ULTIMATE wedding planner<3

So, I got this book to help me with my wedding planning... "the ultimate wedding planner and organizer", so far it's pretty sweet and it's helping me figure out what to look for in a photographer, ceremony and reception locations, and tells me how to save money. AMAZING.



But other then that, not a whole lot is new. Still looking for a job, still stressed with wedding planning, still waiting for this to be over.

Thank GOODNESS! that I've been filling my free time with family, church, and friends... keeps me from thinking about the fact that I'm 1300 miles away from Tyler and that I need a job desperately, and other minor details of life!

Right now I am just in a transitioning stage... I'm not sure exactly how to explain that... but I will soon when I figure it out haha!

RESTORATION.

So it has been quuuuite awhile since I've posted.
I have become a Berean Student Community Leader and I'm taking part in our project called the Restoration Project.
We as a youth group will be helping out Sept. 26 to clear out some creeks and streams and what not of all the trash and debris that have piled up. Putting our effort into making our community a better place, a more enjoyable place! & At the same time we are using this as a way to raise money! People can give a one time donation, or pledge per hour.
But while on the subject of Restoration, I was thinking about how this time in my life is all about Restoration. Restoring friendships, family relationships, being restored within myself, letting God renew and restore my passion for him.

Trust me trying to restore relationships with family and friends isn't easy for me! If I don't get along with something, then usually that's just the way it is and stays. I don't go out of my way to be mean to them, or at least I try not to, but sometimes I just can't help it. But I believe God's really trying to work in me to restore those relationships that I have blocked out. It's going to be a lot of work, but I'm really going to open up and let the work be done!

And I've always had a passion for the Lord, it's been qutie a roller coaster ride though. I feel like God is really restoring and renewing my love for Him, and my understanding of his love for me. Along with my personal faith and trust that he will always pull through!

Wow. He is so good to me!

photoshop/picnik practice.

so since i have nothing to write about currently, i've decided to try out some editing in photoshop. i've been looking into a camera [Digital SLR, Canon of course.] i'm debating between the T1i and XSi to start off. hmmm?

countdown for couples.

so i haven't been on in awhile. to catch you up on life before i get to my point i'll let you know about my weekend... friday consisted of a softball game i pitched in then tyler&i stayed the night at his parents in Bow Island fri,sat,and sun night[45 minutes from the Hat], then saturday we woke up to start our 4 softball games back to back at 10am, sunday was his parents 25th anni. party we ate good food and socialized with friends and family-to-be, then last night we played KILLER BUNNIES... great game you should own it. and i believe this thursay-saturday we will be in Calgary [3 hours from the Hat] visiting their Fair aka STAMPEDE and then hitting up Street Wheelers with some friends.

now that that's covered, tyler&i have started reading "countdown for couples" by Dale&Susan Mathis... this is a christian based pre-maritial counseling book, sounds a li'l boring right? but actually it's been amazing and we've only done 2 chapters hah!

i would reccommend this book for any couple who is considering getting engaged, or already engaged... it has a lot of inteactive stuff in it... like questions for eachother and things for couples to talk about. some of it is stuff you'd think "well i already know this" but when you start to talk you realize you learn a lot more, and deeper things. it has serious questions and discussion topics for couples as well as "just for fun" questions and discussion a good balance of both keeps us reading! it also teaches us how God is always to be the centre of a relationship, as marriage is not just between man and woman but a covenant between that man, woman, and christ.

"A cord of three strands is not easily broken" Ecc. 4:12

and if you aren't into the whole "god" aspect of things i would even still reccomend this book for the discussion and question peices and words of advice throughout it!

anyways you should definitely buy this book if you're considering engagement/marriage or are engaged! also they have a website that is alright... http://www.countdownforcouples.com

here fishy fishy fishy!

so i would just like to let everyone know i am officially going to become a Pro Bass fisherman... ok so maybe not, BUT me&tyler have been out fishing almost everday for a week now, i go to work with him and we fish in between truck dumps [he does excavating... right now he's pushing dumptruck loads of dirt, cement etc into the side of a lake, it takes the trucks a good 30 minutes to go back and forth] we've been catching Pike from about 1.5 feet to 2.3 ft long... they get up to a hefty 4ft and weigh in around 38lbs! so yesterday tyler decided he'd get me my own rod [Shakespeare Mantis], since we only have one right now [Shakespeare Ugly Stik]. i'm so excited to get out there tomorrow and cast it... see how she holds!

