Big Day!

Today was a big day. A day with mixed emotions.


I handed in my keys to sweet 608...my first place on my own.


Now, I've been living in my new place for a month with my super awesome roommate, but technically I still had the little apartment until the end of July. Having keys to two places at a time was quite interesting. Many times I caught myself trying to use the other key to get in the wrong house. Oh well.


As I turned in my keys today, I was full of mixed emotions. My keys felt lighter and I didn't have the annoying gate card anymore. Which by the way, is the most annoying thing ever when it is raining. But needless to say, I drove out of the Overlook with it in my rear-view mirror and I smiled through the tears.


This is probably boring to anyone else, but my parents. But I began thinking about the 12 months I spent living there and the lessons learned...

• Everyone should live alone at some point in their life
• When you run out of toothpaste, there isn't anyone down the hall to borrow from 
• You quickly learn that if you don't pick up after yourself, no one will know
• Deep cleaning a 1 bedroom apartment can be done in 2 hours 
• The noisy neighbors upstairs become a comfort sound at night to know you are not alone
• 608 became a place to grow friendships 
• You can sit alone and eat ice cream without anyone getting on to you 
• Carrying grocery bags up the stairs becomes a talent
• Coming home to an empty apartment can do craziness with your head 
• When your apartment has hills, don't drive when it is icy
• Never under estimate the space of a 1 bedroom... anything can be done 

I could go on and on, but sweet 608 will always be such a fun memory. As I was cleaning this past weekend and taking down my famous vinyl letters, "Make each day your masterpiece", it was the sign that the transition to adult life was over. (Pause... I am no way saying I have this adult life thing figured out, more I have my feet wet and it is time to just swim along.) 608 severed as the transition place for me to merge college life into adult life. Now, it is all adult life. I found myself putting out less college stuff in my new places and packing up boxes for home to store. Now, I am not saying that I am completely done with college, but the my life is transitioning into adult life. A new life with new beginnings and new challenges. Although, I am proud of my collection of stuffed Alphies and the memories we have shared, it is time to move to the next chapter God has for me. 

This past year has been nothing short of amazing. I am so excited about what this next year has in store. I am reminded of this quote, “God doesn't call us to be comfortable. He calls us to trust Him so completely that we are unafraid to put ourselves in situations where we will be in trouble if He doesn't come through.” Francis Chan, Crazy Love. 

I think back a year ago moving to a completely new town and literally being on my own, to where I am now. Loving the town, loving community, but most importantly, loving being more in love with God than every before. 

Thank you sweet 608, you taught more than you will ever know. 

Goodbye Sweet 608

Well, I did it. I moved again.

As my dad and I were riding to get the U-Haul, he wanted me to know this was the 10th Anniversary of moving a child over the summer. I told him, what kind of child would I be if I let the tradition die?  He didn't think it was as funny as I did. Although, I told him I gladly pass it off to another sibling to keep the tradition alive next summer. 

But, what an exhausting, crazy, exciting weekend it was. 

It was sad to pack up my first place on my own. Sweet 608 has been so good to me. It was my first "home". Who knew a little one-bedroom apartment could hold a dinner party of 15 or game night of 20 or a pumpkin carving extravaganza? 608 did. 

As the U-Haul was completely packed, we stopped to pay respect where I had my fight with the ice during the ice storm. The ice won. But, it was a life lesson I learned the hard way. Don't drive on ice. The end.

Life at 608, was wonderful, but I am so excited about life at 2345! We have been in one weekend, and it has already been a blast. My incredible roommate and I have already painted two rooms (with the help of some dear sweet friends), changed light bulbs, unpacked boxes and begin getting our lives put together.

Both of our personalities, would love for it to be done right now and everything put in it's place. We have learned it's not that easy.

But for now, we have this to come home too.

boxes, boxes, boxes 

proof that we did help paint :)

Can't wait for it to all be finished! 

Small Town? Nope, welcome to the CITY!

Part of the reason I started this blog was because my small group girls kept telling me that the experiences I was having on my journey were just too good not to share.

Growing up in a town where you could get to the other side of the town in 10 minutes or less, has left me with some quite hilarious stories of figuring out this Atlanta life. 

This was my first “your-not-in-Kansas-anymore” experience.

I had been in my apartment for a couple of days when I sat down to look at the long to-do list my mom and I had made. Now, who knew how much went into setting up an apartment. There were things like call the power company, call the cable company, find your mailbox… I mean, I just wanted to pick out fun fabric, organize my massive walk-in closet and have a merry time. Except now, I was facing reality of the non-glamorous things you have to take care of. I guess living in the dorms for 4 years did not prepare me for all the things you had to do when setting up an apartment.

I was crossing things off my list when I got to an item. I was avoiding this item. I knew when I completed this task; I would no longer be a resident of the town I grew up.

There it was- change address on driver’s license.

So, strapping on my big girl pants, I got up and headed to the DMV. Now, the DMV where I am from is a small office with 2 windows. I pull in to this massive building and proudly walk in. I walk to the desk, and the lady hands me a number- C29. I thought to myself, is this bingo?

I glance around the room and see almost every chair taken. I find a chair along the wall and take a seat. I begin noticing that there has to be around 300 chairs in the room and 10 windows. I had come prepared with 1 magazine, but honestly thought I would be in and out. Everyone had a number. There were all kinds of letters and I enjoyed the game of figuring out what each letter stood for. I then realized, it really was like bingo.

I began to put the two-and-two together. They currently were on C-9. Good grief, I might be here a while. You guessed it, 20 people in front of me. And you guessed it, 20 people to just change their address. And yes you guessed it, they don't go in order by letter, they jump all over the place. Well, that could be super fast, wrong.  I began to notice the conversations around me. I think I picked up about 4 different languages being spoken. However, the DMV does rank up there with a great place to people watch.

Finally after an hour and half my number is called. I really did want to yell BINGO! I rush to the counter (to make sure she knew I was there) and tell the lady I needed to change my address. After pulling up my record she asked for my current license and then with no hesitation drops it in the trash. Woah... no time to say goodbye 15-year-old learner’s picture or old address. She tells me to stand in front of the blue screen and then in 10 seconds my picture was taken. And just like that I have a new license with a horrible picture and a new address. That wasn’t painful for her not. one. bit.

I walked out of there laughing, yeap, welcome to the largest county in Georgia.

I laugh about this story now. I am sure I looked so out of place. Just another reminder that I was on a new journey in the real world…

I get the privilege of experiencing this all over again tomorrow, when I go to renew my license. I think I’ll go a little more prepared with more than 1 magazine and be prepared to do some serious people watching.