Settled down.

I used to have a thousand blog topics running through my head. That was, until I got married. I know, you hear it from everyone, "Once you get married your life will change. You'll never have the same life again." And you know what, that's exactly right!

Those six years I had of being single and free were amazing! I got to travel across the country, answer to no one, make my own schedule, and life was so fast-paced. I remember performing every other weekend and going home on the other weekends if I didn't have any food left.

Now I have certain amount of vacation days, and a hungry husband at dinnertime. You're probably thinking the negative way. And I'm sure some people take it in a negative way for their own lives! But me--not a chance. Getting married was the best thing I've ever done. 

I love having someone to take care of me--and only me. (While that lasts!)

I love not going to bed alone. 

I love going on crazy adventures because we aren't in the dating stage anymore. 

I love having someone that counts on me for their everyday life. 

I love decorating our own place.

I love staying up late and laughing about weird things.

I love having someone to talk to when things don't go as planned.

I love dreaming about what our future will be like.

Now, even though I loved my life before I met my husband, I couldn't imagine life without him. He's been gone on a business trip these last couple of days, and man--his personality brings so much joy into my life! I'm that wife that counts down the hours to when I can see him again. Only 24 more to go. So many people tell their friends their husband is their "best friend," but when I say he's my best friend--for real, HE IS MY BEST FRIEND.

I've finally settled down with my best friend.

I LOVE pictures, okay?

There is just no way I could post enough. My friend Ashley did such a great job taking all of these pictures! The only problem I have now, is trying to decide which ones to hang in our house. If any of you would like to vote on which ones those would be, now would be the time to speak up.

For your (my) viewing pleasure:

Starting it off right.

We did it! Opening weekend is out of the way! But I do kinda feel like a traveling circus. Anyway, I honestly didn't think we'd make it two weeks ago...but, miracles happen, and the shows were FANTASTIC! Oh, I had so much fun. Really, they were such good shows. I'm so proud of our team.

This was on the way there--there's no way Megan and I had that much energy on the bus ride home. 

Megs and JBrom so happy we finally get to perform instead of rehearse!

Funniest game ever: noise cancelling headphones with blasting music...someone asks them a question and they respond based on what they think the question was. 10x more hilarious with MDT majors. (Music Dance Theatre)

When we got off the bus, we (literally) ran into the High School to do a workshop with the kids, then (literally) ran to mic check and get ready for the show!

Yeah...it definitely doesn't look like this at the end of the show. This picture shows the costumes for about five performers. We have twenty. So you can imagine when we run off stage, as we are catapulting costumes off our bodies, someone else is throwing on more costumes as we run on stage to look like that didn't happen. Then we're supposed to dance and sing like we aren't out of breath or something. Ha.

The only break I get during the show is during the guys' number...eight straight minutes of The Beatles! Just enough time to cool down before going back on stage for the rest of the show.

Me, Randy, Megs and Eliza stayed at the beautiful (very beautiful) home of King and Diane Hussein and had the opportunity to give a singing devotional for the Sunday School portion of church the next day!

All Young Ambassadors aside, this was my favorite picture from the week. Definitely. So jealous they were all hanging out without me in sunny Florida while I was freezing at a cool -9 degrees!

(I never thought I'd be that girl, but whatever, I don't even care anymore. HOLY COW MY BOYFRIEND IS A BABE! Oh wow. Sheesh. Whoo.)

Anyway, back to YA's. No more shows until after Christmas. But then it will really pick up! 10-day tour to Northern California, and then shows almost every weekend until we leave to Nauvoo! 

I AM HAVING SO MUCH FUN. Pinch me.

New York state of mind.

Sometimes I think to myself...Holy cow! I'm going on a mission! When did I get that old? It's nuts to think that I am at the age to not only be a missionary, but to be a sister missionary. (Not that we're old...I just still feel like I'm in high school.) It's awesome to "forget" when I get caught up in work and school, and have it hit me that I actually have a mission call and I'm leaving in a few short weeks. Forget finals week...that's already out the window. 


I've googled even MORE stuff about Western New York...so much that it's probably already a top-hit. I'm so in love with it, and I know when I come home I'll always have a desire to be there. But I don't even want to talk about coming home. Because that is sad. And I know I'll never want to come home. My secret plan (that now obviously isn't so secret) is to take my husband back there, show him around the Church History sites, visit members that I taught, and watch the Hill Cumorah pageant! 


Sometimes I get worried about being away for that long and keeping the personality needed of a Sister Missionary. I'm even scared that the MTC will feel like a jail...a very happy jail that is! But there are over a thousand missionaries in a tiny little campus, not allowed to leave, sitting in brick classrooms all day. We'll see how it goes. People have told me the MTC is one of the greatest experiences. I am really excited to get spiritually fed...buffet style.


In reading other Sisters' blogs that are currently in my mission, I'm amazed at their spirituality. They know so much. I only hope to get to that point through lots and lots of study and prayer. Every single one of them has an amazing personality that draws other people in. And since I can already tell from just their writing...I have a lot to live up to. But I'm ready to take the challenge. One Sister mentioned that she quickly realized she has the physical ability to do anything that the Lord needed her to do--because she is in His hands. If He asks, He'll make a way. I even got an e-mail from her today! 


Sister Hawkes,
You just got called to the BEST mission in the world! You're going to love it here! ...As far as advice goes, I think the only thing I wish I would have known before I got here, is that the sisters dress so NORMAL! (phew.) Everyone dresses just like any girl would dress to church. Other than that...I feel like I could tell you a million things. But you'd probably be better off learning them as you go...you can ask us anything you need. We can't wait to meet you!
Sister Barrus :)


What helps a lot is knowing I have a ton of friends that have been on missions and friends that are going on missions. The boys that are home have helped so much in letting me know what to expect and letting me bug them about mission stories. And the girls...we are just all getting our calls now! It's so comforting knowing I have friends that literally dot the earth...and that we're all excited about it. 