who'd ever had thought i'd become a li'l outdoorsman. [granted i still won't pee outside or kill the fish.]

down with the sickness.

lately i've been really homesick, which isn't me at all! in the past year i have only been home for about 3 visits, totaling 3 months all together. sure i miss the family and friends i have there but it has never made me feel "homesick" until now.
i miss my friends, some days i just want to call them up and go to Grey's Lake to lay at the small beach or go to the mall to shop and have some auntie anne's or coldstone.
i miss my family, i want to sit at the dinner table with my parents and siblings and laugh at brother making fun of my dad, or busting up becuase he was "ripping one" right while in the middle of grace or conversation, and asking my little sister about swim practice and what not.

i think this homesick feeling has been brought upon me due to the fact i can't work here. or go to school. and none of my friends are here.

what's been keeping me going is the fact i am in love with and going to marry, the most wonderful man there is, and that's no lie or exaggeration. he has been here for me and loves me for me. even if i dont brush my teeth or comb my hair! haha. planning our wedding has been good, it's exciting and i can't wait for the day to come when we are one. and guess what... finally my full name will fit on the dotted line!

and something else i'm pretty excited for is to come home and see my family after 6 months, and my cousin, and friends... and knowing i'll be in iowa for awhile this time is a pretty good feeling as well :D

with love.

engaged&underaged

so as most of you know this weekend while taking a mini-vacation to Kelowna, British Columbia [BC] i got engaged! yes, i celebrated my 19th birthday and now i am celebrating my engagement! oh how exciting!! i was actually quite suprised, i had been expecting to get engaged earlier this year because me and Tyler had talked about when we'd like to get married and went and looked at rings, and i'd told him what i'd like. [3 stone in a low setting, white gold, and diamonds on the band... he picked the perfect one!] so by now i had figured he was going to wait until I left or maybe do it once we were back in Iowa in August. but nope! here's how it went.
THE STORY::
We got to Kelowna, BC Friday night around 8 or 9pm. then Saturday morning Tyler was up and ready to hit the beach at 10am, i was still fairly groggy and sleepy but the thought of getting some sun and laying in the sand woke me right up. we went to the beach until about 4pm and then went to his grandparent's to change into clothes for dinner.
We ate at a waterfront restaurant with quite the sunset veiw. then we proceeded to driving to Mount Knox/Knox Mountain, which ever you prefer... and sat at the top of this mountain over looking the city of Kelowna you could see almost all the city it was beautiful!
While sitting on a couple of big rocks I noticed that sticker plants had started growing in the cracks as I stuck my hand right into it's thorny clusters. so I stood up to make sure i didn't have any in the bottom of my pants, sure enough i felt the little thorns poking my bum. here's the good part :D
as I was trying to brush my bum of the annoying pokey thorns Tyler helped me and right before I went to sit down you told me to hold on, and not to sit down yet, as he got on one knee the biggest cheesiest smile came to my face, i could totally feel it, and he asked me if i "would make him the happiest man alive" and if i "would marry him" !!! I said yes in a heartbeat, and he laughed and said "but you haven't even seen the ring yet?" and I told him "it doesn't matter it could be from a candy machine I'd still marry him"

and that was my blessed weekend lol...

picture one is of the ring.
two is of the view from out table at the waterside restaurant
three is us! the happy couple haha.

it is <3

being 19.

nineteen years. i've been alive for 19 years, i think this is the year that i realize i'm still young... very young, but i'm getting older. why do i think this? because this is the first year i don't feel older, even last year when i turned 18 i actually felt older. also, i didn't get up at 8am all jittery about it being my birthday, i wasn't overly excited like i was at 16, or 18. maybe it's because 19 is an age that doesn't mean a whole lot.

in the states 19 is just the year after 18, i can't officially do anything new or different then last year.
now if i lived in B.C. this would be my big year because now i can gamble&drink but that's not too exciting to me.
so here i am... 19, and no new rights/privileges. i have the right to buy porn, join the military, gamble in some indian casinos, and i can have a "real" credit card... same as last year. i still can't legally purchase or drink alcohol [unless i'm in canada or mexico] or rent a car or gamble at a fancy casino. not that I want to do any of those things, but the fact that i can't do those thing reminds me that although my country considers me legally an adult, i am not fully treated like one.

