Look how far we've come my baby

Yes I did just use a lyric from a Shania Twain song as the title of this post.
Don't laugh. It fits I promise.
It's been 3 whole years since Broc left on his mission! April 30th 2008 started an exciting/sad/really cool/crazy long adventure for the both of us. I remember the night that we said goodbye I was a total mess. My very best friend was leaving me and I wasn't grasping the reality of it too well. I had asked Broc to give me a blessing before he left and we had just never got around to it. We were now down to the minutes before he was set apart. All our friends and Broc's family were at his house saying goodbyes. I had to take a second by myself to control my emotions. I stepped into the darkness of the front living room and had myself a good cry. Before I knew it Broc walked in all dressed in his suit. Behind him followed all of my close guy friends all dressed in shirt and tie with Broc's dad Travis. I wasn't sure what was going on but Broc pulled a chair out to the middle of the floor and asked if he could give me a blessing. I was surrounded by my closest friends and Broc offered a beautiful blessing.
The moment we said "amen" the wait began...
So to again quote Shania
"We mighta took the long way
We knew we'd get there someday
They said, "I bet they'll never make it"
But just look at us holding on
We're still together still going strong"

Easter weekend

Saturday:

We started out the morning at the neighborhood party.

Lexi and I had fun on the blow up slide and we got to see our favorite baby Keegan!
Then it was on to the Esplin Family Easter party at the park.



Highlights of Easter Saturday:

Doug smashed a raw egg on Adam
Delaney was dressed like a peep (so cute)

Taylor fell down 4 rows of bleachers
(this was actually later in the day at a basketball game. But definitely so so funny)
Sandy made her amazing brownies
I flew a kite for the first time in years

Easter Day:

Broc and I were going to hide our Easter baskets
for each other but we realized there weren't any good
places in our small apartment so we just gave them to each other.

Highlights of Easter Day:

Broc wore his yellow tie with a duck on it
We saw Broc's parents and Sage sing in their ward Easter program
I gave the lesson in relief society and am relieved it's over.
Eating Easter dinner with Broc's Family
Eating another Easter dinner with the Wades + Easter program + Heidi's strawberry shortcake.

To sum things up, our first Easter together was wonderful!

Behind the camera

Broc and I have been keeping pretty dang busy between work, school and other things. I've been doing a lot of photography lately (which I LOVE). My eyes hurt some nights when I get in bed because I get addicted to editing and stare at the computer for far too long. Here's a peak into the recent shoots...

I grew up next door with this gorgeous girl and I'm so excited for her and her cute fiance. They make a darling couple! Congrats Amy and Josh!

We're all so excited for this couple to get married! Jordan and Laura are adorable and we're so excited to get Laura in our family!

He must love me.

This morning I asked Mr. Hafen if he'd like to accompany me to a dance concert that evening.
He thought for a second and then said "uh....."
He has been such a trooper throughout all my years of dancing that I did feel bad asking him to come watch more dance that I wouldn't even be in so I asked my sister Taylor if she'd like to go.
When I got home from work Broc said,
"okay, what time is this show thing?"
He must love me.
Taylor and I watched the dance concert
while Broc had an entirely different concert through his ear phones.

He was bobbing his head while a ballet number was being performed.
He'd clap louder (and longer) than everyone else because he couldn't hear it over his music.
I took one of the earphones for a second and even caught him listening to Justin Bieber's "Baby".
He must love me.
And I must love dance.
And my Mr. Hafen.

Blonde.

22.

Well I've almost been 22 for a whole month now but I'm just finally getting around to blogging about it. Broc has been absent for my last 3 birthdays so this was an exciting one for me to have him here. I'm not one to make a big deal about my birthday but Broc and our families spoiled me like crazy. I'm one blessed and lucky girl.

And lets not forget Cindy. I love her birthday presents!
And Lexa Lou!


and my co-workers



And of course my wonderful husband!


And family!

Broc's family! I decided we need to take more pictures because I'm thankful for you too! :)
Love you all.

Date night at the gym

Everyone always mentions the freshman 15 but no one every acknowledges the married 30. Okay I just made that up but for real. Broc and I always talk about how we're not going to be that couple that gets married and doesn't care about their health or appearance anymore. And ever since we've been married we've talked about joining a gym together. This week Broc joined the gym that I already go to and we're both excited about it. The funny thing is that Broc has never actually worked out in a public gym. He does home work outs and stays active but he was a little anxious about going. We went and bought him some new shoes (check them out below) and headed to the gym last night. I think that it's pretty safe to say he's hooked and we're getting ready for swim suit season! :)

A picture of someone who you've been closest to the longest

A picture of something that you love



A picture of people who you have the most fun with



A picture of someone who you'd like to be more like



A picture of someone who has gotten you through the most

A picture of someone that cheers you up



A picture of someone you look up to



A picture of someone you love talking to


A picture of someone who makes you laugh


A picture of someone who you couldn't live without

home sweet home

Since we've been married for 4 months and no one has really seen where we live I decided to put up a few pictures of the new Hafen home. We love it here. Although it is the size of a shoebox and we both only get one small drawer in the bathroom, it is perfect for us.

