4 years ago....

I made the biggest change of my life (up to that point) and moved here to Indianapolis! I can't believe it's been 4 years! In this time I have learned so much and have grown in so many ways. I moved 1000 miles away from home to a state where I had no friends or family, and (as dramatic as it sounds) one of my biggest fears was that something would happen to my in my apartment (pass out, hit my head, die, etc.) and no one would know it until I didn't show up at work the next day. This was the scariest thing, but was probably one of the coolest things I've ever done.

My mind goes back to when my Dad and sister Melissa pulled away from my new apartment, and I knew it would be months before I saw them again. Months. An eternity. I sobbed so hard for about an hour, then decided to pick myself up and get moving. I went to the store and bought shelves. And put them together myself. Looking back, I remember being so proud of myself for putting together those shelves. Haha.

But it wasn't long before I started to meet people at church and at work who helped me to find my place. God was so gracious to send such a wonderful support system my way, just when I needed it.

This is Abi, Me, and Heather at the Christmas banquet, where Mike and I had our first date

My first summer here I went to Brownsburg Christian Church (now called Connection Pointe Church of Brownsburg) where I met a sweet couple who had just gotten married and needed to get rid of furniture. They gave me a table & chairs, and a couch. The table and chairs were so nice, but they are now in the hands of some lucky Goodwill shopper. The couch is now in Ryan & Laurel's home. After a few months, I visited College Park Church in Indy and fell in love with the teaching, and also the dear friends I met. I don't know what I would have done without y'all! Abi, Nate, Heather, Ingrid, Rachel, Beth, Allan & Karen Harmer... thanks so much for your continued friendship.

Good times! This is Josh, Ingrid, Chris, Amy, and Nate. I think we went bowling that night.

After attending College Park for about 3 months, I met the most wonderful Michael Couts at Timothy's home, watching the movie "Miracle." I thought he was nice and cute, but at that point, I wasn't really looking for someone. But he found me. He pursued me for a few weeks, then we started hanging out more. He asked if he could be my escort for the 20somethings Christmas Banquet. That was our first date. While at the banquet, I pulled 2 of my friends, Lucile and Abi, aside and demanded answers: "What do you know about this guy? What do you think? Do you know his family?" He walked in on us talking, and we played it off. When he approached me, he put his hand on the small of my back and asked what we were talking about. When he left, Lucile burst out, "He put his hand on your back! He put his hand on your back!" That still brings back a smile to this day. We went back to my apartment and watched a very safe date movie, "Elf." And that's when he held my hand for the first time, but not without asking if it was OK. When Buddy the Elf says, "You look miraculous," Mike turned to me and said "that's what I thought when I saw you tonight." At that point, I proceeded to melt.

BOOM. 14 months later we were engaged, and 5 months after that, we were married. And here we are!

I miss Texas more than anything and ask Mike every once in a while if his company has any openings there. I can go anywhere with my job, and sometimes I really do want to get outta here. If the opportunity arose, I would move to Texas in a heartbeat. No argument here! Texas is the best state in the union, and I often joke that I never should have left. Obviously I'm glad I did, but homesickness isn't a rare thing. For crying out loud, my family is there, and we're lucky to see them once a year, maybe twice. But Indiana has been good to me, and I'll stay here with my hubby as long as God wants us here.

I went from being alone in a place with no family or friends, and I now have both. Could I be more blessed?

Oh, and today is my Dad's birthday. He is 57 years wise today. Happy Birthday, Daddy! I love you!