Skeeter

I will be posting all about our move and how everyone is doing, but for now, this post is all about Skeeter. He has absolutely amazed me, and for me, it's just another way that God is showing his love to me. On moving day, last Friday, he knew something was going on, and he barked for 3 hours straight while we loaded up, and the poor thing it rained and stormed on him the whole 2 days we traveled. We went from Indiana to Decatur, Alabama, we stayed in a Holiday Inn and our room was right by the pool and game room. Probably until 1:00am we had kids running up and down the halls, screaming, it sounded like at times they were banging our door down. But Skeeter was prefect, he laid snuggled up to Ama and he was alert and listening, but he didn't bark or anything (not like him, he barks at EVERYTHING). Every time we would stop and eat he stayed in the back of the truck in his kennel, we would let him out to go potty and exercise and then just tell him "Kennel" and he would jump in the truck and go right in his kennel. He amazed me at how well he traveled and how well behaved he was. There were times it was raining so hard I could barely see the road... he was a trooper!

When we finally got here to Georgia I was so nervous about what he would do. I wasn't sure if he wasn't on a leash if he would just take off or stay around here. We got here and there was a crowd awaiting us, so he was excited! I had to put him in his outside kennel while we unloaded the moving truck, and he barked most of the time. I got him out on his leash and he checked everything out, and he got his first experience with fire ants, he layed right in an ant bed and he was covered in them! His poor belly had red whelps all over him from where he had been bitten. But by the end of the day I took him out to go potty without a leash, and everyday since then he has not been on a leash. For now he has to stay in our yard, as soon as he goes "too far" all I say is his name and he turns around and comes back. I have never had a dog that listens to me so well, he has been so good. Of course he is still a big puppy, he has his hyper moments, but for the most part he is a very good dog. And he LOVES it here. You can tell when a dog is happy and they almost look like they are smiling. He looks so happy, he chases the birds and the squirrels and loves running aorund here, and he's even made a girlfriend, Bella, a little chocolate Chihuahua : )

We will miss you!

It's always hard moving away from what you know. This is my home, this is where family is, this is where my best friends are, the best friends anyone could EVER ask for. This is where my home church is, the people that love and support me. So yes, this is hard.

My church family, that is just what you are, my family. I cannot thank you enough for all the support you have given to me and my family. Y'all amaze me with the love that you have poured out on us, there were times I was in awe of how much love I received from y'all. All of you love Weston, and he loves y'all, he misses Harvestime, just as I know you miss him. Thank you so much for supporting him, it means alot to him, and to me. And since he has been gone, thank you SO much for supporting me and the girls. Thank you for supporting us even though we are moving states away. I can't tell you how much it means to us. Ama and Abi love y'all, I love y'all, Weston loves y'all... Thank you for loving us! Thank you for supporting us!

My amazing and beautiful friends!!! I seriously have the best group of girl friends. They are always there for me when I need them, and have truly been such a blessing to me. I thank God for you girls all the time, and I hope we continue to keep in touch through the years! I have learned alot from each one of you girls, you all have different gifts and different strengths and weaknesses, and we were put into each other's lives for a reason. In our friendships each of you have been such an important part of my life, I have learned, I have grown in my relationship with God.. and I will treasure you girls for FOREVER! I love y'all so much and you will always remain a close friend to me no matter where we are... so yes that still means you will probably still get my phone calls all the time ; ) Thank you beautiful ladies for loving me and always being there for me through the ups and the downs of life. I hope each one of you knows how special you are to me and that I love you so very much!

Family : ) All of my family here, there and everywhere!!! : ) All sides of family, yes including Weston's side! I love y'all so much! I have truly been blessed with some good family, doesn't matter if your step family, blood family, or married into family, to me you all are family. You all have supported us, support us, and will be supporting us. That's what family is for, I thank God that He gave me such an amazing family. Some family I see all the time, some family maybe once or a few times a year, some maybe once every couple of years... it doesn't matter how often I see any of you, to know that you are there and you love us and support us means the world to me. And I just want you to know that we love you, thank you for loving us...And Thank you for being so awesome!

