Tis the Season (to be piggies)

The last time I saw Daniel was 2 weeks ago. We had a great weekend filled with puppies, Goodwill-ing, graduation parties and much needed time to just enjoy each other. There was also some frankincense and mur! It was an absolutely amazing weekend, full of so much food that Daniel and I both got sick from it (hence not updating the blog last weekend).

Remember when you were a kid and Christmas was coming? Remember the excitement that you got just thinking about Santa? It was the single best time of the year where kids all over were filled with pure, genuine joy.

It's been a while since I've felt that way about Christmas. Once clothes infiltrated my Wish List and the thought of having the bills paid for a month was better than any toy, the Christmas spirit just didn't seem the same. It's a bit disheartening knowing that the joy and excitement from childhood has disappeared and instead we're constantly faced with the responsibilities and stresses of "the real world."

But this year has been different. Every day I've anxiously waiting for the next, only to be one day closer to seeing Daniel. You'd have thought it was Christmas! From shaving my legs the night before to wearing a special outfit to talking nonstop about him, I have been overwhelmed with the joy and excitement of getting to see Daniel. It's honestly been refreshing to know that there are still things in the world that are so special they can elicit these feelings and emotions from me. This past month has been one of the hardest, most stressful things I've ever done and yet that couldn't stop me from being the happiest person in the world. And just like the night before Christmas, here I am, almost 1am, unable to fall asleep because I'm so utterly excited to see Daniel the next day.

The only difference between Christmas and us is that, unlike the joys of Christmas, I get to experience this same joy every time I get to see Daniel. Whether it's been 2 weeks or 2 hours, it doesn't matter because Daniel is that special to me.

Why We Love Math!

In honor of The Hobbit, I have a riddle for you.

My first is twice in apple but not once in tart. My second is in liver but not in heart. My third is in giant and also in ghost. Whole I'm best when I am roast. What am I?

(And your answer is...?)


Ever since my commitment to become a math teacher, I have taken it on as my duty to show the world why we love math. From circle packing holiday cookies to figuring out the probability of how much I need a puppy (which is 1, by the way), math has been a prominent feature in the lives of Daniel and me. So, in true Caitlin-fashion, I have an experiement for you:

Step 1: Scrounge together 2 quarters, a regular sized piece of paper and a pencil.
Step 2: Place both quarters flat on the piece of paper so that one quarter is placed above the other and are only touching at one point on their ridges. (I would suggest making both Washington's facing up).
Step 3: Mark the top coin at the point where it touches the other coin.
Step 4: Rotate the top coin (the one with the mark) around the other coin in a smooth fashion. With your pencil, draw the path of the mark on the coin on your paper. This should also be a smooth curve. (Note: it does NOT matter which way you rotate the coin, either to the left or right will work.)
Step 5: Once the rotated quarter returns to its starting position, you are done. Remove both quarters from the piece of paper and look at the curve you've drawn.

A hint to what your picture should look like can be found in the answer to the following riddle:

What can warm without heat? What can make a man both strong and weak? What can you feel that you can not touch? What can move you that can not be budged?



(If you wouldn't mind, take a picture of your design so I can put it in here for all to see.)

A "Smack" Above The Rest

This past week has been filled with so many crazy and new things! To name a few:

1. it's December... finally

2. Daniel and I had our 9 month anniversary (275 days-whaddup!)

3. it's shorts weather in Knoxville (crazy!!)

4. it's now acceptable to start decorating for the holidays

and my least favorite of them all...

5. everyone is having relationship issues (tis the season, I guess)

Over the past week, I've had 3 really intense conversations with 3 different friends about their relationships. The first was about a crazy ex-boyfriend who became controlling and needy. The second was about a boyfriend who disrespects her more times than not and brings out the worst in her. The third, an anxious relationship that came to an end when they stopped being passionate with one another and instead became distant. Each conversation was filled with different problems, different issues, different situations, but all of them were extremely saddening. 

However, the Lord used all of these conversations to highlight something that has seemed to slip into the background.

I have always loved Daniel and there hasn't ever been a moment when I didn't feel extremely passionate about him. But sometimes I get beaten down by our situation and the distance between us. Sometimes I miss him so much that all I can think about how much it sucks to be in a place where I have to wait 2 weeks to see him (thank God for Shepesh and Piggy #1). It's in these moments that I loose sight of the true matter at hand.

But not this week. During each of these conversations, I would listen to the problems of my heartbroken friend and each time it made me think about what we, as women, truly deserve out of a relationship. And it was in those moments, after encouraging my friend that there will be better and that those perfect guys do exist, that I truly saw how blessed I am. Sure, Daniel and I have very different passions, but we have become passionate about new things BECAUSE of each other. Before March 1, 2012, I wouldn't have ever brewed beer or even more so, gone rock climbing, and Daniel would never have taken a hip hop dance class. And yet here we are, 9 months later, having done all of those and then some, simply because it was important to the other one. Sure, Daniel can bro out with all of the BrO'Connels, but throughout all of that he still treats me with the upmost respect. Sure, Daniel and I want to spend every waking moment together, but we both understand the importance of investing in our friends, even if that does mean that sometimes we have to be away from each other for a little bit. And finally, Daniel and I are far from perfect people (but we are perfect piggies!) but our imperfections complement each other. When we first started dating, my concern was whether or not he would be able to devote as much time to me as I needed. But sure enough, one night as we stayed up talking with one another, he confessed that he has a tendency to want to spend too much time with whoever he dates. He told me he can get a bit overwhelming and that if he ever starts to suffocate me and if I ever wanted more time alone, to just let him know. Yes, we both have imperfections as a result of the past 22 years, and yet somehow they complement each other so perfectly. 

I've always loved Daniel-a love that's never wavered, never faltered, never been second-guessed. Yet sometimes I get so caught up in missing him that I can't understand why we have to go through this. But if we weren't so madly in love, would the distance matter? Probably not. It's because we're so passionate about each other that the thought of being away is sickening. And as much as I hate seeing my friends in terrible relationships, I couldn't be more thankful that the Lord used them to emphasize the underlying current of our relationship: a piggy perfect passion. 

I can't wait to see you, boo bear. 4 days :(=))

I'm thankful for ALL the piggies in the world (but mostly just you!)

This past week was Thanksgiving Break. Instead of going home, I went to Nashville to meet up with Daniel, his family and my parents.

It was amazing.

Just being able to spend 5 days with Daniel was exactly what we both needed. This semester has been nothing short of taxing on the two of us and it was refreshing to be able to forget about the distance for bit. There's no better feeling than waking up with your 3 favorite piggies by your side, knowing that no matter what the day has in store, you get to do it with the love of your life.

Thanksgiving is a time to be thankful for all that you have. I've been blessed with some pretty amazing gifts and talents but none greater than Daniel. My parents were even talking about how wonderful Daniel is when we had breakfast on Sunday. Everyone can see just how great Daniel is for me and I couldn't be more blessed to be able to call him my piggy. In no way do I deserve you and yet I get you all to myself (well, aside from sharing you with Shepesh).  He balances me, gives me perspective, completes me.

