Will You Marry Me?

I can't believe it's been over a month since I was asked that blissful question.  Blissful, yes, I know that's not an often used word, but it's truly the best fit for this subject.  I can't explain how it feels to be asked that question by the man of your dreams - I'm not being cheesy, just honest.  I never thought I could be so lucky to get forever with this man.  Some time soon I'll type out the whole lovely story of how I was asked in the middle of a snowstorm on top of a mountain, but for now you can see for yourself...

I am officially the luckiest and happiest girl in the world.  Let the wedding planning begin!

Buenos Dias, Argentina!

So, I had thought about writing in a separate "travel" blog, but that's kind of stupid.  So I'm just going to write here haha.  I just arrived in Buenos Aires, Argentina yesterday morning to visit my sister for 2 weeks!  She's been living here studying abroad through her school (Pepperdine) this semester, and I'm finally getting to see her life down here!  So fun.  I slept for I think 12 hours last night (after not sleeping hardly at all on my overnight flight), but I'm still kinda wiped out.  Today we took the Subte (like a subway) to Puerto Madero - a port area by the river here, similar to the Thames in London - and had lunch at the oldest cafe in Buenos Aires, called Tontoni.  It was neat, I feel overwhelmed with all the Spanish and not feeling like I can say ANYTHING, even though I know I can if I need to.  My sister is making me anyway.  It's fun, it makes me wish I had studied Spanish.  Actually, it makes me REALLY wish I had studied abroad.  I feel like I wasted my college years haha.  Anyway, we spent the afternoon walking around and enjoying the city (in spite of the crazy riots and fireworks going off, etc. in the center of the city).  Now we're at "The Casa" - Pepperdine's home base for the students here; it's a big beautiful house that they turned into their school and hang-out area for the students - with the rest of her friends who are still here and haven't gone home yet.  Most of them went home last night, but there's a fun handfull of them left.  They leave in a few hours.  I think tonight we're going to Brittany's favorite place, Ateneo, a big beautiful bookstore somewhere in teh city.  I think her friend Peter is coming with us, which is fun!  We don't have much planned out for this week haha, but lots of fun ideas!  I guess we'll have to see how it goes :)

Much love!,
Erica

John Mayer Says

"... it might be a quarter life crisis".  23 is past a quarter life if you're the average American.  And I just turned 23.  Hm.  I guess it's up to me whether to turn it into a crisis or a springboard.  But I will say it feels pretty stinkin' old.  I mean, as per my life thus far.  Not in the big picture, of course.  But all the other numbers just sort of felt like, yeah, this is youth, and now I'm 16.. 18.. 21.. but 23, that changes the game.  Anyway, here's to adulthood, living at home, and unemployment!

I had a lovely birthday.  My sweet boyfriend got me 23 pink & white beautiful roses to start the day, and later he surprised me with an adorable handmade bag I had pointed out that I liked, filled with all kinds of wonderful things - my 3 favorite candy bars (Reeses, 3 Musketeers, & Milky Way for inquiring minds), a pair of earrings (from his sweet parents), and a Starbucks Card.  All wonderful, all way more than I deserve!  My parents got me Photoshop, my sister got me a really rad sweater from Peru, Chad's sister got me an aaaamazing necklack/locket that I LOVE, and my sweet sweet friend Kali got me neat earrings that happen to match the necklace.  And I got a few really sweet cards, and just all kinds of love that I'm so thankful for.  Oh and endless texts & facebook messages!  I have such wonderful, sweet, kind-hearted, intentional people in my life, and I am SO thankful.  I've always thought it was pretty appropriate to have my birthday on or near thanksgiving, because that's how I like to celebrate my birthday - honoring and being thankful for the people in my life who have raised me, supported me, shaped me, challenged me, and loved me.

So, thank you.  For making me who I am!  I'm so so blessed.

I'll have to get some photos of my sweet & fun gifts up on here soon!

Blessings,
Erica

So Long Astoria

Well, it's been a long while since I've visited this little blog. That's what happens when you're trying to graduate from school & your summer is all filled up with short travels & things. But I'm back now. No promises of consistency or anything, but I'm on a fun adventure without a journal & feel like I should be keeping track of it. And sharing it with people!

