Recap

So just a list, more for myself, of some important moments in the last few months that I want to remember....

In no particular order.....

• I was inspired and begin training to run a marathon. I will run the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon on April 29th. My cousins were "fighting" over Christmas trying to bribe me into coming to either OKC or Chicago to run but since the Chicago marathon isn't until October and who knows what I'll be doing then or if I'll still be motivated I decided to run the OKC marathon. (plus I've visited the Chicago cousins and have never visited to OKC cousins)

• Speaking of OKC cousins I got to meet baby Lilah and she is a beautiful chunky monkey! And I got to have a thoughtful and wonderful heart to heart with her mama!!

• I ALSO got to meet baby SIMON who is also a beautiful chunky monkey but in his defense the SMALLEST Beaver newborn yet! :)
  

• I had to go to the ER for the first time in my life (it wasn't really an emergency but it was a Sunday night so nothing else was open)

• I have had two more staph infections that required doctor visits (hence the above mentioned ER visit)

• Gunnar got to meet Grandmother (my great grandmother who is 96) This was important to me. I wanted her blessing I guess. She was married to my great grandfather, Granddaddy, for 78 years when he passed away. Now she is the matriarch of our family and I wanted him to meet her at least once.
  

• Gunnar shot a pig with his bow from 30 yards! First pig with his bow. Perfect shot right through the lungs! He came and grabbed a bunch of us, cousins and uncles and such to help "find" it. (He had already found it but wanted show everyone and got us into the chase)
  

• Shot a buck at Sherwood. This was my first time to shoot a deer with Gunnar (we're still not sure how that happened that we dated so long without me shooting one with him) It was TOTALLY fun!!!'

• Ground and made my own hamburger meat with my own buck!! YUM!

• Car broke down so I got stuck in Mertzon for a week longer than planned.
  
• IT SNOWED in Mertzon and because I had gotten stuck there I was able to enjoy it!!
  
• Got to attend a Jesse Duplantis meeting! Several seeds were planted in my heart that the Lord has been bringing some serious revelation and illumination on ever since! Afterwards I initiated a brutal and deadly snowball fight with Penny, Jonathan, Reb and Gunnar! I'm telling ya, only the tough survived!!

• Went of a family hike :)

• I got an iphone!!
  

• I'm still dating a wonderful man who is so good to me and whose desire for the Lord is encouraging and contagious.

• The Lord is exploding Psalm 23! Its like I've never read it before! I'm loving it!! The Lord is so faithful and such a good teacher!
  

Quick and easy

So want a meal that is so yummy quick and easy? Well you should totally try this. IT's from the pioneer woman and I made it today. So easy and so good. Im not a huge fan of spaghetti but I love lasagna and pasta so this is is right up my alley!

Bowtie lasagna

Go try it! Right now!

ok bye

We pulled it off....

....well almost.... :(

This weekend was the Missouri game and Gunnar's parents, brother and family friends, the Foxes, came to town to party the weekend away!! The game in which we were supposed to solidly win ended up going into overtime as the Missouri kicker missed a field goal right as time expired. They ended up scoring in over time and we did not.......yeah... Typical Aggies! Besides the crummy game the rest of the weekend was a whirlwind blast!!

I only took pictures at the game but since I haven't taken many since being here in College Station that still made me happy!

We got Reb a guest pass so he got to sit, well stand, in the student section. As per Aggie tradition the students stand the entire game to show their support for the team.

This is Gunnar's Canadian roommate, John and his little brother Reb.

Kinda an awkward angle...

Ryan Tannehill is the quarterback for A&M. He's from Big Spring actually which is kinda cool, I mean who comes from Big Spring?!

So like usual I was the only one taking pictures but Gunnar stole my camera for a little while because he knew I would like a few pictures too. I really liked this one he snuck in!
Seriously?! For as quiet and seemingly "shy" people think Gunnar is, how does he always come up with faces like this?!

So the A&M band is like the best thing EVER!! Like really, if I hated football I would consider it worth it to go to the games just to see the band! Oh and you have to stand up when the band is on the field too.

This was an AWESOME performance. The execution and intricacy of this performance was like none any of the fans had ever seen. Even the seniors and juniors were talking about how surprised and amazed they were by just how awesome it was. Best part of this game I must bitter sweetly say.

Half time!! (notice everyone is sitting down)
Gunnar was so excited that Reb got to come to a game!! He really misses getting to spend time with him.

The group minus me starting from the left, top to bottom Jonathan (Gunnar's newest roommate), John, Reb, Gunnar, Amanda (Kristina's roommate), Kristiana (Hudson's girlfriend) and Hudson (Gunnar's roommate).

After the game we met Gunnar's parents down on the field to take some pictures. That was the first time I'd been on the field after a game so that was kinda fun.




