12.5 hours in a car.

So today was a travel day. We started out super early (5:45 am early), okay so it isn't terribly early but I went to bed at 1 so early.

We aren't too un presentable for an early morning photo op.

So we were off and on the road to Holland Michigan. I slept until probably 10ish in the car and then napped on and off.

We stopped for lunch and the guys were persistent in stopping at the KFC for the buffet. I didn't know KFC's had buffets. I was modest in my buffet pickings....

Eventually in Illinois we had to stop and get gas and I realized just how cheap our gas in Memphis actually is (despite the fact that it isn't cheap...)

After potty breaks, rest stops, stops for coffee and snacks we made it to Michigan and in true Michigan style they had a light house at the welcome center.

After 12.5 hours of driving we made it!!! We had a nice dinner cooked out by family up here and then are now ready to hit the sack. No alarms will be set tomorrow. (to my knowledge.) We are ready for a Great Night's SLeep!!

12.5 hours later and those smiles are real. Mostly because we are ready to be out of the car and settling in for the night. ( in different rooms of course.)

Relaxation

It is finally here. 8 months later. After spending the end of December of 2011 until mid July basically plagued with asthma attacks and bronchitis and working the whole year and rather intensely the past few months for the wedding, I am getting away.

I don't mean to sound like I have just had a horrible year because the reality is it has been amazing compared to what some others around this world go through but in my personal life next to my parasite this has been a very eventful year. I am thankful though and wouldn't change it for anything. I always learn so much during times like these.

In about 7.5 hours I will be leaving for Michigan. I didn't think I was going to make it up there this year but it somehow worked out. I will get to see Eric's cousin M get married to his beautiful bride and I am so excited for that. We stay basically right on Lake Michigan up there so it is gorgeous views, sand beaches, without salt water, sharks, or jellies and basically all the benefits of the beach without the cons of the beach. It also has some of the most gorgeous sunsets every. Since we are on the east coast of Lake Michigan we get to watch the sunset over the lake and it literally sets right into the lake. Memories are made of this stuff. Seriously.

So up for a few days I should go and when we get back it will be time to hit the ground running with only 58 days left till we get married. This means showers, working like crazy, buying some last minute stuff, and all the other wedding craziness shall ensue. It is so hard to believe sometimes. I feel like just yesterday I met him.

As the wedding gets closer I get more and more little jitters. Being the center of someone's attention just makes me sick to my stomach. Oral Comm in high school was horrible and Oral Comm in college....well that has been non existent.

The butterflies I still get when I think about how lucky I am to marry my best friend still amaze me. We have been through a lot already and I know there will be more to come. We will be following a path that God will set before us step by step but E is the only one I would ever want to do it with!

Well I guess i need to finish some last minute packing and get some rest.

Crazy and Exciting Times

I haven't been on here in what feels like forever.  Things have definitely been crazy!

Wedding planning, working full time , making budgets, watching family, and mending myself have kept me insanely busy.

I must definitely say that back at the beginning of July things got super crazy all because of high arches, damaged ligaments, and weak ankles.

You may remember on July 5th I did a good number on my left ankle with a nice, little sprain. This led to conversations between my physical therapist and I of high arches, and chronic ankle sprains which I have had and how now that my ligaments are so stretched that more sprains in the future were very probable wiht running. (Joy)

So many talks of how proper running shoes, proper bracing equipment (for both ankles since I lightly sprained the right ankle last week) were a DEFINITE MUST if I wanted to run at all. Also, ice baths for my ankles have been my new best friend!

The humor in all of this is that EVERY time in my life I have sprained and torn ligaments it has been while i was walking on a basically flat surface not while running on uneven surfaces. Go figure. Haha.

So next week I am looking forward to purchasing the proper shoes so I can FINALLY get back to running. It has been to long. My lungs have fallen back into their wimpy state and are going to love me for whipping them back into shape.

I am looking forward to running again. I feel really accomplished and it is a great stress reliever!

On a completely separate note... there are only 70 days left until I get to marry my best friend! Super excited!!!