Once again, I reached the end of today without taking a photo. I only remembered as I was falling asleep without meaning to and without having gotten ready for bed… the idea for this photo was the only thing that got me up.

That ring has been on my finger for a week now—and what a week it’s been. It’s amazing what a bang a decision that has been quietly making itself for months can produce when it’s externalized. Suddenly, I’m allowed and expected to plan a wedding. Suddenly, everyone can see that I’m entering a new chapter. Suddenly, I can’t pretend my life is not changing.

This week has been a rollercoaster ride from joy and excitement down into fear and anxiety up into giddy planning… and so on, and so on. Gil, meanwhile, has walked beside me steady as he ever is—constantly patient, constantly a grounding force. (Although he has been sick this week—in sympathy with my sudden spike in stress, he hypothesized. ) My calmest moments are when I remember that the entire reason we’re doing this is to spend the rest of our lives together.

And meanwhile, there’s school. Lots of it. And there’s my thesis. And there’s taking pictures every day. You see why I’ve almost forgotten so many days now.

But as crazy as the last week has been, I do feel like it is balancing out. The rollercoaster is slowing down, mercifully, at least for a day or two. The wedding details which most needed to be hammered out are being hammered out. My brain is shifting focus back to schoolwork. A few impromptu talks with friends and family have helped remind me of how much I have to be thankful for—and it’s a lot.

And with that thought, now I really will go to bed. Sweet dreams.

My mother gave me this angel ornament for Christmas this year. It’s hanging on my magnet board. This was another late-night, “Oh no, I still haven’t taken a photo” shot. I’ve had quite a few of those lately.

Down the hall.

Again, the beauty of winter trees.

Examining the bathroom window.

Progress! (Actually, this scarf is done now.)

My grandmother bought this ring in Israel, and left it to me. It’s now being put to a very special use.

We’re setting off on an adventure, he and I. We’ve decided to live this life together, whatever it may bring.

I think I speak for both of us when I say that we are terribly excited, and I know I speak at least for myself when I say that I am also a little terrified. But I believe that everything in our lives happens for a reason, and I pray that God will give me the wisdom and courage to deal with each part of this adventure as it comes. I can’t wait.

Thursday morning, I had tea at my friend Molly’s house. When I got home, someone had a question to ask me. See next photo.

Gil’s pull-up bar, positioned on a door at the bottom of the basement stairs, is my friend and my enemy. My enemy because every time I have to get on it for the workouts Gil has been designing for me (at my request), my inability to actually pull myself up drives me to utter frustration—my friend because after several rounds of “negatives” (where I only lower myself down from the bar), I can actually tell I’ve gotten a little bit stronger. Hopefully it’ll only get better from here.