We just like to keep you on your toes

Well, y'all, if you haven't heard yet, the location of our wedding got changed. 4 days before. This isn't a joke. It obviously wasn't what we planned, but how the heck do you plan for monsoon season when you get engaged in December?! You can't, so we adapted! Instead of getting married where we planned, we are getting married at my parents house, and y'all, I am SO excited. When we were first choosing a place to get married it was mentioned, but seemed unrealistic. I thought it would be sweet and romantic to get married at my house in my parents yard, but 250ish people?! That's unreal. Welp, now it's real. And I'm. Thrilled.

So, if you didn't know, you do now. We're working really hard to make sure everyone who was invited knows, but I just don't know how possible it is. We don't even have time to mail stuff out again! Check out the website for my address and a map. Thanks for being so flexible everyone!

Now, we get married in 3 basically 2 days. Wanna know what I've been up to? Lots. Lots and lots of fun stuff.

 Yep. That's a torch.

How great are my bridesmaids diggin' in the dirt to help me out!?

Is it Saturday yet?

9 days!

Y'all! I get to be Mrs. Justin Neal Morgan in 9 days!! We're in the single digits. I feel like I have tons to do, however I am currently taking a break from organizing and planning and making lists to 1. eat and 2. catch up on other non-wedding related things. (It's sort of like life still goes on even when I'm way busy. Huh. Weird.)

I just finished eating one of my favorite things, spaghetti noodles with a little bit of butter and Parmesan cheese. Seriously. It's probably so bland to you, but don't knock it 'til you try it. I love it.

Also, here are some pictures to prove I graduated! Or at least that I have a cap and gown. :)

That's my grandpa with his kids and his kids kids.

 I. look. just. like. my. mom.

My cousin Piper. She's rotten. 

Barefoot with my besties!

On the wedding side of things however, I just ordered 35 packages of sparklers from an online magic shop. How goofy is that? They were way cheaper than anywhere else. That's random. 

Life lately

Y'all! 

I'M A GRADUATE!!!!

That's right. I'm DONE with college. Praise the Lord. I don't think I had another week much less anymore years of homework left in me. Officially, I have a Bachelors of Science in Human Development, Family Sciences, and Rural Sociology with a concentration in Child Development in case you were wondering. 

I've been annoyingly busy lately, but so many fun things have happened!

For one, I had my bachelorette party. We had dinner at Viejo, had a scavenger hunt, and I got to stay the night we some of my besties after opening presents. I have super friends. 

We also started moving stuff into the apartment! 

It's a work in progress. 

And we went to my sweet friend Kelsey's wedding in OKC with our friends Ben and Heather. It was a way fun trip with a sketchy looking Thai restaurant and a beautiful wedding. 

I'm getting married in 12 almost 11 days. That's nuts. That's almost single digits. 

Neti Potting and the Star Spangled Banner

Y'all. For what seems like the trillionth time this semester, I am sick. Boo. I've been sick for a week on Wednesday. I'm also too stubborn to go to the doctor. I know, it's my own fault. This time though, my friend Sarah got me to try out the Neti Pot. This is a fear-invoking contraption if you've never heard of it. It's basically a plastic teapot you stick in one nostril and tilt your head, so that when you pour it, it comes out the other. Here's an example.

Isn't that pretty? Thanks, random girl who's humble enough to put that picture on the internet.
Pretty or not, I can breathe a lot better.
During my first Neti Potting experience I didn't lean forward enough, and it kind of went down my throat. It felt like I was drowning. Sorry that's gross, but I don't want anyone to be deceived if they try it.

On another note about being sick, I've been drinking lots of water and hot tea. I've read that I'm not supposed to have much dairy or caffeine if I have a sore throat. Bummer. I crave coffee, ice cream, hot chocolate, and pretty much anything that contains those things. Currently I'm drinking decaf coffee, and it tastes like dirt. I didn't think I'd be able to tell a difference. I can. Maybe it's my tastebuds....

On a totally different note, the most ironic thing ever happened tonight at dinner. Ok, so maybe not ever, but at least that I can remember.
Myself and 5 other lovely ladies were eating dinner at the Union talking about how weird this whole Osama thing is and how we're freaked out by everyone's reaction and rejoicing of a death. (Serious side note: really, why the rejoicing? He's going to hell which is exactly what we all deserve, and without Jesus I'd be just as unrighteous as he is before the Lord. Maybe I'm wrong, but I can't rejoice over the death of another one of God's creations.) Anyways, some news anchor or something said that this was the most important day in American history. What?! Really?! We all started naming days that were more important: "The end of WWII!", "D-Day!", "Ending slavery?!", "Uh, signing the Declaration?!", when, I promise, at the same time an all male choir started singing the Star Spangled Banner! Tell me that isn't ironic. Despite how really enjoyable it was, we all started dying laughing because of the irony. We sort of felt rude, but we really weren't laughing at them. After the SSB and watching a fellow Humphreys resident decide how to get around the boys without being rude as they were singing, we clapped for these beautifully voiced men. They then proceeded to turn to us and sing a song beginning with "A serenade to a girl..." Yep. They sang to us. Here's proof:

We clapped again, and they thanked us for being there and told us that it was a spontaneous performance. It should be noted that we were thrilled to receive such a performance.

