It's been such a long time since I've updated that I've been pushing it off longer and longer because so much has happened and I was feeling overwhelmed. It's been a long spring/summer.

Last semester ended on an up note. I got an A in Chemistry and a B in Cell Biology. It was a rough semester and I worked my bottom off for those grades, so, in the end, it was worth it. Now I am in summer school. Chemistry 112, it meets 4 days a week from 12-5. Yikes! It's been two weeks and we had our first exam, a 3 hour exam. Holy. I mean, I'm just exhausted today. Not to mention I'm battling a cold for th

e last 2 and a half weeks. It's not as much fun for

me as one might think.

So, I started with school because that was the first thing that happened. Around our one year anniversary James told me we couldn't spend a lot of money on that trip because he was planning a secret, big trip. About a week before we left he told me where it would be.

Ireland!

Oh. It was amazing! Perfect. Everything I'd always hoped it would be. Except, evidenced by this photo, there was no clouds! No rain. Nothing. I got a sunburn, and a cold. Sigh. But it was just amazing. I don't know if I've ever been as happy or content as I was, sitting on the rock beach at Fanore, watching the tide come in. It was wonderful.

Dublin was the same as any big city. Busy and hot. It was fun to see it all, but I was ready to be in the country when we left Dublin. The drive across the country was crazy and exhilarating. Our time in Fanore though. James got sick and spent the better part of two days in bed while I walked around the little village and sat at the ocean. I've never been able to sit that long in one spot before. It was something about the ocean. It's mesmerizing. Always something to look at and pay attention to. We left a day early, which ended up with us in Fanore for an extra day, but missed out on Cork. It's okay. James wants to try to make it a yearly trip. While I have my doubts it will be yearly, I'm excited there is another trip to come. I thought it would be a once in a life time trip, but maybe it will be more.

The day we drove across the country was the day James got sick. The poor guy. So we got to town, checked in to the B&B, James took a quick nap while I sat outside, listening to music and petting the house dog. It was so nice. James got up around 8 and we wandered down to the pub for dinner. Which was AMAZING! Fresh muscles and open crab sandwiches. (Two separate dishes.) We then went to the water to watch the sunset. We wandered on the cliffs (not big ones, just enough that it was rugged and beautiful), finding rocks and seashells. We hugged and kissed, held hands, talked and walked. It was perfect. Then we went back to the room and laid in bed talking for a couple hours. As I started to fall asleep James tricked me out of bed to get something from my bag. When I turned around he was standing there with the ring and asked if I would be his wife. It couldn't have been more perfect.

So that is essentially it. Now it's down to life. Buying houses and properties, planning a wedding, moving, school, work..... sigh. It's good, though. It's nothing less than exactly what I wanted. I'm happy.