I'm dreaming....

I'm dreaming of this... 

Tomorrow...

I will be "suffering" for Jesus as many of you say!

Hope you have a great Friday!!

{Friday Favorites} - April 26

1//Date Day: These are my favorite, and we hadn't had one for a while. We went to the grocery store and then to Dominoes. :)

2//There have been 7 puppies wandering around our neighborhood. Claudy wants one. He tried to claim this one... they are still little to be away from mom...but he think he is going to keep it. The name he picked "Black and White" I think it needs a new name!

3//Claudy picked me a flower and took me on a walk! Great afternoon.

4// This week we have a team of teachers from Hershey visiting...looking to partner long term! Yesterday they visited New Horizons.

5//I like to cook and don't typically like to bake, but my husband likes some treats :)

This is BANANA POKE CAKE
* White Cake Mix
* 2 Pkgs, Instant Banana Pudding
* Whipped Topping

Prepare the cake mix as directed. Let cake cool for about 15 minutes. Then poke holes in the cake using the end of a wooden spoon. While cake is cooling, prepare pudding...let sit for about 5 minutes (but don't let it get stiff, it needs to be a little creamer to go through the holes in the cake). Pour pudding over cake and spread evening. Then top with whipped topping!

6//Baby Jeff - Seriously...could he get any cuter?? Please pray for Pastor (Jeff's dad) he fell from a tree a couple of weeks ago and still isn't recovered!

7// Grilled Flat Bread Pizza

* Use Wraps or desired crust of your choice
- Put Olive Oil on Both sides of Wrap. Put on Grill, after the first side is to the Crispness that you desire, flip the crust and add toppings.
* Top with Tomatoes (used a can of rotel)
* Add cheese and fresh Basil

Super good and so quick!


I hope you have a great weekend!!

A Night of Soccer

My hubby loves to play soccer...and most nights I go to watch for a little bit, but normally it is on my way home from my run, so I don't get any good shots. Last night, I went up with my good camera (I'm trying to get better at photography) and took some fun action shots of my hubby and the guys!!

I was super proud of him and glad I could cheer him on!!

{Breakfast Bar}

After traveling to Haiti many times in 2 years and then living in Haiti 2 years....I can't eat Granola bars. Seriously, if one had to make there assumptions of what Americans eat, based on seeing them in Haiti for a week, you would be convinced that Americans only eat granola or protein bars....I can't stand them!! (Anymore)

All that to say, I was a little hesitant to try this "awesome" breakfast bar that a visiting team brought with to Haiti. They told me, it was the best bar "granola" bar they had ever tasted it. Hesitantly, I agreed to try them....They were awesome. My husband and I can't stop eating them. I thought I would share the goodness with you! (Remember...this is not my recipe)...

Breakfast bars

1 – 14oz box Honey Bunches of Oats with Almonds

1 – 10oz bag large marshmallows

½ stick butter

2 cups honey roasted peanuts

½ cup sunflower kernels

¼ cup canola oil

1 tbsp vanilla extract

1 bag cranraisins (original or cherry)

In separate bowl, mix cereal, peanuts, kernels, craisins.

Melt marshmallows and butter in large pot over low heat.  Stir regularly.

Add vanilla and canola oil.  Stir well.

Remove from heat and add the dry ingredients.  Stir well working quickly to combine dry ingredients with marshmallow mixture till consistency of rice krispie treats.

Press into 9x13 pan (well coated with canola oil).  Allow to cool.  When completely cool, cut into bars, wrap in saran wrap or baggie to keep fresh.

Hope you enjoy!!

Friday Favorites

1. My husband is awesome! He has been a huge blessing to me this week. I've had a rough week to say the least. He has been supportive, encouraging, and doing everything!! So thankful to do life with him!

2. One Thousand Gifts - I just got to 100. What a great reminder to look at our day and focus on the gifts God gives us!

3. Me, Myself and Lies - The ladies and I have been doing this study. We just finished. What an eye-opener to hearing the things that I have been telling myself. It's amazing...

4. I Desire Jesus - In love with this song! 

5. Sun Tea - I've been making sun tea everyday! Here is my favorite :) 

6. Motto rides - After my run, Claudy asked if I wanted to go on a motto ride. Love those and him :) The motto died a little ways down the road, we had to push it home :) Good memories :) 

Have a great weekend!

{25 Days of Christmas} - Day 8 & 9

Claudy and I are traveling to Minnesota in two weeks. We decided to start looking at the forecast! This is what we saw!!

With that being said....it is our last free weekend before going to the states, so we decided to spend some time with Claudy's family! 