Mark and Tonya, this is hard isn't it? Almost a year ago Weston left for Basic Training for the Army!!! Since he left so much has happened in y'alls life and our lives, it's been crazy! I know it's going to be so different without the girls here. They love y'all so much and think the world of you two, and so do I : )  Y'all have helped me out alot with Weston being gone and I just want you both to know that I appreciate the two of you so very much. Not only with watching the girls and taking Ama to school, but with shoes and clothes, and whatever else the girls need y'all always help me out. I am really blessed to have such amazing in laws. Thank you for supporting Weston and I from the very beginning, we know that y'all would do anything for us, and you have helped us out so many times in so many ways, and I am so grateful for that. I know that even though this is hard with us moving so far away, that you still continue to support us, and will be there for us no matter what, thank you for that! I'm sure we will be using Skype like crazy! And making the many trips up here for lots of visits!

Dad and Mom, I could repeat most of what I just typed above, the girls love y'all... y'all have sacrificed alot of y'alls time to help me out. Dad with you trying your best to sleep through squealing and running kids, and mom even when you have plans or are busy you push things to the side to help me. It truly means alot to me. And seriously I don't know what I was thinking moving before yard sale season, because the majority of their clothes comes from you! I have never really had to buy much for the girls between you and Tonya the girls get plenty. (Just so y'all know, you can store them and when I come home I will be more than happy to bring them home with me : )) That was a half way joke. But in all seriousness. There is absolutely no way I would have been able to get through this past year without you mom. You have helped me out in so many ways, so many times. I would have had to quit my job a long time ago had it not been for you. Sometimes I think we can take our mothers for granted. And I just want to tell you thank you! You and dad have always been here to help me anytime I needed. I hated when y'all moved to Arkansas for that short time and so I know this is going to be SO weird living so far away from y'all. But I also know that y'all love me and that y'all support me, and this isn't goodbye. Obviously out of everyone, moving so far away from you two will by far be the hardest. Y'all have always been there for me and I can't tell you enough how much I appreciate y'all. Thank y'all for everything that you do for us. Y'all also have helped Weston and I out SO much from the very beginning, Mom you are right, you have poured your heart, your life into me for the past 26 years. And I can't tell you how thankful I am for that, because in my opinion : ) I turned out all right! I think I have a good head on my shoulders, I love God with all my heart, and I strive to be the best mom and wife I can be. And I have you and Dad to thank for that. Thank you for pouring yourself into me and my family, and please don't ever stop. I know when my kids are older they will have learned alot from you just as I have. I love y'all so much!

I just wanted to say, that even though I am excited about this new journey we are going on, it in no way means I am excited to leave any of you! This is probably one of the hardest decisions I have ever made, and it amazes me how much support I have gotten. It's been a hard year. I was definitely ready to follow my husband to his base where he would be stationed in October. Never did I see South Korea coming. God has done some things in my life and I have learned alot of lessons. I miss my husband, and I'm very anxious for this tour in S. Korea to be over. I'm ready to move to a base with him, and I'm ready to start being a family again. But I just wanted to let all of you know how much I love you, and how much your support for us means for our family. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Please keep praying for our family. As the remainder of this week is going to be full of so many different emotions, I just wanted to get some thank yous out there. I can be the worst at opening up to people and letting them know how I feel, but I love you <3  Have a beautiful and blessed rest of the week!

Another Beautiful Monday

I can not even begin to express what it felt like to not wake up this morning wondering if the post office was going to call me in. It was GREAT! I slept so good : ) I have a total of four days to get everything packed and get this apartment cleaned... it's finally setting in that I am MOVING... It started setting in on Saturday at work, because I knew it was my last day at work, and that little bit of panic started to creep in. I make 19.45/hr., giving that up can sound CrAzY!! But I knew I was doing the right thing. I am going to miss them up there, but am SO glad that I can finally stay home with my babies. I feel so blessed to have had that job and it helped us out financially in so many ways.

