Ashley's Homecoming

Here She Comes!

Our first glimpse!

Mom gets the first hug!

Meeting Carson for the first time!

2 babies born while Ashley was gone

Lyndie and Lacy

The 'Eh Team

President Jackson was waiting for us when we got home and released her as a full-time missionary.

Ashley's first requested meal was Cafe Rio.

CANADA ----> USA (Last email!)

Hey hey hey! Not gonna lie this is like super weird. What does one write in their last email home?

hmmmmm... well we can start out with our week. 

Jen, Katt and Arona

Saying bye to Jacob... :(

The Tuckers

Haylee and Brooke

The YSA ward gave her a surprise going away party!

So, it was reconfirmed to me my hatred for cats. Over the past 2 weeks I've been attacked by a cat on 3 different occasions. Ha but kinda funny.

Anyway, I had to tell a fun story that will make Dad proud. We were on our way to an appointment, we've just had a bunch of trainings about getting out and talking to people and not "moving too swiftly." We were going to be a little late for our appointment but as we were walking we past this house the was blasting Mr. Roboto.... I thought to myself "Dad would be disappointed in me if I didn't talk to these people, cause whoever is in there must be pretty awesome." So I told sister Romo that we had to go knock that door. The husband answered, wearing nothing but boxers, but that's beside the point, then his wife came to the door to talk to us. I told her that whoever lived here must be pretty great cause of the music, we laughed for a little then she invited us back!!! It was amazing. Just thought I'd share that cause classic rock can help us find. Pretty fun.

This week has been just a bunch of emotions. Saying bye to people, still working hard, being excited to come home, being sad to leave... but hey I guess that's just life right!? I do wanna say though that this area is the best thing in the entire world. On Sunday our YSA ward threw a surprise going away party for me. How cute is that? Honestly I just love everything and everyone here. They're all pretty amazing.

All of our people are doing great as well. Funny when you tell people that you're leaving they will all meet with us! It's been great! 

Anyway, I think I just wanna share a little bit of what I'm feeling right now. THE PLAN OF SALVATION IS SO REAL! Holy cow, if I've learned anything on my mission it is that there is so much out there to look forward to that we can't even comprehend. There is a reason for everything. I know that I was sent to this specific mission for a reason, I know that I was with every companion for a reason, every area for a reason, the Lord knows us all so well that He knows exactly what we need to learn and to grow and exactly where we should be to help-- even if it is just one person, totally worth it! There's a reason for the trials that we go through. They are forming us into the person that will be ready to meet God one day, and the key to doing that is through the Savior. He is always there! He is literally the center to this whole plan, without Him none of it is even possible. I have definitely gained a testimony of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. It's a very real thing. He really did die for us. He really did suffer for all of our sins, and He really does live today. He and our Father love us so so much! When we remember that, then everything else really doesn't matter. God loves us and He wants us to be happy. And the way to happiness is again, through His Son. I have definitely had the biggest ups and the biggest downs of my mission, but even in those lows I've still been able to be happy. Cause when things have been hard, and will continue to be hard (cause that's just life) I remember that I'm standing shoulder to shoulder with the greatest man that ever lived. 

Ha so ya, that's my little rant. I can't believe this is my last email. But I want you all to know that I love you so much and can't wait to see you. I love my Savior. I love serving Him. I love being a missionary. I love this church. The Book of Mormon is true. Families can be together forever. You guys are the best. Can't wait to give you all a hug on Friday. Love you.

Quote of the week: "In light of what we know about our eternal destiny, is it any wonder that whenever we face the bitter endings of life, they seem unacceptable to us? There seems to be something inside of us that resists endings. Why is this? Because we are made of the stuff of eternity. We are eternal beings, children of the Almighty God, whose name is Endless and who promises eternal blessings without number. Endings are not our destiny. The more we learn about the gospel of Jesus Christ, the more we realize that endings here in mortality are not endings at all. They are merely interruptions—temporary pauses that one day will seem small compared to the eternal joy awaiting the faithful. How grateful I am to my Heavenly Father that in His plan there are no true endings, only everlasting beginnings."

Scripture of the week: 2 Timothy 4:7-- I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.

Love you all so much. Can't believe I get to see you this week.

Over and out.

Sister King :)

Second to Last Email!

HEYYOOOOO FAMILIA!!

Ha this past week has been AMAZING!!! Banff was awesome. We'll definitely have to come back up and go to it as a family, absolutely beautiful. Unfortunately BC is like on fire right now, so we weren't able to go to some of the main things that we wanted to go to... and the smoke was horrible, but it was so fun to be out in the mountains again. Seriously so nice.

Anywayyyy, like I said this week was great! 

Jacob-- we had an awesome lesson with him. We were really struggling on what we should actually teach him, then clear as day the talk from the last October conference  "Am I good Enough, Will I make it?" came to my head. So we read that with him. That was perfect. He has been super struggling with just like life, family, school, pretty much everything. Breaks my heart. But we just had a good discussion about how God loves us and he isn't a "merciless referee waiting for any chance to throw us out of the game." The Spirit was so strong. He was crying. His fellowship was crying. It was great. After the lesson we asked how he felt and he said he felt better. So that was good.

The high point of my week was definitely Sunday. It was the best. So one of the priests that we were working with in our ward gave his farewell talk! He's heading to Winnipeg next week. That was pretty cool. Then, one of the guys we've been working with in our YSA ward got the Melchizedek priesthood. He invited us to come to his ordination. That was pretty cool. After everything was all done, both of his parents came up to us and thanked us for everything. That was pretty special.

Sabrina-- she leaves tomorrow for Australia! She's gonna be there for a month! So said goodbye to her yesterday, saddest day ever. She really is so amazing. She's already contacted people out in Australia so that she can go to church, and she said that she's going to take her cousins with her. Solid member missionary.

Tuan is still doing great. We just finished up with the new member lessons, so that's exciting. He's also moving his records into this Mid-singles ward that they just created. So that'll be super good for him.

We were able to do quite a bit of service this week. This super sweet, old lady in our ward passed away. We helped at the funeral, which was a huge job!! I have never seen so many people at a funeral before. She really was an amazing lady who did a lot of good, so I can see why there were so many people.

We also helped a couple people move. Which was super fun. 

Not much really else to tell. Other than I just love being a missionary. Honestly it's the best thing in the world. 

Super weird how fast the time is going by. I don't really know what to think right now, but gonna make these days worth it!!!

Love you lotssssss!!

scripture of the week: Alma 13:28-29 -- Be led by the Holy Spirit, becoming humble, meek, submissive, patient, full of love and all long-suffering. Having faith on the Lord; having a hope that ye shall receive eternal life; having the love of God always in your hearts, that ye may be lifted up at the last day and enter into his rest.

quotes of the week: "Don't fear, just live right." --Neal A. Maxwell

"If we are not able to be "all in" the way we are presently walking, then maybe we need to run.; maybe we need to recalculate our route. We might even need to make a u-turn. We might need to study more intently, pray more earnestly, or just let some things go so we can hang on to those things that really matter. We need to let go of world so we can hand on to eternity." --Elder Gary B. Sabin

Love you all so much! Have a blessed week :)

Sister King