The End...almost.

All my stuff is gone. Well, not all my stuff. I have one shelf in my closet that contains toiletries and enough clothes for four days. The rest of my belongings are divided between Lisa's garage and Glen's car, which is on it's way to the Bay Area. It's weird to be packed up so early, but not leaving. It's weird that Glen left and I didn't go with him. It's weird that Kelly is packing all her stuff now because it means that she won't be my roommate soon. Really soon. And pretty soon, I'm not going to hear random people laughing and hanging out outside my window. Nor will I be able to stand at my window and yell across the path to someone in their window over at Aldrich, while also yelling to someone else through the window of the upper lounge in a strangely distanced three way yelling conversation for all to hear (I love when that happens). I'll be back on campus in a few weeks, but it'll be different. The campus is weird when it's empty. And I have this thing now where I feel really weird if I'm not in class or doing homework because that's what I'm here for. It's why I came. I was tired of living life with no goal, no end result to work toward. Now I am working toward my degree, and each semester I am working toward midterms, then finals. Last summer it was hard to not be in classes or doing homework. But I suppose this summer I may be too busy with work and married life to notice.

Married life. That's coming in nine days. NINE days! It doesn't feel real yet. I feel like I've been in engagement purgatory for months, and in this moment I feel like I'm in end of the year check-out purgatory. I'm packed. My stuff is gone, why am I not gone? Cause I have to finish my RA duties and go to the RA dinner on Saturday. Then come Sunday morning...nothing will keep me from hopping on that plane home. It is time. And frankly, it's a little ridiculous that I have to stay here until Sunday.

C'est la Vie.

Time to get off campus and out into this beautiful Portland evening.

Packing!

We're packing this week! Every lady in Memorial Dorm is packing up her belongings, moving boxes to the hallway and unwanted items to the free pile downstairs. It's finals week, Friday is graduation, and 4pm Saturday is absolutely the longest people are allowed to stay here. There is a lot going on!

I actually started packing a few weeks ago, just to get a head start, but my roommate Kelly Jo was not very happy about that. I think at one moment I started taking a frame off the wall when she said, "What are doing?! Put that back up there!" Kelly is graduating this year and in that moment was not ready to face that reality. I have enjoyed living with Kelly. She was a big part of making our room feel like a home, with people coming in and out to do homework, watch movies, or sit around and laugh hysterically. It was in this room that our group of friends gathered to pray for each other, and it was here where we talked for hours, working out life together. That's a humongous part of the dorm experience. Sure it gets old having to share a bathroom and a kitchen with a bunch of girls. But this experience is unique, and beautiful. We walk together, hold each other up, and figure out how relationships work, how school works. How life works.

I'm heading into an exciting phase in life. I'll be married soon, and still living on campus, but there is a part of me that is realizing this week how sad it will be to not be a part of dorm life. There's so much to miss! I'll have to do a separate post later with some highlights. But for now...I should get back to packing. Kelly comes back from Senior Retreat tomorrow and I want the room to be organized and clean for her to finish packing her stuff.

11 days until I get to be Mrs. Glen Thornell!

Happy Mother's Day! (And other happenings)

Today is Mother's Day. I've been thinking about my own Mom and sisters, who are awesome moms, as well as my friends who are moms for the first time this Mother's Day, or who have new little bundles of love added to their family this year. I hope all of them know how much they are appreciated today, and everyday! (In this photo: My sister Rhonda, holding her daughter Hannah, Mom with my oldest niece Sophia in front of her, me, and my other sister Amie, Sophia's mom--also mom to Sabreena and Callie)

Last week Glen and I bought a table and chairs for our home. I have been combing through Craigslist ads for weeks now, looking for just the right one. The legs and base are distressed and painted a pretty blue color and the family completely restored the top so it has a nice smooth surface. The chairs are distressed as well and painted white. They need a little tightening, but we got a great deal, and the family isn't moving until midJune, so they were willing to hold it for us until we get back from our honeymoon! So great. I wish I could post a photo, but the ad as removed before I could grab a couple pictures from it. So you'll just have to wait to see a photo of it in our own lovely kitchen...or come visit us and see for yourself!

Yesterday was Saturday in the Park, an annual end of the year picnic at school. The park was in Sellwood, a really cute area I've never been to before. The park itself was super nice, lots of shade, plenty of space, centrally located, and full of people I love! After we hung out there for a little bit, Glen and I moved some of my stuff into Lisa's garage to be held until we get back from our honeymoon.

I need to take a moment and say how truly blessed Glen and I are. Things have been working out so well in this wedding and life planning process. Even when there seems to be a hiccup, everything ends up working out! God has been gracious, that's for sure. It gives me much hope for our marriage, knowing that everything we need will be provided for us. I am really looking forward to being married to Glen. It's going to be a blast!

So after we moved some stuff to Lisa's, she hopped in the car and we headed to North Portland. This is another unexplored area, so it was cool to drive through there. We had dinner at the St. John's McMenamin's. Ram's Head remains as my favorite McM's, but St. John's wasn't too bad. The building was cool looking, the company and conversation was wonderful, but the food just wasn't quite as good. I cannot stress enough how great Ram's Head on NW 23rd is. It has probably the best wall art in any McM's, the waitstaff is pleasant, chill, attentive, and accommodating, there's never a wait, happy hour has great deals, and it's on NW 23rd for cryin' out loud.

On second thought, nevermind. Don't bother going to Ram's Head. I really like that it's never busy. :)

This summer we are planning to hit up as many McMenamin's as we can. So far we have been to Kennedy School, which is my other favorite location, St. John's, Ram's Head, and I've been to Edgefield and the Baghdad. I feel like we've been to more, but I think every time we plan on going to a new one, we end up at Ram's Head. This will be the summer of branching out...with some visits back to the Ram, of course.

One week until my summer begins, two weeks until I get a husband and a new name, and three weeks until I embark on my first Portland summer. It's time to learn the ins and outs of this beautiful city and feel like a real resident. Not a tourist, not a visitor, and not merely a citizen of the Multnomah University bubble. I love my school, and living on campus has many perks, but I am ready to get acquainted with Portland. Are there any songs written about Portland? Everyone one knows New York, New York. Chicago has a song, then there's I Left My Heart in San Francisco...but what about Portland, Or? Time to do a quick search. Okay, here is an article on the top songs about Portland, Or, featured here in the Willamette Weekly. Not surprisingly, the songs are kind of weird and tend to feature the darker side of life in this town. If you haven't been here, don't let this list shape your views of Portland. It's a pretty sweet little-big city.

Come visit Glen and me for one weekend this summer and I will make you a believer. :)

Enjoy the sunshine today, wherever you are!