Help Wanted!

Good news!!! Zac and I have found a place to live! It's a basement apartment in West Valley. 3 bedroom, 1 bath. It's a really great price for the size, and it just so happens to be right next door to my best girl friend Shayla Bentley! We are SO looking forward to starting our life together.

Now I just need every one's help. With our very small income, we can survive. But I've been looking for a full time job, and some options have come up. My cousin may be starting a new job soon, and her current job will open up. After talking about what she does, and how much it will provide, it sounds like a great opportunity! But in order for me to even apply for the job, my cousin will need to actually get this other job. (jeepers life is crazy!)

Could anyone who reads this please keep us in your prayers? That whatever happens, we will be able to work things out. We've had so many wonderful opportunities come up, and it's truly amazing how the blessings keep flowing. Thank you to everyone for your love and support.

Much Love,
Ashley

Engagements!

This past Saturday, My cousin Stuart took our engagement pictures at Gardner Village. It really was the perfect weather considering it's the middle of winter. We had fun, and got some pretty good pictures we'll be able to use. Thanks Stuart! Here's just a few. Enjoy!

Of course, there are a lot more, and I didn't post my VERY favorites, because we'll use those and don't want to "spoil the surprise" :) But there you go... more to come.

A Happy Thought

Have you ever gone back and watched all those old Classic Disney movies you watched when you were a kid? Let me tell you... this is one of my favorite things to do. I'm sitting here as my brothers watch Aladdin, and completely enjoying it! There are lines I didn't know I remembered, (as I'm quoting it) and then there are lines that are hilarious that I never understood! The Genie... he's a funny guy!

The same goes for movies like Beauty and the Beast, Jungle Book, Sleeping Beauty, and even some of the more recent ones like Toy Story. Maybe I'm just a little kid inside and I may never grow up, but I think I will always love these movies. And it's amazing how much entertainment I get out of them if I haven't seen it in a very long time.

Anyway, this is just my thought for the day. You should try it! Pull out a movie you used to watch a ton when you were a kid, but you haven't seen in a long time. Watch it. It's great fun!

Wedding Plans Update!

Note:My brain is kind of in a million places right now.

So this post may seem a little random at times.

Things are starting to pick up! With Lucas now here and Jessica starting to get a hang of the whole Mommy role, we've been able to start to focus on Landon's mission prep. and my wedding plans. With everything happening in such a short amount of time, I've just had to focus on taking one day at a time in order to not go insane. It's working so far.

About a month ago, My mom, Zac and I went to look at a Reception center I was really interested in. A lot of people said it was really pretty and they liked it. They were right - it was very pretty. However, all of us didn't get a good feeling about the people who ran the place. It almost seemed like they were hiding something. Not necessarily from us, but in general. We also didn't really feel like they were very excited to work with us, and it wasn't a very good experience. So we decided not to schedule with them. Then there was New Years, and Lucas came, so wedding plans went on the back burner.


Last week, we started to pick up plans again. While I was in Vegas visiting Jess and the baby, I looked up a TON of different reception centers around the valley. I decided I really liked a place in Sandy, and decided to call and check out the place when we got back. However, when I called to check if the date (March 18th) was available, it had already been booked. But the 19th and 20th were still open.

ok this is my little Paragraph to kind of vent. We are getting married the weekend right before spring break. Meaning.... every other college student who is engaged is getting married the SAME WEEKEND!!!! We decided to get married on the 18th because it's a Thursday. Friday and Saturday are going to be ridiculous. So... calling and trying to schedule a day in the weekend when the Friday and Saturday would generally be booked first, and they're NOT... but they day you want IS?! UGH..... RIDICULOUS!!!! Ok. I'm done venting.

Anyway, I decided to check on another place that I was slightly interested in, and the 18th was still available! We checked it out last Wednesday, and WOW... the difference in the feel we got at this place was almost tangible. The ladies were VERY welcoming and made sure all our questions were answered. They were more than willing to accommodate our large family needs, and weren't too pushy. At the same time, they weren't hesitant about answering any of our questions. They were strait forward, and all together very easy to work with. And their rates are good too!

So we booked it! The place is called Arbor Manor. They give you the option of having them take care of everything, or you can bring in food, flowers, cake etc. too. So basically, we just have to decide what they're doing, and what we're doing.

At this point, we're planning on having them do all the decorating (backdrop, table settings, centerpieces, chair covers, etc.), and the cake. We might bring in our own catering and flowers. That's still open for debate. But having finally found a reception center that we like has taken a lot of stress off our shoulders, and we're starting to get really excited!

Another update:

My mom and my best friend, Shayla Bentley, went Dress shopping with me today, and we found a dress I love! We first went to a place called Sweethearts bridal, where we found my sister's dress. A lot of them were very pretty, but I liked the last one the most. We put in on hold for a week, and decided to check out Allyse's Bridal down the street just to see if we found anything else I liked. I wasn't expecting to find anything better, and I definitely wasn't planning on getting anything there because they tend to run more expensive.

We tried on dress after dress after dress, and I just wasn't very impressed with what I was seeing. But then the last dress I was going to try on (of course) was gorgeous! I fell in love with it immediately. It was very slimming and flattering, and It literally was everything I had imagined in my wedding dress. So, even though it was more than I was really anticipating spending on my wedding dress, it was still within my dress budget. So we got it! It has to be altered because I'm so short and the shoulders don't fit right. AH!!!!! I'm getting so excited! I can't go into too much detail, or post pictures because my fiance does occasionally check this blog ;). But I'll be sure to post pictures of the wedding later and you'll see. Basically, I've never felt more pretty in a dress before.... ever!

