Carson is a Bachelor...

What a weekend!

Carson received his Bachelor of Science in Biblical Studies on Saturday

from Moody Bible Institute - Spokane

His parents and some friends came over to celebrate with him. 

It was a great weekend and we can't believe he's DONE with his undergrad!

Dr. Lewis addressing the graduates

"Will the candidates for the Bachelor of Science in Biblical Studies please stand?"

Receiving his diploma

(unfortunately blurry)

 Carson graduated with honors (hence the medal)

The Newberrys came. Little Abishai is the baby pictured here.

The Smiths, good friends from Cashmere.

Blonde roommate graduated!

Abishai and Grandma Bay ;)

the Washington bays

...a brunette, a blonde and a redhead...

sweet meagan

The diploma cover

 We went to Tomato Street for lunch afterward. 

They have a huge chalkboard there for us to write our congratulations, etc.

Carson's mom loved that Carson and John received "honors" while Chris received "high honors"

(the other two did also, but since this semester's grades weren't yet calculated, that didn't show)

Chris, Carson and John

Miss Rachel and I

first anniversary

We have completed one year of marriage. Um, wow. 

We spent one night in a hotel downtown... it was easier + less travel time than going somewhere. Plus, we live in a really great place. 

We got this card from the Kipes... several people remembered our day and sent us cards! Thank you!

We went for a little stroll

Walking downtown from our hotel.
Right above my head, the top corner room, was where we stayed.

 We saw wildlife.

This is a Marmot. I'd never seen one before.

 We visited Spokane Falls.

You can tell he wanted me to take this picture...or not.

Powerful.

 We were excited to find that SPRING has come to Spokane at last! 

Ps - yes, it was warm enough to wear that dress. It was really hot!

 We enjoyed Carson's gift

(A preface: we decided to give each other "paper" gifts since it's our paper anniversary)

He got tickets to Wicked

Before the show

Not actually my picture. I google-imaged pictures of Wicked.

 After the show we walked through the park back to our hotel

Oh, and we stopped at a store to get random food. This guy came back with us. 

It turned out that we had neither fridge nor microwave so his life ended in the garbage. 

On another note, this wasn't mine. I don't like frozen burritos so much.

The next day we browsed shops downtown and then went to a pizza place for lunch. 

I suggested a self-timer picture. 

He wouldn't scoot over for me to get in.

We look like babies in this one.

Then we went home. 

Where we proceeded to cut a cake for our first anniversary.

A peanut butter chocolate cake.

With "1 Year" written on the top in yellow frosting. Can you see it?

We cut it together... and since it was super hard ice cream, one half went flying across the counter. 

We will eat it anyway.

Happy Anniversary to us!

change

Change is upon us.

I think change used to be more of a surprise. Now, it's more of a familiar friend. We aren't sure what it will be, but we recognize it.

I didn't mention it online yet, but my last day of work was last week. No more being there at 7:30am.

This week marks the last week of the semester. Classes are finished, papers turned in, presentations given, exams passed. Whew. I think this makes me a senior... finally.

This week, Carson will take the GRE. Pray for him!

This week, Carson will graduate. He's finished his undergrad! Yay!

Next week, I will start full-time classes. Well, one class. It's a three week intensive. I have four directed study classes this summer also. And my online class for the summer began this week. So I'll be busy studying this summer, which I'm not entirely thrilled about.

The week after next, the real challenge will come. Carson is moving.
Yes, just Carson. He'll be working a full fire season this year (till about November) since he doesn't have school in the fall. He will live in the place we lived last summer. And yes, I will stay here. It makes sense logistically even though it kind of stinks.

For five months. 


Okay, it really stinks.
But it's only three hours away. He'll be busy, I'll be busy. It will be hard. But we plan to talk a lot, travel when we can, and write letters like we did when we were dating long-distance. Like the summers before it, it will be a little different.

Different is the new normal.

Change is upon us.

home sweet home

I don't remember when I last posted pictures of the way our place looks.

But I'm always rearranging and making new things

So I thought that it was time for an updated tour.

Compare it with THIS post for a real change :)

A (randomly ordered) fairly accurate depiction of our home. 

Before walking in, you will be met with this (yay wedding gift cards!)

Some books on our bookshelf.

Wall opposite the bookshelves. 

The sign is from Trent & Erin.

Our entry-way. Student IDs, calendars, schedules, coats behind the door.

The wall next to the door: "The office"

And an old-looking world map ($2 Amazon.com) with pictures of places we've traveled surrounding it. 

This was taken in March, notice the birthday cards.
And the huge stack of papers left for Carson to grade.

Frames in the bathroom.

 I've always loved these (super cheap from Pier 1) mirrored frames.

Sunset from the living room window. 

Our hallway, with most of the people who live here

The seating side of the living room.
A frame of wedding pictures. Basket of blankets. Earl the bear.

Since re-arranged, this is our kitchen.

The white lights have since burnt out, but they were great under-cabinet lighting.
I must have been making dinner when I took this.

I know it's messy, but I love fridges covered with LIFE.

Our linoleum is some of the most disgusting flooring ever. 

It looks dirty and gross always.
But isn't the orange wall pretty?
I would love a big something for this wall but lack the $$$

The view from the couch.

The view from "the office"

The bedroom from the door (that's my wedding dress in its bag hanging out on the door)

From the bathroom door looking in

Pillows I made

Costco assortment of toilet paper and no better other place to store it than right outside the bathroom door.

The bathroom.
Taken just as it was this morning in all its disorganized glory

Push-pins hold my necklaces and I put up a ribbon for my immense collection of hair flowers.

The toilet. That's a book on top of a candle in the window by the way.
I don't know why.

Frames and pictures on the wall in our room.

The dresser. Tried to make it pretty but with the iron and sewing machine it's just cluttered.
Ah, to have storage!
(I don't really mind... the only reason I do is for aesthetics.)

There it is! ...our apartment (minus closet. there's no good way to get a good shot of that)