I cannot wait to see what the future has in store for us, but more importantly I can't wait to experience it together.

I love you, Daniel, more than you'll ever know. :(=))

Model Piggies

Everyone knows that Daniel and I are awesome. We're perfect. We're piggy perfect. But I wasn't aware of how much everyone else agreed until just recently.

Thanks to Daniel and I, we now have our 2 best friends dating one another (you're welcome Trey & Tia). Anyways, both parties keep asking Daniel and I what they should do, how they should do it, and when they should do it. I love being a part of the planning process (well, mostly so that I'm "in the know" about things but also to help them out a bit if necessary) but they've both made a few comments that have made me really consider how people view Daniel and I.

It's crazy that people look at us as the model couple of what to do to have a successful relationship. I've always thought that Daniel and I were piggy perfect :(=)) but it seems as if other people are starting to realize it too. What we have is something truly special that we just can't hide. Anyone who is around us can see the love we have for one another and the joy that we get simply from being around one another. It truly is something special and unique and I wouldn't trade it for anything.

Part of what makes Daniel so perfect though, is his ability to always be positive and be the rock that I need. Thanks to modern science and medication, I have lost all control over my emotions and every now and then I get these crazy mood swings. So when I made up weeks, mis-plan events and am completely turned around with what day it is, Daniel is there to be the positive, encouraging, Piggy-love that I need. No matter what the issue or how upset he truly is, he makes me feel better about my mistakes and still continues to love me unconditionally. He truly is a blessing in my life.

Thank you, Daniel, for always keeping the bigger picture in mind and dealing with all of my badness. I love you forever & always.

PS-Because I'm at school, and we can't do Google image searches, these picture are limited to the Microsoft Office Clip Art.

:(=))

:(=)pd(=): #textigotwhilewritingthis

So it seems I've been a bit of a bad piggy with my blog. I haven't updated in 2 weeks. So instead of trying to go back in time, I'm going to make this one extra special. :(=))

This weekend was ah-mazing. I must admit, the week started out to a bit of a rougher start than normal and because of it, Daniel willingly skipped his Halloween party to spend an extra night with me. I'm not sure if he will ever truly know how much it means to me that he gave up his prior commitments and some good hang-out time with his friends to be with me but it means more to me than the ocean is deep.

Not only that, Daniel and I got to then spend Thursday night together, eating pizza and cake rolls while watching some awful band warm up at Barleys. We got to spend Friday playing dress up, looking at art and being hipster at Tomato Head. Then we capped it off with the most exciting Saturday ever, filled with Apple-ness, sacks filled with steak, PUPPIES!!!, shoes for crazy cheap, brewery tours, home brewers hangout time, talking with a parrot, eating MORE pizza, and getting cultured at Stompfest (the last group with the blue shoes won!). Overall, it was a weekend filled with only the best of memories (and a couple free pint glasses and a growler!)

As I'm sure Daniel knows, one of the coolest things to me is the difference between northern and southern cultures. For example, you'd be hard pressed to find sweet tea in the north and yet in the south it's a staple... everywhere. In the north, everyone says "you guys" and in the south it's a big ole "yall." But one of the coolest is that in the north, we would say to someone "hey thanks, I appreciate it" whereas in the south you're more likely to hear "hey thanks, I appreciate ya." I know it's a small difference but it's there.

I know travelling to Knoxville weekend in and weekend out is tiring and it's even more tiring to travel during the week. But that's what Daniel does for me, all the time. I couldn't ask for a better boyfriend who is willing to do whatever it takes to make sure I'm okay and feeling well. I truly don't deserve you and yet you're all mine (and a little bit Shepesh's). I know I don't say it nearly enough, but Daniel, I appreciate both you and all that you do. I'm the luckiest piggy that there ever was, all because I get to call me yours. Thank you for everything boo bear. It's much appreciated by this little piggy.

Fall Break 2012

This weekend was jam packed with so many wonderful things to talk about that I could literally go on forever about them. I'll refrain but I want to touch on a few of my favorites.

1. We got to go camping. As someone who has never been and is rather terrified of bugs, it wasn't the ideal option. However, I've always wanted to go camping and yet in 22.50958904109589 years (doesn't seem so silly to celebrate my half birthday anymore when I don't have to round, does it?) it hasn't ever happened. Leave it to Daniel to take me. As if he hasn't already made enough of my dreams come true, he now has taken me camping!

2. We got to go climbing... with real rocks! I'm not the best climber so give me some real rocks and we've got a bit of a problem (get it? #climbingpuns) Anyways, whenever we go climbing I always feel as if I'm holding Daniel back. Instead of getting to climb the really cool stuff, he has to spend his time as I try and simply move one hand to another rock-a feat easier said than done. Not only does Daniel tolerate my inability to climb, he encourages it and praises me along the way. Never once did Daniel get frustrated that I wasn't a great climber or tell me that I needed to do better. Instead he was able to find something more on my level that I not only got to successfully climb, but also top out!! His patience is astounding. In addition, I got to see Daniel climb some really tough problems. I mean, he was upside down, climbing Spider Pig style. It was amazing. He never ceases to amaze me with what he can do. His passion for the sport is incredible and feel honored to be able to share in that experience with him.

3. We got to fry pickles together. The image of us standing in the kitchen, filling the entire apartment with smoke as Liz fans the air out the door with a giant throw pillow will forever be engrained in my head. We couldn't have had a more perfect Thursday evening.

4. Speaking of Thursday evening, we got to watch Flatland together. There's very few people who will engage in my math-ness with me outside of my math classes. Daniel willingly watched Flatland with me (I think the mere 35 minutes of it was a huge persuading factor) and endured all my geeky laughing and explanation of math things. I'm so lucky that he also encourages my passions and wants to experience them with me... even if he gets frustrated by the 4-D cube.

5. Finally, we got to hang out with his family. Daniel has the absolute best family around. Every time I get to be with them, they're the most welcoming bunch that has ever been. This break, we got to hit up all of the family from his dad and Karen to his extended family on the other side. Seeing everyone decked out in their favorite UT gear, cheering on a rather pitiful team was so great. Not only that, they're mostly math people! After seeing them for only a few minutes Daniel could already tell that they liked me. One of the best parts is seeing how engaged they are when he talks about his work and schooling. They love hearing about his successes and I wanted more than anything to tell him just how much his kids love him and it all ties back to my last post about how perfect Daniel and Youth Ministry are for one another. Anyways, as someone who hasn't always been able to enjoy my family as much as other kids it's great to be able to spend time with them and finally have those experiences.

