More specifically, WinMock at Kinderton. This gorgeous (and I mean GORGEOUS) historical barn in my hometown was restored & turned into a wedding/events venue just last year. Um, hello... perfect! I spent the majority of my weekends in high school at my best friend's house directly across the road -- how crazy is that? Pictures don't do it justice, but here's a few from their website gallery:
I turned in the contract this week & everything is official: Zach and I will be getting married here on December 30th!
Oh. My. Word :)
In other exciting wedding news:
I took my sister to try on her bridesmaid dress yesterday. I mean, I've had it picked out for years. But it's nice to actually see it on. [Corrie would like to add, "I'm just saying: not all eyes are going to be on the bride." Awesome.]
One of my closest friends from high school is incredibly talented & has offered to do the wedding photography as a gift. I almost cried when he called me. I still tear up whenever I think about it. Another one of my closest friends from high school studied at the Audio Recording Technology Institute and offered to DJ the wedding. Seriously? I'm so so blessed.
Zach & I have two wonderful friends from camp who will be playing acoustic guitar at the wedding. They both mean SO much to us -- they've been there since Day #1 of our relationship -- and I'm thrilled that they will be a part of our special day.
Lastly, I have designed our wedding website from scratch & am super stoked to share it... next week ;)
While we're talking about the wedding, I'd like to mention that today is mine & Zach's FOUR year anniversary! Crazy to think that four years have passed since our laundry all-nighter at David's house... and what a four years it has been :)
Our first picture together, taken the week after we started dating
Camp Bethel: Fincastle, Virginia
1 Year Anniversary: Baltimore, Maryland
2 Year Anniversary: Raleigh, North Carolina
3 Year Anniversary: Deployment to Afghanistan
4 Years Together <3
Even though we've never gotten to spend an actual anniversary together thanks to the beloved United States Marine Corps, I still feel incredibly blessed for the past four years & am excited about the fact that this is our last anniversary apart :) I love you, Z, and I can't wait to begin celebrating wedding anniversaries with you!
As I was going through pictures for an upcoming "Friday Phone Dump," I realized that it was starting to look much more like a "Family Phone Dump" ... so I just went with it. The beauty of "Family Phone Dumps" is that they aren't limited to Friday posts only, hence this Tuesday masterpiece:
Yep, family. My extended family is closer than most, if you weren't aware. I've been home for a month and a half, and during that time, the number of days where I have not seen a cousin/grandparent/aunt/uncle is significantly less than the number of days where I have. We see each other multiple times a week, guaranteed. Some weeks (like this one), we see each other every single day.
I've always known my family was awesome, but a couple of new chapters in my life have exposed me to just how awesome they really are.
Example #1: They have welcomed Zach into the family unlike anything I ever imagined. Like, they've gone above and beyond with regards to welcoming him, letting him know how excited they are, sending him the most heartfelt messages, etc... both my family-family and my church-family! It amazes me; our entire relationship has been long distance, so it's not like my family has gotten to spend an abundant amount of time with Zach over the years. But it doesn't matter. Their acceptance and kind-heartedness makes me so proud to be a part of this family, and I love them all the more for loving the man that I love.
Zach and my cousin Reese
I came to these conclusions a couple of weeks ago when Zach and I were in the car together. Out of nowhere (like, serious nowhere), he said:
"I'm really glad you ended up with the job in Raleigh and not the one in Lynchburg (central Virginia)."
It's a good thing I wasn't driving, because I probably would have slammed on my brakes in the middle of the highway after hearing those words come out of his mouth. On the metropolitan scale, Zach is like... a 0.05. Granted, I grew up with cows in the barn across from my house and "horse crossing" signs on my road. I drove a tractor before I ever drove a car (I may have almost killed both of my sisters in the process, but that's a different story). At the same time, however, I'm the kid who dreamed of moving to New York City to become a magazine layout designer with a loft apartment on 6th Avenue. I'd still say that I'm a Southern country girl, but I've got a little dose of city girl in me as well ;)
meeting the newest member of the family: my cousin's daughter, Brynlee
a trip to the local science museum with cousins from Florida
Father's Day on my dad's side of the family
Needless to say, Zach's reasoning for wanting to live in Raleigh over Lynchburg absolutely melted my heart. I love my family. I love that Zach is about to become an official part of my family. And I love that my family has welcomed him beyond my wildest expectations and consider him to be family already. Such a blessing :)
And if that wasn't enough to show how wonderful my family is...
Example #2: My family is so proud of me for getting a full-time job and my own place. Don't get me wrong: they're gonna be sad to see me go & I will be sad to leave. But just because they would love for me to remain in Winston doesn't mean that they aren't supporting me every step of the way.
My Mawmaw & Papa took me out shopping for flatware yesterday, followed by lunch for just the three of us :)
no more plastic forks & spoons!