besides the fact i didn't wake up all jittery and excited to turn 19, i am glad God has blessed me with 19 healthy years of life thus far, i pray he continues to bless me this way as a healthy mind and body mean so much to me. so i will enjoy my birthday dinner and Moxies with Tyler, and then bullriding at Ralph's with friends, and weekend with Tyler in B.C. relaxing on the beautiful beaches [i pray the weather is nice, sunny, and hot!] and until next year!

p.s. it was so depressing to wake up this morning and not have a li'l bundle of fur curled up next to me with his head on my pillow like every other morning. i want haanz back, i wish that was an option. bleh!

goodbye li'l guy.

today i had to get rid of haanz. yes, my li'l buddy haanz. we had a couple of complaints from neighbours that said he whines/barks for about half an hour to an hour when we leave him here alone, and we can't take him EVEYWHERE with us, sooo I had to find him a new home that will give him what he needs. i found a nice young couple who made him part of the family before they even had him in hand. i happen to run into them in WalMart [she was standing next to me looking at beds and i had noticed her british/english accent haha] while buying a new leash and collar for him, and they were buying him a nice big bed and some tennis balls [his favourite] they also have a fenced in yard and two small dogs in the house next to them... so he will be so happy about that.

but haanz is missed, and i'm a little bummed about it still, i'm just glad he found a nice owner and house and yard to go to.

young&restless

there's something cute about the restlessness and curiosity of young children.
last weekend while having dinner with Tyler, his family, grandparents, and 4 young cousins i was asked a couple of the cutest questions...

Shelby[who i believe is 5]- "Hey Ashley..."
Me- "Yeah Shelby?"
Shelby'- "Uh... are you going to marry Tyyyyler!?" [in front of the whole family at the dinner table]
Me- "Well Shelby, if he behaves then yes, yes I will." [of course I turned and smiled at Tyler]
Mackenzie[who is 8]- "So you probably won't marry him then"
and our end of the table let out some laughs.

later on while everyone was off doing their own thing i was setting up a game of "Guess Who" for me and mackinzie and shelby came up and had yet another question for me...

Shelby- "Ashley, do you loooove Tyler?"
Me- "Of course I do."
Shelby- "Have you guys built a house yet?"
Me- "Haha no we haven't gotten that far yet."
Shelby- "Oh ok."

This isn't the first time she's asked me questions like this. My first visit back during winter I stayed at their house for my last week and I got asked many questions:
"Are you and Tyler married?"
"Are you gonna marry him??"
"Do you really love him?"
"Can you guys build your house next to ours?"
"Will you have kids?"

but what made me really smile was when they all three came into my room the night before I had to go back to iowa and said:

"Hey Ashley! We want you to marry Tyler. Then, then you can be our cousin-in-law! We like you a lot"
So I agreed with them that I would haha, and then said goodnights and gave hugs. And after they left Raeanne the youngest girl, maybe 3, came back in real quick and hugged me and said "I love you Ashley" it just put the biggest grin on my face.

They're just too cute!

kiss the cook.

so i figure it's about time i learn... or should say teach myself... how to cook.

now, it's not that my mom never taught me, she cooked/cooks all the time for my family, but it is my sister who always stood by her side and helped with all the ingredients... i was always either on my computer or not home. last week or two ago, tyler made a DELICIOUS marinaded steak [possibly the best i have had], and he made chicken two nights ago, and cooked some frozen pizza a the night before that... so whether it's homemade or frozen, he's always the one doing the cooking, maybe it's time i learnt to do it as well, but don't get me wrong Tyler loves to cook... he has 2 of his own cookbook =D but i would like to be able to do it too!

[i would however like to add, i can bake very well despite my lack of full meal cooking skills haha]

so today i'm going to make the marinaded steak tyler made a couple weeks ago, we had three top-sirloin steaks leftover from then, sooo why not! i even added my own touch to it... less of a few things, more of others... i think i can get the hang of this. =D
here's the recipe i used...

