There and Back Again: A College Tale

I finished my last summer class this morning, and my senior year of college begins next Wednesday. How is it possible that I'm already a senior? Granted, I will be finishing my undergraduate career in 3 years and will have spent only 5 semesters at a school where most students spend 8. In just a year I'll be beginning pharmacy school, hopefully, and that just seems impossible to me! It seems like just yesterday my parents were moving me into my freshman dorm, which is what they'll be doing later this week for my sister Julie.  Since that day, so much in my life has changed. I studied abroad, did some (but not enough) traveling, made new friends, got engaged, took the PCAT, and got married in a rush of three amazing years. The last of that list has definitely been the most exciting and the most wonderful. Married life really is incredible! Ben and I spent the majority of our dating years in a long-distance relationship, and I truly believe that that has given us so much...

I have some big news to share, but it comes with quite the backstory... December 14th, 2013 Ben and I went on our first date! We went on a double-date with our good friends Hannah and Tom. (In September of this year, Ben and I were actually in their wedding together, which was a lot of fun.  Those sneaky Smiths played matchmaker. And it worked very well!) The night of our date was a chilly Saturday night, and they picked me up at my house in Hannah's blue Mustang. We ate at Olive Garden first, though not for any particular reason. We couldn't decide where to eat, so Hannah and I finally just said to go there. While we ate, I think I talked to Hannah and Tom more than I talked to Ben. Although, I would like to point out that that's not my fault. He'll even admit that he was very quiet that night. Afterwards, we went to Nashville to go ice skating, which was so much fun! (Ben and I have actually been ice skating a couple of times since then because we like it so mu...

March was such a magnificent month! Despite the busyness and the rushing to and fro, March has turned out to be quite wonderful.   Test Week Because of relentless snow and ice during February, so many classes were cancelled and as a result, exams were postponed... all to the same week.  The week before spring break, I had five tests in 48 hours, along with a five-page paper due and regular homework. (Biology, Statistics, Psychology, and two Chemistry tests. Yes, you read that right. Two. Chemistry. Tests.) Needless to say, I was a bit stressed. But with endless studying, prayer, and amazing support from my family and friends, I made it through, with flying colors, I might add. As it turns out, everyone else had faith that I could do it. I just need to have a little more faith in myself and God.   Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak: for your work shall be rewarded. 2 Chronicles 15:7 The Music Man If you know me at all, you know that I ...

I've been with Ben for well over a year now, and for about half of that time, we've lived hours apart from one another.  In July, when I travel to New Zealand, we'll be 8,164 miles apart, with most of the US and an ocean in between us. We both know how difficult this type of relationship is, but we choose to make it work everyday because we know that in the end, it will be wo rth it.  Ben and I before we went to see the musical Wicked last April.  Saying “goodbye” never gets any easier. It doesn’t matter how wonderful our time spent together has been, and forget the fact that I’ll see him in a few weeks; that final “goodbye” will always bring tears to my eyes.   The hour or two leading up to his (or my) departure is an emotional roller-coaster of ups and downs, laughter and tears.   One moment, I feel incredibly happy knowing how lucky I am to have someone in my life that is so supportive and caring.  The next, I’m in tears when I realize...