So Much to Celebrate!

Holy smokes life is speeding by like a racecar!  Flowers are blooming, the sun is shining (not always in Boone, but still...), everything is covered in pollen, and the days are getting longer.  Spring is such a lovely season, as new life starts to emerge from the cold days of winter.  It is a tangible reminder to me that God is constantly making all things new and that He creates life from the ashes.  Despite the fact that spring has also brought the return of allergy season I have so much to celebrate right now!

Super fancy new leather-bound notebook Emory sent me as a free gift!

Celebratory Update #1: 

     I have officially been accepted to a dual degree program at Emory University for the Fall of 2014!!!  I will be pursuing a Master of Divinity at the Candler School of Theology and a Master of Public Health at the Rollins School of Public Health.  I cannot even put into words how excited I am about this, especially considering the process of events that brought me here.  Here is a brief outline - on February 4th I googled Emory University after my Campus Minister mentioned their well known pastoral care program.  Browsing around their website I stumbled across the dual degree and literally sent a text to my dad that said "I know the graduate school I am going to one day - now it's just a matter of God showing me the how and when."  After talking more with my mom and dad I decided to take a chance and apply and then just see what happened.  Fast-forward less than two months and I am calling my mom and dad to share that I have been accepted to Emory for the fall!  It is still a little surreal to me, but I absolutely cannot wait to see this new journey unfold!

Some other things I am celebrating:

• I seriously LOVE the mountains - I am soaking up every bit of my last month up in Boone before graduation.  There is something so peaceful about being surrounded by mountains and the beauty of God's creation.
• Speaking of - I graduate from ASU in less than a month at this point which still blows my mind.  These past four years have flown by, but they are filled with countless unforgettable memories!

"Close to nature, close to peace, close to love.  Life is great in the mountains."

• This weekend my mom and dad came up to Boone to visit me and it was practically perfect in every way!  We hit some of our favorite Boone restaurants, explored downtown, and simply spent quality time together.  It was everything I needed and so much more - time with the people you love is good for the soul, simple as that.  As part of the weekend we decided to take a day trip to Asheville which was great not only because we haven't been back much since we moved but also because we got to get together with my sister and have dinner together.  She was in town for National Guard duty and it was great to see her and catch up a little bit.  It was also a chance to celebrate me getting in to Emory and her passing her PT test so she can be promoted to a First Lieutenant!  I love the mountains in general, but Asheville will always hold an extra special place in my heart.  It is where I grew up, where my home church is, and one of the places where I feel deeply known.  Needless to say I could really see myself settling down their post-graduate school...

A fun mug that I saw in Mast General - we went to almost every one in the state this weekend.  The orginal and annex in Valle Crusis, the dowtown Boone, AND the Asheville one.  All we were missing was Hendersonville and Waynesville

• Like I said at the start of this post, Spring has finally sprung!  And even though breathing has been difficult since spring allergies hit me like a brick wall last week, I am loving some warmer weather and days of sunshine and blue skies.  Weather like this is perfect for running, reading in the sun, afternoon naps outside, and generally just doing anything outdoors

  

  The perfect Sunday afternoon to wrap up the perfect mountain weekend!