MONGOLIA!

We landed in Mongolia at 6:30AM. Viewing Mongolia by air that morning was breathtaking. The sky was blue with no clouds, the mountains were so green and it was completely peaceful. It was a perfect way to be introduced to Mongolia.


Ashley has kept in contact with some of his mission companions and they were nice enough to come to the airport to pick us up! They were so excited to see Ash and vice versa. The laughs, memories, and language all came back to Ash so quickly. It was wonderful to see him in this element. It was like coming back home for him.


We were able to go to church at 2 different buildings. Even though I didn't understand one word, you could feel the spirit. The members there are wonderful. The members were friendly, kind and inviting. Everyone came to shake our hands and introduce themselves.


The members are asked to come to church in their best outfit. And they do. They wear the nicest clothes they have. Their sacrament meeting is a little rowdy, but they are doing their best with what they have.

The little kids in Mongolia are so sweet. They loved our American candy (Swedish Fish and Laffy Taffy).



We went to a grocery store and Ashley ran into another kid he knew from his mission.

Mongolia does not have the best parks, but they do have small carnival rides in the city. This one was super cute. It was a giant kiddie pool with paddle boats in it. The kids were laughing and screaming and having tons of fun.

More posts will be coming about our trip to Mongolia. I am so thankful that my husband chose to devote 2 years of his life to serving the Lord in the country of Mongolia. Right before we left for our trip, Ash found all of his mission journals and let me read them. He described some of his companions who we met and places that we were able to visit. You could feel his love for the country through his words.
While Ash was on his mission he bought a Mongolian Wedding Band for his future wife. On our first wedding anniversary Ash took me to dinner and gave me this pink, older ring box shaped in a heart. He opened it up and it was a Mongolian Wedding Band. He put it on my finger and it was a PERFECT fit. The ring he picked was just for me. That night was such an incredible spiritual experience. Ash and I wore our Mongolian Wedding Bands on this trip and it made it all the more special!

CHINA!

The trip started out with our SUPER airplane ride from Seattle to Beijing! I have this weird fear that I am going to get sick from the circulating air in the plane so I came prepared! I had my hand sanitizer, mask and my eye shades! I even had some gloves and sanitizing wipes but everyone convinced me that was going a LITTLE overboard.. :)

We made it to the Great Wall of China! It is amazing! The architecture was beautiful. The stairs were VERY uneven. Some steps were so small you could not consider them a step and some were tall enough that you had to literally climb up it. As I am walking up the stairs, a young Chinese couple stood directly in front of me. I thought I was in their way so I apologized and moved to the other side of the staircase. They pull out their cameras and want to take my picture. So the man stood next to me, made the peace sign and we took a picture! It was so funny!


Isn't he soo handsome! Ash planned our WHOLE trip- It was incredible to spend 2 1/2 weeks with him in 2 foreign countries!
To be honest, I preferred the food in China as opposed to Mongolia. But we did visit some tourist restaurants. There are just random carts on the street selling food on sticks. There were snakes, sea horses, fish and even octopus! It smelled so gross!

China had these "EXERCISE PARKS" filled with hundreds of people in the morning stretching, exercising and working out. It was very interesting to see. They had such confidence in stretching in front of so many other people. I highly doubt that "EXERCISE PARKS" would be a popular item in America... .

This is near Tian Men Square- The building behind us is a government building.


Shopping was probably my favorite part! This market was incredible. There were vendors selling the same thing, grabbing your arm and trying to convince you that their price was lower than the vendor next to them. It so fun to talk the vendors into giving us a lower price. Ash was much better at bargaining than I was.. I got a pair of Puma's for $5 and a Coach Purse for $15. She originally wanted me to buy it for $190. SO MUCH FUN! There was so many different vendors: Watches, purses, shoes, wallets, jewelry, kitchenware, IPODs, and SO MUCH more! One little lady was literally holding on to my mother-in-laws arm and would not let her go until she purchased the bag!

We ended our China adventure in the Chinese airport. Our flight to Mongolia left at 3:30AM Sunday morning. This is Brandon and my bed was next to his. Ash had already started to find some Mongolians and was excited to begin speaking the language!

Almost Time...

It's almost time for our trip to Mongolia!

I am so excited to be able to spend time in the country that my husband loves. To meet some of the people that he touched and served. To hear him speak the language all the time and guide me around a foreign country with his knowledge of the land. I am excited to have the opportunity to go to church while we are there- Although I will not be able to understand anything I know it is going to be amazing. I am so thankful that my husband chose to serve the Lord for 2 years. I have been putting together his scrapbook from his mission. He was smiling in EVERY picture. The pictures of him baptizing families in the river is so beautiful- I can't wait to go visit those places I have seen in pictures.

I am a little nervous since I have never really been out of the country. (We went on a cruise to Mexico but I don't think that counts.) I am kind of a picky eater.. OKAY I AM TOTALLY A PICKY EATER! I want to bring a 5lb bag of pretzels and boxes of crackers. But I know I am going to have to be polite and try the food when we are invited to eat with some of the people.

I am getting my camera ready, with extra memory sticks. I cannot wait to document this whole adventure.

Wish me luck!

Arizona!!

Last weekend was so fun! My friend, Bre and I went to Arizona! The sun was amazing. I wish it would visit Utah for a while! Our adventure, once we landed started with a total rip-off called a RENTAL CAR! We were quoted $60 and it ended up being close to triple that amount.. BUMMER!
No worries- we did not let that put a damper on our trip!