Here's the tour..

So come visit us! We'll make cookies or something.
:)

365 days ago.

Today is the one year mark of Broc officially becoming a RM!

I asked him how he was feeling one year ago and the first word that came out of his mouth was "tired".
For those who don't remember one year ago or never heard the story, here it is.
Bear with me.

Broc was originally scheduled to come home the day he left which was April 30th. He got news in January that he might be sent home a month early due to transfers. So for a few months no one knew exactly how much time was left. About 3 weeks before, we all got news that Broc would be coming home on March 24th. I was ecstatic about the news but also very anxious. I think any girl who waited for a missionary can relate to that feeling. Right mom?

I spent all week/month picking out the outfit I'd be wearing when he got off the plane and the days thereafter. The night of the 23rd I was sitting in the living room of my Provo apartment. Katie and I checked the flights to make sure all was good
and that he really would be getting home. It was and he would be.
at least we thought.

The next morning I was on my way to class all done up and ready because I'd be leaving straight to STG and drive straight to the hill top airport (R.I.P). I got a call from my mom.
"He's not coming home today"
Wow. that would be my luck. First he went 10,748 miles away. The furthest mission from church headquarters. I should have known something like this would happen.
"His flight was delayed in South Africa and that caused him to miss his flight in Paris".
I was freaking out. Only because I was so darn mad this was happening. And then is when the worry kicked in. Where was he? Was he okay? Does he have a place to stay?

His sweet mom Jilynne of course was doing the same worrying but x 100 and actually did something about it. Because she's a mom. That's what they do. She knew that he would be landing in Washington DC before the night was over. She spent a long time calling people and finally got a hold of a nice lady from church headquarters who was in charge of missionary travel. She wasn't sure what she could do for Broc but guaranteed she would try the best she could to help calm Jilynne's worries.

This is Broc's side of the story "I had to split up with the couple that I was traveling with in South Africa so I knew the rest of my trip would be by myself. When I got to Paris I wandered around the airport for forever because no one would help me and I couldn't speak enough French to help myself. After hours of frustration (I don't like the french now) I finally got onto a plane to DC. When I landed I had gone more than 24 hours without sleep in the same suit I had put on almost 2 days prior. I had no idea what I would do in DC. Where I would stay. If I even had enough money to get a hotel room to just rest my eyes for a few hours. But not long after I got off the plane I saw a man in a suit with a familiar name tag that yelled "Elder!" to me. I knew that was one of the tender mercies of the Lord... and my mom. It just happened to be the Mission President in DC. It was late and he took time out of his incredibly busy schedule to pick up not even one of his own missionaries. My eyes flooded with tears. He asked me if I had eaten yet and of course I hadn't for some time so he took me straight to Wendy's. I don't know if he realized that I hadn't had American food in 2 years so I was both excited and nervous for what it would do for my stomach. He gave me his cell phone and told me to call my parents. We went back to his home through all the beautiful trees of Virginia to a house far bigger and nicer than I had seen in a long time. I slept a few short hours before I was taken back to the airport to head home."

It just so happens that my Grandpa Wade was the mission president 5 or 6 years ago and this was their house!! I have had christmas in that house before. Talk about coincidence!

Broc was now scheduled to land in STG on the 25th at noon. I drove home the night before and surprisingly slept great. I remember waking up, going to the gym with Dani, getting ready and drove myself to the airport. Jessica and I had always talked about what that drive would be like. I couldn't believe how calm I was. The calmness left as soon as I stepped into the airport. Soon there was a whole boat load of people there to welcome Elder Hafen :) I don't even know what was going through my mind. When the plane landed I started to feel myself stop breathing and of course Broc would be the one to wait on the plane just to drag out everyone's anticipation. There were a few business men who got off that psyched us out in their suits. But not too long after off stepped Elder Broc Hafen. He was wearing his gray suit that he had made in Mada that I had heard so much about.

He was much skinnier than when he left and although it showed on his face that he had been restlessly traveling for 3 days, he was glowing.

I loved this day 365 days ago.

Welcome home for good Broc.
I love you.

Spring Break

To kick off the beginning of spring break Broc and I went with my family to the Esplin cabin for a few nights. If you've had the privilege of spending time at this cabin then you know that the hot activities include 4-wheeling,

eating
splitting wood for the stove collecting random things,
just hang out
play billions of card games,
and listen to my dad tell the worst day of his life story around the fire.


We however decided to spend a day away from all those activities and hike angels landing for the first time in zion.
Boy was it crazy/awesome/scary/tiring
Once we hiked/ran(thanks dad) for the first hour or so we got to the foot away from death part that you always hear about.
It was "strenuous" just like the map we got described and my thighs is still very sore but it was definitely worth the view.
Check it out!