It was officially a month yesterday and it was difficult to stop thinking of the accident. It's been a couple of rough days. But then again, people came and helped us with what we needed. It didn't take the pain away, but it lessened it.
Family has been awesome. We had so much family at PCMC they didn't know what to do with us. (They only allowed 3 people in the room at all times) I think we overwhelmed them. Our family support has been unreal and we appreciate every single one of you. While not everyone was able to make it to Utah, the rest stayed busy helping us with what we needed to be done in Idaho. We came home to a clean house,a fridge stocked with food, clean laundry, and much more. My friends and multiple cousins pitched in to run our Sno Shack. My Aunt Nic kept the blog going while it was too difficult for me to write. And my Aunt Cindy took on a million projects for us. Pat works for my Uncle Rodd and their company was so generous and helped us out financially. Then to top it all off my Aunt Cindy and Uncle Rodd are sending us here...
That's right, Cancun Mexico!
Sunday can't get here fast enough. It's been wonderful to have something good to look forward to. Pat served a two year mission for the LDS church in Mexico so he's been busy looking up where he can find the most authentic food!
My question to you is what was your FAVORITE thing or place to visit in Cancun?
We're going with my cousin Trevor and and his wife Rebecca. Trev and Pat were friends growing up. So it should be a very fun trip. Thanks again to our family members you mean the world to us! Especially Cindy and Rodd for letting us escape for a little while. Adios Idaho! And hola Mexico! :)
I hope that you and your husband have a wonderful time. Thank you for sharing your story and the strength of your testimonies. I know that mine has grown because of yours. I am grateful that you have the gospel in your life to help you through this trial. You will be in the prayers of our family - way up here in Canada! Much love!
ReplyDeleteHave fun! I have never been to Cancun, but I would be at the beach all day for sure!
ReplyDeleteOh I'm so glad that you two will get to go to Mexico. That will be a blast!!! When chase and I went.. there was a place where you can rent a two seated ski boat and a guide takes you out and you go snorkling. I don't think that it was that expensive either.it was on the main street where all the hotels are on. Any ways you guys have a blast!!! Chase and I are still praying for you and thinking about you everyday. I love ya darling!!!!
ReplyDeleteI went to cancun in april. WE went to xel ha which was amazing. It is a must see. they have swimming with dolphins, snorkeling in the most amazing lazy river, all you can eat food, hammocks, etc..., also i heard x caret was wonderful too and had I had more time I would have done that as well. I would leave out the snorkeling by aqua world...I got way sea sick in the rough water in the middle of the ocean. I want you to know that I think of you and your family everyday & pray for you always. Have a wonderful trip.
ReplyDeleteHi, you don't know me but your story and strength has really had a profound affect on me. Thank you. I am so happy for you to get to go on such a wonderful vacation.
ReplyDeleteWe have been twice and our favorite favorite thing was to drive down to Carmen Del Playa and then take a ferry over to Cozumel. It is beautiful and there is so much to do. (Just don't do it on a Sunday because almost everything is closed down).
Also we Loved Chichen Itza. It is quite a drive but so worth it if you have time. We also did Tulum, which was cool, but no comparison to Chichen Itza.
Last, we had to have the super authentic food also. We ended up going in to the real city (where we only saw a few other tourists) and had the BEST street tacos. We seriously couldn't get enough and went back the next day. They only thing is, the second time we went in the evening at dusk receiving lots of weird looks from the locals followed by the taco stand guy telling us to leave as quickly as we were done eating and never to be there in the dark. He said the drug rings are too dangerous and look for gringos (Luckily my husband also served there and knows Spanish).
Anyway, just our opinions, hope it helps a little. I also hope you have a fabulous time. You truly deserve it.
Brianne
Oh and Xel Ha, pronounced Shell ha, is a must. It is an all day thing. We even went back there the second time we went to Cancun.
ReplyDeleteChichen Itza is a must!
