Break

I took a small break from blogging to give everyone time to catch up. It seems when I write everyday a couple of my blogs suffer. I think it's hard to keep up with so little time and so many great blogs to read. I'm on every weekday but on the weekends I don't have as much internet time. What do you do? I could write everyday easily, but I thought I'd try to take a breather and allow time in between for every blog to be read. Anyway, that's my "thought for the day" short, sweet, and there it is.

Dizzy*

Between the bad weather and the recent holiday I just can't get back in the groove of things. I'm not awake. Today can't be Wednesday. And lunch is on Papa Johns today. I'm not normally like this. I've had so many half days or days off all together that I don't know which end is up. I sure am thankful for a break. It has been nice to be able to work on the wedding, and rest. Today will be a longer day, preparing me for my normal work day starting tomorrow. I'm happy to have had a miniature vacation. Did the weather delays and the government holiday effect any of you?

Snow...

So, I've gone and done it. I've now posted a blog solely dedicated to the wintry white fluff that survives only in the frostbitten atmosphere. It began to grace us with its presence around noon today and fell for hours afterward.

Now, I may be cold natured, but I'm far from cold hearted. Look at how beautifully it coated my lush green grass. Had I not told you, you'd have never known it to be there. I thoroughly enjoyed watching it fall whilst curled up with my thick afghan.

Once my world was completely covered I couldn't fight back the urge to photograph its beauty. My house, my yard, my trees, and everything they touch, all quilted. Winter has kissed my community and there is such serenity all around.

Here's hoping you're enjoying the breathtaking display, dispite the chill, and staying warm

inside. From my heart to your's, have a happy winter's day!

32 °

It's days like these that make me long for my Caribbean cruise trip! I am NOT a cold weather person at all. I understand the importance of winter weather as far as germs are concerned, but I wish my omniscient Father would have created a spray for those terrible little beastly microbes. Yeah right, I know... Still isn't a cold natured woman free to dream?

Now chilly is one thing, but freezing is another. This 32 ° business kills me! We southerners don't know how to deal with frozen roads and blizzard filled front yards. And on a day like this when the temperature has already risen to a whopping 34° it is then that I ask myself, do I dare venture out onto the doubtless fatal roadways and push my poor car to go a measly 20 miles per hour (for fear that I'd surely hit the driver preceding me). I think not. I believe I will stay here, wrapped in a million quilts, and continue to live in my fastasy world, where it is much warmer, might I add...

24

Is exactly how many bobby pins I found hiding amongst my hair sprayed curls last night before my shower. TWENTY FOUR. Now I know that number many sound small, but if you only knew the minute amount of locks I had bound, you would better understand. They are life savers though, aren't they? My hair would have never done that on its own!

I have to admit, after yesterday, I've found I'm not as girlie as I thought. It felt so wonderful to wipe away the colored overlay on my skin and remove the paint from my eyes to reveal once more, a possibly dull, but definitely more logical -me- underneath. Once I was able to condition through the hair glue (that's what it feels like after a nine hour stand still) and run my fingers perfectly through my straight saturated hair I felt like I could actually relax and rest my head on something. I do anticipate being that fairy tale princess for one day, but I must admit, I'm glad it's one day, and one day only!

~Beauty~

Today I had my hair and make-up consultation. Boy was it fun! I'm at work and I look like a beauty queen (haha). Too bad I don't have somewhere great to go tonight. This was really the first thing I've had done for me, as far as the Wedding planning goes and I am very pleased. I would post an actual picture of the hairstyle for you, but my sweet fiance has been reading up on my blog from time to time and I want it to be confidential ;) I also picked out my headpiece while I was at Sheila's and might I say it's GORGEOUS! The wedding is coming soon and it seems like the months are passing so quickly now. My dress will be in, in two to three days and then I can pick out my veil and book my bridal portrait session... That's usually your mark that tells you, "You're getting married soon!" I'm ecstatic about being Will's wife. I even dreamed about our honeymoon cruise last night (even though it was a BAD dream) that tells me it's all I'm thinking about! Four months and two days left...

"Yes Mam, Captain"

It's true what they say, kids sure can "say the darnedest things." My four year old twins can be hilarious as they pick up on the "adult world" and begin to apply the things they see to their life.

I've always tried to teach them manners as they grow. Nothing out of the ordinary, just your normal, "thank you, you're welcome, excuse me, and yes mam, no mam." Now like I said they are only four, that being the case they have to be reminded, constantly.

