One Year.

One year.

One extremely wonderful year with this boy.
I have no words to express just how grateful I am for Blake.

A little over a year ago, I was really bummed, like all of the time. I was going through my own personal hell and he was just there for me, no matter what. He was a friend to me when I needed one most. And now, over a year later, I love him more than I could ever say.

Blake, you make me the happiest girl. I can't believe how fast this past year has gone by. I've loved absolutely e.v.e.r.y. minute of it, and I can't wait for the next year, and every year after that. You mean so, so much to me. Let's spend forever together, okay? Okay. :)

xo Haley

hello from florida.

we're having fun just chilling poolside and today we ventured out to the beach.

i didn't last too long. i'm not a fan of sand. haha

i think tonight, little brother + his girlfriend + blake + me are going on a little double date tonight to go eat and see Hangover 2.

last night, mr. blake took me on a date to the sugar shak to get ice cream and to look through all the local shops (that closed early - silly us, we forgot it was sunday). but we sat on a bench eating out sweet treats, and he gave me a promise ring.. this one, to be exact. i love this boy quite a bit. ♥

see you soon. :)

xo haley

Post-Wedding Happiness

One of the loveliest couples ever got married yesterday!I was so excited when I got my invite in the mail (it was seriously too cute), and Blake and I were so excited to dress up and be part of this special day.

I didn't bring my camera along, but I did take a few pictures on my phone, that I sent to my parents & Miss Claire throughout the afternoon. Claire, you would've absolutely died from the cuteness!!

And this is what we wore...
I am happy to announce that Blake picked both of our outfits, when he was in DC last week. The dress was so perfect, and I was so excited to wear it - until it ended up being way too cold, so I had to wear tights - but it still looked adorable. I love you, boyfriend. You can go shopping for me anytime. :)

I'll probably wear it again soon, and do a proper outfit post on it.

So, now my day is half over, and I have yet to start any of my homework to prepare for finals. I still have half of an essay to write for Children's Lit (worst class ever), and it's already over 3 pages long. BLAH. So ready for this semester to be over.

Don't forget, if you have any questions for me, ask away here or here. :)

xo Haley

Happy Mother's Day!

My momma's a cutie isn't she?!

I just wanted to say Happy Mother's Day to all the momma's out there!

I'm gonna celebrate myself. I don't have kids. No where near it. But I will sooner or later, right?

So here's to you mom!

I love you a lot, a lot. Even though I'm never home, and I complain when you make me fold the white clothes. (Really though. It is the worst job ever, and I sort of understand why you shove that job off on your kids)

But you're the best!

Lets make cuppy cakes and watch Sleepless in Seattle, okay?! :)

xoxo

Haley

day 2 + valentines day + bieber fever

day two is lame.
so i found a different one.

the highs and lows of the past year.

*i graduated high school/started college

*i got my driver's license (only 3 years late..)

*i got my first tattoo

*i've been able to spend the past couple of months with blake. its been the best.

the only "low" i can think of is july/august. but i don't want to talk about that.

happy valentines day!

i hope its a great one for you.

2 years ago, colby and i went to st. louis to see Spring Awakening on valentines day, and then last year we went out to dinner, so this is my first valentines day in a few years without him. but, as he reminded me, i am staying the night with him after my date tonight, so it really isn't a valentines day apart. i love my best friend :)

i'm so stoked for tonight though: blake and i are eating at nonna's (my favorite. and emjay's), and then seeing Never Say Never. Justin Bieber is like... God. In pre-teen form.

i'm excited!

xo haley

p.s. i love you!

Momma Tyson

So.... I have the coolest Mom in the world.

Words can't even express how much I love her. So... I thought I'd let some pictures do the talking:

my mom is sometimes an incredible cook. Lately, she's become more "experimental" in the kitchen, and she's been making a TON of dinners from scratch. i.e. the above pizza, cinnamon rolls, cashew chicken, etc. She's awesome!

She's also INCREDIBLY creative! She absolutely loves scrapbooking and making things for people. She currently leads a group of kiddos at church who make little gifts for people in the church, and in the community. So cool & inspiring.
She and my aunt Leslie are the coolest sisters ever. Our shopping trips are the best!

She (..and my aunt and my grandma) took me on an awesome graduation vacation to New York City. That alone equals awesome mom award. She and my Papa have been married for nearly 21 years! (and...yes, my dad actually enjoys wearing that hat...)Thanks to Momma, our house is the coziest little place during the Winter. She does her best to make the Christmas tree look flawless, and she spends countless hours rearranging picture frames and candles and whatever else on the shelves. So cute.

And of course, any woman brave enough to let their husband keep this lit up all Winter on the side of their house is awesome! My Papa made this a long time ago and it never fails, day after Thanksgiving, it is lit up on the side of our house until football season is over. With the way the Chiefs are playing now, I'm surprised its not already up!

