my last two months.

Um, my blogging behavior, or lack-there-of, has been unacceptable and inappropriate lately. I just noticed that it has been TWO MONTHS to the day since my last entry. And oh so much has happened in two months. I must confess that I was only made aware of my blogging hiatus thanks to a girlfriend of mine. Way to have my back, Kenz.

Let's see where my life has come and gone in the last two months. How about I list a few of the tops so that you get a good overview:

- I dated someone in this time. No bitter feelings but it is no longer "on." We are just at different places, wanting different things right now. But still, he was sweet and showed me a lot about relationships, what I want and don't want, what I NEED, and how to care about someone.

- Campmeeting happened. I have dreaded this moment since January 25th but really since this time last year. A year ago EXACTLY, John was in the hospital being diagnosed with aggressive lymphoma. Every since that happened, I knew my life would never be the same. Since Campmeeting was such a huge part of our relationship and my own life, I did not know what to expect or hope for from that long-awaited week in August. Turns out, even with the scary and emotional moments, it was still precious and much needed. Granted, my campmeeting experience will never be the same (nor would I really want it to), I will forever look forward to that week in God's country amidst the love and loyalty of my friends and family.

- I had my last ADPi recruitment, got a new group of Alphas (our name for our pledges) whom I get to take care of until they get initiated, and I started my last fall semester as a college student. EEk! So much has been going on in the LBK for me since I returned mid-August. Trying to balance a long-distant relationship, my studies (baha), all of my Alphas and their needs, as well as spend SOME time with my lovely roomie/BFF and in our awesome home has proven to be no easy task. But, I think I have gotten the balance down and am learning to just ignore my phone calls or facebook sometimes - a girl's gotta have some peace and quiet every now and then! I am ready to embrace this last year and GET OUTTA HERE! Don't get me wrong - I will miss and forever cherish Lubbock, Texas Tech, my sorority, and the life I have here. But, I am ready to say farewell to college life and studying and become a big kid. I am sure I will wish to eat these words this time next year, but alas, it is how I feel now.

- I have totally and completely lost any pre-summer tan I gained during finals week of Spring 2010 semester. I spent countless hours "studying"...and by that I DO mean laying around the pool with notes in one hand, a beverage in the other. By the beginning of my time in Marfa, I was easily mistaken for one from the bordering country to our great nation or perhaps an indigenous tribe elsewhere. No tan lines, summer glow, naturally bronzed - what more could a girl want? Well, then I started a job that was indoors in a town that has no outdoor swimming pool and with no one brave enough to lay out in my backyard with me. I quickly returned to the paleish version of myself that I am now. What a sad moment it was when I realized that, in fact, my skin tone will not change between now and December :(

- Even though my Marfalous SUMMER ended weeks ago, I kept my Marfalous life going with regular checkins to my favorite mountain range. I spent Labor Day weekend with said boy in Ft. Davis (Marfa's neighboring town) cooking, watching movies, drinking wine, dining with his parents, and just RELAXING - something my crazy Lubbock life rarely allows for. The next weekend meant back to Marfa for Abby - how great to have two west Texas weekends in a row! This time I partied the weekend away with my family and good family friends from West Texas. Lizzie, unofficial family to me, wed her oh-so-nice Cajun fiance and used the entire weekend for the celebration. Lots of booze, plates and plates of delicious food, skeet shooting and dancing made this weekend something to remember for many MANY years to come. Lizzie definitely upped the standard for all of the remaining weddings in that social grouping.

Well, that more or less summarizes my past few months. So sorry to keep you all hanging. But, rest assured, my Marfalous life remains, well...Marfalous, even while I am absent from my favorite little town. Thank God for that.


Marfa means...a place I can always come home to.