11 days!

Jesse came home from his handbell tour on Sunday night around 11:30. I drove to meet him at Concordia to pick him up. What a wonderful reunion! I've missed him so much in the past two weeks.
On Monday, we went to Home Depot and chose all of the paint we will be using in the house. It was so exciting to be able to dream about our house and decide what it will look like! We chose a very soft blue for the master bedroom, a light sage for the dining room/living room, and a cream for the den. The colors are all so light that when the guy at Home Depot put a dab of paint on the lid of each paint can, I worried for a minute that he had actually given us 8 cans of white paint!
We drove back to Concordia on Tuesday for my interview with the supervisor who will be placing me for student teaching. After that was finished, we made a quick visit to Turtle Rock Preschool to see Dalia (my co-teacher in Room 3) and all of my other friends there. The kids were all sound asleep because it was right in the middle of their naptime, but even so, it was so good to see them! I miss them all a lot.
Jesse and I picked up his wedding ring! I was so glad that it was ready to go yesterday and that I didn't have to make a special trip to Irvine just to pick it up. We also ate at Ruby's Diner for old times sake, and then took a trip to the beach.
It was such a perfect day! The ocean was so blue and full of life. We saw a whale, a seal, and a hoard of pelicans. I was so happy to be back at the beach with Jesse. It's one of my favorite places to be with him.
Anyway, just had to share with you that Jesse is home, we have our paint, I will be placed for student teaching, and...we're getting married in 11 days!

Our house

I just realized that the last time I said anything about housing, I said that it was a possibility that we might already have somewhere to live. Well, it's been settled for quite a while that we will be living in the house that Mrs. Yurada currently lives in. Everything worked out so perfectly, we truly are blessed! Jesse and I went to see the house about a month ago, and I just fell in love with it. Granted, it is going to need a lot of work, but that is something that Jesse and I are both happy to put into it. It is so cute!
The Yuradas are original homeowners, and the house was built in the '50s. Apparently, Mr. Yurada was quite the craftsman--the house has so many beautiful touches to it! Handmade wooden bookcases on either side of the fireplace, beautiful woodwork in the cute little kitchen, and neat little curio shelves and closets throughout the house. I am so excited!

It still just amazes me that 2 days after we knew we were going to be in Glendora, a place was already provided for us to live. The Powers family (children of Mrs. Yurada) is being so generous, we can do nothing but praise God for them!

Jesse is on touring Canada right now with the Concordia Concert Handbells, and will be coming home late on Sunday night. I can't wait until he's home!

We're Concordia Graduates!

I only have 3 hours until I have to have this dorm room completely packed up, empty and clean (and believe me, it's going to take the whole three hours!) but I just wanted to share a little bit of yesterday with you!
The graduation was beautiful. It was a day that we had anticipated for so long, and now I can't even believe that it is already past...
Jesse and I were so showered with love, it was such a blessing! My parents and sisters were there (my brother Jon is still traipsing around Europe), Jesse's mom and godparents Jan and Robert, my grandparents, my Uncle David and Mrs. Dinwiddie and Emily. After the graduation, we all went over to my grandparents' home for pizza, cake, and lots of goodies :)
I don't have many pictures right now, but here's one just to prove

We Did It!!!