Fly Fishing

This was just a baby fish to some of the other ones we caught.

Brian, Jessie, Me, and Rachel

This Friday Fun Break was fly fishing thanks to Ramon! We had a great time catching some rainbow trout up Provo Canyon.

I am grateful for my program and my awesome cohort. I love being able to practice what we preach and grow closer together as we learn together!

Some Friday Fun

Every Friday the grad students get together and do something recreational. We are really just trying to practice what we preach. One week was kayaking--half of us fell in the river--those silly barges. This past week was Halloween and we all gathered at Eliza's to make some doughnuts and apple cider. A few weeks ago we played wheelchair rugby. It was such a blast. I don't have any pictures, but I will try to get some soon.

Here Today, Gone Tomorrow

So Ashton came and was here for two weeks. It was the greatest two weeks. We spent tons of time together. Babysitting, going to the temple, a trip to Logan, taking naps together, going to a movie (a real novelty for us).

And now he is gone back to New Zealand. He is such a hard worker and I am so proud of him and all that he does.

I love you Ashton. I am grateful for you, my little Maori! I can't wait to see you again soon! Give all of New Zealand my best regards. I can't wait to go back.

Kia Ora Ashton! And Ka Kite Ano!

Utah....Finally

After all these croquet games and living in Utah for so long. We finally did our own state. The capitol building had been staring us down for a long time and now we can drive by with confidence. It was our 20th capitol (19 states and our nation's)! We are certainly excited to hit up Hawaii someday!

A special thanks to Tyler and Rachel for playing with us!

Together and On the Road Again

At the beginning of the month I flew out to Pittsburgh to drive back to Utah with Ashton. We have a goal to play croquet on the lawns of all the state capitols in America. On our way out to Pittsburgh we didn't have any time to play. So, we decided that we needed to make time to play on the way back.

We played eight games and tied 4-4. In Kansas we played with Ashton's best friend, Dustin. It was great to have an extra player.

We also stopped at Carthage jail and Nauvoo. It was our great pleasure to be able to attend the Nauvoo temple and be reminded of the dedication the saints of the earlier time had to the Church. The spirit in both Carthage and Nauvoo confirmed our testimonies of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.

When we first got married I worked a little for Ashton's Uncle Blair who sculpts the busts for the pro football hall of fame. He has also been commissioned to do a wagon train for a bank in Nebraska. I helped to make molds of his sculptures and so we went and took a look at the final product.

We had a great trip back. It was wonderful to be able to spend so much time together after being apart for so long.

Abseiling

Being a graduate student has its perks--especially when you are in the recreation department. Every Friday that we don't have class (we have a seminar that is assigned to random Fridays) we plan to do something fun. This past week we went abseiling or rappelling. Families are invited and our mate Clive brought his 4 boys! We are lucky to have Clive in our program all the way from Australia!

Happy Anniversary Inn

On the 16th of this month we celebrated out two year anniversary! It has been a fantastic two years together. We have traveled the world and met people with beautiful hearts. We have had so many growing experiences together. We certainly can't imagine life without the other in it.

Ashton wasn't here on our actual day, but he had come out a few weeks earlier and surprised me by taking me to the Anniversary Inn. We stayed in the Bridal Veil Falls room. It was so cool. We also went out to eat at Cafe Pierpont--and found that they went out of business--a year ago! So we went to the Red Iguana and I got to have my favorite Mexican dish--the chimichanga.

Happy Anniversary Ashto! I love you!

Pirate's Game

Right before I left to come back out here to UT. Ashton took me on a date to a Pirate's game. Before we left he had written all over the parking lot in sidewalk chalk. He drew our "bus window" and "I heart you infinity" and "Will you marry me?" On our way out we heard one lady say that she was glad she didn't park where she almost did because she would have ruined someone's day. Little did she know we are already married. Ashton is just silly.

The End of Pittsburgh....Sort of....

So I have been terrible at blogging lately, but all for seemingly good reason. Not ever being by a computer with internet seems to be to be a good reason. In August I went to Florida and Alabama with my uncle and his family. It was so amazing! We stayed in Destin--the most beautiful place in Florida--white sand beaches; teal, glass-like water; tons of fun in the sun! I really enjoyed Alabama too. We went on this dolphin boat ride up into the swampy areas and saw all kinds of wildlife. It was amazing. Thanks Phil and Lori for taking me with you guys. I had a great couple of weeks with you!