Best friends called to The Philippines and New York.
We'll be exactly 12 hours apart, which means between just the
two of us, we'll be serving the Lord 24/7 for our whole missions. 

I'm afraid from now on, this blog will be filled with mission stuff. But, it is all I think about. So whoever reads this, sorry...you'll get sick of me fast. Today is even the 182nd anniversary of the organization of the Church that took place right in my mission...Fayette, NY! 


As for the events of the week, it's been pretty crazy. Lots of work, lots of school, and Reb's 21st birthday! We surprised her after her Noteworthy concert and took her to her apartment where 30+ people squished in there somehow. It was a success. 


Also...THREE MORE DAYS OF CLASS! 

The great reward.

I was just sitting at work this morning, looking out the window into the studio where we shoot True Blue. A quote from President Gordon B. Hinckley popped into my head, that I graciously was reminded of from a friend yesterday.

"Well, you dear women, I say thanks to you. Thank you for being the kind of people you are and doing the things you do. May the blessings of heaven rest upon you. May your prayers be answered and your hopes and dreams become realities. You serve so well in the Church. You think it is so demanding. It is. But with every responsibility fulfilled, there comes a great reward." -President Hinckley

Link: To the Women of the Church

Yes, there are many demanding things in life. But as I looked out to in fact see that studio, I reminisced back to when I was only touring those facilities. I even looked down at the BYU Broadcasting lanyard I had around my neck to make sure I still wasn't dreaming. And it doesn't stop with sportscasting. It's a proven fact that if you do fulfill those responsibilities, there is an even better reward. (See Spiderman for further authentication.) I promise it works, and I promise it's more than fantastic. 

First day on the job.

I woke up this morning thinking yesterday was a dream. Okay, super cliche I know, but I'm not joking. I really did. Don't you love that feeling?


My first day at work was amazing. Then last night I got to hang out with my best friends from high school, and laughed so hard my abs hurt for hours after. I realized (again) how incredible my friends I grew up with are. I can't believe it's been three years! But, I really want to talk about my first day at work. I thought my job at the Cougar Club was the best job on campus...but now I'm in my dream job. Literally, my dream job. 

The ultimate goal...and what my face looked like most of yesterday morning.

I walked in to our new broadcasting building yesterday morning, while they were putting up the Christmas tree in the lobby. I think it was a sign. Then my boss, Jarom, took me around for a quick tour of the building, and told me what the goals of True Blue were, in a nutshell. As the new AP of True Blue, (which he explained to me as BYUtv's version of SportsCenter) I was nothing but enthralled at everything, and especially everything I have access to for my job. The new edit bays (where I'll learn Final Cut Pro), the control room, studios A, B, and C, and quite possibly my favorite part: we've got an equipment checkout where you can go to ask for your own camera, stick mic, tripod, etc, and...the best part...a videographer. No more of this one-man-band stuff! 

Which is stuff that I'll actually need. Instead of just producing (which I still like the best for now), Jarom told me that anytime I had a story idea, I can just go shoot one. Of course, once I get the hang of how the show works. So eventually I'll be a producer and a reporter for True Blue, along with sometimes sitting in the director's chair. Yes, I am 10% panicking. But the other 90%, I'm absolutely stoked. I have so much to learn. But I get to graduate with a resume in my hand. I'll be able to tell ESPN that I'm 22 years old and I already have been a sports director, reporter, and producer. The coolest thing though--we've got a handful of journalism students working as talent in the broadcasting building, so BYU Journalism as a whole looks great right after graduation.


Excuse me while I go watch a million episodes of SportsCenter and True Blue to figure out what in the world I'm doing.

Dream job...coming to life.

So I have to start small. But doesn't everyone? I've got to get there somehow. 


Yesterday I spent a few hours in our new BYU broadcasting building during the pre-pro and taping of TrueBlue. It was AWESOME. TrueBlue is the BYUtv sports show basically summing up what happened in BYU sports throughout the week. Highlights are pulled, feature stories on big athletes are written--it's sports 24/7. I got to sit wide-eyed in Production Control Room 1 with all of the producers, watch them yell out commands in their headset, and see it actually happen on the huge bright screens that were all over the walls. This was the real deal, they aren't students anymore! (Well, Elevennews is the real deal...but you know what I mean.) So basically, I was in heaven. This is exactly what I want to do. And I get the chance when I'm only 20 years old? Another reason why my major, specifically at BYU, is arguably the best. I mean, who else has their own state-of-the-art building right on campus?

Cross your fingers...I hope I get to be their production assistant. Oh, and I also get to produce CoogTube next semester. BOOYAH. CoogTube is our student-run sports show on channel 11, Fridays at noon. I'll give a shout-out to Briana, she's one of the anchors this semester, and does a fantastic job! 

Briana and I. She's anchor of CoogTube, AND our football secretary.
Samantha Steele and Hannah Storm, anyone? We love our job.

As one of the first female sportscasters, I may be following in my mom's footsteps, but let's be honest...what better footsteps could I follow? 16 years at ESPN did my mom wonders and brought our family a love for sports I don't think can be measured. Here she is in her "golden days" (get it...that incredible 80's jacket) doing a promo for Scholastic Sports America. She also covered College GameDay, World Cup Skiing, World Cup Soccer, the Kentucky Derby, etc. 

 

My mom back in her ESPN days. I think she looks even better now! 

Visiting mom at work. Bristol, CT

So what if my ringtone is the ESPN theme song. What else do you expect?