Virginia Update!

So I haven't given you all a basic update on our lives here in Virginia in quite awhile, so I think that's what I'm gonna do today!

Doesn't sound too exciting, I know.. But you don't have to read it you know!

When I say "we" I feel like I need to include not only Matt and I, but Ryan and Kylie as well.

Matt and Ryan live in our house together... and Kylie lives in the dorms like I do.

So when "we" do things these days, it's almost always all four of us.

That might sound like a bad thing... Like who wants to always be with another couple? "Especially your to-be sister in law?" Right? That just sounds miserable.

But the truth is, we love it! 

Matt and Ryan are pretty much BFF's.

Kylie is awesome, and I don't think I've ever had an issue with her since I met her.

Matt and Kylie aren't your average siblings, and get along quite well.

And Ryan and I suffer through having to see each other every day.

{That's a joke. We get along quite well too}

So basically, living here with Ry and Ky is pretty much great.

School right now kind of sucks.

Not because anything in school has changed or gotten harder...

But because it's too nice outside all the time and going to class is not at the top of my list of things to do!

Luckily/unfortunately we have an attendance code at Liberty and can only skip so many days of class without getting docked points... So we aren't skipping daily like we would actually like to be doing.

But seriously, I feel like senioritis is back, and I'm only a Junior...

Luckily we are done with classes on May 7 (that's our last final!) Then on the 10th we are on our way back to Washington for the summer of the weddings! (Only 40 days away!)

To fill up our time until then (because college is never busy at all of course ;]) these are some things we have been/will be doing:

Intramural Volleyball!

Ryan, Kylie, Matt, Vince (Ryan's friend), and I made an intramural Volleyball team this week! 

We are called: West Coast-Best Coast.

Are we good? Well, we aren't really sure. We've been playing for fun a couple times this week... It wasn't exactly D1 status, but I think our competitive nature will make up for skill.

Either way, beach volleyball is a blast!

I'll let you know how we end up doing!

Wedding Shower!

We are going to Ohio for a joint wedding shower with the Huston family over Easter weekend!

There is a lot of family out there and a plane ticket to Washington isn't exactly cheap, so most won't be making it out for the weddings. So our solution? A wedding shower! We can't wait!

{Though I think we would all agree that we could wait for the 8 hour drive}

Matt is Working!

Like a ton. He got a job at Home Depot a month or so ago, and has gotten about 30 hours a week since then! We feel so incredibly blessed for him to be making money! And he loves his boss and the guys he gets to work with! But he is extremely tired! 

We Work Out!

The fact that we all have weddings should explain it all.

Roommates!

I'm taking advantage of spending as much time with my lovely roommates before I have to leave them for good! I love them so much and I feel so blessed that I got to live with them this year. I literally couldn't imagine getting placed with anyone better!

School Work!

Notice how far down this is on the list.

Don't be alarmed though, it's not this far down in real life, I just don't like to talk about it nearly as much as pretty much anything else. ;] Although, the more I plan out my schedule for next year, the more excited I get about moving forward with my degree and my future career! I am finding that I am so much more passionate about OT than I ever thought I was. I can't wait to use my life and my skills to help people and to remind people that they have a purpose! I just get pumped up thinking about it!

Church!

I don't know if I told you all about the issue we were having finding a church we liked this year, but it was quite the problem! It's always hard with change and we just couldn't find the church we clicked with. Thankfully God has placed us into a church that we are loving! Can't wait to get more involved next year when we are living here full time!

Running!

So I'm not exactly your ideal runner.

I don't always enjoy it (until I'm done of course), I'm not very fast, and I'd rather be doing several more things than running. But when I get back home in May, I'm doing The Color Run with a couple of my favorite people in the entire world and so I figure I need to get in better running shape so it's not miserable. Also, I find when I run I am more confident, find more peace, and get more one on one time in prayer with the Big Guy. So running is my plan. I want to get at least a 5k in daily. Whether it's all at once, split up, morning, night, whatever, I want to get it done! Wish me luck! Also, for you runners, how do you get the motivation to get your butt out of bed in the morning and out the door for a run?

Wedding Planning!

As of April Third we are down to 4 months until our wedding. 

That is out of control to me!

It's like it's actually happening now!

So plans are starting to get done!

We're looking at wedding bands to compliment my gorgeous engagement ring.

Also, I am in charge of planning a Bachelorette Party for my best friends wedding in June!

So planning craziness/awesomeness!

Coffee!

This is the dumbest thing ever to get it's own paragraph.

I am obsessed with coffee though, so sue me. ;]

I am almost out of Flames Cash, no more Starbucks gift cards, and $14 in my bank account, so it looks like I may have to fast on coffee until I get home. (sigh) Pray for me. ;]

As much as we are loving it here (which we really really are), I can't wait to get home and have the summer of my life! Three weddings (including my own), I get to see my family, my best friends, and the rest of the people that have meant so much to me for so long. I'm just realizing how big this summer is going to be and keep reminding myself that we need to soak up every second of it! 

