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.

Updates Galore

Man I have not had a moment to breathe or blog during this last week! Lyndsy over at Pursuit of Lyndsy rags on me all the time because it's taking me too long to write a new post. So here it is, fellas, just a little update.

I've started working on a scrapbook order (or, technically, three orders), and that has been taking up quite a bit of my time. Here's a little snippet of a page:

Tuesday night was girls night; Lyndsy and Michaela came on over to make, and more importantly, devour some food.

Our food adventures included Pizza Monkey Bread and Cinnamon-Sugar Pull Apart Muffins. Getting hungry just thinking about it. Moving on!

Wednesday night we went and had dinner at some friends' house. These friends of ours, the Casales, are embarking on quite the journey. They just bought a church building in Kansas! You can follow their awesome new adventures by reading their blog here. We are going to miss them so much. Without question, they are the most supportive, encouraging, hippiest friends I have ever had, with impeccable integrity. They are the epitome of "good listeners". I quite admire these attributes about them. I'm excited to see where God takes them, and slowly but surely my bitterness is fading! Slightly more slowly than surely.

Thursday night, right after I got off work, was ballet practice for Paper Hearts Ballet's little ballerinas. My heart is so full watching those little ones - even when they aren't being great listeners I still adore them. Next Thursday is their recital, I can't wait! I'll miss Paper Hearts during its one-year hiatus while the instructor, Lyndsy, moves to Germany for a year, but I'm thankful for the time I've been able to spend as Lyndsy's assistant.
Post ballet, Lyndsy came over. We talked and talked, like we do, and I whipped up some quick homemade brownie bites, for which I will now provide the recipe, because they were crazy delish.


Brownie Bites

2 c. sugar
1/4 c. cocoa
1/2 c. butter, softened
1/2 c. veggie oil
4 eggs
2 t. vanilla (t as in teaspoon, not tablespoon as my husband thought when he made these brownies a few weeks  ago for a church potluck)
1 1/2 c. flour
1 t. salt (again... do not use 1 tablespoon of salt. So gross.)
1/2 package chocolate fudge instant pudding


Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Beat together sugar, cocoa, butter, oil, eggs, and vanilla. Add flour, salt, and instant pudding, beat again. Pour into mini muffin tins (about a tablespoon of batter in each). Bake for 15 minutes (or until inserted toothpick comes out clean). 

Voila!

















Friday morning, Lulu (aka Lyndsy) and I went to Schnepf Farm's Peach Festival. She took a bite of her very first peach! Needless to say, she wasn't a fan. But something you ought to know about Lyndsy, she's one of the pickiest eaters you'll ever know.

Friday night we were blessed with tickets to the Diamondbacks game (with a post-game concert by Crowder Band). We went with the Charltons and Mike Beam and his daughters. I can't believe how much God provides for us through other people, it's just fascinating.

Then we come to today. Today I worked. Today I worked my last day for Jo Ann Fabrics and Crafts. But I proudly say to you, my readers, that I did not quit! A-Ha! I don't want to get into all the details and I don't want to blast the company in my blog because I still love Jo Ann's. They let me go for reasons that aren't a huge deal, it is what it is. Now I'm just on the search once again. And, looking on the bright side, now I get to go to Indiana for some friends' wedding at the end of May! So there's a half full glass for you.

Time to rest - big day tomorrow celebrating all the Mothers out there! Especially mine. Mine is the best.
:)