Wednesday, December 23, 2009

oh there's no place like home for the holidays..

Arkansas, here we come! I hope it's super cold once we get there because it was 75 degrees today! Two days before Christmas and I could have worn shorts and a tank top if my job permitted! Anyway...

So, Rushing and I will head to Arkansas tomorrow to spend some fun time with my family! I can't wait!! I love Christmas time... spending time with family that you don't get to see very often, giving gifts, remember Jesus' birth, and eating some yummy (and totally not bad for you) food!

I can't believe this is our 2nd Christmas as a married couple! It doesn't seem like we have been married for a year and a half...the time has flown by! We may even have an addition to our little family this time next year...who knows! Rushing has finished his first semester at seminary and we are just gearing up for another one. He is doing well and made excellent grades, I am so proud!

Well, I think I am off to bed to dream of a white Christmas. :)

Christmas 2008

Thursday, December 10, 2009

things to look forward to... :)

There are quite a few things that I am looking forward to in the next few years...here a just a few.

I can't wait to have a house to call our home. I can't wait to paint, plant flowers, hang as many pictures as I want because it won't matter how many holes I put in the walls because it will be ours.

I want to be a mommy. (gasp, surprise right?-ha) I know, I know...I'm 24 I have plenty of time...but I really do want to be a mommy. But, we would like to get some things paid off...and both have full time jobs and insurance before we start a family. But I can't wait!!! We are planning on homeschooling so I really can't wait for that...but even after we have a kiddo it will be like 4 more years before we start schooling!!! Esh...

I want to PAY OUR CARS OFF!!!! :)

and right now that's all I can ramble off because I need to do some dishes...bleh. :)

Saturday, December 5, 2009

it's the most wonderful time of the year....

Here are a just a few things I love about this time of the year....





Wednesday, November 25, 2009

memories

Five years ago tomorrow. The last time my grandma spoke to me. The last conversation we had was simple. She was lying in a hospital bed and she told me she loved me and to take care of myself. I will never forget the pain and fear I felt that night. My grandma was admitted to the hospital on Thanksgiving day of my freshman year of college. She was in and out of ICU until December 18th when she passed away from guillian-barre syndrome.

I know that my Grandma is in such a better place, but I still get sad sometimes. I am sad that my husband never had the chance to meet such an amazing woman of God. I get sad that my children will never know their Great-Grandma. I miss her. Alot. A few days ago I was going through a box of stuff from college. In that box were tons of birthday/Christmas/Valentine cards I received throughout my time at OBU. I happened upon a little card with kittens on the front. Tears immediately came to my eyes. The card was from my Grandma, written barely a month before she got sick.

When I think of my Grandma, I truly picture the Proverbs 31 woman. My Grandma was always seeking after God with her whole heart. She desired to bring others closer to Him by being His servant in any way possible. She had a sweet, tender spirit. You could always count on her to give sound advice, to listen intently to everything you had to say, whether you were 3 or 30. She truly cared about everyone she ever met.

She was incredible. She would draw my sister and I pictures of a woman's face during church. Just this simple picture she drew, I wish I could find a copy of it. She would make the best yeast rolls and chocolate gravy for all the grandkids because it was our favorite. She also made these yummy cookies that we called 'all over' cookies. She had tons of old JC Penney catalogs on her book shelf that my sister and I loved going through. She had a WALL full of knick-knacks...some of the craziest things were on that shelf. I loved looking at them and imagining where she got them...but I hated them when we cleaned and had to dust every single one of them! She collected baby dolls. She had a closet full of dolls that we could play with. We, all 18 or so, of her granddaughters loved that!

I am blessed beyond measure to have had her as my Grandma. She taught me so much about life, patience, perseverance, love, and grace. I am thankful that she and my Grandpa raised my dad and his siblings to love the Lord. I am blessed that for 18 years of my life I went to the same church as she did and that my Grandpa was my pastor for 16 of those years. I am thankful that the furthest away she and my Grandpa ever lived was 15 minutes. We got to spend so much time with her through the years...more time than some kids ever get to spend with a grandparent. I am blessed.

I could go on and on about the ways in which my Grandma rocked :)
Seriously, go read Proverbs 31 and then you will see who my Grandma was.