I then came home from signing the contract on the wedding venue (don't you wish it was Wedding Wednesday?) to find an array of "for your first place" goodies from my mom's cousin & her daughter.
And my ever-supporting parents took me shopping for a bedroom set: a bed, boxspring & mattress (because those apparently aren't included when you buy a bed), dresser with a mirror, and TWO nightstands (I get to use both of them for six months... then I apparently have to share with Zach).
Isn't it gorgeous?? (the bed, not the bedding)
I've always known that I was blessed with an exceptional family, but I can't even begin to explain how much more I appreciate them after the past month and a half. The way they have claimed Zach as one of their own and supported me as I begin to leave the nest for good --- wow. Their love is overwhelming, and I could not ask for anything more!
my mom's side of the family... we're up to 19 people, Zach included!
A lot has happened in my life in the past month(ish) --- a LOT. I'm talking dozens of blog post-worthy events. For the first time in a longgg time, however, I've gotten to share all of these life happenings with the people closest to me: Zach & my family & some of my dearest friends. It's funny: I guess I haven't been on top of sharing my life with the entire world (via blog) simply because I've been sharing my life with the most important portion of my world (via real life). And I'll take real life over blog world, any day :)
Nonetheless, I definitely plan on doing some blog catch-up! Here's quite a few belated posts you can expect in the upcoming weeks:
Visual Arts Senior Capstone Project - I wrote about some of the other projects here, but I never revealed my own!
College Graduation - Getting engaged kind of stole the spotlight, but graduation was a pretty big deal & deserves its own shoutout :)
"A Letter to my 18-Year-Old Self" (originally planned to post this ON my graduation day, but forgot in all the engagement excitement)
Photography | Bradley & Rebecca's wedding (my first time ever photographing a wedding---super exciting)
My new full-time job in Raleigh (oh, hey... I GOT A JOB!)
My new apartment (oh, hey... I GOT MY OWN PLACE!)
lots of pictures & reflections of time spent with family, particularly cousins visiting from Florida :)
Also on the horizon:
6 days 'til my FOUR year anniversary with Zach
9 days 'til my grandpa's 75th birthday party---a huge deal since he spent three months in the hospital a year and a half ago with a traumatic brain injury
10 days 'til I move into my new apartment (and one of my dearest friends leaves for Kenya!)
11 days 'til I start my new job
And of course, there's always some wedding details to be revealed. So much excitement! Hang on tight, blog world -- we've got quite a bit of catching up to do ;)
This is actually happening---the wedding, that is! I don't say that out of shock in an "I can't believe I'm getting married" way---trust me, I'm beyond thrilled to get married. I say it more out of amazement in an "I can't believe I'm having a wedding" way. Totally different. Marriage has always been a part of the plan. But a wedding? Eh, not so much.
That probably comes as a surprise to most, but my closest friends have known that I was way more into the idea of eloping than having a wedding ceremony for years. I've recently joked that when God was sprinkling little girls with a dash of "love for dreaming about a perfect wedding," I snuck away and ended up in the "ability to kill bugs without freaking out" line. Trust me, I can kill bugs like a boss. But coordinating centerpieces and flowers and accessories? You have got to be kidding me.
It's not that I'm incapable of doing such things---I simply don't care. I don't even like flowers. Or cake. Or jewelry or hairstyles or veils. (Fairly certain all of my blog readers are appalled right now). Don't even get me started on the fact that people spend months, even years, scrutinizing over details for an event that lasts a couple of hours... or the fact that the average wedding in America currently costs $26,000... or the fact that an article just appeared in my newsfeed entitled "5 Ways to Avoid Post-Wedding Blues." Really, America... post-wedding blues? You are telling me that some people become depressed because they are no longer planning a wedding---they are actually married?! When I think about my "post-wedding" life, I envision a variety of emotions, and there is not a single shade of blue. Not even the slightest hint of blue.
I could go on, but I'm fairly certain you get the point: I've never been into planning a wedding. Eloping just sounds so perfect. Zach has also known this for years and is fine with it. Yet after all the shrieking and congratulations from my best friend just minutes after I got engaged, her end of the conversation went straight into planning mode (with a disclaimer that said "I know you totally don't want any of this, but just hear me out.") Days later, the most wonderfully hysterical multi-page wedding-planning Google document appeared in my inbox. And before I knew it... my best friend had talked me out of eloping and into planning a wedding!
Granted, it's a wedding without flowers and without wedding cake. And granted, Kacey still has to re-talk me out of eloping at least twice a week. But the fact is: Zach and I are having a wedding. We have selected a venue and received the contract. More so, we have set a date---we're officially getting married in 200 days!
