A Second College Grad!

So...I graduated from NDSU exactly a year ago this week & am just getting around to blogging these photos now. Woops. This day felt so so good. It marked the end to long stressful nights and weeks of homework, paper writing, and studying, the end of long distance forever for lee and I, & one month until our wedding. It meant that I would finally again be living in the same state as my fiance & family. 

I loved my time spent in Fargo and will cherish the friendships and memories made forever. It was bittersweet to leave the town that shaped so much of who I am today. Thank you family for suffering through four hours of names being read just to see my 10 seconds of fame. Thank you for putting up with the many emotions of Ali over the past five years. So long, Fargo! 

Thoughts on graduation...

You guys, I graduate a week from today!!! It still hasn't sunk in and definitely does not feel real. The town that has shaped so much of who I am today, will no longer be my home. Fargo may not be my home ever again. Change is hard. I have wished for this moment for so long & now that it's finally here I have a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions filling my entire being. Everything from "wow, you did it you're so awesome" to teary eyed "this is my last time carrying a backpack as a student" moments. It's been real, North Dakota. I will miss you a whole bunch, but am forever grateful for the friends and memories you've given me. Next on my to-do list for 2014, marry the one whom my soul loves on June 21st. 

Lee's Graduation

[Lee proudly walked around the dome in his graduation gear/ crappy iphone pic]

this post is basically a month late, but i now have a graduate on my hands folks. he started his big boy job today with the family construction company. the night of his graduation our football team had their semi-final playoff game & soo directly following the ceremony we headed to the dome for a WIN by the bison. i assumed they won because of Lee's smashing outfit - he wore his graduation cap & gown to the game ha. anyways the Bison ended up winning their second straight national championship this past Saturday as a D1 school at the FCS level (basically we don't do bowl games, it's tournament style play). i start my internship with Boulay (an accounting firm in the cities) on Monday the 21st. i will be working one full "busy" season with them preparing all sorts of tax returns. prayers as we both enter this new realm of adult life would be greatly appreciated. 

a college grad

Our first Bison game together [2009]

In just one short week (wow, where does the time go?)  Lee will be graduating with a construction management degree, business administration minor, AND don't forget his most prized major in "hunter gathering."

In all seriousness, I am so proud of you leland!  Thank you for putting the time and effort into getting a degree that will help to feed a family of our own someday. I cannot wait to get all emotional and paparazzi-esque as you march up on to that stage to receive your diploma.  I'm crying right now writing this, go figure.

Some of my most favorite memories of our time together at NDSU:

• Papa John's pizza nights (2 butter dipping sauces please)
• Living a parking lot away from each other
• Taking classes together (a whopping 4!)
• Bison games- you making us get in line 18 hours early 
• Finding a church that is so genuine and passionate about us 
• Ice cream @ the union 
• Bowling & trying not to make the bowling manager man mad 
• RedBox promo codes
• Parking tickets (none for me this year - i WIN)
• Peeking out the sun roof off the beaten path near the runway watching airplanes take off and land
• Trying all of the different meats you cook up (without ketchup)
• Intramural Vball
• Playing basketball and "lifting" together 
• Going for walks around campus (walks that do burn calories might i add ;))
• Catching up on The Office because we always missed it for Chi Alpha
• The long drive back to Fargo where i usually slept and so graciously let you do the driving
• Catfishing adventures 
• Vikings games and chips & salsa
• The pumpkin patch that you begged me to go to  :) 
• Missing & skyping you while on my Europe trip 
• Killing my first turkey and deer near Fargo both times!
• The many movies we've seen and popcorn we've eaten at Marcus Theatres (I'm so glad you enjoy going to movies as much as me)
• Listening to all of your hunting/fishing stories 
• Meeting new friends and becoming better friends with you 

I am so stinkin glad i decided to transfer up here to spend our college years together! You have cheered me up during so many stressful weeks. It's going to be hard not having you up here next year, but we have so many good life happenings to look forward to.

Enjoy your last week as a "student," the real world awaits ;) 

Love, 
Your Ali