See you all back home in 40 days!

So much love,

xo/Austin

College is Hard.

I have been in Virginia for a week and a half now.

I've finished a whole week of classes.

I've made friends

I have prayed a whole lot.

I have talked less than usual.

I have laughed and cried.

Summary of college so far: It is hard.

In college it's up to me. Not my teachers to tell me.

In college it's up to me. Not my Mom.

In college it's up to me. Not my friends who have always been there.

In college it's up to me.

And I like that.

I love being treated like I am an adult. Because I am an adult. I am appreciating the fact that I am not back home, because I know I wouldn't grow into the  woman God has called me to be back there. I needed to be taken out of my comfort zone to grow. I needed the push of His promise of provision. I needed the threat of change for my life. I needed the challenege of persuing question of "Who am I?"

Here at Liberty, I am forced to lean unto God for my strength.

College Faves:

1. We talk about God in class!
2. The schedule I am forced to live within.
3. The work is constant and challenging.
4. My relationship with God is growing already.
5. I get to introduce Matt as my fiance daily!
6. Every student on campus is prayed for DAILY.
7. I am challenged in my faith daily.
8. Running on campus.
9. Packages!
10. Constant exercise walking to class.
11. Prayer groups, every Tuesday night.
12. Studying and having dinner with my fiance every day.
13. I am taking bible classes. They're so awesome!
14. The true appreciation of food when you finally get a good meal!
15. My roomates!

College Stinks!

1. I need a job NOW.
2. Liberty is full of rules that I don't always agree with.
3. It is bloody hot and humid.
• With freak thunder and rain storms every couple days.
4. The celings and walls in our dorm are barely there, so we hear every footstep and celing falls on my in my sleep.
5. My Anatomy lab is going to be hard.
6. I'm terrible at math, so that class hasn't been fun.
7. Textbooks are out of this world expensive.
8. I'm super broke all the time.
9. My bed time has been pushed back 3 hours.
10. I am homesick and really miss everyone.

I don't feel like anyone can truely understand the meaning of homesick until you experience it. It's hard to be in a state that you don't have any friends. No one that knows the real you. No one that has seen what you can and will do for someone you love. No one that has seen you at your worst and who has proven themselves through that. No one that knows who you are, who you have been, and who you want to be. No one who you can call at 2 am and ask to come over.

And I have Matt, I can't imagine how I'd handle it without him.

I have learned a few things about myself from my week and a half at Liberty, some I'm comfortable with, and some I am ashamed to admit:

1. I am shy when I don't know anyone.
2. I can be extremely insecure, when I am around people who don't know my heart.
3. I can be judgemental.
4. I hate accents.
• I used to think they were cute, now they're just annoying.
5. I am not addicted to coffee, but I am much happier when it is in the picture.

For now, this is where my total college experience lays.

I really am enjoying it. Yes, It's hard, but I know this is where I am supposed to be. I know I am learning a lot, and I am making friends. I am confident that with each update on here, I will express more and more love for Liberty, college, and the Lord. And that is what is most important.

Love, love, love.
xo/Austin

Helloooooooo Virginia!

We are here! Here as in thousands of miles away from home!

Lynchburg Virginia to be exact.

It took two plane rides, a 4 hour layover, no sleep, no food, and a lot of luggage to get here, but here we are.

We left late Monday and arrived mid-day Tuesday in Lynchburg airport. Maybe the smallest airport I've ever seen.

Exciting Travel Notes:

1. Both of my suitcases weighed 48. lbs and just barely missed the "too heavy" mark!
2. I got to travel with my fiance!
3. We didn't die!
4. No crying babies.
5. The coolest one.. During our 4 hour (FOUR HOUR) layover in Charlotte, we met some guys that have been travelling on the Dew Tour for BMX racing. They were sponsered by Monster. They gave Matt a water bottle, just cause. And one of them was the one leading the tour! It was kind of cool. Matt was starstruck as can be! The guys we met were Kyle Baldock and Garrett Reynolds. (And you better bet we googled them on my Iphone while we were waiting)

We got to move into our dorms Tuesday night, and I got to meet my roomates! They're very nice, and I definitely had a lot of resolved nerves when I finally met them. I am loving my dorm! Crazy, but I am.

And Liberty's campus is awesome. And gigantic. I swear I have never walked more in my life!

I loved waking up this morning and going for a run around campus! And boy is it hot here! It's wonderful!

Our dorm looks great and I am excited for this semester living with Christie and Amber!

I am learning lots and getting a ton done before classes on Monday!

I'll be around often to update!

Sending my love from Virginia!!

xo/Austin