The Apartment Hunt

On Sunday, we celebrated another milestone in our wedding countdown. Only five months until our big day! I can hardly believe it.

We've been doing the long distance thing for what seems like forever, but before we knew it, it was time to start looking for a place to live.

Thomas will move to Austin at the beginning of May and starts his internship at a hospital in Round Rock a few weeks later. However, where he gets a job after graduation in August is completely up in the air. He may be brought on full-time after his internship, or he may get an offer from another hospital/clinic in town. For this reason, and with me working in downtown Austin, we wanted to find a place relatively central to allow for flexibility in both careers.

We spent this weekend hunting for the perfect little place, and after touring nine (yes, 9!) apartment communities, it was a unanimous decision. We officially have a place to call home!

Thomas and I will be residents of good ol' Pflugerville, Texas, "where quality meets life." Their unofficial slogan is "Pflugerville: between a rock (Round Rock) and a weird place (Austin)." Hah! I love it.

I love that we'll have a little part of Austin that's new to both of us. I've driven through the cute historic downtown square, and I'm excited to explore our new surroundings together.

I can't wait to decorate, I can't wait to entertain, and I definitely cannot wait until my best friend and I are in the same place.

I'm also thankful that my commute will be a little shorter than what I currently drive. From our apartment to my office is 13 miles, or approximately 20 minutes with no traffic. Right now, I live 21 miles away from the office. Hopefully, my commute will be a little more than 10 minutes shorter. Anything helps!

Here's a few snapshots of what our cozy two-bedroom, third floor apartment will look like! Thomas moves in May 9th and it will be his bachelor pad until we get married. Thanks for everyone's well wishes. We're so excited!

View of the living/dining room from the entry

Loving the built-in bookshelves in the guest bedroom

Nice, open kitchen

TWO sinks in the master bath... yesssss

Also love this built-in desk in the master bedroom

Our unit is close to the pool, but on the backside of the building so we won't have much noise.

Making things official!

Celebratory brunch at Moonshine Grill with my mom and dad, before we took them to see the apartment and sign the paperwork that afternoon.

Playing a Serious Game of Catch-Up

Oh hey, March. Didn't see you sneaking up so fast.

Y'all... it's March. I've been a serious slacker when it comes to blogging. In fact, just the other day, my grandma called to make sure I was doing okay, or make sure that she was still signed up to receive blogs by email, because she hadn't seen any recent posts.

When even Grandma is concerned about your blog well-being, you know it's time to jump back in.

I'll be honest. I've have a mild case of the winter blues over the past two months.

Can anyone relate?

The fall was filled with Baylor/Waco weekends every other week, the excitement of Homecoming, Thanksgiving, a family vacation and Christmas. But after ringing in 2012, I found myself feeling a little down-in-the-dumps.

One of my goals this year is to "enjoy running." Living in Austin, one of the healthiest cities in the U.S., I WANT to like running. Thomas and I signed up for a 5K this month, and we've both been running to get in shape. But as I've learned in running, sometimes the hardest part of your run is the last quarter mile, or the last five minute stretch. As many people say, at some point running becomes totally mental, as you push yourself to finish strong.

That metaphor is what I'm using to explain my recent sad mood. With only a few months before Thomas moves to Austin, things suddenly got a lot harder emotionally. We've been engaged since April and my heart is just so ready for us to be in the same place, living life together.

But looking back over all these photos and remembering the memories made since the holidays, I can't help but smile. God is SO GOOD to us and I just know that 2012 is going to be amazing.

The beautiful beach in Cozumel, where we cruised to as a family right before Christmas.

Thomas and I traveled with my mom and dad down to San Antonio to watch our Bears win the Alamo Bowl. It was the highest-scoring bowl game in history (until days later when West Virginia took that title) and our first bowl game win since 1992!

Our traditional Christmas Eve dinner at The Melting Pot.

New Year's Eve! We dined with Meredith and Sterling at Kona Grill and then went downtown to watch the fireworks over Auditorium Shores.

