It was wonderful and glorious and breathtaking and healing and laughter and changes and dreams come true and new adventures.

I had the best weekend ever.

He came on Thursday, in a surprise whirlwind of a blue BMW Z4 convertible, honking the horn in his uniform with the Beach Boys going full blast. We were off to get clothes hidden at my pastor's house (I got to drive!), then hung out at Sarah's 21st birthday party. He gave rides and even let Benjamin drive it. We stayed up till 5 in the morning, talking and laughing and jumping around with Sarah and Nate. Bedtime wasn't going to take away from this weekend.

Friday we took lots of pictures of the car and prayed and sent Nate and Sarah off to Indianapolis, then jumped in our hot car with the top down, blasting Rascal Flatts and on our way to the city. He'd never been. We drove down 5th Avenue and people stared and commented and whistled. We know we're fine. We returned the car, then went to Cosi for some yummy but interesting food. We walked to the Empire State building and stood in line for a long time but it didn't matter cause we are fun people. He got a military discount because he's cool like that. So we went up 86 floors and stood at the top for a while, looking around and taking pictures. We saw the Statue of Liberty (Liberty Medics, HOOAH!) but it was far away and took more pictures and wrote on the wall. We left and ran down flights of stairs and out to 5th Avenue to walk and window shop and see Rockefeller Center. We went to FAO Shwartz where I took a picture with a life-size giraffe! and then went to Tiffany's and Co. It's a good thing we didn't break anything in there! We looked around and examined all the huge diamonds and I tried on a small one that cost $8,000. It was a normal sized ring too! After we left Tiffany's, we made our way to Payless to find him dress shoes after going to Bergdorf Goodman and finding shoes for $2,900. We bought shoes and hurried our way to Tavern on the Green and ate in The Chestnut Room. We changed in the bathrooms so we would look presentable. The service was wonderful and the food incredible. We talked and laughed and both ate Asparagus Soup and Filet Mignon with mashed potatoes and green beans. It was by far the most delicious meal I have ever eaten, and the most wonderful, most incredible experience of my life. After dinner, we took more pictures, then jumped in a cab and headed to Beauty and the Beast on Broadway. It was spectacular. Words don't even begin to describe it. I highly recommend it. Fantastic show. The characters sounded exactly like the ones in the movie, and the singing and dancing were amazing. We took more pictures, then walked around outside in Times Square all dressed up. We made our way slowly back to Grand Central Station to take the 11:22 train home, and in the bathroom a woman told me I looked stunning. :) We took the train back to New Haven to meet Mom, laughing and talking about the day. After we got home, we changed and ate some more, told my mom all about the day and showed her pictures. The whole day was wonderful and every moment a surprise.

Saturday we woke up early and headed for the triplet's house to babysit for an hour. We ran around the house like crazy people, screaming and laughing, played with Play-Doh, and colored at the kitchen table. After that we got ice cream for lunch at Praline's, then went home to shower and change. We took care of Callie (a puppy down the street), then drove to Hartford to watch a USA vs. Wales rugby match. It was amazing but also very confusing. We went with Benjamin, who explained lots of things and answered questions. His rugby coach and a member of his team in VA were there, and it was fun listening to them talk about the game. It was incredibly hot and sunny out though. After the game, the three of us headed back to my house and then went out for pizza at Tony's. We got pineapple and bacon. mmmmm. Benjamin left, and then he and I went bowling. It was lots of fun but he kicked my butt in two games, except the last one that we played left-handed. He was still quite impressive, bowling two strikes! And he said he would be horrible. I bowled three though. :) After bowling we went back to the house and watched Top Gun, then rolled into bed at 5 am again.

Sunday he finally got to go to my church and meet the people I've always talked about and worship and listen to my pastor. He wore his Gap khakis and a button down shirt just like always and I wore my striped skirt I had told him about. We shared a hymnal like old times and it made me happy. After church and sunday school we ate roast beef and carrots and mashed potatoes and bread at our house ( after he played the piano for me - but not long enough), then changed and packed up drinks and a bag and headed to the beach. We stopped by the Ridley's on the way and picked up Benjamin and Jonathan, and went to Clinton Beach. We played rugby (i tackled! and got tackled lots. even the famous layout tackle!) and threw the disc around and layed out in the sun and went for a walk up the beach. We got hot and attacked by bugs, so we left and went to Coldstone Creamery for ice cream. I got banana and peach with Heath bar and strawberries. He got caramel latte and something else with Butterfingers. We went back to the Ridley's and he finally got to meet the rest of the family!! I was so happy. We had tea and pizza and watched the England vs. Australia rugby World Cup. England won. We said goodbye and went back to the house to watch A Walk to Remember (he hadn't seen it) and eat snacks. I was so glad he got to meet the Ridleys. I had told him all about them and I was happy he got to meet my other best friend.

Monday we slept in a bit then laughed and talked while he packed a bit. It was a sad day, but still enjoyable. Mom made waffles and bacon for brunch and we ate a lot, then went to Wal-Mart and printed pictures and bought him an electric razor. Time was drawing to an end, and tears fell randomly throughout the day. We had to leave for the airport in NY around 2:30, so at the house he said goodbye to my mom (he had said goodbye to Dad the night before) and Ashley and cried and packed and we left. It was an hour and a half drive down, and we thought his plane left at 6. God was kind though, and his plane didn't actually leave until 7:15. We sat and talked and cried together, and even laughed a bit. The bushes around the parking lot helped with that. :) Inside the airport, we saw two people from his unit, because the unit is stationed out of NYC normally. We hugged and cried and said goodbye, and I watched him walk away. It was hard and painful and lonely, but he had to do it. I watched with the families of the other soldiers, and they hugged and kissed and comforted me. We're going to look for each other at the airport when they come home. I sat in the parking lot and cried and cried and prayed and prayed. I drove the lonely drive home, and called Benjamin and Ashley and they came over to watch The Notebook. Ashley brought me Ben and Jerry's ice cream and Ben brought me chocolate. They are the best. He called from Minneapolis and then again from Wisconsin, then from his barracks. Thank you Lord.

He is gone now, 7 time zones away. He called from a stop in Ireland for the last time for a while, until they are climatized and in-processed.

I miss his laughter, his tears, his hugs, his joy, his stories, his playfulness, kindness, humility, gentleness.

I miss him.

Please protect him, Lord.