The countdown is on!

As of today there's 3 full weeks until the wedding!  Wedding plans have been going amazingly well, due to Mom, and are pretty much done.  It was fun having my friend do my hair for bridals and though I don't like taking pictures by myself, and it was snowing and cold, we had a lot of fun and I just got even more excited about things!  All that's left in our planning is who's doing our cake, though I did finally choose a design, pick pictures to display and finish mailing announcements.  Hence this post.  Not that tons of people even keep up with this, and most who do I already have your addresses, but if you haven't gotten me your address in the last month, please post it!  Either here or send me an email at classyhay9@gmail.com 

As happens in life, we set goals and dream dreams for ourselves and our families.  We picture what our future will be like, who's going to be a big part of it, and how we're going to make that happen.  While setting goals and actually being able to picture my future with Justin and a family, I'm realizing more and more every day how real my dreams have been and are becoming.  And I can't tell you how great it is!  Many of you are in the midst of fulfilling yours as well and isn't it an exciting thing?!?  If you're not, make it happen because it's in your power (and not just dreams of getting married and having a family, though those are the highest and noblest, but many others as well).  Justin and I read "The Family: A Proclamation to the World" last night and talked about our roles and responsibilities as a family to be successful and happy, and how to make that happen.  It's the basic principles of the gospel and putting our love for the Lord and each other first that's going to make that possible.  Life is good!  We're happy now and though trials will inevitably come up, as we continue to develop the knowledge and love we have, then we'll be okay.  And as Justin says, "We'll be a whole lot more than okay" :)  It's up to us though, and we're up for the task, together! 

Live your dreams! 

and send your addresses :)

Let's Get A Move On!

Many people have been asking how wedding plans are coming along, especially since we had 8 weeks from the time we were officially engaged until the big day (Dec. 18) and some were skeptical we could pull it off.  So as soon as the proposal was made we needed to get a move on!  Enter, Sherie Smith. 



My mom is Superwoman when it comes to planning and organizing things.  Seriously, I wonder sometimes how she hides her outfit so well from the naked eye.  Regardless, with the combination of her mad planning skills, go-getter attitude, and my lack of force in opinions and sheer excitedness when it comes to all of this, the wedding is basically planned...and we're 2 1/2 weeks in, 5 1/2 to go.  Way to go Mom!

Week 1: Theme ("My/Our Favorite Things"), colors (white, silver and aqua blue), table cloths, center pieces, and everything about the reception, including reserving the fab location, check!  Plane tickets for Scott, Kris and the girls, check!  Thanks Mom and Sally! 

End Week 1: Wedding party dresses, check, AND MY DRESS too!!!  I'd post pics but a certain someone isn't supposed to see it :)  But it's fun and beautiful and I looove it!

Week 2: Food/catering decisions in the works.  Reception food, check. (Hot Apple Cider and fun goodies to go with it!)  Engagement pics, mother's attire, and apartment decided, check check check!

Week 3 (in motion): Justin and I meeting with our Sealer, my neighbor, check.  Got my personal list of people written down, check (ps, if you haven't sent your address please do!)  Choose announcements and then pics for them. Dress sized, plan layout of reception, and flowers tomorrow.  

So, thanks to Super-Mom, a patient Papa, Suz and many others, we're getting a move on!  I'd say we're doing well!  AND.....my sis Trace just moved closer so now she can be a part of all the excitement from right here too!  Sorry for you who can't be close, but I love you too!

It's hard to believe this is all happening, but as Justin and I talk about things, as we spend time together and even apart I just can't descibe how right it feels and how excited I am to live life with him.  So these next few weeks need to hurry up! :) 

Halloween happened at the end of week 1, and SuperMom came to the rescue for our costumes, as we were in lalaaa land and couldn't decide.  Justin got a wolf mask to fully complete the costume after this pic was taken, but you get the idea.  Yeah, we won best couple :)

Is this real?!?

I'm getting married!!  It has only been official since Saturday afternoon (and it's Monday) but it still doesn't seem real.  He got some fun pictures on his camera but I don't have them yet so here's the ones from my phone.  