Yesterday was like every other, as the boys were coming downstairs for breakfast (still waking up) I asked them my repetitive question for the morning, "Are you hungry yet?" Now keep in mind, they may be young, but they're not ignorant! When the answer came barreling out of Connor, "Yes, I'm am," I carefully reminded him, "Yes, mam." I still don't know if he was trying to be smart with me (because I constantly remind them), or if he was mad (from still being partially asleep), but what I do know, is how badly I needed to have a video camera running at that moment when his response to my correction came sternly roaring back, "Yes mam, Captain."

I have to admit, all I could do at that moment was cover my laughter and head for the kitchen!

Our Story

Sadness from sickness :(

Last night was supposed to be our birthday celebration dinner at my house. My darling other half is sick. He couldn't make it, the poor boy sounds terrible (laryngitis) and I can tell he doesn't feel good at all (we had his favorite meal and he didn't come!)... In all seriousness, I'm beginning to understand what it means to really have another person be so much a part of you that when they hurt, you hurt. If I had the privilege of making my own decisions, I would have thanked everyone in advance, cancelled the "celebration" part and driven his hot dogs and German chocolate cake to his house and just sat with him. I am no longer my own. Not because he stole anything from me, but because my heart, mind, and soul are committed to him. I am very appreciative to my family for my celebration, but it didn't feel right without him. I truly wish I could make him better, and fix his hurting. I can't wave a magic wand, but I can pray. And I ask that you do the same, pray for God to relieve his suffering, and heal him of his sickness so that he can continue his daily routine and start school fresh and new on Monday :) Thanks in advance for your prayers!

Just a Call Away.

I was thinking today of how fortunate we are to be able to think about someone and instantly connect to them. I love to receive phone calls. Something about another person calling just for me, makes me feel loved. Every person that takes the time in our busy world to pick up a telephone and dial your number took the time to think of you. In our time connection is becoming faster and faster, yet I believe we are losing communication. We're too busy to talk to friends. Letter writing has become a thing we only see in movies. Who takes time to write out a letter, put it in an envelope, address, and stamp it and walk it out to the mailbox, when all we have to do is send an email? Heaven forbid we walk it to the post office or the box up town like in olden days! Granted, it's not really how you send it, the point here is take some time today to talk to your friends. Take the time to tell them why you love them and why they are important to you. You never know what one special word or even just a "hello" can do for someone. I challenge you today, to call someone, not because you need something, but call because you care. Let them know you are thinking about them, they might just return the favor when you need it most! I love you, my friends!

|My Blessing|

He's understanding, encouraging, honest, and sometimes annoying. He's everything I could ever ask for put into one person. I love him with all of my heart. We talk, and laugh, and share our lives separately and I'm ready to be with him forever. Every time I have to leave him or tell him goodbye it hurts. After a long day, he is my reason to smile. He goes anywhere I ask him to and always makes it a better journey. My love for him continues to grow everyday that I live. Yesterday marked nineteen months that we have shared together, and yet I feel as though I've known him all of my life. Did I really get through nineteen years without him by my side? Only by God's grace, and with His blessing I'll never be without him again, because he is my fiance. In just barely over four months he will become my husband. He will be my grandest treasure ever. God truly honored His word and exceeded my highest expectation.

Photography & Flowers

I am very happy to be getting the photography for our wedding taken care of. Being busy has been a minor set-back of wedding planning and is completely worth every minute spent. Tonight I'm signing the contract! This is a big relief as I had started to worry with our wedding getting so close. Photography is a BIG deal! I feel that we have found the photographer that best suits our needs and the package couldn't be more perfect. This is the woman that will capture every moment of our wedding day, from start to finish, she is responsible for grabbing our love and commitment and making into an image to be cherished forever. I am confident that she is more than qualified to do just that.

Amongst today's other completed wedding to-do's are floral centerpieces. I must be in a dream world or am very very blessed (I'm claiming the latter). I also have the world's greatest florist! Haha. I went this morning to take a vase to the shop for a sample centerpiece to be made. While there, not only did my florist assure me that my idea would absolutely be possible, she lent me her gorgeous concrete garden fountain for our reception! God has truly blessed me with a stress free, happy day!

Thanks <3

Thanks everyone for your birthday wishes yesterday! I had a wonderful birthday and many well wishes! The weather was beautiful (it made me wish for spring to hurry along). I received great gifts, which include the zoom lens for my camera (it will come in handy on our honeymoon!!!), a gorgeous bracelet, $$$MONEY$$$ (who could be upset with that?), some smelly goods, cards, and yummy chocolates! Oh not to mention the fact that my birthday dinner party isn't until Thursday! :) Who knows what else could be in store!

