The Little Things

Lately, our lives have consisted of work, work, and more work. 

We’re very grateful to have jobs, but still, sometimes the weekends won’t come soon enough. I only wish Michael’s weekends matched up with mine.

The hard thing is that I work from 9:30 am-3:30 pm, Michael has to be at work at 4:00 pm. We have enough time to exchange the keys to the car and a quick kiss before he has to leave. We see each other during our lunch breaks, and that’s about it. 

Though we don’t see each other as often as I’m used to, I’ve learned to appreciate the little things, and so has he. 

When he gets home from work at night, he plays one of my favorite songs in the car. When I get up in the morning to leave for work, I hear the song playing, it’s a sweet reminder that he was thinking of me. 

I stare out the window like a little kid waiting for him to come home for his dinner/lunch break. I’ve warmed up his food and I prance to the door as soon as he pulls in the driveway. 

Every once in a while, we do have a day off together. I appreciate date night so much more. 

Simple thoughtful texts help bridge the gap while we’re not with each other. 

He comes home while I’m sleeping and cuddles up to me, even if I’m in too deep of a sleep to know he’s there. But the times I do wake up, I start mumbling nonsense, and he just thinks it’s cute.

New Chapter: La Grande

Michael and I have been living in La Grande for about 3 weeks now. We’re staying with his parents to save some money for the next few months before we head back to college.

I was apprehensive about living here for quirky reasons, to be honest. I know that living with the “in-laws” doesn’t sound pleasant in general. But honestly, I don’t think of them as in-laws, they’re just my family. But, that being said, it is a little bit of a culture shock living with them semi-permanently.

And that’s okay.

I was nervous about getting a job, driving in a new town, and driving our manual car in a new town. His parents live at the top of the hill, enough said. There’s also the worry of being in a new ward, feeling like a burden to his parents, and hoping that his family won’t hate me after being around me so much. (Okay, that was a little overdramatic…)

Living with anxiety means I anticipate the worst possible outcome in every situation. But I’m happy to report I have been overcoming these quirky little fears one step at a time while living here. I’ve been making leaps and bounds of progress.

I’m not scared to drive stick anymore. I drive around town all the time! A new town to me.

I have a job. Two jobs actually (counting piano lessons).

The ward here is awesome, and I’m trying to be really involved in it. I’ve joined the ward choir!

But most importantly, I’m making tons of memories with the family. I love being able to attend soccer games and birthdays and other events that really help me feel involved in their lives. I can only imagine how close I’ll feel to them by the time I leave.