+so why do I worry? why do I freak out? God knows what I need; You know what I need

I cannot remember the last weekend where my plans were to stay in Nashville and take it easy. This weekend has been one of those and I was pretty good about documenting it with my iPhone. What a lovely, lovely rest.

A remarkably beautiful Friday dawn

A homemade wreath with flowers from the Dellinger wedding

New desk and fixed computer before heading to Monica's house

Rise and shine, early 13 mile run Saturday before meeting Kristine for lunch

Sam's Pub and Dragon park with Devon after seeing The Dark Knight Rises

Playing with the fiance

Stocked fridge for Mexican dinner night with the Harms' post-church

Lazy Sunday mornings catching the Journal up on life as of late

Olympics app? Oh yes.

+you make beautiful things

Oh dear, what a long-anticipated weekend! Kelly and Drew are married at last and enjoying a (hopefully) restful and luxurious honeymoon in Cancun and Mexico. Lucky birds. I loved being able to be a part of Kelly's side of the weekend and am beyond excited to talk about details and thoughts post-wedding.

at the Bachelorette with LJ!

Rehearsal dinner at Front Porch Farms, with the Devon

Morning-of!

So so happy, last hour as Miss Stack

Reception!

Devon's height perspective at the reception with the lovely Alicia

+it's a long life, only one last chance-couldn't get much better, do you wanna dance?

It took so long to get here. Lonely nights, studying non-stop, working harder than I knew was imaginable. Oh, and how worth it!! Sitting next to good friends and my sweet Devon and taking it all in... How easily we forget the tumultuous 24 months of skyping and texting and paper-writing and heartache. I think it's easy to move on and forget, but I need to live in daily acknowledgement of how far we have come and keep the reality alive. Deep appreciation. And sweet relief.

+we can't stop, we can't stop, moving forward

Anddddd we're back! Orientation is officially over at Belmont University until August. The boxes are packed and stored. Invoices are paid and decorations are all down across campus. 8 sessions later and I couldn't be more proud of the student leaders that welcomed me in as their leader for the May and June. What a blessing. And the lessons I have learned in such a short time have been worth the sleep deprivation and hectic days. "...Welcome to Belmont!"

I am just bookending what is my first full week of my real-year-round-full-time-gig as a Residence Director here and it's been such a difference in pace. HR videos and trainings and paperwork. Much different than the frenetic nature of orienting students and families! I am a jumble of being-engaged, being-a-new-resident, being-out-of-grad-school gal and my thoughts and my words are often lost on me.

My thoughts on post-grad so far. In the most brain-dumped-into-words manner:

Totem poles and being young and starting over and fish ponds and the size of fish and appreciation and teachable moments. Insecurities and faking confidence and wondering what is said behind closed doors. Late nights, new bonds, working out old kinks. Storytelling, polished, and eloquent. Figured out but still in progress. Blessed beyond all measure, arrived, accomplished. Broken, terrified, small. Innovative, fresh, big-hearted.

More to come. Oh, so much more to come!

The Summer thus far:

Decorations in the Student Life Center

Prepping for nightly Fiestas

Last day energy!