Graduation Glee and the next steps..

So I guess quite a lot has happened in the past few days.

This past weekend Dustin and I both graduated from college. Dustin graduated from Purdue on Sunday and I graduated from ASU on Saturday. It was sad that we couldn't be with each other on our graduation days, but we're happy we'll get to see each other soon!

My feelings about graduation are mixed. Don't get me wrong I am VERY HAPPY to be done with college. But its an odd feeling to be done. At this point I don't foresee any more schooling for quite some time. It feels like a weights been lifted off of me and I can finally say I've done it. Initially, I didn't want to walk at my graduation ceremony. I didn't really know anyone in my major and it just didn't seem important to me to walk. In the end I'm glad I did. I am able to say I was apart of that and it helped to really sink in the fact that I'm done!

Sunday meredith and I went to go see GLEE live in concert! OMGlee!!! Dustin got my tickets for a graduation gift and I am so thankful that he did. The show was amazing and it was awesome to see all these characters in real life, and they actually can sing!

The next step is Vacations and then moving! Dustin flies out to Vegas this weekend for a boys trip and then I'll be flying to Indiana on Monday. Then on Thursday we'll all fly to ST. THOMAS!! oh i need a vacation so badly and I am so excited to spend this time with Dustin! After St. Thomas, Dustin will head out to OKlahoma and I'll go back to work for a month until I head out there in July.

I heard from my apartment complex today and got the finial word on my apartment and all the details that go along with it. It's all starting to become a reality. I can't believe we're finally going to be living in the same place together; something we've been waiting for since we first met. I'm so excited to see him everyday and for our adventure that awaits us in Oklahoma!

I doubted if I should ever come back...

TWO roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

I had the pleasure this evening of spending some time with my good friend Maggie She's one of the few people from high school who I've kept in contact with and still make a point to see at each chance I get. We had a wonderful date night of revolving sushi, a walk on mill ave to tempe town lake, QT smoothies and youtube videos.

I enjoy spending time with her because I am able to talk to her about life and she's able to give me advice. We chatted obviously about my move to Oklahoma to be with Dustin and where our lives had ended up. Her and I both agreed that we are no were where we thought we'd be four years ago, but its not a bad thing its a good thing. I am extremely thankful for Dustin being brought into my life and cannot believe that I chose to take this path that lead me to him. What is scary to look back on is-I almost took the other route-I almost didn't fly out to indiana that summer. It baffles me to think about where my life would be right now if I hadn't chosen that path. Were Dustin and I destined to find each other in another way? or was my decision the key puzzle piece that solidified our futures.

As I am about to graduate from college, I look back and these past four years and see how wonderful they truly were. Many people say college is the best years of your life. I agree it was wonderful-and it wasn't for any scholastic or "college parties" reason-it was because in college I learned who i am and what is important to me. I grew up and realized I didn't have to settle for what was there- i needed to branch out and find something new. I feel in love-deeply and forever in love. I've grown up a lot since the last time I put on a cap and gown and I'd like to think I got more out of these past four years than a degree to hang on the wall.

As I sat on the bench overlooking Tempe town lake, i thought to myself "am I ever going to come back here". It was an odd thing to think about-leaving a place you've come to call home. But in reality home isn't a physical place, its in love you have for others and those who love you. I'll be home when I'm with Dustin and I know I'll always have a place here too.

Dustin's Weekend Trip

This past weekend, Dustin flew out for my (belated) birthday. He flew in Friday night and stayed till Sunday. It was a quick trip but I was glad to be able to see him.

Friday night after he got in, we went to Benihana's for my birthday dinner. I've never gone there for a birthday dinner and always wanted to. I hadn't eaten all day, so I was ready for all the food! I defiantly had a food baby! (for those who don't know what a food baby is....its when you eat way too much and your stomach sticks out like you're preggo! Thanks meredith for the terminology!) We named our food baby "Sam" after our (very Japanese) cook named Sam.

Saturday, Dustin and I went to the Phoenix Zoo. I don't know why but for some reason I love going to zoo's and aquariums, I guess it lets me hang on to my childhood. The zoo was very crowded, but all the animals were out so we got to see everything. Including some things we wish we hadn't! Dustin has really liked goats ever since he was little, so his favorite part was the petting zoo where he got to see to goats butt heads with each other.

After the zoo we went to lunch at Lucille's BBQ at Tempe Marketplace then went over to Ikea to check out some things for our apartments in Oklahoma.

That evening, Dustin and I and the rest of the family went to the Diamondbacks game for Meredith's birthday. Afterwards we came home and meredith opened bday presents.

Sunday Dustin was leaving so we had breakfast at home and then just relaxed until he had to go to the airport.

It's weird to think that this was the last time Dustin would come out to Arizona as us being in a distance relationship. We're coming to the end of the long distance and while we're both very exciting-its strange to fully grasp. We've been together almost 3 years and we never known anything else, but I am so excited to finally be in the same place as he is and am looking forward to our future in Oklahoma!

Oklahoma!!

Well Spring Break was very successful. My mom and I flew out to Oklahoma on monday to meet up with Dustin and his mom to check out the town of Stillwater,OK. Dustin will be moving there in June and I'll follow him there in July so it was a necessity to find an apartment and get a sense of the town! I don't really know what my expectations of Oklahoma were, I guess flat land with farms and cowboys, but it defiantly didn't look anything like it. There were rolling hills and tons of lakes everywhere! Plus a bunch of those oil-rig thingies.

