An eventful semester

As the days get warmer and the temperatures rise, I'm reminded that it is once again summer on the Alabama Gulf Coast. This summer is bringing with it an unexpected break from school. Due to a financial aid cluster at our university, I'm unable to fund summer term. I haven't had a semester off since summer 2010. While that may not seem long, it's been 6 semesters of intense coursework. You see, I decided I wanted to get my B.A. in History, but I was so close to my B.A. in Criminal Justice, that it would have been wasteful to let it go. So being the adventurous person I am, I declared a Dual-Bachelors program. Rather than declare a double major, I am doing twice the course-work and will have two (yes, two!) certificates on my wall. Assuming of course that I'm able to find a job after graduation...

This year has been one of epic proportions. My dad has decided (again) that I'm not good enough to be his daughter. I have been fighting with the USAF over my medical retirement (I'm either in or I'm out, make a decision!). My brothers and I are trying to find our common ground... Not easy. And now, we're planning a wedding!

After much heartburn, several mini-meltdowns and 8 years of dating later, Brian finally proposed! After telling me just a day or two before that he didn't have the engagement ring yet and he refused to propose without it. I was crushed, I called my mother to boo-hoo. She reminded me that he would propose when ready and we had an upcoming trip that I needed to simply sit back and enjoy. My pride and mental health restored I resolved to do just that. So after driving through terrible weather and almost wrecking in the rain, we made it to New Orleans on Friday afternoon. The rain had stopped just in time for us to enjoy the evening. As we got dressed for dinner (the destination was unknown to me at this point), Brian suggested we go down to Jackson Square and take our traditional picture in front of St. Louis Cathedral (we take one EVERY trip), since the weather the next day was questionable. Being the picture lover I am, I readily agreed; especially since I was in a dress, heels and makeup(never happens) and he was in a suit and tie (also never happens). Unfortunately, Jackson Square was closed due to the bad weather. So I gamely said, "Oh well! Let's go eat!" Brian suggested we simply stand still for a moment, since we'd been planning this trip for months and enjoy just being in our favorite place. (here comes the good part) Standing behind me, he told me that he loved me and that he looked forward to our life together. I assured him that I felt the same. He then asked if I was happy, and if the life with him was still what I wanted. I again assured him that it was. Then my sweet man pulled out a beautiful sapphire ring and asked me to marry him. I won't even pretend like I didn't cry. And it wasn't even the Miss America, pretty cry. It was the ugly, wrinkled face, OMG-I- hope-nobody-is-looking, kind of cry. He then asked if that was a "yes"... Uh... duh! We then enjoyed dinner at Morton's Steakhouse (filled with laughs, congratulations and frantic texts) and a Flogging Molly concert followed by celebrating in true New Orleans style, until the wee hours of the morning.

I've found "le dress", the bridesmaids dresses, the caterer, the hair and makeup team, lost a "friend" because she's not IN the wedding and decided to walk myself down the aisle. All while working full-time, being mired neck-deep in school work, having BOTH of our cars in the shop within two weeks of one another and playing nuptual politics. The wedding is set for next March. With our (hopefully) final semester being this fall and a wedding shortly thereafter, I think my unexpected summer break is just what the doctor ordered.