Evidence below, that the sun was shining! Even at 6AM it was bright and sunny!
LOVED IT!

The view from where we were laying out for the day! The pool was amazing! We stayed at the Wigwam Golf Resort and Spa.. IT WAS BEAUTIFUL!

Our hotel room was so large. The closet was huge, nice kitchen area, large bathroom and lots of space!!

A necessity!
Lastly, a picture of my shining face while enjoying laying out!

The Sun, a good book, an ice water, shopping and girl talk... All elements of a fantastic weekend!!

Lou goes to Prom!

My little sister Lacey went to Prom this last weekend! Her & Cody started the day out with a four-wheeler ride and lunch from Subway. Then she came home and got ready for the dance! It was so much fun to help her get ready for her date! Lacey is beautiful and is growing up so fast!
Ash came down with me for the day! He is such a trooper! He grew up with one brother so to come hang out at my family's house is sometimes a little overwhelming with all the females! Then Chad had to stick his finger up his nose for a picture.. Typical 12 year old boy I guess.

SNOW... SNOW...

Hello Snow...

I really wish I was not saying hello to you! I really wish you would go away and not come back! I hate you and I was ready for sunshine and spring... Please go away!
-Whit

This snow storm has been so weird! Leaving my house in Heber this morning it was wet and gloomy but nothing too get antsy about.. As I am driving down the hill just past the Jordanelle I meet Winter ALL OVER AGAIN!!

• Route 40 was a MESS!
• There were people sliding all over the road!
• Accidents just about every 2 miles...
• Detours due to those accidents
• People driving too slow...
• People driving WAY too fast...
• Then you get into Park City and the roads were even more horrendous..

Lucky for me I had our truck! 4 wheel drive was my saving grace!

When I got to work I parked in the normal dirt/ snow packed parking lot and proceeded to exit that lot... As I am trying to find an escape route, this big gust of wind came right as my left food was in mid-step... I fell over and landed in a big pile of stupid, cold, white snow.... People trying to get to the mountain took a second to chuckle in my direction.. I was covered in snow!

I am soo ready for snow to go away.. I wonder how you put your order in for spring to come...

Our New Home

WARNING: This post is pretty long... But I wanted to document everything..

We are finally ALL moved into our new home in Heber!! We love it! I am so glad that the building process is over! We signed all of our papers on February 9th and began moving in on February 10th. It was slick process in moving in... We loaded up a trailer the weekend before and was ready to go the morning of the 10th.

We spent lots and lots and lots of time at RC Willey, Ashley Furniture.. well just about every furniture store in Salt Lake City, looking for furniture we both liked and at a reasonable price! We finally decided on the kitchen table below. It is a tall table with leather seats. The couch is micro fiber and I love it! We also got a new bedroom set! (It was President's Day so the deals were AWESOME!!) We got a 5 piece bedroom set. It included the bed (2 pieces), dresser, mirror and night stand. Then we bought an extra night stand to match.

We have 2 other bedrooms besides the master but one is a guest bedroom (Soon to be Brandon's bedroom room in May..) and then the office! But the office is empty at this moment .. so who wants to see a picture of that...

We definitely need some color and design in our house! It makes me so nervous to paint and put holes in the walls to hang up pictures and paintings.. I just keep thinking "it is brand new and I hate to put a hole in the walls.." I obviously need to get over that! Once the winter ski season officially ends and things slow down we have lots of plans for the house! Yard work tops the list, paint and hanging up pictures comes in a close 2nd and 3rd!! We have so many rocks. It really is out of control. I should not complain though.. I have my own yard to work hard in and can landscape it the way we want to!

Needless to say our Valentine's Day was amazing! We made dinner together and watched a movie cuddled up next to the fire... A few days after Valentine's day I brought home this.....
Meet Sophie! She is a Jack Russel Terrier and is the sweetest thing ever! I love her. Ash always told me I could get another dog but he wasn't thrilled when I told him that I found one that I wanted! I brought her home though and he instantly loved her.. Most of the time I find him like this......Ash is usually cuddled up right next to her. When he is outside hosing off the driveway or walking to get the mail you see Sophie right behind him following! I think the funniest part though is when Ash goes to the grocery store by himself... He comes home with doggie treats, dog food, dog biscuits, and a new toy... Sophie is such a good dog. She loves the fireplace! When it is on she is most likely cuddled next to the fire. Most people made comments about a new home and a puppy but it is so nice to have something to come home to! Ash works at least 2 nights a week when he is on shift and I am home all by myself!

I am really looking forward to SPRING! I cannot wait! Motorcycle rides, walks, yard work and vacations!! It has been a busy winter season for both of us! Ash has been working at Sundance Resort as a member of ski patrol as well as the fire station and I have been extremely busy at The Canyons and cutting hair!

We are going to Mongolia in June! I cannot wait! I am pretty nervous but excited for the foreign adventure. This past weekend I was at the Scrapbook Expo and had the privilege of scrap booking Ash's mission! You can tell by the pictures how much he LOVED the people of Mongolia and his time there! I am thrilled to go back to that place and visit the people and see where he spent the best two years of his life!

Well, I think that is about it for us! I love Ash! He is the best husband and the perfect fit for me! He is always by my side and with me for the journey ahead of us! It is amazing to see the blessings from our hard work!