Sunday was my last Sunday at church while living here. Of course I plan on visiting quite often, so I will still see everyone periodically, but Harvestime has been my home church pretty much since I moved here in my 8th grade year. As of right now, (who knows what God has in store for us), we don't plan on moving back to Mt. Vernon. I find it exciting and scary to try out different churches, it will definitely be different! But I found myself several times holding back tears on Sunday during service. I will miss Harvestime so very much. I will miss all the amazing people that are like a second family to us, thank y'all so much for loving us, and for being such an amazing support system for us, we love y'all so much!

And today... God has given me another beautiful Monday. I feel His love so strong on me here lately. He has AMAZED me in what He has done in just the past few weeks. I know God is in control... but all of that is a whole blog post in itself, that maybe I will share sometime in the future ; )  As far as today, the girls and I are fixing to get ready to meet my friends at the nearby park for a play date. I'm excited to chit chat with my friends, and let the girls play with their friends, and hopefully burn a lot of energy so I can get a lot done today!

Before I end this post, I wanted to share a few additions to our "new home" that my family down there have worked hard on putting up for me and the girls! I hope your Monday is as beautiful as ours!

 Skeeter's outdoor dog kennel

 Ama and Abi's trampoline

Ama and Abi's bunk beds

A Great Week!

I have had a great week! Mostly due to the fact that this was my last week at work!! But it started with a beautiful Monday : ) and have you ever met someone that you just immediately clicked with? I met a girl on Wednesday that I had to train on my route and the whole time on the route we talked non stop, I had SO much in common with her. I talked to her about things that I don't talk to anybody about, mainly because we have shared the same experiences and it's not something that you just talk to anyone about, unless you want them to think you are crazy! It was just really neat for me to meet someone that I instantly felt like I have known them for forever.

And then on Thursday the wonderful people that I work with had a little going away party for me! One lady had gotten up that morning and fixed scrambled eggs, sausage, bacon and homemade bread, and brought it to work, and another brought in drinks and a big cake that said Good Luck Ashley! We Will Miss You! (which I got to bring home, and me and the girls ate everything that was leftover). And I got a card that everyone had signed.. it was really sweet... I might just miss all of them USPS employees!

Today was the girl's last day to go to the babysitters! Yay!! I'm so very thankful for her and can't thank her enough for doing such a great job with my girls, but I am so relieved that it's over and I get to stay home with my girls.

Tomorrow is my last day at work and I'm mostly just thankful that MY CAR MADE IT!!! There has been a few times where I thought the car was just done, but she was a trooper. I can honestly say everyday at the start of my route I prayed over that car!! She has been a great mail car and now... Weston : ) ... she can be your work car, haha! I broke the car in really good for you!

In exactly one week I will be on the road heading for Georgia... CrAzY!!! I'm so excited though, I have so many plans, and so much that I want to do, and I'm just excited to start this new journey. I have lots of cleaning and packing to finish up this next week, and of course spending time with friends and setting playdates! Going to be a busy but very blessed week!

Beautiful Monday!

It's monday... normally I strongly dislike mondays, but today I am off work : ) makes me really happy, for me monday is the worst day to work... and another reason I like this monday is The Bachelor season finale is tonight! Yay! Okay, so I don't really agree with the whole show and morally it is so wrong in so many ways, but.... it's addicting and I like it : ) And Emily is the sweetest thing ever, I'm rooting for her!! I think another reason this monday is good for me is because I also know that this is my last week working at the Post Office. I can't tell you how much excitement and joy that gives me. Work has been one of the most things that has stressed me out for the past year since Weston has been gone, and the fact that this is my last week is SO exciting! I will most definitely miss some people up there (not everyone), and yes it is a good paying job, but it comes with stress too, and that stress multiplied for me when Weston left.

Another thing about this week that for me (but mostly for the girls) is super exciting is... this is the girl's LAST week to go to Erika's!!! Erika runs an in home day care, which for me she has been a God send! There is not a doubt in my head I would not have been able to make the past year without her, she worked with my crazy work schedule and I'm extremely thankful for her.... but, I'm so glad to not have to take my kids to daycare anymore!!

