Grandma

. My sweet, sassy, stubborn Grandma passed away May 27, just 3 days after her 88th birthday. Nina Mae Gibson Smith was a woman of many talents. She baked, sewed, painted, sketched, crocheted and made beautiful needlepoint tapestries. My grandmother could make dinner out anything in the kitchen. She rarely followed a recipe, but dinner was always delicious when she cooked. I learned so much from her and miss her desperately.When Michael and I moved after 4 years of  living with and taking care of her, I had a nagging feeling that it wouldn't be long before she passed away. Life became incredibly busy for me and Michael (I worked for Provo HIgh School and started managing PhotoFlare Studio and Michael left his job with US Synthetic to get ahead in school.) and we didn't see Grandma nearly as much as we wanted.

I took Belle over to spend the day with Grandma on her Birthday and am grateful for the time I spent with her that day. It was the last day she was coherent. Michael and I spent the next 4 days and a few of the nights caring for her once again as she struggled to leave this life. My grandparents were a lot like parents to me. y grandfather was the first person to hold me when I was born and my grandmother often cared for me when my mother went to work. Their home in Provo was my first home and it is deeply engrained in my soul. I love them both so much and feel as though a part of me has been ripped away and the missing piece will never be replaced. I always knew my grandma loved me, no matter what.

Our First Home

As we prepare to move yet again, I feel that I should document the place we have called home these past 8 months. We have loved our cute little condo and are saddened to leave so soon, however, life is moving us forward on a new adventure. With Michael working and going to school at the Salt Lake Airport and I managing the studio in Saratoga Springs, we feel it time to leave Provo for pastures further North.

The Joys of Moving...

Moving hasn't been quite the adventure we were anticipating. It has been a slow process, actually. We're still fighting with the previous owner to get certain items repaired as requested in our final addendum. They're a real piece of work, if you know what I mean.

With Michael's crazy school and work schedule, most of the moving has fallen to me. I spent two days shampooing carpets and am now in the downsizing stage. We moved most of the boxes from the storage unit over so that we can go through them before moving everything from Grandma's house. It's like opening a giant time capsule. Most of the things we've been storing weren't really worth paying to store. I'm pretty sure a good majority of what we have stored for the last 4 years is going to end up at DI or in the trash.

On a happier note, here is a picture of the first item to hung on the wall in our new home. :)

Belle isn't quite sure what is going on. Understandably, she still thinks of Grandma's house as home so after an hour or so at the new house she plants herself by the door and stares at us with her "I'm ready to go home, now." look she does so well.

10 Days and Counting

The light at the end of the tunnel is getting larger by the day and I just pray it isn't a train. We get the keys to our new home in 10 days. It doesn't seem like that long when you say it, but it feels like an eternity! I should be grateful for the time I still have because there is so much that needs to be done. We started packing this weekend (by packing I mean that the contents of our bookcases are now hiding snuggly in 2 of Michael's suitcases. Everything I've read about organized moving states that the non-essentials should be packed first. (Obviously.) Books, pictures, decorations...pretty much anything on a shelf or a wall is the first to go. This has been more difficult than you would imagine. Taking pictures off the wall signifies that we are pulling up our roots; that we'll be leaving. (I know what you're thinking: "Well, duh, Ashley. Moving means leaving the place you're living in and going to live somewhere eles." I understand this, but it's not that simple. This move means a significant amount of change. Grandma will be going into a care facility, the house that I came home to after I was born and has always been there to come home to my entire life will be sold. After 42(ish) years, strangers will live in my grandparents' home. It won't be my grandparents' home...People who have no knowledge or appreciation of the lives that have been lived there will come  in and erase all traces of our existence. Whomever buys the house will be unaware of the fact that every inch was customized in some way by my grandpa and grandma. My grandpa poured his heart and soul into the yard and all of his fruit trees. Will anyone care or love them as much as he did?

Lies

The last week has been one of the more emotionally trying times of my life. Two of my in-laws spread lies about me throughout the rest of my husband's family. Sadly, these lies were accepted as truth and triggered an "intervention"-esque phone call from one of Michael's brothers. It is extremely disheartening to know that after 4 years together, my relationship with my husband is under attack. The hardest pill to swallow is that the attack is coming from his family. I was crushed when I heard what was being said about me. I cried (sobbed, really) myself to sleep 3 nights in a row. I couldn't understand why his entire family would think/say such terrible things about me.

Michael and I live approximately 400 miles away from his family. The 3-4 times a year that we see them does not provide an accurate look into our marriage. My in-laws do not know us. They don't see us on a regular basis. They don't know anything about our marriage or relationship.

The Gospel teaches that spreading rumors and lies is evil. Simple as that. It is extremely hypocritical for members of the Church who claim to be in-tune with the Spirit and frequently quote scriptures to spread rumors and lies about a family member. Not only is this damaging and hurtful, but it has tarnished my opinion of these family members and caused a significant strain in our relationship. I know I have to forgive, but it will be difficult to interact with the family now that I know they have such a low (albeit misinformed) opinion of me.

