Sunday Picnic

Last Sunday was so much fun! Luke and I decided that we would spend one day of my weekend off (hooray) hiking on Skyline Drive. So, of course we invited some friends along! Abby, who finally moved in to the burg, and Katie and Jeff. You might remember Jeff from The Cinnamon Challenge, turns out we did not scare him off to bad and he wanted to hang out with us again! YAY!

Anyway, we packed an awesome picnic on Sunday: turkey sandwiches, chips, watermelon, apples, and diet cokes (duh). The weather was looking right and church was amazing as always. BUT as soon as we got out of church the sky started getting darker and darker. By the time we got to Katie's house it was POURING and we thought our day on the trails was over...we just threw our towel on the floor and decided we would have a picnic no matter what:

Katie even got out here umbrellas for us to put in our diet cokes :)

So our picnic was not quite as scenic as the picnic table we pictured on the overlook...but we of course we had a blast.

After spending sometime eating, we decided we would try to hike anyway (even though the sky was looking pretty dark on our way up the mountain). But, just like Luke said, it cleared up just as we were parking for our hike. We ended up going a few miles to Dark Hollow Falls and saw a beautiful waterfall!

And as always when you are on the trail, there is always an interesting route to get to the safest "bathroom":

We came prepared for a water hole, but there didn't seem to be one...and I was upset. To make me feel better, Katie decided she would get in "up to her knees" in the little hole of water we found along the trail. Too bad she slipped and went in a little farther than planned! I told her it made up for the night we went out to sing karaoke and she didn't sing (which is a fun night I will have to write about later).



After a long and steep walk back up, we got in the car to head home. But, we had to stop (like true tourists) and take some pictures of the beautiful deer we saw in Big Meadows.


I am so glad that the Lord gave us Sundays to take a break from life, work, cleaning, etc. and we can enjoy his creation on a hike with amazing friends! I can't wait to head back to Skyline in the fall...it is SO beautiful!

Freshmen Move-In

I had the JOY of directing HUNDREDS of JMU parents/students as they moved into Potomac hall this week (which is a super nice dorm..i mean residence hall...I have to get my ORL terminology down).


First of all, I got to be the first person to welcome these students to JMU which felt really fun and put the pressure on. This is how it worked:

I waved the cars in with my purple shirt on and a big smile!

I said "Welcome to JMU Ya'll!! Are you excited?"

At that point, people from New Jersey, Massachusetts, Minnesota (lots of people from up North go to JMU) gave me a funny look with my southern accent and use of the word ya'll and gave me a little laugh. I am sure they were thinking, "Well my daughter/son will be going to school with a lot of rednecks." HAHA, if they could only meet my mom.

Lastly, I told the student to go get their room key and gave the parents unloading instructions and things went SO smoothly.

During the 8 hours in the past 2 days that I did this, I made a few observations about parents. There were 3 types that I ran into:

1. The embarrassing dad. These dads were full of energy and excitement and could not wait to embarrass their son or daughter (mainly daughters). I had several chuckle and say "Are we at VA tech??" or telling me they were freshman. I even had a few drive up singing some JMU chants. These were my favorites.

2. The pissed parents. These were the type that had a huge fight while packing/driving and wanted nothing to do with each other (it is an emotional day for most). They hardly cracked a smile and their poor student the back was nervously smiling.

3. The worrying mother. These worried moms were asking me a million questions and looked like they were on the verge of tears in any second. One time I asked the JMU student (a guy) to get out of the car and go sign in and I thought his mom thought I was taking him away forever. During some of my downtime I began thinking about what it would be like to drop of my kid to college for the first time. And because it is the "Trail of Tears" summer I almost started crying...pathetic right? I don't even know what to do with this new side of me.

When I headed home yesterday I called my mom and wanted to know what it was like to drop of Dereck and I at college. She reminded me that she had to move me in early because I had 2 weeks of pre-season for cheerleading. Apparently, she wanted to go into our cheer meeting to meet my coach but I was really embarrassed and did not want her to come. Last minute, I decided she could and after she shook hands she said she left, turned the corner of the gym and started crying like a baby. How sweet!

She told me that when her and my dad drove Dereck up to ASU they unpacked, left, and then pulled over to a gas station and got a 6 pack of bud light to drink. HAHA. I cracked up when I heard that.

I loved being a part of move-in this year and can't wait to get to know some of these freshmen men and women during the school year!

What was your move-in day like?!

