I love to blog, it reminds me of all my blessings. 2013/14 in review.

It has been almost a year since I blogged. That is weird, I have many things that have happened since I moved back to the states. Let's do a quick view.

June 2013-I moved to Seattle, Washington (not home) from Shenzhen, China :)

July 2013-I awoke from my slumbers of jet lag, to do some fun things, like hiking, baseball games (go Angels!) and got a job catering.

August 2013- I went on a once in a life time mission trip to Haiti, with my good friend Vicky. It was wonderful to be on the mission field and I met some amazing people. God is good.

September 2013- I got to go HOME!!! ORANGE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA. I finally got to set foot on the soil I was born on and see people I hadn't seen in a very long time. I got to stay with my lovely Aunt Shirly in Huntington Beach and it was so nice to wake up and walk down to the beach. Many hours spent with my wonderful cousin Lauren and Wade and got to see a lot of family, that I hadn't seen in over a year! God was good and it was nice to attend the many churches my friends have now started to attend!

September 2013- (continued) I made some new friends in Seattle and they make it feel like home!

October 2013- I had the opportunity to go to Kansas to visit the DeGarmo family!! They were an American family that lived in China and taught at the school I was at. I probably wouldn't of survived China, without our countless hours of conversations and the many bottles of wine consumed. They are my favorite and it is a huge honor to get to spoil their kids, just a little bit :)

October/November 2013- I got to visit my wonderful friend from Canada, Kelly!! we have known each other for a long time and it has been so great living so close to her!!

December 2013- I was honored to be able to attend my roommate from China's, wedding!! Debbie got married! and I got to see Hannah and it was SO GOOD. I was also staying with my Uncle David and his family in Minnesota for two weeks, I hadn't seen them in 4 years! Such a refreshing trip and I loved it!

Now, it is January 2014 and I am 4 short days away from turning 25. A quarter of century old. I'm stoked, still young and blessed to live a life that I do. I love every second of it, even if I am sick, sad, transitioning, making new friends, getting older. I started a new job this month at a city pool, going back to what I know and I am making lots of new friends and they are awesome.

I will promise to blog a lot more, I have been slacking for too long. Thank you for the constant support and love that you all pour out to me. I love you all and I hope that we can catch up, with a short text, an email or even a phone call! I hope that the new year has blessed you and that you have many adventures on your way--I know I do.

With love,

Ashley

Last few weekends in Shenzhen

My time in Shenzhen, China is slowly coming to an end. I am not contracted for next year, but that doesn't mean I am leaving Asia--at least I don't hope so. I will hopefully know more soon.

As the end of the year comes, we are realizing that none of us live in the same area of the states. We are doing the most that we can with the last few weeks! It is exciting and also very sad, but that is ok. I am learning to say see you later and follow through with it.

The most recent adventure was a day trip to Macau. Macau is a former Portuguese colony, Macau was administered by Portugal from the mid-16th century until 1999, when it was the last remaining European colony in China. It really is beautiful and full of color and different architect from the Portuguese. I felt a little bit like a nerd with loving all of it so much!

The year is coming to a close and new journeys are beginning for everyone. Please continue to pray for futures, trips and adjustments in new and old communities.

With love,
Ashley


Oh and here are some pictures of Macau!

Thirsty Thursday

Taking time today to be filled again. I found encouragement in these verses and in one of my favorite songs. Give it a listen :)

My Own Little World by Matthew West
For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me- Matthew 25:35

But whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” John 4:14

For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour my Spirit upon your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants. Isaiah 44:3


With Love,

Ashley

Peace in the Midst of Chaos

Whatever the outcome, God's guidance for your life remains the same. He is never late or forgetful to keep His promises(2 Peter 3:9) he holds all things together (Colossians 1:17), including this season. His purpose for you will never be thwarted (Isaiah 14:24). He will not trick or deceive you( I Samuel 15:29) but will lead you toward a fuller knowledge of Himself. And He is refining you in the little things to prepare you for something more. (Luke 16:10) whatever the outcome, you can put your doubt and discontent to rest-as you gain confidence in where God has called you to be.

Cherry Blossoms in the Spring

Are these not beautiful? I was in awe of these beautiful trees.

Where do you go for spring break--to get away from the fog and rain? To more rain--at least in Tokyo, Japan! There was no smog though.

I embarked on my last trip of the school year, let's be clear--SCHOOL year. I don't see myself not traveling the rest of 2013. I have this urge to go places, it just keeps getting bigger and bigger. It helps that everyone is extremely supportive and sends me so many encouraging messages and texts, it makes what I do, worth it.

