One Last Morning

This morning at six o'clock, I woke up for the last time in my bottom-bunk bed in the bungalow, the gas heater valiantly thwarting the frigid 14 degree air outside. I had finished repacking my clothing and miscellaneous items last night at 20 till midnight, and so when I got up and donned several layers--including a never-before-worn Barcelona scarf from Stephanie--I packed up the Volvo.
For me, it was the last day of my second Christmas break in college, and the last time I would be leaving 280 Old State Road as a regular resident. Stephanie, Connrad, and I were packing up and leaving; Stephanie to head back home and to school, Connrad for two weeks in San Diego, and I was preparing to leave forever.
Now, 18 hours later, I sit on "my" bed in the basement guest room at the Casto's residence in Lacey's Spring, trying to keep my weary eyes open long enough to finish this brief post. We made the 911 mile trip in 15 1/2 hours--which includes about an hour's worth of stops. I only missed a couple turns: in Baltimore trying to get back to I-95, and on 1-24 west of Chattanooga, looking for Rt. 72.
Stephanie and I have been blessed once again with a safe journey over many miles, and we are looking forward to our second semester of sophomore year, and our wedding in 18 short weeks. Yes, we finally set a date: Saturday, May 10, 2008--just under a month shy of our meeting, two years ago this June, and 15 months after we started dating last February.
What a time it has been, no? God has been awesome in his providences and blessings in the last two years...well, for all of my life, really, but in recent memory, he has been an undeniably present help.