I'm currently sitting at the end of an old pier across from the tiny downtown of Astoria, Oregon. It's the most beautiful day - just like the weather the one time I visited San Francisco - sunny & warm with a crisply cool fall breeze rustling the trees around and keeping you on your toes. It's lovely. That's the perfect word for it. Lovely. There are seagulls floating around on the air coming in from the sea (this little fishing town is on the Columbian River, but close enough to feel the ocean air) and I can hear the "ding ding" bell of the little red trolly that putts along on the shoreline tracks. The town is so small & cute. Kind of quirky. There are 6x more coffee shops than anything else, which I love. I stumbled across a funky little gypsy store with fair trade bags from all over the world & shelves of jars filled with herbal tea mixes, most claiming to cure some ailment or have
a certain effect if you drink them. I almost bought some, but I don't have the right kind of tea pot. Maybe I should anyway & just bring it to Teagan's with me. She has a cute right-kind-of teapot & very nice tea. I really like her. Not because of her tea of course.

I've never been to Oregon before. But I said to a friend earlier, I think it's safe to say this isn't nearly the last time I'll be here. It won't surprise me in the least if I end up living here actually. It's just so lovely! It makes my heart feel alive.

Yesterday we went to the beach. It was cold, dreary, and misting. And I loved it! My sweet aunt & uncle & I took the dogs & hiked through dense forest of all kinds of pine trees covered in fuzzy moss. It was so beautiful. Reminded me of Tennessee actually. Anyway we walked along this soggy path & chatted with fellow dog walkers on the way. Every so often a surfer would brisk & politely nod. Funny to see a surfer in the woods. They all had backpacks & flannel shirts or hoodies & didn't look at all like they were about to head into the ocean, besides the surf board under their arm. But then the forest cleared & the magnificent dark ocean was there, scattered with surfers & dogs running around & little camp fires up against the cliffs. It was completely enchanting.

Now I'm leaving Astoria & the whole time I've been in Oregon I've had an old Ataris song stuck in my head about Astoria & the Goonies that reminds me of some of my favorite times in life. High school days with the girls who have been your best friends since elementary school, driving around together with the newfound freedom of a summer with driver's licenses & the music turned up as loud as it goes. I miss those days sometimes. We seemed to have the best times doing nothing at all besides the picture I just painted. Just being together. "So long Astoria, we've found a map to buried treasure, and even if we go home empty-handed we'll still have our stories...". Things that make you smile :).

Love,
Erica

Sink or Swim

It's crunch time.

Sink or swim.

Honestly? I feel like sinking. It's so hard for me to get the motivation to finish this race when I honestly don't believe that I can do it. I'm not trying to sound like an Emo 13 year old here, I'm just being honest. I feel like I'm too behind, I don't have enough time, my professors are out of grace, and I don't have the skills to pass every class. When you're taking 24 units (10 classes), it's not too hard to let yourself think this way. It doesn't help that it's the time of the month and everything feels like it's the end of the world on top of the fact that it almost is.

Maybe I can do this. But I know it's on my shoulders. That's the thing. As much as I want to and tell myself to, I just can't muster up the kind of determination I need for this. What I should do is stop writing this and get down to business. But it's kind of releasing to get your feelings out on paper. Or type. Whatever.

I guess I should just say pray for me. Pray hard. That I can figure out how to motivate myself while asking for God's strength. 'Cuz I know that's the only way I'm going to pull this off.

Pray for me.


Love,
Erica

I Feel Like I Live On An Airplane

I'm back on another plane. As if flying for 22 hours a few days ago wasn't enough, right? This time I'm staying in the country. (Insert southern accent here:) I'm a goin' turkey huntin' with ma daddy and ma uncle. In Texas.

My dad keeps joking that I'm not going to know what hemisphere I'm in anymore. Let's not even get into time zones.

I think I would count myself as an expert flyer at this point. I should try to count how many times I've been on an airplane. Maybe that's what I'll do during this flight.

Or go through my 4000 Africa pictures. Or both.

Love, Erica

Test

I'm testing out mobile blogging! I tell you, the things BlackBerrys do to you.

Here's some of our South Africa team in the airport before we left!: