Happy Second Day of the New Year!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and a great New Year!
So, I have been thinking about New Years Resolutions. I am so tired of the same "lose weight and get organized" resolutions! They are the same every year! So, along with Kelley, I have set more realistic goals!
(1) Become a stronger Christian. I want to deepen my daily studies and I want to pray more meaningful and reverent prayers, not that they have been irreverent, but I want to grow closer to my Maker. I want to feel a comfort like no other in times of trouble, knowing He is the one I turn to first!
(2) I want to continue to grow to be a better wife. I have just finished reading the book "Created to be his helpmeet" and I would suggest any wife read it! The lady who wrote it isn't a memeber of the Church so use discretion when reading. I have now started reading "Power of a praying wife" I started it last year but naturally got distracted by other books and forgot about it. I don't ever want to give my husband reason to even think about straying. I want him to be so satisfied with our relationship that the most beautiful woman alive could stand in front of him and not phase him! I want to respect and love him the way he deserves.
(3) Get Active! We were doing so well before Christmas about working out! Then, we went to TN. We got away from our routine and our gym and let it go. I want us to get back into our routine. We are praying that our house will sell and we may be able to get a gym membership. The gym we are using now is at our apartments and is composed of a broken stationary bike, one treadmill, and a weight bench. So, we would like the option of taking classes and different machines. In time....

These are a few of the things I am working on. We are both working on money management (as I am sure everyone else is). We are doing well, but we could always do better. I am trying to branch out when cooking. I am scared to try too many new things because I have a picky husband ;). I love it when he likes what I cook and he tells me all the time to "cook anything you want to try, if I don't like it....it's ok, it doesn't mean you are a bad cook" I understand this but, I am cooking for him. When he has been working I want him to be able to look forward to a good meal, you know! So, maybe one new dish every other week. One other thing I am working on is keeping in touch better! Facebook...you have made me a little lazy! I want to call and write more often...not just when I see a new status or pics! I have family members that I would love to keep in touch with! So, here I go! 2010 Get ready!

Tennessee Christmas Begins....

We made it in to Tennessee at about 3 pm last monday! I hope it doesn't seem longer on the drive back next Tuesday! It actually didn't seem like it took 12 hours :). We have been running here and there trying to spend time with everyone but, isn't that what Christmas is always like in our family! It is so hard to try to split up the time evenly...so we have kinda given up...

I spent a few days with mom at the beginning of the week. We went one day and I had my hair cut off and dyed.
Friday night we had a girls night with Josh's family. We spent the afternoon and evening shopping and playing in Jackson.
We have been to my dads dad for Christmas in Olive Branch. That was on Saturday.

The last couple of days we have tried to rest up a litle for the end of the week...CHAOS!
I pray all of you are enjoying the season too!

3 years ago...

Wednesday was our 3rd anniversary and we spent the whole day looking at the clock and telling each other what we were doing at that moment. For example, our wedding was at 2pm, at 1:15 we happened to look at the clock and Josh said "I was starting to get really nervous" Me however..."I was trying not to get sick" If you don't know this stiry...it is a sad but funny one. I was so sick on our wedding day...I had brionchitis the week before and had so many antibiotics that I couldn't keep anything in me. So, it was a splendid day. There were many of these moments throughout the day. I can't believe it has already been that long.
Thursday...We left about lunch and headed to Lubbock to see TSO! Josh had surprised me with a stay at a Bed and Breakfast. Everything was so wonderful, I couldn't thank him enough for it all! The concert was AMAZING! It lasted 3 hours, but you would have never known it!
Friday...This morning when we got up one of the inn keepers came to the door with breakfast! It was so yummy! This was an anniversary I hope I never forget. THey have gotten better every year! I am so thankful for my christian husband!

P.S. videos of the concert are posted in Facebook! :)

These Ladies Have My Heart!

