Andrew weekend!

Guys, I have a virus. Dr. Fiance Andrew has informed me that viruses cannot be killed (or, we don't know how yet), but they lodge themselves in one of your cranial nerves (Andrew says, in this case, either my facial or trigeminal nerve) and live there forever, breaking out and causing havoc every now and then. According to the dermatologist, I have fever blisters. Gross, painful, and recurring. I would argue that this is quite possibly the thorn Paul prayed to God to take away from him.

I learned all about the cranial nerves this weekend. There are twelve of them. I saw each one on a real human brain. Inches from my face.

How? I visited Andrew in Blacksbug! I went to class with him Friday morning and got to go into the anatomy lab and see his cadaver and its brain. I was hesitant, but it was much less disturbing than I expected. It fascinated me, actually; since Andrew finds it so interesting, his enthusiasm and interest were infectious. God did an amazing work when He designed us.

You can learn all about the cranial nerves here!

Despite the bitter cold of Blacksburg (which Andrew insisted wasn't really that cold), I enjoyed my weekend immensely. It's so pleasant to just be in the same room, even if he's studying and I'm reading a book. Just being near him is a blessing. We took walks in the painful cold, ate the best homemade doughnuts I've ever eaten (at Carol Lee's), had supper with some of Andrew's friends from church and watched "The Great Escape" with them (such a good movie), and went apartment-hunting. Oh, and I baked a cake entirely from memory!

We put down a deposit and signed a lease! Hooray! We found an adorable townhouse duplex that's only about ten minutes from VCOM, and equally close to Kroger, Wal-Mart, etcetera. Two bedrooms, one and a half baths, a spacious kitchen, a front porch and back deck, and it's enough off the main road that it feels like it's in the country. Glorious! I'm so very pleased. It really feels like we're getting married; things are moving forward. I wish I had pictures to show you, but I don't. I will in July! 

I'm beginning to feel (a little bit) like a grown-up. Except, apparently, grown-ups don't call themselves grown-ups. They say adults. Go figure.

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In other news, it's Valentine's Day! I'm so grateful for all the people God has filled my life with. My sweet and wonderful family (which is now expanding, thanks to upcoming weddings!), my precious and godly friends . . . thank you.

Some people I love very much:

Andrew

amazing sisters

my bff Linja

three generations of Ridge Haven family

(this is only one and a half, I know)

and a wonderful (actually-related-to-me) family (plus Rachel now!)

Happy Valentine's Day!

Love is a blessing. Celebrate.