love love love!

Things are bittersweet here.

Nathan and I had the most incredible weekend last weekend together. Nothing planned, but we went home to see my mom and actually pretty much spent the weekend alone! We got to cuddle, talk late into the night, laugh a lot, eat cupcakes, cruise the mall, AND on Sunday we actually got our wedding bands! Mine are (I got 2 ahh!) shiny and beautiful and vintage and amazing, and his is gorgeous and manly, and simple and so him. It warmed my very heart to see that ring on his finger! I'm used to seeing mine since I have had my shiny for a few months! I can't wait to make that man my husband! 

I passed all but one of my nursing tests (I failed by 2 points, something that I am actually relieved by after taking that research test... Dang).  I found my bridesmaids! Three sweet ladies from my nursing class are going to help me walk down the aisle! Who would have thought?! I have to get in hardcore saving mode.

Also, when I went home, the scale read 125 point something, but 125! Also, since then I have been a little lax eating Oreos and cream puffs from work! Work kills my diet. They are always making tasty treats! So, I actually bought a 400-calorie meal thing from Barnes and Noble this weekend, and I'm going to get back on track.

OH! And we had our engagement pictures made! They are beautiful! Well, the 3 preview pictures we had!
Our friend Carrie-Ann (who co-owns In Sienk Photography with her husband, Scott) took them, and they look wonderful! I cannot wait to get the rest back :)

Ahh! <3

With the ups, there are always downs, and we hit a low this week. I have unspoken prayer requests for my Mom and Dad. Financial trouble has been a HUGE burden on my family the last few years, and it doesn't seem to be lightening up anytime soon. Prayers are needed and appreciated! Also, Nathan's parents need some prayers too. We just need prayers all around!

Nathan and I are going to marriage counseling again next Saturday! I can't wait! But that also means that I need to get on the ball with my reading. I'm such a procrastinator it hurts. But, this really, really opened doors for us and I can't wait to learn and talk more with these Godly people and each other. This is going to do us wonders before we get married!

Speaking of which, yesterday was 13 months to the day of our marriage! Ahhh! I'll leave this post with that :)

christmas and the end of my break and things

Christmas was wonderful! Santa was very good to me and my brother and my mom! My boyfriend gave me the best presents ever :) I got 2 copper bracelets that were stamped with "always" and "until the very end" (sweet and from Harry Potter!) which are my favorite! I got a bunch of other stuff as well, like the rad Mucha jewelry box that holds said bracelets :)

6 of my friends got engaged on either Christmas eve or Christmas day. Oy vey. It's a little disheartening when that happens. Two of my best friends have babies already! (Although I'm definitely not even thinking about that yet), but marriage, yes! I've probably wanted to marry my boyfriend before we even said "I love you" to each other! All in good time I guess, I'm just jealous! I want to be done with school and enjoying married life, but it's all a waiting game now!

Speaking of nursing school... I have to start back in a few days and I am definitely not ready or looking forward to it. I just want to be done! I feel like I've been saying that I have a year and a half left forever now, but I really only have about a year and a half left! Ok, nap time.

Thanksgiving.

I am SO incredibly thankful for tons of things.

I'm thankful for how God is working in my life, and even though I am not perfect, He blesses me and teaches me something everyday. I'm thankful for my wonderful family, no matter how crazy they are. I'm the most thankful for my wonderful boyfriend Nathan, who I appreciate more and more everyday and I am so blessed to have him to love. I'm thankful for my job and my coworkers (even if they drive me nuts sometimes), my grades in school, getting INTO nursing school and STAYING in, my upcoming trip with my family and my love to Long Island in December, my home that stays pretty messy because I'm busy/lazy, pinterest, the energy to handle a part-time job and full-time school and a full-time relationship, neighbors that are relatively quiet most of the time, seasonal coffees from Starbucks, all of my friends (who all seem to be getting married and having babies), and my health. I'm so thankful for EVERYTHING that I have, and I thank God for many things every night.

Nathan is one of those many "things". I have written on and on about him, but I just love him so much. I think about us often, about how we came to be and how there were a few times when I was sure that we wouldn't be (in the beginning). It really brings to light that "everything happens for a reason" thing. I waited for about 2 years for God to bless me with someone, and sure enough, he sent me Nate. It's been 9 months since we met and I am so happy! I feel like I've known him forever and ever. I'm comfortable and in love and he still makes me get butterflies in my belly. I am just the most thankful ever for him.


Tomorrow I get to have Thanksgiving with Nathan and his family and extended family and maybe ride a horse. I'm excited!