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Hello! Ryan came home from Maine via Greyhound bus on July 4th! I picked him up and we headed straight for the beach! It was so great to see him. I was glad for him to be back...but it's been a little interesting! Ryan has had to readjust to regular life. I've had to be a little less intense about school and make time to see him. Ryan is about to embark on another adventure that I don't think he wants me to share yet. Completing the entire AT in 4 months is an amazing feat! Now we are aiming to put our lives together into one!
As far as me, I'm almost done with my first graduate school semester! Then I'll get to teach a whole new group of kindergartners. I know that this is going to be a whirlwind of a year, but I'll make it with a little help from the good Lord!

Lucky

I haven't posted in a while for several reasons. It was the end of the school year and life seems to always speed up at that point. So much paperwork to do and a room to pack up. Luckily, this year I knew off the bat that I'd be coming back and in kindergarten again. :-) I literally love my job! I started graduate school! It's amazing to me that I'm even doing this...but there's so much more work than I realized. I'm taking three online classes right now. I've done well keeping up with the work so far and the teachers are very easy to work with. I will have to do observation hours again since I can't do them in my own classroom right now. It should be fun. I rarely want to blog due to staring at a computer screen all afternoon. Since my last post, I've gotten to see Ryan! We met up in Washington, D.C. I got to ride on an airplane for the first time. I couldn't believe how fast I was able to get there. When I saw Ryan, I was super happy. So was he! Except for the fact that we were both sick. We ended up ordering pizza and crashing at the hotel until later that afternoon. We later visited the National Mall. The next day was full of touring beautiful Alexandria. I could seriously live there. I got to tour the National Archives on my last full day. It just like National Treasure!! We even visited Ford Theatre where Lincoln was shot. I enjoyed D.C. so much! It was a relatively cheap place to visit. Taking the metro everywhere was such a time and money saver. I can't wait to go back and explore the many things we did not get to see. Maybe we'll have some kids next time so Ryan will have to go to the zoo. ;-)

Ryan texted me yesterday before my family left Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, to go home from vacation that he was "still alive." Lately, I've gotten to where I don't worry about him as much. In the beginning, I was freaking out after a day. Okay...I still do! Anyway, I was a little suspicious of why he had emphasized on being "alive." It just so happens that he was on Mt. Washington in New Hampshire. It apparently has the most erratic weather ever. He was caught in a storm yesterday and developed hypothermia. Fortunately, he was able to make an emergency stop and get a hotel. God was sure looking out for him. He was very lucky. I love that Ryan is doing the trail and having the time of his life, but I'm super ready for him to come home now. The reality is that it's not all fun and games when your fiance is out hiking in places you don't know. Yes, I know there are a million things he could be doing in Alabama on a daily basis that are dangerous, but not hearing from him for days is hard to take. All I can do is trust in God that he is keeping his hand on him. I know He is. Keep him in your prayers!

Ohhh we're halfway there!

I know it has been quite sone time since my last post!! Not too much has happened on my end, but Ryan has made a huge accomplishment...he is basically halfway! On April 23rd, Ryan made it into Harper's Fairy, VA.

Today, I am leaving to go see him for a few days. We are meeting in DC. This will br my first time to fly so please send me your prayers!! I love y'all! 

4/5/6

SPRING IS HERE!!!!! A good bit has gone on since I last posted. Week 4 for me was not too eventful here in Alabama, but Ryan experienced more snow. Ugh! He was still on the NC/TN border then.  Work was so hectic that I ended up looking like this....(blonde, top left)

Just kidding! This was for the faculty variety show routine. It was priceless. We danced to "Thriller." At the end, I had the bright idea of walking straight into the crowd of children. I actually think the 2-4th graders were more scared than the K-1st graders. I had to go back to class dressed like this! My poor little ones were so worried about me! They thought something was wrong. I sure do love them. 

Week 5 was SPRING BREAK!! I did almost absolutely nothing except Zumba, watch TV, go shopping, and PICK UP MY WEDDING DRESS!!! I am so excited to have my dress. It is even more beautiful than I remembered. Oh happy day!!

I learned a few things about cooking...well how to make a good chicken salad and how to bake homemade cookies. I made these with friends, but I made some yesterday that are on their way to Ryan as we speak!

Two days of shopping and I still could not make myself buy these, but I do believe these are my wedding shoes!! What do you think? They are totally my color! I love Betsey Johnson. :-)

Below is a little insight into another one of my jobs! Teaching dance!! These are my 3/4 year olds showing me how to dance to "Let it Go." Frozen is amazing by tge way. Everyone can relate whether you have a crazy sister or sometimes get a little angry or pretend your pets talk or have irrational obsessions with something that might cause you to "melt" or you are five at heart like me!

Tomorrow I'm taking my siblings + friend to Six Flags! Wish me luck!

