Pictures

Here are a few photos...

They are from a Christmas party my roommates and I had
(Jess, Alaina, Heather)

And also from Eric and I's engagement get together...with our Maryland friends...
(pictures of us during a toast given by our friend Justin Kearns)

This December will always stand out

Eric propsed to me on Saturday, December 4th! Yep that's right...we are engaged...and it is absolutely unbelievable! Since I've been out here in Maryland him and I have just been awesome. When we got together in July we hoped we'd be together but just didn't know how...and now...a year and some later...we're engaged.
We were on our way to go Christmas shopping, on a sunny Saturday morning, and Eric suggested a picnic at Sandy Point Park. The last time we'd been there was valentines day. He packed up a lunch, and I didn't think twice about it because well...he's romantic like that anyway and a girl can't get her hopes up too much. I did feel like there was something else in the air that but I had to tell myself...nehhh...that morning he was extra concerned whether or not I was in a good mood (I was, just hadn't had any coffee yet) and kept calling to tell me random stories...which was cute, but it wasn't like him to do that right before we were gonna hang out. To be completely honest...my heart has wanted this to happen (I think it was love at first sight)...but I definately had to psych myself out in order to guard this little heart of mine. Anyhow, the drive up was fun, lucky I had no idea that the park wasn't anywhere near we'd planned to christmas shopping (my no sense of direction definately played to his benefit here) ...we got there and took the "fire" blanket and our lunches and camped out on the beach. We tried to stay distant from the seagulls but found a really pretty spot facing the water. Munchin on our pbj Eric tells me he couldn't eat at all. Which is really odd if any of you know him at all... :) Then he tells me he made me a photo album. This was the sweetest thing in the WORLD! I couldn't believe it...and my mind started going a million miles a minute. There were pictures of us in it, innertwined with a poem he had written. He started to read it aloud and I think my heart started racing. Everything in the poem was so heartfelt, so genuine and it definately rhymed! He got to the end and by that time I knew from the words what he was going to say...at the very end was the ring, which he took out...and got on his knee and he asked me to marry him!!!! I think that I was in complete shock. Even though there was no doubt in my mind that this would happen, it still doesn't take away from the complete surprise of actually hearing the person that you love with all your heart say those words to you. And then, he put this beautiful ring on my finger. Of course I said yes and hugged and kissed him and smiled and teared up at the same time. I've never felt so much joy in one single instance, then that moment. I can't describe it at all... this post won't do it justice for sure. We stayed there for awhile, soaking up the moment...letting it last as long as it wanted to.
When we got up from our picnic I actually ran, out of excitement, for the first time since my surgery. I guess love really does conquer all! ha! I think we've been glowing eversince. That day we tried to go to the mall and go Christmas shopping, but really...we couldn't do anything at all. So we got back in the car to drive to my house, on the way home we called our family and some of our friends...and everyone has been so happy for us! What a blessing! We got back to my house and Eric let me in on the inside scoop he's been keeping from me, about looking for a ring and when he wanted to propose...it was so great to hear.
One of the most amazing feelings is that everytime I look at this ring on my finger, which is so pretty and I never would've dreamed up something so sweet, is that he put so much time into looking for one that would remind him of me. That this whole time, he's just been thinking of me and how to make this special. That amazes me. I guess I never thought about how much goes into proposing to a girl...I think us girls just get excited for it to happen...and never really think about what leads up to it. All that time, all that thoughtfullness, and all his heart...I am in complete awe of it now. All of a sudden, my own hand represents something different, it represents not just one moment, but many...that have created Eric andI, into what we are now...it represents to me God's blessing and his good gifts, his grace...and how much it amazes me that he blessed me with Eric.
And now, more than ever, there are so many exciting things to look forward to...because they'll be with him... so...happy...

I know this may be a lovey dovey post...but really I can't help it...

