In Memory of Hank (Henry) W. Roberts

My Grandpa & Grandma (March 2005) They were married over 50 years!!!

Grandpa & Martha's "Engagement" Pic

My Grandpa & I at Snyder Park (he got me into golfing :) )

Grandpa's 80th Birthday at the Shriner's Club

My 26th Birthday





My Grandpa in his USMC uniform



Last November 20th my Grandpa passed away. He was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer in 3 parts of his body: liver, lungs, and bones. I remember crying in the shower a few days before he passed away because I knew his death was coming near. He was the best Grandpa a little girl could have! He always called to check up on me to see how my classes were going, we'd get together and do dinner, or go golfing. That was a hoot...me on the golf course, that is! Tears were just falling as I stood in the shower because soon I would face the fact that I wouldn't get those phone calls anymore. No Grandpa on the other end of the line saying, "Hello Ash! How's classes going? When can you come over and do dinner?" I can still hear his voice and I will treasure that forever. It's amazing how God works. When I got out of the shower that day I was crying, my phone rang. It was my Grandpa calling me for the last time. He was wondering when I was coming over. Four days later my Grandpa passed away. I believe God gave me that one last phone call because he knew how much I treasured his calls and how bad I needed to have one last phone call. I thank God for that as I will always carry that last call in my heart. I miss him terribly but I am holding on to the good memories: me working at the Dairy Queen he used to own when I was a child. He'd pay me in ice cream and Mr. Misty's :p What 5 year old girl wouldn't like that!?! Plus I got to work the drive thru which was so much fun. I even had my own lil' stool. I will treasure the memory of staying up late and watching "Johnny Carson" with him when everyone else would go to bed, or the delicious ice cream cakes he'd make for me, and all the hugs, kisses, and love he'd given me! As I walk across the stage this May graduating from Wittenberg, I will pause for a moment and think of my Grandpa who graduated from Witt in '54. I love n miss you Grandpa!

*hugs*
Ash

Trip to Michigan

I spent a few days up North in Charlevoix, Petoskey, and Harbor Springs, MI. My mom and step-dad bought a place in Charlevoix that is across from Lake Charlevoix. Every morning I woke up to a beautiful view of the lake. Of course I brought Jax with me so we went on daily walks several times a day. He almost took a swim when I was trying to get his picture on the pier. spent time with my MI family that I hadn't seen in years. Overall, I had a wonderful time and enjoyed reminiscing my childhood with my MI family. Will definitely be heading up there this summer before I move down South.

I Have....

Either poison ivy or poison oak! I'm 28 years old and have never had this :( I did some yard work over the weekend cutting all 3 of my neighbors' bushes that are growing over the fence. Yup, all of my neighbors have crap growing over the fence into my backyard! Luckly it's just small areas of it on my arms. It itches like crazy which sucks cause I can't scratch it! Hopefully this medicine I got today works like a champ and it clears asap! Whenever I do yard work, I get blisters on my hands and now this. Guess that means I shouldn't do yard work? :)

*Hugs*
Ash

Our Drive Out of Alaska

Scott & I took 3 weeks to travel while driving out of AK to GA. We saw several animals:

8 moose

3 brown bears

6 carabous

several dead rabbits :p

1 fox

2 dead porcupines :p

10 wild horses

6 black bears & 2 cubs

11 bison

27 sheep

1 ram

5 deer

2 gopher

3 lamas on a farm

I went to Seattle & Vegas for the first time :) We also stopped in Colorado Springs to visit his sister and her family and we got lil' Mady!

First day of senior year

Ok so I am 28 and finally see the light at the end of the tunnel! Yes, I've had some detours in life and the many years that I've been in college I should have my PhD by now but here I am finally entering my final year of working on my Bachelor's in Early Childhood with a dual license in Special Ed! I'm soooo excited! So many wonderful blessings have happened these last few years of my life! I'll get to start a new chapter in my life next year...I'll be married and have my very own classroom for the first time :) I couldn't have made it this far if it weren't for all my wonderful family & friends that have been supporting me throughout my college years and the ups n downs that have occured in my life! I can't wait to share with the lil' ones that'll be in my classroom what I've learned throughout my education and first-hand experiences of working with children while they teach me all that they know! Off to a dj appointment for our wedding...wish me luck!

*Hugs*
Ash

Okinawa House

So tonight I was flipping thru the channels and came across the movie Tokyo Drift (I think that is what it is called) and it made me think of the time I was living in Okinawa. I lived there from 2005-2008. During that time I traveled to South Korea several times and Tokyo 2 times. My first 9 months of living in Okinawa, I lived off base. I wanted to share some pictures of my Japanese house that was right across the street from the water. I can still smell the salt water when I think back to that house. If you ever get a chance to go to Okinawa or mainland, GO!!! The people are friendly, the food is amazing and it's beautiful!

How We Met...

So I've been a lil' busy planning Scott & I's wedding that I barely have time to do anything but I am enjoying the whole wedding planning! Let's backflash to the year 2001. We both lived in Panama City, FL. He was stationed at Tyndall AFB & I was working on base at one of the shoppettes. I don't remember the exact day but I remember we made small talk when he came in to the shoppette...nothing major or inappropriate because I was married at the time. His mustang caught my eye...we still joke about that. He told me I could drive but when I went out to his car what do you know it was a manual! This chick didn't know how to drive a stick (and still doesn't...it's something he's gonna have to teach me how to do!) We had seen each other a few times around the base after that. He said he remembers seeing me at a party one of his friends had. I was wearing either a black skirt or dress (how he remembers this, I have no idea!) and I was dancing to a Jay Z song (now that sounds like me!). We both were at the WSS Christmas Party in 2002. The funny thing is he found a picture of me from that Christmas party. Another time we crossed paths was at my house. I was having a farewell party because my X was going to Korea for a year. Scott was at my house when he heard some good news...let's just say it was about his career :) For the last 6 months of living in P.C. I worked at Larry's BBQ waitressing. He'd come in to eat and we'd visit but nothing ever happened. He went his way and I went my way. Little did we know we'd reconnect in 2008. Now let's go to January 2008. He found me on good ole' myspace and sent an e-mail saying he was coming to Kadena in a few months(an AFB in Okinawa, Japan) for work and wanted to meet up with me and ____. We never did meet up at Kadena but almost a year later I flew to Alaska (Dec. 2008). Ever since then we have been together!