1/2 cup soy sauce.
2 tbspn apple juice
3 tbspn brown sugar
1 tsp ginger
2-3 garlic cloves
*blend together and marinade steak for a least 2-3 hours. flip once in awhile. keep in fridge.


how ever i doubled the soy sauce and apple juice, and added 1 tbspn of b. sugar, it covers the bottom of the pan [i wanna say it's a 9x13?] better, and those are the main tastes. also before adding the steaks i poked each side about 5 times with a fork so they will soak up the marinade better. and i am soaking the steaks on each side for 3-4 hours. [tyler did this at night and let them sit on one side over night, and then on the other side the next day while he was at work.]

hopefully this turns out well, i guess i don't see how it couldn't lol.
after this I have a somewhat complicated spaghetti sauce recipe from my mom, and an easier "chicken tortilla soup" and "barbeque chicken pizza" recipes from another blog by a friend, all to try out and hopefully not ruin lol.

<3

summertime.

so it's the end of may and i think i can already say this summer is going to be awesome. last summer was probably the worst and best summer of my life thus far, BUT this summer I believe will only bring out more of the best.

i finally have a roommate to share my apartment with, her name is Caro/Caroline Neveu, she's from Quebec and it's been a blast getting to know each other and learning about Quebec.
last night we [Caro, Tyler and I] went to Ralph's and met up with some friends Elisha and Matt, they had a mechanical bull... and believe it or not, i rode it, we all did.

but yes... last night i had a blast and i know this summer has many more good times to be had.
i want to see b.c., and lay on one of it's beautiful beaches, and see big bears in the mountains. i want to eat my heart out in slurpees and convenient store gummy candies and walk the same coulee trail every day while the sun beats down giving me amazing flip flop tan lines. i want to make sure that when i leave in the fall that i am close to my roommate and the others i've befriended so i can keep in touch.

most of all though, i want to spend the summer with my man. no heartbreak this summer. no drama, no doubt, just me and him. having fun, growing in our relationship, making jokes and poking fun at eachother. cooking dinners, watching movies, 10cent wings, no name apple juice, SPITZ sunflower seeds... and so much more.
this is my summer, this is our summer.

Pictures:
top-Mt Haleakala a yellow flower that bloomed in the freezing foggy weather.
middle-sunset at Pa'ia Bay in Maui, Hawai'i
bottom-Tyler James Hanet in the living room @ YWAM

mothers.

so, as mother's day was just the other day i felt compelled to write a shout out.
i want to thank my mom for being overprotective, for being so hard on me over the past year, i want to thank her for everything she has told me whether i was in agree-ance or not, i want to thank her for still loving me through all the times she's wanted to pull her hair out because of me. i think most of all i just want to thank her for her support... she supported me in Maui, and when I've been home since. thanks mom for the gas money, insurance money when i couldn't afford it, thanks for the extra money in Maui, thanks for all the food and for giving me a place to call home for 19 years. thanks mom, for not giving up on me, and thanks for being a part of me life, and especially for being the Godly influence you should be as a parent, thanks for keeping me on the right path, and pushing me to keep my eyes on the Lord.

i know i've taken my parents for granted from time to time, but over this past year i have realized some people would love to have parents that have been half as supportive, loving and caring as mine. i love you both.

and mom, Happy Mother's Day... everyday.

why i am an american.

this isn't about my choice to be an American, but more so why no matter where i go i will be considered an American. This is just a general statement, not necessarily facts about me but about Americans in general, so don't take offense. As you read I'm sure that at least one of these will apply to you, if not a few.

• I am an American because each day when I wake in the morning I expect to eat a minimum of 3 meals, plus some snacks.
• When I need to go the bathroom I expect there to be a toilet that flushes with a door that locks and a sink with soap and hot water not to mention enough toilet paper on the roll to fully wipe.
• I am an American because I expect to have a full and "free" education at least until I graduate Highschool, then I expect either my parents, a bank loan, or scholarships to pay for my college.
  
• I expect some type of new clothing for my first day of school each year and after each holiday break, and possibly with a new haircut and fresh manicure and golden tan.
• When I am tired and want go to bed, I expect a comfy mattress with sheets and a comfoter and a couple pillows.
• I expect a bedroom with enough space for all my clothes and things, a TV with a DVD plalyer, and a 5-disc CD changer Stereo. A lamp, a ceiling light, and a fan, central air are almost needs.
• When I go to the mall I expect to be able to buy at least a couple new things, whether I pay or my parents do... or even a friend. Then I will go to the movie theatre and pay 9$ for my ticket then buy my 5$ small popcorn and my 4$ small drink, maybe even a 5$ box of candy to go along. I will do this almost every weekend.
• During my birthday and Christmas I expect to get new things from my closest relatives and something big from my parents, and I open every card expecting money to fall out before I even start to read the writing. I also expect a feast of food and drinks.
• When I get my license I expect my parents to buy me a car either before summer or for the next gift giving holiday... which ever comes first. Then while I'm in school "studying hard" and "can't work" my parents will pay for my gas and insurance. Even if that means my tank needs filled every other day because I drive when I don't need to.

