August Recap – Getting Married, My Birthday, Moving, and Starting A New Job!

August was a whirlwind of a month for me. So much happened, and it went by so fast that I barely had time to blink before it was over. To say that my life changed dramatically in this one month would be an understatement, and if you read the title of this post, you already know why!

And considering all that happened this month, this is going to be a fairly long post. So sit back, grab a cup of coffee if necessary, and enjoy the moments and the lessons I learned from this transformative month.

On August 1, 2020, I married the love of my life, Garrett. This started the month, and the rest of my life honestly, off on a wonderful note. But to say that it was all butterflies and rainbows would be lying. It was stressful at times, and it was amazingly fun at times. 

Leading up to the big day, there was a lot to do and what seemed like very little time to do it. We got engaged in November of 2019, and we had it all planned out to be a beautiful church wedding back in my hometown of Hillsboro, Oregon. That is until March came around and everything shut down because of COVID-19. Que the typical bride meltdown and melodrama that ensues whenever anything goes wrong with her plan. That was me, I was that girl. 

I started to worry if anyone would be able to come, where we would have the ceremony, how we could possibly still do it at all. But then I started to pray and ask God for peace with this situation, and He answered. I felt an indescribable calm come over me concerning the whole thing. It was going to be what it was going to be, and I just had to trust that God had a plan that I didn’t know about yet. I knew that Garrett was the man I was meant to marry, and it was going to happen no matter what. It didn’t help worrying about what I couldn’t control, so I just let go and let God take control of the whole thing. 

We decided in the end to move the wedding to our neighbors’ backyard instead of the church, in hopes of being able to have more people attend since it would be an outdoor venue. That meant a lot more set up and preparation before the big day. Our neighbors, bless them, completely redid their backyard in the two months before the wedding once we decided officially to host the event there. The husband, my dad’s friend and jack-of-all-trades, built a brand new deck for us to be married on, and his wife, a dear friend of my mother’s and of mine, did all of the alterations and additions to my wedding dress, as well as hosted my bridal shower. I was so incredibly blessed to have such loving and generous people in my life to make this all possible, it truly could not have been done without them. 

Fast forward to a couple of days before the wedding. I had worked my last day at my Hillsboro job and had the last week before the wedding to do whatever was needed to make it happen. Garrett was back in town by this point, having been in Spokane finishing up his summer term of graduate school, and it helped a lot to have him there. I felt like I was running around with my head cut off, and there wasn’t a day that my mom and I didn’t go to either Joann Fabrics, Craft Warehouse, or Michael’s for something we needed for the wedding, sometimes multiple trips in one day. If I ever go back into those stores for any reason, it will be too soon!

The wedding day came, everything was where it needed to be, and my only job was to enjoy the day. Every one, from my mom, to my amazing bridesmaids, to my soon-to-be mother-in-law made sure of it. The day went by so fast, I only remember about half of it, but I do remember this: being surrounded by the people that you love, encouraging you as you take the biggest step of faith and commitment in your entire life, is a moment that is irreplaceable, precious, and unforgettable. I will always remember those that were beside me and backing me up on this day. I love them all, and I know that they would say the same about me. Garrett and I are so blessed to have such a huge support system for our relationship, so many people that believe in us and our love for each other, knowing that we will shine God’s light through our marriage. The words of encouragement we got that day, and during additional receptions afterwards, were priceless and will be cherished for years. 

At the end of the day, we just had a lot of fun. We danced, we laughed, we kissed, we cried, we hugged those we love, we said goodbye, and we said hello to a new life. So many emotions were swirling around us that day, and they were all a major part of making our wedding day the day that we will always remember, the beginning of something good, something great even.

The honeymoon was wonderful. We went to the Oregon coast and spent four days in Florence, Oregon. We visited the Sea Lion Caves (The largest natural caves in the country!), we hiked to Heceta Head Lighthouse, walked on the beach, spent lazy days in the cozy cabin we were staying in (which was right by a river, talk about a great view!), and ate some phenomenal food. By the way, if you ever go to Florence, here is a list of the restaurants you must try before you leave:

• Clawson’s Wheelhouse

This place is one for the books. They are a small diner with a big personality, and they have the best french fries I have ever tasted. Their menu consists of a little bit of everything you can think of, and the atmosphere is one of a kind! It’s casual, fun, and provides great service.

