happiness begins when selfishness ends.

When your boyfriend is in another country for 11 days for his choir tour. 25 texts each day. High probability of no wifi the entire duration of his trip. It’s sucky.

HOWEVER! When you see his name across the screen of your phone notifying that he texted you…AHHHH!! :) :) gets me each of the 3 times it’s happened so far. So worth it.

This will be hard, but I know we can do it. I love him so much and am so excited for him to get this experience abroad and share the stories and photos with all of us here in Oregon when they get back :)

A very happy 10 months with this guy :)

Candy cane hot chocolate, The King’s Speech, and this boy. A good night in after an incredibly busy week :)

Second day in a row Joe’s completely knocked out on my bed LOLOL

Making inside-out caramel apples with Joeeeeeee our last night before Thanksgiving break! :)

Date night at the movies! :)

Wooooooo just in time for Halloween!

A pirate, a nerdy cute-faced thing, and a ghost :)

Carving pumpkins & Nightmare Before Christmas with the best of friends :)

Spent a lot of time with le boyfriend’s dad and stepmom today. Before today, I had met his dad when he picked Caitlin and me up from the Greyhound Station to drive us back to college, and had only seen him around college at Joe’s choir concerts but had never said anything more than “Hey, how are you doing?” and the like. I had just met the stepmom last weekend at Joe’s choir concert, and didn’t get anything but a “Hi, nice to meet you” in.

The two of them came down for our college’s “Family Weekend” and we watched the football game together and then went out to eat at this shnazzy, delicious French restaurant. I’ll admit that it was awkward at first, and I felt discontent and not as pleased as I wanted to be with our small talk and whatnot during the football game. Dinner changed everything, though. We asked each other questions, we laughed, we learned about each other. It was all around a really good time with them and it makes me feel all the more happy to be with Joe, and just solidifies our relationship that much more.

Great first time at the pumpkin patch today! :)

This boy brings out the best in me but accepts me at my worst. He makes me smile when I’d rather not. He lets me tickle him as much as I’d like. This boy asks how I’m doing and listens to my responses. He doesn’t let me walk around campus alone at night and instead comes over to pick me up and escort me to where I need to go. He makes me feel safe. He kisses me on the cheek and forehead. He lets me be crazy and joins me. He makes me feel at home. He reassures me when I’m not so certain of anything. He supports me when I’m feeling weak. He makes me laugh and love life. This boy loves me.

I love this boy.

ipatriciusmusic:

First Instagram pic with my new iPhone 4! <3 (Taken with Instagram)

I love this and us =)

The most handsome boy in the whole wide world :) (Taken with Instagram)

His new iPhone 4! :) (Taken with Instagram)