Try to tell me that isn't true? I have suddenly started to have a passion to visit a place like Africa, where some countries are so poor, so diseased, so unlivable that I will never take for granted...ever!... the things I've been given and offered in my life.

things to know.

so, i have a "sitemeter" on here that tells me how many people visit and where they are from... the country, state/province, and even the city, how long they visited for, and where they found my link.

pretty cool eh? well you'd be suprised at all the random locations people are looking/reading from. i have people from New York, B.C., Ontario, Mizzou, Georgia, Cali, Iowa, Colorado, and many more places... since April 1st 184 people have at least looked at my blog, SO i feel if you're taking the time to take a peek at my blog you should at least know some things about me. so here are 20 things you may or may not need to know about the writer.

1. I am a devoted Christian.
2. I am seriously almost deathly afraid of the dark.
3. My citizenship is with the U.S. although until August I'm living in Canada.
4. My boyfriend is Canadian.
5. I think asparagus and avacado are the nastiest vegetables, although I've never tasted either.
6. I have a Pomeranian names Haanz, Pom's are a German dog breed.
7. I hate when people chew with their mouth open.
8. I'm disappointed that Canada doesn't have Popeye's Chicken or Jimmy Johns.
9. I want to be a Photographer.
10. Since May of 2008 I have only been home to Iowa for a total of 4 months, and not all at once.
11. I lived in Maui, Hawai'i... I would love to speak pidgeon.
12. I will live either in So Cal or back in Maui within the next 4 years... hopefully if not sooner.
13. I cherish my family now, more then ever.
14. I don't think any other man can compare to Tyler in any way.
15. Summer is my favourite, I hate snow, the cold, and rain.
16. I like ladybugs and butterflies.
17. Someday I want to name my son Burkely James-Diesel Hanet, and/or my daugter Ellie Gwendolyn-La'ren Hanet.
18. I am going bear hunting in a week.
19. I pee'd outdoors for the first time in the Alberta Rockies. [i think that's where we were]
20. I hate fish, but love shrimp, lobster, crab, clam and calamari.

If you take the time to read my blog from time to time, don't be afraid to let me know by leaving feedback!
With love.

change in pace.

It's been a month and a half since I ventured away from home up to Alberta. Things have slowed down and this has become yet another home away from home. I have been spending most of my days teaching myself things on Photoshop CS4 through tutorials online and from exploring it myself, I walk with Haanz and sometime with Elisha on the warm days down through Kin Coulee which is a beautiful sight, and my favourte of all... hanging with Tyler.
We walk together, go out to eat and to movies, have dinner at his folks from time to time, play some catch and enjoy the company of friends, we have become the inseperable couple. Most people, or guys anyways, dread becoming the "inseperable couple"... but I believe this is why me and Ty work so perfectly together... we don't mind being around eachother constantly, we enjoy it. We are both ridiculous and make eachother laugh daily, we watch YouTube videos that are pointless but we can't help but keep watching, we walk into and out of church together, we are the same but completely different, we share his car, an we even share a cell phone... oh boy now that's commitment =P haha.
Knowing that Tyler is really the "one" and that God has made everything possible thus far, makes me smile every time I see him. So kind, caring, loving, chivalrous, funny, handsome, I can't be upset with him for even a full day... it just isn't possible. [Maybe someday when we reach "married life" it will be lol, I hear that happens.]
Anyway! As far as life and it's pace, things are slowing down and we're taking it day by day, month by month. I'm still loving it here, despite the fact I wouldn't mind having a job [yes I really just said that] and my own car, all is well!


Oh and could someone tell me if you think Avery is a more dominate boy or girl's name... I asked Tyler if we had a kid someday and it was a girl what would he name her, because if it's a boy I already named him Burkley James-Diesel, so he can name a girl, and he said Avery and I agrued no way, sounds like a boy [I reccommended Ellie Gwendolyn-La'ren Hanet]. Haha. [Don't worry NO KIDS in any near future of ours, I just like asking him random questions haha =P]

Camping.

