It is finished…

Well, the huge part anyway. Yesterday I actually got most of my belongings down to 4.5 storage bins and my hope chest. And that’s after we took yet another car full load to Goodwill. All that’s left to do now is go through my stuff for papers and scrapbook items, and then I will be scrapbooking in our basement till the second coming. Just kidding… I  really do have a lot of stuff to put in books though.

So it’s been kind of a chill morning. I just woke up about 30 minutes ago. I think I might go eat some blueberry oatmeal. mmmmm… SO GOOD. Then it’s just a matter of moving a few things to the basement, and then I begin the process of getting ready for a really great date tonight. Jared is taking me to a steakhouse for dinner, and then we are hitting up a movie. I think it’ll be great. SO EXCITED. He’s so great. Last week he took me mini golfing. That was pretty fun. I love that we are going out and doing stuff. I mean we usually do stuff, but they don’t really feel like dates… it feel like we’re two friends hanging out. Which I suppose is a good thing. But he’s really made an effort these past few weeks. ( Maybe because in 3 weeks, he won’t get the chance to for a while.) All I know for sure, is that it’s great.

On other news… JET countdown… 23 days. SCARY.

My parents were supposed to go to the Solomon Islands for vacation this past Sunday. They got as far as LA, because of a freak lightning storm in Denver they were 3 hours late getting there. So they missed their connecting flights, one of which took them from Fiji to Solomon Islands. All of the remaining flights from Fiji are booked for three weeks, which is why they are now leaving on the 17 of July and coming back sometime after my departure. That means I only have 17 days left with them. Which is also crazy.

I think that about does it. Pretty much anyway.:)

It’s an interesting thing… to know that you are going away for a long time and then to finally realize it. There have been certain moments of enlightenment in which I have fully understood the gravity of what it is I have brought upon myself. It is no different from any other move I have done before, with one exception… I know I’m coming back. Well, God willing I am coming back. But the length of this next move is no different from the 8 or 9 before it (I’ve forgotten the exact count), possibly 3 years. This could change, I may only be gone for a year, which would seem really short compared to the longest place I’ve ever lived anywhere (Denver, Colorado -almost 4 years). But a lot can happen in a month, and so much more can happen in a year. (Let alone THREE) What gets me the most is that the way things are right now… the friendships, the buildings, the people, even the very house where my parents live, could all change before I get back. It is quite possible I will come home to a completely different world than when I left. I should expect as much. Life stands still for no one. I think the part that gets me the most, is that things might change for the worse.. no, not worse… just different than they are now. I’m no stranger to lost friendships due to miles that separate them. However, I am also no stranger to friendships growing and maturing, standing the test of time and distance. These are few and far between, and, surprising in each circumstance.

For those of you who read my posts regularly… I apologize for the stagnant thought process. Japan is heavily in everything I do these days. Please bear (yes this IS the correct spelling for “bear”. Did you know that in the Webster’s Dictionary, the first 7 definitions of  the word “bear” are verbs? Only the 8th give the definition of ” a shaggy mammal”) with me.

Anyway, lots to do still. I’m taking the night off to hang out with Jared and my parents. Should be great.

I can’t believe that I will be leaving for Japan in 5 weeks. It almost doesn’t seem real. And there are so many things to accomplish before then.

#1 I must move out of Denver giving away most of my earthy belongings. (Check.. except that I gave away two cars-full of junk, a dresser, a desk, and a queen sized water bed and still had to squish the rest of my stuff in my mom’s Rav 4, my dad’s Santa Fe and yes, the little suzuki.)

#2 I must now go through everything I’ve already been through AGAIN to get rid of EVEN more of my stuff.

#3 I must house-sit for my parents  while they go scuba diving in the Solomon Islands for 10 days. YES this includes the fourth of July, and yes I am going to have a wild and crazy party whilst my parents are away…yeah right.

#4 I am hoping to go to Texas for apprx. 4-5 days to see all my camp friends and to see my sister one last time before I leave. Plus, I just can’t stay away from the heat and humidity.

#5 I have to plan a “going away for a very long time” party for myself so that all people will know I am actually leaving.