For Ama this is not exciting, but this is the last week of school for Ama. Ama absolutely loves her teacher and loves going to school. When I drop her off it is so fun to watch her interacting with her friends, and although it makes me happy to pull her out of public school, my heart hurts for her because I know how much she enjoys it. She will go back to being home schooled, but I plan on getting her involved in lots of activities once we get settled in Georgia.

Speaking of Georgia... ONLY 2 MORE WEEKS!!!!  It flew here, I'm very impressed with myself at how much I already have done. Normally I am a procrastinator and I end up stressing myself out the last minute hurrying up and getting stuff done. But over the past several weeks I have slowly packed things up here and there, over the past week I have been working on clothes, and last night I finally finished. It amazed me how many clothes we had (especially Weston) and how much I kept on too because I might fit back into them soon, some of these clothes I'm talking about are from when I was in high school... seriously??? Had to face it, I will NEVER fit back into those! I have most of our things packed, things are really bare around here, and I'm fixing to start the cleaning! I got rid of a lot of stuff while packing and it's all sitting in my garage, a huge pile of stuff! I like decluttering, it feels so good : )

 Things are falling into place for me in such a way that it has to be God. I feel so incredibly blessed, and although I am nervous about the move, I am ready, I am excited, and I have never had so much confirmation like I have had with this decision. Mainly I'm nervous just because it's something new, which is exciting, new is always exciting, but change is always different, living without my income when we have depended on that makes me nervous. But at the same time, I will be forced to not put my trust in the fact that I have a good job, and I will be forced to trust God, that He will provide for us, and I shouldn't worry about it. God has never failed us, He has been AMAZING to us. So I know we will be fine. God is awesome : ) Just looking back at so many different things, He is just awesome, I love Him so much. I can't imagine how people go through life without Him...

Well, both of my beautiful girls just woke up, so it's time to get my day going!!! Have a beautiful monday!!!

Artsy Ama

Ama is very... artistic. From the moment she learned to color the child has always colored on everything! We have had color on our couches, walls, beds, table, entertainment ctr., toys... the list could go on. It's like she just can't resist. She will get crayons or markers or paint from someone and she will start out good coloring on paper and then I guess she gets bored. Each time she gets colors I tell her if I find color on anything other than paper it goes in the trash. For her birthday she got a big set of every color of marker imaginable, and she even got a pouch to keep them in, and coloring books! So today she's on the floor coloring in her books when I notice she's coloring her shoe! And this was our conversation:

Me: Ama! You aren't coloring on your shoes are you?!?
Ama: No... (looks at shoe with marker in hand) Oh... I must've fell asleep and did that.
Me: Asleep??? You weren't sleeping I saw you.
Ama: No I was sleeping, I didn't know I was coloring on my shoe.

Sleeping... that was the best she could come up with...So now... bye bye markers : ) except, I'm not throwing them away, just putting them away for awhile.

My Child

You may not know me,

but I know everything about you.

Psalm 139:1

I know when you sit down and when you rise up.

Psalm 139:2

I am familiar with all your ways.

Psalm 139:3

Even the very hairs on your head are numbered.

Matthew 10:29-31

For you were made in my image.

Genesis 1:27

In me you live and move and have your being.

Acts 17:28

For you are my offspring.

Acts 17:28

I knew you even before you were conceived.

Jeremiah 1:4-5

I chose you when I planned creation.

Ephesians 1:11-12

You were not a mistake,

for all your days are written in my book.

Psalm 139:15-16

I determined the exact time of your birth

and where you would live.

Acts 17:26

You are fearfully and wonderfully made.

Psalm 139:14

I knit you together in your mother's womb.

Psalm 139:13

And brought you forth on the day you were born.

Psalm 71:6

I have been misrepresented

by those who don't know me.

John 8:41-44

I am not distant and angry,

but am the complete expression of love.

1 John 4:16

And it is my desire to lavish my love on you.

1 John 3:1

Simply because you are my child

and I am your Father.

1 John 3:1

I offer you more than your earthly father ever could.

Matthew 7:11

For I am the perfect father.

Matthew 5:48

Every good gift that you receive comes from my hand.

James 1:17

For I am your provider and I meet all your needs.

