What Are You Looking At?

I think once a week I'm going to post a photo I've shot. Really for no other reason than to just keep me focused on my writing and photography.

Disney's always a favorite subject of mine to shoot, especially in the parks. There's so many different things I can do to shoot in the parks and never get the same shot. Yes, there's hundreds of 'Disney Photographers', and I guess I'm one of them, but I don't try to get 'The Castle Shot', or any of those typical angles most people are shooting. When I shoot in the park, I try to find things others don't. See what only I see and do my best to capture it. By no means am I good. I'm an amateur, at best. This is only for the fun of it, and to learn how to be better by pure practice. These shots are what I think are cool, and for all we know, everyone could hate it. That's fine by me, because if it's disliked, and people explain how they think I could do something better, that just means there's more practice and more room to grow better as a photographer.

So, with all this said, this is a shot I took some years back. It was a trip to the parks on a whim with my family, and my sister and I were rushing into the parks to catch the fireworks after a dinner at Rainforest Cafe. We were halfway up Main Street when we found a somewhat empty spot in the crowd to stand. As the show started, I started to shoot. A lot of them came out blurry, over exposed, under exposed, and just generally terrible. But then during the 'Remember, Dreams Come True' section of the Haunted Mansion, they shoot fireworks all around the Hub of Main Street, imitating the  stretching room. I was able to get the light of the fireworks, without getting them in the shoot, giving off a rather apocalyptic look inside an otherwise magical place.

Bachelor Trip

Most of the time, bachelor trips are not things that need to be, or should be documented. Strip Clubs, loads of booze, etc. But, I'm not like most guys and none of that stuff happened on my trip. I like having fun, but I can at least remember my bachelor trip, and thanks to my great friend Preston, we got a lot of our day on video! 

Disneyland

Contents of new page. 

The Past, Present, and Future Journeys

Mother's Day was yesterday. It's the first year Hailey and I are out on our own. It's interesting, but a lot of fun. This whole thing, about growing up, and learning more about yourself and your significant other is unbelievably wonderful. I love it. It's one of the greatest challenges I've had. Yet, I've really been thinking back about some things, specifically this week, about my family. Family is important. It's important to invest in their lives. Not just doing the basic work that makes your family keep going. No. Not that. Investing in their lives where you're able to pick up their mood immediately as they walk into the room. Going to surprise them with a little gift you know they'll like, just because you love them. Investing where you know what to order for them at restaurants if they aren't there, and be right the first time. I've come from a family where all of this has happened. Where we've done family trips all over the country, because we all love exploring. Where we may fight, but the fights don't last too long, and we're stronger after it, and don't make the same mistake twice. After all, it was my dad who said as I was growing up: "Measure twice, cut once".

I want to take a moment to write this out. I don't care how many people read this. I'm doing this for me, because I love writing, and I love sharing what I write, even if it's with a small audience. My family is important to me. So I want to write out my thoughts on each member.

First: My Hailey

This is the girl that stole my heart. She's smart. In year of college, she did two. She works two jobs, and has this work ethic of getting things done faster than you can ever imagine. Did I mention she's beautiful? With eyes that you can get lost in for forever, and a smile that will make anyone's bad day instantly better, I'm a lucky man to now be waking up next to her every morning. Oh, and did I say yet about how much she cares? No? Okay, let's put it this way: The first time I ever got sick, she drove 30 minutes out to the middle of nowhere where I work, brought me a 'Thank You, Jesus' (Secret Jamba Juice Menu...get on checking that out...), and cough drops, took my temperature, and asked every day when I was going to make a doctors appointment, because I was going to just ride out the cold, and she wanted me to go to get checked out, so she bugged me until I went. Because she cared. Ah, and I haven't mentioned her sense of humor. She can get me laughing to the point of tears. I haven't laughed with anyone more than her in the time we've been together. She's everything I could ever ask for in a wife and more. 

Next....

Hannah

So much could be said for this now seven year old. I was privileged to travel to China when we adopted her. She has a cleft lip (fixed now) and cleft palate (going to be fixed). You'd never think she had it though, with her spunky personality. She's seven, and at a fourth grade reading level. She is at the top of her class and at the top level for her age at the moment for gymnastics, and she's got her first meet already this coming July. She, next to Hailey is the girl who has me completely wrapped around her finger, and I'd do anything for. Hannah has adopted my love of Disney, and every Friday on my lunch break, she asks to watch an old Mickey Mouse short, and wants me to show her old photos of 'what was at Disneyland before I was born.' Her giggle is infectious, and her desire to be the best is inspirational. She loves any princess,  and adores reading and telling everyone about her latest book she read. It's really a blessing to see how far she's come, and will go.