Here are some picture from camping/hunting bears... no bears though!

1. Sunrise in the Mts.
2. Driving up the Mts.
3. Up in the Mts.
4&5. Same as 2.
6&7. Frank Slide... top of a mt. crumbles and covered and killed a town. Now it's a tourist place.
8&9. Me, Tyler, and Haanz.
10. Clouds on the way up.
11. Tyler using his gun's scope.

its about time.

so it's been awhile. there isn't much to update on... i'm just hanging out with Haanz and Tyler and friends from time to time, oh and finally might get a roommate after some hard ad posting!! Tyler's job framing slowed down for the month so he's just working here and there right now for people he knows. It's been nice for him to have some time off, we went hunting, and have rented all the new movies, cooked dinners together, and taken nice sunny walks. It's been great!

tyler talked to my parents about out future... getting engaged to be exact. i think it went well... they haven't given an answer as far as giving their blessing or not, they did however ask what I thought and what we were thinking as far as location, cost, timeframe and where we'll live. then said they would talk about it together [my mom and dad] and get back to him. i am pretty sure they won't say no, due to the fact I am a good 2600 miles round trip away in another country just so we could be closer lol it's love! but if worst comes to worse and do say no, we are prepared to give our speech of "we respect you but..." however the wedding wouldn't happen until they agreed.

Isn't life great!

so that's a li'l 411 for ya'll,
live, love, laugh and whatever.

today!

so i don't have a whole lot to update about right now... things have been pretty chill. 

Sunday... was Easter. Tyler decided he wanted to shave his head at 9:50am when we needed to be a church by 11 and we had planned on going to Bow Island... a 40 minute drive. Well the buzzer quit working so he had to use the mustache trimmer side of his face razor lol! It took him an hour to shave his poor head and we missed Easter service... I believe it's the first Easter that I've missed the service for haha. We had Easter with Tyler's family/extended family, it was a good time, I love Tyler's family because his dad, brother, and mom and her sisters [his aunts] never fail to crack a joke or be ridiculous, someone is always laughing, it's always a fun and happy time. His 3 little cousins are in love with Haanz, they call his "cute puppy" and "chihuahua" ... although he's a pomeranian and I've told them that many times haha.  I learned how to play Sets and Runs, and got to search for an Easter bag with Tyler and his brothers [yeah quite funny to see 18-23 year olds searching for hidden candy]. Anyways, yes... Easter was a good time and I enjoyed it even though it wasn't spent with my own family. Hopefully there are more of these good times to come!! <3>

With love.

sharing faith.

I promise this will be shorter then the last, as I'm sure not many people actually bothered to read the WHOLE thing. [haha]

Recently on the ever-so-famous facebook I posted a note about my faith and it's relation to homosexuality, it got quite a roar, with 100 comments. Mostly people wanting to argue with me, or bash what I believe... although my note in NO WAY bashed homosexuality... there were also a few who encouraged me. 

The thing that made me proud to have shared what I believe is the fact that I got a few private messeges from random people that I haven't talked to in months-years telling me how they thought it was cool that I wrote that knowing that I would probably get bashed or argued with. There's even one person that I have been talking to for 3 days now about being Christian and having faith, I'm even sending them a New Living Translation of the Bible so they can actually understand better. [They have been trying to read the NKJ version] It's amazing how no matter what the question is about my faith I have been able to answer them in the fullest, without having to take hours to research my answer. Which is why I've always been a li'l scared to witness one-on-one with someone... "What if I don't know the answer?" was my biggest fear.

God is so good. With my faith in Him, he has given me the wisdom I need, and I thank him for that! It's like everything I've learned over the past 19 years was all in the front of my mind ready to be unleashed when needed!

relationships and love.

When most people think of a relationship and love, they think, boyfriend/girlfriend-husband/wife type a deal. But over time I have realized how important family and friends and they way they support me are, and the real meaning of love from my significant other.

Love is support.

My family, for 18.5 years supported me in almost every way. 

Financially, they paid for everything they could... cell phone, car insurance, clothes, gas, sports, violin, going out with friends, etc... now of course I helped pay for myself when I was working but I didn't start working until I was 16. 

Spiritually, my grandmother is known as "the prayer warrior" of my home church she was kind and encouranging from all that I can remember. She made us raisin bread and the smell never left her house... homemade bread yum! and she told us bible stories as kids and had books and toys and an organ we always pounded away on. Then there's been my mom who has had me in church since I was born, even through my teenage years I'm glad that she sometimes had to force me to go, I would never be the strong christian I have grown into this past year if I didn't have her pushing me through the years.