In January, we went to see the Watoto Children's Choir perform at Celebration Church in Georgetown. Even though it was two summers ago that I was in Uganda, it feels like just yesterday. The people of Uganda will always have a piece of my heart, and I loved hearing about Watoto's ministry.

At the beginning of February, Mom and I attended the first-ever Immerse Austin, with Mandisa, Lysa TerKeurst and Anita Renfroe. It was an amazing night to worship alongside other Austin women and remember who God calls us to be.

At the beginning of February, Thomas came to Austin so we could go see Wicked. It was my third time to see it, and it was so fun to see Thomas and my parents so excited about my all-time favorite musical. I think it's each of their favorites now, too!

The day before Valentine's Day, Thomas surprised me by having these beautiful flowers delivered to my office!

I love the marketing team I work with, and a few weeks ago we took our lunch break to do some quality team building by taking a cooking class at Whole Foods. It was amazing, and I can't wait to try these recipes out at home.

Just last weekend, we celebrated our friends Allison & Blake's engagement. Allison is one of my roommates from this summer, and she's currently in the grad program with Thomas. Blake is in med school in Houston, and we can't wait for their wedding in September!

Also last weekend, Thomas and I attended Baylor's All-University Sing for the first time as alums. All the acts were incredible, but it was so weird being in the audience and not dancing and singing up on that stage.

Spring is finally here, Thomas moves to Austin in less than three months, and this girl is totally over singing the winter blues. I'm choosing joy, thanking the Lord for His faithfulness to us and looking forward to all that is to come.

OH! One more thing I'm thrilled about - only four days until I get to attend my first SXSW Interactive Conference. I'm so excited, I could squeal.

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Unspeakable Joy

"Joy, unspeakable joy, rises in my soul, never lets me go." -Chris Tomlin's "Joy to the World"

When Thomas and I got engaged in April, a 16-month engagement felt like an eternity. He was transitioning to graduate school and I was starting my career. We would be living in two different cities, learning to grow closer as a couple even in a long-distance relationship.

But as I sit here on the couch in my pajamas, sipping tea and munching on Christmas cookies, I'm reflecting on God's goodness, His peace that sustains, and the many blessings He has given us since that April evening.

Last Sunday, December 18, marked the halfway point in our engagement. Eight months have flown by and we now have less than eight to go until our wedding day. I'm filled with such JOY.

That day will be here before we know it, and so much has happened in the past few weeks:

Baylor beat Texas Tech (my little sister's school) on November 26 for the first time since 1995, ending the Red Raider's season. We got to sit on the Baylor side this year and it was an amazing victory!

On December 2nd, our Bears went on to defeat the University of Texas 48-24, making us undefeated at home with our first nine-win season since 1986. It was also the second time we beat the Longhorns in two years, so it was extra sweet.

Robert Griffin III won the Heisman Trophy! It was truly our proudest moment as members of Baylor Nation. And in less than a week, our team takes on Washington in the Alamo Bowl. It may be our last time to see the Heisman winner wearing green and gold, but none of us will ever forget where we were when we heard the award announced!

On December 11th, Thomas and I took our engagement photos with the incredibly talented Rebecca Cash of Captivating Photography. With the busyness of the holidays, we probably won't see the images until after the new year, but we had an absolute blast and can't wait to see them!

Once Sarah finished her final exams, the four of us took off on a four-night cruise to Cozumel. It was most likely our last family vacation before I'm married, and it was so fun to relax and soak up some sun with my parents and little sister.

With that little update, I'm now signing off for three days of Christmas bliss. Three days without work. Three days of family, food and gifts. Three days of sleeping in, cozying up with a good book and watching movies. But once Tuesday comes and I have to return to the office, I'll still be reflecting on God's graciousness to us. And the greatest joy of this season is celebrating the birth of our Savior and the freedom we have in Christ.

Wishing you the merriest of Christmases!!

"Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift." 2 Corinthians 9:15

Baylor Homecoming

"Because of what Baylor has meant to you in the past, because of what she will mean to you in the future, oh, my students, have a care for her. Build upon the foundations here the great school of which I have dreamed, so that she may touch and mold the lives of future generations and help to fit them for life here and hereafter. To you seniors of the past, of the present, of the future I entrust the care of Baylor University. To you I hand the torch. My love be unto you and my blessing be upon you." -Samuel Palmer Brooks, 1931

I love Baylor.

