So, the first story starts actually last semester. I was taking a class called Spiritual Formation, and it was an 8 am to 10 am twice a week kind of class. Now, I'm not really a morning person, but I'm more of a morning person than I am a night owl, so getting up for an 8am and staying awake through it wasn't much of a problem. Most of the other individuals in that class would stagger in and face plant into the desk until the professor walked in, so if I wanted to talk to anyone before class (rather than sitting in the dull silence), I would have to turn to my neighbor on my right. However, for about half of the semester, I didn't do that, because my neighbor was a) a boy b) kinda weird and c) he had stolen my chair the third day of class, which is a no-no in Erika's world. Eventually, I caved and discovered that his name was Aaron, he liked to talk, he was a farm boy, and his artistic abilities were from middling to piddling. For the rest of that semester, he would pop up all over the place, and if I was in the midst of studying for something important, he was liable to walk up and steal a book or start talking. At the beginning of the spring semester, we came to an agreement over lunch at Sprague's in which we told each other we certainly didn't like each other romantically, but that we seemed to be heading the same direction in life, so why didn't we try to get to know each other, casually, and see what happened. A week later, while we were watching a movie, he pulled the move where he stretched and then dropped his arm over my shoulders. I was quite shocked at his audacity, and as soon as we were alone in the parking lot, informed him that perhaps we ought to re-evaluate our relationship, because he clearly was interested in me. He pretended not to know what I was talking about. But then, a couple weeks later, we finally did talk and decided that we would like to date after he had met the rest of my family and friends over February break. So on March 1st, we started dating officially. So that's the boy story. Of course there's way more to it, but the whole story is a tale for a different day.
Here's the college-ending story: On May 5th, I submitted my final assignment for college, and on Saturday, I walked across a stage wearing something that resembled a giant black garbage bag (freedom and all that... ;) ) Aaron and I both graduated, me with a bachelor of science in theology with a concentration in youth ministries (cum laude), and him with a bachelor of science in outdoor recreation and a minor in theology. Our families came and watched, and then met each other at a picnic lunch at Letchworth State Park. Jessica and Kevin even came up from Maryland :)
Six days after graduating, on May 15th, Aaron and I drove out to Missouri by way of Michigan. He had accepted a year long paid internship at Shelterwood Academy, and I went along to keep him company. We stopped at Elizabeth, Reuben, and Katrina's house and had a lot of fun catching up with them. As an added bonus, we also saw the places where Reuben and Elizabeth work, and met some of their friends as well. Saturday night was spent with some of his relatives in St. Louis, and then Sunday morning we were planning to drive the rest of the way to Independence in time for my flight out of Kansas City. Unfortunately, the alternator in Aaron's car decided to be obstinate, so we spent Sunday in St. Louis still, waiting for it to be fixed. I got another flight out of St. Louis and got home Monday night. And Aaron drove to Shelterwood and started training that day. He's been there about a week now. It's definitely a tough and stressful job, and the amount of transition (different state, completely new people, roommates, and the way things are run) has also made it tough for him. But, the more familiar he is with it, the better it becomes, so I'm excited to see how it goes. At this point, he's pretty much chomping at the bit to finish training and get in there and do it, and I know that he'll learn a lot and be really good for the kids there.
As far as a job for me, I applied for and was accepted to work at Elmcrest Children's Center in Syracuse. Training starts on June 1st, but I'm moving to Syracuse this Friday, the 29th. The For the first month, I'll be living with Aaron's family, but as soon as I get a couple of paychecks, I'll get a car and Heidi (Aaron's sister) and I will get an apartment. I don't know a whole lot about the job I'll have. I already do have my schedule (both my training schedule and then my real one). Once I finish a month of on-the-job training, my schedule will involve 2 overnights and 3 second shifts, and I'll be working with boys within the ages of 8 and 15. I know that it will be very interesting and challenging, but I'm looking forward to it.
So that pretty much brings us up to speed. I'm living at home right now, enjoying seeing friends, making food, cleaning, and doing normal stuff. I'll be going shopping tonight for some more clothes, and then watching Age of Ultron for the second time, and then I'll be busy packing. If anyone wants my address for the time I'll be with Aaron's family, let me know and I'll email it to you. Once I move into an apartment I'll have a more permanent address which can be used for letters, cards, boxes of fun things, visits, etc.
