10 People

10 people who have influenced you and how.

1. My mother. She was my first love and role model. I have always (well probably not ALWAYS) wanted to be like her. She is a wonderful example of a Christian wife and mother. She has always put her husband first and that is how a marriage should be.

2. Your daddy. He has loved me unconditionally and always supported me. He makes me want to be a better person, Christian, wife, and mother. He has taught me patience and has encouraged me to accomplish so many things. I try to be like him in so many ways. Even after 13 years I am still falling in love with him and learning new things about him!

3. Rebekah Watford. She was my best friend since I was a little girl. She and I have SO MANY fun memories. Every child deserves a friendship like ours. She is a beautiful woman with a great heart!

4. Erika Bell. She is amazing! She has also been a big driving force behind me accomplishing a lot of things. She puts so much passion into her works. I long to have the same drive and desire.

5. Jerry Hudson. She taught my mother the gospel. My mother in turn taught me, my grandparents, and my brother. Little did she know how far her evangelism would go.

6. James and Reba Horn. This couple took Josh and I in when we first got married. We married and moved to Lineville, AL. This couple took us out to eat lunch EVERY Sunday and they loved us as if we were their own grandchildren. They still cry every time we leave after we visit them.

7. Sarah Blackwell. She has been one of my best friends since we moved to TX. She has taught me to look at things from all perspectives. She is a great Christian mother and wife. There are so many qualities she possesses that I yearn to master in my life. She is such a strong Christian.

8. I will not name these people. But, there are a few people in my life that have treated me negatively…because of this they made a big impact on how I treat others. They influenced me to be a better person and to be careful at how I treat others.

9. Kayla Moore. She is actually the reason I am doing this. I saw it on her blog. She is a friend I met in college. We were able to hang out quite a bit the first few semesters. She is a wonderful woman. She loves God and her family. She is very passionate and determined. She has taught me a lot of things about life and especially about raising you, J! She is always trying to better herself and I admire that!

10. Deborah Heck. She is one of the most wonderful Christian women I have ever met. (and I have only met her once) I met her at a Christian Camp and then we became Facebook friends. She is always trying to better herself and others. She loves doing things for others. She is always praying for others and loves her family with every thread of her being. I hope I am as wonderful of a mother and wife as she is!

5 passions

this one seems kind of boring…

1. Being the best christian I can be
2. Making you two happy
3. nursing
4. sewing and photography…crafts in general
5. Disney

I like some history. It has to be pretty intriguing…and typically I am more interested if it is hands on. Like, if I can physically see or touch things.

Short list but tonight was my 1st of three 12 hour shift days…so, I need some rest :)

Dream Job

What is my dream job and why.

This might be a long intro…
Well, I have never been the kind that believed in fate. I wasn't raised to believe that God only made one person on the whole earth who I was supposed to be with forever. There are a lot of holes in that belief if you ask me. I have never been the kind who has always wanted to be this or that. I haven't always wanted to be a nurse or a mother.

When I was a junior in high school we began seeing the guidance councilor about our plans after school. I had no idea what I wanted to be when I "grew up". But, I did know I liked math and science and that there was a demand for nurses. So, I thought about it and came to the conclusion that I could be happy doing that. Well, here I am! I LOVE being a nurse. I love that nursing is kind of like a mystery or a puzzle. Everything works together to intricately (my God is AWESOME!) and to figure out how to fix a certain problem can be a challenge. I do enjoy helping others, but to be honest that is not why I got into nursing. I was drawn in by the science of figuring out how things work.

Now, all that being said…that is no longer my dream job. I am living my dream job. I am a wife and a mother FIRST. Before I am a nurse, I am a Christian, Wife, and Mother. I am not the kind that always NEEDED children. I am not the kind who couldn't be complete without kids. But, now that you are here, I realize how much I LOVE being a mother. Being your mother has made me fall farther in love with your father and LOVE being his wife so much more. Making you two happy and helping us get to heaven is my dream job.

3 wishes...

Hmmm…If I could have 3 wishes…

1. I would want everyone to hear the gospel. Everyone would have equal opportunity. What they did with it would be their choice…but, they would have heard.

2. I would never want to lose anyone I love. Which wouldn't make sense bc I don't want to die before hem bc I wouldn't want them to be sad over me. Vicious circle.