Emotionally/Mentally, I think for the most part this came into play during school and sports. I think through elementary and middle school I played every sport I was offered except soccer and volleyball. I played teeball for 2 years then softball for 8 years as a pitcher and backup shortstop and feilder. I ran track for 2 seasons, played basketball for 4 years, joined the swimteam for 7 years, now I was good at all of these, some more then others but I have always been good at whatever I do and I really beleive that's because I always had family in the crowd and at home cheering me on telling me I could do it.

Physically, well of course this would be the hugs and kisses throughout the years, I believe every child no matter how old, deserves a good hug and kiss from their family, especially their parents, I believe this helps us soften up and enjoy life more, knowing you're loved.

My friends, new and old, have never been very consistant, and by this I mean my choice in friends over the years has been a rollercoaster. I've have friends who drink, who smoke, and those who don't, some who failed school, and jipped class and those who passed at the top of the class and never missed a day. But I believe all my friends through out the years have shaped me into who I am today. Now my friends haven't supported my financially or physically for the most part [besides having that shoulder to cry on] but I believe having emotional/mental and spiritual support from your friends is the best you can have!

Emotionally/Mentally, the one thing that I've noticed in almost every friend I've made and lost is that they have all been supportive in my choices in life. From me to marry my highschool sweetheart, to moving to Maui to help out with mission work, to coming home, to once again leaving again for Canada, they've been behind me the whole time.

I think one friend that really made a difference in my life was Nick Mongar, I don't know why exactly but he has always stuck out, I remember the first day of freshman year he sat behind me in every class and he would say "Hi! My name's Nick!" he would tell me about music and reccomend good CDs... I remember my first set of CDs I bought was Pretty Girls Make Graves, Cartel, Hellogoodbye, FOB, and Dashboard Confessional. Senior year, I remember him telling me he was proud to have a friend like me when he found out I was going to Maui to volunteer as a missionary. I don't think Nick would claim himself as a christian... maybe he would, but it was cool to know that even though we don't share all the same views that he was still supportive and thought what I was doing was something to be proud of in a friend.

Then there is my cousin Kate, who yes even though she's my cousin, she is one of my best friends, we have always been close maybe not always best friends but we've grown up together. I used to bite her, call her names and start fights with her, even called the cops on her because she had my toy, but as we've gotten older we've become even closer, and she never fails to ask me how I'm doing or what's up in my life while I'm away for months at a time, and she's there for me every time I come home. Me, her and a date to Jimmy Johns never fails.

It's friends like Nick and Kate who have said things that maybe they didn't think much of, but really their words were more then encouraging to me, and really helped me get through everything.

Spiritually, I only recently realized how important my friends in Christ are to me. I came home from Maui for a month then headed to Canada for a month and then back home to Iowa for a month before taking off again for Canada for 6 months[confused yet?]. I realized when I was home the friends I made at church, especially Kenzie&Ryan, my christian, bible thumping, Jesus loving, friends where there for me. I don't believe I really have any friends left from my highschool, none that I hang out with or talk to even once a week... and somehow I'm really ok with that. After living in Maui for 4 months then only being home for a total of 3 months before taking off for another 6 months I have realized my true freinds where the ones who welcomed me back every time with open arms and right away wanted to include me in all they do. They encourage me to follow God's will, and to never let my guard down, or let my morals slip. I couldn't ask for more in my friends.

Now, last but not least, I have also learned a lot about love and a relationship with a significant other, aka boyfriend.

LOVE when speaking in terms of a significant other should be the sum word of all support in one, and is something more meaningful and more special then a touch or a word out of our mouth. It is an ability and a feeling. We all have the ability to love someone special, and when we do the feeling of love can be self guided or spiritually guided. By this I mean I can love on my own, or I can let God guide my love. I believe when it comes to loving a guy [or if your a guy then say girl] that you can not truly love them unless you love the Lord first. I found this out first hand... I wasn't sure why God called me to Maui in May, and why I didn't feel called to stay [although I would have if I could have at the time] but over my time there I learned some very blunt lessons through trial and error you could say. I found out that Love from a guy has to be more then a physical type of support, in fact it shouldn't be physical at all.