6. PS-Daniel made a comment as I was all teary-eyed and sad as he left. We were talking about how unfair this whole long-distance thing is where there's plenty of other couples who don't have to do what we do and yet don't deserve that luxury, for one reason or another. Daniel brought up a really great point when he said, "You know what boo bear? This whole thing just makes me appreciate you that much more. I think about you all the time during the week." Well Daniel, what I couldn't say then was that I agree 100%. Not having Daniel at my disposal has made me really value the few hours that we do have together. It makes every action, word, phone call, text, and blog post that much more meaningful and valuable. As they all say, absence makes the heart grow fonder. Well boo bear, my heart has grown pretty fond of you. I think this whole thing will make us even stronger as a couple and will always serve as a reminder of how beautiful it is that, one day, we will get to be together... forever.

Daniel, this has been the absolute best fall break I've ever had and I can't wait to experience many more to come with you. I love you, boo bear! :(=))

Puppies.

To say this past weekend was amazing would be an understatement.

Anyone who knows me knows that I love puppies. So surprising me by taking me to an adoption fair was the best thing ever. There were so many puppies and Daniel and I got to dream about which puppy we'd love to buy. It was the perfect surprise for a Saturday afternoon. Not only that, Daniel had to deal with my over-emotional, puppy-deprived self for a few hours and that in and of itself deserves a reward.

Nonetheless, the weekend greatness didn't stop there. Sunday afternoon we decided to be adventurous and try some Turkish food for lunch. After stuffing our faces the night before on chicken, cake and cakeballs, the last thing we needed was a feast of eggplant, stuffed things, bread and tea... but that's what we got. It was great being able to explore foods from various parts of the world and meet wonderful people named "Corey."

Overall, it was a perfect reminder of what a weekend should be. It was filled with events but was probably the most relaxing weekend I've had in a while (but maybe that's because I got to nap through the entire movie...). Everyone always craves the weekend but I think us more so than the average Joe. The weekend doesn't only bring about a break from the humdrum lives of working adults (and waking up about 2 hours before anyone ever should-am I right?) but it provides an opportunity for us to be together and delight in each other's company. Because when I get to spend time with Daniel, even if it's just for a few hours, I treasure every minute of it because he means the absolute world to me. And for those few minutes, it's okay that I don't have a puppy because I've got my boo bear and nothing, and I mean nothing, could be better than that.

Zesty Piggy

So this weekend was great. See Daniel's blog for all of the details on the puppies, the hours of Netflix, the pizza, the slick new climbing shoes and everything else.

But I want to talk about what happened after we had to split. This weekend, Daniel got to lead youth group all by himself. From praise band to group meeting to Harvest Supper, Daniel was the top dog of this Sunday.

I got a call from him Sunday while I was at Sam's Club, and Daniel was less than enthused. This weekend hadn't gone nearly the way any of us had hoped or planned and this was just the icing on the cake. The parents were cranky, the kids picked up on it, and the other staff shirked off their responsibilities. It wasn't fair and it broke my heart to hear Daniel be upset about it.

What amazes me is how much Daniel loves these kids and how passionate he is about Jesus. Daniel is always trying to connect with his students even if it's just sending a quick text-something to make them know he cares. Anyone who is lucky enough to get to talk to him about being a youth minister knows how much zeal he has for all of it. He's so excited about every project, every meeting, every rehearsal. And not only that, he's so passionate about Jesus and sharing his truth that it's contagious. It's one of my favorite things about him.

That aside, we can all say that this weekend didn't go quite as we had planned. But even so, it was still a great weekend and it's filled with some of my favorite memories (mainly about Subway, being kleptos in hotels, and the sweetest puppies you'll ever see).

Lapin Lapin

In France, there's a superstition that says if the first words out of your mouth on the first of the month are "lapin, lapin" then you'll have good luck all month. The literal translation is "rabbit, rabbit."

(At first it seemed silly to me, but then I remembered that us Americans carry around rabbits feet for good luck.)

I've made it a habit to make sure that every morning of the first of every month I always call out to my lucky rabbits.

However, I don't think what we Daniel & I have is luck. I think that when two people mesh well and have that uncontrollable chemistry, something is bound to happen. Toss in all the love that we have for one another and you're making magic.

So here's to 7 months of magic, love and piggies and many, many more to come.

:(=))

3 Simple Words

Today while I was in the middle of getting rather frustrated from a less-than-productive group project, I got a random text from Daniel. It simply said:

"I love you"

It was the single happiest moment of the day. Maybe his piggy senses were tingling or maybe he just wanted to convey his feelings. Whatever it was, it made me realize just how truly special he is to me.

I love you too, Daniel.

The Messy Weekend

This weekend was messy.

It started out with the allergies. Puffy eyes, crusty eyes, itchy eyes, stuffy nose, the works.

Then there was the messy scavenger hunt. After "running" around downtown Nashville for 1 hour, 57 minutes and 11 seconds, we were sweaty... and a bit messy.

Then there was the UT vs Florida game. That sure was a mess.

Sunday brought a bit of confusion with the messy schedule of the video and discussion Daniel had to endure.

We then had the messiest of it all with the middle school Messy Olympics.

Finally, we brought the weekend to a close with a messy goodbye of tears, sorrow, and sheep.

But the messiest of it all was at the beginning of the scavenger hunt. We got off to a rather lack-luster start with a bit of argument and confusion. It was so bad we almost scrapped the whole thing and chalked it up to a bad idea. The beauty is that we didn't. Despite having our issues, we were able to work them out and make the best of the situation. Same happened when we got back home. It got messy (despite the fact that a shower was involved). But then again, isn't every relationship a bit messy? It's not about the arguing but rather the making up. Once we had a chance to talk and sort things out, we realized that we both needed to be a bit more understanding and slow to anger.

What I think is best is that there's always a moment during our messy times that we have a few seconds to ourselves to think things over. Every time I pray that God will provide us with the wisdom to sort things out and that whatever comes of it will be all for his glory. And every time after doing so, we seem to have a level head, more compassion and greater understanding for one another. It always ends that we're stronger because of our weaknesses. Funny how it all works out.

All in all, this weekend was messy-the messiest of them all. But what's the point of being piggies if we don't get a little messy? :(=))

The Saki Multiplication

First off, it must be noted how amazing this past weekend was. Not only did Daniel TOTALLY OWN his triathalon (apparently in both the collegiate AND clydesdale categories) but we got to spend ample time curled up next to each other on the "love sack." I may not have seen any of PotC3 but I do remember all the cuddling we had. It was perfect.

Now on to the meat of this. We all know about poor Tia's cat, Saki, who happened to die while Daniel and I were cat-sitting (some say we killed it... but it was 19 years old, so give us a break). We all also know about my history with sock monkeys. Rumor has it Tia mentioned to Daniel that he needs to give me a sock monkey. Low and behold, a few days later Daniel took a toy from Sonic that just so happened to be nothing else but a sock monkey.

So we named it Saki (you know, Sock-y, in honor of the dead cat).

A week or so later, Daniel confessed that he had his own Saki, living in Nashville. I was amazed but loved that we both has Saki monkeys that seemed to link us together.

