Goodbye Waves and Driveways

And, so phase two of our relationship begins: The mission.
Next Wednesday, Justin will be reporting to the MTC (Missionary Training Center) in Provo, Utah. And, there he will begin his two year mission. Two years! It sounds like such a long time! That's 24 months, or 104 weeks, or 730 days, or 17520 hours, or 1051200 minutes, or 63072000 seconds.
On Sunday, Justin and I had our last day together before he leaves. Since he lives in Edmonton, and I'm in Calgary, it worked better this way. It was a weekend of many emotions. We were happy to be together, but sad about the fact that we knew it would be the last time we'd see each other before he leaves. Funny thing about our last date... two years ago, on this same weekend, we had our very first date.
We decided to only e-mail this week, because talking on the phone, and not seeing each other wouldn't be very good. I am constantly checking to see if I have e-mails, and out of habit, always checking my phone for texts. It's hard not talking to him. We met just over two years ago, and since that time, we have had some sort of contact every day except for a few days when I was in the States that summer, and a week when he was at camp last year. So, we're kind of used to hearing from each other. Ask anyone. Really.
It's been two days. Two difficult days. I feel like everything is quiet. And I don't quite know what to do with myself. But, I have a wonderful family, and friends who have been a great support. I also have the knowledge and testimony that Justin is doing the right thing. I am expecting some major blessings for this. I don't know if that's wrong to say or not. But, I do know that this is the hardest thing I have ever had to do to, and I know that if Justin and I are doing what is right, we will be blessed for it. In one of my e-mails this week, Justin told me: "We can do this together. We can do tough things. We are tough people." On my Granny's fridge, she has a note that says "Tough times don't last. Tough people do. We are tough people." It has been a sort of motto for Justin and I this last month. I look forward to checking more days off my calendar and seeing the growth in both of us. It will be a good (but hard) experience.

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On another note. I have found a new love. Not a boy love. A different love.

Poetry. And sonnets! This one here is one of my absolute favourites.

Sonnet 43, Elizabeth Barrett Browning

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. 

I love thee to the depth and breadth and height

My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight 

For the ends of being and ideal grace. 

I love thee to the level of every day's

Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light. 

I love thee freely, as men strive for right. 

I love thee purely, as they turn from praise. 

I love thee with the passion put to use 

In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.

I love thee with a love I seemed to lose 

With my lost saints. I love thee with the breath, 

Smiles, tears, of all my life; and, if God choose, 

I shall but love thee better after death.

School's In For-ever!

On Tuesday, I started classes. I was so, so excited to be back in a classroom, but I was strangely nervous this time. I think it was because these lasts four months have seemed to go dreadfully slow without school. So, Tuesday was my day of Psychology. Last year, I declared Psychology as my minor (my major is English), so I get to take some great classes, and it's not a waste. This semester, I am taking Psychology of Aging, and Cognitive Psychology. Both are very interesting classes. I really look forward to the rest of the semester. Also, I am pretty thrilled that I only have tests -- no papers! I get enough of that in my English courses. Wednesday was my day of English. I started the day with Shakespeare. My professor is hilarious! I think I'm really going to enjoy this one. Our first play is Richard III. So far, I'm really enjoying it -- especially the way my professor reads it. The book probably weighs ten pounds, as I mentioned before, but it's okay -- I need the muscles. After Shakespeare, I had a break. Luckily, my good friend Shenica has a break at the same time, so we had a chance to catch up before her class. My next class was Poetry. I know this one is going to be heavy, but I think I will like it. My professor seems pretty good, so that's a bonus. I love school. I love learning. I love sitting in a lecture hall, pen ready, anticipating all of that knowledge that is about to enter my brain. I am so thankful that I listened to my brother. The truth is, I started university because of the wisdom of my brother, David. When I was nearing the end of grade eleven, or starting grade twelve, David told me that I should go to school as soon as I could. So, when the time came for me to decide what to do, and where to go, I made that decision as soon as I could. I am so glad I did. I love it. I worry Justin when I say I want to go to school forever (he's thinking of all that money!), but really, I just don't want to stop learning. I really want to be a lifelong learner (like my Granny) whether it's in or out of a classroom.

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"Let's go to the mall! Today!"

This Monday, Justin and I decided (well, I decided, and he went along with it) to go on another adventure. We decided to take a little trip out of the city and visit the new mall, Crossiron Mills, or Mallzac. I was really excited to go because, there is a Bed Bath & Beyond there! So, needless to say, it was incredibly busy. Busy, busy, busy! But, we had a good time. As always. Surprisingly, neither of us bought anything (besides a yummy burger). But, being with the one you love is far better than buying a new sweater.

Super Furry Animals

It's been a busy, busy week! So, I have a lot to write about. So, I'll break up all the happenings into different posts.
Today: Saturday at the zoo.
On Saturday morning, Justin picked me up at my grandparents' and we set out on the adventure that was to be our Saturday. We went to breakfast at Denny's, where I had some delicious granola cereal and fruit! Yum! Next, we headed to the University bookstore so I could pick up my textbooks for this semester. Very expensive. Very heavy. My textbook for Shakespeare probably weighs ten pounds! But, it's totally worth it! After spending lots of money on only a few books, we drove to the zoo to meet Dennis and Candi. It had been a few years since I'd been to the zoo, so I was really excited. We saw lots of animals, and had a lot of fun. We got to see the cute baby gorilla, which was probably my favourite. I love gorillas! We also saw koalas -- they aren't bears! "Every time someone calls them a bear, they die inside" (that was for you, Candi), tigers, bears, elephants, and more! 
Also, we saw these guys:

These are prairie dogs. We were sure that they might suffocate from all their fat. We just couldn't get over how big these things really are! Yikes.
After the zoo, we went to BP's, because we were both famished! It was definitely delicious. After dinner, we went back to my place, where we played Monopoly (the new electronic version) with Marni and James. It was a lot of fun. But, I am really terrible at Monopoly. Really. Dreadful. I think it should come with an advisor to help me make my financial decisions. 
Here are some other pictures from the day

Patience is a virtue

... that I do not possess.
I have never, ever been a patient person. I'm sure my mother could vouch for that one. Currently, I am very impatiently waiting for:

• school to start (7 days!)
• Justin to come this weekend (3 days!)
• my hair to grow out (unfortunately, no timeline for that one)
• this cold to go away
• etc.

 Are you patient? If so, how?!

 

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