Jet Set

Tomorrow's the big day. I'm leaving for Sweden (and Copenhagen and Norway) for almost 2 weeks with my beloved best friend. Telling you that I'm just "excited" is far too large an understatement. ...I'm Ecstatic. Thrilled. 

SO EXCITED, I CAN'T CONTAIN MYSELF AND NEED ALL CAPS TO EXPRESS THE EXCITEMENT!

But never fear, blogging world, I'll be back on June 4th to update you on my life, and perhaps encourage a bit of jealousy. Please keep me in your prayers these next few weeks, for safe travels and God's protection!

My Girl(s).

I love my friends. Love, love, love, LOVE them! The Lord blessed my freshman year at UNC with these wonderful, sweet girls, each one compassionate, honest, and caring so much to encourage me always! I love them dearly and enjoy every minute spent with them. This past weekend, we all headed up to Raleigh for Mary Katherine's birthday and baptism. It was a spectacular two days full of lots of food (PF Changs, cookie-dough, crumb cake, and feasting galore... food-coma, anyone?), Bananagrams, fellowship, laughter, good conversation, and relaxation.

So much fun with my sweet sweet friends!

This Summer...

Let's face it. Summer is upon us and the relaxation that accompanies it can turn to boredom quickly. This summer will be different, though. I'm not going to complain once about being bored, but rather, I will be productive and active.

My (unofficial) Summer To-Do:

• All the books on my shelf that I keep saying "I'm going to read that one day..."- well, today is the day. This summer, I'm going to read good books.
• I will not spend all of my money shopping in Target.
• Organize. My bedroom at home still looks like the aftermath of a natural disaster and my college life has yet to be officially moved back home. I'm cleaning out and cleaning up.
• I will regain contact with my inner artist. My paints have sat on the shelf and my easel has been in the attic for far too long.
• More of my artsy side: I'm going to tickle the ivories. I miss my piano teacher and I miss playing, so I'll add some new tunes to my repertoire. 
• Travel. I've already got plans for Europe (I'll set sail in just ONE WEEK!), but on the smaller scale, I'll be making some road trips to see my friends scattered across North Carolina.
• Summer series: how can you not love them? So You Think You Can Dance, The Bachelorette, Pretty Little Liars (don't judge)

Should I think of anything else, I'll be sure to let you know.

Prayers

Oh blogging world! How I've missed you!

So sorry for the hold up, but exams (gross) coupled with moving out (bittersweet) has caused quite a case of the busies. ...And while we're on the topic of moving out, allow me to detail the process a little more. I couldn't think of anything more annoying, drawn-out, dusty, or sad. Leaving our beloved room 1506 left me thinking about the next roommates that will live there. They won't know how it was decorated before, or about the crazy music videos we made, or how we organized our things, or that we even lived there. No one will know but us, but I know we'll never be able to forget the sweet details of our freshman years.

Speaking of which, can I just say one more time that I can NOT believe the year is over. Yes, I'm sitting at home, but I still can't escape the idea that I won't be heading back to school at the end of this week or in a couple days. I really just can't believe the past eight months are completely over. Done. Finished. ...Forever.

But, moving on. Summer has arrived. It's undeniably hot out, and the days feel longer without lists of homework or studying to do. 

Even in these few first days home, things have been far from normal. My father had a major surgery last Thursday after finding a cancerous tumor on his tonsil, which has landed him in the hospital for at least a week. The surgeon gave him a tracheotomy as a preventative measure, which means my dad can't talk. Because he can't speak, he needs someone in the hospital with him at all times. My mom, aunt, sister, and brother and I have been taking shifts and swapping out to watch him, which thankfully is now turning into entertaining him on his road to recovery. He was finally able to go for a walk around the hallways yesterday (I say "walk"... he was FLYING down the hall!), and now he's feeling better enough to just be completely bored and tired of sitting in the hospital.

Even as recovery from this surgery picks up, it's hard to not think that this is only the beginning. Radiation and/or chemotherapy are not far off in his road to complete healing from whatever this one tumor has left behind. Needless to say, prayers for his recovery and the months to come are definitely needed. Trusting God's goodness and sovereignty in this situation has been difficult but so necessary; it's times like this that I'm so thankful that He is in control.