Adventures and Anniversaries

This past week has been the most interesting week. On Wednesday night, I got to come home for my fall break back to my family and friends. On Thursday was the one year anniversary of my mom's passing. Considering how much anxiety and dread I felt leading up to the day, it went along relatively uneventful. I was definitely occupying myself with my besties in order to keep myself safe and numb. My psychologist suggested creating a ritual to honor my mom on that day, and I chose to make strawberry cupcakes, as that was one of my favorite activities we used to do together. It helped in some ways, in most ways, however, it just made me sad that she wasn't there to participate and crack the eggs open for me. In other news, my tall red-headed "husband" had his farewell talk as he is leaving on Nov 6 to go to Mexico on his mission! Due to the fact that I am currently living three hours away, this past weekend was the last time I was going to be able to adventure with him before his mission. We've been making a list for weeks now in anticipation for this fun-filled weekend. We did most of the things on the list, and I unfortunately forgot to take pictures. The whole weekend was, as a consequence, one big sunshine moment. 

We went to a soda and candy shop,

We watched Fox and the Hound because I said I wanted to watch it,

We made cupcakes in ice cream cones,

We had a picnic in the park and turned the ducks into carnivores,

We went shopping for Halloween costumes!

We tried Jamba's secret menu,

and lastly, we visited Cherry Lane Keepsakes because I said I had always wanted to go inside.

I am going to miss this boy more than I could possibly describe in words, but I am super proud of him for giving up two years of his life to go serve the people of Mexico. He has been like an older brother to me since the seventh grade when I walked up to him in the hallway and commented on his food choices in the lunchroom. He and me shared both of our first date, and he gave me a really long hug back in last year's October when I was crying my eyes out. He has been through everything under the sun with me, and still calls me his best friend :) And when I had to hug him goodbye for two years, I thought my heart would nearly break into two, but the comforting thought that he was on the Lord's errand strengthened me as I promised to write him every week; all 104 of them.