5 Moves in 4 Years

Yep, it's that time again. Time to announce our 5th move in our 4 year relationship. Let's take a look back at the previous moves:

Move 1: Las Vegas, NV. to Provo, UT (Jan. 2011)
Move 2: Provo, UT to Wichita Falls, TX (Mar. 2012)
Move 3: Wichita Falls, TX to Fort Worth, TX (May 2012)
Move 4: Fort Worth, TX to Provo, UT (Sept. 2012)

and now Move 5: Provo, UT to Provo, UT. ;) (Nov. 2014)

Michael and I are moving about 10 minutes away from where we live now. Most people wouldn't consider this a very big move, but for us it's huge. We are closing the chapter of our lives and marriage where we have cared for my grandparents. Aside from the summer we lived in Texas, we haven't had our own home or the freedom to live our lives fully for ourselves. We are excited and eager to start this new chapter in our lives.

Stay tuned for pictures of our new home!

Late News is Still Bad News Sometimes.

I had the opportunity to work as a long term substitute in the Special Ed. department at Provo High School from Feb-May this year. I came to know and care for all of "my" students while I was there. (I'm now working as an Instructional Assistant at Provo High, but that's another story for another day.) One of "my" students was a quiet, petite girl who attended classes irregularly. I wasn't able to know her as well as some of the other students, but I did know her. While I was subbing, I was made aware that this girl was being watched for self-harming behavior. More than once I had to call the office to report injuries and concerning marks. On those days she wasn't in class, I feared she may not come back.

When my assignment ended 3 weeks before the end of the school year I returned to my regularly scheduled life, often wondering what was becoming all the students I cared so much about.  Sadly, it wasn't all good....I learned today that this meek girl we all worried about had killed herself the last week of the school year. My heart is broken for her and the loved ones she left behind. A part of me feels a tad ridiculous to be grieving 5 months after the fact, but late news is still heartbreaking sometimes.

...

My whole life I dreamed of getting married...I just never dreamed of the soul crushing in-laws that came with it...

Where Does the Time Go?

Since moving back to Utah to take care of my grandma, time has both flown by and stood still. The months/years are rolling by quickly; I blinked and missed most of May. I turned 29 this year and have experienced an uncomfortable amount of anxiety over getting "old". Michael and I have taken care of Grandma for 3 years, living in a bubble where every day seems to be exactly the same as the day before. The world slips by, waiting for no one, leaving us behind. I got old before I even had the chance to really live.

Not all that much has happened or changed since my last post. I got a job working for the Aviation department of Utah Valley University last July...budget cuts took said job away from me in November. I was crushed. I went back to Substitute teaching and spent February to May teaching Special Education at Provo High School. I'm considering going back to school for my teaching credentials...

At least I worked on something great while I was there.

Michael started working for U.S Synthetic as a Press Operator last October and he loves it. He is also in his second semester of Aircraft Maintenance school and is eager to graduate and move on to bigger, better things. Our plan is to move back to Fort Worth once Michael is done with school. I have been working as a freelance photographer, building my business and honing my skills, dreaming of opening a natural light studio when we get back to Texas.

I think the highlight of our time back in Utah has been the addition of our gorgeous furbaby, Blue Belle.
We adopted her in December 2012 (a few months after we moved back) and have loved every minute of our lives with her. The cats may feel differently about her, though...

The Anniversary Inn - Arabian Nights

I was referred to the Anniversary Inn by a friend of mine. My husband and I decided to take the free tour offered at each of the locations and fell in love with the idea of staying in a different room every year until we have stayed in all of them. So far, we have stayed in 4 different rooms; 2 for our anniversaries, 1 for my birthday, and 1 recently just for the fun of it over Labor Day weekend. Arabian Nights was the room we stayed in for our 2 year anniversary and the second time we stayed at the Anniversary Inn in Logan, UT.

Each room is themed and includes sparkling apple cider, complimentary Utah Truffles, cupcakes or cheesecake, and breakfast. There is a list of additional items and packages that can be added on to enhance your stay. Michael's favorite add on is the the Movie Pack. For $14.99, a fresh bucket of popcorn, 2 bottled sodas, and 2 candy bars is delivered to your room at the time of your choosing. 

The Private Entrance to Arabian Nights

One of the only themed doors. The door to Arabian Nights.

The Taj Mahal room we stayed in for our 1st anniversary had a t.v. across from the tub so that guests can enjoy a movie in a large jetted tub for two. This set a standard for my husband that some rooms will struggle to meet. We chose the Arabian Nights room for our 2nd anniversary because the Anniversary Inn website listed a t.v. over the tub as one of the amenities at the time we made our reservation. (We also saw it during one of our tours.) However, to our disappointment, the t.v. over the tub had been removed by the time we arrived for our stay. My husband immediately noticed the missing t.v. during our initial walk-through of the room. When he brought this disappointment up to the front desk, he was told that there had never been a t.v. there...even though the speakers, electrical outlet, and cable connection were still there. I went back to the website to double check and the second t.v. had been removed from the amenities list, however, there was a comment in the guest book referencing the t.v. in question. So, on top of the one thing my husband looked forward to about the room being gone, the staff tried to make us believe that we had simply been wrong all along.