I hope and pray that I can be at least half of the woman she was. To strive daily to be closer to the Father. To truly desire to bring others closer to Him, by serving and loving.

Happy Thanksgiving. :)


Friday, November 6, 2009

Stirrup Pants and College?

Do you remember the days when the biggest decision you had to make was which hair bow you wanted to wear? To wear stirrup pants or purple jeans? Pink Keds or jelly shoes? Oh to be a child again, the life where big decisions are made for you ever day...or rather there aren't really any big choices yet. Fast forward a few years: Band or athletics? Gymnastics or Drama club? Yearbook staff or Newspaper? Still...not many big decisions. Then: Summer job or be lazy? College or wait a few years? College? Okay, now...which college? Close to home, far from home, expensive, private, state...? Major?! What's a major? I have to PICK what I want to be when I grow up?! Boyfriend? Serious boyfriend? Fiance?! Marriage? Where to live? Where to work? What insurance to go with? Responsibility? Car payments? Credit card payments? Grocery shopping, laundry and cleaning for two? When to start a family? Moving? To a new state, already?

Whew. Sometimes all the responsibility can be so overwhelming. There have definitely been times in my life when all I wanted was for someone else to make decisions for me. I am such a worrier. It's one of my only faults, ha. But seriously. Unfortunately, I am pretty sure all my life I have been this way. Always worried that I would make the wrong decision. That my choice would hurt someone's feelings or not be the choice other people thought I should make. I will be 24 on Sunday and some days I still want to just be a little girl again. Pony tails, big bows, Little Mermaid sweatshirt, with someone else making decisions for me.

I want to be carefree...not worrying about what tomorrow may bring. Working with children every day humbles me in many ways. I remember that God has called us to be like children. Little children have complete faith in you, in God, in life. They have not yet been corrupted by the world. They aren't worried about having food, clothes, a home, etc. I want to be that way again. To be so dependent upon the Father. To wholly and truly trust and have faith in Him. Not to depend on myself and what I can do...because let's be honest, that's not much.

That was sure a lot of rambling for a Friday night...but I hope it makes sense to someone.

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink;
or about your body, what you will wear.
Is not life more important than food,
and the body more important than clothes?
Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns,
and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.
Are you not much more valuable than they?
Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
"And why do you worry about clothes?
See how the lilies of the field grow.
They do not labor or spin.
Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in
all his splendor was dressed like one of these.
If that is how God clothes the grass of the field,
which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire,
will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?'
or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'
For the pagans run after all these things,
and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Matthew 6:25-34

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Holiday Wish list

TOMS shoes: For every pair of shoes purchased a pair is given to a child in need.

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A pair of these (or similar) boots, Bamboo by Journee Women's Slouchy Microsuede Boots

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This coat is beautiful, Coffee Shop Women's Plaid Walker Coat

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This book series, Mark of the Lion by Francine Rivers

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The following movies:

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Okay, that's all I can think of now. :) Not too much to ask for, eh?


Friday, October 16, 2009

Hair Bow Holder

So, I saw this idea on a blog and I knew I could make one myself! Unfortunately I don't have a before picture, but you can use your imagination!

I went to an antique mall near our apartment and found this awesome old wooden frame! It was beautiful even before I painted it! I used ivory spray paint and then hot glued light pink ribbon to the back and attached a wire for hanging. I gave this as a gift to my friend Britney's baby girl Annika who just turned one!

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

under $100...

YAY! We just bought a TON of groceries for under $100! I'm not sure I've been this excited in forever! We got our Kroger Weekly Ad in the mail today and poured over it trying to find good deals! We got really excited when we saw they had so much stuff on the 10 for $10 deals....and the BEST part was that you didn't even have to buy 10 of them even if you bought one everything was still $1! Whew! We were walking down an aisle comparing prices and always ending up with the 'store brand' rather than the expensive brand when I said, 'It's fun how we are shopping like we are poor people' and Rushing said, 'That's because we ARE poor'...lol. Okay, maybe that was funnier in my head.

But that leads to my next thought. Poor, what is poor? Because poor isn't walking into your kitchen, equipped with a stove, fridge, microwave, etc and opening your fully stocked pantry and having to 'decide' what to do for dinner. There are millions of people around the world who sleep in the same room they cook their meals. Who have two choices for dinner: rice or beans. Microwave? What's that? We don't know anything about being poor.