#6 I have to squeeze every last minute I possibly can with a few choice friends and my family, making sure I equal out the time spent and never spending more time with one than another.

#7 I must pack all of the crap I have sorted through 3 times, in either the one suitcase I will get to have with me or the few boxes I will be able to ship to myself.

Among that, I have to apply for some tax waiver, get my teeth cleaned, eyes checked, contacts ordered, prescription forms sent-verified- and returned, and some sort of question answer thingy on June 25th. But no stress… YEAH RIGHT.

Did I mention that I really am excited to go? I really am. Did I also mention how much I’m going to miss everyone? Cause I will.

Dreams await me… goodnight.

I don’t know if I can ever have kids… I don’t even know if I can ever have a husband. Jared is sick, and over the past 12 hours I have learned what it will be like to be a mom. If I hadn’t interviened, Jared would still be at home sleeping… probably totally dehydrated and starving with the worst headache and fever ever.

I was so worried about him, I stayed therelast night. He’d wake up every 2-3 hours moaning about his head hurting so badly. One thing I have to say about guys when they are sick… they are so pathetic. 🙂 At first this was cute… but when I had to pack an overnight bag and put his shoes on him… and practically force him into my car… well. Let’s just say, I’m tired. Getting him to take medicine or drink fluids and eat anything is also a pain. But thank goodness… his severe headache is gone. I may go nap. I’m tired.

It’s a Saturday afternoon… fortunately it’s a cloudy day, so I don’t mind being inside working…

My trip to Albuquerque was AMAZING. I love Jared’s parents.. we had a lot of fun! We ate a TON of food and talked a lot. A lot of stories were told over the three days. And Jared and I got to know each other a lot better too… That tends to happen when you live under the same roof with someone. Even if it was only 3 days. Jared and I went on a hot air balloon ride, SO FUN! I think my favorite moment was on the way back up to Colorado, the sun was setting and it was absolutely GORGEOUS. I suggested we stop and watch it, and Jared took the next exit. We sat on the hood of his car and just watched God’s beautiful creation. A perfect end to a pretty awesome couple of days.

Now I’m back in Denver. Yay for reality. Not really. I hate working when I have so much other stuff I should be doing. But I gotta do it. Git ‘er DONE.

In the next two weeks, I have to pack up my apartment and get rid of everything from my life that doesn’t fit into the next “adult” chapter of my life. It’s going to be hard. REALLY hard. I have to be out of my apartment by June 12th, and then I’m going to live in Colorado Springs until I depart for Japan on July 22. It’s coming soon. Kinda scary.

You know what the ironic part is? I never thought I would miss Colorado. I’m not a big mountain person, and I love humidity. But traveling so much over the past few weeks and then coming back to a beautiful green Colorado. I’m really going to miss is when I’m gone.

As for things with Jared… they are good. REALLY good. That’s about all I’m going to say about that.

Cheers

Today is the first day of the rest of my life.

Hard to believe that I am a college grad. I don’t feel old enough to be done with school. The whole ceremony was amazing and surreal. Normally graduation ceremonies are long and dull… but there were fewer graduates this year AND the speaker for the ceremony was FUNNY, and to the point! He was pretty much amazing! I sat there and then walked across the stage. Going through the motions like everyone before me and everyone after me. It still didn’t seem real.

This past weekend I went to Ouray/Ridgeway to help with a 5 high school band festival. All five of these schools came together to play with each other. It was AMAZING. I’ve never had a clearer example of creating music within community can look like. I am in awe of the possibilities. I got to hang with 6 other girls and Mr. Dorn, and probably laughed harder and more frequently than I ever have before.

I’m going home this afternoon. And then I will be leaving tomorrow morning with my dad and we’re driving to Houston. Gonna meet my sister there and fly out of Ft Sam Houston Airport and will be arriving in Roatan, Honduras sometime Saturday afternoon. We are going SCUBA diving!  I’ll be there for a week, and then driving back from Texas with my dad. It’s going to be amazing to get away! When I get back from Honduras, I am going to Albuquerque with one of the most amazing people ever. 3 DAYS and two long car rides. WOW, I must be the luckiest girl EVER.