The New Billy Madison

OK so maybe I don't have to go all the way back to kindergarten like Billy...but this 26 year old girl is headed back to school to get her masters. I've ordered my books, met the 12 awesome people in my cohort, started my assitantship, gotten my FAFSA together...and there is only one thing left:

SCHOOL SUPPLIES.

I have officially been out of college for over 4 years now and I have no idea what school supplies to get. Do I go with a trapper keeper (Lisa Frank of course) like I did in my earlier years?

Or, do I get a big notebook for each of my classes with folders to put extra hand-outs in? Or, get a 3-ring binder for each class??

Am I going to be "old school" if I write out my notes? I mean I am the oldest in my program...and I don't want to be out of style! So, does that mean I need to bring my laptop with me to type out all my notes? Will that be to distracting?

And as far as what to carry my books in...do grad students use book bags or over the shoulder bags? I have a cute bag to carry my stuff in, but I am afraid it is too small. If I do carry my book bag (which is a really cool purple one btw) how do I carry it? Is it OK to do the one shoulder thing as I carry it and wear it down by my butt (haha jk, remember when that was the ONLY way to wear your book bag)?

Do people still use pencil boxes? I'm pretty sure I still my old hello kitty one laying around somewhere...complete with a pencil sharper on the side (oh snap!).


Seriously, ya'll, I need your help! Any of you who are in school, let me know!

And, in case you are wondering...the first day of school outfit is SO already picked out!

Beauty in the Breakdown

So, I never get deep on here...but here we go!

I've also never really been one to "lose it" as some might say. I have a pretty high capacity for doing things and I usually adjust well to change.

I remember my first major breakdown was about 2 years ago when Luke and I went to one of our favorite restaurants, Taste of Thai, and decided to get2o entrees and share them. Luke ordered curry and I order Pad Thai, but I really was more interested in the curry. When the waitress brought out our food Luke started going to town on his curry, eating all the rice and just enjoying himself. And then I cried. Yes, I cried over there not being enough food. I am sure people were looking at us and thinking "that guy better run and run now!" So the tears came because of too little rice, but underneath it all was me feeling like I could not control anything in my job, life, etc. And one of the few things I thought I could control, what I wanted to eat, was even being taken from me.

Luke and I laugh about that dinner all the time now.

And this summer has been what I am going to call "The trail of tears."

I NEVER cry. NEVER. But this summer I managed to cry over watching one stupid episode of Extreme Makeover Home Edition (I hate that show by the way), the movie Soul Surfer, and listening to my family sing me Happy Birthday over the phone. I also cried for the first time during a wedding (besides my own). And embarrassingly, over Luke not getting the correct items at the grocery store.

All that to say, this has been quite the interesting summer. Lots of life change all at once...

1. I left IV staff and started my assitantship for graduate school at JMU
2. Most of my closest friends in Harrisonburg moved.
3. Luke and I moved into a new townhouse.
4. Luke got a new job and starts tomorrow!
5. I started training students and have been working up to 12 hours a day for the past 3 weeks.
6. I also started experiencing terrible headaches!
7. Going from DINKS (double income no kids) to one income and a small GA stipend.

With all of these life changes, and taking new medicine to help "cure" my headaches my life has been quite the emotional roller coaster. The medicine I was taking was making everything listed above into a WAY bigger deal than it actually was and led me into more breakdowns than ever before (though the headaches were gone). Poor Luke.

I guess we need a definition of breakdown before I continue. I will define it as the act of loosing control of emotions and life which leads to crying, anger, bitterness, and at the end, relief .

So, I decided to stop taking the meds, thanks to my supervisor at work suggesting going to a chiropractor to help with my headaches. I was a little skeptical at first, but decided to give it a try and boy am I glad I did. I basically found out my neck is messed up--thanks to the 15 plus years of cheerleading. Your neck, from the side, is supposed to be curved. Mine is almost completely straight, and from the back in veers to the right. What we found out is my arteries that provide blood to my head are being party blocked (like a hose with a knot in it) because of my misshaped neck which is causing the headaches! Now I am going to the chiropractor 3 times a week to get adjusted and hopefully getting my neck back in place. It is a lot of time, money, energy, etc but anything is better than being a crazy person.

