A 40-year veteran of the social work field came up to me on Monday and said, "So, you're AB...D?" I replied, "I'm not sure what you mean."
He said, "AB...D--All but degree!"
Then, I smiled from ear-to-ear and said, "Yes, I'm AB...D!"
Apparently this is a phrase that they used "in his day" for people who were working on their PhD and only had their dissertation left to finish.

Well, my last final was Monday, my grades are in, my cap and gown are ready to go! My career as a social worker officially begins on May 16th. The only thing left to do is to take and pass the LGSW before the baby comes, and I am scheduled for that in a few weeks.

Thank you to everyone who has walked this journey with me. What a difficult two years it has been, but I do feel that God has taught me more about Him and about myself. Thanks to all of my wonderful professors who endured with me during that tragic first semester (Gioia, Meyer--on sabbatical, Kunz--who is no longer here, Demidenko, and P. Smith), who were gracious and compassionate to me when the world around me was crumbling--I will remember your kindness the most.

So, onward to the future--Emmanuel Jadon Foster is scheduled to be born on July 12, 2008. His name means, "God with us." I think that is a fitting name after what we have endured for the last two years.

With gratitude, Carmen