ReplyDeleteby the way- I am very glad pat knows spanish - me and ty got stuck on a bus that didnt return back to the "strip" that went downtown and it was at night time and it was scary and i about peed my pants hahah but im glad yall will be in good hands! we need to vacay with yall to mexico the next time we go :)
ReplyDeleteDeep sea fishing excursion...we were there in november and still caught fish on the off season. They said the best time is summer months so its probably amazing right now. Just make sure you take something for nausea if you go out on the ocean at all!
ReplyDeleteGood for you two! And what an amazing family you have.. Such support!
ReplyDeleteGood for you two! And what an amazing family you have.. Such support!
ReplyDeletechichen itza and xcaret were wonderful!
ReplyDeleteThat's so great you get to get away for a while! You definitely deserve it. My husband and I have been to Cancun 6 times and our favorite tour so far has been the zip line. Xel Ha is pretty good but you do have to pay extra to swim with the dolphins. (A LOT MORE)
ReplyDeleteCozumel snorkeling is amazing and the ski boats is something we have wanted to try.
You will have a blast no matter what you do there! It is so beautiful!
Thank you for sharing your feelings and especially your testimony! You have touched my heart so deeply and every night I squeeze my kids a little longer because of your story!
Stay strong and know that you have a precious angel watching over you at all times!
What a wonderful gift for you and your hubby. I'd have to agree with whoever wrote about going to Cozumel. My mother in law likes to buy all us girls jewelery from there when she goes and she says it's super cheap, but it's the real deal. Maybe a good place to find a sweet trinket to remember the trip! Have so much fun, you guys are so deserving of an escape!
ReplyDeleteHave an great time! You guys are so amazing!!
ReplyDeleteSo happy to hear that you get this much needed vacation! My family went a few years ago and had a blast. THey loved Xcaret and Cozumel and the zip lines! I think it was both those places that my step-mom said she wishes they would have done the LDS tour of. (Those places or some other ruins out there. Have a wonderful trip and thanks again for the strong testimony you share!
ReplyDeleteWahoo! I hope you guys have tons of fun. You will with Bec and Trev, they are awesome.
ReplyDeleteOOOOHHHH I am so glad that you get to getaway with your sweet hubby and some friends, that is a much needed R&R. Thank you for your testimony and all the faith and strength you both have shown, Have a great time and know you are in our thoughts and prayers and we keep your name on the prayer roll here in the Gila Valley Temple!!! I have been reading a great book and would love to send it to you would you mind sharing your email address with me so I can send it to you. with much love and hugs
ReplyDeleteTifani Cluff
clufftifani2@gmail.com
I want to come you didnt share that with me... I am already packed.. LOL.
ReplyDeleteLove you guys have fun and stay in touch.. I will miss you and if you get mystery calls from wyoming it will be tanner he knows where to find your #...
I've been reading your blog for the last little while and can't thank you enough for the impact it has had on me and my little family.
ReplyDeleteMy husband and I just recently went to cancun and we loved it. We did Tulum extreme---which was a little taste of lots of things. We did the zip lines, snorkeling in underground caves, repelling, and Tulum. It was about $95 each. I loved being able to do quite a few things in one excursion. I heard great things about Chichen Itza but only if you go with Heleman tours (but heard lots of people talking about what a long day it was). Xel Ha sounded amazing but was a little expensive for what we wanted to do. You will enjoy pretty much whatever you do. Enjoy your much needed trip.
Family is truly remarkable and yours is sooo wonderful! I think of you guys all the time and hope you are doing well. 1 month sure has flown by-yet crawled.
ReplyDeleteI am sooo glad you guys are able to get away! You deserve it! We have a condo in Cancun and LOVE it! I agree with all the recommendations everyone has given. The 2 seater speed boat out to snorkel is way fun. Love Tulum and Chichen Itza, Xcaret is awesome. Just drink plenty of bottled water! Have fun!
I hope this trip is wonderful for you!
ReplyDeleteMy hubby and I went for our honeymoon, and had an amazing time. Our "Musts" are:
*Chichen Itza - All day....or even 2 days. If you take the long way back to Cancun from there you go through several small towns where I am sure you could find really authentic food.
*Tulum - We did this and Xel Ha on the same day.....it was a long day though and we didn't do a lot of the stuff at Xel Ha.
