Pinterest

My newest obsession is Pinterest.com. It's basically a virtual bulletin board to post/repost/like/follow the things you love... including but so not limited to... art, decor, clothes, quotes, people, pictures.

Here are a few (very few) of the things that I have fallen head over heels for since I joined... yesterday.

Gent... makes me smile

Oh how I wish you could smell this!!  

You can get it at The Alabama Gift Company!!

busy weeks ahead...

Friday afternoon, I'm leaving for Woodstock, GA to see Beth Moore with some friends and returning Saturday night.  Sunday is always church and home group after.

Next weekend a couple of us may be going to the Bodies exhibit in Atlanta.  There are about 6 of us that want to go but i don't know if we'll be able to get our schedules all together at the same time.  I wouldn't mind going more than once because it looks really cool.  I had heard a few months ago that it was going to end in May 2010, but I called and they said they had been extended to June 2012.  Surely by then we can all get together and go!

The next weekend... Mother's Day weekend.  My parents are going camping and I will be looking after Da for at least Saturday but probably Sunday as well.  The picture is of their "camper" trailer.  Dad converted a cargo trailer into a camper and it's really cool.  They have enough room for a queen size bed and storage for their stuff without having to "pack" everything.  He even added the window.  Mom made the lettering with her Cricut. I think that will be my gift to my Mom :)  A weekend away from life...

The next 2 weekends are empty so far.... shhhh don't tell anyone :)

May 23rd - 27th we will be here: Escapes to the Shores

I. can. not. wait!




And finally... the last weekend of May is my youngest cousin's high school graduation!

really people?

So I ran to winn dixie (in and out in about 15 mins) for some mushrooms to go with our hamburger steaks tonight and saw some of THE strangest looking people! I wanted sooooo badly to take pictures but it would have involved some close-up face shots and I decided I'd rather get home and cook dinner than spend the night in the hospital.

- a white woman with a beard... ok more of a goatee but seriously!  she could have been in the circus.  Maybe she's a leftover "carnie" from the chocolate festival last week.

- a man with veeeeerrrrry short shorts (maybe he came from the gym but I doubt it)

- several barefoot children... walking around and mostly unsupervised.

Please check out People Of Walmart too.  If I ever see these people at wally world... it's on!

hodge podge

here's some pictures i've taken lately...

catching up...

Whew this week has flown by & I've barely blogged!

We ended up getting financing for my dad's truck through our bank.  We are the proud new owners of a 2007 Chevy Silverado with 117,000 miles on it but it still smells and looks brand spanking new!  Dustin is so excited!


Dustin was invited to a Goodyear "Meet & Greet" this week.  He went of course!  They took a tour of the plant and explained that "you are an employee with no start date yet".  OMG!  Basically as soon as jobs open up the new hires are called and given chances to get a job.  He's working at Sears today... his first full day not training.  He will start earning commission in about a month.

Bronco & I had a doggie play date this morning after he got a good bath at Petco.  Katie's dog tucker is a Bichon Frise and Rachel is dog-sitting for her mother's Westie (Kipper).  They are so tiny compared to Bronco!!  Kipper had no idea what to think of that big white thing that kept coming after him!!  He & Tucker play well together.

I could just scream!

• This whole car buying experience has been very frustrating!
• Work has been crazy busy... but I am so thankful that I have a job that I enjoy most of the time.
• I am baffled, confused, and offended by something I heard today but can't repeat.

Blahdy Blah

FOR TODAY . . . March 14, 2010
Outside my window . . . it's dark, cold, and a very dirty dog is staring at me! 
I am thinking . . . I am so excited to sleep in my bed tonight!
I am thankful for . . . my health, family, friends, job
I am remembering . . . funny things Da said this weekend
I am going . . . to bed early tonight
I am currently reading . . . Living Beyond Yourself, So Long Insecurity, & Crazy Love...  
I am hoping . . . to be able to walk tomorrow
On my mind . . . my grandfather, my mom staying with him this week
Noticing that . . . I'm insecure
Pondering these words . . . I have faith in who you ARE... not what you DO!
From the kitchen . . . Taco Bell 
Around the house . . . messier than I'd like it to be
One of my favorite things . . . cookie dough 
From my picture journal . . . 

Busy busy!