So I say "the end of Pittsburgh...sort of..." because it was the end for me, but not the end for Ashton. He has done such a phenomenal job this summer. Every year he fine tunes his managing skills and his selling techniques. He is a fine salesman. I always tell him that if he can sell me he can sell anyone! Pinnacle decided to keep an extension office in Pittsburgh and asked Ashton to stay and manage it. He is the one who knows the area the best and he has already done so well--managing the top office in the top region. Number 8 office in the whole company. Great job Ashton! So he is there, in Pittsburgh, still selling.

And I am here, in Utah, still going to school. I can't complain. I love school. BYU started again the day after Labor Day and I started again right along with it. Master's degree here I come! The Youth and Family Recreation program has treated me well so far. There is tons of reading, but I like reading. There are so many interesting things to learn, and so many perspectives to see things from. I love the people in my program, especially those in my cohort. I really think that it is going to be a fun two years.

In a week and a half I am going to fly back out to Pittsburgh and drive back with Ashton. We are greatly looking forward to it. We can't wait to hit up some more capitols on our capitol croquet tour! We are also looking forward to going to Omaha to see Uncle Blair's sculptures as well as Nauvoo for some church history.

Ohio Weekend

The Ohio State University

In front of the Hall of Fame

Enshrinement Ceremony

This past weekend we took a little trip to Ohio. We went to Columbus and had a nice visit with Mike and Candice. After a beautiful time in the temple doing sealings, they took us to see THE Ohio State University field that seats something like 105,000 people.

We then went up to Canton where the Pro Football Hall of Fame is. Ashton's Uncle Blair sculpts the busts that are in the hall and was able to get us some tickets to the buffet dinner and induction ceremony. It was amazing. The whole place was filled with Redskins Fans--2 players and one coach were inducted. Also, the Redskins were playing the Colts the next day.

They players all gave great speeches thanking God and praising Him for the talents He has blessed them with. It was wonderful to hear the greatest players to play the game giving credit where credit was due.

It was great to get away from the Burg for a bit and enjoy some time together.

Niagara Falls

Also on our little tour, we stopped at Niagara to behold one of the most magnificent things in the world.

"It's Just The Faith of People"

While we were living in New Zealand we had the incredible opportunity to go tour the South Island. Our last destination was Christchurch where we stayed with the family of one of Ashton's old mission buddies, the Odgers. Brother Odgers has been in many church leadership positions and knows much of what happens on the south island relating to the Church. On the way to the airport he told us a story of how years ago there was only one member, an older lady, in Greymouth but in the same ward as Christchurch. Christchurch is on the eastern coast and Greymouth is a 3 to 3 1/2 hour drive on the whole other coast of the South Island. President Benson came to visit and told that little old lady that she would live to see the day when there would be a chapel in Greymouth.

This little old lady started to invite people to take the missionary discussions and the church grew there until a chapel was built and dedicated just days before her passing.

As Brother Odgers relayed this story to us Ashton and I were struck. It is amazing to see the church grow and have prophecy fulfilled throughout the world and amongst individuals. As we expressed our amazement Bro. Odgers said something that has stuck with me. "It's just the faith of people."

How true that is! Isn't that how all things come to pass? Wasn't the earth created on faith? Didn't Moses part the Red Sea and save God's people on faith? Didn't Nephi find food in the wilderness because of faith? Didn't Christ heal the blind man due to faith? Is it not true that we are healed and made whole and clean through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and his merciful atonement? Did not Joesph retire to the grove of trees because of faith?

What a marvelous and glorious principle--faith. And yet it is "just" faith. It is a simple power that we can all have. We can pray for more. Great miracles come to pass because of this simple little seed, the mustard seed, the redemption of souls, faith. It reminds me of that quote from Finding Neverland where James Barrie talks about the word 'just'. "What a horrible candle-snuffing word. That's like saying, "He can't climb that mountain, he's just a man", or "That's not a diamond, it's just a rock." Just." And yet isn't that what it is? Simple. Small. Pure. Faith. And what great things come from 'just' faith.

