A night on the town and Finals Week

To follow up, Austin suprised me with a fabulous night last Thursday. He arrived at my door with a beautiful spring bouquet and a presents: a new Leeland CD and five panes of stained glass for me to work with... I was so excited. I've been carrying these flowers around my apartment so I can look at them wherever I sit.

Our first part of the adventure was a trip to a posh sushi restaurant in a town near Indy called Broad Ripple. We ordered three different rolls and enjoyed them all... I had talked to him once or twice about us going to get sushi together. The orange dots on the sushi was caviar... hmm...

Then we parked near downtown, walking to our next appointment... We walked around, I had no clue what we were doing next, and stopped at a horse and carriage. I giggled with surprise as Austin said "I have a reservation for Austin Rampey." It was such a beautiful night. We rode around the city. Austin gave me one more gift: a beautiful book that he made from birch bark, complete with poems he has written for me.

As we trotted around the city, he read the poems to me, and at the end of the book he told me that he loves me. It was so special.

It is now finals week at school. I made a fort under my roommate's unbunked bed last night after we pushed them together for our last few days in our room together... I fell asleep in my fort while studying for my finals.

I get to go home on Thursday!

Two Years

Tomorrow (the 19th), Austin and I celebrate two years of dating. We don't like to call it an anniversary because that word belongs to married couples. So we call it our special day. It hardly feels like we have been dating for that long. It isn't that long, but at the same time, I look back and remember all that we have done together and how much we've learned since we first declared that we liked each other, and it feels like I've always known him. He's taking me on a secret date tomorrow... He won't tell me yet what I need to wear because I am so deft at figuring out his secrets. He has learned not to divulge any hints, because I will guess and ruin the suprise. Oh well... So I am excited for a fun evening enjoying the time with my boyfriend.

Freshman year goofballs... Spring Break when we first started to really like each other.

Oh, getting a little more serious. Here we are with twinkles in our eyes for each other near the end of Freshman year very close to when we started dating.
An ice-skating excursion during our Sophomore Year. I especially like Austin's facial expression... I think he kinda likes me too.
Easter Break #2 for us at my house in Ohio... This night we had a special 1 year celebration... Our eyes are still twinkly.
There's nothing like summertime. It's hard to spend those warm, homeworkless days without the one you care so much about... Thankfully, Austin and I got to see each other quite a bit last summer. Here we were watching fireworks on the Fourth of July with my fam. What fun memories.

Fall Break of our Junior Year, we went to Iowa to visit Andrew and Melanie and little Samuel, and a very ripe apple orchard... Yum.

Austin and his team won the intramural football finals... I occasionally made it out to watch them play in the cold.
Still Goofballs on Christmas Break... It's funny, this year at school, we haven't spent a break apart. I am glad he hasn't gotten tired of my company.
Dressed up for his suite's party. He sure does look good in that suit.

It has been a great two years!

Words

Today in my writing class, we analyzed the style of our writing--Sorting through each sentence, identifying subjects and verbs. I discovered that I am a boring writer. In one paragraph, I used the subject and verb "I was" nearly five times. Goodness me...

Some other words... "WILL YOU MARRY ME?" Said Gabe. And Libby said, "YES, Of course!"

Friday night, she called my phone about five times, and Austin's phone twice. I knew it once we actually talked that she was going to share something BIG with me.

Here is the Happy Couple. She says Gabe is SOOOOO happy.

Here is her Beautiful RING... Way to go Gabe!

Hold it up to the light...

This David Wilcox song encouraged me when I had trouble deciding between art and nursing. It seems to resonate in my ears as I continue to sift through the choices that lay before me every day. I hope you enjoy and remember these lyrics.

It's the choice of a lifetime - I'm almost sure
I will not live my life in between anymore
If I can't be certain of all that's in store
This far it feels so rightI will hold it up - hold it up to the light,
Hold it up to the light, hold it up to the light

The search for my future has brought me here
This is more than I'd hoped for, but sometimes I fear
That the choice I was made for will someday appear
And I'll be too late for that flight
So hold it up - hold it up to the light,
Hold it up to the light, hold it up to the light

It's too late - to be stopped at the crossroads
Each life here - a possible way
But wait - and they all will be lost roads
Each road's getting shorter the longer I stay

Now as soon as I'm moving - my choice is good
This way comes through right where I prayed that it would
If I keep my eyes open and look where I should
Somehow all of the signs are in sight
If I hold it up to the light

I said God, will you bless this decision?
I'm scared, Is my life at stake?
But I see if you gave me a vision
Would I never have reason to use my faith?

I was dead with deciding - afraid to choose
I was mourning the loss of the choices I'd lose
But there's no choice at all if I don't make my move
And trust that the timing is right
Yes and hold it up hold it up to the light
Hold it up to the light, hold it up to the light

Fancy-Schmancy

Well numero uno, Libby and I are cute spring flowers thanks to Michelle!




Last night, Austin and the guys in his apartment had a party for their friends-- VIP style and here we are all dressed up.

Bethany, Liz, and Me

Michael, Bjorn, and Austin