I HAVE A NEW SITE! It doesn't look super great yet but I'm gonna have more crafty, and missionary stuff available on it. It's not all put up but the blog is fully functional. So feel free to check it out and let me know what you think! :) http://ashiapie1.wix.com/glorifyinhim

Couldn't pass up posting this little gem Elder B. sent me ha.

Elder B. is doing good this week :) He sent me a beautiful blue crystal ring, which I told him not to, but he can't resist an opportunity to spoil me. He has had a few problems with health though. I'd appreciate it if you guys could say a prayer or two that he can have the strength to carry out what he  needs to do daily. I'm hoping I can get a package out soon. Speaking of which, if you guys have any cute package ideas, feel free to email me at ashiapie1@yahoo.com Id love to hear some ideas or even if you guys have any questions!! :)
I will be going to the temple next week to get my endowments, in of which I am so every excited! My farewell will be on the 21st of June. I'll have my mom or someone continue to post things for me when the time comes.
I just wanted to talk about service for a second. If you gals are having a hard time, feel alone, or are having a hard time missing your missionary, Things will go a lot easier if you search for opportunities to serve others.  For the past month, I've been driving Kellie to work. Kellie is a sweet 23 year old with down syndrome. Her mother is a single mom who works at the school and needed help getting her to work. When she asked me to do it, at first it was really hard to get used to, but Kellie has done so much for me and shown me so much. I wouldn't do anything to change that. I'm just glad I can help her mother and Kellie. I'm even lucky enough to get to sit with Kellie every now and then while Kellie's mom goes out. It's hard to feel sorry for your self or focus on your own trials when you are helping others with theirs. You learn to love as Christ did, and nothing could be better for your relationship with your missionary and god, than learning charity. Love you gals! Talk to you soon!

AHHHHHHHHH................... Needed to get that out ha :) I'm missing my missionary a lot tonight. It's hard when your best friend and really your only friend is gone, and Friday fun nights turn into lonely ones. I'm just gonna cuddle into the shirt he gave me and watch the notebook or something haha :) Sad sad.  The missing him is really hard at times but I keep reminding myself just how worth it, it will be. He's been serving for 149 days already which means he has approximately 518 days left!!!! crazy how fast it goes by! thank goodness. I cant wait till summer comes so I can enjoy myself more. being busy has its downs but then again it helps the time pass. Positive thoughts!!!! :) after all who could say no to this handsome blonde?? :) I've seen him grow so much, He's becoming the man I've always known he was capable of becoming. See you soon Elder!!! :)

Mission and things....

Man its been a crazy past few months THAT is for sure, and life as a missionary girlfriend HASN'T been easy. But I know Aaron definitively isn't having the easiest time either ha. but He is LOVING it out there. He's so dedicated to the work, and loves preaching the gospel. He's growing in so many ways, its crazy! I'm SO proud :)
Now believe it or not I have also decided to serve a mission and will be serving in  Minneapolis, Minnesota, Spanish speaking. I will be leaving about June 24th for the Mexico MTC. and I know that us both being on a mission will be more than a blessing for us. He has been so supportive of it.
He's been having some baptisms which is fantastic!!!
It's about time for me to send him another package. He wants some pjs, Dr pepper and to switch jerseys. a couple weeks ago I got a Brazil soccer jersey with my last name on it. I'll have to get his items one at a time and send it out before I leave.
His letters are seriously the best thing in my life right now, I feel like a school girl when I see his name in my emails. When I'm having a bad day I just tell myself that I'll get to hear from Elder Barnum soon.
The missing him gets really hard, and if your waiting for a missionary, oh hun trust me it's HARD. but I know it'll be so worth it!! Even though its one of the hardest things I've done, it's also one of the easiest (totally makes sense huh?) It's easy to wait for him, but its all the feelings that come along with it that's hard. But the greater the sacrifice the greater the reward, and our reunion will be WONDERFUL.

Finally a first word!!

So I finally heard from Elder Barnum!! He made it safely to Brazil!! His P-days are on Fridays so I thought that was strange, but I'm just fine as long as I get to hear from him :) So I found out that I cant send him packages while he's in the MTC :/ He'll be there until January, so his Christmas presents are gonna have to be late. I was all nearly done with his package too. I decorated the inside of a box with wrapping paper and so far I got him a Card, a tie with saying "Stay "tied" up in the work". I got him some Rice Crispy treats which he absolutely loves, as well as some tissues because that boy is always blowing his nose ha. and some other things but yea. Life is so crazy!!! Its easy to be fooled on what the right priorities are, school, work, and money for rent seem pretty important, but we cant afford to get lost in these things. Standards, god, family, and endless study is way more important than any physical thing we obtain here on earth. My dad always told me the three basic things in life are 1. Religion 2. Eating healthy and exercising and 3. staying out of debt which to me seem like a great code to live by but I'd like to add a 4th element and thats love. Nothing is greater than everlasting love. God has it for all of us and thats why we are here in the first place and I want to follow that example. Elder Barnum is doing great justice by serving the lord. I love this life I have, all the stress and lack of sleep included :)
See you soon!!!
~Ashia

Tomorrow it begins!!!!!!

Tomorrow is the day my elder, will be leaving to Brazil for the next 24 months for his LDS mission. I have to admit I'm both majorly excited, and nervous. I haven't even went one day not talking to him for the last four years!! Yes you can say that things change fast, but time also goes by fast. It seems like a long time for now, but in the grand scheme of things its no time at all. If anything is worth waiting for its him. I'm not quite sure what to expect, but I know its going to be hard.
I saw him for the last time in two years yesterday. He lives back home in southern Utah, while I'm up north going to school. We've learned after having to not see each other so much, that goodbyes just don't feel right. All we can say is "See you soon", and boy does that have more comfort than goodbyes.
I'm so excited for him in this time of his life. He's gonna learn so much. As my loving father would say, A mission is the one time in your life when you only have one thing to focus on. The rest of your life, your worried about school, friends, work, making a living and many many other things (as we all know). So really live in the moment and cherish whats going on around you, though it will be hard, the goal is simple, Obey and Love. Obey and love..... How amazing is it that there are young men and women out there doing that?! Just imagine how the world would be if we all did that. Even just love. They are pushing away any selfishness, leaving friends and family for two years, and learning to love strangers. In so they are obeying the lord.
So to my Elder, I'll see you soon!!!!