Whew!  I have been so flippin busy lately!  I've also kinda been in a funk... I think I'm just overwhelmed but even mundane stuff has felt overwhelming lately.  I'm ready for this to pass!
**TRC = The Rehab Center - our outpatient therapy clinic
**GRMC = Gadsden Regional Medical Center - the hospital I work for
**RRMC = Riverview Regional Medical Center - the hospital my mom works for & where my Da is
**PRN = i don't know what that stands for but it means weekend and afternoon work as needed
Monday - Work (TRC all day), lunch at the RRMC, cooked dinner, sat at RRMC till 11
Tuesday - Work (GRMC in the morning, TRC in afternoon), Healthsouth and drug test at lunch to get some paperwork to start PRN work, dinner at Los Arcos, went to Allen's to watch Biggest Loser
Wednesday - Work (TRC all day), lunch at The Alabama Gift Company, cooked dinner and took it to RRMC, stayed till 9:30
Thursday - Work (GRMC in the morning, TRC in afternoon), Healthsouth for more paperwork at lunch, enjoyed some time with my aunt Lisa, dinner was left-over pizza in the car, worked at gold's from 7-9 (next week is my last week)
Friday - Work (TRC in the morning, GRMC in the afternoon) work at gadsden health care at lunch - thanks for the reminder - Rachel, go to Healthsouth for more stuff.

Rachel thought it would be cute to put her sunglasses on Bronco...

.... and she was so right!

It's been rainy yuck lately and my sweet white dog is very brown!  I can't wait till the rain passes and we can take him to Petco for a bath!



Da is still in the hospital and still battling pneumonia and COPD.  His oxygen levels are lower at night and he has been very confused.  My aunt Lisa and mom have been sitting around the clock and giving each other breaks. We're all a little concerned about my mom because she is sitting with him tonight after working two 12 hour shifts in the ER.  After work today, I picked my aunt up at the hospital and took her to see some houses that she's been interested in for a couple of years (built by an architect that she loves... not to buy).  We found one that was empty but couldn't find a way in.  The sweet lady next door (in a much prettier house) saw us and invited us to look around her house.  It was exquisite!  Lisa was in house heaven!

Last Week & This Week...

Here's a recap for those of you who missed it...

1. DUSTIN GOT A JOB!... Check out "All Aboard" & "Celebrate" for more information

2. Dustin's biological father, Chuck, passed away...Check out "All Aboard" for more information

3. I've been couponing and getting some great deals

4. I am 3 months smoke free!

5. I started a weight loss blog/moved an old blog of mine to blogger... New & Improved

Stuff going on this week...

1. Da is in the hospital again with shortness of breath/COPD exacerbation

2. Jonathan is still in town from the funeral and D is so excited about spending some quality time with him today.

3. My mom & dad's cat may have a broken back :(

4. I'm going to Healthsouth tomorrow to start some PRN work.

Random thoughts today...

1. Random wifi at the hospital makes me smile.
2. I am officially a non-smoker. I can't stand the smell!!!
3. My patience has already been tested this morning. I think I handled it well!
4. They put a key pad on our office door at the hospital and I keep trying to put in my debit card pin number.
5. I am blessed beyond measure!

Wow.. what a crappy day!

I rarely have crappy Fridays but this one was mostly HORRIBLE!

• A disability eval's grandfather screamed and yelled because I didn't want the guardian in the the treatment room during the eval.
• Why not? 
• 1. Most disability evals we encounter just want a check and want their kid to be disabled so that they can continue to get more & more money... even if it was because they smoked crack while they were pregnant... we (taxpayers) still get to pay for their pitiful kids. (the kids usually are pitiful but the parents are usually mean and it makes me not feel compassionate toward them!)
• 2. Most parents refuse to shut up!  I am giving a STANDARDIZED test here!  You can't rephrase the question to get a certain answer!!!  The kid has to answer the question being asked or it is wrong.
• 3. Most kids act like a big whiny baby when momma's around.  They may not love being in the treatment room at first but give me a minute and let me do what I do and they'll warm up. And honestly, I can't take much whining.
• PS... I ended up having to let the grandmother in b/c the kid wouldn't warm up and then they tell me that yesterday he had a bladder test done and was held down to be catheterized!  The poor thing was probably scared out of his little gourd!
• FULL schedule - yes, I know... job security!  But OMG, I couldn't get anything done that I needed to do.  For every patient, there is paperwork and not all of it can be done with the patient sitting there trying to eat the playdoh.
• My friend is not preggers this month.

Enough with the negatives and thanks for letting me vent

Great things about today...

• Friday by nature
• An autistic child that I see cracked me up.  Instead of saying "please give me that back", he screams so loudly that it peels the wallpaper up, to which I usually calmly reply, "no screaming".  Today, I took a playdoh can away because he was trying to open it with his teeth. He screamed. I looked at him silently. He looked down sheepishly and quietly said, "no screaming."
• A friend that does home health called with a great story... Pt's granddaughter and her boyfriend bumped uglies in the next room as his treatment was going on!
• Paint The Town is always great
• I put a roast in the oven at lunch and had it ready by dinner.  It was delicious!
• The crackheads across the street moved all their crap out of the yard in the middle of the night.
• It's my dad's birthday!

Not much...

Not much going on right now.  We're still praying and waiting on a job for D.  Please pray for us to remember that God will provide and to not turn on each other.  One income + High stress/frustration = stupid arguments.

