MORE TO COME!!!
"Ashley has so many admirable qualities that will help her to be a fabulous mother. First of all she is a terrific daughter. She is very thoughtful and kind. She always makes sure I am remembered on special days and lets me know I am important to her.
Secondly, she is a responsible and loving sister. When I went back to school and then started working as a nurse, she made sure her brother and sister were safe, taken care of and doing what they were supposed to do.
Ashley has always wanted to work with children. From a young age she played "school" almost everyday (of course, she was the teacher). As she grew into young womanhood, every time we went to church, she was found holding someone's baby or young child. Of course, she was in high demand for babysitting. When she was 16 she started her first Nanny job for two young brothers. She would pick them up each day after elementary school, help with their homework and get them to their activities. She has continued to work as a Nanny because that is what she loves to do and she is so good at it. She has loved all the children she has cared for.
She is remarkable with children. She has a natural affinity for children and they to her. She is sweet, caring & nurturing and truly loves all children. I am proud and lucky to be her mother.
Likewise, John is truly a remarkable young man. During Ashley and John's courtship he was at our home EVERY night (and some days). He fit right into our family. It was always a pleasure to have him around. We all love and respect him. John gets along well with everyone. He is courageous, strong, disciplined, honest, dependable, fun, loyal and kind (I could go on and on). The United States Marines is very lucky to have someone of John's caliber in their ranks, and he is proud to serve his country.
Children love John and instantly want to play with him when they see him. He loves children and is anxious to be a father. Most of all, I love John for being a such a wonderful husband to Ashley. He is very patient, tender and loving with her. He definitely honors his marriage vows. I may be biased, but I believe John and Ashley will be the best parents ever!!!"
Susie (Ashley's mom)
"When my brother John was dating Ashley, I’d heard lots about her, and when I met her, I knew they were all true. She is sweet, caring and full of fun. She gravitates toward children and they to her. Many new moms are not sure what they are in for, but I have no doubt that Ashley has been uniquely prepared with her work as a nanny.
I have known John as three different people. First, I’ve known him as a brother. As an older brother, he’s been everything a brother should be. I am his only little sister and he always looked out for me and helped me when I was in need. He is very passionate about his interests and about his relationships with others. He has always been one who would not stand for injustice. When he saw something he knew wasn’t right, he would take action and do his best to fix it.
Second, I’ve known John as a man. It has been amazing to watch him grow into the incredible person he is today. He is strong, self-disciplined and smart. John is always full of funny stories and jokes. When I talk with him on the phone, I spend most of it laughing and always come away from the conversation in a better mood. His humor is contagious and makes him so much fun to be around.
Third, I’ve known him as a husband. It has always been kind of strange for me to see my brother in his different relationships, but when I met Ashley and saw how great they were together, there was no doubt it my mind that he had found his soul mate. He is so sweet and tender with his darling wife and supports her in every way possible.
After seeing my brother in these three different roles, I have no doubt that he will be just as amazing in his fourth role as a father. Their nieces and nephews love John and Ashley so much; it is hard to imagine how much their own children will adore them."
-Karmen (John's sister)
"We are John parents and proud to be so. He is the 6th of 7 children in our family. We currently have 21 grandchildren. So their children will be blessed with lots of cousins! All of our children are active in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and have been married in the temple. Both of his brothers are currently serving as Bishops of their wards. One sister is a Primary President now and most of the others have served in leadership positions. His father is on the high council and his mother is in the Stake Primary Presidency. John & both his brothers served full-time missions for the church. John was fortunate to serve in the Australia Adelaide Mission from 2000 to 2002 when it was the largest mission in the Church. One of the hardest things we ever saw him do was getting released as a missionary. It really saddened him to not be serving the Lord full time anymore.
He is an easy-going guy with a great sense of humor. We have laughed at & with him since he was a toddler. He has always had many friends who think the world of him. Many of his teachers have also commented on what a great personality he has.
One thing that really sticks out in my mind about John is when he was a junior in high school and said to me out of the blue, “I can’t wait to be a father!” Our other two boys never mentioned it. But I knew from that point on that he would be a great dad someday.
John loves the Boy Scouts of America! Along with his two brothers, he earned the rank of Eagle Scout. Only about 3% of Boy Scouts make it all the way to Eagle. We were living in South Africa when he did his Eagle project. He planted 100 trees in a black township called Mamelodi where trees were very scarce. The native Africans living there were very appreciative of this and thanked him over and over again. When he joined the Marines, he was given an extra rank because he was an Eagle Scout. He is currently serving as an assistant Scoutmaster and “paying back” a little of what Scouting has given to him.
We fell in love with Ashley from the first time we met her. What a sweetheart!! She is conscientious, loyal and diligent in everything she does. No wonder they have this beautiful woman serving in the Young Women’s Presidency. She has been working as a nanny for over 10 years, so that tells you how much she loves children. She also plays the piano and supplements their income by teaching piano lessons. She has been very brave facing up to the challenges of infertility. I have known how heartbroken she has felt as one procedure after another failed to help them become pregnant. But she has always kept on trying. She has that never-give-up attitude. I know someday they will be blessed with children and will be wonderful parents whether they have biological children or are blessed with adopted ones."