• The Waterfront Depot

This restaurant will require planning a couple of days ahead and making reservations in advance. It’s a popular place. It is not the cheapest, but you definitely get your money’s worth here. I had a crab stuffed halibut, and Garret got cajun-seasoned Ahi tuna. Both were divine. This place is a bit more high end, but you don’t need to go all out and dress to the nines, it is a beach town afterall. Just keep in mind that they are only open during dinner hours. 

• Mo’s

This one is a classic. My family always went here for dinner at least once whenever we took a day trip or a weekend excursion to the coast. Their clam chowder in a bread bowl is to die for, need I say any more?

After we returned from our honeymoon on the coast, we spent some more time in Hillsboro with my family. My grandparents were there from Houston for the wedding, and when they arrived the Tuesday beforehand, that was the first time they had ever met Garrett in person. So we decided to spend more time with them, letting them get to know my new husband, their new grandson-in-law, and to let Garrett do the same. It was a great couple of days to just unwind and relax while also planning for our new life. 

Leaving my childhood home was harder than I thought it would be. I had most of my belongings packed up and ready to go, or at least everything that would fit into the car, and was about to move to a new state. Granted it is the town where I went to college, so it isn’t completely uncharted territory, but before now it was always temporary. I was only a student, not a resident. My permanent home was Oregon. But now Spokane, Washington was my new home, where my new life with my husband was to begin. 

The first couple of days that we were in our apartment as a married couple were strange, but beautiful at the same time. Sharing a living space with another person, figuring out who’s things go where and how to arrange the furniture is a bigger milestone in a relationship than many of us realize. Garrett and I didn’t see eye-to-eye on everything, but we came to a consensus nonetheless. We were home, and it felt so good.

Two days after getting to Spokane, we hit the road again to go to Utah, where Garrett grew up and where his family still lives. We had a secondary wedding reception planned on August 15th, the day after my birthday, which meant I would be turning 22 in Utah. My birthday was definitely one to remember. We went to sushi, soaked at a natural hot spring cave, and just enjoyed the day. My parents were able to travel for the weekend’s festivities as well, so that made the celebrations all the more complete! Turning 22 didn’t feel any different than the day before, but it was understandable considering what I had already been through leading up to this point in the month. My birthday was not the thing in August I had been looking forward to this time, my wedding was. So when I woke up on August 14, 2020, it just seemed like another day, but Garrett and my in-laws made sure to still keep it special, and that is exactly what it was. 

The wedding reception went really well, and everyone that came had a lot of fun. I was able to see some old college teammates and friends, met new people from Garrett’s childhood who were mentors, teachers, and coaches of his, and just enjoyed the company of everyone that was there. It was a nice, relaxing day, even if it was 103 degrees Fahrenheit! At least we were under a shaded pavilion!

After that weekend we were finally on our way home, and this time, to stay. No more travel. We still had one more wedding reception planned for our Spokane friends, but at least it was on home territory. The first week back home was full of unpacking, setting up the apartment, and relaxing before I began work again the following Monday. 

For work, I transferred to the Spokane Walmart in their online grocery department from my previous store in Hillsboro. I am actively searching for a different job, one that better suits the graphic design degree I received in college and my constant desire to create, but given the current circumstances with the Coronavirus still running the show, I am just grateful to have a job that can feed my small family of two. Garrett, being a graduate student, is not currently working aside from being a graduate-assistant coach for the Whitworth swim team, so it is my responsibility to bring in the money right now. I thank God every day for the job I have been provided with, for the husband I get to come home to every day, and the love that our marriage revolves around. 

I wouldn’t trade this life for anything. And while this August has been a crazy and exciting time for both of us, I know that there are at least five things that I have learned in the last thirty-one days that I will always hold on to:

1. Have a grateful heart and take the time to be thankful for the people in your life, they love you and want the best for you. 
2. Stop trying to control things that are uncontrollable, it never works out for anyone, especially you.
3. Positivity really is key. If you expect something to go wrong, it will. So just let go of the worries and let God take hold. 
4. Don’t go into marriage with any expectations or assumptions. Talk about everything and be gracious, both with yourself and with your spouse, for the learning curve that will inevitably come with sharing your life with a new person. 
5. Never stop looking for the bright side in every situation. Whether that be in a job that you don’t really like, a financial difficulty you are going through, or just the boring mundane routine of doing dishes. Find joy in every situation, and choose to smile through the frustration and the hardships. 

Thank you for sticking with me on this long August recap! If you like hearing what I have to say, please subscribe! 

Until next time, stay golden!

Hannah