And, here's the current convo, via text, going on between me & mom:

Mom: Can you tidy up the house a bit?

Haley: Maybe. Haha

Mom: I shall not hold my breath. LOL.

I love you Mom! You're the coolest!

Love, your favorite (and only) daughter :)

My little brother is a senior!

I've been hard at work editing some of the pictures that my dad took for his senior picture for the yearbook. So far, I've just edited the ones of his girlfriend, but I did do a few of Trevor.
Here's what I've gotten done so far..






In the process of working on these... I had to stop and ask myself: When did he and I become so different? We are two completely different people. Which is good, of course. But you'd think we'd share something in common. But...no. Absolutely nothing. He's country & guns. I'm city & cupcakes. But I love him very, very much.

-Haley

friends, church, and english papers.

Confession: I miss Cassie more than anything in the world right now. It is so hard having one of your very best friends 3 hours away, and only able to talk occassionally throughout the day, and even when the slight chance of a phone call could happen, you end up missing it because you're busy, and when you try to call them back, they're busy, and you keep playing phone tag back and forth. Yeah. It really sucks. I spent a good chunk (or all of it, I should say) of my summer. with Cassie. We became so close these past 3 months. And it is so knowing that she won't be showing up at my house unannounced anymore, or I can't go to the tea room (where she worked, and where I currently work) and see her prettiful face. I try not to complain about the situation, but I can't keep it all in! I hate not having her around, and I wish she would quit college and live with me. Haha :)

Last night! AH! So stinking amazing! I love the work that God is currently doing in my life. I'm going through some tough junk right now that is so emotionally draining, and last night was exactly what I needed. I went to A Night of Worship at High Street Baptist in Springfield. I actualkly attended a legit church service there the Sunday before, and absolutely loved it. And last night super confirmed that I want to start going there every Sunday (that is, if my gas tank will allow it. Ha!) Its amazing being in a room f.u.l.l. of people ready and willing to worship God. I know, all of my readers probably aren't particularly religious, or spiritual, or churchy, or WHATEVER the word for it is, but seriously... even if you don't believe, something on that sort of level, a room full of people who believe in the same thing gathering as one, is unbelievable. Here are two of my FAVORITE worship songs everrr:
"Our God" -Chris Tomlin


"Consuming Fire" -Hillsong United


Sigh. I just love these two so much. And really, the entire "Passion: Awakening" CD is fantastic, if you are into worship music.

I'm currently suffering through writing a paper for my Comp 1 class. EW. Seriouslyyy.
Also: Pumpkin Spice Lattes are back, yo. I'll be getting one veryyy soon :)

I gotta head out to church soon! So I'll see you all soon, soon, soon!
<3
Lovee Haley

story time.

I've been dealing with a severe case of blogger's block, as you may know, and I recently recieved a comment about why I chose the verse Galatians 6:17 for my side tattoo (someday... it's not a tattoo that I currently have). I thought a blog on that would be perfect while I'm trying to figure out what else I can blog about without completely boring you.

So... Galatians 6:17 says,

"For I bear on my body the scars that show I belong to Jesus Christ"

I chose this for rather simple reasons, but they do have deeper meaning to me, personally.

First, I chose it because as Christians, we are constantly being tempted, and threatened by Satan. God never said being a Christian was going to be rainbows and butterflies, and this verse really represents that to me. I'm currently going through this..junk in my life that I pray every day will just go away... but I know that only in God's timing it will. Satan keeps throwing every possible curve ball at me, and is always trying to knock me down. I'm thankful for the friends that I have who have constantly reassured me that everything will be fine in the end, and that everything will work out how it is supposed to. I hang onto that with every fiber of my being. I know that in the end, when all is said and done, I have listened to what God has to say, I have followed His plan for me, and He's made me stronger for it. So that's one reason.

Another reason I chose this was because in 8th/9th grade (so young, I know), I used to cut myself. I was not some emo kid that wore black and listened to metal bands, no. I was thoroughly displeased with the life I had. Everything felt wrong, and I felt I was not where I was supposed to be. In that specific time in my life, my relationship with Christ was definitely not where it was supposed to be. It is also through that time that I found that God is always with me, whether I'm His biggest fan or not. Through all of that pain and suffering that Satan put me through, I found a much, much better life in Jesus Christ. I'm not saying that I'm sooo happy with the life I have, because I still struggle every single day with this very issue. I always want to cut, I always want to go back to it, and blame it all on God. But I know that I can't. My faith is keeping me strong; much stronger than Satan probably likes.

I love my life, I have struggles, and hardships just like everyone else, but God is with me. He's helping me out along the entire way. And for that, I can be nothing but grateful.
:)

I hope this answered some questions on why I chose that specific verse <3

(from the weekend in St. Louis with Cassie. we bought new nail polish, and just haaad to show it off) :)

xo times infinity
haley