Day Nine: Seminary Graduation.

Today, in the entirety of its simplicity, was absolutely wonderful.

I got up early. Got ready for church. Prepared my talk that I was to give at the Seminary Graduation and then left an hour early to fill out my church "funds" the appropriate way. So I got there (took like five whole minutes of driving) filled out what I needed and then started reading my scriptures. I wasn't sitting there long before this boy rounded the corner and stopped in front of me. And, of course, when someone is staring at you, it becomes nearly impossible to ignore them, so I looked up.

"Do you have any idea what's going on?" He asked looking around confused.

What? Was he talking to me? -And what is he talking about? Of course I know what's going on. Church. Duh. "Erm, yeah. There's a ward that's meeting here now and they'll be out of their first set of classes in about five minutes and then another ward starts in half an hour."

He seemed a little relieved -or less confused at any rate, then sat down next to me, well, a few seats down. We were in the hallway waiting.

"So what's the ward that meets at eleven thirty?" He asked.

"Lees Summit Second Ward. That's mine. Is that the one you're looking for?"

Well, yeah. Anyway. We talked for the rest of thirty minutes. Mostly about each others lives. Turns out the boy -Oh and I guess it would help with the mental image if I told you how very good-looking this boy was. Like I was totally confused as to why he'd even choose to sit by me, let alone talk to me. I mean, weren't all the gorgeous looking guys usually big shallow stinkers? Well, He must have been the one exception. He certainly didn't seem like a shallow stinker.

He's a model to tell you the truth. Yeah. I was surprised too. He said the occupation just sort of "fell into his lap" and that he simply decided to go with it. He says he enjoys it, but then again there are a few days that he really does not like. He mentioned, upon my questioning him, that he did have to wear things that he normally wouldn't. Like gigantic ugly fur coats. I even asked him what he was mainly posing for now. Let's just say that after he gave the answer I wish I hadn't asked...

Aside from being very good-looking, he had a very good personality too. Very funny. He always had something witty to say. He sat by me during Sacrament Meeting. We were both alone and he didn't really know anyone else. He's sort of been inactive for a while. He usually has to work every Sunday. He felt that he needed to go and then did. "I'm really proud of myself too," He said after the meeting ended. He couldn't stay any longer as he had a Run-way Show at four and needed to get ready. His parents are members, too. He's twenty one and hasn't gone on a mission yet. I say 'yet' merely because he still could; He, however, doubts that will happen. And sadly, he's probably right.

Anyway, about his personality. During Sacrament meeting we sat in a row behind a mother and her infant daughter. During the opening hymn the girl just started sticking her tongue at the boy -randomly I take it, I can't imagine why she'd have a grudge against him :P. So anyway, the boy -Whose name is actually Aaron Groll. "Like Troll only with a 'G'" -started sticking his tongue out too! It was so funny!

And like I said, he had to leave after Sacrament Meeting, but he said he was really happy he came. He enjoyed Testimony Meeting and said he'd try to come next Sunday. When we were saying goodbye my Seminary -or rather "former" Seminary - teacher stopped me and had me introduce her to "my friend." Cherlyn, my teacher, was really funny! She was practically bobbing up and down at this newcomer at my side. She invited me to dinner and then invited Aaron too! It was funny, but of course he had to work. How awkward would that have been!? Haha! After he left I was bombarded with questions concerning the tall, dark, handsome boy who was practically glued to my side. One of my Young Women's leaders, just as I entered the young women's room, peppered me with questions! -"Did you bring a guy to church!?" She demanded with total surprise. I told her no, and that he just sort of appeared out of nowhere and just happened to follow me into the chapel.

Well, I'm not sure why I'm telling you this, but in all truth it did add up to that "absolutely wonderful day" I was just talking about. I'll move on to the next reason now.

I had lunch at Cheryln's house with her husband, mother, daughter, and her daughter's husband. We had roast, cottage-cheese, rolls, and the most delicious watermelon I've had in a very long time! The conversation was good. Afterwards I was able to read more of my scriptures and just observe the family. Then, at about, fifteen after five o'clock, I headed for the church in my car with Cheryln behind me in hers. The Seminary Graduation started at six, but the seniors were all asked to arrive a half hour early.