So bottom line, I’ll be gone for about two weeks before my next update. Try not to miss me too much 🙂 When I get back, I should have the location of where I will be teaching in Japan, so I can update everyone.

It’s raining outside. Gosh, spring is beautiful.

I know I have a heart, because it hurts.

WOW! I just had the most amazing weekend… actually the most amazing Friday EVER. Jared and I drove with Hannah and Emily to Kansas Thursday night. Friday morning began out day of adventure. We had the best Prime Rib EVER for lunch… oh my gosh…. it was great. The lunch was GOOD, but the company was better. Hannah’s parents are hilarious, and her grand parents came over for lunch too. I don’t think I’ve laughed so hard in my entire life. After lunch, we went four-wheeling and hiking for like 3 hours…. Kansas is NOT flat and boring. It’s quite beautiful actually. THEN we got to bottle feed a baby calf, which was pretty much then grossest and coolest thing ever. We all got showered after that and went into town, had dinner… laughed and talked REALLY loud, and then went bowling at this cute 8 lane bowling ally. Hannah will vouch that lane 8 is possesed by satan and only 9 pins will fall at any given time.

Anyway, so it was great. Hannah, I think you are wonderful! i had such a great time!!!

For all of my Japan Team 04, I found this!! I was hoping to be banana Pocky, but it didn’t work out. Does milk Pocky even exist?

You Are Milk Pocky

Your attitude: caring and charming Smooth and silky… invigorating and natural. You are like comfort food for the soul.

Well… the orchestra concert went rather well tonight. I believe it is the best sounding concert that the orchestra has performed EVER. The strings sounded AMAZING. And my solos went well… not perfect, it’s never perfect… but I didn’t mess up. Just left a few notes out… no big deal.

I got to meet Jared’s parents tonight. They are so awesome. I love parents. They were exactly how Jared described them… they remind me a little of my parents. My dad is a little quieter and my mom is more talkative and outgoing. It would be cool to get all 4 of them in a room together. His parents are older… but WAY awesome.

Well, I’m tired. Lots to do tomorrow.

I have a pretty amazing boyfriend. I’m pretty lucky. WOW.

Wow.. I am a Xanga slacker!

As per my mom’s request… and due to the fact that I now have time in which I am not sleeping, studying, writing papers, or spending time with one of the most amazing guys EVER… I am now writing.

The past two weeks have happened very quickly and at the same time… it seems like they’ve lasted forever. Just the ‘Readers Digest’ version of recent events …

School has been crazy. I think I’ve been assigned more group projects, for my two communication classes, than ever before! It makes me tired to think of all the stuff I have to do in order to get my diploma before school gets out. Including CLEPing two classes. BLAH.

On a more positive note.. I’M GOING TO JAPAN! I found out last Saturday that I have been accepted and will be spending the next year (at least) in Japan. WOOHOO!!!!!!!!

This past Wednesday I turned 22 years old… wow. I know it’s not that huge of a deal.. but it’s still getting older. My roommate Megan is the best EVER planning a surprise party for me at Old Chicago. Yeah that was pretty awesome. I got Oreo cookie pants, a cool Spiderman doll that says ” I shoot web” and “Even superheroes need hugs”, cookies and some more cool stuff from Megan.

But the best part of my week? Well, that happened this morning at 2:00 AM. I am now dating an AMAZING man of God, and I’m not ashamed to say… I’ve been pretty giddy all day. Some of you might be asking… “How the HECK is that gonna work with you going to Japan?” Well, the truth of the matter is, I don’t know. All I know is that Jared and I are going to take it a day at a time, and see where it goes. God is so awesome, and I feel totally at peace about this. Which hasn’t been the case in past relationships.

A cool story: So yesterday was my cat, Precious’, birthday. ( She turned 12.) Jared bought my cat presents! He actually admitted to spending more money on my cat’s present than mine. He bought her some tuna flavored cat food, a can of tuna and a green mouse play-toy thing. Jared’s last name is Greene, so it fits. I just thought that was great. Who DOES that kind of thing? hahaha… My boyfriend does, and I think it’s awesome.

In any case, I’m pretty tired. Gonna go chill with a movie.