3. I never want anyone to hurt you. Which also could have bad consequences because sometimes that is what it takes to build character. But, the thought of someone hurting you physically or emotionally breaks my heart. I always want to be able to protect you. The love I have for you is so new to me. It isn't like a love for my mother or my love for your father. It is totally different, not more…just different. It is a protective love. I am so proud of you and proud to have you. I am so blessed.

5 things….

The  5 things that make me most happy right now. (in no particular order)

1. Your daddy. He has been making me happy for years now! I love watching him watch you. I love watching him smile when you smile or do new things. Yesterday we took a video of you laughing in your Johnny Jumper and he has watched it probably 10 times and just grinned and laughed. He loves you so much and that makes me happy.

2. You. You make me happy. You are currently laying on your play mat and cooing and trying to roll over. I love watching you discover new things. You laugh warms me and your smile is so big! I have never known a love like this one. We are so proud of you. You make us happy.

3. Prayer. I am happy I have to ability to talk to God about my reservations about being a mother and many other things. Sometimes I feel very inadequate and unprepared. Talking to Him helps calm me. I know I will never be perfect, but I will always strive to be. I want to be the mother you need. Remember, even when you feel like nobody is there, we will always be there. If the Lord calls us home  He is there for you. You are NEVER alone.

4. My job. I love my job. I love helping others and making them feel better. I love that I am always learning. I like the science of it all. Some days are miserable and exhausting mentally, physically, and emotionally. Still, I am happy to finally be nursing.

5. There are also a lot of little things that also make me happy. Technology that makes things easier…like your bottle maker, your swing, the diaper genie, cell phones, and the internet. Kit Kats, sparkling strawberry lemonade, and white chocolate mochas make me happy. These are very trivial things that don't amount to a hill of beans in the end. The happiness I get from these last things fade quickly. Material things don't make you happy Baby J. Remember that. Don't let "things" govern your happiness.

I love you!

hard one

10 things you would tell your 16 year old self.

1. Mom is right when she says "Nothing good happens after 9 o'clock. Thats why your curfew was 9:30. (even though she fights to the death that it wasn't)

2. You are going to fail at things. That's ok.

3. Not everything will go as planned the first time you try it. You will overcome your fears and try college again. You will succeed with flying colors. You will be Ashley BSN, RN

4. You will marry Josh. Take it slow.

5. Not everything is a big deal. Don't blow things out of proportion.

6. Respect your parents and Josh's parents. They will be your in-laws. You will love them and they will love you.

7. Not everyone you meet will like you. That is their loss.

8. You will have you spiritual lulls. Keep praying and studying. You will work through them.

9. Spend more time with your mom and brother. You will miss them so much when you leave home. And one day you will live in TX and it will be hard to live so far away when your baby brother is growing up.

10. Always try your best and always love the Lord.

Marriage

Day 3. Describe your relationship with your spouse.

Well, J, daddy and I have been together a long time. 13 years! Your daddy took me on my very first date. We went to eat at our favorite restaurant, Los Portales, and then played putt-putt. After that daddy took me back to my house and there was a surprise 16th birthday party there for me!

Your daddy and I said "I love you" pretty early in the relationship. I believe we did love each other as much as two 16 year olds could love each other. But, it pales to how I love your daddy now. Your daddy is one of my heroes and I am his biggest fan. He has always supported and encouraged me. We believe in each other. I respect your daddy so much. He does so much for our little family. Your daddy does a wonderful job at leading our family. I do my best to be a godly submissive wife. (I had a great teacher in your grandma Vicki.) Your daddy and I rarely disagree about things and have never raised our voice to one another. We have already agreed to not fight in front of you. And stand behind each other when decisions are made. If we don't agree we will discuss those things in private.

 We love you SO much baby J, but we will always put each other first. I hope you will learn to do the same when you meet the one you choose to spend your life with. Lord willing you will have that opportunity and choose a God fearing spouse. I am not ready to think about this very much because right now nobody can love you like you need to be loved except me. But, I pray somewhere out there a mommy and daddy and praying these same things food their little girl, who will be your wife.

Baby J, you are expected to be the head of your home and do everything in your power to help them get to heaven. You need to be the leader in your home but, always respect your wife's opinion. You will be a team. Things won't always be easy. But, marriage is a fun journey!