Time to share...

My new blog, http://ashleyswanson.blogspot.com/!

There's a few reasons I created this baby (getting married, finding out that marriage is entertaining, wanting something more focused, etc.). I haven't decided whether that blog is slowly going to replace this one entirely, but for now, I hope you enjoy it. :)

Where to start

Shamefully, it's been more than a month since my last post. There have been a lot of changes goin' on in my world, and I've spent hours with a blank blog post sitting before me, with my brain's train of thought feeling just about as empty. But, feelin' motivated (or sick of being lazy), here's my tackle. Let's play catch up.

1. I graduated, but that's kind of old news. There's my cheap shot at getting a list going.

2. I got married - woah baby! E and I tied the knot, signing our lives away to one another, or, maybe that sounds too dreary, like we were unwilling. Trust me, we're married and happy as clams. Biggest surprise so far? Cohabitation with the husband has been nowhere near as difficult as I predicted. I've got a dad, and I've got a brother; I know how the male species can live. I've also always known that E is fairly neat, quiet, and will pick up after himself, even if it's later than I'd like him to. As long as I keep his appetite satisfied, clean his clothes, and shower him with affection, he is one happy camper in the our newlywed Swanson campground (Really, we only have a two bedroom apartment; please don't show up in Kansas with a pop-up camper and 20 of your closest friends or family. Campfires and s'mores are welcome). Thanks to my wonderful friends Lindsay Koedyker and Kailyn Baum, here are a few glimpses of our day.

3. We moved. Our humble abode is in Overland Park, Kansas. At first, we were nervous. But nooooow.....lovin' it! (Friends, anyone? Fast forward to 1:10.) Aside from the whole lack of a job thing I'm rockin' right now, life here is wonderful. Come visit!

4. And last, I'm starting a new blog! I've been wrestling with the idea of trying to do something that is more themed and consistent for 2 months now. After some serious mind mapping yesterday, my brain child is looking more complete. Stay tuned for more.

Thanks for reading my listed update on life, and maybe we'll talk again soon.

My life threw up all over.

Disclaimer:  This post contains images that may bring anxiety to any that associate themselves as 'neat freaks', 'organized', or 'OCD'. 

I've almost been home an entire week and I've learned college has completely ruined any enjoyment that moving new places could have given me. I used to think that packing up my life every 6-9ish months would be exciting and symbolic and whatever. Obviously, it's only made me cynical and cranky. 

Last week, I packed up my dorm room for the last time, and the stress of bringing everything I owned - actually, that should be 'kept', since I ended of donating some things last minute out of frustration - rained in heavier than ever. The challenge I've arisen to each time? A game of human Tetris; how neatly can I pack boxes, bags, and other useless but meaningful crap in my car while taking up as little space as possible? 

First, you should know a few things about me. I hate clutter, love organization, and the former stresses me out. I always have a plan and accompanying list for everything, so packing for things is usually reasonably enjoyable for me. 

It all started off good with the trunk. I finagled two stuffed suitcases and lots of boxes and crates into the trunk, and was feelin' pretty accomplished. 

...And then I got to the back seat. I started off stacking Rubbermaid totes in June Cleaver fashion, but before I knew it, it escalated into this:

11 hours of anxiety. Who can spot the wedding dress?

Q:  What does one do when blinded from their blind spot?
A:  Strain your neck like an ostrich and say a prayer. 

All to quickly, the mess multiplied itself into my front seat. I was surrounded. 

I'm sure a human would have made for a much less
stressing - and boring - passenger.

When I finally reached my rural SD home, I was relieved to be free of my car. I had spent too much time in there, and feeling sorry for the Cobster (my car, pronounced Kobe-Stir), I immediately started to unload the pounds of belongings weighing my poor vehicle down. After a good 20 minutes of unpacking, I laid my eyes on what I had achieved...or so I thought.

