Luke is DUN!!

Growing up, every time my family traveled to Disney World, it seemed like something crazy happened. There was lost luggage, missed flights, and flashers at the hotel! Whenever something would happen, we adopted a catch phrase, “I bet this never happens to the Coles!” You see, our friends, The Coles, could decide on a Thursday night to go to the most magical place on earth and were there by Saturday. Their plans always seemed seamless, and we would plan for months to have everything bust at the seams. Nevertheless, both of our families always ended up at the Magic Kingdom.

Now, what does this have to do with law school graduation? Let me start with the Tuesday before. I had a gazillion errands to do while the kid’s were at MDO and Luke was in Oxford turning in his last paper. About 8 errands in, my car died. And not in the way that I needed jumper cables. I could tell it was the transmission, so I parked it and found a ride to pick up the kids. Amazingly, the car lasted until the very last day that we needed to have two cars!The next day, Luke towed me home…another fun, first experience. I worked that night (Wednesday) 12 hours, and when I got home Thursday morning, I went to get Preston out of bed, he puked. 5 times. Luke got Kate ready for MDO, I went to bed, and Luke and Pres headed to Oxford to pick up his cap and gown. Luke brought Preston back home about 1:30 because he had thrown up several more times, and he headed out to get Kate. This wouldn't usually be a big deal, but I had gone to sleep at 9, gotten up at 1:30, and had to go back to work that night. On Friday morning, Luke calls me and says he is sick too. I assured him it was all in his head and he would be fine to watch the kids for me to sleep. HA! What a sympathetic nurse I am :) By the time I got home from work, he had puked twice and looked absolutely terrible! I quickly put him to bed and called my dad. I knew he was supposed to be painting the den at my parents’ house, but I had to get a nap because I was on the verge of tears! I slept for 3 hours and got up to go get them. I finished getting everything together for Saturday…the Big Day!  I got everything ready for the graduation picnic and went to bed. Saturday morning, Luke was supposed to ride with my parents to convocation, because the kids and I werent going until actual graduation 2 hours later (and we only have 1 car at this point.) There was a little confusion on what time they were supposed to arrive in Oxford, and Luke got nervous about being late. They came and got him, and we smiled and said see ya in 2 hours!! As I started loading the car with me, two kids, and enough party supplies for 20 people for lunch, I realized that not only did I not have the keys to Luke’s truck, but that the car seats were locked in there! I knew they were in Luke’s pocket after all the confusion about who was riding where. I called my sister in a panic, she calmly turned around, got car seats from my moms house, and came and got me and the kids. I ran up breathlessly walked up calmly, passed off the kids to a babysitter I had never met (thanks, Amy, she was perfect!) and sat down as graduation started! We had made it to the Magic Kingdom!
After that, the rain held off, Luke graduated Magna Cum Laude, and we had a wonderful time celebrating with our families! My little brother, Blake, also graduated from that north MS school with his MBA, so my parents and siblings were across campus watching him. I can not tell you how proud I am of my husband for doing so well in school while adding a child to our family, surviving a wreck, and being an amazing husband all at the same time. When we started this adventure three years ago, I would have never imagined what we would have gone through to get to the end. I am so glad we are there, and I am so excited to start this next chapter in our lives! There is no one I would rather share my craziness with! And as long as we make it to the Magic Kingdom, I am ready to go!
 
The whole family
 
Wait, we forgot the kids!

and again!

As my precious BIL, Brett, said, “Yalls lives sure seem hectic!”