Ant Liz

I have some exciting news to share with anyone who still reads my blog. I haven't been on blogger these last couple of months (except to post once or twice), because I still haven't gotten my computer fixed. I'm using Anthony's right now, but his computer doesn't have my pictures, documents, etc.

ANYWAY, that's not the point. The point is... I'm officially going to be "Aunt Liz!" His sister, Amy, and his brother-in-law, Dave, always joke about me being "Ant Liz," almost. Get it... Ant(hony) Liz.... Yeah, I know.

Anyway, I'm engaged!!!! Anthony asked me to be his wife on Christmas Eve. Hopefully this won't be too cliche or annoying, but I'm hoping to document this journey on my blog. I want to keep my other posts, of course, but I have a feeling that this wedding business will be all-consuming for a while.

I want to share some of my ideas, my conflicts, my fears, my excitement... and I also want to share his perspective, along with some of my bridesmaids. I'll see how that goes...


But for now-- here's the story, from my side.

I didn't get to go home for Christmas this year. I was really disappointed, but I was looking forward to spending it with Anthony's family in Harrison, AK. We all opened Christmas presents on Christmas Eve and I was so excited for Anthony to get his. I OWNED Christmas this year, as far as he is concerned. Or so I thought.. Ha. I was super proud of myself, and I didn't try to hide it.

He had given me a wooden owl box, an owl coin purse, and an owl notebook. But then LO AND BEHOLD he comes out of his dad's office with this oddly shaped thing wrapped in a red blanket.

I open it up and it's a case. (I've been eyeing a mandolin foreverrrrrr!) I look at him and tell him that if it's not what I think it is, I'm going to be super mad. It was a gorgeous mandolin. I was ecstatic!! I start strumming it, blah blah blah.

Well evidently, the ring box was in the case. I didn't see it, obviously. Still without my knowing, he sneaks the box out of the case.

I'm still strumming along and sort of bouncing up and down with excitement.

As I'm playing, Anthony starts saying something about how much he loves me... how he wants to spend his life with me... And I'm thinking, "He is being super forward right now, for all of his family being here..." So I look over at him, and he's on one knee holding out a gorgeous ring.

He asked me to be his wife, and with a screech/ugly sound, I said, "yes."

His entire family knew, as did mine (he asked my dad a few weeks ago), and out of those people, there's a professional photographer/blogger and an Instagram/semi-famous social networking photographer. AND NO ONE GOT A PHOTO. I'm slightly irritated... ;)







Anyway, we're going to get married this summer, and I can hardly contain myself.

We went on our first date as an engaged couple last night, and we decided to go see Sherlock Holmes. It was amazing, despite our hesitation after seeing the bad reviews. Our recommendation-- it's worth it! We liked it better than the first movie. .



It's been an incredible journey of healing and growing and everything in-between.

I hope that you all had a Merry Christmas, and I'll see you next year with some resolutions!

I done got edgikatid.

I did it! I graduated! August 5, 2011, I received my Bachelor of Science in Psychology. I am so excited to be done. These last three years have not been the best years of my life, to put it lightly.

I graduated from Ronald Reagan High School in 2008, on my 18th birthday. I started college the following August.







































I started out at the University of Texas at San Antonio, but I only lasted a semester. I didn't like the school very much, but it had a lot to do with the season of life that I was in at the time.















I transferred to Evangel University in Springfield, Missouri, that January, and I started out on my own for the first time. Things were up and down the entire time that I was there, and I finally transferred to Missouri State for my senior year.



There were a lot of reasons for doing so, but I think that it was the best thing that I could have done. The same time that I transferred to MSU, I moved into a small apartment by myself.







































This last year has had its high and low points, but this summer has, by far, been the best season of my life since graduating from high school in 2008. Getting a degree in three years was no small task, and I am sincerely proud to have accomplished what I wanted to!

But, I can't take the credit for much of it. My parents have had my back this entire time. I went to three different schools in three years, I've dated a couple of scum bags, and I've made some very, very poor choices. They have loved me just the same, along with the rest of my family. My grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc. have walked me through this whole process.

I have a few good friends that have stuck by me through all of this, and I am so grateful for the dependable people in my life.

Working at the nursing home for the last two years has been an amazing experience. My boss/coworkers have been fabulous with making my hours as flexible as possible, allowing me to go to school and work full-time. I don't know where I could have gotten a job that made my life so easy during such a stressful time. Thank you, Michael, for giving me this opportunity!

So here's the important part, if you're going to read any:

I took my last final on Friday morning, but it wasn't until I was on my way to work that I realized that I hadn't even thanked God for getting me there. What's wrong with me? I got so overwhelmed by the excitement of being done and finally getting a break, that it didn't even cross my mind to thank the One who made it all possible! I got a card from my Aunt Davida and Uncle Lew today, and they included a verse: 1 Corinthians 9:24-25 "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever."

I've run a tiring race, but it's only one leg of the journey. I'm going to need more than what I have right now to finish what He has beckoned me to start.

I'm going to start this next leg of the journey with finding a new church home. I now have some free time that I think would be well-spent getting more involved. It's one step at a time, but I want the steps to be in the right direction. I am going to need encouragement for this.

But I graduated! I did it! I really did it! 

I decided not to go to the ceremony, because my education has been scattered across three schools. My family is in Texas, and I didn't feel incredibly attached to MSU by the time I was done with it. I will go home, eventually, and I will celebrate with the people who got me to this point... but that won't be for a while.

But that's not to say that I didn't celebrate a little bit!

I showed up to work on Friday, and my coworker, along with a few residents, all signed a card for me. Carolyn and Kathy then took me to Cheddar's for a celebratory lunch, and I ate until I almost birthed a food baby. It was so nice of them.













































My parents then sent me a dozen roses at work! It was so sweet, and I was so flattered to have gotten a flower delivery! (haha)





















I got home, and Anthony gave me a book that I had noticed at Barnes & Noble some time ago, and we went to Bambu for dinner. We then shared a bottle of champagne and watched Lost, since I had to work early the next morning. On Saturday night, after work, he took me out to dinner again, and then we went to Finnegan's for a couple of drinks and to play pool/shuffleboard. It was the perfect celebration-- quiet, personal, and nothing too fancy.







































On Sunday, Ant and I went to Amy's house to hang out with her and the kids. We had fruit for dinner, and then I made chocolate/peanut butter cookies for dessert. They were fabulous, if I do say so myself, and I will share the recipe, soon!




































































It was a wonderful weekend, but now it's time for a new work week and several study sessions with my GRE practice tests.. :(  I take the GRE in two weeks, and then it's time to figure out what I want to go to graduate school for. Any ideas? I'm drawing blanks....

Thanks for being patient with my lack of blogging, and I hope to be posting more, now that I'm done!

Cheers!