confession:

sometimes I hate football.

12 days

is too long to be away from my love. I hate hate hate hate hate it. It's sad. :(

In case you don't know, he's something pretty spectacular. His life, and who he has become as a man is inspiring. He is continually optimistic and trying to find the best in situations, and teaching me to do the same. He trusts, he trusts in God to take care of him, his family, me, and everyone else he loves. He trusts that things are going to all work out in the end for the best. And they do, but he knows that and trusts that ahead of time. I always think the worst is going to happen and everyone is going to end up dead or mangled. I might be exaggerating. Might. Probably not.

He's the strongest person I know. When life throws crap at him, he doesn't just take it and live with it... he learns from it, and he still smiles, he doesn't let it ruin or control his life... he just moves on with a smile and fixes it if he can, or he finds some sort of good in it. I can't do that. I'm glad he can or we would be one depressing, pessimistic couple and no one would want to spend any time with us... not that they do now :] He has goals, he identifies them and how he can reach them -- or the order of priority and when they need to be reached -- and he works toward them. For example, if he is saving money to buy a house. He saves a good chunk of his paycheck every week and will work overtime when he can and put all of that to his goal. He's driven and works hard for and earns everything he has. I like that in a man. And it's all paying off, he's in the market of looking to buy a house. At 20 years old. Crazy.

He treats me so well, he is so patient with me when I probably don't deserve it, he goes out of his way to do things because they will make me happy, he sacrifices his time and energy to serve me and love me.

Cody, you are the sweetest, nicest, most loving, patient, forgiving, wonderful, best, strong boyfriend in the whole world. You're my man.

This was taken almost a month after we met. I knew then that he was something special, but I wasn't aware of quite how special yet, though. And the BFFs that we love so much.

This was taken on Labor Day, it's hard to imagine all we've been through in the past 8 months. I love you, boo.

well...

Maybe it's about time I wrote on this.

The overview of the past 3 months are:

-I loved being in Georgia with my family there. They rock. I love them.

-I went to Cody's cousin's gorgeous wedding and everyone asked when we were going to get married, because he's the next oldest... so clearly we're getting married like, next week.

-I was a counselor for a 5-7 year old mini week of camp at Roanoke Christian Service Camp in Washington, NC with the Averys.

-Straight from there I got to go to Elizabeth City and spend a couple days with the gorgeous Chelsea Overton and relax and just be chill and friend-like. I love hanging out with her. And I saw Kaya, too :)

-After Chelsea's, I went to Suffolk and got to love my boo and go to a college retreat weekend at his home camp, Camp Rudolph. I really enjoyed having that experience with him, I love him. And it was also good to have a weekend for me and God before...

-I went right to Indian Lake to staff a Sr High Week. So fun, so good. Love love love.

-After spending 2 weeks away traveling North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland I was excited to get home, but unfortunately an 18-wheeler didn't want that as much. It was made pretty evident when one drove right into my driver side mirror. Thankfully I wasn't hurt and only my mirror was damaged. Which Cody fixed (I actually did a lot myself with his supervision) with JB Weld. Again, I love him and I'm so thankful for him.

-That was a Friday, On Monday I started my month long nanny job with a little boy, Nathan, who is turning 3 tomorrow. It went really well minus the one toilet overflowing incident... and the fact that they didn't own a mop. Fun times.

-Labor Day weekend was all over the place with Cody, we stayed Friday night at his house, looked for houses for him on Saturday and then drove to the lake to spend less that 24 hours with my family before going to MACU to visit there

This past week I started my new permanent position as a nanny for a PRECIOUS, SWEET, ADORABLE 19 month old girl named Alexandria, or Alex. Which is better hours and better pay than my last job (score)! I love her name, I think it's beautiful, and I also think it's cool that it's a name of a city we live so close to that is also beautiful and magical. She has Reactive Airway Disease, which I was semi-nervous about because I have to administer a Nebulizer treatment every morning, but after doing it once it's really easy and she takes it really well and gets to watch Dora during it :)

5 Weeks For Freedom.

Learn.

Spread awareness.

Support the cause.

Give a voice to the 27 MILLION people who are in slavery throughout the world. Slavery isn't a thing of the past.

prayer.

Please pray for Bryan Kelly and all his family and friends. He was such a loving and giving individual. As many on his facebook page are saying, he was always the first to make someone smile and laugh if they were sad or upset. He brought so much joy into people's lives.

home, sweet, home.

I got home yesterday. After waking up at 4 am... awesome. Cody is a crazy individual for doing it every day.

I have a kidney infection. It's bad. It hurts. It's been bad for probably a little over a month now. I should probably be dead. The doctor yelled at me. I'm glad I didn't go to the hospital or get IVs. Oh dear. . .

be careful what you wish for...

I knooooooow I wanted to come to Georgia.

I was flying standby, which is a loooooot cheaper - you just have less certainty of when you'll be getting to your destination, and right now my destination is supposed to be somewhere between 32000 to 40000 feet. About halfway home. And I'm still in Jasper. I love it here. But I'm nervous I won't make it home in time.

In time for this:

That, my dear friends, is the view from the top of the boat house at our family's home at Lake Gaston. THAT is were I'm planning on spending Memorial Day with people I love.

And after this long weekend, I plan to go home with my family where I can cook new recipes like:

Farfalle with Zucchini

Fettuccini Alfredo

Monkey Bread

Mozzarella Sticks

Restaurant Style Salsa

Shrimp Pasta with Creamy Tomato Sauce

Sparkling Pineapple Ginger Ale

Tiramisu

Zucchini Cakes

...mmmm... Can't wait! I love feeding people I love.