The summer tradition of adding on an unplanned trip did not stop in 2013. I left Terry at the Myrtle Beach airport with tears in my eyes because I had no idea when I would get to see him again, and I knew he already had plans for his July and August time off. So, you can imagine my glee when he called me the next day in L.A., and asked me to fly to Kansas for his Grandma's 100th birthday party. A week surrounded by older people and Terry? Yes please :)
So after a flight delay and a second meltdown on my part, I spent 15hours in the Chicago airport waiting for my flight to Wichita, KS. Screw you windy city. Screw you. I got to meet his sweet parents, have dinner, and look for snakes. His Mom is afraid of snakes too, which somehow calms me down and makes me braver than normal.
The next day we drove to Table Rock Lake in MO to spend the 4th of July with Terry's friends he met in Africa. They were so fun! In related news, I've decided that a lake house is my dream house. When we got there we rode jetskis to dinner, set fireworks off of the doc, and went night swimming!
This is my new best friend Chester. I love his mustache a whole lot.
July 4th, 2013 goes down in history as the best 4th of July I've ever had. Now, I've had some pretty fun 4th of July's, and even seen better firework displays, but that day was wonderful from start to finish.
In the morning we went wakeboarding, rode some jet ski's to lunch, got caught in the rain together, jumped off a small cliff, switched jetskis in which I discovered Terry had been riding on a cloud all day whilst I was rough riding a water bronco, watched fireworks from a boat surrounded by the lights of all other boats, saw asian lanterns lift off, and finished with a little dancing in the living room! I loved that day and hope I can remember it forever.
Terry doesn't like dogs the way I do. So when I finished taking this picture he says, "This is your fantasy isn't it...?" Yep :) Sue and her fiance and their dog Sasha were so warm and welcoming.
We then went to Red Cloud, NE for Grandma's 100th birthday party! Let me tell you something, this lady is still sharp. She's a far better SkipBo player than I'll ever be, and gets around up and down steps with a walker. Amazing.
After church and lunch we left Nebraska. As soon as we rounded the corner Terry asked me to be his girlfriend. OF COURSE ARE YOU KIDDING. I've never met anyone like this guy, someone I have so much in common with and yet still challenges me regularly. In February, I was first drawn to his voice one dark night at the top of a high rise building under construction on a picnic with mutual friends. The next morning he showed up at church (he's a Christian?? that's like finding a unicorn these days) and I noticed he had brown eyes...my kryptonite. At lunch we discovered we had been to Costa Rica, Lao, Haiti, Alaska, Hawaii, and lived in Australia around similar times. INTERESTING. A few days later he helped me make cupcakes for Ginny's birthday party and I couldn't remember the last time I had laughed that hard. Doubled over. Crying laughing. A few days after that he kissed me on the dance floor at the Whitehorse, WHILE I HAD BRACES, and the rest is history. We've kept in touch and got to know each other better ever since.
I like him.
When I say that, I mean I like who he is. I like the person he is. I like learning about him. I like hearing his stories. I like listening to his voice. I like that he loves and serves God most of all. I like the freckles in his brown eyes and his big arms. I like how easy it is to spend time with him. I like that he marches to the beat of his own drum and doesn't apologise for it. I like his integrity, and his honesty allows me to trust him. I like that he challenges me without pressuring me. I like that my friends and my parents like him. I like that he travels. I like that he knows his Bible. I like that he's adventurous. I like that he's athletic. I like his work ethic. I like that he's responsible. I like that he's fluent in Spanish. I like how smart he is, that he researches and strategizes, and reads books. I like how funny and witty he is. I like that he knows lyrics to rap songs. I like how thoughtful he is, that he notices other's feelings. I like that he's polite and sweet to everyone. I like that he's affectionate. I like that he's easy going, spontaneous, and positive.
I'm choosing not to waste time worrying that things may be a little too good to be true and there has just got to be something about to hit the fan. Because I'm enjoying this ride. I'm enjoying and soaking up all of my moments with him. I'm enjoying our adventures together, and that's what I know.
We left Nebraska and stayed the night in Manhattan, KS with Shaster and Nick. I miss her. Australia to this day is still such a part of my daily life, which means Shasta is too.
Blindfold Mom! Not sure if you want to see this, but this is from the hitchrace about halfway down Rainbow Falls. I'm kissing a boy AND wearing a bikini...which can only mean one thing...I'm a hussy.
And now that I've finished this blog, I just realized that chronologically I have left out the entire week with my brothers family in June! No hard feelings. More to come. Just missing Terry today :)
