You have NO idea how long I have waited to be able to put up that blog title! Finally, graduation came yesterday at 10 am. We woke up bright and early to begin our beautiful day! Graduation was incredible. Earlier is the week, the idea of me getting my hard earned degree hit me in spirts. On my way down the steps and into the huge gym filled with hundreds of people is when it REALLY hit me yesterday. I admit...there were tears. 
A different type of tear that people don't really get often. A silent, happy, grinning from ear to ear type of tear. Know what I'm talking about? They are special! Once I had "arrived" in my spot to sing the National Anthem, I noticed my family. All of them. Standing up waving and so proud. And the tears flowed even more. The people that mean so much to me were all there standing, proud, for me. 
It was such a special moment for me to see my husband, mother, dad, brother, sister, nephew, aunt, andrea, steve, andrew, luke, jenny, suz, holly, and sam all there to celebrate with me. It was at the very moment that I thanked God for blessing me with all of them and their support for me in my life. It was a proud moment. I was proud of each of them. For being able to be there wife, daughter, sister, daughter-in-law, neice, and friend. I sang the national anthem with the symphonic band. Let's back up a bit....I have sang in gyms before, but not LARGE gym's if you would even classify the Dunn center a LARGE gym, but probably larger. Anyways, the night before, I was a bit uneasy and nervous about singing because I didn't know what to expect. Once I entered and was ready, I wasn't nervous, as usual. It was the most INCREDIBLE singing experience I have ever had. Singing for that many people was truly--speechless. I was honored to be asked to sing it and honored to sing it with my fellow classmates in the symphonic band. I was honored. Once I "arrived" back to my seat with the tears flowing, it was time to really begin!
I was now waiting--(obviously me in the PINK sparkly hat!)minutes away from what I had worked so extrememly hard for. 
Once my name was called, it was the most beautiful my name has ever sounded (well second most--first is when John said it to me in our wedding vows) It was a honorable moment receiving my diploma. My diploma. (Shaking our Presiden't hand. I was so pumped mom got this on the jumbo tran!)
After it was all said and done--there were pictures. And then John and I were off to get ready for our party!
My family came over to bring some stuff and help us set up. We originally set up in the garage praying, literally, that the rain would stop. Just one hour before our party the sun shined so brightly above our new home. We switched the party on the concrete as orginally planned! It was beautiful and perfect, just as we asked. It never rained all night! So many of our family and friends came out to celebrate my graduation and our new home. 
It was truly a blessed night together! (My parents gave me this ring--real? yes!) We are so thankful for each and every one of the guests that we had in our home. I wouldn't be where I am TODAY if it weren't for each of them and their prayers, love, and support. John and I are so BLESSED to be loved and encouraged by each of them. We are truly HONORED to be called your family, or friend.
I experienced the most amazing feeling of the last day of college classes, ever! The reason beind this dorky looking picture is for a crazy creative lindsey idea. My very first day of Kindergarten my mom took a picture of my outside on our side walk with my backpack. So, John took a picture of me on my very LAST day of school! (Also note the flowers we planted...another check on the to-do list!) And on my last day I shared it with my friends! The two last classes were astronomy which is shown here, and marriage and the family which lasted about all of 5 minutes! 
What did we do in the last day of astronomy? took pictures.... 
John has been working hard to clear our fence row so we can plant wild flowers on it! He drove me to school yesterday because I have a crazy time gap between my classes. 
what did we do on my break? We bought canvas and paint! One project on our list is now complete! Livingroom art....Enjoy!
Well, shedeserved it! And this is why... 
She gets bored quick and decides to unroll the ENTIRE roll of toilet paper in the guest bathroom into the living room...and then hide under the couch.
Yesterday John and I celebrated our nephew, Adam's first birthday! It was held at a local park with yummy BBQ, and of course birthday cake! Adam had his very own "puppy" cake. It was actually shaped like a puppy. 
John and I predicted what he would do with the cake. We decided that he wouldn't probably just pick at it. 
Well, we were wrong...Actually, VERY wrong! He poked a bit, then dug his hands into it and smeared it all over the place! MMMmmmm.....
It was absolutly adorable! It was a great puppy themed first birthday party! He is such a happy boy!
