One Year

Exactly one year ago from today Elder Nielsen left his home of two years:

And the people he loved for two years:


And came back home to the people who missed him for two years!!!

Yup, today is Sammy's one year mark of coming home from the mission. The two years he was gone felt much longer than two years and the one year he has been home has flown by and felt much shorter!
I still love hearing some of Sam's mission stories. It truly is amazing to think of his lifestyle and all that he did while out in the Marshall Islands. I know that he misses the islands, the people, the people he served with, the food, and the language (he'll still ramble off in Marhsallese at any given moment and it all still sounds like jibberish to me). I am grateful that he dedicated two years of his life to serve a full-time mission and I am also grateful for the blessings that come to us because of his service!

YOKWE!
(that means bye, and hello, and love, and depending what else you're saying it can have other meanings as well -- what a confusing language)

Madase Isaac

I received a text message this week that made my day/week/month. This is how it read:

"Allison how is life?hope ur life is cool.from isaac coleman(deaf)"

Isaac is the boy on the left in this picture:

And furthest right in this picture:

And yes, he is deaf as he so kindly reminded me. I met Isaac the summer of 2008 when I worked as a volunteer for Signs of Hope International as a teacher to deaf students and interpreter for deaf college students in Mampong, Ghana. In a few months it will have been 2 years since I have seen my dear Ghanaian friends. Reading Isaac's text I was so happy to know the students still remembered me and thought of me. I'll never forget all I experienced in Ghana and all the people there who touched my life. I think of and pray for them often. Living in Ghana and interacting daily with the people there was really an amazing blessing.

Ah I miss it all! Madase (thank-you in Twi) Isaac for letting me know I'm still loved by my Ghanaian brothers and sisters!

P.S. We did celebrate Christmas, I will get to posting those events sometime in the near future...

2009 Was Fine

Actually, 2009 was Great. It was quite the eventful year for Sammy and I. Just take a look at our 2009 timeline...

January
Sam comes home from his mission and makes a trip up to Utah....we finally reunite after 2 years!

February
I make a weekend trip down to Arizona to spend Valentine's Day with my new boyfriend.

March
Another short trip down to Arizona so I could see Sammy/so we could party with the Suns.

April
After graduating from BYU, I was able to spend a little time at home before starting a semester at UVU.

May
Sammy paid me a visit in Utah and got down on his knee to pop the question!

June
We spent a fun week with the Nielsen's at Lake Powell and finally moved me back to AZ.

July
Wedding plans, wedding plans, wedding plans...

August
WEDDING! and honeymoon!

September
We moved up to Utah into our first apartment, Sam started school, and I started working.

October

We started settling into married life. With Sam at school all day and me at work all day, we enjoyed whatever we got to do together.

November

We spent Thanksgiving with our families in the warm Arizona weather!

December

Sam finished his first semester back to school, we continued to survive the cold weather, and were happy to spend our first married Christmas with our families in Arizona.

Can't wait to see what happens in 2010!

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas!

December has been good to us thus far!

A couple weeks ago Sammy and I headed up to Salt Lake City with a group of friends. We ate together at the top of the Joseph Smith Building then wandered around Temple Square admiring the Christmas lights. It was beautiful, as always, and fun to spend time with some great people!
Here's a shot of the marrieds of the group...

Tyler, Jenica, Ashley, Casey, Me, Sammy

Last week was my work's Christmas Party! We ate good food and there was a raffle...I won an orange fuzzy pillow. Wasn't too excited about that prize, but we still enjoyed ourselves.

It was fun to have Ash and Case at the party as well!

The morning after the work party Ashley, her sister Becca, and I took an early flight out to LA. Straight from the airport we went to The Mart (LA's best secret...designer's sample sale) we did some serious shopping (Thanks to Sammy I had Christmas $ given to me early so I could do this), and a good shopping trip should always be finished off with a good lunch! We ate sandwiches at the famous Philippe's (Sammy recognized this place immediately from the Travel Channel).
At night we enjoyed a movie and dinner with Ashley's parents at Americana -- a really cool shopping area with Christmas decor all around, it "snows" at 7:00, and you can even take a trolley ride around the area. The Anderson's definitely showed me a good time in LA! Thank you!

And now the reason for the trip! Saturday, one of my best friend's, Ashley Eckel, got married! I was able to be in the temple for the sealing. I loved it so much. This was my first wedding I have attended in the temple (besides my own) and it was so special.

The beautiful Dani Stoloworthy and I.

Sara, Kristie, Dani, Me, Jenna, and Ash waiting for the newlyweds to come out!

Ladies and gents...Mr. and Mrs. Rassmussen!!!!

Congrats! SO happy for them.

And you could say I was obsessed with her dress. G.O.R.G.E.O.U.S.

After taking pictures around the temple we took some at the beach. I didn't have my camera with me then so I stole this pic of Rachel's. I can't wait to see the photographer's pictures. They are going to be wonderful.
Ashley's sister, Lexi, and I before the reception.
The reception was a blast. The whole day was perfect. Ashley and JD couldn't have looked happier. Thanks for making me a part of your day! I had a fabulous weekend. I was sad to leave Sammy, but he enjoyed his weekend with a day of snowboarding and time with his cousins! (Sorry no pics of that)

I flew back to Utah on Sunday right in time for the Winn family Christmas party. Santa came and insisted the newlyweds sit on his lap together!

I am so pale. Get me in some Arizona sun ASAP!

That's a wrap. Lots of fun for the Nielsens...and tomorrow we'll be heading to Arizona to celebrate Christmas and New Years with our family. We can't wait!!!!!!

Thankful for Thanksgiving!

Sam and I were able to go home to Arizona and spend Thanksgiving with both of our families, what a treat! Once we made it to town, our first item of business was to meet this little guy...

Oliver Niel Jacobs.

SO CUTE.

Thanksgiving day was filled with good people and really good food. And yes, we ate full plates at both family's Thanksgiving meals. Luckily, we spent a little bit of the next day burning off a few of the calories on hike with Sam's family. I love this shot of Gracie with her Grandma Nielsen making it through "Fat Man's Pass"

Sam was trying to convince me it was safe to slide down this rock...it was.

Parker and Grace took full advantage of riding on Uncle Sam's shoulders throughout the hike.

Great view

I was so happy when we got to my parent's home and saw our wedding picture on THE wall. The marriage is now official!

One day my mom and dad took us to see "The Blindside," which I now believe EVERYONE must see. Definitely a top fave movie. We also celebrated my Dad's birthday on Thanksgiving Day!

It was so great to see both families and spend time with those we love. I love the holiday season!


Last weekend Sam and I stayed at G's. She let me have some of her Christmas decorations she doesn't use anymore (I put them up in our apartment the second we got home and they make me so happy) Thanks G! We love spending time with you.

I am also happy to report that although we have woken up to less than 10 degree weather everyday this week, Sam and I are still alive, healthy, and in love.