Lastly, a boy got out a tuba, yes a tuba, and started playing Friday by Rebecca Black. We sang the random parts we knew. We got video taped by one of the boys iPhones. Maybe we'll be a viral video one day. 

This is lengthy. Sorry 'bout that. Hope it entertained you. 

Lovies. 

So. Close.

Well, folks, the end (beginning) is drawing near, and I am EXCITED to say the least. Here are some countdowns:

• Class days: 6
• Graduation: 17
• Personal shower (aka Bachelorette Party. I learned that grown ups call these personal showers): 9
• Getting married: 30 (that is one month, y'all!)

Because I've been terrible at staying updated, here's what I've been doing:

• School-I know this is shocking to some of you, but really, this semester has been stinking busy with classes I don't need to graduate and one that I do.
• Job searching-DHS, VistaHealth, Youthbridge, Ozark Guidance
• Wedding shower-Seriously, this was so fun. I love wedding showers! 
• Wedding-ing-Ya know, just doing wedding stuff in general. 
• More school
• Being on duty-Which I am hopefully done with forever. 
• Being stressed/sick-Seriously, I think my body realizes I'm stressed more than I actually do. I'm kind of a mess. ha. 
• Counting my lasts-duty night, StuMo, finals (Praise the Lord), etc. 
• Loving living with so many wonderful girls/people (My bro lives in the same building too. I love that.)
• Watching my friends get engaged.There's been like a million. Ok, maybe 6 or 7. 
• Finishing pre-marriage class. I guess we're ready to get married now. 
• Seeing my sweet friend Sarah who just came back from a semester of traveling.

On Community and Quiet

Y'all. 2 things that bring joy to my soul, seriously bring joy, are community and quiet. Let me explain.

I love love love the various senses of community that make up my life and the world. There are little things as comforting as the community that I have with my sisters in Christ/best friends/the girls. There is a lack of judgment from these beautiful women that anyone could appreciate, and I get to know them better than lots of other people do. To know that at least one of many girls will always always be there for you is so neat. Knowing that I could tell them anything and entrust them with it completely is so refreshing from previous relationships and oh yea, a lot of the world. I cannot tell you the joy these sweet girls and my wonderful relationships with them bring me.

I realized my love for community on the Green Bus the other day. I know, that's kind of funny. I was on the bus by myself (do you know that I love public transportation? I do.), and we were coming up to my stop. It's a common stop, Lot 56, many students who desire to not pay more to park closer simply ride the bus up and down the hill that is the UofA to avoid walking an extra 20 minutes each way. (Who has that kind of time?) Well, as I said, generally, this is a pretty common stop. This day, the bus driver decided he would announce it and if no one got up, he'd just keep going. Well ya see, I don't have super balance therefore I don't usually get up until the bus stops. However, this day, I was the only one getting off. The bus driver said, "No one?" over the loud speaker and started to speed up. I started to get up and as I was opening my mouth to say, "No sir. Please stop. Me me me. I need to get off here." (or something like that.) at least 3 other people said, "You've got one!" "No, wait" or something like that. I assumed then, that they were getting off as well. The bus stopped, and I got off. Alone. It is a small thing, but how kind of people to speak for me when I was very capable of doing it myself. How friendly. I don't even know those people. Is that Arkansas community? Green bus community? I don't know, but it made my heart smile and make me realize that I adore a solid sense of community. This may explain my love for the dorms that I so want to leave, but still don't at the same time.

My quiet ties into my community. Particularly, with my friend Kelsey. I appreciate so greatly people that you can be with and be quiet and not be uncomfortable or think it's awkward, but really relish it and enjoy it. Kelsey is one of those people that I can do this with. This is funny because I'm not sure if we've ever actually spoken about it, but it is a joyful thing that two very messy spirits can be in one place together and just be. Don't get me wrong I appreciate your words and descriptions and stories, but I still adore that sweet silence. Honestly, I feel like that connects to people more than talking all. the. time. It's a soul soother.

Ya know what else is?
www.rainymood.com

Also, let the countdown continue that I will be a wifey in 43 days. Oh my heavens. That's soon.

Lovelovelove

Sometimes

Sometimes I get to see my fiance. Like, we get to be in the same meetings sitting by each other but not really talking. Still though, we are by each other.

Sometimes I get to actually spend time with and talk to my fiance.....not just sit by him. Those times are rare and sweet.

Most times we text each other more than we actually talk because or schedules do not match well right now.

That's a bummer.

52 days.

That's not a lot of times left.

Praise. The. Lord.