Happy Year of the Dog!

Remember how I was sick with the flu in Disneyland?

The next day I slept the entire day! Poor Andrew. 

We travel all the way to one of our most favorite places in the world

and I'm sick and sleeping. Awesome. But he really was the best and I 

could not have asked for anyone better. 

He got me medicine, gatorade, soda, saltine crackers, 

anything to help me feel better and get food in my body. 

I told him to try and have fun but he didn't want to travel too far in case I needed him.

(i almost cried when he said that, i mean, this guy is good).

^We went out to get pho that night. I had a tiny bowl and I think it took me 2 hours to eat!^

By the next day I was feeling much better. 

You wouldn't even be able to tell except my appetite was still so small.

Eating took awhile. 

On Saturday the Lunar New Year Celebration was still happening. 

Guys, I'm not lying when it lasts for days! We were not even in Cali 

for half of the festivities. It's crazy! We decided to take advantage and we 

went to the parade that was happening that morning as well as other Viet activities. 

We of course had to visit the beach.

Andrew and I have decided that we need to make a lot of money 

and get a beach house. That's our plan. We are currently accepting donations

and of course you could come visit us! ;) 

The rest of Saturday and on Sunday we saw a lot of people that we love!

Honestly, it's so hard to see everyone especially when there are his people and my people

and they are scattered everywhere across Orange County. 

And we missed an entire day when I was sick. 

This is so corny, but it always hurts a little bit leaving Cali

not only because of the most perfect weather 

(we were welcomed back to Utah with a snowstorm)

but THE PEOPLE! These people changed our lives. They helped us become us!

I think California will always be our second home. 

Did you hear the joke about the flu?

Well, I'm not going to tell you because I don't want to spread it around. (haha)

 ok. i'm awful at jokes, but really.

i probably did spread it around because we went to disneyland when i had the flu.

yes, you read that right. disneyland + the flu. 

Most of my day looked like this:

But we did manage to have some fun.

How can you not when you are in the happiest place on earth?

At the very beginning we rode Guardians... TWICE which I have no idea how

because the nausea was real!

At one point I went in the car and slept for a few hours which was so nice and really helped and Andrew went to Disneyland 

by himself. When I was finished with my break Andrew met me by the entrance and

we tried to have more fun by doing some of the calmer rides like Haunted Mansion and Pirates.

 We were also were able to watch some of Fantasmic. Disney is magical. 

Andrew was such a good sport throughout all of this.

He even said allowed us to leave an hour before the parked closed when I once again had to 

lie on a park bench while he did Star Tours. 

Our fake honeymoon wasn't what we expected but is sure made me grateful

for the man I married. 

Our real honeymoon is HERE and it was a much better experience :) 

Lunar New Year's Adam

Because Adam came before Eve, haha! 

I love that joke. 

Andrew and I went down to California just in time to see the festivities for ringing in the lunar new year. 

It is serious business there. I mean, I'm from Utah and I learned about in elementary school. 

I discovered that I was born in the year of the monkey and then that's really it. 

But since the Garden Grove area of California is also known as Little Sigaon, 

the festivities there are everywhere and they lasts for DAYS!! 

It was so neat to walk around and completely experience a new culture.

Andrew and I were the only white people there but he knew the language so I 

was really out (in???) of my own bubble but I LOVED it! Culture and people fascinate me.

We were able to get some of the best Vietnamese food...spring rolls. 

Honestly, they need to bring these bad boys to Asian restaurants out here in Utah. 

Andrew would probably buy them everyday. And we would have no money. 

But our bellies would be happy. 

I loved it so much and I am so glad I had my cultural guide and translator with me.

California Love

Three years ago I came home from my mission in Anaheim, California with the most life changing experience. My mission changed me in so many ways. I have learned how to deeply study the scriptures and I came to realize how much I depend on those words from God. I learned that prayer is something that truly brings me closer to my Father. I saw how miracles still happen and how much God is involved in the details. I learned how to exercise and sleep at the same time. I learned that Christmas is still Christmas without snow and I that I loved it! I learned to try new foods, and that Disneyland has the best fireworks. I learned about other's, their testimonies and how they know there is our Savior, Jesus Christ. I learned how exciting it is to share the gospel. I learned what obedience means and about consecration. I learned that service brings happiness. I learned to love it all and be so, so happy! 

Life 3 Years Later

Enjoying: 

Exercising and bettering myself
(and I'm actually awake for it now)

Living:

Utah 

Looking Forward To: 

Using our new camera

Reading:

Work and the Glory #9

Job: 

Part time school in Special Education at the USU Orem Campus. 

Also working as a Special Education para educator at an elementary school.

Working On:

 Homework and fine tune organizing our apartment

Current Church Calling:

Recently released from the Relief Society Presidency

and waiting for my new calling.

How My Testimony Has Grown:

This past year I have truly seen and realized that God wants me to succeed! There have been so many instances where I do not want to even start my day because I am sure to fail. Somehow, literally through miracles, I am able to accomplish the things I needed to and not even half way, but better than I could have ever expected. God has a plan for my life and it amazes me how everything turns out. I have always loved attending the temple but this past year the temple really became a necessity in my life. I was able to go to the temple every month last year and every time I went I was brought so much peace, even though beforehand I didn't realize how much I needed to feel that. By going to the temple I have also found a greater love for family history work for some of my own family names as well as for a friend. Death is not the end. With the passing of President Monson my testimony of living prophets increased and I took time to think of him and his sacred calling. I know that he was a prophet of God and that President Nelson is God's prophet today "for by their fruits ye shall know them." I am so grateful for the continual guidance from God that comes from His prophet and apostles today.  God is so real and his love is something I depend on. This church is true and I am so grateful that I am apart of it and I had the chance to share it everyday 18 months. 

