Happy 21st Birthday Christopher!

Make a Smilebox greeting

Happy New Year

I guess you all expected a single girl in her late 20's to have big plans tonight......Well, I did but probably not the kind of big plans that you were thinking of. I am here at home with the family ringing in the New Year to a great big plate of chips and dips and some football. Yes, that's what I'm calling fun at this point. As I sit here tonight I have realized a few things.....First, of all this is my first "New Year's Eve" at home since I was too young to get plans together on my on. I usually spend this night with dear friends or the "significant other" that I'm with at the time making BIG, I mean, BIG plans for the coming year. I usually spend this night saying all the great things I am going to accomplish and the plans that I want to fulfill in the coming months. However, as I look back almost none of my plans have ever come to fruition. I never set really realistic goals for myself, or goals that I could really prayerfully do anything about. So, this year as I have looked back and began to think about 2009. I'm taking a little different perspective. I'm not going to plan on the diet I'm going on, or the man I'm going to marry, or even the next degree I might try to achieve. This year I'm going to stop and reflect for a moment on all that I've learned this year. The one thing that I have learned over and over in recent years is that "I'm not in control!" I wouldn't have chosen some things in my life to have turned out the way they have, but then again that's what I know! All that has been going through my mind in recent days is ...."when Samuel took a stone and set it between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, and said ""Thus far has the lord helped us!""....Now I'm not a biblical scholar, hey I may be taking the verse way out of context for all I know, but to me right now I feel like it's almost as if my Jesus is saying "Ashley, baby I've always taken care of you, and I'm not going to abandon you now!" In a strange kind of way that gives me peace, so instead of writing out a list of New Year's resolutions or telling anyone of you readers out there what all I'm going to do this year I've decided on two things. I am going to work really hard to remember my Ebenezer stone 1 Samuel 7:12 because "thus far had the Lord help me.", and I am going to try to read the bible through in 2009. I guess this doesn't measure up to all the BIG plans I've had in the past, but that sure seems like enough from where I sit. I'll let the other plans be revealed to me along the way! Enjoy the Journey, ~Ashley~ Here is 2008 in review

Make a Smilebox scrapbook And Happy 21st Birthday Christopher!

Crazy Christmas

This year to get in the Christmas spirit we did something a little different..........................we went to Dollywood! I had not been to Dollywood since I was in the 8th grade. It was lots of fun and lots of laughs. Uncle Tommy, Aunt Cathy, Mema, Mama, Daddy, and I all headed up the mountain on Monday the 21st and came back the next day. In case you are wondering YES we were dressed like Eskimos for a good reason. At the time of this picture it was about 16 degrees!!!!!Brrrrr Brrrrr I think the temperature dropped below O on the tram ride back to the truck that night, but who was keeping track, right? We did get to hear some good music and see some really good shows while we were there, and it did help to get us in the Christmas spirit. Here are some of the other pictures we posed for while on our mini vacation!

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

After our trip to Dollywood it was Christmas Eve! We made our annual trip to Lake View steak house for Mema & Papa’s anniversary. They decided to get married on Christmas Day one year when they didn’t have anything else to do. My, my how quickly the times change because it seems now days that we start celebrating earlier and earlier to fit it all in. Anyway, here we are in front of the restaurant.

I love you Mema & Pop:):):)

We left after dinner to get home to welcome Kerrie and Jerry home for the holidays! Yes, he is my favorite brother-in-law! Haha

Then, we were ready for all the excitement of Christmas Day WWWHHHEEE......

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

As you can see we had a wonderful, yet busy holiday! Now, we are taking down the decorations and preparing for the new year! I wish the very best for you and yours in the coming year!

Much Love,

~Ashley & the RACK Room Crew:)~

Merry Christmas

Love The Rackroom Crew

Happy Birthday Mema

Happy Birthday

Love You

Ashley

Loved Ones Remembered

Today it has been 3 years since that icy cold December afternoon that we said good-bye to Papa, Nanny, and Brenda. Today it is the loving memories that we each have, that we remember.

It's Beginning to Look a lot Like Christmas

I started this Blog two weeks ago, but all I completed was the title.......Does that happen to anyone else out there in the blogging world? Anyway, I have some photos and memories to share now especially after our Dollywood trip! I think those will have to wait though because I'm being called out the door to get in the Christmas crowd. Yep, you heard that correctly DAD wants to go out today. I think he's got Christian supply on his mind. I did want to share this picture with you because it took about and hour for us to figure out how to set the timer to get all three of us in there just right! It turned out pretty good! Merry Christmas:)

This was the first take ............ It's pretty funny because dad was being silly and mom didn't make it in time, but Lexie did. She was looking up at Dad really puzzled! Oh well, it was fun anyway.