After graduating in May, I've been fortunate to not be "cut off" entirely from college world. I spent two full months in Waco this summer as I searched for my first job, and I've been back to visit at least twice a month for football games and to see that special guy of mine. Even though I've been a Waco regular, my first Homecoming as a Baylor alum was better than I ever dreamed. You think Homecoming is amazing as an undergrad? Just wait until you graduate. The feeling of returning to campus to celebrate your alma mater is magical.

I took Friday off of work to fully embrace the weekend's festivities... breakfast with Kaitlyn at Cafe Cappuccino, surprising Meredith at work, dinner with Thomas, Clara and Laura at Rosati's, the Homecoming bonfire and pep rally, followed by an engagement party for our friends Adrienne and Zach. And that was just one day!

One of our all-time favorite couples, Sterling and Meredith.

The Kriegels

Congratulations Adrienne!

Saturday morning came too early, but after grabbing Starbucks (the line at Common Grounds was wayyyy too long), Thomas and I were ready to go watch the parade. Baylor's Homecoming parade is the largest collegiate parade in the country, and the floats students build are incredible. It was fun to watch this year as a spectator, but to be honest, we were so busy walking through the crowds to visit with friends that before I knew it, the parade was over.

With Thomas and my beautiful future sister-in-law, Clara.

Sisters at the ADPi Breakfast in Burleson Quadrangle.

Thomas and some of his awesome fraternity brothers.

ADPi's adorable float - "See You At the Mad Tea Party." Each chair at the table was a different Big XII school. Note the A&M chair to the left. :)

Before seeing the afternoon performance of Pigskin Revue, after which we raced to Floyd Casey for the football game and another Baylor victory.

I am so very thankful for Baylor University. I've been blessed with irreplaceable friendships, lifelong memories and a many years to come of continuing to love the green and gold.

"... return to campus to renew former associations and friendships, and catch the Baylor spirit again." -First-Ever Homecoming Invitation to Alumni, 1909

Grown-Up Wish List

I once read a wedding blog that explained perfectly the emotions and mindset associated with creating a registry.

"It’s kind of a strange thing, registering. You go through the store and pick out all of these things that you want, and then you go home and remind yourself that none of them are currently actually yours." -Anne over at Delightfully Engaged

And it's very true! We had so much fun creating a wish list for our life together, but at the same time it was weird to go "shopping" and come home empty-handed.

A few weekends ago, Thomas came to Austin to visit, and while he was here we created our registries at Bed Bath & Beyond and Crate & Barrel I now have images of bath towels and bedding floating in my head, and I can just imagine Thomas and myself in the kitchen, cooking up a storm with the gadgets and appliances we added to our list.

We started at Bed Bath & Beyond, where we got our first little dose of reality. The registry consultant led us to the bath section and instructed us to pick out a shower curtain with matching towels. Thomas and I stood there for a few minutes, trying to come to a decision on something we hadn't really discussed. When you're booking the church and researching bakeries and florists, you don't take time to think about interior decor for your future home. I know we'll be in Austin, but haven't the faintest idea about where we'll be living or how many bed/bathrooms we'll have. It took a few minutes for us to come to our senses, relax and not get overwhelmed with the our choices, and we quickly agreed on a shower curtain we both loved. It was the first of many little victories that day!

He had too much fun with that little scanner.

Didn't think we'd find bedding we liked at Bed Bath & Beyond, but we were in luck. What we love about this grey duvet cover is that we can pair it with any color. Maybe yellow? Or navy?

The day was so wonderful, and it worked out perfectly that the next day Crate & Barrel was hosting a private registry party for engaged couples. We went after church on Sunday, before the store opened to the public, and registered for our place settings, flatware and other home accessories.

After registering at Crate & Barrel, Thomas and I met my parents for brunch at Roaring Fork.