This past weekend I hid Saki in my duffle bag as a stow away. Somehow, when I got back to Knoxville, I had not one, but TWO Sakis! This wasn't simply that the Nashville Saki wanted a friend and came home with me, either, because Daniel had a Saki of his own still in Nashville!! Somehow we went from one Saki to three in a little more than a month!

I think Daniel has a huge bag of Sakis just waiting to appear but he believes that my girl Saki will just constantly get pregnant and make little Saki babies. Regardless, there's a mystery as to where all the Saki's came from. But that's the beauty of it. To me, there's no set explanation.

There's also no rhyme or reason as to why we fell in love with one another, but I can tell you that, just like the Saki monkeys, our love has multiplied, every weekend, and always brings a huge smile to my face :(=))

Time for Smackin'

This weekend was our 6 month anniversary (or piggy-versary). It started out a bit less than ideal thanks to uncontrollable circumstances but, when looking back on the weekend, all I can see are positives. There was bluegrass (and plenty of puppies!!), winning soccer games, family time, beaucoup de German food, "comedy" readings, envelope stuffing, fireworks, line dancing, running around in the rain, sleeping, eating, more eating, The Little Prince, trivia, and serenading (did I get everything?). 

If you would have asked me 6 months ago how this whole long-distance thing would have gone, I would have said (and actually did say) not so great. And yet somehow we've literally stolen time. Every time we get to visit it seems as if we push the envelope on our timeframes. Sometimes it's intentional, like when Daniel decides that after sitting at Copper Cellar for a few extra hours that it'd be best to drive to Nashville on Tuesday morning rather than Monday night. But sometimes it's out of our control, like when the Megabus goofs in my favor and tells Daniel he needs to come back and be on the bus 12 hours later.

We've been so blessed thus far in our relationship and our ability to really maximize all the time we can with each other. Throughout all of it I can't help but think of the quote "If God brings you to it, he'll bring you through it." I've always believed it because of my faith but it seems as if the past years have really been a testament to God's will. I know that I will never truly know what God has planned for me but I can't help but think he's laying the foundation for something beautiful (like a piggy!)

:(=)

Sleepy Piggy

In honor of the most recent news from FHS, I've posted my favorite (and most convenient for this blog) song by none other than the great Dave Barnes.



Since there's been a few "ups and downs" this past week, I think this song is very fitting. Daniel has been my saving grace and all... :(=))

Anyways, I've been thinking about what I wanted to post about all week. There's a few ways I can go but I'll save those for later weeks.

A big theme of this week, and specifically this current weekend, has been sleep. Between entertaining middle school campers and doing overnight floorset, sleep has been in short supply for the two of us. Now it must be noted that I am a morning person even though I don't particularly enjoy it. Daniel, however, is not a morning person to the extreme. If it's before 9am (but preferably 10am), Daniel isn't quite himself. For example, after taking Tia to the MegaBus early one morning, Daniel proceeded to do what we have deemed "The Roach" (how about we add that to your dance move list?). Anyways, it was ridiculous and absolutely great (because then it lead to us hanging out in Sequoyah Hills at the lake and then Panera!)

What I'm trying to say is that sleep is important and Daniel will only sacrifice sleep for the most important of things.

Like killing GIANT BUTT SPIDERS in my bathroom (which was very very very much appreciated by the way).

Or, for more times than not, to spend time with me. Here's a few examples:

1. Staying in Knoxville until Sunday morning last time so that he could spend the night with me. He had to leave at about 7:30am. He woke up at 6:45am.

2. As mentioned before, bringing Tia to the MegaBus station. The time in particular was when we promised him donuts if he drove with us around 6:30am. Sure enough, he appeared at the doorway of Andy Holt in his little sweater, pants, and Toms, looking adorable as ever.

3. Not so much by choice, but waking up with me at 6am in order to be up while I was getting ready to go to school at FHS. This one wasn't so much by choice but instead of just laying in bed, he got up with me... and went to bed AFTER I left.

4. Offered to wake up earlier EVERY DAY in Nashville simply so that he could talk to me as I drove to Farragut instead of having to wait until 4:30pm every day. Although this hasn't happened yet, and possibly never will, it was still a sweet offer.

5. By far my most favorite, however, was the first weekend we ever spent together. We had just gone on an awesome date the night before. Daniel called me up as I got home from work and took me on a surprise. We went to WalMart to buy brownie mix, brought it back to Lauren's family birthday party, made balloons to look like Joel and hung out with Tia and Ex-topher. After tossing around the idea of double dating while watching a movie, Tia and Chris went upstairs to go to bed. Before we knew it, Chelsea was waking up in order to go to work. I should note that Chelsea had the most awkward work schedule where she would go into work at inhumane hours. Regardless, the roommates were starting their day and we were just talking. And we continued to talk all night long and all morning long (with a little kissing towards the end ;) )

Anyways, the moral of the story is that it wasn't just little sleep, it was no sleep at all. At best you could say we took a slight nap before going out for Mexican (and Tee Fats!) with Tia and Chris. Given how much Daniel honestly needs his sleep, it takes something very special to get him to not sleep at all. And I know that I must be really special to him for him to do that. More importantly, he saw the potential we had right at the get-go (he always was good at the whole fore-sight thing).

So for all of the sacrifices, I say thank you. The best I can offer is to answer your phone calls at any hour, even if I've already gone to bed. I want you to know just how much I appreciate all that you put into this relationship and hope that my actions reflect that I feel the same way.

I love you Boo Bear :(=))

The Off Weekend

This coming weekend is something that has only happened a handful of times before (possibly 2 other times):

The OFF Weekend
(insert dramatic music here)

This weekend, both Daniel and I have schedules where we cannot visit one another. Honestly, it's tragic. Now, I've said multiple times before and I'll say it again, I need to focus on the positives of our situation and not the negatives but, this is a positive tragic. And here's why:

We have something so great that even the thought of missing one chance to spend with each other is the worst thing ever. You'd think that after spending (literally) hours on the phone each week and multiple times a day, and spending every weekend together, and long car rides with one another that a weekend off wouldn't be too bad of a thing. And yet it is.

Even yesterday, 3 days since we'd been apart, on the phone Daniel randomly goes "oh Boo Bear, how I've missed you." That's 72 hours and we're already going into withdrawal.

I think it's a very promising thing despite how much I truly do miss him.

See boo bear, it really is all about perspective! #StayingPositive

Piggin' Around

This morning, Daniel and I happened upon a song that, although we had both heard and loved before, had never been so moved by until we were together. From the idea of it, to the singers last name, everything happens to fit so perfectly.

I love & miss you, Boo Bear.



I think that possibly
Maybe I'm falling for you
Yes There's a chance that I've fallen quite hard over you

I've seen the paths that your eyes wander down
I want to come too

I think that possibly
Maybe I'm falling for you

No one understands me quite like you do
Through all of the shadowy corners of me

I never knew just what it was about this old coffee shop I love so much
All of the while I never knew

I think that possibly
Maybe I'm falling for you
Yes there's a chance that I've fallen quite hard over you

I've seen the waters that make your eyes shine
Now I'm shining too

Because
Oh
Because I've fallen quite hard over you

If I didn't know you I'd rather not know
If I couldn't have you I'd rather be alone

I never knew just what it was about this old coffee shop I love so much
All of the while I never knew

I never knew just what it was about this old coffee shop I love so much
All of the while I never knew

All of the while
All of the while
All of the while it was you, you!

