Minnesota, WI

So carry on my dear, what is clear up in the daylight is we're hung here
Fall is coming soon, a new year for the moon and the Hmong here

To be loved.

An old find.

My friend wrote this to me when we were leaving India. Weird to think that I am still the same person from 2010.

Wanderlust

I started a new book, titled: Wanderlust--A Love Affair with Five Continents by Elizabeth Eaves.

| wan·der·lust
ˈwändərˌləst/Submit
noun
noun: wanderlust
a strong desire to travel. |
What is it to be wanderlust and how I have been handling this strong urge to see more. I have lived back in Washington for a year and each day this urge to leave, grows stronger.

Eaves started her book with:

Wanderlust is not a passion for travel exactly; it's something more animal and more fickle--something more like lust. We don't lust after very many things in life. We don't need words like workouts or homemakinglust. But travel? Anatole Broyard put it perfectly in his essay "Being There": "Travel is like adultery: one is always tempted to be unfaithful to one's own country. To have imagination is inevitably to be dissatisfied with where you live … in our wanderlust, we are lovers looking for consummation."
My brain speaks and works in travel. I like to be able to see my passport, maps, my backpacks--all on display. Doesn't mean, I am planning on leaving anytime soon, it just calms this anxious heart.

Home to me, is where my bed is, the people I love are and familiarity. When I got off my plane one year ago, Seattle was not home. I had only spent 6 days here, previously, but it was where my family called home now. I ran out of steam in my traveling, I was craving a home cooked meal and a chance to regain my thoughts. I didn't realize this would continue to be an ongoing battle, 365 days later. There are a few things I missed when I was gone, things I wanted to experience again and was having a hard time finding. Dating, being one of them. It has been so nice to actually be able to do this. I have met some amazing girls, and am excited to see where things go. Second on that list: English speaking friends, no offense to my friends that speak other languages, but it is nice to not translate. Because I have been able to recharge and meet new people, Seattle is becoming home.

I'm not saying I am done traveling, that urge will never end. I have a list of countries to visit, that will never disappear. I have and continue to push this eager hearts energy, into living life here in Washington. I continue to meet amazing people and love the adventures I get to go on with them. The journey is what life is all about. What kind of journey would it be without love and support from family, friends and partners. These are the reasons I stay in Seattle, for now, but I am excited to see what is next. I'm excited to see who might be joining me on these future adventures and how I can share a wanderlust passion with them.

I'll continue to live in color and find the blues, greys, whites and blacks of Seattle gorgeous, no matter the temperature. I will be grateful for the days the skies turn pink, orange and red at dusk. Seattle is beautiful and I love being able to call it "home" -- for now.

With Love,

Ashley

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!!