North Carolina.

Last week Dane and I moved to North Carolina. We are renting a great townhouse style/duplex that we love. Dane started Duke Divinity School today and life is just moving on.

The move was pretty intense. We literally packed up all of our belongings and drove them across 1/2 of the U.S. Both of our dads helped, Corey helped, and Beth helped with the first half of the journey. Callie helped at home the night before we left (basically all night).

We had to put the house we were staying in at Plumerville back together. We were renting a parsonage that belonged to the Baptist Church. It was a great house. However, it was fully furnished with towels, dishes, pictures, etc when we moved in. To live in the house we had moved everything to one room to store. So then when we moved out we had to put it all back. Callie was a huge help, because by the time we started reassembling the house we were exhausted.

We rented a Budget truck to carry our belongings (and tow my car) and we then drove Dane's truck and my Dad's truck. My Dad recently bought a truck with a very comfortable spacious interior so I managed to sleep in the passenger seat ~50% of the time. ;)

We stopped in Nashville to break up the trip. Dad and I stayed at Beth's apartment and the Womacks rented a hotel.

We left Nashville at 6am and we arrived in Durham around 3 or so. Unfortunately our electricity was not yet turned on and our house was a little warm during move in. However, the electric company came around 8:30pm and finally turned in on so we spent our first night at home with our dads and Corey.

They stayed another night to explore NC. We ate pizza at a fantastic restaurant Satisfaction. It was very very good pizza. They have a special sauce, yum. We were sad when our dads and Corey left and we are looking forward to their visits later this year. Saturday my sister is coming to visit!!! Awesome. She moved to Nashville this time last year. She got a round trip direct flight for $99. We are excited.

I know Dane is having a wonderful first day at Duke. I am currently sitting at Panera sipping a frozen strawberry lemonade in this wonderful 83 degree weather. We went to a Durham Bulls game last night and I got chilly outside. It has been a long hot summer and I am ready for some fall weather!!

Mom's 50th Birthday, Angie's Birthday, and Graduation

Life has been crazy.busy. Can you say crazy.busy.

My mom turned 50 on July 26th. We waited to celebrate until Beth made it back from her 3 weeks at Stanford in sunny California. We had a simple celebration with dinner at Coltons in Batesville and then cake at home with Julie and Sam. I love a good birthday party.

Last weekend (August 8th) my dear friend Haley Heath married Chris Burks. We had a great time. Haley was a perfect bride. She was very happy and we had so much fun. For example, over the course of one bachelorette weekend and one wedding day we practiced the Cupid Shuffle 3 times. You know life is good when you have an excuse to do the Cupid Shuffle 4 times (including the wedding) in 2 weekends. ;)

Yesterday, we celebrated Angie's Birthday at the Womacks house. Corey is home for a few weeks. (He is also helping us move to NC!!). Jody, Ritchie, Mert, and Vaughn were there for the party too. We had sandwiches and one of Dane's awesome salads. Birthdays are fun.

I am graduating tomorrow. Yes, that's right. GRADUATING. I am very very excited. My parents, sister, Julie, Sam, Poppy, Dane's parents, and Corey are all going to be there. It is going to be a great day.

There is one person I will miss terrible tomorrow. My Gran. Ok, I miss her terribly every day. Graduation will be particularly tough though. Gran supported me throughout the entire journey of my undergraduate and graduate coursework. She reviewed my papers for me, encouraged me, inspired me. I miss her today, tomorrow, everyday.

Here is a picture of us at my UCA undergraduate graduation. I would love another hug tomorrow. I am thankful for the person she was/is to me.