Here they are goofing off in Wal-Mart. Silly girls.

Ryan update: Our tenacious hiker is making his way through Virginia very nicely. He is over the moon that his fiance is flying to meet him in DC! Get excited! I couldn't not see him for 5 whole crazy months! 

Anyone who is in a LDR have any advice on timing? I feel like Ryan and I never get to talk because our timing is off. :-/

Week 2/3

These last two weeks have been busy, busy, busy! There has been absolutely no wedding planning going on. :-) I ain't got time for that! 

Last week, I had dance or zumba every afternoon. I missed work on Friday to go down to the beach with my family. My sister Alyssa was playing a softball tournament. We had a lot of fun. Terilyn and I did flips in the sand because it was too cold to swim. 

This week I was just as busy. My class has finally been in school regularly enough to get back into the procedures. I had a good week with them. Friday, we got to have a day off from them to test the new class of kindergarteners. I met some sweethearts.

Ryan is in Hot Springs, North Carolina. He's a trooper! 

Week 1 - Update!!

Tomorrow will be a whole week since I have said goodbye to Ryan. It marks one week closer to when I will see him again. He has already made it into North Carolina! It's truly amazing how well he is doing. 

 

I bought my wedding dress today! Ah! We didn't plan to buy today, but I found THE dress. I am so glad I was able to share this with my mom and sister. I know in life you can't plan everything and sometimes things just happen. It was great and I cannot wait to wear it at my wedding. The dress is everything I could have ever dreamed about. Let's just say it is vintage and lacey!! 😍 It was designed by Olej Cassini. He was Jackie Kennedy's "Secretary of Fashion."

 I've also discovered another venue I really like. Once I see it, I will make my final decision. I'll then tell Ryan and if he agrees, we'll book. I think everything is falling into place. :-)

I also decided on the color Mint Green!! 

With all of these great things happening, it's really hard to enjoy them without Ryan physically close to me. It's not quite as fulfilling sharing news over the phone. There are no hugs or smiles. :-/ I can't wait to get a hug from him again!! 

Week 1

It's been a crazy week! Monday, my principal came in for an unannounced observation! Scary! I think it went okay though. I taught my very first zumba class Tuesday! There were also three days I had to teach dance classes. I'm even choreographing a faculty variety show dance. 

The best thing to happen to ME this week was finding out that I got into Alabama! I'm getting my Master's in Early Childhood Special Education. I was placed into kindergarten very last minute two years ago, but am so thankful for the children I have met who have helped build my passion for special needs. I want to be able to better meet the needs of each child that walks in my classroom. I learned how to educate the general child, but I see a need for me to learn more about accomodating for multiple abilities. 

Ryan has been hiking very well. He got sick this week from the cold. I pray he gets better. I've actually been able to talk to him a good bit. Last night, he stayed in Helen, GA. I'm guessing he feels much better today because he did not go to the doctor. Please keep him in your prayers because he will not have service this weekend! Ah! Pray for me and his mom as well. Distance is something that can be managed, but it's not fun to do so!

Well, I plan to spend this weekend relaxing, doing laundry, and working in my classroom. Have a good one everybody! 

The Big Weekend

Yesterday, I took Ryan up to Jasper, Georgia. We stayed and ate dinner at this really cute place called the Wood Bridge Inn.

This morning we woke up at 8:00 Georgia time so that we could both get ready. Of course, I had to try on Ryan's 30 lb. backpack. 

We left Jasper at 9:00 so that we could make it to Amicolola State Park by 10:00. On the way we saw a beautiful view of the foothills.

When we got to the park, Ryan made sure to get all of his things ready. 

He also tightened up his hiking boots. :-) 

He then went to the visitor center to sign in and register. The lady at the registration desk was so chill about someone walking all the way to Maine. I guess it's super normal because there were about four others on Ryan's sign-in page.

I had to meet him at the top of the falls, but I was able to snap a few pictures of him under the gateway arch.

The trail I took was beautiful. Amicolola Falls is huge and gorgeous!! It's much bigger than the waterfalls in the Smokies! 

Both of us had to walk up a strenuous staircase!

I did make a friend! Check out this chubby squirrel! He was not afraid of me!

Eventually, Ryan and I had to say our goodbyes. I was the last one he had to make. 

Yesterday he said goodbye to his mom, step-dad, brothers, and animals. His mom is worried about bears and so am I. I really hope is okay right now. We haven't heard from him yet. Maybe he is just asleep. I know the staircase was hard so I can't imagine what else there is. 

I've made my "Ryan Corner" in my office. These are all of the packages I have to mail out to him. I will mail the first three packages tomorrow morning.

I have a huge week ahead of me so hopefully I can keep my mind off of missing him. I also have friends and family here to entertain me. It worries me that he is alone, but God will make sure he finds some good people (and cell phone service!!!) 

