more great music these days…my run this morning was filled with wonderful tunes…thought i would share for those of you that are in pursuit(here ya go “cd”)…
i’ll be missing you…puff daddy
leavin’ ..jesse mccartney
o lover …jason mraz
when we kiss …josh bales
crazy love…van morrison
the little things…colbie caillat
where we gonna go from here..mat kearney
free-fallin…john mayer (FAB!!)
near to you..fine frenzy
almost lover..fine frenzy
mercy…duffy (great “turn up the treadmill song”)
distrubia…rihanna
wishful thinking…josh bales
lucky….jason mraz
just so you know…jesse mccartney

relax girls…i haven’t jumped the christian music bandwagon…just trying to keep it in motion and quick fun music is the key (in my little workout world anyway) i will do anything to be committed to going for awhile… hope you enjoy and your itunes budget is not blown…mine definately is…mmmm good stuff

speaking of a workout…got home this morning from a run and the pictures that follow were met with a “bent over laughing” reaction from me….screaming HOLD ON LET ME GET MY CAMERA….. red-neck sledding, alabama sledding even…no snow so it’s pine straw..and my husband completely instigated which is even funnier to me…this is our backyard hill, which we thank goodness haven’t planted anything on yet…heaven forbid we prevent entertainment…
(sidenote: saturdays the kids dress themselves and sometimes it really is scary…LOL)

blessings until next time…
i love you bebek and sam…old friends and new…

as luck would have it i am currently recovering from a 2 packs of gum in the washer, hot water disaster…just think what laundry day looks like with a little extra treat in the mix besides my favorite soap…as S so sweetly said today..”at least they didn’t make it to the dryer”… and so it goes…
and so leo… the lion…the pet in logan’s class…came complete with bag and journal to spend the week with us to be meticulously followed..AND documented
BOY AM I GLAD he is not alive…like a fish or a turtle…which neither of which we have had alot of luck with…(mia informs everyone that asks “ed is dead”, our now deceased turtle)…

i’m sure that it is no surprise to any of you “not so rookie” kindergarden or older- kid parents but this is a dramatic change from just making sure that you got the stinky sippy cup out of your car from mother’s day out monday…. (which i did not…NICE this morning) by the way…it takes approximately three days to stink this time of year..summertime maybe 2 if you are lucky right?

ok so leo…. he is definately having a good time and will return friday and so at logan’s request…leo has been busy as you can see…

the other entertainment today included mia really wanting to be WITH ME..all day, every moment, zero independant play time today for sure…as A and i agreed she was “all up in my grill” today…ALL of today…and so i am sharing what they entailed…keep in mind these pictures ARE taken from the workroom (after spending three hours playing, painting nails, playdough, good mommy things) and this is what life looks like while i am trying to answer your “where is my order” emails- (laughing girls of course)…there is mother’s day out and naptime thank GOODNESS!!!
so enjoy…have a laugh on me with leo and the lipstick but not so funny on the luck ….

blessings and lightheartedness are yours truly….

hello from a refreshed and ready to work friend…
a precious time with girls with weekend (thank you A & A!!) at the beach was a much-needed affair…
don’t worry BBTN people…orders ship as usual with much help from our crew but i took a break….

fabulous company, great music, and the beach can always be a recipe for a renewal… reset accomplished…

i enjoyed the change from the norm so much for just a short time….as everyone understands…
so this morning was a really big difference in my usual healthy waffle house and kids..sleeping a little later than usual (not much) and a drive to starbucks for a coffee…followed by a drive to the beach across from where we stayed…

i really had no idea it would provide clarity…there was NO ONE there except for a few surfers in the distance and an older fisherman….not buildings, not bathrooms or pavillions… really for the first time ever i had few minutes on the beach to be alone in that type setting…quiet moments for sure. (of course i just so happened to have my camera so you could be completely inundated yet once again…well…i guess you chose to read right?)

quiet moments are really hard to come by these days for everyone i think…there is always a TV or a phone….or even just noise….it gave me a lot of perspective that i know was planned by my creator….just he and I …time….loud and clear…

“Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10)

Ashley, be still, my creator said to me as loud as if he was standing there…be still….i love you and i am absolutely in control…of all things vast as the ocean and small like the birds…you are mine…

What does it mean when one of God’s own is commanded to “be still”?

The injunction is not given to restrict my mobility as one of God’s people. The call to obey represents a spiritual disposition that ought to characterize those to whom God’s unfailing promises have been given. how grateful i am for the strength of God’s promises…very.

i make promises and have made promises…but oh to have the strength of perfection behind all of them… so i will be still and know that he is God… he has given the stars each their very own name and i am grateful that he knows my name…i rest in his promises….even when i am so very far from perfect in every single way.

Lift up your eyes on high And see who has created these stars, The One who leads forth their host by number, He calls them all by name; Because of the greatness of His might and the strength of His power, Not one of them is missing.
Isaiah 40:26

blessings until next time…
thank you for the weekend new friends and old….

what a wonderful thing courage…by definition?
COURAGE: NOUN, mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty ….
OR
the quality of mind or spirit that enables a person to face difficulty, danger, pain, etc., without fear; bravery.

definately describes something that i am learning…so in light of my bathroom mirror goals i am hoping what i am about to share is helpful…to one if not more….

sometimes i think it takes an event, a decision, or even a “i’ve had enough” moment to be dedicated and establish my goal(s)….a chat with myself …a desperate prayer…

what exactly am i learning to be courageous about?
something that i struggle with…a goal never completed in my opinion.
whatever matters most that impacts others as well as myself and requires great attention and perseverence…
stick-to-it-ness, long-term planning and dedication…
whatever it is ….you label it.

what is it in your life that requires so much out of you that you are forced to ask and pray for courage? forced to rely on someone other than yourself for help and bravery… so i have waited on the Lord and he is daily encouraging me and i am learning to rely…on someone other than my husband, a friend, or even a schedule or something temporal. Courage has been really important to my goals…i have a Savior that cares about me and i am greatly encouraged by the strength that comes from my God…

Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.
Psalm 27:14

Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.
Psalm 37:3

He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.
Isaiah 40:29

Fear thou not: for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
Isaiah 41:10

so i am sharing my recent pursuit because i think when we are dedicated to something it will require a great amount of physical and mental energy not to mention emotional energy..there is great room for our Savior to show himself mighty.

i have learned that courage comes not from results (although the reason for the goal in the first place), not from circumstances but from God Almighty being faithful in his promise to me…i am courageous in my pursuits and as an end to any difficulty i have received the greatest gift…encouragement (noun : boost, encouragement the act of giving hope or support to someone)
Hope….another great thing…
blessings until next time…
all my love to old friends and new…

so logan and chad went fishing in chad’s birthday present…a few times this week the 2-person boat fits in the back of chad’s truck and off they go in about 5 minutes to one of the neighborhood stocked lakes…
logan was thrilled and chad was proud….a super great start to a long standing tradition i’m sure…
precious memories…