We also decided to spend some time enjoying the tropics. We had a great get away to Wahoo Bay Beach Resort (I know, suffering for Jesus) It was really relaxing!! 

Poolside View

Sunset Picture

We don't have snow...but Christmas in the tropics can be pretty!!

Mary proclaimed Jesus as the Risen Lord. To call Him "Lord" is to submit to His rule, power, dominion and authority. This is the surrendered heart. As worshipers of Christ, we don't just know Jesus as the One who saves us from our sins, but we also worship Him as the Risen Lord. The One who rules and reigns. The only One who has the right to sit upon the throne of our hearts. This is Christmas, let us not only worship the Lord Jesus Christ with our words, but also with our lives through humble service and loving obedience. Let us give Him all the Glory, for He alone is Worthy! (from Redeemed Girl - to read more click on the link)

{25 Days of Christmas} - Days 6 & 7

Our group of 20 has now all left the country...but yesterday we welcomed a new guest, Kelsey! 

When I was teaching at ECS - Kelsey was one of my students...I also mentored her and spent a lot of time with their family! She has an amazing heart, and desires to serve the Lord internationally! I'm praying we will have a great time serving together, but also having a little bit of fun :) 

The other day, Claudy and I were talking about going to the US for Christmas. He is happy about going to the US, but doesn't really get the whole -super, excited for Christmas thing. I was trying to share with him some of the things we will do, and the traditions my family has. I started telling him about one of my favorite traditions in the Nuest Household, STOCKINGS!!! When we were young, we would always sleep in the basement, on the pull-out couch, by the Christmas tree, and super fake fire-place (it had a light and tin can that spun and fake wood). In the morning we would wake up (I'm sure it was super-early, which is how the tradition started), and search for our stockings. Dad always hid them....now this isn't your typically, hiding behind the door, or open the closet and there it is. No...not my dad. They are always in the very back of a closet, hidden in some container, so you have to tear apart the whole house to find them. In our house, it never failed...Chad would find his right away and it would take Cory and I a little longer. Just a note to those of you that are still with me....this tradition still is happening!!! Last year - we all went searching for our stockings!

Anyway, I was explaining this awesome tradition to Claudy...he didn't get it. He didn't understand what a stocking was. So I had to explain the whole Santa Claus thing, etc... Anyway, he wasn't too impressed with our tradition. He also wasn't impressed that he too would have to participate in this tradition! 

Talking about these traditions with Claudy, reminded me, how important we need to focus on the real reasons for Christmas. The Birth of our Savior. One of my favorite Christmas songs, is "It's All About the Cross." The reason for His birth, was so He could be our Savior, so He could die on the cross for us! 
***Note: Please ignore the cartoon, but it was the best version I could find ***

{Friday Favorites} - November 16

How did it happen that we are already in the middle of November? That next week is Thanksgiving? That in 14 days I will start my traditional 25 Days of Christmas on the Blog! This is crazy! On another note, we are very excited to have my parents visiting us during this Thanksgiving Holiday!!! They come Sunday!!

I have always been honest on my blog, and if I'm honest with you, this week I had "White Person Syndrome." I didn't want to be here, I wanted to be able to go some place by myself, I wanted to shop, I wanted "good" food, I wanted to have the comforts of a house...this is what I refer to as WPS. There was nothing that set it off, not any situations that were more difficult than any other week...good news, I'm over it!

1. Date Day - On Sunday, Claudy took me to our favorite restaurant in town, Pizza Garden. We didn't have pizza, but had a delicious meal and a great time. I even got to where high heels!!

 2. New Horizons: We started this project back in July. We are finally finishing! We repaired New Horizons house from the earthquake damage. Here's a couple pictures of the repair. They actually finished yesterday, but I haven't had an opportunity to go and take pictures of it being totally finished!

 3. Pumpkin Gingerbread Cookies - These were the hit of the week! Seriously, I think Claudy had at least 15. :) I will have to say they were delicious! Here is the recipe!!

4. The pictures is bad, but its of the boys playing some bball at a local court. I ran around the soccer field while they played! It was a great night!!

Apparently White girls can't play :)












5. Bible Study - This week at bible study we made masks! We are focusing our study on who we are in Christ and our identity. Please be in prayer for Sara and I, pray that we develop relationships with the girls and speak into their lives!! They are a fun and wild bunch!!

I hope you have a great day and a VERY Happy Thanksgiving!!

{Friday Favorites} - September 14

It looks like I need to start adding more pictures to my blog, since I made my crazy mistake and have lots of black spots on my blog :) It's been a great week, living on a schedule, being a wife, a friend, a teammate...I'm blessed.

