HOTlanta.

As I write this I'm sitting in my Atlanta apartment, listening to the Marta train zoom by. WEIRD. Who would have ever thought I would be living it up with three girls I didn't know in Atlanta. Not me! One of my life goals: AVOID Atlanta at any cost. HAHA, that didn't happen. So here I am.

Mom, Dad, Matthew, Blake and Katherine drove over with me to help get me all settled in! We came and unloaded my stuff and then headed to Mellow Mushroom for lunch. We also went on an adventurous trip to find Wal-Mart. I feel like we may have gone in a billion circles!

Three of the four roommates are here, and the last one will be here tomorrow! I couldn't be more thrilled about how its going! I've met two of the guys and we may all eat dinner tomorrow night to get to know each other!

What a strange and exciting summer this will be. It is SO different than being dropped off in Auburn freshman year (Although I did have that same sinking feeling today as I did freshman year when I walked across Samford Avenue to Dunn Hall for the first night). There, in Auburn, I was at home. I knew where I was and how to get anywhere- I knew tons of people that were simply a phone call away! Here they left me, and I felt almost completely alone. I sat down on my bed, with all my luggage on the floor beside me (YES, on the floor!! They forgot to put any furniture in my room but a bed! haha) and thought, What next? Of course a few minutes later I was over it, no big deal. I'll see familiar faces on Thursday. This ISN'T a big deal!

So off I go on my next big adventure. Be prepared for many updates, and hopefully a lot of pictures :)

Alum.

Can you believe it? I'm an Auburn University Alumni!

I got a card from Matthew's grandparents that said "The tassel was worth the hassle" Wow, that statement couldn't be any more accurate with all that I had to deal with just in this last month. Whew, but it's done- it's over with! Time to CELEBRATE!

We had such a good weekend! Everyone headed to Auburn on Thursday for pictures with Aubie, and a graduation party for me and Katherine and then later desserts at Mammaws for Robyn and the two of us! Friday we went to the College of Ag breakfast and then to Samford lawn to take pictures! Next came graduation and then straight to Bham for the Lady Antebellum/Tim McGraw concert! Saturday was all of Elizabeth's graduation festivities! And Sunday off to Bham with Matthew for a graduation celebration lunch! It was a great weekend :)

(More pictures!)

What a blessing everyone has been. The encouragement I was given through all the recent struggles and then just all the support through the weekend! Everyone saying how proud they are! Mostly thanks to Mom and Dad- they've survived through everything with me! They gave me the best present ever: Ele, and so much more through the years! I SO appreciate all the help from everyone for our party (Thanks Gmother, Gdaddy, Mammaw, Diane, Blake, Mrs. Shore, and Mom!!) And also everyone who sat through all of those graduations (If you were lucky enough to sit through two, or even three over the whole weekend!) And also thank you to all the Watfords and Palmers for being so sweet and letting me join in on yall's celebration!! So, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! It all means the world to me and I'm not too sure I was able to express it to you all!

AMT.

Meet my mom :)

(She hates this picture, but I love it! Sorry mom!)

She is the most special, wonderful, and precious lady in the whole wide world. I can't even imagine trying to convey to you how much she means to me, how much she's been there for me (everytime!), and how close we are to each other.

We can have fun and laugh and be silly together:

And I know, without a doubt, that I can come to her with anything. She's the first one I call with exciting news and bad news too. She's full of advise.

I was lucky enough to get to learn from her for for an extended time because she homeschooled us. That was 24-7 momma time. I wouldn't trade those memories for anything. All in all I've had almost 21 years to soak up all that she is! I pray for many, many more. Come August all of her children will have "left the nest"... don't worry she won't be bored! She'll get to take on a new role as grandMOTHER- which I know she will perform amazingly well!

She knows me inside and outside. She's seen my good and my bads.

...And she still loves me.

I love you mom(: Happy Mother's Day!

"Hear, my son, your father's instruction, and forsake not your mother's teaching, for they are a graceful garland for your head and pendants for your neck." Proverbs 1:8-9

Ele the Escape.

Meet Ele. (pronounced like Ellie)

I got to meet Ele on Friday night after Meaghan and Brandon's wedding. I think me and Ele will be best friends super quick. I've shown her around Birmingham, Huntsville, and Auburn.

She was such a surprise, it was pretty much love at first sight :)

Here's the story: After the wedding mom and dad got me to believe that dad really wanted to pick us up from the front of the reception place and drive me and Matthew to our car before heading back to Madison. Easy enough for them- I had no trouble with letting him do that. So we went and waited for dad to pull up. (Mom told me later she watched Matthew as he watched every car passing by checking to see if it was mine! He knew I was getting a car, but didn't know which kind!) So dad pulled in and I immediately say, "Whose car is this?!" Mom says in an excited voice, "Whose do you think it is?!" I replied, "No, whose car is this?!" as I started crying! It so isn't typical for me to cry like that, but it was just such a shock and surprise! Matthew told me he didn't know if those were happy tears or what since he had never experienced them before! haha!

I am just so excited and thankful for my new car! I still don't think its quite sunk in but I have been enjoying it! Mom and dad used the excuse that they couldn't let me drive around Atlanta this summer with a go-kart (you know... with the possibility of going under 18-wheelers and everything- thats what my mom ALWAYS says!)

Just a quick side note- Meaghan and Brandon's wedding weekend went off without a hitch! She looked absolutely beautiful and everyone had so much fun! I had a blast getting to spend time with all of the Watfords and the extended family! Everything from the rehearsal dinner and bridesmaid brunch to the wedding ceremony was flawless! I'm so excited for them and their married life together. Can't wait to see what God has in store :) ALSO, can't wait for a trip to Jacksonville to visit them!