Countdown til Graduation: 4 weeks!!!

I can not believe my college career will be over in four short weeks. It has gone by so incredible fast and I honestly don't want it to end. I love my apartment, I love my roommates that have become my family, I love college life and I know I'm going to miss it all so much. I'm trying to take in every minute I can, but I might fall apart if I do that. I have 5 big projects to do in these next four weeks so I'm struggling to let go of all the social stuff to get my school work done. Classes have always gotten in the way of my social life, but somehow I manage.

One of the biggest projects I am working on to graduate with honors is on the Patriot Act. My thesis is "Has the war on terrorism become a war on our civil liberities?" What are your thoughts? It has been quite interesting as I have done my research. I have learned alot that I was not aware of and I'm not sure alot of people are. It is surprising how much power the government actually has and how little we know. Kinda scary!!!

Last week was our spring break and I went with a group of 17 to Chicago. We had so much fun and it was a great experience. All of us grew closer together like a family since we had to share a small apartment with only one bathroom. That was really interesting. We got to see and experience alot of neat things like the green river for St. Patricks, Obama's church on Palm Sunday, a minninite community and alot of South Chicago. I have tons of stories, but you can ask me about them if you really want to know. I am going to miss opportunities like that, because when you are grown up you don't get to go on trips like that, much less have a spring break.

I guess that is about all for now. Have a wonderful day!!!

The luckiest girl

There are several reasons why I am a lucky or blessed girl. I have everything I need and want, an amazing family, awesome friends, a great job, a place to live, several opportunities... I could go on forever probably, but I want to take this time to tell you how lucky I am to have found a guy that defines love for me in a whole new way. I have said "i love you" to my family, friends and two other guys that I thought I loved and I'm sure I did at one point, but not the love that God intended me to have for the rest of my life.

Landon entered my life when I was least expecting it. Getting out of a serious, long relationship with some baggage, I wasn't looking to jump into anything else anytime soon. I had known him for a while after meeting him my first week of my freshman year. He was the hot upper classman that I flirted with from time to time, but God wasn't ready for me to be with him just yet. I think he wanted me to experience life a little more and learn some more lessons. He's pretty smart, because without that, I don't think I would appreciate the person he is as much as I do now.

After much talking back and forth and knowing he was interested in me, we finally went on our first date. I found out later that he cut his vacation time short just to have the opportunity to take me out. How sweet! I remember sitting in the theatre of the movie he took me to thinking, am I really ready to start all over again...and apparently I was.

It has been seven months now that we have been together and it has flown by. I have enjoyed every second I have spent with him and seeing how our relationship has grown and changed. We have both been through alot in our pasts that has helped us love and appreciate each other that much more. He is so much fun to be with and a perfect balance to my personality. I could not thank God enough for putting him in my life. I can hardly wait to see what the future holds for us.

Sorry if that was a little long. He is one of my favorite subjects to talk about. Lol!

Here's to Brodee

For those of you who don't know, Brodee is my adorable new baby nephew. He is the cutest baby I have ever seen and I am not biased at all. It was so fun to see him smile, make little noises and roll over. I think the rolling over part was my favorite because he would roll onto his tummy and then get stuck there. I'm not sure if I will make that great of a mom because I just laughed when he was crying to turn back over. It was the cutest thing, but I felt kinda bad. He also loved to look at Landon which was cute. We had fun spending time with him, Neena and Josh of course. We got to go to alot of fun restaurants, shop, and go to their new church. Everyone seemed really nice and I think it will be a great place for Josh, Neena and Brodee.

Friday night when we were there, Josh let me go into Brodee's room to watch him sleep. It was probably the most precious thing I had ever seen. Later when I was laying in bed, I started thinking about this cute little boy that has entered my life. It is crazy to think that Neena and Josh have a baby now, but let me just say that they are both doing a wonderful job at being parents. Who would have thought that Neena, the one who was scared of babies, would be such a great mom, but she is AMAZING! I love watching her with Brodee and how much she loves him and how he knows that is his mommy. There is such a sweet connection between a mom and her child.

I also thought about him growing up and the several stages he will go through. From walking and talking, to elementray school, being scared of girls, the awkward middle school years, playing sports, high school and him being the stud that I know he will grow up to be (look at his parents!), dating, and college. I am so excited to see him on this journey and I hope I can be a positive influence in his life and of course the cool aunt. The one that lets him do things his parents won't.

I love you Brodee and pray for you daily. God has blessed you with tons of people that love you so much already. I pray that your life is filled with excitement and adventure, but that you always keep God first. I miss you and can't wait to see that beautiful smile!