Extra, Extra

I promised that I'd tell/show you when the grad announcement was in the paper. You can find it here - just scroll down a bit.

Viewing

You can view more grad shots here.

Proud, Proud Parents

After my parents returned home from grad, they sent me an email asking if I would like my B.A announced in the local newspaper. I thought that was a rad idea and said sure. Since then we have been sending a few emails back and forth with edits of what should be put in this announcement. This morning I sent off what I figured would be the final edit. Then I received this from my Dad:

To: Laura Stewart
Subject: how about this

After 7 long, tortuous years, Laura Stewart has finally graduated from Redeemer University College in Ancaster with a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Religion & Theology and Theatre Arts with a minor in English. During Laura's tenure at the Redeemer, fire was discovered and the wheel was invented. It is Laua's intent to bum around this summer, generally drinking too much, staying up too late and hanging around with the wrong sort of people. Next year she's leaving the country. See you around, Laura!

And then this:

Redeemer University College of Ancaster, Ontario regretfully announces the graduation of Laura Stewart of Brighton. Laura was a cash cow for the University, taking 7 years to complete her B.A., majoring in Religion & Theology and Theatre Arts with a minor in English. Although she wasn't always timely with her payments, she was, until her last installment, dependable. Good luck, Laura. How about some night courses in the fall?

I'll scan ya the real one when it hits the papers!

Two Dreams In One Day

Plaque Build Up (But Without The Gingivitis)

I'm not sure if I actually owned any plaques before, save for the one that you put your little 4-H bar thingers on. But by the end of this week I had two presented to me.

On Wednesday at closing convocation myself and this guy (Mark DeVos)...


...won the Student Life Award(s)


You may not be from the RUC community. And therefore you would have no idea what I'm talking about. The following is from the Redeemer daily newsletter - The Student Life Award is given annually to one female and one male student who exemplify the following: A Christian commitment expressed in all areas of university life; academic diligence (not necessarily resulting in high grades); involvement in extra-curricular activities such as choir, theatre, yearbook, the Minstrel, Student Senate and athletics; a concerned individual who cares about and influences campus culture; and a person who is respected by peers, faculty, and staff. Individual students, staff and faculty can make nominations for this award.

It was pretty dang cool to be the recipient of this award and to share the stage with Mark, 'cause he is one very awesome young man. We got a standing ovation. It was such a neat sensation to stand there on the stage and look around at the faces that you knew you had a connection with, be it staff, faculty or student. Needless to say, that was a big boost to my week and to my healing process.

You'll recall the last post talking about my last concert as a concert choir member happening on Friday. It went really well, and I know many prayers were sustaining me through that night. I especially know that because I could breath the best I have in weeks, on Friday night. I went to sing in church this morning and I felt like I was singing and jogging - it was that hard to get enough air. But the concert went really well, the solo-y thing went really well, and yeah, great music was sung in German, Latin and English.

After the concert, back in the choir room, I was presented with this -


It reads: Presented to Laura Stewart In recognition of her record number of years of involvement in, and dedication to the Redeemer University Concert Choir - 2008. I had no idea it was coming and I have to thank Kevin and John for making that happen and making me smile. Oh 6 years in concert choir. Obviously both plaques will be hung with my diploma (the one I'll be getting in 6 weeks).

Here's a shot at the Egg & I (had breakfast with Ma and Pa there on Saturday morn) with the booty -


I kinda just look at both plaques and think - wow, look at the work God has done. Look at the young punk who entered Redeemer and the concert choir 7 years ago and is leaving a young(ish) woman. Look at the journey He has lead me through. These plaques are an indicator that God is good, He is good indeed.

Just So You Know

I'm not graduating in May any more. A class has been dropped each semester, thereby delaying my grad date.