Let's be honest, I'm pretty excited to reveal bits and pieces throughout the upcoming months on the blog, hence the "Wedding Wednesday" feature. I mean, I don't have the wedding-crazed fever, & this definitely isn't going to be a weekly thing. But it's still going to be fun to share how we plan to weave camp, the military, our Southern roots, our faith, and a huge dose of my artsy creativity into this whole thing :)
Two weeks ago, my mom, sisters, and I packed our bags & began driving 5+ hours southwest to Atlanta! We had decided to go all out with this vacation, since (a) I just graduated from college -- big deal -- and (b) who knows if the four of us will ever get to do anything like this again?? We'll still have family vacations, of this I am sure. But over the course of the next five years, I'll get married, both of my sisters will graduate college, & we'll all have jobs/careers/lives of our own. Even if all four of the "Haynes girls" are able to get away for another trip together, we won't all have the same last name. (How crazy is that?) So, this was our grand hurrah as the "Haynes girls" --- next time, we'll be the "Haynes/Jones/Tebow/Tatum" girls ;)
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A few highlights from the trip:
Centennial Park/anything having to do with the 1996 Olympics
I was six years old during the 1996 Olympics, but I remember it SO well. It's the first time I ever remember my parents allowing me to stay up past my bedtime, and my six year old self sat in front of the television watching the 1996 USA Women's Gymnastics Team, also known as the Magnificent Seven, win the first ever gold medal for the United States in the Women's Team Competition.
Because of that very moment, I was inspired to be a competitive gymnast, traveling across the state and becoming one of the top 15 Level 6 gymnasts in North Carolina by 2002... and it all started with those 1996 Olympics in Atlanta! It sounds cheesy to say that it was "life-changing," but it seriously did impact my life so dramatically. I can still name all seven of the girls on that Olympic team, so it was so neat to see the place where they competed 16 years ago!
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Memorial Day Atlanta Braves game at Turner Field (vs. the St. Louis Cardinals)
The Braves had a HUGE pre-game ceremony in honor of Memorial Day: I'm talking members of the military stretching out a huge American flag in the outfield, a representative from each branch of the military with a star on the field, a retired general & former Vice Chief of Staff of the US Army throwing out the first pitch, a WWII vet honored on the pitcher's mound, a 21-gun salute, the playing of Taps, and an F-16 flyover.
Marine Corps, oorah! :)
the players of the Braves & Cardinals lining the bases with members of the military for the National Anthem
playing of Taps & an F-16 flyover. So legit.
Below is a pretty sweet video from the Atlanta Braves' website that gives an even better idea of what it was like.
I was unaware it was possible to cry so much at a baseball game... and not because the Braves lost (although they did... womp). Sure, I have a deeper connection to the military than most, but I promise you that everyone was crying when an Airman surprised his wife and four kids right there on the field after a six month deployment to Afghanistan.
And even though the Braves couldn't pull out a win, I got to attend my first Major League Baseball game. That's worth a trip to Atlanta in and of itself!
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Trying on wedding dresses at the bridal salon featured on "Say Yes to the Dress: Atlanta"
True life: this happened! Pictures weren't allowed inside the salon, but we snagged a couple right outside the entrance & in the elevator. Who am I kidding... we snagged a couple when I was trying on dress after dress as well, but those aren't being posted anywhere ;) We had a blast -- the staff was incredibly nice & there was only one other girl trying on dresses while I was there (she was being filmed and actually said yes to a dress, so if you see an episode within the year with a girl from South Carolina who brought along at least seven friends and family members... look for us walking around in the background) :)
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World of Coke
Obsessed. So obsessed. A room with a giant screen that plays Coke commercials from throughout history, endless amounts of vintage memorabilia, a touch screen where you can try drawing the Coke logo, walls filled with Coke bottle art, a taste testing room with over 60 different Coke products from around the world...
...and the world's most snuggly polar bear. So in love. I want one.
Seriously, though, I was in awe of the World of Coke (and I don't even drink soda!) If I ever go back to Atlanta, World of Coke will the my #1 place to revisit.
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Bugs Bunny at Six Flags
I don't go to Six Flags to ride roller coasters. Nope. (I don't ride roller coasters, period). I went to Six Flags to meet Bugs Bunny. My most precious stuffed animal in the world is named Bugs Bunny... even though it is just a bunny rabbit that looks nothing like Bugs. (Don't hate--I named him when I was three). I loved me some Looney Tunes when I was growing up (I had a Tweety Bird bookbag well past the acceptable age of having cartoon bookbags), and was elated to stumble upon Daffy, Taz, and Bugs during our trip.
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We packed a lot of other things into our Atlanta visit: we went to Passion City Church (where Chris Tomlin is the worship leader... it's casual) on Sunday, ate at Johnny Rocket's & The Varsity, saw glimpses of both Georgia Tech's and SCAD's (swoon!) campuses, reverted to a bunch of seven year old girls in the American Girl Doll Store, and hiked Stone Mountain.
This was actually a miserable hike... and I'm the summer camp counselor extraordinaire who loves hiking/has hiked trails over 10x longer than this one. Womp. Regardless, we lived to tell about it... barely :)