So, now the breakdowns are decreasing, and Luke and I are one happy family again. We learned a lot about ourselves during this time and I think the major thing breakdowns have taught me is...I need God. There is no way that we are meant to be independent from him. Every time I was hitting my wall it was because I was trying to control something...but God has to be the one in control! He is way bigger than me and the "first world worries" (one of my students uses that phrase all the time) I deal with on a daily basis.

On a lighter note, Luke and I formed this list of things husbands, friends, significant others, etc. need to know when their loved one is going through a season of breakdowns.

1. ALWAYS have white wine in the fridge and ready to go.
2. Sometimes you just have to let her be mad and talk to her mom.
3. Make sure the house is clean when she comes home, she doesn't need to freak out about that too.
4. Understand that, this to shall pass...
5. If she says "no" to something you want to do, it is nothing against you it just means she really does want to sit on her butt and watch HGTV or Dance Moms.
6. Sometimes not saying anything is the best thing one can do.

So I think the song is true, there really is beauty in the breakdown. It reminds of our need for God and our helplessness without him. And how much "getting it out" helps us heal and move on.

Our 1 Year Anniversary Adventure

Luke and I celebrated our one year anniversary last weekend! Living in the valley, there are so many day trips that we have wanted to do forever...so we felt like our anniversary would be the perfect chance to do just that. When driving on 81 (which, unfortunately, we do a lot) we always see signs for all kinds of "caverns," and we heard they were beautiful. We did some research and decided on Luray Caverns about 45 minutes from here.

So picture this: A romantic walk in the caves, holding hands, pointing out beautiful rock features, and falling more and more in love....

yea, thats what I thought it would be too. But, let me tell you...Luray Caverns was the exact opposite (those fliers tricked us big time). It was more like Disney World for Rednecks. There were people from EVERYWHERE there taking their families in RVs on a cheap vacation to the mountains of VA. People from West Virginia, Florida, Maryland, New York, NC, New Jersey, etc...lets put the emphasis on West Virginia, if you know what I mean? And what I thought would be a romantic journey in the caves was more like them pushing thousands of people through as quickly as possible (which was not so quick). I felt like I was waiting in a line for Space Mountain at Disney World, only there was no exciting ride at the end.

Some of the stampede we were with in the caverns...

but, the caverns were beautiful nonetheless

Now, some couples might have seen this trip as a failure considering it was probably the least romantic thing we could probably do on a Saturday; however, Luke and I totally embraced it. We laughed constantly, and Luke entertained himself by "crop dusting" several times in the caves which was RANCID, but hilarious! We checked out some of the surrounding attractions like the tiny town of Luray's museum and Carriage and Automobile museum next door. We even dropped in a few stores in downtown Luray, which was a sweet little town.


So the first part of our anniversary was more like a honeymoon for those on "My Redneck Wedding," however; our dinner would be a dream even for the Real Housewives of NY. I mean, it was unreal. We were so blessed to have a gift certificate to the one and only Joshua Wilton House from Lisa and Brandon- which without it we never would have been able to afford (thanks guys!). It was recently featured in Southern Living and now we know why.

This place used to be a fraternity house before becoming an inn!

First, we went to clementines to have my favorite drink (Skinny Pink) and then headed to the restaurant for the best meal of both of our lives, and yes I took pictures of every course (too good not to document)...check it out:

Quail for appetizer

all local food and veggies for you advocates out there

words just don't do it justice...

Soft Shell Crab that made Luke go crazy

We tried to keep our manners and not lick the bowl...

Thats right, we had quail for an appetizer, followed by delicious salads, and our entrees. Luke got soft shell crab and I had the most mouth-watering fillet of all time. Even this one beat Dad's (which has never happened before in history). And of course we had to end with some creme brulee...made especially for us! Luke's quote at the end of the night: " I am so glad I didn't die a virgin or without eating at the Joshua Wilton House."

After an orgasmic experience eating...we headed home to watch our wedding video--which gets better and better every time we see it! If you have not seen it, you have to--it is hilarious--and really sweet and romantic too :)

Here's to one year and many more to come! I love you Luke!

Always a bridesmaid....

and once a bride (366 days ago to be exact)!

Ahh just at the end of one amazing wedding season...I got the BEST beginning to next summer's season ahead!

Remember Lisa and Brandon's engagement? And how adorably precious and awesome they are?!

It only makes sense that she would think of such a creative and cutsie (yes, cutsie) way to ask me to be one of her bridesmaids...

let me tell you that cookie was as delicious as it looked!

I couldn't have imagined saying "I do" without you either! Can't wait for the big day next June :)