Daily we are reminded of how blessed we are. Our nice homes, cars, furniture, clothes, etc...yet we always want more. More money, more clothes, a nicer car, bigger house, my own laundry room. Laundry room? I have been to places where allllll laundry is washed in the kitchen sink and hung on trees to dry. We have it made.

I would delve further into this topic but I have to be at work in less than 8 hours so I need to quiet my brain. :)

Blessings-Ash

Friday, October 9, 2009

sweet home arkansas...

Arkansas here we come!! We are off to OBU Homecoming! I can't believe this is my second year as an alum!! Time flies by....so many great memories from those four years! :) Hopefully it will stop raining and will warm up just a bit...

Keep us in your prayers, we will be traveling for about 5 hours today and 5 hours on Sunday...along with TONS of other people who are heading to OBU as well! Can't wait to see everyone! We will stop tonight at my parents house to visit family, then off to Homecoming events!

We really can't wait to see our BRBC friends! Hope everyone is at church on Sunday!!!

Blessings,
Ashley

Sunday, September 27, 2009

...oops!

Well, I really did mean to keep this blog more updated than I have! Hopefully I will do better in the future! :)

Well, we have now been here almost 2 months (has it only been that long?!). Rushing is working at On the Border and I am working at a pre-school. I w
ill only be at my current job for a short while longer because I am going to a different pre-school, a KinderCare center. I am really excited! My new director is a friend of ours and the wife of the pastor at our new church! I think it's going to be great!! Fun how God works things out!

School is going pretty good for Rush. Last week he had a test in Greek and a test in Church History. This week he has a test in Hermeneutics and a book review due in another class! Talk about being busy and reading all the time....guess I get to look forward to that in the spring!

In other news, OBU Homecoming and Tiger Tunes is soon! We are cr
ossing our fingers that Rush can get off work that week
end! We can't wait to see my family and all our college friends!

Well, Rush just walked in from work and we are about to eat a way late dinner!
Here are a few more photos of our sweet apartment!


Sunday, August 23, 2009

24 days.

Well, today marked 24 days of living in Fort Worth...and 24 days of no work, no paycheck, and alot of hanging out. Thankfully, God is good and we have not been in want or in need of anything. God totally provides. :)

I start my first full week of work tomorrow! We will be making a school bus picture out of construction paper, I will post photos later. We will also be learning and singing some new songs...so that should be fun! Also, I have to do music and art with INFANTS! Any ideas?

We really believe God is trying to teach us about faith and patience right now. Rushing still doesn't have a job. We know that God has a plan but it has been hard to take ourselves and our 'wants' out of the picture and truly depend on Him. Please pray for us in that area of our lives. God brought us to Fort Worth and seminary because that is what HE wanted for our lives, so we must keep the faith that He will provide when and how He sees fit. Man, it's just hard to wrap our small minds around that truth sometimes.

We have been searching for a new church over the past month. Today we visited Merge Community Church which is pastored by the youth minister that Rushing interned under years ago. There are about 40 people who attend regularly right now and they are doing some awesome outreach! Rushing and I had lunch with the pastor and his wife today and it was really inspiring and encouraging to talk to people who are our age and have the same heart for sharing God with others by serving the community and being outward focused...not inward focused on ourselves or our 'church'. Does that make sense? Anyway, it was a really great service and a great day. :)

I hope everyone is doing well out in cyberspace, lol. I will post more pictures of our semi-organized apartment soon.

Blessings.

Sunday, August 9, 2009

Hello Texas.

Well, we made it to our new home in Texas. We moved in on Thursday, July 30 and here we are! It has only been a little over a week and I feel like it has been a month already!! I think that is because Rushing and I have just been hanging out, unpacking, job hunting...and that's about it! We haven't had this little to do in...well our entire lifetime! On the one hand it has been kind of weird and we feel like we should be doing something all the time, but on the other hand it has been really nice to relax and get some needed rest.

I got a J-O-B! I start at The Primary Academy on August 19th! I will be teaching a music and art class for 2 y/0-Pre-K and I will also be working with the after-school program! I am really excited! They are the first (and only) place I visited and left my resume. I got an on the spot interview and a second interview the following day! Bonus points that it is only about 7 minutes from our apartment!

