Just Keep Swimming

Hi Readers!

So much has happened since I last wrote. It's only been two and a half weeks but it seems like a lifetime. The most notable events include Wade getting married, traveling to Nashville and Memphis for a week, and finding an apartment.

Wade and Kristin's wedding was fun and beautiful. It was a great time to see friends and family that we don't get to see very often. It's only a few times in your life where you get to see both sides of extended family along with all of Kristin's friends and family. The bridal party had a great time as many of us are college friends that don't get to spend time relaxing together. Wade looked like Michael Buble in his black tux with a skinny tie. Dad looked super daper in his tux and of course, Mom looked beautiful. Kristin was absolutely breath-taking, but it doesn't take her too much to get there. Our bridesmaid dresses were long and black and had a short train...pretty exciting.

Moving on, I took a few days to hang out and relax with Mom and Dad at the house and around Abilene. On Wednesday I had the bright idea of flying instead of driving to Tennessee and ended up flying out the next morning to Nashville. Our original plan was just to meet in Memphis for a couple of days to look for jobs and places to live and get a lay of the land. Since Southwest doesn't fly to Memphis, I went on to Nashville and got to spend a couple of days with Garrett planning and preparing for our trip. We set out on Sunday around noon and got Memphis around 4pm. We went over to my grandmom Gina's best friend's house for a tour of the area and dinner. These generous people went out of their way to show us around and take us to dinner to talk about different areas and help us see what living there is like. It was fantastic! I am so glad we got to do that. Memphis is much more compact than I thought it was. We spent one day there over spring break but that didn't do much to get the layout down.

The next morning we got up and went to look at apartment complexes. We headed straight to Mud Island (after getting lost in a shady area). Mud Island is an actual island on the Tennessee side of the Mississippi. You have to cross a bridge to get there (obviously) but it is the safest neighborhood we could find. The apartments there are more expensive (but manageable) and the difference in the atmosphere and safety is worth every penny. There are houses and four or five apartment communities. There are a couple of stores on the island too and despite it's name, it is very pretty. Green lawns, tall beach houses, and loads of hydrangeas line the streets and the communal attitude of the island is visible everywhere. We fell in love with it instantly.

After learning that there is very little availability on the island (of course), we departed to mull over the decisions and look into some other places. Driving around midtown and downtown, we felt that Mud Island was really the only option for us. We had some lunch and headed back to plan our next day.

That night we made dinner with Andrea and William. Andrea (Jernigan) was on the MET trip to Guatemala with us. She and William got married on the same day as Wade (5-28-11) and were just back from their honeymoon to British Columbia. We decided it would be fun to use their new kitchen and gifts to make poppyseed chicken. It was a lot of fun and felt really good to be building relationships with people our age to feel like we already have friends in the Memphis area.

The next morning we went out to deliver resumes and put down deposits at the Riverset Apartments on Mudisland. The most interesting part of the day was talking to banks and hearing that they no longer care if you want to go in person to apply but just refer you to their websites to apply online. Only one bank actually took my paper resume and only two gave me the time of day to assess who I am as a person. I have decided that if I don't get a job in research, being a bank teller could be really nice. That would allow me to have normal hours and then go home at night and forget about it. Anyway, we are praying for opportunities in safe areas that will pay the bills. Prayers are appreciated.

After lunch and signing the applications, we headed back to Nashville and I flew out the next morning. This week is all about Hallie's wedding! I am so honored to be a bridesmaid and this represents the beginning of my wedding marathon...

June 11 - Hallie and Colby (Abilene)
June 18 - Sarah and Andy (Abilene)
June 26 - Collin and Brett (Chicago)

Collin was my roommate my sophomore year and best friend freshman and sophomore year at ACU. I am so excited for her along with all of my brides. This is such a crazy time of life with weddings and everything going on currently.

In other news, my mom will have back surgery at Abilene Regional on Monday and prayers are appreciated for that too. She is very anxious about the recovery. I am glad that we pushed the moving date back to July 25th so I have plenty of time to help her out after surgery.

The final countdown has started and in just under 7 weeks, I will no longer be in a long-distance relationship...Garrett and I will get to be together at last! Hurray for that!

I am blessed, even through all of the changes and uncertainty...I am loved and blessed by the Creator. I feel it (almost) everyday. Some days I choose to ignore it (huge mistake) but I know He is faithful and always there.