DUKE

 Over the weekend of May 8, we took a 5 hr road trip to Raleigh Durham N.C and attended the graduation of my younger brother Aaron "Rocco" LaBarbera.  He got his MBA from Duke WHILE being seminary teacher, WHILE working for a top 5 accounting firm Deloitte and Touche in Los Angeles, WHILE being married.  He took his MBA via the executive route so he traveled to NC every 3 months for 2 years for this feat.  

Upon the completion of all the commencements, Aaron and Reghan took us all out to the BEST BBQ restaurant I've ever been too.  "The Shack" and we all ate like little BBQ pot-bellied pigs!

Do you see who spoke at the Duke ceremony?  See that lady waving up there?  Oh yeah, yes it ladies, it's OPRAH!  My lady.  She did a great job.  Very cool.  I was about ready to get up there on stage and do my "Who let the Dogs Out" dance like I did at her pre-show when I saw her in Chicago!  (Remember Kendra?)

Duke has some of the most beautiful old stone buildings on their campus.  Very old, very traditional, very beautiful.

Future MBA grad.  Rock on Austin and Rocco.

CONGRATS ROCCO!

2 Handsome Blue Devils!

And CONGRATS to Reghan who did all the supporting and behind the scenes work.  She is an amazing wife to Rocco.    

I am very thankful for my family.  We are extremely tight and close.  We all talk to each other many times a week/day, etc.  I'm glad that I come from a family that I know always has my best interest in mind and would do absolutely anything for me, anytime.  Truly.  

We live in different parts of the U.S. Miami, Boston, Florida, L.A., Charleston and DC.  But that doesn't stop us from visiting, talking and staying deeply involved in our big extended family's lives. 

Something else I love about my family is that we always stand up for one another.  You don't turn your back on them.  No matter what, we're there for one another.

I want to raise my kids the way I know, which is nothing is more important than family.  

I love you guys.