We flew into Tulsa then it was about an hour drive to Stillwater. It's a small town-but still large enough to have a SUPER walmart (oh yaa) and other strip mall shopping centers.

We got in that afternoon and went out to check out some apartments. We looked at 2 different ones, basically the nicest in the area. For various reasons, Dustin and I got separate apartments. It wouldn't be my first choice but I do understand why it is important to have our own space after never living in the same state before!

The next morning we went back to sign on an apartment. We choose one that is built right on a golf course so Dustin gets free golfing (but theres free tanning there for me) Dustin will be moving in the beginning of June for football training camp and I'll head out there in July.

The remainder of the trip was spent checking out the town and trying to figure out a place for me to work!

I'm excited for the move and the change. A little nervous just to make sure I find a job when I'm out there! The Sports facilities are great for Dustin and his work with the football team. Its going to be an adventure for the both of us but I'm glad to be going at it together :)

As Long As There is Love...

Ever wake up from a dream and just lye there going over it in your head so that you don't forget it? Well I had quite the odd/disturbing dream last night about the end of the world. I am quite a fan of apocalyptic theories/conspiracies but this dream was just flat out weird. As I write this I cannot remember exactly what happened in that dream or how everything played out, all I can remember is a voice at the very end telling me one thing...

"As Long as there is Love....the world will never end"

I told Dustin about my dream and he told me "Well baby we've got love"

Yes we do :)

And I guess what I was told in the odd and disturbing dream is true. If you find yourself in situations where it does feel like your world is crashing down around you, love will always hold you up.

Oklahoma where the wind comes sweeping down the plains...

Well its official.....Dustin got a job offer from Oklahoma State University and we're moving there later this summer! I'm so glad and relieved that a decision has finally been made and proud of Dustin for all of his accomplishments.

When the notion of Dustin not going to ASU first became reality, I knew that no matter where he was I was going to go with him. We've been in a long distance relationship for 2 1/2 years now and while we could go more time, its something neither of us wanted to do.

Moving to Oklahoma means that Dustin and I are leaving everything behind, family friends, the comfort of home. But going through this process together is going to make it much easier.

When I tell people I'm moving, one of the first questions is about marriage. Are we going to get married before we leave? When will we get married?

Dustin and I have come to the decision that we want to wait to get married until after he is done with Grad school. We're not going to rush into a marriage just because we're moving . I don't think it would be a wise decision for either of us because we've never lived in the same place before.

Some may think I'm crazy to follow my boyfriend to another state without being married (or engaged) but I'm confident in our relationship and am completely assured by him and my feelings that we will be together.

The plan is to fly out to OSU (located in stillwater OK) over spring break to check everything out. We need to find a place to live and just get a sense of our new surroundings. I'm not sure of the exact date of the move, but we're thinking sometime in early July.

It's a big step for the both of us and one that will not be easy by any means. But we will be together and that means absolutely everything to me.

"What are you doing here?"

So since the last post, dustin made arrangements to go out to the 2 different Grad schools he's looking at. At first he said he would have to be gone Valentines day weekend ( the weekend I was planning on visiting) and I said it was ok I'd just come visit the following weekend. Well turns out he needed to go to the 2nd graduate school the following weekend so it wasn't going to work out either. We had basically come to the consensus that we weren't going to see each other in the month of february. We knew it wouldn't be ideal, but it was manageable and we've spent much more time away from each other than that.

Well cut to 2 weeks ago, as the Indianapolis colts won the AFC championship game against the Jets. Dustin had the privilege of being able to work the game with the Jets and was very happy he got to be there to see the Colts win. (Yes he worked for the Jets but has always been a Colts fan). Well after the game I kept thinking to myself "Wouldn't it be fun to go out to indiana to watch the colts in the super bowl?" Literally a few minutes later I get a phone call from Dustin's mom and she asks me "So are you coming out for the Super bowl?" Well I guess it was more of a command than a question but I responded "I can" and she offered to buy my plane ticket for me. Well of course I'd agree to that! We then both decided that we weren't going to tell Dustin I was coming out that weekend and surprise him.

So for 2 weeks I had to keep my mouth shut about my plans. It was so hard not to talk to Dustin about it and be excited with him. But I was able to hold it together and not reveal anything for the 2 weeks.

On thursday I told Dustin I had to pick up a shift at work and work basically all day (to give me an alibi for when I was on the plane) So I left Phoenix that morning and arrived in Indy later that afternoon. His mom picked me up from the airport and we proceeded up to Purdue to surprise Dustin.

Well when we got up to Dustin's apartment. His mom went to the door to have Dustin come out and help "unload things" and I hid in the back seat of her car. As he opened up the trunk to unload, I popped up and yelled (what else?) "SURPRISE!" He stopped for a moment, then stared then it finally registered who he was looking at and he said half excited and half in still disbelief, "What are you doing here?" . It really was one of the most exhilarating things to be able to surprise him and pull it off (Even though he claims he had hunch...riiiiiight).

I was able to spend the weekend with him and even though the Colts unfortunately lost the Super Bowl :( I am still so thankful that I was able to be with him. I really think it was so important for us to see each other before Dustin left for his Grad school trips. Both for encouragement for him and for reassurance for us. its been a hard couples weeks trying to figure everything out but no matter where he decides to go, I know he is making the best decision for his career and I will be right there next to him.