Family Pictures!!

Mike’s family let me join them in their last family pictures before Mike takes off. We took them on March 24, 2012 at Wheeler Farm. Here’s some of the highlights from everyone.

Michael and I :)

Misty, Brian, Bronco, and Shelby

Cassie, Tim, and Alyssa

Nicki, Eric, Evan, and Corbin

Warren and Sue

Just ignore Mike in the background..haha

Alyssa, Evan, and Baby Corbin

The Grandkids/Granddogs

Just the Grandkids

Couples

The Fam :)

Michael “soaking it in”

The Siblings

Evan and Lyss

Thanks everyone so much for considering me family :) I love you guys!

My Big Goal

I have decided of a BIG thing that I want to accomplish while Michael is gone. While Mike is gone I am going to learn Polish. POLISH!? Whaaaat? Yes, Polish. I think it would be soooo much fun to be able to write letters to Mike in Polish, even if it’s something as simple as I love you (Kocham cię) <-- and yes I did Google translate that. Haha. But really I want to buy Rosetta Stone and learn as much Polish as I can. It would also work out that when he gets back, Mike and I could talk in Polish and none of you would know what we were even saying ;) That’s my big plan so far! And I’m super super excited!

The Wall

Have I mentioned that my boyfriend is amazing? NO?! Well. He is. Let me explain JUST ONE of the many many many reasons why. If you haven't noticed yet, Michael is going on a mission for two years which (if my calculations are correct) is 730 days. That is a long time. Michael is also going to Poland. That is a long ways away. Communication isn't going to be as easy as shooting him a text anymore. Soo...Mike is creating what is known as "The Wall" or "Ashlee's Wall". The wall consists of notes, pictures, drawings, "protectors of the wall", puzzles, advice, activities for me to do, and I assume much much more. This may sound a little confusing, here's a further explanation. Mike is putting all of this stuff on the wall in his room and every day for 2 years I get to go over to his house and take one thing off of "The Wall". Keep in mind, he started this about a month ago and has to create 730 days worth of goodies. I'm guessing that your reaction was something like "Awwww cute" or "WOOOOW". Mine was a mixture of these things with a little crying. But seriously. Wow. This kid just amazes me. He is taking so much time out of his days to do something for me. I can't even explain how much I love him and how much he means to me. There is no other person on this planet that I would want to call my boyfriend/best friend/missionary. And this my friend, is why Michael Christian Raines is amazing.

These are the signs on the outside of his door

 

 

 

The fine print. Doesn’t really show up in the picture but no worries.

Mike made a voice recording :)

He’s a dork but I love him :)

And here is what the wall looks like..

A couple of the protectors of the wall..they’re pretty intimidating.

Anything worth having, is worth waiting for..

Well! It's official. I guess I'm going to start becoming a blogger. Crazy I know, but I thought it would make time fly by. But let me first tell you the reason for my "Life While He's Gone" blog. The "He" in this instance happens to be the greatest guy in the world, Michael Christian Raines. Mike has been called to serve a mission in Warsaw, Poland for two years. He leaves April 18th 2012 (about a month away). Mike's decision to serve a mission came as a surprise to all. For the past 3 years that we have been dating,, a mission has not even crossed our minds. Well one day out of the blue I get a text that reads.. "Ash..I'm going to serve a mission." This was not a sentence I was ever expecting to hear (or see) from him. For the next few days I tried to be supportive but really on the inside I was livid. I thought, "Why is he doing this to me?" "How am I going to survive 2 years alone?". Well a couple weeks had past and after talking to Mike and praying about things I knew without a doubt that this is what should be happening in our lives at this moment. I know that the next two years are going to be tough but "Anything worth having, is worth waiting for." I just need to stay strong and... Well, wish me luck...