 ... or piggin' around :(=))

LEGEN... wait for it... DARY

As promised, post #2 for the week (and it's a good one, I've been thinking about it for a few weeks now).

Daniel Bradley is awesome. The only thing more awesome than him is me (how's that for self-assurance?). So naturally, the only thing that is more awesome than either of us is both of us together, dating.

So awesome, in fact, that I have this urge to scream from the top of Ayres how much I truly appreciate him and how much I love our relationship (I chose Ayres because it's the tallest building on the highest "mountain" around here... and because it's mathy). Often times, I find myself word vomiting about our relationship and how great it is and yaddie yaddie yaddah.

But there's been quite a few times when I've had to hold back based on to whom I'm talking. I have friends who haven't been able to get a boyfriend in eons and people who are so upset with boys that it would just be wrong for me to ramble about the relationship that so graciously been presented to me. And it's horrible. It's like not scratching an itch, not eating a piece of cake right in front of you, not oinking when Daniel calls (okay, maybe that last one only applies to me...) All that to say it's really hard not to be so overly happy that it annoys everyone. So most of the time I just go on anyways and hope my friends don't mind.

But the craziest part, is how noticeable our love for one another is. Back in April, Daniel's friend Andrew was playing at Barley's and Liz decided to come with us to the concert. Little did we know, so did her entire family. As I got to meet Liz's parents for the first time, so did Daniel. After exchanging a few short words and then moving to our table, the Letendre's made a comment to Liz saying how much they could tell Daniel cares about me. HOLY MOLEY! I was completely shocked that they could tell all of that from just a few sentences, but nonetheless thoroughly enjoyed it.

On the flip side, my parents came down a week ago to help me move a few blocks. While dad and I got the pleasure of moving boxes, Daniel got the luxury of sitting in Nashville doing homework (let's be real, I'm not quite sure dad and I got the short end of that stick). As we sat in Stefano's after a hard day's work, my dad kept bringing up how Daniel was so lucky that all he would have to do was help me organize my stuff and to not forget that HE was the one who did all the heavy lifting. It was cute how jokingly defensive my dad got. All he really wanted was to make sure I didn't completely forget about him because of how much he could tell I liked Daniel. I even think he made a few comments to my mom because every time he would say something about Daniel, my mom would pat him on the shoulder, look at me and say "he just wants to make sure you remember that HE was the first man in your life." It was really cute, honestly. My dad was vying for my love (although he really doesn't have to-I promise there's enough to go around).

All that to say that even in the most physically distant situations, it's still so evident to those around us how much Daniel and I care for one another. I have this mental image of us just literally emanating love. I can't speak for Daniel, but I know that whenever I think about him (which is often), I truly feel like I'm glowing.

It's magical, really... but then again so is our whole relationship (and I'm not just talking about our epic HP World voyage)

I :(=)) U

Wanted

I owe Daniel 2 posts so here I present post #1 of 2.

The last time I went to Nashville was great. There was beer, baseball, more beer, free sunglasses (or luggage tags), more beer, hard cider and Olympics, all topped with a huge heap of piggy. What could be better?

The only snafu to the weekend was we had a bit of a miscommunication which led to a bit of an argument which lead to a few tears on both of our parts. I honestly believe that disagreement within a relationship is healthy but that doesn't mean that it's fun. So as much as I'm glad that we got to work through our differences, it still weighed on both of us.

But we piggy-vered! (that's persevered... piggy style :(=)) ).

The irony is that I've been obsessed with a song lately. Here, give it a listen:




Ok, maybe the video doesn't play on here but you can watch it on YouTube just as easily.

Anyways, I always thought of Daniel when I heard this song because all I ever want to do is make sure Daniel knows how much I truly care about him. He's always been better at showing his feelings than me and I am constantly struggling to make sure he knows everything I say is genuine and from the heart. Heck, I even started a blog for him for that very reason ;)

But this song took on a whole new meaning after that weekend.

I want Daniel to know that no matter what happens, how many disagreements we have, or how many miles try and separate us, he's always going to be wanted by me. As Hunter says (in a bit modified way) "as good as you make me feel, I want to make you feel better," and that's my pledge to Daniel, to constantly strive to make sure he feels 10x better and more wanted than he makes me feel. It's a big challenge but I'm up for it, because he's worth it.

See you in a few days Daniel :(=))

The Bow Tie Fiasco

What a weekend.

It all started out with a wedding. Amy and Mark were getting married and Daniel and I were going! Daniel had his Megabus tickets purchased (sadly, that's plural on the tickets), vest packed, and dancing shoes ready (although we didn't get to put those on for too long thanks to the wedding). All was set.

Or so we thought.

I found out a little too late that I wasn't able to wear the dress I had planned on wearing because it was black and too formal. So instead of having the perfect dress to match Daniel's bowtie, I had nothing. So there we were, Saturday morning (the day of the wedding) rushing around the mall like mad piggies trying to find me a dress. Cheap trashy store after cheap trashy store proved to be unfruitful, we finally found the perfect dress for under $10. We made out like bandit piggies. Now everything was set.


Or so we thought.


After a quick shower, a few egg sandwiches and rushing around, we were out the door and on our way to the wedding. Waze said we'd be there past 2pm. Challenge accepted for this piggy. As I drove, Daniel spent all 20 minutes trying to tie his bow tie. Whether it was the fast speeds, the minuscule mirror or insane amount of pressure we were under, the bow tie never came out successful. We pulled into our parking spot at 1:59pm, ran into the wedding right before the ceremony and barley made it.


We never did get that bow tie to work out.

The whole thing was one big lesson in irony, really. After everything we went through, we didn't even get to wear the bow tie. It's funny how something so small can make such a big impact. It was all because of that bow tie that we went out shopping, missed having coffee and almost didn't make the ceremony (although I'm pretty sure we could have just been escorted if we were too late. I mean, everyone else and their mother was). From this we've learned not to sweat the small stuff because in the big picture it doesn't really matter (and we're big picture piggies). The whole day we were happy as ever because we were just with one another. So we didn't both have on blue-who cares! We looked darn good regardless. Dress or no dress, bow tie or no bow tie, we both left that wedding with some of the best memories simply because we were together. I guess it all goes to show that no matter what happens, everything is perfect when we're together simply because we love one another so much. 


And boy is that a great feeling.

+ + +

Today is the first day in the past week that I've been without Daniel. It's a weird feeling, waking up and being able to snooze my alarm multiple times without having someone be "grumpy" about it. Sure that's nice, but it was also nice waking up yesterday morning before the oh-so-early alarm and just spending it with one another, in each other's arms. It was great.