 1. Number One Pool: My friends at Respire Haiti had told me this pool existed. I must admit, I wasn't too hopeful that it would be nice..even driving in, I was skeptical. However, the pool was nice, clean, quiet..the only thing that was really weird, were the two giant naked statues that were peeing in the pool (not kidding). We had a great day!!

 2. Magic Bullet - Thank you Schmidgall Family! This has been a blessing. I was able to find some frozen fruit in town and make us some awesome smoothies...Claudy is in love, I'm already out of fruit!!

3. Hammock: Last Saturday, per the recommendation of Cherie and Kristi, we visited a store by the embassy. It was everything has great as they had said (Claudy didn't think it was great and couldn't understand my joy). I actually felt like I was shopping in a target (Ok, it wasn't that nice, but still..). I wanted to buy everything, then realized, I don't need dishes, serving plates, decorations, etc...so I settled on a hammock. Which wasn't settling at all. My parents had tried to bring me one from the states, but it didn't fit in the right dimensions. So, with the help of my wonderful husband, I now have a wonderful hammock on the roof. I have spent some great time with the Lord up there...

 4. It's fall...It doesn't feel like it in Haiti, but my mind knows it's fall. To help trick my senses, I have started burning my fall scents and keep the fan on me and I almost can believe that it is true :) I love this candle, seriously go now to bath and body and buy one for yourself! I will be buying more when I return to the states. If I didn't have a thing about burning scents in seasons, I would burn it all year long!!

 5. Soccer: I told you we were more on a schedule...It seems that 5 o'clock is fitness hour. I go for a run, Claudy goes and plays soccer..I finish my run and watch him play for a little while :) I love watching him play...love seeing him disciple the men that he plays with!! Please pray for him and a couple of the other guys. They are thinking of using soccer as their platform to help reach the community!!

6. Marriage: It has been eye opening.. others had told me, and it's not that I didn't believe them, I just didn't understand. It has shown me areas that I am weak and need to grow. Lately, I've been shown, how much I struggle with value and personal image. I never believe these issues would be solved with marriage, trust me they aren't :) But I didn't realize how much I struggled with them, until Claudy was telling me things, I didn't really believe them to be true.

 I've been spending a lot of time in the word, reading His words and His promises..that I'm fearfully and wonderfully made.  Last night, I was listening to this song and its as if the words were meant for me. Click here to listen.

"So with my arms stretched out I am swaying to your heartbeat.
I am growing with the sound of your voice calling
You are bringing out the beauty that you had put in me
For your joy and for your glory falling.

With my roots deep in you
I grow the branch that bares the fruit
And though I am small I still will be standing in the storm.
Cause I am planted by the river
By your streams of living water
And I will grow up strong and beautiful all for your splendor Lord."

I love that....I'm bringing out the beauty you had put in me....I will grow up strong and beautiful all for YOUR splendor Lord!!!

Thankful that as I walk through this journey, I can minister to others. The 2nd week of October, I will be starting a bible study with the 13-16 year old girls at Maxo's school. We will be focusing on identity! Please pray for us!!!

Hope you have a great week!!!

{Wedding Wednesday} - The Honeymoon!

It's my last post about our wedding...I know some of your are probably thankful for that!!

We decided to honeymoon in Palm Beach, Florida. Claudy has always wanted to travel there and we found a great deal at an awesome hotel!! The Omphoy check it out! We were way out of our class, but it was fun!! We went laid by the pool and were delivered fresh towels, and water that had fruit in it, we laid by the ocean, ate, went to movies, visited with friends, jet - skied and relaxed!! Awesome!!

We had a blast!!! Thanks for following Wedding Wednesday....any other ideas for blog themes??

Ashlee

Wedding Wednesday - {The Reception}

I always wanted something simple, kid - friendly...a time to just hang out and be with our family and friends. We decided to have the reception in our yard, under a tent. Lois and Travis at Creations, did an amazing job making the tent look fabulous. The caterer, Zens, from what I hear did a great job with the food :) We also had a bonfire, smores, etc...It really was a special time celebrating with the people we love. 

A special thanks also to Nate and Kristi Bucher for giving us some of the pictures they took at the reception!

{Wedding Wednesday} - The Ceremony

We had a beautiful ceremony held in my parents yard. Thank you to Creations in Alexandria for helping with the decorations, my brother Chad for helping me with the signage, and my friend Laura as well!! We have so many special memories from the day and Pastor Dave did a fabulous job teaching us about marriage!!