Learned to be assertive
Was taught to waltz in the old union pacific bldg
Watched falling stars
Painted the meadow in the mountains
Learned how to become a transitional character
Learned to love cooking
Compiled an illustrated cookbook
Captured smiles
Slid down the stairs in my North Face w/the kids
Sang 'the sunshine song' over & over & over w/ them too
Learned to love myself
Learned that God loved me
Learned to keep trying when at first I failed
Retook finance twice--once was when Scott died
Taught missionaries in the MTC
Learned who I am & what I want & that I am full of worth
Ate a granola bar in the BYU library [ahh]
Lost a friend on the Mountain while teaching her to ski
Got upgraded to first class by flirting w/the boy in London
Jumped off a 75ft cliff @ Lake Powell
Learned 'the rules'
Began banking with USAA
Love the word y'all
Hiked the 'Y'
Slept in Central Park
Fell asleep in church in NYC [aft. 20 mi.]
Started wearing makeup
Bought my first pink clothing
Took a backpacking class--it was incredible
Drove straight from Florida to Utah by myself
Learned to say I'm sorry & ask for forgiveness
Facilitated a suicide survivor group of over 400 people
Broke my tooth wake boarding
Taught a child to pray
Took a marriage preparation & enhancement class
Taught more than 50 people to wake board
Taught primary & gospel doctrine
Went to an outdoor symphony @ Deer Valley
Learned to rock climb
Got stitches from a trail running accident
Never drank alcohol or used drugs


Seven years... Not a Doctor...
But I have learned some incredible life lessons...
Most importantly I am learning to accept the timetable
for my life.