Now for...

Emily

This girl...this girl is awesome. She's got the biggest heart of gold. There's been so many times through my life she's done things for me just because she wanted to, and I didn't realize it was something special until much later. For instance, when we were kids, she ran into the kitchen and asked my parents for a cup of water. They gave it to her, she ran back the way she came. Seconds later, she was back, and asked for a second. They asked "what'd you do with the one we gave you?" she replied: "That wasn't for me. That was Jacob's. May I have one for me now?" Things like that throughout my life she's done. We've argued like any siblings do, but at the end of the day, this beautiful girl is my sister and I'd do anything for her. She's amazingly smart and wants to get into wedding/event planning as a career, and I can't wait to see how it works for her. She's been drawing dresses and writing up what parties would look like ever since I could remember. Oh, and she has the COOLEST taste in music. My blondie found out who the Lumineers were before they became popular. Like, she was jamming to their EP months before they won grammies. It's amazing to hear what she finds, and then hear it months later as it's playing on the radio. As my closest sibling in age, she's one of my best friends. 

Now for....

The Parents

This was originally meant to be posted over the weekend as a Mother's Day write up, but since have changed it. My parents are the best. My dad has given me the chance to grow into the man I am, and I wish I could be half the man he is. My mother has given me the chance to learn compassion and love for others. Both of them have given me the chance to see the world I live in, experience flavors and styles of all over America and China. They've given me the foundation of my passion for life and exploring the world around me. My dad has given me the love of movies and music, and understanding why artists create their work. My mother has given me the love of Disney, and shown me so many wonderful stories that she grew up on, and I got to grow up on as well. They're the reason I've become who I am, and I'm beyond thankful for that. 

Which leads me to this: I'm now the man in my own family. I lead my family. It's definitely not something to take lightly. But with that said, I want to write this out: My family is never going to be stagnate. The world we live in is small enough already, and our lives are too short not to explore it. I've been blessed to be able to see over half the US and counting, and experience life in China when we adopted my sister. My family is going to experience culture, and new food, and countless memories made on trips. I would rather have a smaller house and a cheaper car, if that meant I can give my family the experiences of a lifetime. Through all of this, I'm sincerely thankful for my parents, who inspired me to see what's outside of my backyard, and explore what's around us. I'm thankful for a wife who's willing to be able to get up and go with me, and not just stay home doing nothing. I may only be twenty-one years young, but the life ahead of me and Hailey, I intend to live exploring the world around us. Which is why I'm thankful for this blog, where I can document and share the experiences we have. 

In Sickness and In Health

This past week Hailey has been feeling a bit ill. Yesterday she really wasn't feeling it, but went over to the beach to celebrate our little sisters' 7th birthday. We were planning on staying the night, but decided to cut the trip short, and head home.

She tossed and turned, and once kicked me trying to get comfortable, but with antibiotics, and even with a tub of sunscreen on her, she still got pretty burned on her legs. Last night, I was up thinking about how marriage vows really do play into married life, whether we notice it or not.

"In Sickness and In Health"

I took her to be my wife, and with those vows that I said, I promised to be there for her when she's healthy, or when she's down and sick. It isn't too hard to do, being there for someone when they're sick. Granted, this is nothing more than a small cold and some sinus issues, but I've heard older family friends of mine talk about how they have to take care of the kids, run the errands, make dinner, go to the meeting for work, etc. and their spouse is off in their world doing what they need to do for them. I'm not saying I'm not selfish, and I'm the worlds' best guy. But I actually enjoyed taking care of her. Running to CVS to pick up some NyQuil and cough drops, and grabbing a Jamba Juice C-Booster for her.

I know we're young and married, and older couples will probably say 'just wait, life hasn't fully kicked in yet'. They're probably right to a degree. But that view is cynical. It's not that positive and it doesn't make a good impression on me when I promised her to be there for her when she's sick, and when she's healthy.

Which leads me to another thing: Why is it so hard for married people to keep their promises? After all, the promises and vows they made get broken when divorce happens because of whatever reason, right? Is working hard at a relationship that much of a struggle? Or is it that people just aren't as willing to work for it when the going gets tough? Why do people end something they loved?

