Just a Little Date

If you've been hanging out here very long, you probably know Ryan and I really like our weekly dates. We try to be really good about making sure we have a date at SOME point in the weekend. And I also know it's probably easy to look at us and say "Oh sure! Dates are no problem for you. You don't have kids!" Well, it's true that we don't have to work around finding and paying for a babysitter {though I have considered it at times for the furry four-legged one} - but our schedule is crazy busy and sometimes it is a matter of saying "We're DOING this thing. Period."

And it doesn't have to be a big deal. Little deals are just as wonderful. I thought I'd let you peek in on our date this past weekend!

{PS - Ryan had a busy week and was trying to figure out where to squeeze in all his commitments, and I offered for him to take part of our Friday night to finish the last thing, and he said to me, "No, I don't want to do that. You my first priority." I cannot tell you how much I loved hearing that. Guys - if you want to love your lady, let her know she matters!}

Okay - back to the date. We hadn't been to Ivanhoe's to get strawberry shortcake yet this year, and it's one of my most favorite things in life, so we decided to head to Upland for strawberry shortcake!

Ummmmmm except the rest of central Indiana had the same idea. The place was p.a.c.k.e.d. We had to wait in line outside even to order. Fortunately it was a really nice evening!

Since there were NO tables to be found, we decided to get our dinner to go and we took it over to the campus of Taylor University. We found a picnic table under a tree and enjoyed our dinner in peace and quiet. Ryan got a chicken club sammich. I've never had that there, but he said it was good!

I had my heart set on pasta salad because they have THE best pasta salad ever, but they've apparently done away with their half-size option, and I didn't want to get the full size. {Literally would have been 4 meals...at least.} So I went with BBQ pork and it was quite yummy!

Several years ago {2006, I believe}, a van carrying Taylor students and staff was involved in a terrible accident on I-69, and 5 of them died. You might have heard of the accident, because one of the girls who died and one of the survivors were mixed up for several weeks.

After the accident, Taylor built a memorial chapel on campus, and I'd never been to it. I really wanted to see it, so since we had time...we walked over to check it out.

I didn't realize it wasn't one big room. That sidewalk goes straight through to the other side...and on the left half is the actual chapel. The right half is restrooms and the mechanical room. There are gorgeous gardens all around it.

Ryan and I read the memorial wall about those who lost their lives in the accident. It really is a beautiful tribute to them.

Also inside...this really cool piece of art made to represent the Last Supper. {I'm not really bright about art, so I was also thankful for the explanation piece, so I could say "ohhhhhhhhh I get it now."}

Once we were done walking around, we went back to {a still-packed} Ivanhoe's to get the much-coveted strawberry shortcake. We decided to take it home and have coffee with it.

But it turns out they don't put the whipped cream ON IT when you get it to go. They put it in a little cup.

I'm not really all about LITTLE amounts of whipped cream.

So on the way home, we stopped by the grocery store real fast...

Annnnnnnnnd that's more like it.

The only bad part of the night? The movie we watched. It gave me nightmares. But otherwise? A very fun, local date that I appreciated so much!