Two Months After the Bells

Well we have not written in quite a while now, but we're back! We want to use this method to be able to keep in touch with friends and family. We will really try to write more regularly to keep everyone up to date.

We've been married for two months already! We've gotten settled into our apartment and are feeling much more at home now. We also enjoy exploring the Twin Cities and learning more about our surroundings. It is tough for both of us to be a distance from most of our friends and family, yet we also know we will learn and grow through this. Nick has been through the "hometown withdrawals" before as he lived far from us all, but this is the first time I've lived away from my friends and family (for more than 10 weeks I suppose). I'm confident this will be a growing time for us all and we will become stronger because of it. We just may have to work a little bit harder at maintaining our relationships.

Weather has been changing around here! We've had two snowfalls now. One just today, which I'm pretty sure will melt quickly. The pictures below are taken outside of our bedroom window. One was taken Friday when it looked like fall, one was taken today, when it looks like winter- just 3 days makes a big difference! :) To me, the snow means Christmas is getting closer. Christmas is my favorite time of year- so cozy, family oriented, with hot chocolate by the fire place. I love the idea of being wrapped up and cozy with a tasty warm beverage and the people you love by your side. Today's snowfall led to me playing Christmas music for the first time of the year :) it was fun!



In other news, I'm job searching up here. It's been a hard time finding something, but I'm confident something will come along and it will be perfect. Nick has been so supportive through this process and I am so thankful to have such an amazing and understanding husband.

That's all I have for now, but we will write again soon!

26 Days!

Just a quick note to say hello. Life has been insane with my move, traveling, and planning for the wedding. This past weekend Marissa and I got our engagement pictures taken. That was a lot of fun and I'm excited to see how they turn out. It was a perfect day for them and we really like the photographer. I've been really busy at work as well, getting acclimated to my new job. But life is great. I'm excited to check out my new surroundings here in Minnesota and even more excited to spend time with Marissa once she moves up here after the wedding. We're getting close!

*Here's an update with a some engagement photos!

Making progress

Nick has done a great job posting to the site, now it's my turn! We have been making a lot of progress with wedding stuff each week and I have found great relief in checking things off my to-do list. Nick is a great help to make my load feel lighter and to help me make an action plan when I don't know where to start. With everything going on in the next 50 days, I needed an organized action plan :) thank you for that, babe!

Nick is moving up to our new home next week and I couldn't be more excited. We have learned a lot in this past year with Nick in Texas and we are stronger because of it. With that said, I am so excited to have him closer and to be able to spend each day together very soon. I am also excited to unpack our wedding shower gifts (thank you everyone!) and make our apartment our home. It will be fun to decorate our new space.

I am trying to be mindful of spending time with friends and family while I am still living here. I will not be too far after the wedding, but I want to spend quality time with everyone here as I can. It will be bittersweet leaving DSM. I am so very excited to start life with Nick in MN, but DSM is my stomping grounds where most of my friends and family are, so it will be an adjustment to leave. I know everything is well laid out for us though and thank you to phones, webcams and I-35, we can all stay close!

Completing My Lasts Before Doing All My Firsts

Tonight as I walked off the softball field after our final spring game (we won, by the way), I couldn't help but reminisce about all the great memories I have had here. I took it all in as I walked- the humidity, the gentle breeze, the big, dark Texas sky. It really has been a great year for me to grow and develop as an individual. But it is so bittersweet at the same time as I know the life that awaits me in Minnesota will be full of change, excitement, and adventure. Despite all that, I can't help but feel like I just got here either. It feels like there are so many things to do here, so many people to meet, so many stones to turn up, that I simply haven't had the time to do. I am saying goodbyes and wrapping up things without even fully getting a chance to experience them. But I've made the most of what I have done here, and that's life. I am moving on. I have learned a lot here, and the one thing I hope to never have to do again is complete my lasts before doing all my firsts.