One Of The Greatest Day Of Our Life

The long awaited day has finally arrived and will soon come to a close. After Brett graduated from high school he didn't plan to go to college right away, or really ever plan to go at all. About the time we started talking about getting married he was "encouraged" to begin taking classes in the fall of 2004. He originally enrolled at WSU taking 12 hours his first semester. School was never really his "thing." He hated high school, so needless to say this was not a decision that was made happily, but he knew it really was something that needed to be done. The following semester, he transferred to Cowley County Community College where he finished a Associates Degree in December of 2006. He then transferred back to WSU to start working on the remaining 2 years of his Bachelor's degree... Unfortunately, that 2 year program ended up taking 4 1/2 more years!! There were semesters/years taken off, semesters where he only took 3-6 hours at a time due to job changes, babies, and layoffs. He struggled for quite a while after we were both laid off in early 2009 (If you remember, he received his layoff notice 2 weeks after Rachel was born, and then I received mine his last day of work) He was off work 2 months, but thankfully found a job by the time my last day rolled around. Although he had a job, he absolutely hated it. After despising his job for over a year, he then realized how important this degree might be. We jointly made the decision he was going to do anything and everything he could to get done with school. In January of 2010, the "final battle" began. He knew if he really wanted to, he could be done in May 2011. At the time it seemed so far a way and it was going to require working full time (50 hours a week) and then going to school full time as well (the last 3 semester he didn't take less then 13 hours per semester. 13 hours may not seem like a lot, but believe me...when you leave the house at 7:30am and don't get home until almost 10:30pm every weeknight except Friday, it's A LOT! The last 3 semesters were 13 hours, 16 hours and then 13 again!) He has done everything he can the past year and a half to make this long awaited day possible, and I could not be more proud of anything he has ever done. He accomplished something many never thought he would. It's almost like he accomplished the impossible and he is a better, stronger person because of it. I respect the dedication and love the fact that he didn't want to do it, but knew he had to do it for me and our 2 beautiful children. How could I ask for anyone better in my life? He truly put our family at the center of his life, and I am so excited to see him every evening, all evening instead of waiting for him to get home just to go to bed. Our lives will forever be changed in so many ways that I know we never saw 6 1/2 years ago. I am so proud of all he has accomplished and the man he has become. Congratulations Brett, on all your hard work and on your Bachelor's Degree from Wichita State University in Business Management! I love and appreciate all the hard work you have done. May this be a day you remember all your life; I know it will be remembered by me.