The Arabian Nights room is a Diamond level room costing $249.00-$299.00 per night depending on the night of the week you stay. Michael and I are on the text list and receive monthly deals. We also book our Anniversary stay during their December open house when Diamond level rooms range from $129.00-$149.00. (The only way we'd be able to afford to stay in a Diamond room.) 

The room was clean and comfortable, the apple cider was chilled, and the towels were perfectly folded and as white as freshly fallen snow. The cupcakes, however, were less than impressive and the complimentary Utah Truffles were missing from our room. While the decorative aspect of the cupcake duo was fine, the size and flavor missed the mark. The cupcakes were smaller than your average cupcake and the flavor was underwhelming. (In all fairness, the cupcakes come from a local bakery.) I highly recommend going with the cheesecake! 

We enjoyed both the large jetted tub and multi-head shower. However, I think it's safe to say that our favorite part of our stay was the luxurious king size bed. Piled high with pillows, the beds at the Anniversary Inn are by far the most comfortable beds I have ever had the pleasure of sleeping in. I got some of the best sleep ever during our stay.

Breakfast is good, but it is a bit carb and sugar heavy. At check in you fill out a Breakfast Card and select the time you would like your breakfast delivered. Breakfast consists of 2 beverages, 1 croissant or cinnamon roll, and  1 yogurt/fruit/granola parfait per person. (I found myself wishing for an omelet after the popcorn and cupcakes...)

Robes are provided for your enjoyment during your stay.

Surround sound speakers around the bed enhance your movie viewing experience.

A large flat screen t.v. across from the bed and access to a free movie library allow for an evening of relaxation.

Each room is equipped with a mini fridge to store any cold food or drinks you might order or bring with you. Be warned, the water bottles in the fridge are NOT included in the price of the room. (We learned this the hard way.) If you happen to drink the water provided in the fridge, you'll be charged a whopping $3.00 per bottle at the end of your stay. 

Factoring in the sub-par cupcakes, missing chocolates, and the less than stellar customer service, I give the Arabian Nights at the Anniversary Inn - Logan 3 out 5 pillows.

Another Move

Despite my love for all things Texas, the drive from Utah was not something I was looking forward to. 20+ hours driving alone would have driven me crazy! (No pun intended.) My Aunt Susan is a bit a "Road Trip Junkie". Or would "Guru" be a better term? She loves driving long distances and was happy to drive out with me. She was even kind enough to do 95% of the driving. I get awful anxiety driving at night ever since Michael and I spun off a two lane mountain road coming home from Bear Lake during an intense snow storm late one February night. Once my aunt and I made it to Wichita Falls, we decided some site seeing was in order since it was her first time visiting Texas. Michael and I took her to Dealy Plaza in downtown Dallas to see the site of President Kennedy's assassination. 

The Sixth Floor Museum. One of the shooters is believed to have shot from the sixth floor of this building.

My Aunt Susan.

The Grassy Knoll.

The Kennedy Memorial

You can see the Grassy Knoll past the monument.

I love the reflection of the sky on this building.

X's have been placed on the road where the bullets struck the President.

Dallas has some great buildings!

My Aunt Susan with one the X's marking where President Kennedy was shot.

This man claimed to have been present when Pres. Kennedy was shot. He has a picture showing him as a young boy standing along the parade route right by the Grassy Knoll. He talks to tourists about what happened that day.

The fence is marked to show where Lee Harvey Oswald perched his rifle to shoot the President.

Michael avoiding the camera.

The water fountain at Dealy Plaza.

Michael charging one of the bull statues at Pioneer Plaza

Michael losing to the bull.

Aunt Susan running with the bulls.

Michael attempting to drop one of the bull statues...he didn't get very far.

Aunt Susan has an admirer...

"This is Sparta!"

Aunt Susan got swept up in all the excitement of Dallas.

Street Cars are making a comeback in Dallas and they are so much fun to ride in!

Here are a few pictures I took during our arrival and stay in Wichita Falls.

We had ducks walking around in the street during a rainstorm.

There are some crazy clouds in Texas...the whole "Tornado Alley" thing has me scared I'll get caught in a real life reenactment of the movie Twister.

Our apartment was 2 minutes from Sheppard Air Force Base.

This was our final run through of the apartment to make sure that we had everything.

After 3 days in Wichita Falls, Michael's job transferred us down to Fort Worth and we couldn't have been happier about the move. The new apartment was only a one bedroom, but it is much nicer than the dingy one we were in in Wichita Falls. I'll post those pictures later.