Back on Track III: Graduation Part II

THE Graduation

My mom enjoying a good book while waiting for graduation to start.

Lining up with our name cards.
Two very handsome, very smart masters on either side of me.

Mark was waiting at the end with big hugs for us.
I didn't notice any other graduating seniors getting that kind of treatment.

my dad

I cannot even begin to express my appreciation for those who supported me over the years,
kind words of encouragement, tutoring,
so many little things that made all the difference.
It meant a lot to me to graduate along side Jordan and Aaron
and I really appreciate those who traveled to be with us at this time of celebration.
I also appreciate those who wanted to be with us but could not...
we felt your support and appreciated the love your sent our way.

I've learned so much
and I know it won't end here
continue to learn and go forth to serve...

Need I say more?


Another HUGE thanks to Amy and Christian for their exceptional photography skills

Back on Track II: Graduation Part 1

Pregraduation Festivities

Graduation celebrations actually began for us on Wednesday April 22, when Grandpa Z and Grandma Arlene arrived from Austin, Texas.
We hung out, picked up graduation robes, toured Mark's new office, played at the park with Ruby and stuff like that. I stole these pictures from Amy's blog.

Thursday was the convocation for all of BYU.
Soooo characteristic of the Zimbelman family, loving all the pomp and circumstance and the opportunity to sit through long massive programs as we do, we decided it would be a great time to take pictures on campus with us all decked out in our robes.
Mark is required to attend graduation once a year
so the college ordered robes for him too.
It was pretty cool.

The Marriot school has a new addition that is connected with the old building by a four story atrium. Christian and Amy got some great pictures there.

Looking UP
Mark and I on top, then Aaron and Jordan

Ruby and me

Walking was anticlimatic for Aaron with 5 years of school still ahead of him, but he reluctantly agreed and did it for me. Thanks, Aaron. Consider yourself covered for Mother's Day this year ;).

After finishing pictures we went to dinner at Magelbeys (similar to Natalies) where my parents joined us as they arrived from Mesa Arizona.

Graduation was at 5pm on Friday so we decided to go to lunch at Olive Garden before the ceremony. Aaron, Jordan and I shared thoughts about graduating over salad and bread sticks.

Mark's dad and my dad at Olive Garden

I thought a lot about sacrifice. Not just the sacrifice of the student but those supporting the student. Being a wife and mother while being a student requires sacrifice on the part of everyone to make it work. It's interesting how we love those we sacrifice for as well as those who sacrifice for us. I was overwhelmed by the love and sacrifice my family has been willing to make for me so that I could attend school. While I'm not ready to run out and get a job I feel like I have become a better wife, mother and person because of what I have learned. I also feel like I have learned to open my mind and think about the world differently. I will always be grateful for the many who supported me not only during the last nine years but also for my parents supporting me my freshman year and encouraging me to go to BYU. Without that who knows where I'd be...

Unexpected Reaction

I walked out of the testing center Friday and into the sunshine. The sky was blue and beautiful, most of the snow from earlier in the week was gone. I took a deep breath, let it out ... and tears began to make their way down my cheeks. WHAT? I was supposed to feel this great joy and relief, I thought for sure I would want to whoop and holler dancing all the way to my car. Instead the tears came faster and I had to suppress a little sob as I searched in my backpack for a kleenex. I’m not even sure what I was feeling. A let down for sure. But also immense gratitude for 9 years of support from my family. Gratitude for the opportunity to attend classes at this amazing University. Gratitude for all I have learned and how it’s made me a better person for having been here. I think I also felt a little apprehension with THE BIG QUESTION, “Now what?” I’ve been a student for so long that it’s become a part of who I am and now it’s over - is it really over? maybe, maybe not - but right now it feels a bit sad...how silly is that. I’m 45 years old for heaven sake, I should have been done with this long ago. But again THE question, “Now what?” It’s not like I haven’t considered this question. I actually have a list a mile long to do with my extra 10 hours a week. But that was always an “in the future” question, “What will I do when...?” suddenly it’s NOW, What will I do NOW?

Maybe it’s that this day, this moment marks the beginning of a great crescendo that will, as most crescendo’s do, end in a diminuendo. (those piano lessons were not completely wasted.) I’m done with my final... it begins to build, Aaron and Jordan are done, ...building, Grandparents (of my kids) come, building, building... we walk at graduation...building, big time party, still going up but slightly slowing, Celisa and Aaron bring Olivia into the world (Celisa, feel free to do this any time you want, it does not need to fit in here)

TA DA! TAAA TITTLE-TE TUM TUM TUM !
We are on top of this great wave!

then it starts... Grandparents return home, we begin the descent,
Amy, Jordan and Ruby move, down down down we go,
Glorious summer, level a bit...
Aaron, Celisa and Olivia move, down down down.
The kids and Mark go back to school
and I....
AND I will ....



Reorganize, texture, paint, redecorate, clean, read anything I want, write, go on trips with my best friend (and hubby), sew, stamp, send tons of packages to my granddaughters, skype, blog, create and try all kinds of new recipes, prepare for my missionary to come home, plan trips to Sacramento, Illinois, Kauai, Arizona, play tennis, do aerobics, take up yoga (again), complete all my Sudoku books.... what was I worried about?

It it too late to run around and whoop and holler?

Mortar what?

Is it March already?
Must be... I just took my second Stats exam out of four.
Wow half way there.

Another sign spring is on its way?
I just ordered my cap and gown.

Aaron, Jordan and I will be all decked out come April 24th.
We even get to sit together and our names will be announced in rapid succession
and then our families will have three times the challenge
of not cheering wildly until all the names of the graduates are read...
of course we are near the end so they won't have to wait too long.

While it's been quite a while since I've worn
a mortar board on my head
(like more than a quarter of a century)
(wow I really am old)

I must admit that I have a few questions.
Who came up with that name anyway?
How come masters students have to pay more for their apparel?
How come masters students are asked for their head size and
Bachelors students get one-size-fits-all?
Does finishing a masters program make your head larger so they need more specifics?
(I am referring to brain size not ego)

These are questions I would research and find the answers for
...if I wasn't busy figuring out confidence intervals,
probabilities and p values.