I'll fill ya in on the details of how he proposed later but here's what my journal from that night says,  

"Justin proposed!! I've been planning on and hoping for this for a while now but now that it's actually happened I can't believe it!  He wants to be with me forever!  I love him so much and everything about him!  I love how confident and comfortable he is with himself and everything, and his happy, smiley attitude always.  I love how he treats me, quite the gentleman in every way, but expects and appreciates respect as well as shows it.  He loves life and being a goof no matter who's around and doesn't take things too seriously unless they need to be.  I love that he makes me laugh at any time and that he loves the little things, like not tons of makeup and holding me close.  He loves the Lord and gospel and is very dedicated to it, and I love how often and easily we can talk about it.  I love how he loves me and looks forward to life together, a family in the future and following our dreams together.  I love him with all my heart, am amazed at how easily we fit and how easy it has been to fall and feel so right about him.  We're getting married!  He's really mine!  And he wants to marry me, as crazy as that is!  Woo hoo!"

BYU game in August

Didn't he do well?! :)

After proposal, don't think we've calmed down yet haha

 

 

 

Playing Mom

If you look at my posts it wouldn't seem like I've even left DC since there's only one in-between my last DC post and this one.  However, pay attention to the dates and you'll notice its been months.  However, I am back in my beloved DC area and playing Mom while my brother and his wife take a dream vaca to Maine. 

I've always loved being an aunt and figured the one thing that would top it would be to be a Mother to my own kids.  This week I kinda have a trial-run in that area, only not with my own of course.  Kayt, Ella and I will be together this week for longer than they've been away from their parents and than I've ever watched anyone on my own, ever.  Eeeee!  Nervous but super excited! 

It has been an adventure so far and will continue to be.  I have to admit that being a Mom, especially to a 2 and almost 5 year old, is pretty tiring and helps you understand patience in a whole new way.  Its definitely helped me see areas I need to improve on but I've also been pleasantly surprised to find how natural a lot of it comes to me.  It gives me hope that when the time does come for me to be a real mom, that I actually won't completely mess up my kids!  This has also helped me to see life in a new way.  To live as a toddler again... not the potty-training side but the constant energy and jokes really does make you smile and laugh a whole lot more.

 So far we've built forts, frosted and decorated cupcakes, had pajama-ramas, played in the park, ridden bikes, and painted finger and toenails just to name a few.  Ah...the hard life of the young ones :)  And that doesn't even include all of our cooking adventures on a daily basis.  We've had our ups, downs, and trials with locks, but the girls are troopers and so patient with me and we've got lots to look forward to in the next few days.


I just have to say that I love being an aunt!  There's nothing else like it.  I love how my nieces say my name, hearing their laughter and being able to pamper them.  I love how they ask me random questions about nothing in particular and some more thoughtful than you'd expect to come from such young ones, even over skype.  But, I tell you what, these aren't normal nieces, these are pretty special girls.  And I'm talking about all of them, not just Kayt and Ella.  I'm pretty blessed to have them all in my life.

(once again, stay tuned for pics)

"I LOVE LLIIIIFFFEE!!"

One bright sunshiny day a little girl and her Mom went shopping.  As they shopped the little one found some pretty white sandals that fit just right.  After buying the sandals she and her Mom rode home in the car.  They left "her mall," and passed "her temple," and with the sun shining in the windows and her new sandals on her feet swaying to her own beat she sang at the top her lungs, "I LOVE LLIIIIFFFEEE!!!!"

Obvious or not, this little girl was me, the "Sunshine Girl" according to my family, at probably 3 or 4 years old.  Now at 24 and driving myself home in the sunshine on this beautiful fall day, looking at "my mountains," and passing "my temple" I felt like singing it again. :)

Yes, I'm typically a happy person so maybe this shouldn't be out of the ordinary, but it is!  And it is because of everything combined and one thing by itself.  Yes, work is lots of fun and my promotion is going great.  Yes, I get to redeem my favorite aunt status with the Little Smith's this weekend and show my parents "my DC" after that (are you catching that I take things personally and make everything my own, haha).  Yes, my Grandpa Dye's going to work on my car with me to make it look all fab again.  The list could go on but the biggest thing is that I have an incredible man at my side, who it's looking like is promising to stay there forever! :) And I think he's serious, haha.  Yes, a lot has changed and I LOVE LIFE!! 