Matthew 6:31-33

My plan for your future has always been filled with hope.

Jeremiah 29:11

Because I love you with an everlasting love.

Jeremiah 31:3

My thoughts toward you are countless

as the sand on the seashore.

Psalms 139:17-18

And I rejoice over you with singing.

Zephaniah 3:17

I will never stop doing good to you.

Jeremiah 32:40

For you are my treasured possession.

Exodus 19:5

I desire to establish you

with all my heart and all my soul.

Jeremiah 32:41

And I want to show you great and marvelous things.

Jeremiah 33:3

If you seek me with all your heart,

you will find me.

Deuteronomy 4:29

Delight in me and I will give you

the desires of your heart.

Psalm 37:4

For it is I who gave you those desires.

Philippians 2:13

I am able to do more for you

than you could possibly imagine.

Ephesians 3:20

For I am your greatest encourager.

2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

I am also the Father who comforts you

in all your troubles.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4

When you are brokenhearted,

I am close to you.

Psalm 34:18

As a shepherd carries a lamb,

I have carried you close to my heart.

Isaiah 40:11

One day I will wipe away

every tear from your eyes.

Revelation 21:3-4

And I'll take away all the pain

you have suffered on this earth.

Revelation 21:3-4

I am your Father, and I love you

even as I love my son, Jesus.

John 17:23

For in Jesus, my love for you is revealed.

John 17:26

He is the exact representation of my being.

Hebrews 1:3

He came to demonstrate that I am for you,

not against you.

Romans 8:31

And to tell you that I am not counting your sins.

2 Corinthians 5:18-19

Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled.

2 Corinthians 5:18-19

His death was the ultimate expression

of my love for you.

1 John 4:10

I gave up everything I loved

that I might gain your love.

Romans 8:31-32

If you receive the gift of my son Jesus,

you receive me.

1 John 2:23

And nothing will ever separate you

from my love again.

Romans 8:38-39

Come home and I'll throw the biggest party

heaven has ever seen.

Luke 15:7

I have always been Father,

and will always be Father.

Ephesians 3:14-15

My question is…

Will you be my child?

John 1:12-13

I am waiting for you.

Luke 15:11-32

Love, Your Dad

Almighty God

Packing & Planning...

 Today I have been packing like crazy. Now that Ama's party is over, the only thing I am focused on now is getting ready for the big move. I have packed lots of boxes today!! My only problem is, I have a hard time picturing how all my stuff is going to fit. We are going to a pretty small space, and I am trying to get rid of things that we don't use or need anymore.

 This is the bathroom, it is actually bigger than what I am used to right now, and has way more closet space for towels.

 This is the hallway that leads down to the bathroom, play room and the girl's room. Check out that nice carpet ;)

 This is the kitchen, which again, is bigger than the one I use right now, and much more storage room than my kitchen now!

 This is an add on to the trailer, it will be my room, it has no door and is right off the kitchen, I plan on hanging up a curtain in the doorway.

 This is the laundry room, with a new energy efficient washer and dryer.

 This is an itty bitty bedroom that we will use as a playroom.

This is the other half of the kitchen, and there's the doorway that will lead to my room.

This is the back bedroom at the end of the hall, the girls will have bunkbeds, and this will be their room.

And this is the living room : )

So now : ) my brain is trying to figure out where all my stuff is going to fit!! I will have to use whatever creativity I have when I get down there... mom I will probably be calling you alot and sending pictures asking advice!!

Happy Birthday Ama!

Today Ama turned 6! I woke her up singing happy birthday to her, and then showed her a Justin Bieber clip of him singing happy birthday : ) it was cute! I had to work, so she went to Erika's today but Ama was excited because Erika decorated with streamers and balloons for her birthday, and she got presents from her too! When I picked her up she requested a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and strawberries with swift cream (whip cream :) for her birthday dinner, and birthday cake ice cream for dessert! She had to wait for daddy to call to open her present, which she asked every 5 minutes if daddy called yet! Now she can't wait for tomorrow for her birthday party! Happy Birthday Ama!!!!