LOVE from a guy should first be spiritual, guiding you in your relationship with the Lord and encouraging you to seek Him. Then emotional and mental, he should be willing to listen to you and understand you, wanting for you to be happy and think the best of yourself. Then physical... of course holding a Christian moral, never wanting to push you into temptation or an uncomfortable level. 

God has shown me over the past 10 months that His own love is greater then all, and in doing so he has allowed me to be in a righteous relationship with a guy who is in love with the Lord first. 

Am I saying my past relationships were pointless and the guys were horrible and didn't love the Lord... NO, because it takes TWO people to control a relationship and keep it Holy. My last boyfriend, many of you know him, is I believe more in love with the Lord now then ever before. What I am saying is that love is precious, holy, sacred when it comes to letting someone have your heart, and that the Lord should be the ultimate love, the one you give your whole heart to... before you love another.

"For the lessons learned in life are worthless if learned without a Godly foundation, without that foundation they will surely be forgotten."

with love.

i'm blessed.

During the day, I have a ton of time to think. Tyler works from 8am-5pm and I don't know how to drive a stick-shift 100% yet [I would say I'm at about 75/80%] so I sit and think, reflect, dream... and today I took Haanz on a walk and didn't carry him once... but that's beside the point.

In the past two years plus 3 months, I can't believe where life has taken me. 

I graduated highschool 5 months early, I worked 40-60 hours a week at a full time job answering phones for 5 months, I moved out of the house at 17... 3000 miles away to Maui, Hawai'i,  turned 18 in Hawai'i, my relationship with the person I thought was "the one" came to a dramatic halt, I let the Lord love on me for 4 months straight [and still do!], a guy fell for me in Maui... and I gave him the hardest time, I came home from Maui 6 months early because of a new relationship and a different will from the Lord, soon after the guy left Maui as well, then started a new relationship with a guy 1300 miles away from me, moved to Canada to make 1300 miles only 1.

The Lord has been so gracious, so loving, and so kind to me during this time. He has shown me his love in new ways, he has shown me real love through  and through. He has blessed me with such a man as Tyler... willing to do anything for me on his own, or by my request... although I don't ask for much. I only hope that I can return the willingness he has, and the love he has shown me in the fullest.

I don't really know how to end a post like this, as I could go on, and on, and on about how good God has been to me, how amazing Tyler is and has been, and how excited I am for life.

My God is good. I am blessed.

On a lighter note, some recent pictures of Haanz Diesel!

  

above: Haanz AFTER his first haircut.

above: haanz's puppy fur beginning to shed and grow into adult... called "puppy uglies"

above: Haanz as of today...

update.

Oi oi!
So I know everyone is just catching on to the fact I have a blog I update and whatnot... SO take a look around and check out the pictures in the previous updates, just a li'l about what's going on in my life!

Everything is going swell up here in Canada,just hanging out with Tyler and some friends and working with Haanz on going potty in "his room" lol, so cute. And I do have a new mailing address and will have a new phone # here SOON. So, if you want either of those just email me [beloved-savedbygrace@gmx.us]
OR facebook me, for all you avid facebookers : P and I'll get it to you asap.

Thanks! With love,
Ashley.

HEY GUYS!

So as you all know, I am finally in the great North[Medicine Hat, Alberta-Canada]. It took us forever to drive here because we had to stop every two or three hours to get much needed rest, since Tyler had just done the same 20 hour drive less than 24 hours ago! And we took a detour to pick up Haanz. Then actually had to get out of the car at the border to go inside since I'm staying for such a long visit. They gave me and Tyler an interview together then took me into an office and interviewed me... mainly just asked questions about Tyler and what I knew about him, for like half an hour haha. Then finally they granted me a visitor log for 6 months, even though I only asked for 5 :D

Now I'm all moved into the apartment, and just trying to figure out furniture/budgeting/house traning the li'l poopsie. I should have a phone soon, I will keep you updated. But until then my only means of outside communication is Skype, Facebook, and email. Whoa! 

All in all, everything is going grrrreat! I'm loving it, even though there's not much to do, I can't help but be happy <3

Here are some pictures from last weekend:

^me and my sister^

^me and Tyler <3 ^

^my aunt/uncle/cousins and family after eating out at a chinese place. we met up in Minnesota.

^Haanz Diesel! I love this li'l guy^ [he's a pomeranian]

^Tyler and I... again!^