Friday, October 16, 2009

Moving on Up












These blogs are so far and few between, so it's hard to even think where to start. But here I go with a little update on us and what God is doing with us lately. I'll just say I am blessed beyond my wildest dreams. We bought and moved into our first home, which we all just love. (Mason has so much space to run and play!) I turned 26 in September, whoohoo! Sam and I are expecting another little one in June. My mom is living here in the beautiful Northwest and we are enjoying having her so close to us. She and Mason are BFF. Mason is growing by leaps and bounds and my fave quote these days is " Moms of boys are busy from son up to son down" Hahaha. It's true. He's going to be a pirate for Halloween and turns 2 in November. Whoa. Life is good and busy. I am learning more and more about God's forgiveness and grace with me, in our marriage and our family. Daily reconciliation is so important, I honestly don't know how people do it without Him. Thank you Jesus that you found me, saved me and continue to walk with me and pick me up as I fall, daily.

Monday, August 3, 2009

This thing called happiness.
























































Life is moving fast. I was just talking with my good friend today about how crazy fast our babies have grown and grown and it doesn't look like it's going to stop at this pace anytime soon. But, I'm okay with that because I have to look up and ahead. After my many struggles with thinking a house/car/marriage/baby might make me happy, I am realizing that even though God is blessing me with those things, they are all HIS, not mine, HIS. I graciously have accepted these gifts that I know I am undeserving of anything including grace. You see, there's this thing called happiness and it really has very little to do with where we are at in life but how content we are with our wonderful Father and believe truly that He is enough. I guess, slowly I am learning this and in the meantime, He didn't punish me for not "getting it the first time okay 100th time" but rather as He is teaching me, He is still blessing me. I don't really get that kind of love and know that it isn't always this way, but I'm excited and thankful for this season of our life. And by the way, we get to move into our house in a few weeks. I have so many things I want to do to it already. It's like the biggest art project, ever. Paint, hardware, design, shopping, lighting, furniture, planting and a pool cover, yes I said pool; it has a pool. I have always wanted a pool and I know I live in Seattle, but for those 3 months out of the year we can use it, it'll be worth it. You can come and swim in our pool anytime, after all it's God's pool, not ours:) It's pretty freaking exciting! So I guess I am really happy with God and my life. So, I'm going to go celebrate with my amazing husband. Okay so the pictures are just some randoms of the summer, but I thought I'd throw some in. Trevor's graduation, vacation in the O.C., Sam and my getaway weekend, etc...

Thursday, June 4, 2009

I've been thinking

about how precious life is.  I stumbled upon a song that just I couldn't stop singing. Repeat and repeat again, just like I used to do while in high school while trying to fall asleep in my wrought iron bed. I have recently realized that I don't let myself just think all that often anymore. Busyness with life and raising Mason and being obsessed with things like buying a house and our recent car problems have distracted me. While raising Mason is my calling and joy,  the house/car idolizing has got to stop and I spent some time repenting to the Lord about that one. I need to trust that God is in control and He is sufficient.  
  I also stumbled upon some amazing blog writers that inspired me and are really changing lives. One woman writes the names of babies that have gone home to Jesus in the sand and takes beautiful pictures of the name in the sand with sunset in tow. I just kept reading the names and crying and praying and realizing that this is what we are all meant to do. To find something that means everything to someone else and do it. God has called us to serve in ways that are outside ourselves, whether its wiping bottoms, being a missionary in Africa, playing with orphan puppies, writing names in the sand or making music. I just hope it's all for Jesus.
 I just kept thinking and I realized I have neglected my creativity so much I don't even know where to start again, hence this blog. I guess the blog is the new pink diary "hidden"under my mattress next to my clove cigarettes. I feel a little stale, a little old, a little like I watch too much tv and don't DO enough. But, I'm not going to spend more time pitying myself and relishing in how cool and creative I USED to be, I just want to incorporate art more into my life again. It's still in me because that is how God made me. I think I just got a little side-tracked in trying to be a "responsible Christian mom" and forgot about just being Ashley whom likes to paint, write, photograph, collage AND make dinner, have a schedule,  organize, wipe bottoms, respect my husband, play with Mason, pay the bills on time AND love Jesus with all of my heart.  So I've decided I'm going to start being who God has made me to be. I realize that I need to keep priorities in order, but the time I do have to myself is going to be put to better use. It's a process, but one I know is worthy to be given a fighting chance.

Friday, April 17, 2009

Monday, January 26, 2009

The Joy of Being a Stay-at-Home Mom





 On a sunny winter day, when the little monkey is just too cute, I am forced to snap some photos. There is no big story, just a wonderful, normal Monday with my sweet boy at home. I cannot fathom missing moments like these, which happen so often. In the blink of an eye, Mason will be grown up and I'm so thankful to God and Sam that I'm not missing it. 

Sunday, January 11, 2009

Holidays/Texas/Stewarts Galore and "The Haircut"







 We had an incredible Christmas and New Year in Texas with the fam.  It was such a blessing to be there and have so much love poured on us and Mason. Mason warmed up to Grammy and Grandpa immediately and just loved all the time with Uncle Joel and Aunt Jess.  We are so fortunate to have such a great family and just wish that we weren't so far away.  Christmas was memorable and interesting with 4 out of 7 of us sick in bed for 2 days. Thankfully, the sick ones recovered and we had a good time from there on. Sammy and I got to have a few extra dates with all the built in babysitters. Mom treated us girls to pedicures, The Stewarts had a New Years party, I went to the mall with Jess a few times, we relaxed and ate well. It was such a relaxing and fun trip.  
 We arrived home, Mason stopped nursing and I gave him a haircut... I guess our baby is growing up, it seems like it happened overnight.

Thursday, November 13, 2008