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What Matters Most

I stare. Ever since I was little, I have always been pretty observant. I notice people's expressions, how they conduct themselves, what they're wearing, how they treat others, and their unique mannerisms as I strive to better understand them as a person. This is not to say that I care what they're wearing, I just feel like all these little things that I observe are bits and pieces of who they are. It's interesting to see what they do (for example) when they get nervous--pull their hair behind their ears or rub their forehead...

As I was sitting in church today, trying not to think about how much I miss Casey, I was also observing people. I love it when I feel like I'm brought back down to square one (what really matters). I looked around at all of the many different people…different hair, different clothes, different colored skin…people of different sizes and shapes and ethnicities. We are all God's children. We are all facing different challenges and trials. We all deal with anger/happiness/sadness/pain differently. We are all at different stages of our lives.

We are all God's children.

Who is to say that Samantha's broken leg is not the most traumatic episode of her life? Just because you have broken your leg skiing every year and the ER surgeons know your name, this doesn't lessen Samantha's experience. Empathy is something that we need to have to combat selfishness. Each person has their own background, their own fears, their own obsessions, their own relationships, their own insecurities, and their own worries. Each is valid (even if they are irrational). In life, our goal is to help people as much as we can, love them, serve them, and learn to deal with everything that life throws our way, as well. We're all in this together. We're all of equal and great worth in the eyes of the Lord.

As I was driving away after church, I looked at the cars in the parking lot. Some were old, and some were brand spankin' new. You could tell that some were very well cared for by their owners, and others were just a means to an end (travel from point a to point b). The world tells us that certain things will make us better: that certain things will make us more marketable or more cool. Life is, after all, about getting things, right? That hot new car…that brand new phone…the latest and the best in technology…that big house…these are things that we're striving for, right? Those aforementioned 'things' are not inherently bad, but they can make us lose sight of our real goal. Our real goal…what's that? I think that our goal is to learn about ourselves (our talents, our strengths, our weaknesses), to learn about and live the gospel and then share that combined knowledge to help others.

Two of our friends just recently got engaged and we are so excited for them. It made me think about a first glance into a prospective relationship and the things people first think about. Remember the dreaded dating game? Is it really important that he has that shiny red sports car, or that she has perfect barbie plastic legs? (Ok…some of the men might disagree on that one), but really…really…what is important here? Things don't matter. It's the journey we take, the people we bring along with us, and the impact we have made that really matter.

For future blog posts you will want to check out our new blog found here.

And because no blog post is complete without pictures, here is one that makes me smile…

Thanks again, Virg!

Love

Until a few months ago, I didn't understand. Until a few months ago, I didn't get it. How is it that two people can decide to spend the rest of their lives and eternity together? How is it that a person can find someone who loves and cares for them enough, and on top of that, they love that person back the same amount in return? I wondered how anyone decided to get married…I wondered how it all happened…until I met Casey P.

I have learned a few things about love these past few months. Love has no conditions and love has no end. When you love someone, you accept them with their faults and weaknesses, as they do with you. You see the potential in them, you see their individual worth, and you see that it's great. Love is about helping each other reach goals. It's not about changing someone, it's about growing together.

There is a safety in love. It's a wrap-you-up, all encompassing warmth that unites people. Love isn't bought, love isn't compared, and love isn't fake. Somehow, it is just…there…and it will never go away…it only grows with time.

It's that can't eat, can't sleep, reach for the stars, over the fence, world series kind of thing.

I love my Casey P and I am honored and lucky that he loves me back. I am so excited for us to start our lives together. I feel so blessed that I have found that person with whom I can share eternity. I'm excited for our future…for our family, for our adventures together. I know that it won't always be easy, and I know that hard times will come, but I also know that I will always love my Casey P…my Case Face.

Save the Date

Casey and I are getting married
March 21, 2009
in the Washington DC Temple!

The Gift

As I was driving home tonight after a wonderful day spent with loved ones, I was flipping through the radio stations in hopes of finding one that was still cranking out the Christmas classics. The family-friendly Christian station was the only one still playing Christmas music. While they tend to play more jazzed up versions of the classic carols, I still enjoy the feeling that comes from listening to the sounds of the season. That moment, the song that was playing was, "The Gift." I am forever grateful for my Christmas gift. His name is Casey P, and he is amazing. These are the words to the song…so applicable in lieu of recent events…

Sitting by the fire we made
You're the answer when I prayed
I would find someone
And baby I found you.

All I want is to hold you forever
All I need is you more every day
You saved my heart
From being broken apart
You gave your love away
I can't find the words to say
That I'm thankful every day
For the gift.

I told Casey that all I wanted for Christmas was him in a big red bow, but instead, he decided to give me this…

Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining or anything…

WE'RE ENGAGED!!!

It's the weirdest feeling ever because on the one hand, it feels so completely natural to be engaged to Casey P. We both knew from the beginning that this was going to be something extraordinary. It is amazing how naturally our relationship progressed. On the other hand, I can't believe that I'm engaged…that it's happening to me. This is an event that I have dreamed of and thought about since I was little. Is this really happening? I'm seriously afraid that tomorrow I'm going to wake up and it's all going to be a dream.

I love Dr. Seuss' quote, "You know you're in love when you can't fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams." I feel like this every night when I have to say goodnight to Casey. I don't want to waste a moment without him. I don't want to fall asleep because I have everything I want right in front of me.