Today I didn't get that. Today I woke up to my alarm, with my blankets actually on me and Shepesh clinging on to the side of my bed for dear life. It may seem like a bleak morning, but I do have one of the best things ever: in 3 days, I get to see Daniel again.

I know it's not much but it's something to look forward to. One of the biggest things Daniel has taught me is that I need to focus on the positives of our relationship, because no matter how small they may seem when stacked against the other stuff, being together is always better than not being together.

I'm still working on it because it's hard for me, but I'm trying. The hope of getting to be together is always enough to get me through whatever I might need to do until I see him.

So yes, we may have had the most amazing beach week getaway and yes, we may not have another week to ourselves for quite some time, but it doesn't matter. As long as I get to see Daniel, no matter how far away it may be, or for how long it'll be, it's still going to be the most amazing time ever. Because when two people are in love like Daniel and I are, nothing can stop it, not even a measly 200 miles and a time zone change.

:(=))

Instinct

We've all got instincts. Sometimes they're called our "gut feelings" and sometimes they're just what we label "intuition." Either way, they're things that we don't question and are usually right.

This past week Daniel and I have been at the beach. Last Sunday we spent ALL day driving and then sleeping just to get here (thus why I haven't been able to post until now). It's been great here. On Thursday, we had something amazing happen. As we're floating out in the water, just a few feet off of the sandbar, we saw a dorsal fin of what we believe to have been a sandbar shark. Now when you see a dorsal fin in the water, you run... or swim as fast as you can.

So what we did was skedaddle as fast and calmly as we could. As the shorter, less lengthily-legged of the two of us, I was going to be the one to naturally move slower. Yet as we were scurrying away, Daniel instantly grabbed my hand and made sure that I was going to be okay.

Turned out we were fine-Mr. Shark just wanted to say hello.

What was great was his instinct to make sure I was going to be okay. I couldn't be more appreciative of the way that he takes care of me and always makes sure that I'm happy (like driving around for an unnecessary 45 minutes just to find an Applebees for supper and happy hour, pictures with manatee mailboxes and stone bears, and signs that say "Casa Bonita"!) It's the greatest feeling ever knowing that he's out there for me. As Sheldon would say, "He's got my back, Jack" (fitting given that we're watching Big Bang Theory right now).

Overall, I'm the luckiest girl/piggy/bear in the world to have Daniel. I know I say this every post, but it's true. Every day my mind is blown by our relationship and how amazing he is. We have this perfect chemistry that is unmatched by any other and lovin's that never end (mainly because we'll never let that happen).

And my instinct is telling me that this is something that should be cherished and held onto... forever. :(=))

The Perks of Dating a Mathmatician

.33 years // 4 months // 17.5 weeks // 122 days // 2,928 hours // 175,680 minutes // 10,540,800 seconds


And every second, minute, hour, day, week and month seems to be better than the one before it (except for the 5 minutes after I told you Slinky wasn't yours. That was honestly the hardest thing I've ever had to do. It killed me to see you so sad. But one day we'll get our own puppy and it'll be amazing).

Happy anniversary, Daniel.
:(=))

(Colossians 3:14)

Channel Surfing the Thoughts of a Piggy

When you google "Caitlin Burke and Daniel Bradley" (and vice versa), this is the first hit (see photo to the right)

I oddly feel rather attached to this picture. I feel like I can identify with it... whatever that means. Anyways...

So I've been thinking about what I want to say in this post for a while and yet I can't quite come up with what I want to say.

I want to talk about how the MegaBus both stole time from me & Daniel and yet gave us the gift of 12 hours all in one day.

I want to talk about how I become a blubbering mess every time I even think about Daniel leaving and as sucky as it is, it's the greatest, most encouraging thing ever.

I want to talk about how long distance relationships are hard and how all of the dynamics change and yet there's so much potential with what we've got going on, it's crazy.

I want to talk about how I always have all of these great things to tell Daniel every time I call him and yet when I hear his voice, I forget all of them. For those few minutes we're on the phone, we're as with one another as we can be and all I can do is relish in how great it feels.

I want to talk about how this weekend is crazy but it's all leading up to the light at the end of the tunnel and the most anticipated vacation I've ever had.

I want to talk about how touched I was by Daniel telling me that, after meeting my girls at Farragut, he didn't feel cool because of himself but because he got to be the lucky one dating me.

I want to talk about how awesome it is that Daniel and I both have a huge passion for the arts and that we can bond so perfectly over that passion.

I want to talk about how in 39 days I won't have to deal with roaches any more (which doesn't relate to Daniel in the slightest but it's the highlight of the summer for me).

I want to talk about so many things and yet there just isn't enough room on the internet for all I want to say. I'm so happy with Daniel that it should probably be a sin. Don't get me wrong, it's been tough with the whole Nashville/Knoxville thing but I have faith that there's a greater plan brewing in all of this (just like his beer!). I know this next year is going to test us more than we could ever imagine and bring us to the edge of our limits, but, as my girl Kelly would say "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger."

Boy, am I going to have some great relationship biceps at the end of this year :(=))

A Boyfriend Named Propitiation

What a weekend.

It all started off with me having a poop-load of school work to do (you know, research, paper writing, exam studying, etc.) so naturally Daniel and I hung out at Einstein's and Starbucks... a lot.

Then, I had to house sit for my roommate Tia about 25 minutes away. As if that wasn't enough, her cat died while we were there. Side note, as a pet owning virgin, I was ever thankful that Daniel was there to help deal with the situation. There's nothing more sad then seeing a stroke-ridden cat struggle to breath and watching it die over the course of a few days.

To top it all off, it had been 2 weeks since we had seen each other, a "Daitlin" first (yeah, that's our name, be jealous). It was the longest we had gone without seeing one another and boy was it rough.

All that to say that seeing Daniel this weekend was the highlight of everything.

Today in church, Greg the Pastor talked about the Gospel. He said that it's impossible to hear the Gospel and not have it impact and change you for the better. If you haven't been changed, you haven't accepted it, and that's the cold hard truth. It's impossible to hear that God sent his only son to live and be crucified on this planet only to grace us with the forgiveness of sin. So because of everything that happened this weekend (dead cat, quality time, church service) it got me thinking.

I am one of the most undeserving people I can think of. There's nothing that says I should have the wonderful (albeit roach-ridden) house that I have, the friends that I do, or the gifts that I have been given. But most of all, I don't deserve to have the wonderful boyfriend that I do.

Yes, all girls deserve to be treated right by their male counterparts, but if we're keeping tallys then I deserve someone who eats more cake and coke than necessary, whines about the littlest of things when the word stress is even mentioned and is never able to drive to see me because he's always too busy. And yet, here I am, sitting next to the most wonderful guy a girl could ask for.