Fred and Linda (John's parents)
"John and Ashley...hmmmm... so many things come to mind when I think of these two. I really just want this to be short and sweet. First John, he is my youngest brother, so needless to say I've known him all of his life. He was so much fun growing up! As his oldest sister it is nice to see him grow into a man and have such a strong desire to be a father. He has always been the best Uncle to my three children especially my oldest Kyle. Kyle is now 20 and still looks up to his Uncle John very much so. I think that says A LOT as to what kind of person/mentor/ father John will be to his children. He may be a "Big, Bad Marine," but he has a very loving , caring side to him that would provide spiritually, mentally, monetarily and emotionally well for a child. He's wonderful! Now about Ashley. She has been a nanny for as long as I have known her. She is WONDERFUL with children and loves them at any age. My kids just have that automatic love and trust for her since the day that they met her. She is very nurturing and fun. There is always laughter around John and Ashley, whether it is at them or with them, they are great! Ashley would provide that wonderful mother that you would dream of for your baby! There are many uncles, aunts, cousins and grandparents that would welcome and love another member to our family:)"
-Heather (John's sister)
"Well, there is a lot to say about John and Ashley. I could go on and on forever. I will say a few word but I think what a better point of view than a child's point of view. So I asked my 3 kids to write a bit about their Aunt and Uncle. This is all their own words (see below). Anyway, I have known John and Ashley the longest as a couple out of John’s family. One thing I really remember about Ashley is the first time I met her. Her and my brother were only dating at the time. She swooped up my 2 girls (at the time) and really got to know them. She was so comfortable around them. She even had Disney songs in her IPod for them to listen to. I didn’t have any Disney on my IPod but she did. Then I look over at my brother, John who is in the Marines, and he is carrying Ashley’s big, pink purse. I Loved it. What a perfect match. That impressed me. I KNEW that this was the woman for my brother John, and it was. She has made such a great addition to our family. Watching her and John grow together over the years has been wonderful. Seeing the yearn for children in both of their eyes has crushed me. They are sooo ready and willing to love anybody's child their own or not. Please consider them. They will not let you down. Your child will grow up happy and healthy and love their life. I can’t wait to spoil another niece or nephew. There are 21 nieces' and nephews to love in our family. 22 would be GREAT!"
-Heidi (John's sister)
"Dear Aunt Ashley,
You are the best aunt in the whole entire world. I like to go seeing you and I like it when you went with us to Six Flags. I really liked it when you went on the airplane with me and the helicopter and the train.
Dear Uncle John,
You are the best uncle in the whole entire pwanet. I liked it when you went with us to Six Flags with us also and ridded with me in that train and in the helicopter and in the airplane."
Love, Cody (age 4)
"My Uncle John is cool. When I was 2, he sang me a song about a chicken sandwich as he made me one. I surprisingly STILL remember that song.My Aunt Ashley is cool too. I( like her because first of all, we both have the same name. I know both of them deserve a child. they are great with children. I LOVE to wrestle with my Uncle John and I like to talk with my aunt Ashley. Last of all, I like it when they wrap me up in a blanket tight and say I am a BURRITO!!
P.S. Uncle John played babies with me when I was little."
Love, Ashley (age 9)
"I think that John and Ashley Maseda have been the most acceptable Aunt and Uncle. I’ve known Uncle John quite a bit longer than I’ve known Aunt Ashley, but I know that they both can be kind, loving, responsible parents, The first time I met Aunt Ashley I knew she was a good kind and caring person. Uncle John is a great uncle. He is very fun to play with. I thought it was hilarious when he and my older cousin Kyle would dress up like a bush and put camouflage make-up on their faces. I love them both very much and would only wish them the very best."
Love, Courtney (age 13)
"I believe the first time I met John, he was screaming and crying and really upset. I was nearly 3 and he was a newborn baby. He's my favorite little brother, and my only little brother. If I had to describe our relationship in one word I'd say funny. He has made me laugh my whole life. He's got such a great sense of humor and he can always make me smile. He's so easy going and comfortable to be around. I don't think I've ever heard of anyone who didn't like John. He's always had a lot of friends and is a good friend in return. It's been a neat experience to watch him grow from a funny little brother into a responsible, honorable and compassionate man. His sense of duty and loyalty is amazing to me. He has so much integrity and a very strong moral compass, yet he's a friend to everyone and doesn't judge or look down on others. He is very outgoing and confident. He is an awesome husband. He is crazy about Ashley, and anyone who has been in the same room with them for more than a minute can see that. He has so much respect for her and women in general. He's an outstanding person and I'm proud to call him my brother.
The first time I met Ashley, she was a bit nervous to be meeting our whole big family all at once. It was a vey intimidating situation for her to have to walk into a big room full of 30 or so strangers, all staring at her. She was very courageous and handled it remarkably. She obviously cared about John a great deal and this showed from the moment they walked in the door. Ashley is a very kind, loving, and nurturing woman. She is very down to earth and reasonable, yet loves to have fun and is very balanced. She is so easy to talk to and is a very inviting person. She has been a wonderful addition to our family. It's amazing to see what a great fit she is with John. She loves and respects him so much and this shows in all she does.
John and Ashley are two great individuals, but put them together and they are incredible. They compliment each other perfectly. My 4 children just adore them! They have so much fun when Uncle John and Auntie Ashley come to visit. They are both naturals when it comes to children. They are capable of dealing with anything their nieces and nephews throw at them, and they don't miss a beat. Their hearts are so open and they love so easily. Every child I've ever seen around them naturally gravitate toward them. They will be wonderful parents! We have all been anxious for them to become parents, but obviously no one as anxious as them.
I know that God uses people as angels to do His work here on Earth. Right now He needs an angel to bring John and Ashley their first child."
-Elizabeth Postak (John's sister)