If you can figure out how to schedule LDS tour guides for the ruins it make it SO much better! We were lucky enough to have one for Tulum and he was great.
Hi you don't know me, but I read your blog daily just wanted to thank you for sharing your thoughts and testimony. It is nice to be reminded of the things that we are taught about if we live the gospel right. I have a little girl that just turned one and I CAN'T even imagine what you are going through. You have helped strengthen my testimony and are so blessed with wonderful family and friends. Your family is in our prayers and I hope you have a WONDERFUL time in Cancun, you guys deserve it!
ReplyDeleteYay ash! I am excited for you! mUch needed for sure! I think about you everyday! Love ya!
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you have an amazing family; and that you guys have been well taken care of. I am really glad you two get a chance to get away for a while. I have never been to Cancun but honestly anything I got to share with my husband would be great. I hope you have a great trip and just enjoy each other's company.
ReplyDeleteWow, what a great support group you have around you. You are very blessed. I hope you and your husband enjoy your time away from everything and really hope that you can relax. My hubby and I went to Cancun on our 1 year anniversary and our absolute favorite excursion there was Xel-Ha. It's a natural water park where you can snorkel, cliff jump, tube down a lazy river, zip-line, swim with the dolphins, just lay out and relax...and eat!!! It is soooo beautiful there, you must go! Hope you have a great time!
ReplyDeleteAshley, maybe you have already seen this but if you havent i felt inspired to share it with you. http://www.youtube.com/user/MormonMessages#p/p/4E784EC0770935C0/0/E7zwQ_7q-fU
ReplyDeleteIt brought me peace. Hope it can do the same for you. Much love and prayers!
- Mom of 1yr old girl in Ohio
X-Plore is super cool! Under ground caves you raft through, a zip line, an off road adventure, river float, and an all you can eat buffet with endless drinks around the park for one price!
ReplyDeleteGo see the mayan ruins in Chichen Itza and pyramids close by in, you will love it!
ReplyDeleteGo to Xcaret and swim with the dolphins!!! It's an incredible experience.
ReplyDeleteYOu guys are amazing. HOnestly, the strength you two have and the endurance, attitude and faith you have are awe inspiring. You deserve a getaway. Enjoy!!
ReplyDeleteWow! Have a great time--that will be so fun for you guys!
ReplyDeleteIf anyone deserves a mental and emotional break, it's you two. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise, or that it's too soon after everything that has happened to be enjoying yourself. Your joy for life is the best rememberance of Preslee that you can give right now, so give it freely. Enjoy your trip - can't wait to see the beautiful pictures!
ReplyDeleteYou two deserve this trip and I am so excited for you! I have never been but I hear it's amazing! Have so much fun!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great gift. A time for the two of you to just get away and rest in each other; to heal together. I still pray for you daily - thank you for your testimony!
ReplyDeleteI'm kinda shocked how excited you are to go on a vacation so soon after you're daughter died.
ReplyDeleteThe above comment was completely uncalled for by whoever it is that chooses to be hidden. You have NO idea obviously what this family is going through and you have NO position to judge one needing to heal and move on in life. Are they suppose to just sit home and cry all day? Have some compassion please and move onto another blog if you have nothing Christlike and supportive to say here! Thanks and may you Patrick and Ashley enjoy this time you need to get away and be together! May our Heavenly Father continue to bless and comfort you!
ReplyDeletePeople are stupid. Refer to comment before last. Please don't give it one second of thought and go escape to Mexico. Of course, it won't be a real escape but it's a wonderful gift from your family! I hope you and Pat can find joy in this gift as you work through and process your grief together. Also, you might look into changing your settings so that anonymous morons can't leave comments.
ReplyDeleteHi! After talking to you today I was trying to remember our favorites things there. I went with Jared a few years ago, and with my family when i was in High School. We love Xel-ha, Chichen itza, and Tulum is my favorite. There is an awesome LDS tour guide at Tulum, named Nephi. Having an LDS guide makes all the difference. Oh- and a day trip to Cozumel is really fun too! If you need any more info let me know!
