Wahoo!

We are officially debt-free!  We just made the last car payment on max (the Mazda) today and it feels so great :)  We contemplated running outside barefoot in the snow and screaming we are debt free at the top of our lungs in celebration... but decided against that particular course of action because we are both currently fighting off colds and sore throats... and because we don't want our neighbors to think (or know) that we are crazy :)  I figured the blog was almost as good as acting like a crazy person haha.  So so excited!  Wahoo!  We even managed to save enough to still go to Bulgaria (where he served his mish) next Fall for Ki's graduation gift.  I can't wait!

Indecisiveness...

I am so indecisive and it is killing me!  For every single present I have in mind to get Ki for Christmas, and then for his birthday right after Christmas, I keep feeling the need to call him and ask his opinion or advice on every single item!  It is quite ridiculous.  I mean I am capable of making decisions on my own without him,  I just really want him to like his gifts.  Plus it doesn't help that most the items on his wish-list are all high-tech, technology stuff I know nothing about!

The questions running through my head begging to be asked are along the lines of:... "should I buy the least expensive version of this, or will it be poor quality? should I buy a used version of such and such or should I just shell out the money for the new?  Do you prefer this brand, this brand, or this brand when  it comes to this certain item?"  bleh.  I am terrible at Christmas shopping lol.  The clothes part is just about the only part I can do without a ton of research/questions and of course that is the part he cares the least about lol.  I need a christmas shopping tutor, is there such a thing?

Ash

So very THANKFUL!

Wow.  What an awesome Thanksgiving it has been!  The only thing that could've made it better is if we could apparate like real wizards and see both sides of the family in one day!  Some things that I am most thankful for. . .

• The best family in the whole world.  I literally ask myself everyday how I got so lucky to have such a loving family! 
• The best husband I could've ever asked for!  Who works so hard for our little family, who cuddles me, and who loves me no matter what.
• The amazing & supportive friends that Ki and I have both met along the path of life.  We both have been so lucky to associate with so many good people
• The country that we live in, but more importantly those that give so much of their time, and lives to protect our freedom, and the families of those serving.
• The gospel, and the blessings Ki and I have been so abundantly blessed with
• Food, food, and more food.
• Life!  life is so good, and so worth living! 

I could go on, and on, but just a shout out to all our friends and family out there that we are so grateful for everything you have ever done for us and for your examples.  We hope that you all had an amazing Turkey Day shared with your families and loved ones!

Ash

p.s. I will post pics from our Thanksgiving, later on :) 

Hi, its me again :)

Just a couple of things to say.

1) The cruise was the most amazing get-away!  Seriously it was so relaxing, and theraputic, and it was great to forget all responsibilities for a couple days!

2)  I have the best husband ever.  Like really.  We have been so busy the past month, and last night we were so excited to stay up late spending time together and then to sleep in today, and then at 1 am or so Ki remembered he had to work early this morning... he was so sad.  But this morning he got up for work without complaining, and when I was about to get up to try and hurry and make him breakfast before he had to leave he just kissed me and said, go back to sleep for a couple hours babe.  I love you.  Honestly... BEST husband ever. 

3)  I have to speak in church tomorrow... for the first time since I was a Laurel in 2006... I pretty much hate public speaking.  It is the worst, and I am NOT excited to feel humiliated (which inevitably will happen... something about giving a "church" talk, being an emotional person, and nerves don't go together very well for me)  I pretty much plan on getting up then: introducing Ki and I, speed speaking through my talk (can't be helped when I'm nervous), cry talking when I get to the parts of the talk that make me emotional, then being so embarrased I speed speak even faster until I finally get to the end and sit down.  Good thing Ki is a good speaker :)  hopefully he can redeem us, and make up for the time I was supposed to speak but didn't.  I swear it feels like I stand up there 15 minutes, but then everyone tells me I was talking so fast it was really only 5.  Yes, I need help.  And yes, I already took public speaking.  But instead of turning me into a profesh public speaker, it just made me all the more aware of my failings at the pulpit :)  oh well, we all have different talents I suppose!

