Springtime. Finally.

It is rare that I have an opportunity to relax these days.  Thursday mornings are really the only time I'm able to decompress from the week without having to worry about anything.  This morning I went to Donkey Coffee at 7:30 -- super early for me -- to catch up on some things, listen to music and enjoy a satisfying vanilla chai (if you don't know, Donkey has THE BEST vanilla chai EVER).

iTunes, chocolate chip muffin, vanilla chai, and fresh flowers -- Donkey Coffee

Mornings at Donkey will inevitably make me miss some aspects of the college life.  But, that doesn't make me any less excited for this phase of my life to come to an end.  I have five more weeks at OU before I head out to Barnesville.  :)  Barnesville, OH, is where my grandparents are located (see one of my posts from this summer for an in-depth look at what life will be like for me for approximately 6 months...). 

But around Athens, it is finally spring.  The cherry blossoms bloomed a few weeks ago, and I've been able to spend some time outside.

Springtime also brings lots and lots of bees.... much to my dismay.

Photo credit: Tim. :)

 But, springtime here also brings an enormous amount of rain.

My backyard in the midst of another rainstorm...

  Good thing I got a raincoat! Thanks Mom and Dad!

Dana, Tim and I also had a few moments to spend some time in Hocking Hills and at Stroud's Run -- some of our favorite places in Athens.

Old Man's Cave -- Hocking Hills

The Rock House -- Hocking Hills

As you can see, we've been trying to make the most of the time we have left together.  Although it's rainy and flooding most of the time, the atmosphere around this area when the sun shines begs you to relax.  Though I find myself worrying about a multitude of things--my future career, SB5, my grandparents and their health, and my current/future family--places like Donkey Coffee, Strouds and Hocking Hills really make my time here worthwhile. Moments similar to the ones photographed above encourage me to think about things that transcend my own understanding. Mainly unconditional love. I truly am blessed to have such wonderful people surrounding me.