(my pictures won't upload for some reason so stay tuned).

Love....Hate....

Love: going on adventures on my own, and with friends old and new

Hate: saying goodbye to places and especially people I've come to know, respect and love

Love: cherry blossoms and other fabulous blooms on the trees in DC

Hate: the puffy, red, dragon eyes and other fun affects of my first allergies caused by these wonderful blossoms!  It's a sad day when something you love so much doesn't quite love you in return.... (I'll spare you the picture but know this, my brother said I looked like either a 60 year old woman on drugs or that I'd been beaten...yeah, it was bad)

Love Love: hanging out often with the little Smiths (Scott, Kris, Kayt and Ella) and hearing "Aunt Haywee!!!"

Hate Hate: leaving such wonderful family/friends knowing it'll be years before we live so close and can get together so often.  Each member of this little family have been so incredible to get to know on different levels as I lived in the DC area close to them.  There's no way to express the many ways they were lifesavers for me at so many times and how grateful I am that they allowed me to be such a part of their family.  From the dance parties and chilling on the couch, to deep conversations and singing in the car, then with snowy adventures, counting down the New Years ball or rolling Easter Eggs each in this family have left quite the mark on me and my life.  Thanks for everything guys!  Love you dearly!

Love: the surprising but fabulous results a seemingly random night sitting along the Potomac led to

Hate: long distances

Love: seeing hard work pay off, particularly in my internship through many avenues but particularly in the Halo Chase, a 5k charity race I helped plan and implement.  

Hate: not being able to see the end results of other projects and no longer working on them or with the wonderful people at the R & W

Love: getting ready to graduate at the end of this semester

Hate: looking for jobs

Love: feeling I'm in a good place all around and finally completely adjusted after a year of being home from my mission

Hate: not having favorite mission people live closer to see them more often

Though there are so many ups and downs to life, I always seem to go back to the song I'm told I sung as a 3 year old...."I LOVE LIIIFFEEE!!!"  And why not?

Aw...Tender Mercies

Yesterday started off with my alarm going off at 7:00 and me flying out of bed realizing my boss was picking me up for a meeting at 7:15.  My hair was all over the place curly and crazy since I'd gone to bed with it wet, so taming it was quite the process in 15 minutes.  But tame it I did and off we went!  Throughout the day I went to planning meetings and answered email after email for people wanting to register for a 5k charity run I'm in charge of.  My friend, Sophie, was even on the NIH campus for a presentation her writing firm was doing, so we met for lunch.  It wasn't a bad day, but because of how it started, I felt like I was in a fog for most of it.  I definitely need a few minutes in the morning to let my mind and body wake up.  Though I was in a fog for most of the day, it ended on a fabulous note. 

Let me go back a few weeks...
Those who know me would probably say I'm a religious person.  I know what I believe and for the most part I try to let those beliefs show in my daily actions.  I've been told that when I first got home from my mission I tried to make everything a teaching opportunity, with family, friends, strangers, etc.  Not that teaching is bad, but it's good to relax and just let people be themselves sometimes.  I didn't realize I was so awkward, sorry family!  Thanks to all who were so patient with me! 

 
Recently I have kept myself so busy enjoying and exploring things here, that I haven't allowed any downtime where it's quiet and I can just think, or allow for an opportunity of personal direction and answers.  I've realized that it is desperately something I need in my life if I'm ever going to make big decisions or really do anything.  I think we all need to have downtime where we can reconnect with our Maker and ourselves.  It was a few weeks ago that I finally started cutting back on different activities, even just a little, and providing the opportunities for quiet thought and relaxation.  One night I realized I had an extra hour and was in downtown DC, so I ended up sitting on the steps of the Library of Congress facing the amazing Capitol with all it's lights and magnificent history and everything.  As I sat there, surrounded by incredibly historic things, I couldn't help but keep my mind on the things of the gospel, the plan of salvation, and the words of the prophets, not presidents.  It was a wonderful night of reconnection for me. 
 
