today was graduation day!! after nine years of sweat and tears (literally), we returned to chicago for joseph to receive his doctorate degree.
on our way to campus, walking through hyde park. kind of a funny sight, but i suppose hyde parkers are used to it. people on the street were calling out congratulations!
waiting for the morning ceremony to begin.
the procession. YAY!!
the ceremony was held in the university quadrangle, which was a lovely backdrop with the trees and old buildings.
since the ceremony was two hours long, we opted to sit to the side for a bit more shade and room for rebecca to run around.
ipadding with uncle derek. kept her busy for a whole hour!
PhD!
proud brother and mom
proud wife and (also sleepy) baby
in the afternoon, there was a separate ceremony for the division of humanities for the hooding and handing out of diplomas.
getting hooded.
hot but happy!
our graduate 
6 Comments
congratulations Dr. Lam! beautiful family pictures.
You made it – all 3 of you! These are great pictures and congratulations.
Joseph and Sherwin,
Congratulations.
You all made after 9 years of hard work.
We are proud of you.
Dad and Mom
Well done Joe & Sherwin! And now a few words of friendly pastoral encouragement as you continue your journey.
“It is not the the critic who counts; not the one who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the one who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is no effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement . . . so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.”
-President Theodore Roosevelt
Blessings,
Jim
Thank you, Jim!
Congratuations! Now you can be all Dr&Dr Lam on your plane reservations