I got off of work, came home and got spiffed up and we hit the road. Still clueless. We headed to Clarksville and began to pass all of the restaurants. I kept eliminating the restaurants as we would pass them. I had fun with it. Then as we approached the place John shouted, "RED LOBSTER". If you are an active reader, you know that I LOVE crab legs and LOVE Red Lobster. I was super stoked! As we pulled in I was laughing and looking for "familiar" cars. None were in sight, so John told me that we were dinner for two. Once we got in Holly and Sam were there at a table! I was so excited! Those sly dogs told me that they were going to their "small group" that night, so I ruled dinner with them out long ago. It was a wonderful dinner with great company! I ate crab legs of course! salad, and Holly and Sam ordered me some yummy cheese sticks! Afterwards John and I got a movie and we watched it over at Holly and Sam's place. It was a real treat, and one GREAT surprise!
John took all of this into thought I know! He told me to sleep in for a while so Heidi and I watched some TV while John got to work on stuff. He finally let me come into the rest of the house. 
Much to my surprise, he made me pancakes and had my gift on the table with all of my birthday cards set up! He got me a Kathy VanZeeland purse that HE picked out himself! I love love LOVE it so much! I think he was pretty proud of himself! I know that I was! He told me that he waited at the store for an hour for the newtruck to deliver the newest ones! Too cute! 
Once we were finished with breakfast and gifts, he told me to get ready to do whatever I wanted. So we headed to Starbucks for some yummy coffee, went to Lowes where he let me pick out a firepit for our patio, ate lunch at an amazing Chinese buffet and then decided to go home and spend time outside together. It was an absolute, perfect day! We loved and soaked up every single moment of it. That night John's family dropped by to bring my gift. They got me some awesome gardening things! I can't wait to use them! Now I have cute stuff to put on my gardening bench! 
My birthday was so special. It was the most perfect birthday that I could have ever asked for! Really good first birthday married too! I am SO blessed to have such an incredible husband, family, and friends. THANK YOU for making my birthday so great!
Easter is by far my favorite holiday. And if you know me, you know I always make holidays themed and special! This morning I woke up way early to begin Easter. I made and assortment of fresh muffins, flavored coffee, and had my easter mats, lavender, and my diva easter bunny on the table. It was a great easter morning together. John had to work today so it was very wonderful to spend some time with him this morning. I went to church and really enjoyed our precious Sunday school class! The little Pre-K's looked adorable today! And they were all so wonderful! We did a cool craft and made a sun rise. I let them tear all colors of paper and glue them on paper. The absolutly loved that! 
Lunch was at my parents house of course with the nephews. It was AMAZING! My mom is definatly the best cook that I know! We had ham, fresh garden corn, mac and cheese, rolls, salad, peach cobbler and vanillia icecream! Yum! When our bellies were full we headed out to hunt eggs and got to visit with my cousin Shelley's sweet twins! All of these babies are growing so fast! They are so beautiful! 
Bryce loved hunting eggs and Adam...well, not so much. He wasn't quite as into it as Bryce was! Afterwards, we all visited and Bryce and Heidi played with Easter eggs. 
Later, they came to see our new house. It was such a great day to celebrate our risen Lord!
We ate, played with the puppies, and watched two movies. It was a fun night for us all! 
We have decided that Heidi and Bailey love each other very much. They played the entire time...and when I say entire...I mean ENTIRE! They went nonstop all night playing with each other!
They layed down maybe for a minute in between movies and then they were off again! It was really cute, and a bit exhausting to watch-and hear them playing! It was a lot of fun, and needless to say, Heidi slept like a rock last night and even slept in this morning!
I still remember when I very first saw him with his cool sunglasses on, 
when he asked me to be his wife, 
and how I felt on our beautiful wedding day when I saw him at the end of the isle. Our life together has been such an amazing journey! I couldn't imagine sharing life with anyone else. I love him. He is my love, my life, and my everything. John, I love you so much, and I thank God everyday for your presence in my life.
Holly and Sam and their new puppy Bailey brought us dinner. The meeting of Heidi and Bailey was a bit uncertain to all of us. (Here is where I would insert video except blogger isn't beinghelpful in the loading area tonight! Maybe later!)We have determined that they were just playing while they wrestled about our new home because they never yipped or barked at each other like they wanted to bite each others heads off! So, I think we will be good about one more meeting! After dinner, we played with the pups and then took them for a walk which was basically just a wrestling mess between the two! It was so entertaining! 