I'm pretty sure this is my favorite picture of the day!! Gunnar and his dad were helping his mom get down from the stands and I made them pause for just a second to grab a picture. I think its so sweet!
After the game we all went over to Gunnar's house and a bunch more people came over and the Foxes and Sullengers cooked a huge meal for all of us!! It was amazing. We played 42 and spades and talked and laughed and enjoyed it all around! Carolyn Fox made her amazing, to die for, awesome, and every other adjective I can't think of Gooey Butter Cake!!! Ahh I was in heaven!! I kept thinking through out the night how glad I was to be here. To be living in College Station, living life and making memories with Gunnar. Long distance was good and I think totally in the Lord's plan and purpose and grace. It taught us to communicate in a way that I think would have been harder for me to learn had we been together. I can sure see the Lord's hand in beginning our relationship the way He did and I am so grateful knowing that the Lord really does know what He is doing and knows and desires the best for His children. That season is over and I am enjoying this next season so much. Now don't get me wrong, its not all peaches and cream over here. Gunnar is in a KILLER semester of school and I'm looking for another job but I'm so glad the Lord has brought us together to do all this together. Do I think that married people will read this and think "oh girl you don't know nothing yet"?? Yes! But I'm in the season that the Lord has me and I want to enjoy each season of life for what it is! Sure we don't know much but hey we'll only be young and in love once, why look so much for the future that we forget to enjoy the present?

Wow I didn't really mean to go into all that but it was good to remind myself of all those things . I know I will look back on this time and cherish the memories.

Pictures

So (this comment has nothing to do with this post) growing up I DID NOT like two of the most classic "kid foods," macaroni and cheese and peanut butter sandwiches. Now, at the ripe old age of 23, I love them! What's with that?!

Moving on...

Sunday Gunnar took me on a little ice cream date and I have been wanting to show him these animals that I drive past everyday on my way to work so we got ice cream and went and parked. Well Gunnar wasn't sure what these things were either. Some of the them have straight horns, some spiraled, some long, some short.


If anyone knows what these big guys are please fill me in.


Oh and they have fallow deer too.

Makes for a fun drive to work everyday!

Orange Cake

So remember that I promised to take more pictures??? Well I can't find my camera so yeah..... I'm pretty bummed! Anyway I will find it and picture taking will occur!

In the meantime....

Thursday was Gunnar's roommates birthday. He turned 21 and you know what he wanted to do? Play Scrabble! So we had a big group team scrabble night. Gunnar and I soundly lost but I think Jonathan had fun so that was the main point! I made him an orange cake that London, my roommate, made recently and it was SO easy and SO good!!

So I wanted to share the recipe with everyone!

1 yellow box cake
orange juice
1 15. oz. jar of orange marmalade
powder sugar
eggs
oil

Mix the box cake according to the instructions except add 1 c. orange juice instead of water. Add orange marmalade. Mix and bake according to box instructions. Bake in bundt pan. After the cake is cooled mix orange juice and powered sugar until the icing reaches the consistency you desire. Drizzle over the top of the cake. Soo easy and soo good!!

List...

1. Making breakfast for supper after a long day is therapeutic.... ok well maybe not therapeutic but a darn good idea!

2. Hot tea is where its happening! I know its a little soon, I mean its not technically cold yet but its close enough for me.

3. I want a dog.....

4. Aggies beat Tech....that made me happy!

5. Popcorn is my new obsession.

6. If you haven't watched Top Shot, you should!!

7. ok bedtime....

As seen from my camera lens

So I've done a horrible job of taking pictures since I've lived in College Station and I have committed to reform that fault but in the meantime here is life from my camera lens the last couple weeks.....

So Kyle Field is becoming one of my favorite places on campus during the day. I have been walking through campus and praying the last few weeks and every time I do I am drawn toward Kyle Field. It just seems to represent all the people A&M touches and encounters. Plus its a really neat stadium.

The bell tower, taken from Kyle Field.


So Gunnar's roommate John bet Gunnar 5 bucks that he couldn't do 50 push ups in 2 minutes so Gunnar took him up on it and blew it outta the water!

London and I went and played Bingo one night last week! It was such a strange mix of people, old people, black ghetto people, and college kids! It was really fun though and we're totally going to take a big group back someday!

The weather has been so gorgeous lately we have been taking every opportunity to be out in it. Fishing isn't really my favorite past time in the world but its just been the excuse to be out in the fresh air. This is Ben, Gunnar's roommate, and Gunnar trying to hook some bass.
And of course Gunnar takes every opportunity to ride the dirt bikes. He was even awesome enough to give me a ride or two.

So my parents and Gunnar taught me how to play 42 this summer and I fell in love with it. SO ever since I moved to CS I've been wanting to play. I knew my friend Jon knew how to play but no one else. After asking every person I know, I found out Shea knows how to play. We finally set up a game night at my house and played. I had NEVER won a game up to that point and was really starting to think that I was just bad luck but finally on our second game Jon and I won!!! I was SOOOO excited! haha

Shea and Gunnar were having fun messing with my roommate when she asked them to smile. It really irritated her and I think her reactions satisfied their "oldest child" souls.

I will take more pictures.......I will take more pictures..... I will take more pictures.....maybe.....

Peace.