It's been exactly a year since I've written on this blog, and I cannot believe all that's happened since then...so much change, and so many ups and downs...perhaps that is the life of the early 20's adult?
What have I learned this year?
"The only constant thing in the world...is change"
I've got to update y'all on my last year...it has been crazy!
2004
November/December finished teaching in Haiti
My nephew Boede's first Holloween, he was a pumpkin
Eric and I officially "go steady"even though we actually were since July :)
January move to Baltimore, MD for AmeriCorps job
Baltimore= not my favorite part of my year... and might perhaps recquire a rundown of its own
I was excited to move to a big city, and soon discovered its not the place, it's the people that matter most. You can venture off to anywhere you want in the world, but without those you love...or a good support system, there's no one to share it with but much to learn from. For me Bmore encompassed a lot of moving, a lot of poverty, a lot of car trouble, a few dangerous city like encounters, some hard times and also some self discovery. I learned a lot about myself, about my weaknesses that I didn't know I had. I also overcame a lot of them. It was hard for me to find a church or meet people there, and soon enough Eric's church became my home too. He and I, definately my calm happiness in the storm...Some bonuses were the Oriole games, The Brody Family (a fam I babysat for) , recorded my first song one random night, rekindled some ohio friendships -Miss Beth Bardeau and Chris Rufo...so glad they are here.
February
Eric and I went to Sandy Point Park, a beach on the Cheasapeake Bay, for the first time on valentines day
Ate at an Irish restaurant in Downtown Annapolis (a really cute hip town, that I'd love to spend more time in)
Still exploring Baltimore, figuring out how to get to the grocery store :)
March
For my birthday Ej bought me tickets to see a musical, and we ate in lil Italy for the first time
Ran on saturdays with the "walking eating running and volunteering club" where I met the Brody's
April
I trained for a bike a thon, went to some pre-bike soirees...usually thrown at some questionable places
May
I rode my bike 150 miles from Delaware for a charity
Made some friends from the ride, and hung out with them at some cool places in bmore
June
Flew to Florida to visit my new born niece, Megan Campbell (great vacation)
Attended many weddings
July
Went to Virginia Beach twice, camping with my sister and her husband
Back country camping in Shenendoah for the first time, with Ej of course!
August
Moved to College Park, in with some girls from church, God said "go", so I did...and nearer to my dear
Went on a mission trip to Haiti with a group, some friends from ohio and some from Maryland
It was actually the first day that the hurricanes started in Florida, and we left before they hit Haiti. 2 weeks after we got back, Matthew Wright went back to Haiti to teach for a few months, Laura Baisden, soon followed in November
Boede my nephew turned 1, we had a family reunion
September was adjusting to my new town, enjoying the no more long distance relationship, and getting involved with friends and community from church...lots of playing ultimate frisbee on Sundays..Working at Starbucks and drinking free Caramel Macciatos
I also became close with Laura, a friend I met in Ohio, who came to Haiti with me, who lives in Maryland (this world is really so small)
October
On October 9th I tore my ACL at a dance audition
This month was full of doctors appointments, xrays and such
I also got a good job at a Drug and Alcohol Information Call center with friends from church
On October 22nd, I had ACL reconstruction surgery, where they graphed part of my knee, created a new ACL, and litterally bolted it in place...this one of the hardest and most painful things I've ever had to go through. I praise God my mom and Eric were there to take care of me. I really don't know how I got through it, the painkillers, the surgery, the recovery...it was really hard. It's such a struggle to not be able to do anything without being in pain, and being so active then not be able to even walk. Everyday I got better though. And at first physical therapy was excruciating, where I'd even tear up while the therapist worked on my knee. Now though, I go twice a week and it's like a tiny work out. Every time that I go now I'm improving, and the human body amazes me. Where once I could not bend or straighten my leg, I'm now able to ride a bike and do other things I couldn't do before, it's amazing. I think Physical Therapists have a great job. Yes they see people in pain, and even cause it sometimes. But, they get to watch the miracle of healing. They are first hand witnesses to the Creator's marvelous work.
On October 31, Eric ran his marathon, that was mind blowing!

November
My Aunt came out to visit, I crutched it around DC and had a really good weekend with her
Life around a campus is certainly busy, working full time and living around a college atmosphere is so fun, but also challenging to maintain your sanity...
Thanksgiving was great, I went home to Ohio, I spent most of it in BG with Eric's family and visiting friends there...ran into my old roommate Tal, and got to see Sarah and David Humphrey whom I adore. I had a new born nephew too! Aaron Dilan Campbell, so I went home to go hold that cutie...and it was great to see my parents again.
On the way back we stopped and visited my bestest of friends Janay Joyce. She was leaving for Nicaragua for a year...and I had to say bye to her. Some people, just feel like home. They know you so well, and everytime I leave her...I wonder...why we aren't neighbors. She makes me laugh a lot...which as she says, "isn't hard to do" but she really is one of a kind and I miss her all the time.

As you can tell my year has been quite insane! Full of kinds of events and challenges. And to be honest, at first I'll think I had some experiences that I wish I never had. But sometimes you have to go through things, whether it's to learn for the future sake, or realize something about yourself, or to help someone else when they are going through something similar...or even...it could be...to give other people the opportunity to shine through, and utterly amaze you.

December

This month has been a whirlwind of happinesss...to be continued in my next post...