Registering with Thomas got me that much more excited about our approaching wedding day. I can't wait to decorate and create a cozy place where we can relax at the end of a long work day, someplace where we feel completely at home!

To Have and to Hold

I'm behind in my blogging (still to come: wedding registries and Baylor Homecoming), but I'm going against my need to be chronological so that I can blog about a really special weekend.

On Friday night, Thomas and I met nine other couples (including our friends Kendra and Christian) in Salado to attend a "Countdown to Marriage" retreat. The weekend was put on by Legacy Family Ministries, an organization that exists to prepare engaged couples for Christ-centered marriages. We heard about it through our church in Waco, and though they offer a six-week class at Highland, we knew that a three-day weekend retreat was best for us since we have a long distance engagement and can't be in the same place every week.

It was absolutely incredible.

We laughed, we cried and we prayed, and along the way we learned even more about each other as future husband and wife. Our group sessions covered God's purpose for marriage, roles and responsibilities for husbands and wives, finances, emotional and spiritual intimacy, and communication. There was also plenty of free time built in for the two of us. Venturing off on the nature trails to talk, sitting in rocking chairs looking at the stars, playing a life-size game of checkers... it was so wonderful to disconnect from the demands of school and the working world and just spend time together.

"God created marriage, so only He can sustain it." I know that because of this weekend, our vows will be even more meaningful. When I walk down the aisle on August 18 to become Mrs. Reed, the covenant Thomas and I make to each other will be stronger because of the Lord's work in our hearts this weekend.

Summer's Mill outside of Salado

Kendra and I were in 304 and the boys were next door

The cute little lodge where we had our sessions.

We had a few hours on Saturday afternoon to go into downtown Salado, and Kendra and I felt like we were in Pinterest heaven.

With Christian and Kendra, whose wedding is in July!

I would recommend Legacy to any engaged couple. The time you spend preparing for your marriage before it even begins will be sweet and irreplaceable, and I can't quite put into words how much this ministry has impacted our lives and relationship.

Thank you, Byron and Carla Weathersbee for your heart for engaged couples and for being a wonderful resource for Thomas and me for years to come!

Fall Break

Fall Break was just one of the many things I loved about Baylor. Not many other schools in Texas give their students a three day weekend "just because," and just because I'm graduated doesn't mean I can't still observe the holiday!

Last weekend was Baylor's Fall Break, so since Thomas didn't have class on Friday, we decided to fly out to Albuquerque to visit my sweet grandparents. The weather was beautiful and we had an absolute blast!

On Friday, Grandpa joined Thomas and me for a ride up the World's Longest Tramway to the top of Sandia Peak. My grandparents live in the foothills of the mountains, but the last time I've been up the tram was at least 10 years ago.

It was 45 degrees at the top and there was even a little bit of snow. The view of Albuquerque was awesome and made for some great pictures. Before heading back down, we enjoyed lunch at a restaurant called High Finance.

Excited for all the traveling we'll do together!

My amazing Grandpa

On Friday night, we all went to Savoy for dinner. A flight of white wine, a filet mignon and creme brulee... what a treat!

On Saturday, we woke up just in time for the Baylor/A&M football game. The outcome was not at all what we were hoping for, but it was still fun to watch, and Thomas introduced my grandparents to his awesome gumbo for lunch!

We relaxed for a little while that afternoon, and then Grandma brought out her Speech Pathology textbooks from the 1950s to give to Thomas. It was adorable to see her and Thomas bond as Grandma offered up stories of her days as a speech pathologist and Thomas shared stories of his graduate studies.

[Almost forgot to mention... two weeks ago, Thomas was given his internship placement for next summer. At the end of May, he'll officially move to Austin to intern at a hospital 10 minutes from my house!! I could not be happier!!]

Saturday night entailed a trip to the casino followed by dinner at a little hole-in-the-wall Italian place called Paisano's, where I had the most amazing butternut squash ravioli with brown butter and sage with fresh parmesan.

Our trip was over all too soon, and on Sunday we flew back to Texas. Grandma and Grandpa, thank you so much for having us! We can't wait to come back and visit!!