Weston has the camera, so these pics are from my cell phone. Wasn't thinking when I sent my camera to the other side of the world!

ABC's of me : )

I should totally be sleeping right now!!! 5:30 comes early... But here goes!

Age: 26

Bed size: Queen

Chore you dislike: Um... I don't like any of them...

Dogs: Yep... a yellow lab mix named Skeeter!

Essential start to your day: Coca Cola

Favorite color: Bright purples

Gold or silver: Silver (or white gold)... I don't mind:)

Height: Exactly 5' 8 1/4"

Instruments you play(ed): I took Piano lessons for a very short while... never learned to play though.

Job title: I have way too many mention : ) and I am irreplaceable!

Kids: The two most beautiful little girls I could ask for!

Live: Indiana

Mom’s name: Leah

Nicknames: Ash

Overnight hospital stays: Yes, when I had kids.

Pet peeve: Oh gracious... do I have to pick just one?

Quote from a favorite movie: Nothing coming to mind....

Righty or Lefty: Righty

Siblings: I am the oldest of 4! 2 brothers and 1 sister

Time you wake up: Depends day to day, currently alarm is set for 5:30am, and I maybe had to put the alarm enough distance away from me so that I have to get up to turn it off : )

Underwear: Hmm... not something you need to know : )

Vegetables you don’t like: It would be much easier to list the ones I do like...

What makes you run late: My disorganization by far!

X-Rays you’ve had: teeth x-rays, cat scans, and on my abdomen when I had an umbilical hernia.

Yummy food you make: All my food I make is yummy to me, except according to Ama I make the worst spaghetti out of everyone she knows... how do you mess up spaghetti???

Zoo animal favorite: Elephants!!

Okay : ) off to bed I go!!

Just thoughts...and randomness

Last night and the first part of this whole day has been rocky for me. I was supposed to work today, but I let another sub have today because I knew I needed a break. The past two weeks I have worked longer hours and more than normal, even covering an extra route 3 of the days. Work wears on me, more so being just me and the girls. It's hard enough being by myself with the girls, I have good days, great days and just plain crappy days. I have actually been doing good for what seems a while, and now I'm letting everything get to me. I really wanted to work full time not taking any days off until my last day, because we NEED the money, I feel like I have all the weight on my shoulders right now. Weston's income and my income take care of the bills, and then me working extra is going towards a plane ticket, moving expenses, Disney, and our fun money for when Weston comes home. The only thing I am focusing on right now is the plane ticket, and I have been in a panic since yesterday. I know God will provide, I know everything will be okay, and yes I know... just trust God. It's just been one of those days. I needed today to get myself back together, to regain my focus, and it helped alot. At first I saw myself failing because I did not go to work, but I'm glad I did, I got alot done today. I feel MUCH better! And I'm looking forward to Ama turning 6 this week : ) This thursday is her birthday and she is one excited little girl. Everyday she is counting down the sleeps until her big day. And... this is awful... I know some parents think this is absolutely cute, but I don't, I think it's disgusting... Abi has started to suck her thumb... That's why I did pacifiers, you can take a pacifier away, not a thumb! She hasn't had a pacifier since last summer! I know what it is though... there's a kid at the baby sitter's that sucks their thumb and she has learned this horrible thing, at first I ignored her thinking it was a one time deal, but no... it is starting to become a fear of mine that this may be staying, and whether right or wrong I get on to her when I see her do it. But nothing so far has worked, she still sucks her thumb. Not even kidding if it gets worse, I'm putting hot sauce on her thumbs!! : ) 

I'm sitting outside typing on my blog while my kids are playing with the neighbors and one of the girl's is running around with a huge branch (like 3 of me tall, it's a thin branch) and as she's running she's hitting everyone's cars with this branch... and the parent is saying nothing... so I played the bad guy and made her put it down, she lays it down in the middle of the road... already feeling like I overstepped boundaries with the dad right there I didn't say anything else, and then a car pulled in and had to get out of her car to move the branch to get to her house... random I know, just thought I would share : ) Now I'm fixing to play bad guy with my kids and make them come inside, because I'm freezing, and I have lots to do still tonight!!