fiesta de Ande

Last night we had a Fiesta de Ande, a Cinco de Mayo-themed graduation party for my husband. I have always wanted to have a party for Ande. Now seemed like the time. Graduation is always a big deal. This one is a huge deal, at least to me. Ande started RTS a few weeks after we began dating in 2001. I was dating a seminary student. Fast-forward five months later when we became engaged. I was engaged to a seminary student. Fast forward seven months later when we were married. I was married to a seminary student. Continue fast forwarding for three years, five months. Seminary student. It’s always been a large part of our life together. The studying late into the night. The writing of millions of papers. The giant checks we wrote for tuition. The identity of being a seminary student and the wife of a seminary student. Now, this chapter is ending. In less than two weeks, the graduation ceremony will take place. YAY!!!!!!

My favorite part about finishing up graduate school was that I no longer had to spend my time at home studying. After grad school, when I was at work, I worked. When I came home, I didn’t work. The life of a student means you work at work (school) and then come home to work some more (studying). Soon (in fact, very soon) after I graduated, I forgot what it was like to have all the pressure of a huge test or a huge paper to write. I am excited that my husband will soon forget that pressure.

This weekend lots of family came to visit for the party: Ande’s parents, my parents, my brother and his wife and their daughter. Fun times. And our friends. Did I mention that we have great friends? Our friends helped plan, cook, set-up, and clean up for this party. Amazing. God has graciously blessed us with an amazing community of friends here…something we don’t take for granted because we have also spent time without such a community. So a huge thanks again to all who came, family and friends, to help us celebrate. Enjoy the pictures…