Rushing is still looking for a job, so please keep praying for him. His classes start on the 24th and he is really looking forward to them! He has some cool classes...with ALOT of books! I couldn't believe how many he has...I'll have to take a picture and show everyone later!
We have a great apartment! Here are a -few- photos of our new place after unpacking. I will post more later! I haven't quite got everything the way I want it...but here you go:

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

this old house...

Well, this is my final blog from this house. We are in the final stages of packing and moving. Mr. Tracey just dropped off the trailer so Rushing and BJ will start loading it pretty soon. I still have a few things left to pack and then I get to clean the house...sounds fun, huh?

I will say that I am going to miss this house. I will miss the beautiful flowers that Mrs. Lavender planted, the big red barn in the backyard, the honeysuckle that made the air smell so good, and having my own washer and dryer! There are many memories here...Rushing and Opie lived here as bachelors before Rush and I got married. Tuesday Night Hang-Outs are probably some of my favorite memories of the year we lived here...having the teens over was a blast and something I am SO glad we did. I used to complain that this house was too small...that was until we got our new apartment in Fort Worth...now this is a BIG house! Guess I better watch what I say from now on! :)

My family came over yesterday. My parents are awesome and are going to store some stuff for us until we get a bigger place to house everything. I love my parents so much... My sister Amber and her baby boy Landon and my little 'BIG' brother Adam came too. I can't believe how big Landon has gotten...he is walking now, it is crazy! I am really going to miss being able to drive an hour to Fordyce to see them... Hopefully they will all come visit really soon and we can go to Six Flags!!

I need to get busy... I need to pack/clean for a while then I am taking my class of kiddos pizza for lunch, I'm an awesome teacher, I know. ;)

Blessings!

Sunday, July 26, 2009

a few more...


Here are a few more photos of the kids I am going to miss. I
am so thankful that I had this time with them..

whew...time flies.


Today was our last Sunday at Bingham and what a day it was. During the morning worship service our Pastor does 'Pastor Pals' with our kiddos. Well, this morning one of my children's workers presented me with this.... A photo of my kids and they had all signed their names...needless to say I cried, she cried, we all cried. Good memories.

Monday, July 20, 2009

Coming Soon...

Wow! I can not believe we are moving in a little over a week. This is our last full week here in Little Rock before we move to the far away land of Texas. The plan is to have the trailer loaded and ready on Wednesday night and head out around 8 am Thursday morning. I can not believe how fast everything has happened.

We still have so much to do. We have already started packing...but I feel like it is never ending. I still need to go through all of our clothes and other random stuff we have both had since college and purge, purge, purge!

Well, I'm off to finish reading Pride and Prejudice while my sweet husband finishes dinner. :)

Friday, July 10, 2009

and God laughed at me...

So. A few years ago I said I would never marry a preacher. I met Rushing. I then married Rushing. He preaches. I then said, I will never move to Texas. Then, God laughed and said you won't, huh?

Rushing and I will be moving to Fort Worth, TX at the end of the month to pursue our Master's at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Rushing is going for a Master's of Divinity in Christian Apologetics. I am going for a Master's of Arts in Marriage/Family Counseling and Christian Education. Rushing starts in August and I plan to start in January. We are both still looking for jobs and we know that God has a plan already worked out, we are just praying that we will be open to that plan. Please keep us in your prayers!

We are very excited about this big move...but we are really going to miss our friends and family here in Arkansas. Personally, I have enjoyed my job at our church/daycare more than I have enjoyed any other job I have ever had. We will be back to visit often and can't wait!

Monday, June 29, 2009

...already a year?


I can't believe we have already been married a year! It seems like just yesterday we were still in college and I was telling Rushing that I was convinced we were supposed to get married....while he just shook his head no-way.... Little did he know! :)
It has been a great year, challenging in ways, but overall it has been a huge blessing. We have learned a lot about each other such as the fact that we both have different ways of cooking almost everything, we both 'thought the other' was going to do -insert almost any phrase here-(dishes, laundry, trash), I'm a bed hog and he snores... etc. But it has been SO much fun!
We hope to keep this blog updated so you can read about our crazy life together!




Here's an old picture for laughs!