4)  I swear that eyebrow hairs grow faster in winter!  Does anyone feel the same way?  I think I might just be going crazy, but I literally have to pluck my eyebrows twice as much in the winter time... maybe it just has something to do with my pasty white skin, not hiding the regrowth as well as tan skin?

random post I know, but I finished all my homework and now I have to start my talk... you can see why I am procrastinating :) 

p.s.  I would love if people would comment just so I know people actually read this blog.  I am starting to feel like I am writing to nobody.  So if you are reading this, whoever you are, even if you are a blog stalker leave a comment just saying hello or anything really :)  It would be nice to know their are a few readers out there!

Terrible Horrible...

One of the things I love about marriage is when you are having one of those terrible, horrible, no good very bad days you always have someone that cares to call and cry your eyes out to :)  Before, I would contemplate calling a friend, or my mom, people I knew cared about me, but just end up feeling too embarrassed and cry to myself haha. 
This week has already felt so long!  I just want this weekend to get here cause that means we are going on a cruise!  woot.  Too bad I have 3 tests and 1 paper due before then... oh.. and i got a 74 on the test I took Monday... yeah terrible.  Also today I had a girl be the biggest jerk to me in the library.  I was speed writing my 4 pg. paper on charity that was due for my marriage & family class which was the first problem so I was uber stressed.  Then once I finished it (half way through my class) I realized I wasn't on a computer that was connected to the printer.  So since all the computers were full at the moment, I just waited in line for awhile until I had missed almost my whole class and desperately needed to turn the paper in by the end of class I got all optimistic (since it was byu, and I had just written a paper on charity) and asked a girl at one of the computers if she would just let me hurry and pull up my paper on her computer so I could push print before I had to turn it in, in like 7 minutes and she was like "No, I am using it right now, go find another computer there are a ton of labs on campus you don't need to kick me off mine" RUDE.  I wasn't trying to kick her off her computer, I just wanted 1 minute to pull up my paper and push print!  Sheesh... I didn't have time to go to another computer lab but clearly she couldn't be bothered to help another in need.  So i RAN my butt off to the nearest computer lab that I knew of to print my paper, I barely turned in on time (1 min to spare)  and then was tardy to my 1:00 class... AGAIN.  My 1:00 professor hates me cause I am always like 2 minutes late to his class and there  is only 12 of us so he always notices, and he always marks me tardy so now I freaking have too many tardies which is docking my grade.  What college professor keeps track of tardies!  I am only ever like 2 minutes late and its cause my classes are on opposite ends of campus!  Gah.  Then he passes out the scantrons to the test we took yesterday and I got a 74.... 20% lower then our first midterm!  I don't even know what happened!  I was already so on edge from barely getting my paper in on time, that girl being so rude, and the look my teacher gave me when i was 3 min tardy that I almost started bawling in class.... yeah... luckily I made it through class just in time to call Ki and let it all come flowing out! lol.  Thanks hun, you're the best

Ash

Little Notes

I have the most amazing husband in the whole world!  Just going to throw that out there.. :)  I know everyone says that but its true!  He really is the best.  I guess there is someone for everyone though, so everyone has their own amazing husband who is perfect for them.  I love, love, (love stories, movies, weddings, engagements, love anything) and I LOVE getting little love letters from my hunny.  We celebrated our 1st anniversary last month but Ki still takes the time to surprise me with little love notes every so often :)  I found one in my backpack on the first day of school, next to the bed on a day he had to leave the house before me, and just a couple days ago sitting on the keyboard of my laptop.  Because these notes are so special and never fail to make my day a million times better I thought that I better document a couple (just in case they come less often in 50 years or so lol)

love note #1:
I love my little Ash Bug with my whole heart.  Sometimes I wish I could show her the full extent of my love, but even if I could give her the whole world, it wouldn't be enough.  So ironically my offering is limited to three words that I worry I say too much, but Ashley Jensen, I love you!
-Ki

love note #2
I love you Ashley.  You were so cute when I left this morning that I gave you a kiss and let you sleep.  I miss you already.