There's no reason why I should be graced with such a wonderful gift in my life. None, nada, zilch. And day in and day out I never cease to be amazed by Daniel. From knowing about Speculose (and all that goes wonderfully with it-hint hint, Oreos) to killer possibly-African beetle species that have infiltrated the US via Nashville to drawing beer schematics, he knows everything, including how to make me feel like the most special person in the world.

Every now and then, Daniel will sort of let his guard down and just say whatever is on his mind. Truly, it's one of my features about it. Often times, in his bouts of true honesty, he'll say something about how beautiful I am and how much he cares for me. It's a perfect window into his heart and I can see just how much he cares about me.

And no matter how many times I mess up or fail, he's always there to catch me. One might say he's my catcher in the rye (although I'm not 100% sure that metaphor works. Sorry, math major here). He's saved me from some of my worst times and he's always willing to help me back on my feet.

I don't deserve you, Daniel, and yet here you are, spending hours in some sort of moving vehicle just to be sitting next to me while I work furiously on my paper. I don't know how I was lucky enough to catch your eye but you can bet that cute little booty of yours that I won't be letting go... ever.

Daniel Bradley-Bomb Squad

I want you to stop for a second and go back to your fondest high school days. If your childhood was anything like mine (which it probably wasn't, let's be real), then high school was plagued with everyone and their brother wearing brown shirts with yellow toasters on them, or other random things of the like. It sounds random, because it was. But that's Relient K for you.

One of my favorite of their songs is called Mood Rings. Check it out:




Recently, I've been rather... "moody" one might say. For the past few months I've been trying to remedy this with various things. Yet no matter what I do life keeps happening (it's pesky like that) and things keep setting me off.

All the while, through my hardest, most emotional and moody times, Daniel has been there for me. I honestly believe he deserves an award. Really, Daniel has the hardest job because he's the only person that I get to talk to every day and who (by some sort of relationship default) gets to hear all about my life-the good, bad and the ugly.

So while my life has been plagued with crazy mood swings, bouts of utter sadness and extreme longing for the one constant source of happiness (hint hint-it's you Daniel), he's had to fend out of the beast that comes out every few days. Not only has he kept his cool, but he usually finds a way to calm me which is no easy task because I can say that I'm not the easiest person when I'm being difficult. Yet throughout all of this, Daniel always wants to talk to me, always wants to see me, and always makes sure that I know how much he truly cares about it.

Overall, I truly don't deserve someone who is willing to put up with all that I've put him through (no matter how unintentional it all is) and yet here he is, coming in a few days, just to hang out with me. I couldn't ask for a better, more loving person in my life and I truly am the luckiest girl in the world. I mean, I have a great relationship that's constantly improving with the best man a girl could ask for (and he looks great without a shirt on ;(=)) )

Distance Makes the Heart Grow Fonder #butidrathergrowtogetherinthesametimezone

So this week has been interesting. Not only have I been fully submerged in the realm of graduate academia (bleh) and started working with the Farragut HS Dance Team, but it's the first time that I've had to wait over a week to see Daniel. And let me tell you... it sucks balls. We both knew this day would come when we wouldn't have the luxury of seeing each other every weekend but that didn't mean it would be an easy transition.

And this is just the beginning.

From here, we're only going to get busier and have even less time to devote to one another. Heck, this week alone our schedules have been so disjoint that we have to take advantage of every 20 minute interval that we both have to talk.

And I miss Daniel like crazy.

But that's the negative side of the situation.

Taking a page out of Daniel's book, I need to stay positive about all of this. Yeah, it's hard as crap, but I'm willing to do it. So what's the up side?

Every time I think about Daniel, I start to tear up a little bit. If someone told me that I was never allowed to eat Red Velvet Cake ever again, my sadness would only amount to a fraction of what I feel when I think about being away from him.

So how's that a positive? Well, even when I get to spend extra days with him (because he's the best boyfriend ever and surprised me a day early) and cheat and even take some of the next morning, it's not enough. I can't get enough Daniel time. I'm selfish. But hey, it's better than welcoming the break from seeing him.

Although it may be incredibly sad every time he leaves (or even when I think about him leaving), it's sad in a very encouraging way. Lately all I've wanted to do is run away and spend the rest of forever with the kid (which probably means curling up and watching Sherlock every night while watching some sassy sistas get it handed to them by the cops if we're going to be honest). As long as I'm sad when Daniel leaves, I know it'll only make our next time together that much more precious and valuable.

And by the way things have been going lately, when we see each other in a week and a half it's going to be the single best day of my life. No joke. (And that covers so many dance shows, birthdays and even the first date we ever had which, well, see post #1 for that)

:(=))

PS. I tried so hard to get that little piggy to have a heart nose but it was weird. Something about (<=3: just doesn't look right.

The Price of Love

For the past week I've been thinking about on what I'd write this blog post. There's so many wonderful things about Daniel and the interactions we have that sometimes it's hard to pin-point one thing to write about. However, I narrowed it down to something that came to the forefront after today.

Although we may have graduated and received our diplomas (well, at least one of us has) we're still broke college kids. Because of this, sometimes it's hard to do all the things we want to do. If I had it my way, I'd drive to Nashville every day I wasn't obligated to be in Knoxville just to be with him. Thanks to my lacking financial situation (along with the life of my car and my butt's happiness) such a feat is not possible. Yet because I have the absolute best boyfriend in the world, he's come to Knoxville multiple times already. In addition to that, my wonderful amazing boyfriend also still stays true to his chivalrous self by always treating me in the best of ways. From brushing my hair to holding doors open, my boyfriend does it all.

The most taxing of all these gestures is paying whenever we go out. Now, there has been a nice balance between who grabs the check (well, as much as he'd allow and really only because his card doesn't always work) but more times than not he has it covered.

One of the first times we ever hung out, we spent the entire night (and thus next morning) just talking and getting to know one another. After taking what we can best classify as a small nap, we woke up and went to lunch with my roommate Tia and her boyfriend Chris. As we walked up to the cash register to pay for our Mexican food, Daniel goes "oh don't worry, I've got it." "Thank you," I replied with a smile to which Daniel said, "No, thank you for always smiling." I promptly ran over to Tia and gave her the play by play breakdown and I'm pretty sure there was a general d'awww in the restaurant.

Even in the hardest of times financially, Daniel is always eager to pay for me. I try to make a point to thank him for every dollar that he spends on me (regardless if he should or not) but sometimes I feel as if it comes off a little obligatory-sounding. Never do I ever feel that Daniel should pay for my food or coffee and yet he usually does. It's little acts like that which help me out in such a way that means so much to me. I want him to know that he never has to pay for me to do anything and that, if it came down to it, I'd work my butt off to pay for us to do everything. I also want him to know just how much I appreciate all the money he does spend on me. I know girlfriends are the most expensive things out there (aside from wives and maybe puppies) but I try to make sure I'm not costing him one of his gorgeous, oh-so-nicely toned arm or leg.

So thank you, Daniel, for spending money on me as often as you do. Your efforts do not go unnoticed.

