Well, here we are on graduation day! The long, awaited day we've been working so hard to get to. We knew it would come, we just didn't know the journey to get here would be so dang fun! We LOVED law school. We loved Durham, Duke, basketball, the weather, the east coast, the friends, the everything... it was all SO wonderful. And although we knew this day would come, where we would close this chapter we call "school", but it came far too quickly. We will miss you Duke. You've been good to us!
On our way into Cameron Indoor Stadium for the Duke Law Hooding ceremony, we noticed someone... not real hard to miss!! This 7 ft 1 in, Brian Zoubek (#55) played for Duke all 3 years we were here. He's also graduating this weekend and was walking around campus with his family. He was SO nice to stop and take a picture with us after Jack yelled, "Zooooobs" just like we do at the games. What a great graduation present!!
We went in and chose our seats. I was a little sad we didn't sit all together during graduation. Suzanne really wanted to sit high up in the bleachers because she liked that angle for pictures and I wanted to sit on the seats on the floor so we could see and hug John right after he walked. But who really cares when all is said and done, right?
The boys were getting a little wild, so I took Jack to find Daddy's name!!
After we had been waiting for what seemed like an eternity, I left the boys with my parents and went outside for a little breath of fresh air, and look who I found!! I love the expression on John's face in this picture. I felt an amazing amount of gratitude from him all day long. It was HIS special day, HE was the one graduating and he made ME feel like it was my day just as much as it was his. I don't know what I did to deserve such a good man, but I'll take him... Forever! He's so good to me.
When they got closer to John's name I started moving my way to the front. On my way up I saw our good friend, Ashley Clauss (a photographer) and asked her to take a few pictures just in case mine didn't turn out. Well, GOOD thing I asked her because Jack was hanging on my arm when John's name was called and mine were ALL blurry. 
So thanks Ash. Its' a fabulous picture!!
All I can say is... good thing there were two of us because John LOVED the pictures Suzanne took and the picture below clearly shows that he LOVED having us close! This picture (above) is what she got of him being hooded from where she was sitting.
Jack could not contain his excitement. He ran so fast up to his daddy when he was walking back to his seat. I didn't get my camera out in time to focus. Everything happened so fast, but Suzanne (once again) came through with her sweet photography skills from the balcony and amazing zoom! 
Here's what she got of that precious moment.
My parents were life savers keeping them quiet and seated the whole time!
There they are, all 210 of them!! The DUKE Law School Graduating class of 2010!!!First things first... He came to celebrate with his family :)
These boys are so proud of their daddy!
John's Parents: Steve and Suzanne
I'm pretty sure the last time we took a picture like this was at our wedding...Glade, Carol, Melanie, John, Suzanne, Steve
John's sister Kyanne
That hood represents a LOT of hard work and dedication. He earned that beauty.
Taylor Warner, Troy Stockton, Jess Cheney, Brian Mills, Kip Nelson, Carleton Clauss, Nate Witlock, John Gochnour.Here are (most of) the J. Rueben Clark members in the 2010 graduating class. We're missing Steve McIntyre and Seth.
Hubbies and Wives!Taylor and Loralee Warner, Shauntel and Jess Cheney, Brian and Lindsay Mills, Kip and Bridget Nelson, Melanie and John Gochnour, Ashley and Carleton Clauss
ooo la la!!FRIENDS
Molly Plummer is a dear friend. Besides being involved at school with a lot of things that John was, our boys loved her. She EVEN babysat for us... she rocks.
John Jacob, Risa Weaver, Rhead Enion
Us and Eric and Liz TeasdaleJonah and their little girl Ariana were due on the same day (but she came a month early!)
John and the amazing Kat Shea!!We love this girl :) She and John were voted friendliest in the Law School class. Yup, that's my husband ya'll!! He's so awesome. They were also both up for nomination to speak at Graduation. Kat was chosen and John was very relieved. He felt like there was no one more deserving. This girl will go far!!
Ryan Scofield, John, Kristin Cope
Wow, what a busy day. That night we took it easy! After a delicious dinner of cafe rio pulled pork salad, we delighted in Costco cupcakes and home made strawberry ice cream. All of John's favorite foods :)I'm so very proud of my graduate... my Juris Doctor!!
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