Hello?

Hello.

My name is Ashley. You may not remember me, it's been a while since we've spoken. Sigh. You guys know when life gets all... lifey? I swear I've lived 10 lifetimes during my 21 years of breathing. I'm in this very interesting season currently, one in which I just... don't know anything. I'm calling it my "Spiritual Shoulder-Shrug Season". Catchy, right? It's the kind of season where things aren't going "right", yet all I can do is shrug and think, "Well, God knows I'm trying, God knows I'm relying on Him, and that's all I can do."
Basically, through a series of slightly unfortunate events, I was laid off from my job as a housekeeper recently. Recently like 2-ish weeks ago. The hilariously ridiculous part about it? This is the second job out of... what, 10? 11? 12? {I've lost count} jobs that I've had, that I actually LIKED! I was so committed to staying with this job. I even enjoyed going each day! I didn't have to be dragged to the car each morning solely by my obligation to "bring home the bacon". On top of that, the other job I liked {being a watch technician at Fast-Fix Jewelry and Watch Repair in 08-09}, I was laid off from that, too! Though that was for economic reasons as opposed to me screwing something up. Regardless, I find this factoid rather interesting. The only jobs I've enjoyed... I was let go from. This is a glimpse into life, in the way that things just don't make sense. All you can do is try your best. Which, by the way, I do.

Allow me to further press, however, the fact that I'm... okay. My heart {and, more often, my husband} constantly reminds me that God is in control and I am not. And I know {though sometimes I forget to remember...} that I'd much rather have God in control of my life than myself. I just figure, you know, He's a smarty-pants. Some days I can't tell if I'm completely lethargic or just okay. But perhaps both of those are better than being a mess-o-stress.

During this recent stint of unemployment, however, I'm pleased to reveal one {out of two} finished {2013} 365 Books, in all its glory.

And some page examples:

I'd also like to present baby Malakai, my dear friends Michaela and Jimbo's baby boy. He came fresh out of the oven this past Thursday, and may I just say, he came out devilishly handsome.

The End.