I looked up when the Cherry Blossoms would come in Japan and realized it landed during my spring break. My friend Rebecca (you probably saw her in previous pictures, we went to Thailand/Malaysia/India this year) and I jumped on that opportunity. She has somehow decided to continue traveling with me, I'm proud of her for surviving :) It has been a joy to have someone just as enthusiastic about food and museums, as I am. We have had fun and I hope that we will have many more journeys in the future!

Where to start when it comes to Tokyo, I was surprised how quiet the streets were--it was eery. I live in China--it might be safe to say it is the loudest country in the world. If it is not, then I just haven't been to where it is louder. Every day I hear people yelling into their cell phones, at each other and just randomly at a wall--ok maybe not a wall. Everyone is just yelling. ALL. THE. TIME. Lets not forget cell phones being on loud while they play games, yes I do enjoy hearing you chop fake sushi, shooting at a robot or just listening to a movie. It can become stressful hearing all the sounds all the time. I am an extrovert and I love to be active, but the minute I am on the MTR (The subway) I am headphones in and canceling out all the sound around me, with something that calms me. Tokyo, you could hear a pin drop on their subway system, it is seen as rude to talk or to talk on your phone. I was impressed that everyone was following the rules and that it is enforced--I was a bit jealous.

The city is hustle and bustle, like any other city that I have been to. Men in their work suits, women in their pencil skirts and students in their uniforms--all very similar to what I have seen before. The only thing we couldn't seem to figure out was what time is dinner time, because restaurants were either not open, or we were the only ones eating when we did want to eat!

We did tons of museum and park hoping and got to see the blossoms--that can be checked off my bucket list. These trees bloom once a year and only last for a couple of weeks and then they are gone! There was one park we went to right when we got there and we visited on our last day--you would of thought it was a different park!



I had a wonderful time in Tokyo and thought the culture was great! I don't know if I will ever go back, but it was a great week spent with a great friend!! I ate more sushi than I could of imagined. I saw a more diverse part of Asia that was fantastic. I learned more about Japan, my knowledge was horrible. Overall it was fantastic!

Here are some more pictures of the trip!!

Island Adventures--Chinese New Year 2013

Chinese New Year happen to come in February this year, if you have heard loud fireworks, recently--it's the Chinese. My birthday was the day before a three week journey of island hoping and relaxing on the beach. It seemed that everything was perfect, and it was. My birthday started out with an adventured filled day to the Andy Warhol exhibit the weekend before. I loved every second of it and here is a picture (that I wasn't supposed to take) of my favorite piece in the museum.

We ended the night with dinner and drinks at some pretty awesome Italian place. Blessed by some amazing people here in Asia--I can't get enough of them! This is a picture from that night!!

On my actual birthday I was greeted with a room attacked with balloons and glow in the dark dinasour stickers from Tayt, Camden and Rebecca and then I got Becca burgers The recipe for Becca Burgers--she's the best cook in the world. After dinner a bunch of us all got together and we went bowling! I, the newly 24 year old decided it was best to bowl in my dinosaur outfit. I have to keep it young some way ;)

The next day we had our in school Chinese New Year celebration and that night I was on a plane to Malaysia--I didn't waste any time. We arrived in Malaysia to warm weather, and it was wonderful. We went to a Muslim restaurant every day that we were there for dinner and that was probably one of my favorite things about Malaysia. I got to know the guys that were running the place and it always made me laugh when they would see us walk by (which happened multiple times) We went to an island for a few days to relax on the beach. The sunsets were beautiful, the water not so much--Jellyfish everywhere!
They were about the size of my head!! Malaysia taught me three major things: 1. I love traveling with my friends. 2. I love city life. 3. Malaysia is REALLY expensive!

After the adventures in Malaysia we were off to Bangkok for a couple days and I fell in love. Pad thai and BBQ chicken on one side of the road and then massages on the other side--living the life. I got to see the Kings Palace, temples and the Jim Thompson’s house. It was a rushed/exciting two days in Bangkok! I would definitely like to spend more time there and would love to spend more time getting to know the people. I am fascinated with Thailand at the moment!




We headed our way down to Krabi, Thailand and spent our time there for the first week and did some island hopping and checking out different beaches. The sunsets and the clear skies with stars at night were some of my favorite things that I did there. Memories that will be remembered forever and I have been blessed to share them with some great friends. I love the life of a beach bum and have always been obsessed with water--it has been hard to live away from it for 1.5 years.

The end of my trip was at MaiKhao beach--northern Phuket. It was pretty much deserted and we got to stay in little bungalows and it was so peaceful. The owner was the sweetest and I would definitely go back to this area again. We got visitors from Vicky, Anne, Ethan and Lauren on their last day and it was nice to hang out on the beach and relax!




That was the end of my journeys and the next one is coming up quickly--Japan!

Prayer requests:
That I am patient and listening to what God wants me to be doing.
For my friends and their adventures they are on.
That I can figure out a plan for next year.


With love,

Ashley