Monday, June 28, 2010

Crazy People!!


Oh, the things you see at a stoplight!!

On the same day I saw:
  1. A lady in an old beat up car with her head turned talking to something in the backseat. I didn't see anyone sitting in the seats but as I looked down, there was a little toddler standing up in the floor facing the back seat playing with toys!! No car seat in sight! She was at most 2 years old...
  2. A guy in his boxers riding a motorcycle!! Tried to get a picture, but it was late at night:

Saturday, June 26, 2010

Youth Camp!

Tomorrow night I will be going off to Church of God Youth Camp!! :) I get to be a kid for a week! It's a place where teens get together for a week and do different activities, games and of course awesome services. Last year our theme was "That 70's Camp" and this year it's "Space Camp." So it should be interesting!! Here are a few flash backs from last year!






Yaaaay! Can't wait :)

Thursday, June 24, 2010

Isn't it funny...


  • How we always think our kids are so much funnier than other people think they are?
  • How we see other kids acting up and think "I would NEVER let me kid get away with that!" and next thing we know they just got away with that exact thing?
Motherly love is like no other!

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Testimony Tuesday Pt. 2

Last Tuesday I talked about my experience "getting saved" for the first time, and how I felt so different. Well, after that trip I went back home and of course all my old problems hadn't gone away. I was in middle school, which was the hardest three years for me, and all of it's drama was just waiting for me to return.

The first few weeks I was still pumped up from the services and I still felt good. I even witnessed to two of my friends at a sleepover and the next morning, we made index cards with scriptures on them and walked around the neighborhood putting them in mailboxes!! I thought getting saved was going to make everything perfect and Ashley would be this new great girl who had everything right. But I was wrong.

I quickly learned that being a Christian is not about solving the problems of life and it's not about being perfect (which I am obviously not!)- it's about accepting the fact that Jesus died for my sins. I love the saying "Christians are not perfect-just forgiven." It's very true! It's the first step in starting a relationship that will change your desires and change your heart but it doesn't happen overnight and no, its not easy... but it's totally worth it!!

Saturday, June 19, 2010

Day Field Trip

Today me & Mya took a mommy-daughter trip to Pocahontas State Park. It was sooo much fun :) They have an awesome pool area for the little ones. She loved it!







Thursday, June 17, 2010

Mya Moment

Today as we were getting out of the car, Mya let out a belch..
and she exclaimed,
"Mommy, I just farted in my mouth!"
And walked on like nothing ever happened.

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Forever Young... & few thoughts.

I'm really struggling here lately with my time management. I work 5, sometimes 6 days out of the week and I normally work from 8:30 A.M. until anywhere from 3 to 6. Not to mention, it takes me an hour to get home! Then on Wednesday nights, I have church until 8. So, I don't get much time (besides weekends) with Mya.

My hope is that I will be going to school maybe in the Spring of 2011, so that will be a huge change for us, but I'm a little anxious to spend more time with her now. Only problem is, I have a GREAT job! I would be so so stupid to let that go. So, I am going to do a lot of praying and keep my eyes open to new opportunities.

Maybe I'm just ready for a change... I want to live a simpler life, but maybe thats just wishful thinking! I think I might be trying to stop growing up. Going back to school, looking for a less committing job... not really good signs!


Thanks for hearing my jumble of thoughts today! Not sure where I was going with that post.

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Testimony Tuesday

This week, my "testimony" is about getting saved for the first time.

It was when I was 13 years old, in 7th grade. It was at a place called "Winterfest" where tons of teens come together for 3 days and have several services with amazing singers and preachers. It was Friday night, February 7th. "Angus Dei" was playing and I remember just feeling numb. Everyone around had their hands up and they were worshiping God. I don't even remember what the service was about, I just remember that moment.

Later that night, once we got back into the hotel after the service, I was talking with the girls in my room. Somehow we came on the subject of getting saved. I explained to them that I felt different, like really happy. I had never heard about "being saved." I didn't really understand what happened, I just knew that something was different about me. I felt like I could just run around and around and scream about how wonderful and free I felt. They got excited and exclaimed to me that I had been saved!


Anyone that has ever been saved knows there is no feeling like that, and I don't think I have ever felt that way since. (Don't know if that is good or bad) But before being "saved," I felt lost. I was in middle school and that is some hard years! Especially for a girl! The year before that, I didn't have many friends in school and I was more of a loner.

Since this is getting a little lengthy, next week I will share how what life was like after that :)
So come back!