The longer we work with the people here at The 9th and Main congregation the more I fall in love! I feel we definately made the right decision in moving to Texas. I was very hesitant in the beginning...it is so far from our families and friends. But, I can honestly say that this is the most loving, working, caring and thoughtful congregation we have ever worked with...maybe even attended. People are always checking on one another and visiting. There are these two ladies in the congregation (a mother-in-law and daughter-in-law) that go out every Thursday to the nursing homes and always take some kind of snack for the shut-ins. If you are wondering how someone may be doing after surgery or illness...you can call one of about 50 people in the congregation and they will know because they have checked on them. There are no cliques or special groups...it is wonderful!
Yesterday as I was fixing to begin Ladies Bible Class, Josh walked in the door with 3 HUGE bags. He said "Ashley, on behalf of the Ladies Class I would like to present you with this gift" I opened 6 packages of Fiesta ware! There was only 1 lady I had talked with about this. I had told her, as we looked over her beautiful china, that I had always loved the fiesta ware but would never start my own collection becuase it would cost so much to get started. They had picked out 6 differnet place setting each of a different color and a salt and pepper shaker that was a different color also. If I hadn't had about 15 ladies staring at me I would have cried like a baby.
These ladies are Proverbs 31 Ladies who are always working, thinking of each other and what they can do to help someone and brighten their day! These women have taught me so much over the course of the class. They all hold a very special place in my heart. They inspire me to do so much more and work so much harder. God bless the women in the Ladies Bible Class at 9th and Main!

On another note (as I wipe my tears) today is our 3rd Anniversary! I cannot believe it has flown by so fast! Most days I still can't believe we are finally married...much less believe that it has been for 3 years! Josh woke me up with a card and a gift card to Hobby Lobby this morning and then tomorrow we are headed to Lubbock to see TSO. He also surprised me with a stay at a Bed and Breakfast since the concert would last so long and it is a 3 hour drive home! I am so excited! I know we will love it!
Well, we leave for home on Monday! We are so excited to be going to TN! We will be able to spend much needed quality time with family! This is my favorite time of the year! Please keep us in your prayers as we travel!

Let it snow!

So, I got 2 txt messages this morning at 7:15. One asking if it was snowing and one telling me it was snowing! It is so beautiful outside! We have been waiting for this all week!
Enjoy!

New Book!

So, I am in the process of reading quite a few book...and today I added another to the list! I am not a pleasure reader who can sit and read for hours about a fantasy world or anything like that. I want a book with practical points that will benefit me.
So, I am currently reading Love and Respect, The power of a praying wife, Women of troubled times, Showing Thyself a Pattern and now I have a new one..yay! I have been looking for this book for some time and nobody had it...so I took Amber's advice and got an Amazon account and bought it. It is titled "Created to be his Help Meet" I am in chapter five and am very encouraged by this book. There were a few ladies at ICYC this year who said that they had read it and loved it and that it really helped their marriage blossom. It is writeen by Debi Pearl (she isn't a Christian writer) so use descretion when reading. I like to underline error and write truth beside it just in case I happen to let someone borrow the book. (thanks Erika) So, I thought I would let you all know as I go along if the book was worth the purchase...so far...yes!

Oh...the fun of being a young wife!

So, funny story!
Yesterday we were having some friends over for burgers. I was in a hurry in Wal Mart and grabbed buns, a head of lettuce and a few extra things before I rushed home to cook. Right before they get there I pulled out the lettuce to wash it and get it ready. I pulled it out of the bag and peeled back a leaf...this seems a little different...hhhmmm.... after sniffing, poking and even a minor lick..."Josh I think we have cabbage!" HA! So, I call mom..."What can I make with a head of cabbage that was soposed to be lettuce?!
So, today I went back to wal mart. I then proceeded to stare at a head of cabbage and a head of lettuce side by side...this way I would know the difference next time. An elderly woman walked by and realized what was happening inside the mind of this young wife...so she gave me some tips! Thank you for teaching the younger wives and not making them feel dumb. See, in my house we hardly ever use vegetable that are green because my husband thinks they are for rabbits! So, I learned the hard and embarassing way!
Thought you could enjoy a nice laugh...