Fa-la-la-la-lahhh 2012.

K Week.
Classes.
Michigan.
Synergy.
Core Group.
Woodhill.
Practicum.
Jesus Prom.
Sickness.
Basketball Games.
Double Dates.
Engagements.
Weddings.
Family.
Friends (Old & New).
Sorrow.
Life.
Rebellious Joy.

That's it folks. My last semester of classes is officially over and the only thing standing between me and my diploma is Student Teaching! This has definitely been my most challenging semester of my entire college career. It was plagued with stress, busyness, sickness, and death. I've cried more tears than I can count and leaned on Jeremy's shoulder a dozen times. Yet despite it's challenges, this semester has also been filled with countless blessings, new friends, fun memories, and lots of laughs. I'm going to attempt to focus on a few of the semester's highlights and share some places where I've seen God throughout these past couple months.

Core Group.

This semester, I was blessed with the opportunity to lead 8 other leaders from CSF. We met on Monday nights, studied the book of Acts, encouraged one another, and simply "did life" together. I loved getting to know these precious girls and am sad I won't get to lead them next semester. I even had the honor of baptizing one of my sweet girls, Taylor, at Synergy this September. I am so proud of her and love seeing her passion to live a life set apart for Christ!

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Woodhill.

Woodhill continues to be such a great blessing and God is always moving in this community! Just before Thanksgiving, we got to celebrate with Liz's family as they welcomed a new addition to their family. Little Miss Jecelle was born on November 20th and Jeremy and I got to visit her when she was just a few hours old. She's just precious. We've also watched little Tabari and Roderick grow and Jeremy's loved wrestling with these two. And of course, Selena-girl continues to get so big...and so sassy! My favorite thing she said this fall happened one night when Davis was giving her a hard time about her doll's name. Selena and Davis went around and around with Selena calling her doll its proper Spanish name and Davis horribly mispronouncing it. This went on for so long that Selena became exhausted from correcting Davis and finally said, "Sure. Just call her whatever you want" hahaha. It was hysterical and even better since Selena can't say her "r's" very well ha.

More than anything, we're SO excited for Southland's Richmond Road campus to open next month! We pray our sweet families will call this place their home and can't wait to get them plugged in! I just know God has incredible things in store for this new campus and can't wait to be a part of it.

Friends.

This semester has been blessed with so many wonderful friendships, both old and new. We have so many ENGAGED friends and love having other couples we can talk wedding details with! It's especially cool to share this exciting stage of life with other Christian couples and it feels like we're instantly bonded simply by the fact that we're all engaged.

God crossed our paths with Callie and Brian and we feel like we've known these two for years! We are both getting married on the same day (how cool is that?!) and are honored to share an anniversary with them. Callie has been such an encouragement and we love having another couple to relate with. We've also gotten to know Truett and Eric (more engaged friends!) and have decided we'd like to be neighbors haha.

Just last night, we got to play a small part in helping Joe (Jeremy's roommate) propose to his precious girlfriend. We lit 200 tea-light candles and spelled "Marry Me?" It was adorable and I may or may not have been more nervous than Joe was haha ;)

Of course, Auburn and Erin have been there for me all semester and I can't imagine what I'd do without them. I'm so excited for them to be in our wedding and can't wait for the day when all of my best friends are gathered together to help us celebrate! Oh May, hurry up and get here please!!!

School.

This past semester has been my absolute hardest as far as school goes! I took on 19 hours and managed to pull off a 4.0. All I can say to that is "God is good!" Seriously. I am so thankful this challenging semester is behind me and praying Student Teaching is a better experience!

Even still, God blessed me big time with incredible "Education girls" to get me through this semester. Hulia, Kat-lin, D-Meista, and Suz (you know who you are ;)) made this semester SO much better and always brightened my days. Our group texts are constant entertainment and I'm beyond thankful we were able to help one another make it through all the stress our classes brought! And best of all...we made it and finished strong.

Pappy.

On October 31st, my Pappy went to be with Jesus. He was sick for so long and passed away just over a month from his 90th birthday (he would have turned 90 this Sunday!). I struggled greatly with Pappy's illness and eventual passing but I have such peace in knowing that I'll see him again someday! I was blessed to have such an incredible, gentle, and Godly grandfather. He told silly jokes, gave us "somalians" ($2 bills), and always had a watermelon waiting for me in the fridge. I miss Pappy but I'm so thankful he's no longer hurting. Instead, He's partying with Jesus and now we just have to wait until we get to join him!

My "theme song" during the days leading up to Pappy's passing was Hillsong's "'Til I See You." I just love the song's lyrics and can't listen to it without getting tears in my eyes. They played this song at 608 after we came from the hospital where I saw Pappy for the last time. Needless to say, the song's emotional value intensified and I wept like I've never wept in all my life. Though it was slightly embarrassing, it was such a cool moment and just an overwhelming amount of different emotions. I was in God's house, singing (or trying to) such comforting and hopeful words, and being held in Jeremy's arms while my heart was physically hurting. In that moment, I could feel God's presence and I knew He was with me. I knew it was ok to be sad and that I didn't have to feel bad. I knew God would carry us through this storm and that He is strong in my weakness. Most of all, I knew where Pappy was going and that I'll be there too someday!

Jeremy.

Where do I even begin? What a blessing Jeremy continues to be to me. He is such a clear reflection of Jesus and loves and serves me better than I deserve. I love "doing life" alongside of this sweet boy and am so honored to be his teammate. We're loving this "engaged stage" but we sure are looking forward to May 18th! We're constantly looking forward to the day when we don't have to say goodbye at night and get more excited about moving to Louisville and starting a new adventure every single day! I'm so proud of Jeremy for finishing school (he graduates next Friday!) and am excited for all he's going to get involved in next semester. Though I might be a bit jealous of his new, free schedule (or a lot jealous haha ;)), I know the Lord is going to use Him in big ways and am excited to support him in whatever lies ahead. More than anything, I am continually thankful God scripted him into my path and can't imagine doing life without him. He just makes everything better and I still can't believe I get to spend the rest of my life doing life with my best friend! Seriously, it's so very wonderful.

Still to come.

I think that mostly sums up some of the highlights...you're probably bored from hearing me ramble so I'll wrap this baby up ha! I'm feeling extremely blessed and mighty relieved to be done with this semester. In the time to come, here are a few things I'm looking forward to...

I'm excited for Christmas Break.
I'm excited to spend time relaxing with my precious family.
I'm excited to catch up with old friends.
I'm excited to celebrate "1 Year" with Jeremy.
I'm excited to go to Passion and worship alongside of 70,000 other students.
I'm excited to look more like Jesus.
I'm excited for Richmond Road.
I'm excited to begin Student Teaching (and NERVOUS!).
I'm excited to plan our wedding.
I'm excited to become Mrs. Jeremy Eaton!

*Here are a few of my favorite recent pictures...