Hay Happens and Hay's Happen

She couldn’t stop saying it. No more “Dougy,” Baby!

We brought mom and Tot a few gifts from our stay.

I couldn’t wait to see Tatum (and my mom of course). Seeing her after this last evening was different because now we are a true family; it’s real now.

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We opened gifts (wow, how blessed we were), and then we decided to bless our home.

Daddy read a prayer of blessing for a new home,

we lit a candle, and then went from room to room praying over our home. We wanted Jesus to be covering the whole place. We focused on being GRATEFUL which is signified above the sink in the kitchen.

We had takeout our first night since we had no food!
But it was so fun to eat as a family.

The next day Tot and I would load up on groceries. She had the day off due to it being President’s Day. (our grocery bill was twice what it used to be, but it’s worth it! I get to serve my family now).

I have never experienced FAMILY like this; Tatum finally gets to experience it too. My heart is full. Completely full. I know there will be “stuff” that happens, but we have such a strong foundation from God and from time together in the last 4 years.

I can’t wait to be your wife, be Tatum’s mommy with a daddy, and to serve my family with love.

Disclaimer: This post will be extremely abridged. *wink*

We had to drop off my car at the condo. It looked like I was the Runaway Bride.

I also wanted to get the literally 100 pins in my hair.

Next stop: The Phoenician. Now, Doug did not get the reservation till a bit late, and PLUS it was Valentine’s weekend. The suite we got was triple diple the price, but oh my. We were in for a treat.

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I can’t explain it, but I felt completely different today; It was as if I was with a brand new man, but I have this incredible friendship with him already. I’m with the LOVE of my life. We couldn’t wait to start our journey. I’m just beaming……

No, we are ….

When we were in the lobby, God had a present for us; we ran into an acquaintance of ours from church. She and her husband sit behind us at church. Well, we told her we were planning on going to Napa for our official honeymoon, and she mentioned they own a B an B in Napa. She will take care of us! Now, how is that not a gift from God? A little message saying, “You two, I have you in the palm of My hands.”

Enter heaven….

The suite was SO SWEET! Like 1300 square feet of spectacular views.

As the evening progressed, we got comfy!

I put on a few little goodies for my honey.

We then had a toast!

Would it be a party without an injury? I tried to move the stool and it went over my toe.

So my rocket man took over.

My toe might have been throbbing, but my heart was pounding with excitement.
The evening progressed perfectly, and I’ll leave it at that.

Relaxed and peaceful, we walked around the hotel in the morning. We needed to find a pair of flippies I could put on since I couldn’t wear my shoes. I figured we should go to the spa and get some of their free flippies for when you get a pedi. This way we wouldn’t be spending $50 on rubber shoes.

Now that is a happy foot….

and a very happy couple.

We wish we could stay longer, but a staycation in a few months will be just perfect.

My dear sweet man, I love you more than I could ever have imagined. I see why you save the good stuff for marriage. Our relationship is on a whole new level and we are connected on a completely deeper tier. Without that four years of foundational friendship, I don’t think this day would have been so special and sweet.

Tatum and Mom, we have some presents for you. See you soon!

First, let me say that the pictures in this blog are not our official fancy ones. Therefore, there are not many of my sweet man or us. We shall proceed regardless.

In the dressing room, we snapped a few pics. My mom and Tatum looked like angels straight from heaven. OOOOOH LALA! Tatum couldn’t take her eyes off Grandmama.

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It was time for the FIRST LOOK. My heart was beating out of my chest as I readied to approach my love. Bobby, my dear friend who officiated the wedding with Neil, snapped a pic of me approaching. If you could see my excitement, you’d be blinded by the glow in my heart.

Austin was snapping a million pics as well. The anticipation.

When he saw me, he was speechless and tearing up. I wanted to just squeeze him so tightly. We had to rush and get many pics before the wedding would begin. Also, it was faaaareeeezing! Here are some that Doug took.

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I couldn’t wait to get started!

Doesn’t Austin look handsome?

Tatum would begin. My Girl plays and I wondered if the guests could hear my heart pounding?

Then mom and I would start to U2’s All I Want Is You.. I was overwhelmed with love, joy and excitement.

Here I come my sweetie.

Neil and Bobby would pray for us and we would discuss John 15, Eph 5:21 and 1 Peter 4:10. Tot would read Gal 5:22-23 (by heart!) to talk about the Fruits of The Spirit that come out of two abiding in Christ and serving each other .

I read my vows to Doug and he read his to me.

Communion and signing the marriage license.

It was a short and beautiful ceremony. He made me feel like a queen and the luckiest, blessed girl in the world.

Oh Happy Day would be our processional…and wasn’t it!!!!

After we’d finish pics (which will be in a later blog) reception time!

When we got to the reception, I had a surprise waiting for my sweetie. A slide show and video.

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We all would launch our “rockets” after the video.

His toast to me was the most beautiful words I have ever heard. The love we shared was not only shared with each other, but modeled for others.

From Launching now to Soaring!

Cake (which my dear friend Eva made), fun (Austin and Tot dancing), and friends (here is Sharon and me).

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The day could only get better.

I’m so incredibly grateful for all of the friends and family who came. I’ll be adding pics later when I get more in.