This weekend Ashton and I got to go on a little church history tour. We drove up to Palmyra and got to see the many sights there. While we were there I thought of this story about the old lady. I thought about Joseph and that verse in James 1:5, "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him." He went into that grove in faith, expecting and answer and ready to act upon it. All of the early saints had great faith following a man who sees visions of the Savior and God the Father.

What a beautiful feeling was impressed on our hearts as we were among the many places that the Savior appeared to the eyes of men. Our hearts were particularly touched in Kirtland in the room where the School of the Prophets met. There we heard this account taken from a Record of the Life of John Murdock, page 23, "During the winter of 1833 we had a number of prayer meetings in the Prophet's chamber. In one of those meetings the Prophet told us, if we could humble ourselves before God, and exercise strong faith, we should see the face of the Lord. And about midday, the visions of my mind were opened, and the eyes of my understanding were enlightened, and I saw the form of a man, most lovely. This visage of his face was sound and fair as the sun. His hair a bright silver gray, curled in most majestic form, His eyes a keen penetrating blue, and the skin of his neck a most beautiful white. And He was covered from neck to the feet with a loose garment, pure white, whiter than any garment I have ever before seen. His countenance was most Penetrating and yet most lovely...And while I was endeavoring to comprehend the whole personage from head to feet, it slipped from me. But it left on my mind the impression of love, for months that I never felt before to that degree."

Sitting in the room where this occurred and hearing this account, we could not deny that the Savior appeared there, as he did 3 other times in Kirtland. A testimony that this is His work. Oh how wonderful it will be when we can see the Savior face to face!

How grateful we are for the early pioneers of the church who have blazed the trail leaving their legacy of faith. They pushed through trial after trial, persecution upon persecution, faith unwavering. They have brought upon my mind a reflection of my own legacy. Is it filled with faith?

Morning Dates

There are so many birds here in Pittsburgh. Living on the third floor makes for good bird watching among the tree tops. I've never been much of a bird watcher, but there are so many beautiful birds here that constantly land on the balcony that I can't help but notice. It is no wonder the National Aviary is here in Pittsburgh.

Last week Ashton and I went and were lucky enough to get a little paper that shows all the birds in Pittsburgh so we can identify what lands on the balcony. We also were able to see so many different kinds of amazingly beautiful birds and we even got to feed them. When in the Lorikeet room, one brought it's food right to my shoulder and ate.

This week we went to Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. It was so lovely. I love gardens and gardening. I think gardening is one of the finer things of life to be around the things of the earth. I love to watch things grow. Even in Pittsburgh in our little apartment, I have some plants and flowers on the balcony.

Our favorite room at the conservatory was the butterfly room. There are butterflies everywhere! All different kinds!

Happy Independence Day

If you look closely, you can see all the boats
on the river waiting for the show to start.

Downtown Pittsburgh was the best choice for our holiday plans. Ashton had to work, but was able to come home a little early, grab a hamburger and head downtown. There was music and tons of people. The most amazing fireworks and laser show we have ever seen was put on over the three rivers. It was incredible.

We are grateful to be citizens of such a great country. We are grateful for the inspired men who founded America and those who have fought to keep it free. How blessed we are to live in a land of abundance. We believe that this is a promised land. If we follow the laws of God, we shall be safe. God bless America. We need it.

Off The List

Ashton and I have made a list of things that we would like to do/see while in Pittsburgh. For a while we didn't really do anything. But lately, we have been crossing things off left and right. Pirates game? Check. Fallingwater? Check. Duquesne Incline? Check.

There are so many more things that we would like to do and we look forward to taking advantage of the area in which we live!

We spent most of the game in the rain. And then the sun decided
to peep out for a little while sprouting the most beautiful rainbow.
GO BUCS!

Fallingwater is a house designed by Frank Lloyd Wright
and is built over a waterfall!
Click here for more info about this amazing wonder.




The Duquesne Incline is something that every person in Pittsburgh
has to do at least once. It is just a little trolley car that rides
you to the top of Mt Washington and overlooks the city.
It is beautiful and a trip filled with history. To learn more about
the history of the Duquesne Incline click here.