Ok, so I'm guessing you want the engagement story? Case face did such a good job trying to surprise me, but everyone was acting a little…peculiar…and it was evident that something was up. After a lovely Christmas Eve dinner with Rusty's family (Casey's brother-in-law) Case suggested that we go down to the monuments in DC. This is a significant place for us. We went to the monuments on our first date. It's so funny to think back…we went there on a Monday night (skipping out on FHE). We had only met the Friday before at our ward campout. Casey had surprised me that morning by visiting my classroom at school (so cute). After work he suggested that I stop by his house. After a long debate in my head over whether I should stop by his house or just see him at FHE, I decided to stop by. That was the best decision ever because I got to meet Casey's awesome sister and brother-in-law, and their amazing kids. Casey and I had full intentions of going to FHE, we just decided that we were going to eat dinner first. We stopped by Moby Dick's House of Kabob (so yummy!) Case asked where I wanted to sit. I said outside (there's no outdoor seating). I pulled him outside and we sat out on the sidewalk by this restaurant, watching rush hour traffic fly by (one of those people in traffic being my brother who honked at us!) Sometimes I like to live up to the title of my blog (randomness). After dinner Case said, "why don't we go down to the monuments?" We were supposed to go the night before but that didn't end up happening. I was so excited because I love the national mall. After my amazing parallel parking job (mmmhmmm) we headed to the Lincoln. We stood there and talked and laughed and hugged for a quite a while. Looking back, it is so funny that we had only known each other for 3 days at that point!!! It felt like I had known him for so much longer… We slowly made our way from the Lincoln down past the reflection pool, and over to the World War II Memorial. We sat there, by the fountains, for hours. We talked and talked and talked and boy did I fall for that Casey P.

Fast forward to Christmas Eve…we started at the Lincoln and we talked about our first date and how everything has gone since then. We slowly walked down by the reflection pond, retracing our steps, and we ended up at the WWII Memorial, just like before. It was a surprisingly warm night, but there was no one else in sight. It was so romantic with the Washington Monument on one side and the Lincoln Memorial on the other. Casey told me some really sweet things about how he has felt since he met me, and then he got down on one knee and said, "Allison Rhae H, will you marry me?" AHHHHHHHH! "YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES!!!!!!" I believe those were my words. I didn't even look at the ring at first (although DANG did he do a good job!)

Here are some more pictures…




and of course some Christmas pictures…



I love this kid with all my heart and I am so excited for us to start our lives together.

Casey. All I want is to hold you forever.

All I need is you more every day.

You gave your love away, and

I'm thankful every day…for the gift.

Give. Don't almost give.

The other day as I was driving home from work, I heard an ad on the radio. While, as a child, I could remember such jingles as Empire Carpet, or the musical slogan from a radio station, no piece of advertisement has hit me as hard as this one…and they weren't even trying to sell me anything.

"This is Jack Thomas.
Today, someone almost brought Jack something to eat,
Someone almost drove him to a shelter,
And someone else almost brought him a warm blanket.

And Jack Thomas…well, he almost made it through the night."
(see the ad here)

It made me think of all the times that I have passed homeless people in the streets (and there are a lot of homeless people in DC), all the times that I almost put some money in the salvation army bucket, and all the times that I almost gave that extra dollar at the cash register.

I know that I'm not rich. I know that I'm not going to make millions in my lifetime. But I also know that I drive a car, I have a job, I live in a house, I eat nutritious food, I stay warm at night, and I live better than the large majority of people in this world. I am blessed.

That person on the street is no lesser of a person than I. They are my equal. What if I were in their shoes? Wouldn't I want a kind stranger to help me out? How horrible it must be to have your hand outstretched the whole day only to have so many people refuse to help you.

So you say, "Well, they're probably just going to buy alcohol, or drugs, or they're not really homeless, they just do this to look pitiful and make some extra money…I saw an episode like that on 20/20…" All of these statements are completely plausible. All I can ask, is that is it our place to judge? No matter how they got to that place in life, it is not a happy place or a safe place. If the tables were turned and I had my hand outstretched, I would be ever-so-grateful to those few people who decided to give.

There are obviously more (and probably better) ways to give than just out of your pocket on the street. The same council that produced this ad has a website that suggests ideas for giving. It's found at www.dontalmostgive.org. You can bet your bottom dollar that the next time I saw a salvation army bucket, all of my spare change found it's way to the bottom of that bucket.

Even though we are in a recession, even though we are already spending more money than usual at this time of year, and even though your little dollar may not seem like a lot to share; choose to give. Don't almost give.

Team H Conquers DC

I could not have been more proud of my 28 little nippers, yesterday, as we ventured into DC for our field trip to the newly-remodeled Newseum! I was slightly nervous about losing one or more of them due to a) the vast size of the museum (6 floors), b) the "short" principle in tall crowds, and c) the fact that I could only bring two chaperones with me. I made them name tags, color-coded their groups, and was very clear with them about my behavioral expectations. Hallelujah, it worked!

My students really enjoyed themselves. It amazes me how bright these little angels are, and how much they're able to understand and put together. Hmm…I must be in a good mood because I just called my students angels. Well, to their credit…yesterday, they were.

I am so thankful to be a teacher and to be in the right profession for me. I love my students and I love teaching them and expanding their view of the world. I am ever grateful to work with children. They are darling (most of the time). Children make mistakes and misbehave, but at least you can work with them and mold their behavior. I feel like if I were dealing with adults at work, on a daily basis (who honestly have the same issues as my kids), I would get so frustrated because adults should know better. Kids are new at this. Now is the time for great impact.

Now that we've conquered DC, do you think we can conquer persuasive writing? Multi-digit multiplication? Mesopotamia?



I love the fall colors! Luckily they have decided to stick around for just a little bit longer.


We are lucky to live so close to DC and it's wealth of history.