Baby, it’s you and me now!!!

The day before a wedding has to be a relaxing day, right? Tatum had a half day, and I had to finish getting moved over to the condo while packing to sleep at my mom’s, the honeymoon night, and packing up Tatum. Blessedly, my dear friend Sharon and her husband Andy would take Tatum on Friday night so mom and I could hang out and I could get a good night sleep. This was such a great idea!

Meanwhile, we had to get Tot’s haircut and Brandy would blow out my hair for the next morning. The work it takes to be a bride. Oh the joy!

My mom had flowers all over the kitchen since she was creating the bouquets for herself, Tot and me, and corsages for Austin, Doug, Craig and Darlene (his mom). Wow. I can’t believe how beautiful these roses are! Thank you mom for my GORGEOUS flowers!!!

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I slept so soundly and peacefully after a relaxing dinner of Wildflower, Sauvignon Blanc and quality conversation. There was such anticipation for the morning, but everything was done, so all I could do would be to sleep!

When I woke up on Saturday, I was so rested and ready to go! I was to be at the church at 7:30 to meet Brandy to do my hair and makeup.

It was such a surreal morning. The weather was crisp and cool and CLEAR! (it had been raining all week, so this was a blessing).

My love then texted me

Oh, it is close…3 hours from now. I headed to Einstein’s to get my coffee and they were surprised I had no Tot. They had a valentine for her waiting. Wasn’t that so kind?

When I arrived at the church to unload the car, it was so quiet and peaceful; I was all alone awaiting this stellar morning.

I hung my dress and waited for Brandy. My mom and Tot would show up later to get coiffed.

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Here is Brandy with her loads of beauty bags. I was so grateful for her help.

While my hair sat (yes, the curls need to hang out in the clips to “set”), my mom got her’s done. WOW. She looked like she walked out of Vogue.

The work we go to to look pretty. I’m sure it took Doug about 10 minutes to get ready. He still would look amazing!

Brandy worked on my hair and makeup. I am not into a lot of makeup, but she mentioned I should just look like me but more glamourous.

Look at these curls!

DK, our photographer arrived, and we were almost ready for the FIRST LOOK!
Tatum arrived, and we got her all dressed. Brandy even did her hair too.

Time to put on the dress. OK, we are almost there! Countdown to Rocket launch. Stay tuned!

So, it’s getting there! Yes, Doug, my love and my sweet Tot and I are all going to be united on Saturday! This means that we need to get movin’. Literally. We are going to live in my condo while our home gets remodeled. In the meantime, we are praying for Doug’s Chandler home to sell!

I have been spending the week packing up Tot’s and my room, and various other parts of mom’s house. WOW~ 75 boxes. Half the boxes are books. Ha!
Here is the evidence.

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Tatum is sitting there wondering….where is my stuff, Mommy?

We make do with books I put aside and read.

Now, I asked these wonderful movers, Moving Team 6, to move us. They are a company of men who love our country and our veterans.

Oh, see that stroller? That was Tot’s like 3 years ago! It’s a bit dusty. Anyhoo….

They, Jose and Josh, sure did a magnificent job.

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Into the teeny condo we go. Will it all fit? After much lifting, unscrewing and screwing back in, it did. Now the question is will Doug’s fit? OOPS!

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She’s practicing at her new desk. We have a ways to go, but it’s happening.

4 days left, and I’ll be MRS. DOUGLAS HAY. Tatum has already been telling her class that her name is Tatum Hay. Hey!!

Our God reigns. We know this because He makes himself known to us in various ways. Take the rainbow. Now a scientist could say, oh that is just an “arch of colors formed in the sky in certain circumstances, caused by the refraction and dispersion of the sun’s light by rain or other water droplets in the atmosphere.”

Oh, sure. Yes, it sure is. But Mr. scientist, what does all this come from? Accidental explosions of two forms of matter coming together?

All I know is that I choose to see HIM in my day. Today, driving home from piano, we began to see His glory:

Then it continued to become more clear. Just like HIM. He becomes more clear in my day as I focus on HIS work in me. (remember, it’s a choice I make). As a circumstance will occur that might seem completely unfair and frustrating, I can choose to see Him in it and trust that He is REIGNING and in charge…and “that He makes all things work for the good”; OR I can whine and stomp my feet and complain of unfairness. Nope.

And soon, as we continue to put our FAITH in HIM and keep going, it all makes sense, and the whole rainbow appears in its shining glory.

Ahhhhh. God you reign.

Well, it is the question every year. Will Punxsutawney Phil predict an early spring?

Inquiring minds want to know! Tatum, of course, wants LESS winter, so she said absolutely not….he’ll not even peak at his shadow if Tatum has a say.

We decided to draw him because that is just the way we roll.

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And isn’t he so cute? Phil did not see his shadow, and Tatum is rejoicing. Does she realize we are in ARIZONA where we WANT more winter????? She seems to be enjoying the rain.

What more would YOU want to do in the rain but jump in the puddles?

This is how she celebrated. I had to pull her away from the mud because it started to get way to fun and she was getting way too dirty! Oh, well…you might as well enjoy it while it’s here.

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