My Top 20[17]

Guys, 2017 was such a good year and I can't believe how quickly it went!

2016 was a much slower year because I feel I was always waiting.

Waiting for our long distance to end, for the weekends to see each other,

for the wedding, to hear back from jobs, to move (but then plans changed and that did not happen), to see 

if I got accepted into my program (I waited forever because my acceptance letter got lost in the mail). 

In 2017 there was A LOT less waiting. 

2017 also had it's tough moments. Andrew's company merged with another and at the time we were not sure if he would

keep his job *thank heavens he did!*   Both of my grandpa's died in the same month. 

Two months later my dog died. School was crazy. Ah! So stressful...

But we had some awesome moments of the year too! 

Here are some of my favorite moments from 2017.

1. Went to Solider's Hollow for the ultimate sledding experience. 

If you have never had the chance to go I strongly recommend it. So much fun! 

2. Double date times 3 for Archery Tag. Such a fun way to spend with friends.

3. Andrew surprised me by taking me to see Beauty and the Beast. 

He came home playing "Be our Guest" with a red rose and 2 tickets. 

4. We saw Broadway's Lion King. 

5. We had a stay cation with our friends and ventured to Lagoon.

6. I started doing family history work at the temple!

7. Andrew and I celebrated our 1st wedding anniversary! 

8. My 2nd mission president and his wife came home from their mission! 

It was so good to see them again!

9. Went to NYC! 

10. Saw Wicked on BROADWAY! 

11. Went to Scranton, PA just for this picture (and some food). 

We love the Office! 

12. Went to Niagara Falls

13. Toured around Palmyra, NY and saw all the church history sites

as well as the Hill Cumorah Pageant. 

14. We went on the MTC tour. Loved that place so much. 

and our friend got baptized that day! 

(the one on the right) 

15. Saw X Ambassadors LIVE! 

(thanks Zija)

16. Went to California with my family for Thanksgiving

17. I completed my health chart, got my prize of a water bottle, and lost 5 pounds.

^My goal was to be healthier this year and I consistently started in October. 

I have felt so much healthier and I'm excited for 2018!^

2017 was a year to remember! We have had a year full of blessings, adventure, and no long distance!

We are looking forward to 2018 and excited for the experiences that it will bring.

To see My Top 20[16] CLICK HERE.

*Also if you have not see the Greatest Showman I strongly recommend it! 

Andrew and I have been listening to the soundtrack for the past 3 days. It's SOOO good. 

My California

We had such a blast in California 

and for that this post is going to be a picture overload.

just so you know.

We went to California with my family for Thanksgiving break

and it was so much fun to spend time together!

We did a whole variety of different activities which made the trip exciting. 

If you are planning a trip to the Anaheim area, let us know, we have a few ideas. 

Or better yet, take us with you! ;)  

Our first stop was 7 Magic Mountains and they make the desert a magical place. 

It also helped make a good place to stop and stretch some legs! 

When we finally made it to California we headed to the Vietnamese mall in Garden Grove.

For those of you who don't know, Andrew served a Vietnamese speaking mission in California so when we come back

and visit it's fun to hear him speak the language and see the things that he experienced. 

For example, balut is a food that that Viet's love. On Andrew's first day on his mission the other Vietnamese missionaries 

got him some balut and it was his "initiation" into the mission field. I don't think I could do it... 

For those of you who don't know, balut is a developing bird embryo that is boiled and then eaten. 

Blake wanted to try it and Andrew has done it so many times now it doesn't even phase him. Blake liked it! 

I had some pictures that were much for detailed but I thought I might spare your eyes and stomach and decided

not to post them for you. 

You're welcome :) Go to google if you are more curious. 

Thanksgiving day we spent at Knott's Berry Farm which was so much fun because the lines were so short! 

Most people were at home eating turkey. We were out partying in the sun! 

The next day we made a quick stop at the Newport Beach temple. One of my absolute favorite places.

We also went down to Victoria Beach and took some pictures. 

That beach is one of the most beautiful spots on earth. I'm convinced. 

If you have never gone biking on the beach I strongly recommend it! 

It was absolutely beautiful and it was so liberating. Definitely one of the highlights of our vacation!

 Later that evening we went to Downtown Disney and even though I have been 

there multiple times, it still amazes me. 

Every time. 

On our last day we went to a Vietnamese market to shop for some fruit. 

It's so much fun to walk into a different culture and see what is familiar to them. We bought jackfruit and 

dragonfruit which were both so fun to try.

If you ever have the chance, try some jackfruit. It's amazing. 

 ^This is Andrew's Viet mom who helped him learn Vietnamese^

^Vietnamese dress shop. They are so beautiful and my mom ended up buying one she loved them so much^

Next time you are in the Anaheim area, you MUST go to Sno Station. 

It's super soft shaved ice cream. It's something that you need to experience to fall in love with it. 

California is one of my favorite places on this planet. 

The sun, the people, the food. 

It was so nice to be back for a few days and see people from our missions. 

It's a good thing that we live semi close to this place to make visiting easier or else I don't think I would ever leave.