Attitude is Everything

I used to think that we choose our path in life...now I'm deciding that the only choice I get in life is the color of shoes I wear on my path and before I get to carried away in my philosophical nonsense, let me catch you up on a few things. It has been a while since I have made a post on this thing and far to much has happened to even tempt me into relaying the events of the past few months, but here is a brief summary:

1. I moved! And while I would like to say it was a great accomplishment for me, I would be lying! Because there is no way I would have been able to move as efficiently as I had without the awesome help I employed! Can I say I employed them if I didn't actually pay them?...

2. My mom and I decorated my house to its maximum 'cute' capacity. Now that my apartment is more a home to me, all I do is clean my messes, watch Seinfeld and sleep.

3. I got the COOLEST love seat! (it's a circle big enough for two adults, it spins and rocks!)

4. I enjoyed a week in CA, spending time in Disneyland with the Spear family and visiting Gina and her husband. The whole trip was a blast!

A growing thought is ever creeping into my conscious mind, "where is my path leading me?" I know I would have to be a seer or dead to really answer that question - but I feel as though my life is a growing tree but instead of seeing the rings of growth...I feel them. Like rings on a tree I can feel the years of drought and the years of heavy rain. Even in the past few months I have made some pretty important decisions...important decisions that I have been sitting on during my years of drought. But now it's like a little rain cloud finally made its way into the central Phoenix area and started to sprinkle on me (finally!). If you know me then you know rain is never a bad thing, making my decisions easier and my trunk a little thicker. Some of my bigger accomplishments at this time in my life are (1) I have gone to church 7 weeks in a row and I have participated in my callings and even ward parties! (2) I am giving my kitty a better home where she will be with a family who has a little more time and the means to keep her happy and (3) I found a guy who adores me (so this is what that's like!). Man, I can't get over unpredictable my path has been. Who ever said, "eliminate 'never' and 'always' from your vocabulary" is wise! Time really heals and changes things...I'm only just now getting a glimpse at the difference between my time line and God's time line. With my ever eventful ways I tend to stay quite busy and I love how God blesses you for being obedient! It's a constant challenge to keep up with all my plans and ideas but it seems so much easier when I'm living the way I should...hmm that's food for thought.

I feel like I'm back on track...or at least I am really enjoying the color of my shoes!

Until next time...

Love, Ashley

On the Horizon

Last week past like a blur, but I was able to accomplish some small goals. For example, yesterday I went to a scrapbook event with my friend Amanda and completed my trip to Washington state (from December of '07). I only have about 5 more albums to go, but I did the scrapbook entirely online in about two hours and sent my pages off to be printed at Costco...my how the world of scrap booking has changed. I think by next week I should be all caught up and able to keep my scrapbooks under control. Though, I observed that I don't take enough photographs and I have made a small resolve to take more pictures. I also went shopping with Stephanie and got some dressy sandals (which were way over due!) for work and whatever else I may need them for.

My house is pretty much packed up. I just have a few more things in my room which I need to throw into boxes but other than that, I am eating off of paper and plastic from food I either cook in the microwave, pour milk into like cold cereal...or I have to eat out now until the first week of August. By the way...I had to go get those dressy sandals yesterday because I packed all my nice shoes and went to work on Thursday in a really cute outfit with not-so-cute shoes...it wasn't so bad except people kept pointing out my blunder...oh well - I'm a people pleaser so my natural reaction was to go get shoes that will not be so offensive the next time around. :P

As I sit here and write this, D.O.G. is laying down at my feet and he is sooo cute, he just wants to be wherever I am and every so often he adjusts to make sure he is still close enough. He was such a great idea, and I am so glad I have him.

Well, that's enough for now.

My Life

So, today I just decided I want a scooter (see picture). I think life is too short to be worried about death all the time, plus it helps soften the blow to one of my least favorite things (gas prices: see 'not-so favorite things' list). I'm going to take a motorcycle crash course (emphasis on course not crash) which will make me a riding pro so I can venture out on my scooter in a safe manner. I want to join some kind of 'scooter posse' or something so if you know of any - let me know! :)

This week was a week of implusive, long-term ideas because I have also started planning a road trip with my friend Stephanie! We are going to travel to Kirtland, OH then drive to Nauvoo, IL and then head down to MO. We will be visiting early Church historical sites (for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints otherwise known as Mormon) and having a lot of cool experiences on the way.

I am so excited for my two ideas!