Gavin Griffin, TCU Graduate

Goals are a funny thing.  Often they seem so easy to set, and the path is so clear to get to them, until you start down that path. But sometimes as you stagger out of the road less traveled, you realize it was exactly the path for you afterall....

Gavin's journey to his degree was longer and more varied than most.  In total: 14 years, 3 schools, and some pretty major life accomplishments outside of academia.  He met a girl and helped her become what she was meant to be, including a mother.  He walked a very difficult path to becoming a father and is the most involved and loving dad I've ever meet.  He set off on a career that some people dream off, and others can't fathom and not only survived, but excelled, averting the obvious and more subtle pitfalls.  He's set records, travelled the world, and never lost himself in the glitz.  

I couldn't be prouder of him.

Husband, Father, Pet-dad, Uncle, Triple Crown Winner, Professional Poker Player, Writer, trivia buff, golfer, OC Resident, DnD nerd... college graduate is hardly the most impressive on the list, but now it's there!  The first time Gavin and I discussed him finishing his degree, I think he thought it was a pipe dream.  It sounded great, but it also seemed like it would be a huge pain.  Every time we would look into a new avenue, it would seem daunting.  When it would come up, I would encourage Gavin to keep trying.  So he kept taking a few classes.  Eventually we contacted TCU to find out about completing his degree there. Surprisingly, it seemed doable and they worked with us to make it happen.

It certainly wasn't without challenges.  A summer without daddy wasn't easy for anyone.  We are so lucky to have loving and accommodating grandmas to help fill the gap.  For us, the summer flew by: I was really too busy staying afloat to worry much.  We'd set a course and we were all chugging along to the finish line.

Our adventures in dorm living were pretty exciting and funny.  It's unlikely Colin will ever want to livin in a dorm with his mommy again so I cherished the time. <3

Daddy After his last class!

  

Future Frog?

As a peripheral benefit, we now have a college football team to cheer for!  Expect to see a bit more purple here come football season!! (Hopefully, at least....)

Gavin, I am so proud of you.  You started out with a goal, and you achieved it.  I love you, always.  Congratulations!!

Go Frogs!

I'm not a cute runner.

Gavin and I ran the 5k on Thanksgiving.  Mission Accomplished?  Yes.  Fun?  No.  Besides dodging walkers up and down sidewalks the entire race, our lack of proper preparation was evident and the lack of parking was miserable  Not to mention 11,000 people is too many people to deal with for your first race.  Still, we finished, I had some small sense of accomplishment and a feeling of not having given up.   

Then I get the lovely email surprise that there are photos of said event.  Searchable by name.  Ick.

I look terrible when I run.  Really, I look terrible when I work out or get too hot in general.  My face turns red and blotchy.  I pull my face muscles into strange and unnatural shapes.  Generally, it's just not good.

What was most frustrating is my posture in the photos isn't particularly good.  Oh well.  I did it.

The photos don't really motivate or unmotivate me, they just are.

In the meantime, I'm back to my goal of running just my little loop, 2-4 times a week with no planned races or goals, other than to keep going.  I fully expect this to by my last 'running' post for quite a while.