ReplyDeleteHope you guys have so much fun! xo
hooray! good for you guys! I've never been so take lots of pictures and post them! Have a blast - you guys deserve it! love ya!
ReplyDeleteThat is a wonderful and much needed gift. I'm so happy to hear that you'll be in Cancun soon with the sun in your hair and your toes in the sand. It will be a relief and a distraction after such an excruciating month.
ReplyDeleteI've been following you guys since the accident, when CJane posted something on her blog. I live in NJ and I keep checking in with you guys to see how you are doing. My thoughts and prayers are with you daily. Such a hard trial you've had to endure, thank you for sharing it with all of us.
Best Wishes Always.
Kate
How fun! You guys DEFINATELY deserve this VACA!! You have been through alot and you deserve it more than anyone.
ReplyDeleteSafe travels. Enjoy to the fullest. You both are still in my prayers. We want to see LOTS of pictures!!
Have fun!! The beach would be the best!
ReplyDeleteI'm so excited for you guys! Chase and I went on our honeymoon there and loved it. Chase would probably say his favorite part was jet skiing on the ocean and I would say either swimming with the dolphins (we took a little ferry about 20 min to this little island where they just have the ocean kind of blocked off and you swim with them in the ocean)or just playing on the beautiful beaches and waves! We bought a disposable underwater camera which was really fun. Just give yourself enough beach time! Enjoy!! We love you guys
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful! I hope that you can use this time to allow yourselves to smile and begin the healing process. My heart aches for you both and I think that Mexico is just what you two need! Sweet Preslee wants only the best for her parents and it is important to continue living this life as fully as you can in memory of Preslee and in the name of our Heavenly Father.
ReplyDeletePreslee will thrilled to see the smiles on your faces--though I am certain with your great faith they have been there through this long hard month. Have fun!
ReplyDeleteI know you get hundreds of comments... But, I had to let you know that I loved your post I CAN DO HARD THINGS.
ReplyDeleteOur sweet baby boy just passed away on the 4th.
I CAN DO HARD THINGS. Thank you for reminding me of that.
PS I have another son that was born just days after Preslee 12/23/08, so it really brought your story home for us, feeling an overcoming love for that sweet little rascal.
Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts and feelings with all of us. I'm sure it isn't easy, but it is so inspiring. You amaze me and I hope I can be more like you. I know from my own experiences that looking and reaching out has an amazing way of healing us....and I think it has a lot to do with the fact that living more like the Savior brings us closer to Him and closer to His perfect healing. Our little family still prays for yours. Thank you again for your light and your spirit. I think God has given you a very difficult but miraculous mission in which you will be able to change many many lives. You are doing great: ) I hope that whatever mission He has in store for me that I will be able to follow you and Pat's examples and make a big difference in a lot of lives. Thank you again! Have so much fun in Mexico: ) My husband served there too and would be so jealous that you get to eat some authentic mexican food! haha
ReplyDeleteHave a blast, I went to Cancun in April, and you should defiantly hit up the "Taco Factory" holy cow the best Mexican tacos EVER!!!! Oh and can't forget to go shopping at Zara (in the outside mall)! Have fun you guys you deserve some time away :)
ReplyDeleteI hope that you guys enjoy escaping for a little while! My brother-in-law has lived in Cancun for the last 3 years (and my husband lived there once for six months). I asked them what they thought and they both said that they would recommend that you go to "Isla Mujeres." It is an island and you need to take a ferry to get there. Once there they say that the beaches are REALLY beautiful, more so than those on the mainland. Also, I think my brother-in-law said that is where they have a Dolphin Discovery park where you can swim with dolphins, etc. There are also some archaeological ruins there if you are into that kind of thing... It would make a nice day trip for you guys! If you're interested, just ask your hotel to direct you to the beach that offers a ferry to "Isla Mujeres." :) Have fun!!!!
ReplyDeleteHey! I hope you have such a great time. There is so much to do that you can find yourself not resting and just enjoying. . so remember . you can always come back again.. I would reccomend just staying at your hotel a couple of days. Just drink in the sunshine and relax. Meditate and enjoy.. we love you guys! .. Randy & GayLynn
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