We have never really celebrated Valentine's Day but this year I kinda wanted to.  We spent all day Saturday and Sunday together.  It was nice just to slow down and spend quality time with D.  Maybe next year we'll do something big.

My bible study is focusing on PEACE this week.  Please, Lord!  I need some peace!!

Me...

• I freeze at night and wake up on fire
• I love to touch D's face/hair... he hates it
• Our dog weighs ~100 lbs and is only 7 1/2 months old
• I hate folding clothes
• D is always where I need to be in this little house
• I like to have my car with me wherever I am... don't be offended if I don't want to ride with you
• I can't understand foreign people but D thinks I should be able to b/c of my profession
• Pet Peeve: people stopping in the middle of an aisle makes me want to inflict physical harm
• Pet Peeve: brake tapping whether I'm in the car or behind someone
• Pet Peeve: incorrect usage of "their/they're/there", "to/too", "want/won't", "your/you're"
• Pet Peeve: TyPiNg LiKe ThIs and "skoo", "prolly"
• Pet Peeve: people who invade my privacy at work
• I use the ellipse way too much... but it's how I think
• I stutter and get tongue tied... a lot
• I went to Italy & Switzerland when I was 12 with my Dad (my Mom was afraid to fly)
• I want to do foreign missions one summer
• I'm mostly a plain jane 
• I LOVE scarves
• I can't say no to many things/people
• I am far from Proverbs 31
• I used to be overly organized and tidy... now I'm rarely able to find everything I need to get out the door in time. 
• I don't sleep well and can be very moody
• I never imagined that my Mom and I would be so close
• If you don't answer the first time I call, I think your dead in a ditch... expect a follow up call if you don't send me an "I'm alive/busy" text in a timely manner
• I am desperate for babies but I know that it's not the right time
• I'm afraid of the infertility monster
• I am also known as "Regina", "formatting queen", "wife", "Miss Ashley", "Momma", "Lisa", "Baby"
• I'm not that close with my family outside of Mom & Dad
• I have a tramp stamp

My Weekend... WILD

Friday.

Work. Pam & Vic's for dinner with the kids. Paint The Town. Home.

Work was decent for a Friday.

Pam & Vic's with the kids was fantastic as always!  I love those sweet babies (even if they are 9 and almost 5... they're still my babies)!!  The kids were sweet and lovey and I forgot how much I had missed them over the last few weeks.

Paint The Town was WILD.  I have not seen a group that wild in quite some time.  Lexie was doing her very best to teach "DaisyMae". People were singing so loudly that she finally shrugged and said "Ok, I guess we're singing now!"  It was so much fun.  I have not gone to hang out with the girls at PTT in almost 2 months for one reason or another and I'm so glad I did.

I am so proud of the girls.  It has been a rough year for everyone but they are really making this business super successful!

Saturday...

Woke up later than I wanted and didn't get to go work out. Tried to go to lunch with Rachel and got stood up :)  but she more than made it up to me!  I went to The Alabama Gift Company for coffee and conversation and then helped host and work a kid's birthday party.  They painted Hootie. The kids ranged in ages from 5 - 12.  They were such a sweet bunch of kids.  My favorite kid was a little boy with Aspbergers and this was his painting...

He had such an eye for parts of whole... "that bird is just 2 circles, a rectangle, and a triangle for the beak."

Saturday night after the party, Rachel, Katie and I went to El Tap for dinner and a couple of margaritas with Jsho and Nicole.  We had such a great time and wished that we could all get together more often.  After El Tap, we went to Katie's for awhile to help Jsho make some baby shower invites for a friend of hers.  Several of us received disturbing phone calls that turned our happy girls night into a cry fest.  I was so thankful to have a group of girls that I love dearly to cry and laugh with.

Sunday morning, I went to church and then we went to lunch with our small group at Top of The River.  After lunch, we went to mom and dad's house to help them move Da's stuff back to Bessemer.  The short explanation: it just didn't work out.  We quickly moved and reorganized his stuff and headed home.  Sushi for dinner on Mom & Dad :) and then home... finally.

The rug has been pulled...

Wow.  I feel like I've been hit by a truck.  Some stuff is going on that I would rather not discuss.  Please pray for me and D and this very awkward situation.  We need guidance.  I am so blessed to have D on my side.... even when I don't always see it.

Attention

Dear Dental Hygienists of the world,

Thank you for all of the truly hard and disgusting work that you do to keep our teeth bright and shiny.  I'm not really sure what they teach you in school but let me help you out a little...

I want vaseline on my lips because you are prying my mouth open about 10 degrees more than it's supposed to go. 

I know that your kids are very special and wonderful people but I don't know you or them and I just want to lay here in silence (this goes for manicurists and pedicurists too... and some hair dressers).

