Lanikai

We went to Lanikai which is one of the best beaches in the entire world! It was such a perfect day.

 In the morning we did a hike called Pillboxes :

And in the afternoon we played at the beach:

 

Living in Hawaii is such a dream. I sure love it here.

Hau’oli Makahiki Hou! (happy new year) 2013 in a nutshell

This year has been so fun because it has been the year of so many "starts" and "firsts" Like our FIRST home and STARTING family traditions. One tradition I want to start is writing a summary each year, like a year in review. So here is our first year in a nutshell...


January was hard because we were dating exclusively but I started school again in Hawaii, and Keith continued school at the Air Force Academy in Colorado. Long distance was hard. We continued to talk every single day and missed each other like crazy. It definitely had its challenges, but it had some perks too. Like, talking on the phone for countless hours getting to know each other better and the time we did get to spend with each other was so special. In February, Keith- with his first time boxing- made it to the championship of the Air Force Academy Boxing Wing Open, which is a pretty big and prestigious thing! Keith flew me home and I was able to watch it. It was so FUN, but also made me so nervous. The crowd roared, and Keith even got his own victory chant, as we watched him win (and then hear the ref say that he lost :( ) It was a close fight. It was such a great trip and we really enjoyed our time together.For spring break in March, Keith came out and visited me in Hawaii. Not only was it one of the funnest weeks of my life but it was also one of the most pivotal weeks in both of our lives. We went from planning on dating for a few more years while Keith finished school at the Academy, to seriously considering getting married that summer and completely changing our plans- for the (WAY) better. April was the month I graduated from BYU Hawaii and most importantly the month we got engaged! April 19th, Keiths 22nd birthday, and also the very night I got home from Hawaii, Keith surprised me and proposed, and I said yes! May was full of some wedding planning for me and finishing up the semester for Keith. I also got my dream job :) as a part time ramp agent. June was crazy busy for me, full of long days commuting to the airport. Keith spent 21 days in China and loved the experience. But the time apart really just made us want to speed up time and get married! July both our families went to Lake Powell together which needless to say was a great time. July also brought some fun trips because of our new flight benefits on standby including a church history trip to New York with mom and Jess. And of course a month full of wedding planning.  August finally came and on the 3rd Keith Sasine and I got sealed for time and all eternity in the Denver Temple. I dont even know how to summarize that day except to say that it felt like an absolute dream. I married my best friend and have truly loved every second of being Mrs. John Keith Sasine. And my life since then has been better than I could have ever planned for. We honeymooned to Costa Rica, had our reception in Utah, spent time at the Zarmatt, went to Puerto Rico, flew to Thailand and to Israel. Our 5 week honeymoon around the world was..awesome! September 9th  Keith started his semester at BYU Hawaii. It was so fun to have our own home. I continued to occasionally work which allowed us to go to our best friends weddings in Utah and Colorado and go on a vacation with his parents in Californa. In October Dad and Ashley visited us in Hawaii and I made a few trips out to Utah and Colorado for work and weddings and in Novemeber Keith joined me on some trips. Highlights included seeing our first adorable nephew Jackson Jolley, Blake coming to Hawaii for a week and Thanksgiving in Utah. December Keith worked hard to finish his semester with  4.0 earning him a full ride scholarship. He worked especially hard to be able to take all his finals early so that we could leave on our cruise. We, along with my parents and Ashley and Kylee, cruised from Florida to Columbia, Panama, Ecuador, Peru and 3 stops in Chile-Arica, La Serena and Valparaiso. The entire 15 night cruise was incredible and visiting the places in Chile were I served my mission were the highlights of the trip. Being back with my friends in Chile felt like how I imagine Heaven will feel like. Complete bliss. We flew to Utah on Christmas Eve and spent Christmas and New Years with the Sasines! It was a wonderful Christmas and for New Years we spent a few beautiful days snowmobiling.

I cant believe what a wonderful year we have had! We have been blessed far beyond even our own imagination. Marriage has clearly been the greatest blessing this year. We've loved the journey of joining each others families and creating our own. We are most grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ that binds us together forever!

Hau’oli Makahiki Hou with love from the islands! 

Christmas Vacation

We left Chile on Monday the 23, flew a red eye flight to Miami, then flew to Houston. We got to Houston around 730 am and felt confident we would make it to Utah in no time. But the airport soon became a zoo and we missed flight after flight after flight. We were so sad when we realized that we would probably have to spend the night in Houston at a Hotel for Christmas Eve. But then, a Christmas miracle happened and we made the last flight to Salt Lake on Christmas Eve night!

Christmas Eve we opened our matching new pajamas and had a big sleep over together. (I love that fun Sasine tradition!) Christmas day was perfect and I loved spending time with this handsome little guy.

For new years we spent a few days Snowmobiling at Bear River. I wish I would have taken pictures because it was absolutely breathtaking. The views were phenomenal and the snow was fresh and deep. We had 7 snowmobiles and rode them everyday until we were exhausted. When we werent snowmobiling we were at the cabins, watching football, playing with Jackson, talking, laughing, eating and doing a huge 1000 piece puzzle! 

Florida, Columbia, Panama, Ecuador, Peru, and CHILE!

In June of 2012 I came home from my 18 month mission in Chile. I absolutely LOVED it (I  feel like that is even an understatement, but I cant think of a more fitting word then love) I totally fell in love with those people and that place. I always dreamed of going back and finally this dream of mine came true. On December 5th we started our journey back to Chile. "Back" for me, and the first time for Keith, Ash, Ky, mom and dad.  It was the trip of a lifetime! I will try and tell the adventure with few words and tons of pictures.
We met in Florida...

can you see the alligator?!

And then started our 15 night Celebrity Xfinity Cruise to South America!

Our first stop was in Cartagena, Columbia!

(I have no idea why this flamingo picture is snowing! But its too funny and I dont know how to change it ha!)

Our next stop was PANAMA 

After visiting the country for a day our cruise boat went through the canal. It took about 12 hours the following day to go from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and man, it was so fascinating to pass through.

Then ECUADOR:

since it was christmas time, we brought with us tons of presents for kids we met in all the different countries. It was so fun to give them away and see the excitement on their faces!

PERU:

One of the best parts of the whole trip was being able to see Hermana Ramos. She was my last companion and is one of my closets, sweetest friends. I am beyond words grateful for her and that she traveled 16 hours  from her hometown of Piura to meet us in Lima for a few hours.

And last, but far from least, CHIIIILE!
Our first stop in Chile was in Arica:

Here we saw literally about 40 4-5 foot sea turtles. They were so curious and came so close and kept putting their heads above water. It was one of the closest things I have ever seen.

Then La Serena!

This is the area were I ended my mission. My heart was just overflowing with good memories and it was the sweetest thing to see all these familiar views and faces.

Our cruise ended in Valparaiso 

 Perfectly enough, our cruise ended almost inside my ward boundaries!  I spent the first year of my mission in Villa Alemana and Vina/Valpo. Luckily the areas are close and so we got to see both areas in which I served in. I can not even begin to formulate words adequate enough to portray how much I love these people. 

Where I lived for 6 months:

Since weve been home I have had tons of dreams that I am back in Chile again. I guess you could say I left part of my heart in Chile. I am sure grateful for the time I lived there, and that I was able to bring my family back to see and love it too!

CHI-CHI-CHI-LE-LE-LE VIVA CHILE!!!