love note #3 (this was the one in my backpack that made me cry and smile at the same time when I found it lol) 
You are the love of my life, and the most important thing in my whole world.   I wish that I could constantly eminate my love for you in all of my actions, but since I sometimes fall short - I'll make it a priority to remind you of the uncomprehensible love I have for you.  You are the girl of my dreams, with every quality I could ever ask for.  You are perfect for me and I appreciate all that you do, and all your efforts to be the best wife, and my best friend.  Every time you smile, my heart melts.  Every time you "nuggle" me I feel lucky.  And every time I think about who you are and all the efforts you've made to become that person I feel blessed.
I wish with my whole heart that I can be here for you always.  I wish with my whole heart that we'll be blessed with the opportunity to create, build, support, and love a family of our own.  You are my teammate and my eternal companion.  When i'm with you, I feel that we can over come all obstacles and suceed together.  Thank you for being you, and thank you for loving me.  With all of my heart, I'm yours.
Love, Ki

love note #4
Dear Snuggle-bug,
If I could have my way the thing I'd want to do is stay home all day and cuddle with you!  I cleaned the kitchen and dishes for you before I left.
Love, your hubby

seriously so sweet!  He is so darn good to me I can barely believe it.  These cute little notes are just one of the special things I don't ever want to forget about our first year of marriage! 

Thanks babe for always being so patient and loving, when I know I don't always deserve it.  Sometimes i can be downright ornery!  Good thing you know me better then anyone so once i start getting grouchy you just know to feed me until i turn back into a cuddle bug :D  I love you so big!  1 year down, and eternity to go :)

The rekindling...

I came to the realization today that I want to re-commit to blogging. Now is where you are bound to be thinking "yeah right like that is going to happen" (given that I've made past claims of a similar nature to no avail) or, "WHY? It is just another thing that wastes time on the computer right?" Well... maybe, but I realized today that it might be a worthwhile waste. You see, I am a terrible journal writer. I probably haven't written in my actual paperback journal for... 5 years or so, and before then it was VERY sporadic. In fact, not only am I terrible at documenting my life, I absolutely HATE writing. I have always procrastinated my papers for school until I simply can't any longer, and I purposely avoided any majors that would require significant amounts of writing (pathetic perhaps). I guess I just have always felt embarassed/fearful of what others might think of my writing. Growing up, and to this day, I have never let anyone read the papers that I have written (unless forced by teacher peer-review policies). Not my parents, or my husband, or anyone else who has ever been close to me. I remember on one occasion a boyfriend snatching a paper out of the printer that I had just written and starting to read it. I went beserk, as I am known to do when I experience feelings of pure embarrasment. (but THOSE stories are definitely for another time)


So because of my deep hate for writing, you can imagine my surprise when as I was browsing through various friends blogs today this feeling of regret suddenly hit me. I realized in that moment, that this past year has been the most amazing year of my life and I haven't even documented it! Then as I was thinking back I realized that I have already forgotten many of the simple, joyous, day-to-day memories/feelings that I have experienced in my first year of marriage! Hence, I am now recommited. I can't catch up on all the memories Ki and I have shared in the past year, but I can start now. Better late then never, right?


So, whoever you may be, wherever you may be reading this humble blog from, I now expect you to do the following..

1. raise your right arm to the square
2. repeat the following after me... "I (insert name here) solemnly swear to never judge the terrible grammar of Ashley's posts, nor mock her terrible writing skills"
3. if you have repeated the following, you are now a welcome reader of this blog. If not well... you aren't welcome...? I guess I don't really have any good threats so I am just going to have to trust that you won't mock :)

Sincerely, Ash