Thank you for being a perfectionist but those gums are supposed to be there...  I don't think you are supposed to scrape them off as well.

I guess that is all for now... see you in 6 months!  Can't wait to hear some more riviting stories about your kids.

Thanks,
Your patient

Long time... No blog... Beth Moore Weekend

It's been brought to my attention that I have not been blogging as much lately. I guess there's a few reasons for that. The biggest one is... I really never want to discuss private matters online.

A few weeks ago I felt God urging me to pursue a different direction at work. So I did (of course). I don't really know why I felt this urging. I decided (prayerfully) that this was not the direction I needed to go after all. Maybe He just wanted me to appreciate where I am. Who knows?? I know God knows and that's all that matters.

This past weekend I was able to go to Memphis to see Beth Moore with my church. Thankfully, my mom and Rachel were able to come too! It was such a blessing and an experience to be able to share this with them! God revealed many truths to me through this weekend. The arena was 13,000+ strong! It was truly overwhelming at first to hear those 13,000+ voices praising and worshiping God. Once the tears started, there was no stopping them!

One of the coolest things I noticed about Beth Moore was how she can tell you a story/example that is very personal and you know exactly how to use it, what happened and everything but you have NO details whatsoever. It's amazing to realize that I probably run my mouth too much and tell everything I know. This is definitely something I will be working on. There are just so many things to work on.

Some insights from this weekend at Beth Moore and other stuff....

• How deeply do we allow God to heal our wounds? Do we only let Him apply superficial dressing to mortal wounds?
• I HAVE to discipline myself. I have so much "self" discipline in every area of my life except my weight... food... exercise. It's because every other area is to please everyone else. Do I just not feel worthy of doing what's best for myself?
• I love MY bed! After ~12 hours on a church bus and a few in the hotel, I was ready to "waller" all over my bed.
• I need to tame my tongue and guard my facial expressions.
• God is abounding in love - He fights for us. He is loyal to us and we don't deserve it for one second. God Is Love. In order to love you less, He would have to become less. Love is his "is-ness". When nothing else makes sense.... go back to the simple undeniable fact that "Jesus loves ME! This I know" - not "think" not "assume" - KNOW.
• God maintains His love/ GUARDS his love so that he remains zealous for us. Do we do the same? for him? for our spouse? for our friends/family?
• Love is a willing feeling - it's a decision.
• God never withdraws his love from us but he does withdraw his blessings (think parents, grounding)
• Pain (emotional/physical) can become an idol - Hebrew "wound" = "asab" from the same root as "idol". The challenge is meant to become a servant to you not you to it. Is your misery a ministry?
• God is Scandalously forgiving - He forgives what we humans don't feel is worth forgiveness.
  
• We can only forgive others/ourselves as much as we feel forgiven!

I have....

been up since 4:30 after only falling asleep at 11:30 - what kind of cruel punishment is this???? but... i made good use of my time by catching up on the last day of last week's esther study and doing today's portion as well. already ...on my second cup of coffee... it's gonna be a long day!

busy weekend

My BIL (Jonathan) has been in town this weekend from TX... so lots of dinners and such were planned.
Friday night I went to paint the town of course.. very small and quiet class and then met up with some friends afterward. Dustin and Jonathan grilled out, spent some long awaited quality time and watched Dexter. I'm so glad they were able to spend that time together!
Saturday, we slept LATE (1130)! ahhh! Man I needed that sleep! We laid around the house until it was time to get ready for the game and dinner over at Pam and Vic's. Had some delicious ribs and other great tailgating foods. I took my niece with me to pick up something from our house. As soon as we got in the car she said, "Aunt Ashley, there's a girl in my gymnastics class that's a Christian and she got baptized!" I said, "That's great! Do you have any questions about it? Do you know what that means?" That's when the questions started! I don't know that I've ever had to share what being a Christian means... especially to a child - even if she is a very smart child! I immediately prayed for God to lead me and my words to plant the right seeds. I know that he did. She was very receptive and seemed to understand. When we got back to the party, she asked Pam if she could go to church with me the next morning (which was not already in the plans). She was sooooo upset when she told her that she had to meet her parents at 12 (30 minutes away). We worked it out with her parents and she was able to come with me. No decisions made but I love that she felt so strongly about coming and I know she's being worked on!
Sunday... went to church then took the kids to their parents then some shopping at Target and such until dinner at Pam and Vic's again - delicious!
Monday... worked 2 PRN jobs then dinner at catfish cabin with Pam, Vic, Jonathan, and Dustin. Now just laying around in PJs watching Dexter and about to hit the sack.

Things I'm looking forward to...
CAN'T wait for the beach in a couple of weeks!!
Starting a new study at church on Wednesday - Esther - It's Tough Being a Woman
Getting my PRN checks to have some spending money at the beach