Great Smokey Mountains Marriage Retreat!

For the fourth year now, Josh and I have been blessed to be able to go to The Great Smokey Mountains Marriage Retreat. This is one of the biggest highlights of our year! The first one we attended was in 2007. We had only been married 2 months. It was a vacation for us. We are already looking forward to next years retreat. Every year the have basically the same topics but the speakers always put a different twist on things. We learn something new every year. There is not one marriage on earth that could not benefit from the retreat! We enjoy so much the meals with friends we haven't seen in a while and the special quality time we get with one another. The layout is wonderful...Allen did a gret job when thinking this up. It was intentionally meant to be a vaca/lecture trip.

So, we left EARLY last Wednesday and drove all day. It was Josh, me, Sarah, Hilton, Gayle and Don...all in the church van. We arrived at Glendale for services right on time (after a 12 hour drive). Then we stayed with Joshs parents. Got up early Thursday to head on toward Gatlinburg...6 more hours. We checked in got dinner and went to the 2 evening lectures. Then, on Friday we got up and had Krispy Kreme and headed in to Pigeon Forge for the day. After the lectures on Friday we decided to show the 'Texans' around Gatlinburg! We showed them a few shopping venues and The Old Mill. Later, we ate with Cliff, Beth, Greg and Crystal at Outback. We dropped everyone off at the cabin then Sarah, Hilton, Josh and I headed back out to have some more fun. We took them to Wonderworks and we all looked like a bunch of kids! Saturday we got up and drove up to Cades Cove and then ate lunch at the Apple Barn...of course!! Then we began the drive back. We stopped in Jackson to let everyone try REAL mexican food. As soon as we got back to Dyersburg (where Josh and I grew up) we stopped for gas...then the van wouldn't crank back up. After calling a wrecker we tried one more time ans it cranked and we were able to drive 20 minutes to my moms house where we stayed. Sunday was services as usual. Then on Monday we had the van fixed and began the 12 hour drive back....about Abilene it began to snow so hard!!! Then it started sleeting...we finally made it home about 11 pm.

Great trip anyway!!!!

It is sad to me to hear people say 'we don't need a marriage retreat!' or 'We have made it work for this long we know what we are doing!'

There is always room for improvement and sometimes you just need a romantic vacation with your spouse!

My prayer is that the marriage retreat continues to grow every year and that people will continue to build on their God given gift! Marriage is the second best thing that has ever happened to me! Thank you God for my Christian husband. Remind me when I nag that I am not perfect either. When I get frustrated with him...help me to remember that I could always improve too! I want to be everything he has ever dreamed of! I have never been more proud of a name until I was able to take his! Thank you for this relationship of three!

how do I keep up?!

It is that time of year again! Girl Scout Cookies!!! I had looked for some for 2 weeks and couldn't find any...then Josh finally says...I know where some are...sneak!!! So we got 4 boxes (I freeze them so they last until next year) of caramel delights a.k.a. Samoas!!! as seen in the picture above...they are my favorite and another plus is Josh doesn't like coconut, so I don't have any prowlers!

Also, we just began a new book in Ladies Bible class entitled "Keeping Your Balance" by Nancy Eichman. I wanted to read it through before I passed it out for everyone and I have to say it is a very good book. The focus of the book is balancing you spiritual, physical and emotional life. The second chapter really stepped on my toes though. She talked about being a perfectionist and always wanting to have things put away and clean and organized. She also pointed out that people like me sometimes don't like to try new things because...if they can't do it right the first time...why try? This made me cry. I feel this way about college. I am wanting to go back this fall, but I struggled so much the first time (maybe because I was working 2 jobs, maybe because I wasn't totally focused, or maybe because the school was so tough that 1 out of every 2 people there don't make it out!) that I am scared to go back. If I didn't do it right the first time, why put myself through that again. I know that I am married, more mature, more dedicated and not working full time, but it still scares me to death to think about failing at anything!!! This is so hard for me to write. For 3 years now, every time I think about going back to college I feel sick to my stomach. I know I can do it...but my fear of failure overcomes me. This is definately something I need to pray about. I have the best supporter I could ever ask for in my husband. He is the kind that will try until he gets something right...if I can't get it right the first time I quit and move on to something else. I know he will be my biggest help as I go through this process.

On to something else. It seems like everyone is having babies! I know like 10 people that are pregnant or just had a baby. My best friend from high school just had his first son last night and he is so beautiful...well handsome! Congratulations Dustin and Laura on your new Baby Houston Gentry! I get the baby fever sometimes...then I think..."school then baby" or "sell the house then baby". So, either way it will be a while. I think that is perfectly fine though. I would wait until I was 30 if Josh would agree....but he won't.

Well, I am off to get some things accomplished on this rainy west texas day!

Love you all!

Here, there, and in between...

So, I have decided to do my spring cleaning a little early this year. I always heard growing up "everything has a place and needs to be in it"...I have noticed the older I get, the more I am becoming my mother! This is a good thing...it is a rare occasion that her home is not presentable. This is something I desire. I want my house to always be decent...notice I did not say spotless. I don't want to be ashamed or make excuses as to why my house is messy if someone just happens to stop by. So, beginning this week...everything will find a home and the training will begin to keep it in its home.
Also, I have been taking notes in worship services since high school and I would like to type them all up and categorize them according to topic. I realize that this could take months...but I think it would be very helpful in future studies.
I have also started cleaning out my inbox! Don't even get me started on that one...
So, I think it is pretty obvious that another resolution is to get organized!
Ready...here I go!

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!