A New Adventure

WARNING: Long post. 

Thursday: Got up early to crank out some work on my capstone paper and to start packing up the house a little. Then went to commencement in the Marriott Center, where Brock made an entrance like a rockstar, pointing at everybody in the audience and doing Jersey Shore fistpumps. Elder Scott gave the commencement address--"10 Ways to Be Happy." I may or may not have slept through 1-8. Then we (Brock, me, Gary, Tammie, Allie, Ryan, Tara, and Allie's friend Emily) went to The Pie in SLC. No, the irony of going to a classic Ute hangout to celebrate a Cougar's graduation is not lost on us. But seriously--have you tasted that pizza? Went home and continued working on my capstone paper until about 3:30am.

Friday: Woke up at 6:30 to get ready for Brock's convocation at 8:00 in the Wilk ballroom. I went to take a picture of him as he walked across the stage, but MISSED IT. Yes. I MISSED IT. 200+ credits, six years, one internship, a double major and one minor later . . . AND I MISSED THE DAMN FIVE-SECOND MOMENT THAT SYMBOLIZES THE PAYOFF. I went down a few minutes early to get some practice shots in to make sure I had the right settings, but accidentally switched the camera to self-timer right before Brock walked across the stage. By the time I'd fixed it, he was gone. Luckily there was still a professional photographer there getting pictures of everyone, but I still felt like such an idiot and this thoroughly ruined my day. On top of that, my cheeks were still a little puffy from getting my wisdom teeth out and I looked ridiculous in ALL the pictures we took. And my Grandma Thomas starting crying at the thought of Brock leaving, which made me cry. And then Gary kept asking "Hey Kristi, how's the paper coming? Hey Kristi, how's the paper coming?" which made me cry even more. So took my crying eyes and chipmunk cheeks to the library and cranked out my capstone paper from 10am-5pm. My dear mother saw what an emotional wreck I was that day and booked me a massage that night, which I desperately needed. Oh, and I came home to a dozen roses from my lovey--how is it that I got treated better on his graduation day than he did?!

Saturday: Packing, packing, packing. But first, Brock and I went out to breakfast at Guru's with Heidi and Chad--so fun! Then I went to Thanksgiving Point with my family, where there was a massive Easter egg hunt going on. Except the funniest thing happened--the hunt happened in this big, wide open field, and the egg hunt volunteer workers were riding around on golf carts dumping out huge boxes of plastic eggs everywhere. Well, before they had a chance to finish, three or four over-eager toddlers started running out to grab eggs and then--in classic mob mentality--HUNDREDS OF KIDS followed! Of course, since they weren't finished putting out the eggs a lot of kids came back empty-handed and crying . . . kinda of sad . . . kinda of funny.

After the egg hunt, we went back home to pack. Brock told my dad we would need a 5x5 U-haul trailer--that guy has no sense of spatial reasoning :) After my dad had exchanged that for a 6x12, we got crackin'. After most of our stuff was loaded up, we headed to the BYU/UCSB volleyball playoff game . . . aka the choke of all chokes. Brock even painted his face Braveheart-style, but his enthusiasm apparently wasn't enough to prevent our team from 17 service errors. Embarrassing. Gary, Brock, Ryan, Tara, and I ate our sorrows away at Texas Roadhouse that night.

Sunday: Woke up and finished packing everything into Brock's truck. You know the sleigh the Grinch rides up to Mt. Crumpit? Yeah, it ended up kinda looking like that. We stopped by my Uncle Dan's house for a quick minute to say goodbye to Grandma and Grandpa Thomas, and then hit the open road. Did not shed a single tear as we drove away from Provo . . . .

Monday: Went to Home Depot to get some fresh moving boxes. Argued about the quantity of our boxes in the checkout line and made the lady behind us laugh. Found a great deal on a 10x10 storage unit at family-owned storage facility way out in the boonies. Loaded everything in, celebrated with some Taco Bell.

***

It's a weird feeling, starting this new chapter in our lives. BYU has been all we've known for the past five years together. Granted, I'm still in school till December, but as we drove away from Provo I still couldn't help but feel free.

I just absolutely love this. I love feeling nervous for the upcoming weeks and months. I love the uncertainty of not knowing where we'll be come January. I love being somewhat of a gypsy, tearing up my roots completely and transplanting them in fresh soil.

My soul has been antsy for a long time. For the better part of the last two years, I have had a constant, almost aching craving for a change of pace. I can't tell you how many times I've cried to Brock over being sick of school, sick of Provo, sick of freaking construction on I-15, you name it. I truly believe that there are places where your heart belongs, and when you're living in a place where it doesn't, it can really mess with you. 

For a while now, summer in DC and fall in Amman has been this distant set of events to look forward to. But now that it's actually materializing right before us--wow! I can't tell you how invigorating that is. I feel like a sprinter who's just burst out of the blocks, with the wind blowing in my hair and my lungs pumping sweet, sweet oxygen as fast as they can.

It's apropos that we drove away from Utah on Easter, a holiday that symbolizes rebirth and new beginnings. As Brock and I begin this next chapter of our lives, I know we'll be relying on the Savior more than ever.

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace.

In the world ye shall have tribulation but be of good cheer; 

I have overcome the world.

[John 16:33]