Friends and Family

Today is Monday, December 13, 2010 and it was one heck of a day! First, I had to wake up at the crack the dawn to take my genetics exam! After my exam was over, I met the three most important girls in life at Bruggers (which thanks to them, I now know I like bagels...) for our last meal all together in Raleigh. It was a blast, of course, but it was really sad and depressing. We all did great through breakfast, having normal conversations, but it all hit us once we got back into the apartment and I started packing up the last of my stuff. We ended up all four squeezing onto one couch and balling our eyes out and then cracking up, and then crying again, and then laughing. It is just going to be so hard not to have each other so close. When I first came to NC State, I prayed so hard for a community and for great girls who would become life long friends. God blessed me beyond my understanding when he brought Kara Forester, Amy Dowker, and Meredith Ellis into my life. They have been there for me through every up and down for the past 3 and half years. I truly feel like they are my family and when I am not with them, I miss them like I would miss my own family. Thats why it was so hard to say goodbye today to the place that has been my home, our home, for the past 2 years. We have so many great memories in that little apartment, it just makes me smile thinking about it. So, to try and dry up the tears, we decided to have a dance party until I had to leave! We danced for a good 30 min., including about 10 min. of all 4 of us standing infront of the mirror trying to shake our hips better, saying "like this?" "am I doing it right?" "ohhh watch this!!" After the dancing was over, they all walked me to my car and we all prayed over each other and of course, started crying again! And then, I was off. On my last trip home from Raleigh!

But, once I got home I felt much better about everything and not so sad! I got a nice warm welcome by my mom, dad, and brother...and these guys :) It was also SO wonderful to see Tyler and get to spend time with him tonight! Then, my family and I all went to pick out our Christmas tree tonight! We ended up getting it half off! Here we go, on our way home :)

What we didn't realize was that the tree was about...oh say...11 feet tall. ANDD the ceilings in our house are...oh say...9 feet tall! This made for an interesting night getting the tree to fit inside the house! But low and behold, we did it!! A little smashed at the top, but so BEAUTIFUL! This is why I love this time of year :) Such great times and memories that I will never forget!

I guess they always say when one door closes, another one opens. I feel like I am at a major point in my life right now, where one chapter is closing, but another great one is about to begin! I am so excited for what the future holds and I cannot wait to see what God has been up to! And like Meredith said earlier today, "We don't have to have a house to continue to be a family."