I miss him already!!! I am so proud of him though! 

On a wedding note...I think we have chosen our venue!

Yum!

Now before we can even start planning our reception menu, we have to think about what Ryan is going to eat on his hiking trail! He has researched this matter  in depth and knows exactly what kind of food he needs: anything high in calories!! Now, I think this would make so many people want to hike the AT! You get to eat junk food all day for 5 months!! :-) We decided it'd be best to borrow a Sam's card. Take a look at our cart!! 

Does this not look like a little kid's dream grocery trip? Minus the dog food bowl, Ryan got the majority of his hiking food! Afterwards, we celebrated Valentine's Day by eating Sushi!!

Currently, he is packing his boxes that he is trusting ME to mail to him along the way! I am in charge of keeping him fed along the trail! 

You must know though that he won't be only eating this stuff. He bought a bunch of those emergency meals for bad weather kits. He is also going to come across a town at least once a week, if not more. That's where he'll eat hot food and shower. 

 Well that's it for now! Next weekend is the send-off! Keep us in your prayers as we head out to Springer Mountain, Georgia, Saturday morning and I let him go Sunday. I'm looking on the positive side of this! 462 days until we get married!! 

Oh where, oh where!

I'm pretty sure Ryan and I are at the most difficult part of wedding planning right now: choosing the venue! This is really difficult because we like almost everywhere, but most all places have different pros and cons. The biggest con of most everywhere right now has been the price! Most all of the places are beautiful in their own way. Today I stumbled upon the PERFECT venue. Unfortunately, it takes up my whole entire budget. Here's the choice I've come to realize that everyone has to make:

A) Find an all inclusive venue that does absolutely everything.

B) Find a cheap venue that does the basics and pray that all the others things are cheap as we'll.

C) Just go for that expensive venue that everyone else wants that offers no extra perks and just go ahead and spend $25k! 

I am torn between choice A and B. The place I found today was an A. I found a park that's a B and I haven't ruled it out yet. I really do not want to pay more $1,000 to rent a space. Is that too much to ask? Yes, this is supposed to be the best day of my life. I don't want it to be the biggest debt of my life!  

Anyway, Ryan leaves next weekend for his trip. We're spending Valentine's Day together beginning tomorrow afternoon. :-) I'll be so glad when it's over. I know he's excited and so am I, but I hope soon we will put any kind of distance between us in the past. 

Wedding Bells and Hiking Trails

Part 1: Wedding Bells 

    It's not technically clear when Ryan and I first met. Ryan says we met freshman year at SAGA, Troy's dining hall. I say we met sophomore year when I went to my one and only Circle K meeting. I don't remember his experience and he doesn't remember mine. We "officially" met junior year when I became RA over my sorority house. We became friends through a series of crazy events and eventually by December of senior year we were a couple. We made so many wonderful memories at a school we will always love! Ryan stayed at Troy until the next December. I got a job back home teaching kindergarten! One thing I seriously love about Ryan is that he never ceases to keep things interesting. He decided to move to Gatlinburg for a year. Since we'd already been a part for a little while, Gatlinburng wasn't so bad a first. The spring of a school year always flies by! I got to spend a lot of time with him in the summer traveling to Myrtle Beach, Charleston, and Nashville. Things got really tough once I got into the new school year! I was so busy on the weekends and he was working three jobs! We went the whole month of October without seeing each other! Five weeks!!! Well...if only I knew what he had been planning the whole time I was fussing! 

Our Engagement.... 

    Ryan took me to Nashville for "his birthday." We were there for just a concert. He kept calling restaurants asking about their "ambiance." I was rolling my eyes because he was being so funny! We ended up going to Opryland and walking around in the gardens. He sat down on a park bench and began talking about how he wants to be with me forever and have little babies one day and do this and that. I was blushing and smiling ear to ear because he was being so sweet!!! He then reached into his pocket and pulled out a little gray box!, knelt down, and asked me to marry him. I was so stunned that he had to ask me twice. Of course I said "YES!" The whole night I felt elated and kept staring at my finger. The wedding will take place in June 2015! Stay tuned for planning updates! We are looking for a venue in the Birmingham area. Please give us any advice you have! 

Part 2: Hiking Trails 

Remember when I said that Ryan likes to keep life interesting? 😉 At the end of February he is leaving to hike the Appalachian Trail. It's going to take four-six months to finish. I am very proud of him for taking on this huge endeavor. It's a HUGE check off on his bucket list! Unfortunately, this means that we will go without seeing each other for however long he is on trail. It is going to be a true test to our relationship, but I have faith that it will only make us stronger. This blog is all about my wedding planning and his hiking experiences. I hope you can serve as a support system for both of us during that time! Thanks so much for reading! It's going to be an adventure.