Good Times and Sunshine!

The past couple weeks have been a lot of fun! I'll admit I haven't looked in to jobs and interviews nearly as much as I should have, but oh well... that will come very soon. Last week I got the chance to spend the week at my grandparent's condo in North Myrtle Beach. It was just me and my grandma. Normally I would say that I wouldn't have too much fun without someone my age with me, but I did. I got to spend a lot of time on the beach by myself, as my grandma didn't want to go out a lot. That was the perfect chance to read some and start a little bit of a tan for my brother's wedding that is coming up this weekend. Watching the ocean and listening to the waves never fails to remind me how awesome God is to have created something so beautiful. We also got to go shopping some (if you know me, you know that I LOVE that) and we went for a little while to the American Idol party at Hard Rock Cafe. We both had a lot of fun.

Other than the beach trip, I've been pretty busy doing stuff for my brother's wedding. I've been to a couple of showers, a bridesmaid's luncheon, gotten my dress altered, and things like that. I am excited about the wedding, I know it is going to be beautiful!

I have also gotten to spend some time with David over the past week. Up until now he's been at Furman and I've been at Clemson. Even though they are only about an hour and a half apart, it's still tough sometimes not being able to see him that often. We talk a lot either way, but that doesn't compare to being with him. I'm so happy that we're both home now and able to spend some more time together --yay!! I went to Susannah's graduation with him last Friday, which was very cool. With less that 30 graduates at Shannon Forest, it was a much more intimate setting than my graduation, which had a class of about 500. The part that I liked the most was when the key note speaker, Mr. Sell, spoke to each graduate individually and told them what qualities he saw in them that would allow them to be successful in the future. That was so cool, it made me wish I had been to a smaller high school.
Other than the graudation, we've played some outside (basketball, frisbee, stuff like that), and watched some movies. Our latest adventure was trying to walk Skyler, my dog (Trying is the operative word in that sentence). Let's just say he has a mind of his own. I had already taken Skyler to walk at the park, and I decided to take him to walk with David around his neighborhood. He did ok (other than pulling on the leash and switching sides too much) for a little while. Apparently about half way through, he decided that he was too tired to walk any more, point blank. He sat down in the grass of someone's yard, I don't know whose, and refused to budge. David and I both tried to get him to go, but it wouldn't work. So eventually I had to just go and get my car and drive it to him. Skyler got into the car with out too much trouble. That dog is funny sometimes, and most of the time I regret not getting him trained when he was younger. Oh well- There will be more to come soon :) peace out -- AK

I GRADUATED!

If the title didn't give it away-- I graduated yesterday! I am officially no longer a student at Clemson University. A lot of people have asked me how I feel about that. I give the answer that probably most people give, but it is still very true. I'm both happy and sad. I'm happy that I accomplished something really important. I'm happy that I don't have to go to classes anymore when I would rather be doing anything else. I'm happy for no more midterms, no more finals, no more research papers, no more PORTFOLIOS!!! But I am sad too, for a lot of things. I am sad that I am leaving behind some amazing friends and that I wont get to see them on a regular basis anymore. I'm sad that I don't get to be in my favorite place on earth anymore, that I don't get to go to Fike for free, and that I don't get to have late night and early morning random conversations with my roomates. I'm going to miss all of that much more than I probably realize right now.
Going to Clemson has been the greatest time of my life. I have met wonderful people, grown immensely in my relationship with Christ, learned a lot (sometimes reluctantly), grown up some (also reluctantly :) ), and had the time of my life. Who ever said high school was the greatest four years of your life obviously didn't go to college. No comparison in my mind.
So, yesterday I graduated. My family was there, including my mom, dad, step-mom, step-dad, brother, sister-in-law, and grand parents. The surprise of the day was that David came to be with me too. I wasn't expecting him to come because he told me that he was planning on going on a trip out of town. He kept this story up all the way to the day of graduation. I had NO idea that he had been planning on coming all along. I was standing in line getting ready to march and all the sudden he walked up. I did a double-take when I saw him because I wasn't expecting it at all-- but I was SO happy that he came. At first I thought he had decided to come on a whim, but only later did I get to hear about the planning and scheming that went into keeping all of this a secret. Lets just say that my whole family knew he was coming, everyone except me. I thought I was pretty observant and would notice something like this-- hmm I guess not! Anyway- as a shout out to David-- you being there made my graduation a thousand times better than it ever would have been without you. You have no idea what it meant to me to have you there!! Your thoughtfulness is just one of the things I love about you. Just watch out-- I will retaliate for the sneakiness that went on for this surpise :)!
On to other things-- after the cermony we took millions of pictures, then we headed to dinner at Bonefish Grille. It was wonderful food and wonderful company!! After that I opened gifts- which I wont detail here because I'm getting sleepy. It is enough to say that I have family and freinds far beyond what I deserve- they are SUPER GREAT! So that's about it- PEACE OUT!

No thinking allowed

I could do a good update right now, but this week has been officially designated as no-thinking week for me. I will say, for those who have been asking and praying, that I made a B in student teaching! YAY! If you know me, you know that I am not completely happy with that, but after this semester, I am satisfied. Bring it on May 12th, I'm ready to graduate!!!!