New Changes

Sitting here in this cozy little apartment, still with wedding gifts scattered around, curled up on the couch with my bride, catching up on The Following, and faintly, I hear drops. It's an unfamiliar sound, for sure, especially in this part of California. Bakersfield hardly, if ever, gets rain. But tonight, I mute the TV, and just listen. The drops start to increase. Slow at first, but faster and louder as they hit the concrete and small bushes just outside my door. Hailey's curled up and not paying attention to anything but the psycho-horror show we both love, so I stand and step outside for a moment.

That smell. It's not one I grew up with in the country. It's new. Warm, wet asphalt. Soaking up as much water as the dirt that once surrounded me as a kid. It's harder to breath in, but it smells great. Somehow, oddly refreshing. The alarm on my phone goes off, so instead of stepping inside, I take a quick walk to the small building in our apartment complex that houses the washers and dryers. A few minutes still left on the cycle, so I wait it out, still listening to the rain outside and the humming of the old dryers drying out our clothes.

These things are still new to me. Rain on the asphalt. Laundromats. And all of it now, is because of a new life I'm living with my wife. It's only been just over a week, but we're starting to acclimate to living together, and tonight with the rain in a dry county such as this, it's a good promise to me that new things are good, and can be a wonderful change of pace in life.

Now, the clothes are dry, and it's time to walk back through the rain and back to my wife. Back to the new changes. 

Crooked Souls Trying to Stay Up Straight

It's been nearly a year and a half since I've been with Hailey. The woman I'm going to marry in under two months now, and we've been tested and pushed to limits I didn't know I, or we had. Yet we're still standing tall. If you don't know what I'm talking about, here's the backstory in short: four days after we started dating, her grandma, known commonly as 'Nonnie' was diagnosed with uterus cancer. This led into a six-month battle leading up to her passing away two days before Hailey's 19th birthday. What made this hard was that Hailey and Nonnie were close. She was one of the closest people to Nonnie, and it crushed Hailey day after day when all of this was happening.

 Nonnie passed away, only for me to find out that my grandmother in Colorado had lung cancer. I flew back with my family to spend time with her before it became terminal a week after I had visited with her. She passed away shortly after I saw her for the last time.

Then, during all of this..I lost touch with my family. Actually, I had lost touch with them before all of this, but I didn't realize it. You see, before I met Hailey, I dated....a lot. I saw dating as going out with someone to get to know them, and it wasn't a relationship until I asked them to be my girlfriend. Anyway, I lost touch of who I really was in my relationship prior to Hailey. The girl I was with controlled a lot of things, and I bent myself backwards to make sure she was happy, but I was far from it. I changed my goals and dreams, and I fought my parents and sister over things deep down I knew was right, but didn't know how to deal with in the relationship with this girl at the time. I broke up with her, spent some time reflecting, and finally realized what I wanted  in relationships. I said I was going to stay single for a long time, only for that to change when I met Hailey (six weeks after I broke up with the other girl). But, I lost touch of who I was, and was trying to show that I was back to being 'normal' me. It took a lot of struggles for my family to see that, and to see that Hailey was it.

We had a lot of drama with my family, and we all had to learn to meet in the middle, and work things out like we never have done in ways before. And through this, I had friends and 'family' who I trusted, and who I vented to, and people I expected just to be a listening ear, and let me get my frustrations out. Turns out that that caused drama to ensue as well, feelings to be hurt, people to drop out, and plans to change. Yet, I'm still standing. It's hard, because I've lost people I've cared about. I know that I opened up a bit more than I should have, and didn't know better, but I also wrongly expected things from others that just simply didn't happen. I pray that all my friendships and relationships can be fixed, but that comes with time, and I'm deeply grateful for the friends who have stuck by my side through all of this.

Also, factor in a car accident that totaled my first car, and recently, Hailey's dad who could have died if we didn't get him to the hospital in time due to strep throat and pnuemonia, there has been a huge amount of pain and negative things happening. Yet, we're still standing tall.