So pretty much the only thing left we have to figure out is announcements, engagement pictures, and bridals. I have an awesome cousin who is going to take our engagements next weekend, so we're well on our way to figuring things out.

This time has been stressful, but so exciting as I anticipate starting a life with the man that I love. I feel so blessed that things are falling into place, and I'm somehow finding time to squeeze everything in. Life is wonderful.

Love, Ash

Happy New Year!

One of the best ways to ring in a new year is with an addition to the family! My sister, Jessica, had her first baby on Dec. 31st. The first Grandbaby, and my first nephew! Baby Lucas Joseph McNichols was born at 12:51 p.m. Vegas time, and weighed 5lbs 6oz. 18.5 inches long. Just a tiny little thing.

Mom and Dad (Grandma and Grandpa..... hehehe) went down the next day to help out, and Dad came back Sunday the 3rd. I was lucky enough to get this past Thursday-Saturday off work, so I could go down to see the little man. He is SO TINY! Immediately I loved him. He's such a precious little thing. I was able to take some pictures of him.

Lucas With Grandpa Crapo. Look how small He is!

Being all cute and awake while I held him.

Crashed in my arms. Oh how I love this little man!

With Mommy

Awww.....!

About to smile in Grandma's arms

I LOOOOOOOVE Being Auntie Ashley! And I especially love his cute Sunday outfit.

Yuck...

Finals week.... I never realized how much I could hate finals week until it wasn't ME who was in school... but my fiance. Ew. Luckily, I was scheduled to work a lot of hours, so instead of sitting at home and moping because I couldn't be with him, I was working a 52 hour work week. It's a GREAT way to keep your mind occupied.

But finals are over!!!! HOORAY! That was all last week. Which means I should be able to see the love of my life and really enjoy the Christmas season, right???

Nope.

Guess who got sick?

Yeah. I got sick Saturday night. I had a fever and ached all over. And I was really freaked out because I was supposed to accompany my Dad in his sacrament meeting, accompany the choir and sing in the singles ward, and sing again at a fireside Sunday night. NOT a good time to get sick! So at 2:00 a.m. I tearfully woke up my dad to ask for a blessing.

I am so grateful for my Dad. Grateful that I can ask for a blessing at any time, and he is worthy and prepared to do that for me. Grateful that he actively holds the priesthood. What a difference it makes in the spirit of our home! And although I'll be moving away in a couple months, I will still have all those blessings because I'm lucky enough that I get to marry a man who respects his priesthood just as much.

Not only that, but I'm also grateful for a loving Father in Heaven, who knows our desires and our needs. Who is so willing to bless us. Guess what? Sunday I felt fine. The fever was gone, and I was able to fulfill all my obligations.

But it didn't last. Sunday night I started to get a headache again, and the fever came back full force. I think I worked too hard last week and didn't take care of my body. So now my body is FORCING me to slow down. I missed work yesterday, and I'm missing it again today. There are some final things I need to do for Christmas gifts, and I can't because I'm quarantined to my room. And the worst part? I can't be with Zac. (grumble)

So I have mixed emotions. I'm grateful for the miracle and blessing I was given to be able to do those things I needed to do on Sunday. It truly was amazing. But it really was horrible timing for me to get sick. I'm hoping today is the last of it all, so I can be healthy for Christmas.

Hoping.....

Oh Dear.....

I really have gotten so bad at this blogging thing. At the times when I SHOULD be writing things, I don't. So nobody really knows what's going on in my life. I blame it on life getting crazy.

So I have a lot of things to cover. Most of which are all very exciting. But the thought about having to cover everything is so overwhelming, I kind of want to curl up in a ball and cry. So I've decided, in order to save my sanity, you are getting the very readers digest version, and then we'll move on with the present. HOORAY!

Ok first of all, on September 9th, (09/09/09) I received my mission call to the Louisville Kentucky Mission! I was scheduled to go into the MTC on Dec. 16th (less than a week from now!). It was all very exciting and fun. HOWEVER..... :)

.... precisely 5 days later, I started dating a very dear friend of mine. One of my very best friends, in fact. And through the past few months he has become the dearest friend I have ever known. So I'm not going on my mission. I'm getting married instead. YAY!!!! This young man treats me like gold, and I'm continually in awe as I get to know him better.

Zac (yep, that's his name) proposed on November 27th. Black Friday. We will be getting married in the Draper Temple on March 18th. I can hardly wait! Wedding plans are under way, and we're trying to stay sane as Zac finishes school finals this week and next week.

As I've been through these experiences the past 6 months, I've often wondered what exactly I was supposed to be learning, and why things were happening the way they were. I'm still not sure what some of God's purposes were and are, but I do know that I am grateful for the testimony I have gained as I have had to rely and trust in the Lord. Trust that He would take care of me, and as long as I was listening to the spirit, I would not go wrong. I'm so grateful for the blessing of family and close friends. For their support and love as I made HUGE decisions. And I'm most especially grateful for my future eternal companion. He truly is my best friend and the light of my life. I'm not quite sure how I got so lucky.

Anyway, those are the major things that have happened lately. I'll do my best to stay updated as I'm sure the next 3 months are going to be full of adventure!

Much Love,
Ash