They say that the best things in life are worth fighting for, they're hard to get, they involve intense struggles.

At the end of my summer, here in the last days of July, I'm exhausted. The highs and lows of my 25th year have all happened within this two month time frame. I'm still reeling.

The good news is I'm learning my own strength, that I can withstand more than I ever imagined, that I am capable of communicating even when I try to run away and am prevented from it. My life of conflict avoidance is officially over. By force or by choice? Not sure. Maybe some of both.

I'm sitting here in front of my computer in my own home and I'm happy and sad all at once. Relieved to be home. Sad to be alone. Yet blessed to know and feel that I am loved, even from a distance.

I will spend the next three nights in my own bed, a novelty for this summer, effectively doubling the nights spent in my dear bed since June.

Though I'm not sure I'm ready to go back to work and climb the mountain of work I left in my wake as I sped toward summer break, I start officially on Sunday by flying to Denver for a Librarian Conference concerning my favorite part of my job -- Reference. We're a dying breed, us Reference Librarians, and the purpose of this gathering is to begin a change in what we do, how we operate. It's actually exciting to me, but my tiredness at present is keeping my enthusiasm in check.

Thanks for putting up with a really lame summer of posts from me. I promise to do better as the year (my school year) begins.

I have so much to be thankful for--most of which I was able to see, smell, and touch this summer: nieces, family, dear friends, my heart's home (the desert), my soul's home (the beach), my parents' home...the list goes on.

Every one who reads this, know that I appreciate you individually for who you are, for what you have brought to my life. Thank you.

Read this

Our drive across six states to the South Carolina beach brought us through curvy mountains, torrential downpours, and flat Midwest corn and soybean fields.

My favorite bumper sticker of yesterday's trek home was on the back of a van that drove way too slow in the West Virginian countryside where it's mostly too dangerous to pass. So we were able to read this bumper sticker over and over while we followed.

It read:
When Jesus said, "Love your enemies," I think he probably meant "Don't kill them."

I know...it's been forever

My life is going uber-fast. I can't even begin to explain how much I haven't been able to concentrate on anything for more than a few minutes in the past month: wedding decor, wedding cake, wedding dress, wedding favors, wedding reception, taking care of children, driving several hundred miles, wedding consultations, insane doctor visits, playing with kids at the park, running into old friends, shopping for ribbons and fabric, making innumerable calls to vendors of various wedding-related products...

I can't breathe. But it's not all bad. After being apart from my fiance for two and a half weeks, I was able to spend nearly five days with him doing a variety of fun things. Saturday, Sara W. and I spent our evening with John Mayer and Colbie Caillat at the Verizon center. Indescribable.

I've now been home for about 8 hours total in the last month. I've been doing laundry the whole time, and trying to get on top of my finances and bills, while considering movies, music, and clothes to pack. Sara's right, though, we're going to be on the beach, so pretty much a bathing suit and towel are all we're going to need.

All of this mumbo-jumbo is to say, I won't be posting for yet another 10 days. Sorry, my faithful readers. There are many pictures to post and many hilarious stories to tell, but no time for now.

See you on the flip side!