So, a half an hour later all of the seniors in the Stake walked in single file through the Cultural Hall while the audience stood in our honor. I'd have preferred to skip that bit, but was forced to proceed. The less attention I draw to myself the better. I was already going to have to give a talk in front of everyone, why make it worse?

Well, as all the seniors sat in the first two rows (and don't get me wrong, there weren't nearly enough seniors to fill even the first row.) I got to sit in the hot spot. On the stand. Right in front of everyone. Ugh.

During the opening hymn I learned something about myself that I had not previously known. While I was singing the hymn I held the book out in front of me with one hand and balled the other in a fist on my lap. I noticed as the second verse came around that the hymn book in my hands was slowly moving. Sliding down my palm. I caught it before it fell and then automatically flipped the book over to see the cause. I was somewhat surprised to see my hand print on the cover. Yup. I was sweating. My hands, were sweating. I didn't even know hands could do that! I mean, I did, it's just, never thought of myself as that kind of person... Huh. So yeah. Aside from getting heat strokes and having my heart pound like hundreds of grenades being thrown against the inside of my chest and thousands of little butterflies crammed inside my stomach -my hands get sweaty too. How lovely! I'm hopeless!

I was the third youth speaker. The last. That made me happy. But then the pressure of leaving everyone with 'high spirits' was a little intimidating. I was SO nervous! I got up to the stand and practically had to grab the pulpit for support! My voice was so incredibly off -shaking insanely too much -and I was sure that the entire audience could hear every beat of my heart.

The start of my talk was rough. Just trying to keep myself from rushing to the end and concentrating on not blurring the words together. It took a lot of effort to go as slow as I did. Whenever my voice started to shake I'd try and swallow to try and calm myself, but my mouth was completely dry. There wasn't even the tiniest bit of moisture there! The middle of my talk was good. I had had time to calm most of my nerves and just spoke to the audience. That was the good part. And then the end. That was rough. Not because I was nervous but because of the things I was saying. As cheesy at it may sounds I really felt the Spirit in what I was saying. It took a lot of effort not to burst out in my infamous waterworks. Boy. It was tough. But I managed.

After the ceremony was over, well actually even during the ceremony, I was congratulated for that "wonderful talk I gave" by several people who I didn't know along with nearly everyone I did know. I was told that the talk was good and that it didn't even sound as if I was nervous in the slightest. Wow! But aside from the talk it was still a very good night for me. I graduated Seminary! Like I actually graduated! Me! Graduated! Four whole years of getting up around five o'clock in the morning just to study the scriptures. Whoa! I mean, I'm done! No more getting up early! No more having to be extra tired when I go to school. No more spending time with fellow students. No more early morning discussions. No more wonderful Seminary teachers... No more having that Daily Spiritual dosage every morning...No more Seminary....

...I think I'm going through withdrawal.

After refreshments I went back to Cherlyn's house. We made ourselves comfortable on her bed and then she read to me the first chapter of the next and final book in the Twilight Series. It was incredible! I totally can't wait for it to come out! Then, when that was finished, I dropped the book of at it's owners house, who happened to live on the opposite side of town and then chatted with her for a few minutes and then came home.

So here I am. Alone. Bubbling with the excitement over today's events. Wishing someone were here to share it with... Today was really good. And even though today's events were small, this day has probably made it to my Top Ten best days of all eighteen years of my life. It seems like everything went perfect today! Well, aside from the fact that Cheryln's dog chewed up my only pair of church shoes. -But hey, I'm still happy!

I really thought that today was going to be rather sad for me. I mean, no one was there to see me graduate. Well, no one related to me, anyway. No cousins. No parents. No annoying brothers. No family members at all. I thought that it would be rather hard on me. And it probably would have been had I not had such a wonderful time. I think most of it is due to my amazing former Seminary teacher. If it hadn't been for Cherlyn today, I wouldn't be nearly as excited. Today would have just been....graduation. I mean, how dull would that have been?