Oh, and if you ever wane me to pay you back, just say so. I've got a nice piggy bank of kisses just waiting to be cashed :(=)*(=):

A Weekend of Wonder

Since the last post a few things have changed.

First, Daniel & I have lived a whole week as college graduates:

Second, I got a haircut:

But most influentially, Daniel moved back to Nashville... for (at least) 3 years:

And although I haven't had to go too long without having Daniel in my life, him moving away from Knoxville was the start of a new chapter, a chapter which I call "My Love-Hate Relationship with I-40." No longer can I convince Daniel to come spend time with me with the promise of food (which I may or may not have done before... a few times). Regardless, it now takes 3 hours and a shift of time zones in order for us to be together-and it sucks.

But among all of the suck, there was something great that happened. This past weekend, I was blessed to have Daniel come back into my life. Not only that, we got to spend the weekend with everyone that we loved: our family, friends and each other.

Don't get me wrong, I love spending time with other people but selfish Caitlin made an appearance this weekend and I just wanted to spend the entire time with Daniel and only Daniel. From Sunday night until this morning, I got just that. And, by a stroke of luck, Daniel's meeting today got pushed back to lunch time, giving us a few extra hours to spend together (and sleep because boy were we tired).

I guess what I liked most about the weekend was how refreshing it was. Granted, we both haven't been doing *too* much since the big break, but at least for me it's been taxing nonetheless. Not only did Daniel leave, but the roommates left, got jobs and the friends moved away from Knoxville. I've been flying solo for so long I was even able to finish a book in only a few days. Being able to get away from everything and just spend time with Daniel was probably the best thing for me.

Yes, I got to ride (and drive!) a boat on a lake for the first time, and then play Risk, but I think the best part was all of the in-betweens. Like watching Celebrity Apprentice, for example. Sure the show wasn't the greatest but we got to spend 2 hours, being sucked into a show, anxiously awaiting the announcement of the winner, all while just being with one another. Sometimes I find myself getting caught up in the actions of being with Daniel than the pure joy of just being with him. In a world where we have to be adventurous 100% of the time (or so we want to) sometimes it's nice to take a break to kick back, relax and just be with one another.

And if that wasn't enough, the drive home was even better. From the lake house we had a whole 2.25 hours to kill. So we loaded up a TED talk and prepared to be amazed by the wonders of the minds of our fellow human beings. Instead, we were bombarded with buffering and loading wheels. We could have flipped the radio and found some podunk station in the middle of Tennessee but rather we just talked... the entire way home. There wasn't ever a moment when I thought "gosh what a long drive" but after passing the Oak Ridge exit I said to myself "Oak Ridge already? Maybe Daniel will turn around for a few miles just so we can keep talking." Granted, he didn't, but it was still really nice. I felt like in that conversation we grew closer to one another. From talking about our high school drama to our thoughts on God, we challenged one another with our questions and commentaries.

Overall, I believe this weekend really rejuvenated both myself and Daniel. In a time of change and unknowingness, it was an absolutely perfect weekend to just spend time with the man of my dreams.

Graduation Weekend

We graduated together... and dealt with the family all weekend. Enough said.

Golden Roast Adventure

So today we unschedually (yeah, it's a word now) met at the Golden Roast to spend some quality time together. We got to do the crossword, chit-chat a little, pin a few things on Pinterest and even play a game of Othello. Now this was a seemingly un-special moment but it was one of my favorites this week.

In a world where we have so many deadlines, dates to remember, calendars and schedules (both shared and unshared), sometimes it can almost seem as if our time is too structured. It's nice that we always know what to expect from one another but then it takes away the element of surprise. Being able to meet up at the Golden Roast was refreshing.

Coming from a quality time person, it's so nice just chilling in a coffee shop with you, being all hipster and stuff (yeah, and now I'm blogging-huzzah!) Just being able to enjoy each other and the company of one another is one of my favorite things. It's a nice reminder of the the reason we're in this relationship with one another. I hope all of our Sunday mornings and Saturday afternoons can forever be spent in such a positive, nurturing environment for our relationship.

I like you Daniel Bradley, a lot, and I'm really excited to see our relationship grow into the beautiful thing that I know it can and will be.

Just a quick reminder, Othello ended like this:

It was a good ole 33-31 win for me but just by the skin of my teeth. You rocked it, Boo Bear.

Oh, and I'm really glad those girls didn't start talking about how attractive you were because I'd have beat them up for giving you the googlie eyes.

The Beginning

Hello there!

My name is Caitlin and I have the best news ever: I have the most amazing boyfriend in the world. His name is Daniel Bradley. He's 22 years old, a jazz percussionist, enjoys rock climbing and loves Jesus more than anything. My favorite thing about him, however, is that he's mine (that's right ladies, hands off). Standing at a towering 6 ft 2 in, he's my not-so-little treasure (gosh that's about as cheesey as the mac and cheese my roommate just made... and a double entendre if you catch my drift ;-] ).

Here's a picture of the two of us from Easter:

D'awwww, adorable right? I'm not sure exactly how I got to be the lucky girl that he pursued back in February but hey, I'm not going to question it. What I do know is the pursuit began with one of the best, most intentional dates I've ever been on. And it's there where our story begins (but more on this in a second).

The whole point of this blog is that I want to show my appreciation, respect and admiration for Daniel (did you know the word admiration is defined as "respect and warm approval"? Yeah, I give him my warm approval). I hope that by posting regularly my favorite things about him, Daniel will always be reminded of the positive impact he has had and continues to have on my life.

Now about that date of ours. I think it's fitting that the first date we went on should be the first post I have about him. After coming to the Boss Dance Company Spring Showcase and me attending his senior jazz recital, it was obvious that we were interested in one another. Long story short, Daniel surprised me by taking me to get a bottle of wine, Savelli's for supper and an Ice Bears hockey game.

The best part of it all was that everything had a reason. He took me to Savelli's because I had once told him my biggest travel desire is to go to Italy to try real Italian food and, according to him, he couldn't take me to Italy so this was the next best thing. We got a bottle of wine because I'm pretty sure he just knew I loved wine, and to the Ice Bears game because I had never been to a hockey game despite it being my favorite sport to watch (ps. go RED WINGS!!) The entire night couldn't have been more perfect... and it was only date #1.

I've been on nice dates before but no one has ever been that intentional with me. Daniel didn't plan the date and hope for the best, but rather he thought long and hard about what the best possible date would be. It was obvious the planning that had gone into this and boy, did it win me over. To have someone go through so much effort in order to impress me really flattered and deeply touched me. I felt honored to have someone go through all of that just to make me happy.

And it doesn't stop there. Daniel is so intentional with everything he does it's crazy. He never ceases to amaze me with his ingenuity and the lengths he is willing to go through just to make me smile. I'm so blessed and thankful to have someone like Daniel in my life (even if he isn't here physically. Washington DC, you better enjoy having Daniel because once Sunday rolls around he's MINE!! Ha!) 

Thank you, Daniel, for having such a positive impact on my life. You truly are my not-so-little treasure.  :(=))