Since I have been living in the greater DC area I meet a lot of great people who do not have the same knowledge and understanding of the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ as I've been blessed with.  So, I try to share it with them in a non-threatening way of invitation.  It's really interesting doing this and not being a missionary, but necessary just the same.  On the way home on the metro that night I was reading the little Book of Mormon that I carry, and for the first time someone asked me about it.  Naturally I was really excited to have someone approach me about what I was reading instead of me going to them.  We started to have a wonderful discussion, I felt, but it turned out the man didn't believe in any kind of God or power, and didn't want to at all.  It turned into a discussion of agreeing to disagree and he wouldn't accept anything I offered, not a pass-a-long card or a statement of belief, but did at least accept my best regards as I got off at my stop.  Took me right back to the mission again.

The reason for all of this background, is because last night after my long day in the fog, things finally cleared.  Since that night on the steps and metro, I've been making it a point to have a bit of time everyday to just think, reconnect and/or study deeper the things of the gospel.  I've noticed a change in how I feel, how I treat others and simply view life.  And while yesterday started crazy and was a bit off all day, on the way home on the metro the man next to me pulled out his Bible and started to read.  I smiled to myself considering the tender mercy, and commented to him about it.  His name is Carl, a lawyer in DC who has read many versions of the Bible but is back to the King James version because it seems more pure and unchanged.  After a great discussion, at my stop we exchanged his business card for a pass-a-long card for the Book of Mormon.  He smiled when I pulled it out and said, "I've never read that but have always been interested to, and curiously enough, the man next to me at work is Mormon."  We left on good terms and I really feel he'll do something about our discussion.  After all this time, I think I've learned to adjust my "teaching" moments, that I took so often when I first got home, to be less threatening and more real-world, every day moments.  When you're open for the Lord to teach you, He will, and He'll give you opportunities to teach too and everyone wins! 

Part II: Breezes into March

Georgetown vs. Syracuse game....one of the best games to see in person!

Getting ready for the Circus!!  Me and Hewan (from work) with our friend the Elephant

Tay came for a visit!!  Goober 1 & 2/ Smith^2 on another adventure

"The Wall" Memorial & Lincoln Monument

Recognize these?!? (If not, there's a sign above the shoes to give you a hint)

Both incredible buildings....yet one is just not nearly like the other

Scott's Saturday off!!  Georgetown vs. Notre Dame!!  Not the greatest game, but it's college ball and so good to get out with these guys!

Great BBQ food with lots of character - Arlington Cemetary Amphitheatre

Masonic Temple - Tiff and Tay finally meet after I've talked about both so much- lots of laughs

My first hockey game!  Not so great results from the night, but the hockey was great!  Go Caps!!

Georgetown University

The coolest library ever!  Like stepping into Beauty and the Beast...seriously!

Such old textbooks, even dating back to 1823 from what we found

And complete with a scary spiral staircase in the corner tower with cobwebs and everything

First real warm and sunny day!  Playing with Kayt and Ella...lovin' it!

Such great sisters

Reconnecting...for the first time in a long time I had some spare minutes and just sat for a while on the steps of the Library of Congress looking at the Capital and lights all around.  There's so much history there but yet, my mind couldn't stay on our nation's history or government, but lingered on the wonderful blessings from our Father in Heaven.  So much going on lately, but what blessings always. 

February Breezes... Part I

February not only held a lot of snow (you may recall "Snowmaggedon" hit) but flew by in a flash with a lot of exciting events as well.  I'm way behind on here, so I'm going to try to update this quickly and with a lot of pictures.  I pass by a sign at the metro every day that says "A smile says a thousand words...." and I definitely think pictures full of smiles and other things do too.  I hope you enjoy them and get a taste of things out here!

Special Love Gala held at the Congressman's Country Club

Valentines Day in New York