John 3:16 “For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

For more information about getting saved if you are not, talk to me!! :)

Sunday, June 13, 2010

New Budget for preparation

In anticipation for going school, I realized that I need to SAVE as much money as I can! Granted, I have never had much to start with, but I really need to buckle down. So, as a way of holding onto commitment (or trying), I am going to share with you my plan. Not giving too many details of course!

My new budget:

Expenses-
Car Payment
Tithe
Phone & Internet
Gym
Savings Account
Mya's Savings Account
Babysitter
GAS (probably the biggest- from driving an hour to work everyday!)

So- left over from this each week is about $30. This goes to anything that I want for myself which includes food, clothes, and more food. (Can you believe how much buying food is such a waste?? You have nothing to show for it, but FAT!) And needless to say, this is actually a hard number to live by for a week. I have already spent everything but $10 of this week's spending allowance and I wanted to invest that for new shoes. :( BUT! It could be worse. At least I have some, just a little bit, but its something. So thank you Jesus!


And about school, I took my ACT this past Saturday and it was HARD!!! Wow, I have to say I will be surprised if I did well. Lots of guessing! That's what you get for not getting it taken care of when it's fresh in your brain!

Saturday, June 12, 2010

Memory & Mya Moment

I had a very good night tonight! I went out with my grandparents to Cracker Barrel and then we went to the mall for a bit to do some shopping! On the way home, we thought for sure that Mya would pass out (since she hadn't had a nap ALL day and it was going on 9:30) but she just sat in her car seat talking up a storm about something being broken?? Not too sure!

But anyways... Pawpaw decided that we should play a game! It's called the "quiet game," so I explained to Mya that whoever talks first loses, and took it so seriously! She didn't talk the rest of the car ride and to our surprise our plan worked! A few minutes later, she was snoring :) And my excitement is because shopping makes you tired, so I am very ready for bed!!


As for a memory- the game we played ("quiet game") used to be my favorite! I would always win! Whenever our parents would ask us to play the quiet game, it's my natural ability... being quiet. Still to this day, I think I could beat anyone :)

G'nite!!

Friday, June 11, 2010

Reason for busyness...

So these past 3 nights I have stayed up until 1 o'clock making a gift for a very good friend of mine. His name is Lindsey Ore and he was adopted by our Pastor's family (whom I LOVE)- and he has brought so much joy and excitement into all of our lives... unfortunately he is graduating today and he is going back to his home in North Carolina. So, I made a video of this past year or so of videos and pictures we have of him as a tribute to show how much we will miss him! It's a little lengthy but it's totally worth it for him!! He is amazing :)

(I couldn't upload the video because it was too long, but it is on my facebook... check it out!!)


Love you Linz!

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Project Complete!

I know its Tuesday and I am supposed to do "Testimony Tuesday" but I have been super busy with a little gift for someone- (can't say anything now, but I will post about it later after it has been revealed!) but in the meantime, I thought I would update about my bike! I now have a picture and not only that, but I have my complete project (which consists of bike, Mya's seat for the back & helmet, and bike rack). I'm so excited!! So here is a picture :)





Saturday, June 5, 2010

A memory for the weekend

This is a photo of Mya's 1st Birthday Party. It was called a "Pink Poodle Party" and we all wore pink or white. This picture stands out because it shows her walking towards me and I remember that this was actually the first time she really walked... at her birthday party! She did it right in front of everyone. :)



Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Tiny Investment

Monday, I bought a bike!! Not a motorcycle- but a bicycle. I have been wanting one for about 2 months now and finally, I just put aside my financial sense and splurged. I'm burdened now because I had to take money out of my savings leaving hardly anything in there, but I GOTTA BIKE! Now... I just have to invest in a seat for Mya, bike rack, and helmets. Can't wait for this project to be completed. :)

Oh, how the littlest things can make me so happy!

(Sorry... no pics yet)

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Testimony Tuesday

For a while now, I have wanted to start something on my relaxing Tuesday! (Since this is the only night I get a break from motherhood- Mya's grandma takes her overnight to spend some quality time with her!) Soo... this thing is called "Testimony Tuesday" and I don't want to say I'm going to do it every Tuesday but my intention is to give little testimonies of things God has brought me through. :)

Innocence
This is a video I made when I was almost 15 about my goals for marriage...



And about two years later, I became pregnant with Mya...

The hardest part is losing my innocence. But God has taken that loss and given me a huge gain. Mya is honestly the best thing that has happened to me. She is my shadow and best friend! I always have entertainment for sure! She has given me a greater purpose and a huge witness. I used to ask myself why God would chose me out of all the girls that could get pregnant... but I think He knew I needed her. I look forward to coming home and spending time with her!