Somber.

The halls of my high school have been eerily quiet over the past two days.

Friday night, as I studied frantically for my certification exam, I got a text message from a friend about a wreck involving several members of our track team-- students, a team helper, and a parent. The text indicated that there was a possible death and multiple injuries.

Of course, my first thought was that it was surely exaggerated. Maybe there was a wreck, but surely the rumors had already begun to spin and grow.

Soon after, though, I started getting a string of texts from students and friends confirming the rumor-- one student had been killed on impact, one student had broken an arm and sustained a serious neck injury, one student and the parent driving left unscathed, and the team helper/assistant coach broke an arm and a leg.

Immediately, my Twitter feed and Facebook news feed exploded with thoughts and prayers for all those involved. This is the first tragedy to hit our student body in years-- possibly since the loss the senior class had when I was a sophomore in high school.

Prom was Saturday night, and the junior class, along with the seniors, was able to come together and celebrate the life of their classmate. There was a candlelight vigil and a moment of silence during which students wrapped their arms around each other, shed silent tears, and lifted up their hearts and their candles to say goodbye to Kevin.

Over the last two days, the halls have been somber and quiet. A classmate's desk remains empty other than a bouquet of flowers placed by a teacher. A seat at lunch left untouched. An event at track meets painfully filled in by another. And other classmates still in the hospital awaiting surgery.

It's been a very tough time at my high school, but it's been equally touching. The students have pulled together like I've never seen before. Huddled in hallways, crying. Meeting in the auditorium to pray, Bibles in hand. Reaching out to ministers who have graciously stayed on campus in our time of need.

The road ahead is tough for this class, this faculty, and most especially, this family. Kevin leaves behind three brothers and a mother, all of whom will struggle in the months and even years to come to make sense of this loss in their lives.

At the end of the day, it leaves this school counselor humbled and glad to serve a God who is sovereign, who reigns even in tragedy, and who is glorified even in heartache. Please pray for the Yoder family and the students and faculty at GHS.

April showers.

For me and Alex, April is the month of showers. Mostly for me, but Alex benefits from the shower treasure.

We kicked off shower season with a couples' dinner at our sweet friends', The Reaves'. All of my best friends and their significant others were there, and it was truly a lot of fun, and I think I can say that for everyone. It wasn't just great for me to see all of my friends, but they all got to see each other as well. Kind of like a high school reunion with a few guest stars. The weather was perfect for a night out on the deck, and I looked around at one point and realized that over half of the people there... friends from high school and college and grad school and all walks of life... were either married or engaged. It's a fascinating feeling to realize that we're all entering this next chapter of life together.

This Friday night, I got to celebrate my dad's birthday with him over Mexican food, Hunger Games, and post-movie ice cream. Practically perfect in every way. And if you see my dad anytime soon, please remind him that he's one step closer to that senior discount. He'll be thrilled.

Okay, that wasn't a shower but it was kind of like a party.

Saturday, I took off to Nashville for my bachelorette party with some of the very best friends a girl could ask for. We had cake pops and champagne, sushi at Verago, dancing downtown, late night burgers, and brunch at Germantown Cafe. Can you tell that I judge a good weekend by the food that's consumed?

I've still got two to go to these last two weekends of April. And many a thank you note to write. But Alex and I feel so blessed. So beyond blessed. Not just because of the gifts, but because of the overwhelming shower of love that we've experienced and continue to experience during this time, whether its parties and showers or thank you note writing or premarital counseling or choosing what music to play during the prelude to the ceremony, we are beside ourselves with joy abundant.

Lindsey lately.

I cannot believe it's April. I repeat: I cannot believe it's April.

April is my last month as a grad student.

April is my last month as an intern.

April is my last month as a bachelorette.

My last full month of living with my parents. My last full month of not being a bonafide grown-up.

To me, there's a difference in an adult and a grown-up. I'm a working 24-year-old with at least one degree, so I'm an adult. But I live in my parents' basement on their tab, so I'm not really a grown-up.

So yeah, April's kind of a big deal. And I really don't have a free moment in the entire month.

In order to complete my 600 hours of internship and 100 hours of supervision, I have to work every minute of 7:00-5:30 every day this month. I have to attend class for two hours a week and throw in a couple of assignments after hours.

This weekend: Secret Church on Friday night (SO excited!), family Easter on Saturday morning, and our first party Saturday night. And of course Sunday is Easter-- my favorite holiday of the year. He is Risen!

My wedding dress is supposed to be coming in next week. My daddy's birthday is next Friday.

And the second weekend of April is my bachelorette party in Nashville. I am so ready for a night out on the town with my absolute favorite girls.

The third week of April, I'll be working overtime studying for my certification exam. That's right: on April 21, I will take the final and most important exam of my grad school career. If I don't pass the NCE, it's pretty much all for nothing... at least for a year, when I could take it again. But no certification means no job, so let's keep our fingers crossed for the first go-round.

The next day, I have a shower with the wonderful women of Alex's home church in Tuscumbia. So that's definitely the bright spot of that weekend.

And the last weekend of April concludes my party calendar with a ladies' brunch at a dear friend's.

So there are a lot of emotions tied up in the month of April: excitement, stress, exhaustion, joy, anticipation, and so on. Hopefully I'll make it through with a Master's and a Mrs. by the end of May.