Instead of cleaning up the mess that had been in my car, I moved a majority of it into my room - the one place I retreat to in my family of 6's bustling home. The phrase I had been using to describe my car at this point was "My life has vomited in my car." Seeing the mess I'd made at home, it was time to play janitor like a third-grade class had gotten food poisoning from cafeteria corn dogs. 

Recently named 'suitcase corner'.

I can truthfully say that after 6 full days at home, things are looking cleaner over here on 269th Street. I'll keep you posted - or, just post later - on the final products of my unpacking/sorting/cleaning up life's vomit. Merry Christmas, friends!

Senior sentiment

Well, folks. Tonight it hit.

'It' refers to the thing I've been ignoring for the past few weeks - the realization that my time at Trin (check out why I love this place here) has come to a close.

Aside from the fact that I'm graduating (clarification: graduating, not walking in a ceremony...that's in May) in three days, I was recently internally provoked to think about why I love this place. Context: last Thursday, someone in one of my classes said they would never have anything positive to say about Trinity. I quickly returned my classmates pessimism with "Why do you hate Trinity, and why are you here if you do?" He gave a response that lacked any considerable validation (seriously, people, every school costs money), and what followed was 80 minutes of me not paying attention in my political science class and reflecting on the past three and a half years instead.

Behold, my bloggable (yep, made that up) list of what makes Trinity great:

[1] The people I've met - and come to love. This recipe of relationships consists of 1 part professors, 3 parts friends (the best ones, at that), and 4 parts E (seriously, this kid is voluntarily putting up with me for the rest of his life - God bless him). Trinity's wonderful gift of people became super real to me tonight when I had to say 'goodbye' to one of my best friends (check her out here). I walked up to her after some wonderful P&W, and before I knew it, we were sobbing in each other's embrace, relishing in the wonderful times we've had as friends, and acknowledging that for an unknown amount of time, we'll have to be friends from a distance. By far the most difficult part of my final week on campus thus far, and I know it's only going to get worse. Greeeeat.

[2] The things I've done - and gotten to be a part of. I feel bad for people that don't get themselves involved in something at college. My first, most important suggestion for any person I meet looking to make lasting friends during their college years is to get involved, and get involved quick. Every college affords students different opportunities, and you're a fool if you don't take advantage of that. I don't even feel bad saying that, because...

[3] How strong I've become. I've lived a wonderful life in three and a half years, but let's not be fooled, peeps - crap happens. Some of that crap was doable, like stressful semesters, ridiculous projects, and some of it was not so much, like getting homesick, or being far away during familial pain. But being 22 and saying that, for the past four years, I've learned to provide and stand for myself is certainly an accomplishment in my someday book. College joys and woes will do that to ya, I promise.

[4] The fact that leaving campus for good on Friday makes me cry. Although it really, really sucks, I have to be thankful that I'm sad to leave this place. A paradox, you might say? Not so much. It's the things we love, and I mean truly love, in life that are hardest to let go. I truly love this place, I'm going to miss it, and tears will be shed when I hug my roommates and other friends goodbye, even though I'll see them all in less than four weeks for the big day. Some people fear transformation and change, especially during their collegiate career. Embrace it; you'll only appreciate it for every penny you've spent later on.

I have more and want to keep writing, but obnoxiously-this-is-so-boring-and-long-reading-assignment-esque blog postings annoy me. So for now, I leave you with four that popped into my head.

Have something you love about college and want to share? Comment! I promise I'll comment back.

Today's lesson: love life, where it takes you, and what it brings you, because doing anything else is stupid.

A sneaky peek.

On a beautiful October day, E and I had a wonderful engagement photo session on our beloved Trinity Christian College campus. This place has a lot of meaning for us - it's where we met, fell in love, grew as people, and grew together. Forgive my cheesy sentiments, but this place will always be special to us. And now, creep away and check out some of the photos...I know you want to. 

Maybe my favorite. I know he definitely is. 

This smile happens a lot when I'm around him.

I look a little arrogant here.
...You would be, too, if this guy was yours.

The best of intentions

I really did intend to be better about keeping up with this, Scout's honor.

