Graduations + Beach

I knew Saturday was going to be a long day. I had three graduations to go to, plus I was driving to the beach after the day was over. But, I knew it was going to be worth it. And honestly, it was. Kaila and I left my house at 8:15 that morning and headed to our first graduation of the day...

I got to see this sweet girl graduate and lead the pledge! 

SO proud of you, Jamie! 

We then took a lunch and shopping break and finally headed back to the James Brown Arena for Lakeside's graduation. This was probably how we felt about hearing the same speech given by the superintendent for the second time or just our natural reactions to Bryan taking a picture of us. You decide. 

And then we decided to take pictures of ourselves instead of the graduates during graduation. Yep, we were those people. 

Congratulations, Ryan!

I then headed to West Acres to Augusta Christian's graduation. I got to watch Maggie sing, give a wonderful speech, and graduate!

After that, I headed to Hannah and Jonathan's where I dropped off their gifts and got to have dinner with the sweet newlyweds! It was so fun getting to hang out with them and be their first dinner guest. It was a nice break in the looooong day. Later that night, Kaila and I headed to the beach and we were SO relieved to finally be there. We soaked up the sun for two days and enjoyed just some time away. It was SO needed!

As you can tell, my mom sure did enjoy the sun this weekend :)

Sweet parents!

Such a fun weekend with this girl!

And the last time the four of us will be together until I get back from camp. Bryan and Kaila headed to Swaziland yesterday on a mission trip. 

It sure has been a busy week, but it was so worth it! Happy Wednesday!

a year.

It was a year ago Sunday that I took off from LAX on that really loooooooong flight and headed to Australia! I can barely believe that it has been a year. I feel like it was just yesterday that I was being shocked by how expensive shampoo was or by how often someone asked me if I wanted a cuppa. I miss that place more than words can say, but again I'm so grateful for Facebook and Skype!

And....exciting news...one of the sweet families from Oz are coming to Florida in August and I get to see them! I'm THRILLED!

Day 2 (I think?!?) in the country at the beautiful Wollongong City Beach, New South Wales

Fourth of July in the Outback! 

(Christa, on the left, and her family are the ones coming to FL in August!)

A beautiful shot of property on Mill Valley Ranch, a camp just a few kilometers outside of Pakenham

Some of my favorites! And congrats to Jarrod and Ang (the two in between me and Maggie) who just got married! Wish I could've been there!

Jonathan & Hannah's Wedding

Side note: I have no idea why all of the pictures are grainy/blurry. Blogger has been doing some weird things lately (I've been thinking about switching to Wordpress) but I want to post about this while it is still fresh in my mind!

Jonathan and Hannah's wedding was absolutely wonderful. It was a beautiful wedding, full of moments of God-honoring worship, pure love, and sweet memories I'll never forget. There were many happy tears, lots of laughter, and hours of smiling to where our cheeks still probably hurt from it. I don't think any of us could have pictured a more beautiful weekend.

We started off the weekend with a Bridesmaids' Luncheon at the house of one of Hannah's mom's friends. It was lovely, and it was a sweet time to just be loved on by the bride. 

Rehearsal Dinner with my BFF Bridesmaid!

Kelly is one of Hannah's friends from her year at GCSU. I've met her a couple of times before, but it was so fun getting to spend these past couple of weekends with her. 

I really love this picture of me and Hannah, and I hate that it's all blurry on here. 

Kelly and I really wished we could've worn our Chacos down the aisle. 

We didn't manage to grab a picture of the five of us, but it sure was great getting to be with our other two BFFs!

Family!

They're MARRIED! I was so honored to get to stand up by my best friend and watch her marry her love. I can hardly believe it's come and gone! 

sweet summertime

I am loving summer. I am loving not really having a routine and not having too many responsibilities. I am loving time spent with friends and days where sleeping in is the norm. I am loving this summer, and it has only just begun.

Days spent bike riding at the canal are some of the best. 

Loved celebrating this girl over her bachelorette weekend!

Perfect weekend in HHI!

Enjoyed celebrating Mother's Day with my sweet Momma. 

Hannah's wedding was this past weekend, which will have a post all to itself later this week! Happy Monday!

The Great Gatsby

“And so with the sunshine and the great bursts of leaves growing on the trees, just as things grow in fast movies, I had that familiar conviction that life was beginning over again with the summer.” 

- F. Scott Fitzgerald

If I had to pick one book from my scores of books that I read in high school that was my favorite, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald would be that book. Maybe it was because my teacher taught it really well or maybe because it was so well written and it is a classic. I just loved that book. So of course when I saw that there would be a MOVIE, I was thrilled. And to make it all the more better, I went with some of my best friends to the midnight showing (actually it was at 10 pm but whatevs). It was fantastic. The movie was very close to the book, which made me happy, and it kept me intrigued throughout the whole thing, even though I knew what was going to happen next. Do yourself a favor and go see it soon. You won't be disappointed. 

Miscellany Monday

I'm linking up with Carissa for Miscellany Monday today!

1. Well hello there blog. I sure have missed you, but you had to take a backseat for a couple of weeks due to finals. But no fear, I'm back because I am DONE! The semester is finally OVER, and I am thrilled. Now just to wait on grades (although I do know I have an A in at least one class).

2. These cuties had some pictures taken. Enough said. #proudAshAsh

3. Sweet Maggie rocked it in her musical a few weekends ago. I can hardly believe this is her last one at ACS!

4. I got to spend the day at Camp! It was so pretty, even though it was raining and I didn't really go outside of the Dining Hall. Only 25 days left until I'm there for the summer! 

5. I'm grateful that I go to college in Augusta because I don't have to say goodbye to my college friends for the summer. Well, not for the whole summer. I've got a good chunk of time before I head to camp and after camp before classes start that I can spend with them. I'm planning to soak up every minute!

6. This girl gets MARRIED in like 11 days! Eleven days!!! AHHH. We're headed to the beach this weekend to have "one last fling until the ring". Craziness, I tell you. How on earth are we this old?

7. When Ash Ash picks you up from school, you get a surprise! 

8. Roadtripped with Robin yesterday for a baby shower. She claims she was "watching the road by watching the rearview mirror". 

9. Loving this quote by Francis Chan: 

"It is true that God may have called you to be exactly where you are. But, it is absolutely vital to grasp that he didn't call you there so you could settle in and live your life in comfort and superficial peace."