I'm 21 =]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!

Birthday Baby!

Tomorrow is my birthday. Twenty-one years ago I was a baby too. What made me the woman I am today? What is it that I remember most?

Today, I'm remembering my brother. When I was a little girl, he pushed me around in laundry baskets, in my teenage years he was my shoulder to cry on, and when someone hurt me he was the one to worry about! Now he tears up and cradles his arms imitating how he held me when I was a baby. He went from watching me learn to walk, to watching me walk down the aisle.

Today, I'm remembering the small things that made big differences in my life. How that one little push from my dad telling me to read everything I saw caused me to fall in love with reading. I remember friendships that were broken that caused such a pain in my heart, but sent me searching for more and taught me how to lean on God alone. I'm remembering a piano teacher that changed my mind about my abilities, but hasn't changed my heart, and a man that loves me enough to support and push me towards my love for playing. I'm thinking of a sister who will miss having me down the hall in a few months, and the friend I have in her.

Today, I'm remembering just how blessed I am to have twenty-almost-one years of memories that are happy and sad and everything in between. And tomorrow, I'll remember how blessed I was today, to have been able to share them with you!

My How They Grow...

Last weekend I was out of town for a family Christmas gathering for my fiance. While standing outside grandma and granddaddy's house conversing with cousins my cell phone rang. I answered the normal "hello" and on the other end a "grown-up" sounding first grader came back with everything he wanted to say in our conversation in one sentence "Hey Ashley, I'm spending the night with you, TONIGHT"
I giggled to myself and quickly hit the 'speakerphone' button on my phone for Will to hear. My reply of course was "Luke, honey, I'm out of town, how about next weekend?"
He continued to dispute my request for another time insisting that I would in fact be home in plenty of time for him to make it tonight (even though I was explaining I wouldn't be home before 1am!).
That's my little boy. It brought tears to my eyes to think about what was going through his little mind, and why it was that his mom had to take the phone and schedule for another time. This is the little boy that God used to first touch my heart and soon changed my life forever. My little Luke started coming to my house when he was a mere five months old. It seemed he was with me for such a short time. The day he went to Kindergarten, I cried, as if I had been his mommy. It still gives me such a joyful feeling as I watch him grow up and see him from time to time knowing all the while that he has not forgotten me. When my cell phone rings and his maturing voice is on the other end I am assured once more, this is where I need to be. God did put me into the best career field that He ever created, and He chose me to work for Him there.
My Luke is spending the night tonight, he called once again last night and I'm in town, and I'd have it no other way!

Our Big Plans♥

For the next four months you will probably hear way more than you want to about my upcoming wedding to Will. I feel sometimes it's all I talk about, considering the planning takes up all of my free time. I'm thrilled beyond measure to be marrying the love of my life on May 17 of this year! Our plans are quickly coming to a close as we are what I like to call "over the hill" with only a few weeks left. Today I met with my jewelry designer to take part in creating our beautiful trinkets. For every meeting that is checked off on my calendar I feel one more step closer to becoming his wife. I am overjoyed at the whole experience of being the fiance of Will, but am looking much more forward to being married to him.

My next order of events to take care of this month will be the photography deposit (next week, yay!), beauty consultation, rehearsal dinner reservations, and my younger girl's dress orders... I'm sure there will be many more details for me to add as the events unfold. And February promises to be even more fun and filled. Haha!

Baby Love

Call it babysitting, call it child care, call it a job, call it what you want. I call it love. I can't come close to describing the moment in my life when my first little one smiled up from my arms and his sparkling eyes met mine and melted my heart with one word, "Mama."

This was the defining time in my life when I chose to leave behind what I intended to do and ask God, "What is it you'll have me to do?"

He answered and it was scary.

Now, almost six years later, God is showering me in His blessings. He has always been there, and has always blessed. At times I didn't know what it was that God was teaching me. I can look back at things that happened now and I know what He was preparing me for. And here I am, about to be married to a man only God could have known was so perfect for me. I couldn't love a "job" more than the one I have, and I'm even more excited about working from a home that my fiance and I will be buying in three months! I thank God for allowing me the privilege of changing the lives of children I may have otherwise never met, and even more so for allowing Luke, Lexi, Connor, Josh, Jaden, Andrew, and those I have not yet met, to change my life in return.