Luckily, for the few that read this (or maybe I'm delusional about readership), nothing too life-changing has happened since I turned 22. I turned in the dreadful senior seminar project, and 6300 words later, I consider myself a self-taught expert on crisis communication. For anyone facing an undesirable, more-than-likely-unexpected situation that pins you as the bad guy, always, always tell the truth, my friends. Crisis communication 101.

I get the "So, how's wedding planning going?" question a lot. And I think the last 10 times I've answered that question, it's been with, "Umm, pretty good. I'm not really doing anything, I guess." Ninety-five percent of the time, this is followed by a look of shock, mixed with a little horror and judgment. Call me 'Sally', but wedding planning doesn't necessarily get my pantyhose in a bunch, a.k.a. it doesn't stress me out that much. I was grateful enough to have a fiance' that proposed to me a year before our wedding date, so to be honest, all that big stuff that I have to figure out was figured out almost a year ago. This has fared to be a great setup for us, given that we're both freaking out about something WAY bigger right now....*scary music*....jobs.

Ahhh, yes. The full-time, salaried occupation that is every college student's recurring nightmare. Let me tell you, it has been nothing short of that. I don't know who has it worse - my super-genius other half that has interviewed in almost every region of the country but hasn't cemented anything down just yet; or me, the I-thought-my-major-would-take-me-places communicator who couldn't interest an employer if my appendages were chicken strips. We're really hugging the "All You Need is Love" theme right now. My secret fallback is to move to California in search for happiness as I wear white cotton and linen, holding hands with my beloved. Sound like the mid-60s to '70s? I thought you'd say that. Fortunately, neither E or I own VW vans; we represent the Honda Civic and Chevy Cobalt-ites. Much different, I assure you.

But since it was just Thanksgiving, I am thankful - for many things, to say the least. I am thankful God blessed me with a brain, and that He was gracious enough to give E one, too. We've been working like sleigh dogs this semester, and are crossing our paws that it'll show in our precious online student portal accounts.

I'm thankful that God has blessed me with a sincere, affectionate, genuine, brutally-honest, and ever-hilarious fiance'. The senior scramble is in full-swing at Trinland right now, and I'm glad to be one of the lucky ones that snatched her prince up three years ago. Wedding planning is relaxed for us, which has resulted in very few arguments that other couples typically experience. We've taken the approach more similar to that of a party planning committee. ...Ok, so we're not as ridiculous OR cool as "The Office", but party planning is definitely our vocab when it comes to the wedding.

And yes, I am thankful for the insecurity of job hunting (and missing). It's scary, emotionally-exhausting, time-consuming, and frustrating in simplest terms. But it's also humbling, and experiences like this are something everyone needs a little of in their life. And it has to be said: E and I have definitely learned where the strength to apply for loads of jobs we won't get needs to come from. Those little reminders from God are always a little bittersweet, but most definitely heavier on the 'sweet'.

Up next time: my and E's engagement photos! But for now, just a taste - you know, to keep you coming back for more, of course.

22.

It's officially two days after my 22nd birthday. I'm feelin' old, friends.

I know, I know. It's silly, really. Twenty-two is really not that old.

But why do I feel old? Is it the fact that when 11 o'clock rolls around each night, I'm thinking it's time for bed? Or is it because for the past year and a half, my clothing taste automatically favors more items in the womens' section than juniors'?

...I think I might have it figured out. This is a big - I mean, huge - year for me. In two-and-a-half months, graduation. A month after that, marriage. One week after that (hopefully), moving into the first place Eric or I can call 'ours', and (hopefully) starting some great new jobs.

I'm ready for that crazy month chocked full of life changes. I literally can not wait for all of those things to happen. But I think that being "old enough" for all of those things to be in my life's equation is what makes me feel old, aside from having no birthdays to look forward to until I'm 30 - banking on the fact that I'll be excited about turning 30, and in somewhat of a shape.

Just my thoughts on turning 22. It felt a little weird. A benefit of my most recent birthday? Eric and I took one of thee best pictures we have ever taken (see below). Fo reals.