I'm getting married to Hailey on March 22nd. She is my best friend, and I love her more than anyone in this world. She's smart and intuitive, and she's beautiful. Her smile is contagious, and she has a wonderful laugh that is infectious. Some people think we won't work. Some actually from what I've heard, have bets placed on us on how long we'll last, even if we're married. Some think we're too young. Too immature. Too this, too that. Well, I'm not out to prove anyone wrong. I'm too busy for that. So, in 25 years, I'll let my actions and love speak for itself. Because I believe in love. I believe in forever. I believe in Hailey, and I believe that God's given me the best gift I could ever have received, and that's a partner who will love me for all the goofy stupidness that I am, a partner who will just get up and go with me on the grandest of adventures. I believe that this is a love that is once in my life time, and if you love someone so much like this, you can't ever let it go, because something like the way I feel about Hailey? You can't ever have something like that again. I believe that the last year and a half has been hard, yes. But I believe  that if we can get through everything that we have: death, accidents, medical emergencies, lost friends and family, and more, then we can get through anything together. This year, on March 22nd is going to be a symbolic day not only to show that our marriage is starting in front of our family and friends who are there to support us, but also a day to start fresh and new, and pray that the road ahead is a tad easier than what it's started out to be. But above all of this, I know that we're going through it all together. 

Hailey's First Blog Post

Hey guys! So I have yet to actually right a blog post on here yet… That's Jacob's job ;) But, I feel like with everything going on that I should post! So, things have been a little tough. My Dad was hospitalized with pneumonia and strep where we almost lost him (he is thankfully recovering wonderfully now), and I also lost my dog of 14 years. So the past couple weeks have pretty much sucked. However, throughout all of that, I was reminded yet again of just HOW blessed I am. Jacob is my total rock. When I am beyond upset and scared, he is right there to provide that comfort for me. He is that shoulder to cry on. Now, I'm not saying that Jake and I have it all together, because I'll be real honest and say we are far from it. We are young, we're growing, we're adapting, we're learning, but we are in love and know what that means. We know that on March 22nd, Jacob and I will be at that alter in front of our closest friends and family, vowing our lives to one another. We also know that isn't all rainbows and butterflies in the tummy… because quite frankly, we haven't been able to have much of that with all of the death, sickness, family issues, and other problems we've had to face. I mean, my only Grandmother got sick with Uterine Cancer 4 days after Jake and I started dating, only for her to pass away 6 months later, then his grandmother a month after that. Now, I'm not trying to get all "pity party" on you, but more to just let the people who choose to read this blog know that Jake and I have had our trials to face, that we have had those problems to conquer and pain to deal with. It HAS been tough, but let me tell you… it's been one hell of a ride I wouldn't trade for the world. Jacob is something special and I truly believe I was blessed with the most precious, beautiful, amazing gift God could have ever given someone. I truly do not know how I could have gone through the past year and a half without Jacob by my side. Every day I'm blown away that God has given me this man to love, respect, cherish, and be with for the rest of my life. And every day I'm amazed that he gives me another reason to love him more than I did the day before which seems crazy to me. I look at Jacob and for the first time feel like I'm home… and now I have 40 more days until I have his last name.

Registry

Well, we got our registry set up! We're working on one more, but we are now registered at Bed Bath and Beyond. Also, we have a registry set up through honeyfund.com, which helps us with the honeymoon. If you wish to view either registries, the links are added in this post, as well as at the top of the site page. We can't wait to see everyone at the wedding, and we're counting down to the big day! We're just under two months now!

Bed Bath and Beyond Registry

HoneyFund Registry

HoneyFund

So, I'm here to explain what this is. Some are confused by it, and I'll clear this up: we're using this registry site called HoneyFund to help assist with our Honeymoon. Now, there isn't any details about where we're going, because it's a surprise to Hailey. We can afford where we're going and what we're doing, but it's a way for people to give us donations for what we'll be doing, over getting us that third blender, or fifth set of drink coasters, and give us a chance to even do something we wouldn't be able to afford in the budget that's set for the honeymoon.

All you have to do, should you choose to, is go to the site here: Jake and Hailey's Honeyfund, choose what you want to gift (airfare, food, ground transportation, massages, etc) and gift a selected amount.

I personally was a bit confused at first about how it worked with setting the amounts, but now that I understand it, here's the breakdown..with the gifting, the price total is divided by monetary amounts. 16 gifts of $50 would pay for the entire airfare ($800 total). If there's two gifts of $50, then that's $100 towards it. This site is basically a cool registry way of doing honeymoon things over the other normal registry. Again, this is nothing we're expecting from anyone. We just thought it was a cool thing to add to our list, and if people see fit to give, then that's a definite blessing.

We're really looking forward to documenting the rest of our engagement and everything leading up to March 22nd. It's going to be such an amazing time!