Heidi had to be tamed for a bit and take frequent breaks during the wrestling! John and I have considered getting another puppy just because two are so fun to have around! Don't worry mom, we aren't! ha! 
Thank you Holly and Sam and Bailey too for bringing us a very yummy dinner! We love you three so much! So what has been going on in our new home? Well, we are still lacking connection to the OUTSIDE WORLD! Killing me? Yes! I've been ripping internet from an amazing local Cafe! Which isn't bad because it gives us a great excuse for some great coffee! 
We ventured to Lowes on Saturday or some flowers to plant around our mailbox and for some planters for our front porch. We found some planters that were JUST what we were looking for! While I enjoyed planting my flowers, John built me a garden work station in our garage! 
It is so awesome!!! I can't wait to work on it! We are planning on planting some flowers on our fence row in the back for some color and some veggies and fruit in a little garden! 
I can't wait to pittle with all of that! We just love being outside together, and it's even better when it's in our own yard! 
This is the view of our back yard! Every night when the sun sets the horses make their rounds back behind our house. I couldn't resist to grab a picture of this beautiful site! 
Yesterday during the rain we noticed this beautiful rainbow which reminded us of God's promises. He really saw us through the crazy up an downs and storms that we went through while waiting to move into our new home. And this beautiful site was refreshing to see, yes-God does keep his promises. We are so thankful for His blessings in our life. We stand in awe of Your Greatness God!
Monday morning I slept in, cooked breakfast and did absolutly nothing all day long! It was the perfect, relazing day! All thanks to John! He kept me sane! We drove to get my hair done and then headed to school about 6:00 Monday night. There wasn't an ounce of nervous in my whole body. It was incredible! I was excited and couldn't wait to perform all that I had worked my butt off for for so long! 
Needless to say, it was 35 minutes of amazing excitement and joy. I thank Jenna so much for playing beautifully for me and being so supportive and encouraging through al of my crazy emotional rehearsals and lessons! 
And my teacher, Dr. Mabry, for being the most incredible teacher. For helping me get this far, so quickly! I have continued to thank God for blessing me with the oppertunity to even to to college all onscholarship, for my gift of music, and for being my Comfortor these 4 years! Being able to glorify im through song on Monday night was beautiful and I am so thankful I got to do so! It was an amazing turnout! 
A normal recital brings about 25 people, and I had well over 75. I was humbled at the turn out! A girl told me today that she saw my posters (catchaglimpsephotography.com) and called her boss to take off work! I was so excited to hear that sweet news! My whole family and John's came out along with some co-workers, church people, and friends. 
I was amazed to see all who were there! John surprised me with amazing roses! There are so beautiful! 
THANK YOU all for coming and for supporting me! I truly am blessed to have so many special, supportive people in my life! We love you all so much!
So we closed last Thursday night, moved in, and we are not setteled!!!Yay! We absolutly love our new home! Our first night in we both agreed how "at home" we felt there. It is the most amazing feeling to be in OUR home that is just OURS. It's really incredible! 
We are still on cloud nine in the new Maholland home. Heidi absolutly loves it too! It took her a bit to get used to pottying in the dirt and not grass--but she is adjusted and so happy to be with us! Friday morning I didn't go to school so I could finish moving things in. I used my VERY FIRST dishwasher ever!!! It was amazing! I was a bit uncertain to how I would feel with the dishwasher. Turns out, we are best friends! 
Ah, I love it so! Heidi really enjoyed helping with my first dishwashing experience!! Our fridge was delivered Saturday morning and we are IN love with it! I cooked our first big dinner together last night and it was delicious!! 
Our living room furniture got delivered yesterday and it is absolutly amazing! Our new home is everything we everdreamed of! We are so blessed and so thankful for God blessing us with all of this! We are so happy to be back in Pleasant View. I promise, we haven't stopped smiling yet! Thank you so much for everyone who helped move a box, organize a closet, cook us food, clean our clothes, or pray for us throughout all of this! We are so thankful to have such amazing family and friends! We love you so much! And please know, that you all are always welcome to the new Maholland home!
