Dinner

Tonight we had dinner at Baker's 360 with Todd and Kristin and Chris and Amanda.  It really was a great meal!  The atmosphere was amazing, the view was amazing (15th floor -great view of Lexington), and the waiter was great.  Todd had a coupon for $100 off if you spent $200, so for the 6 of us, we were able to get $30 off per couple (I hope that doesn't make us sound too cheap, but we all like to take advantage of good deals).

Unfortunately I only got 1 picture from the evening

 

Best Things About 2010

January-December - getting a good portion of our house remodeled to fit us- living room, dining room, bathroom

 January - Unfortunately the earthquake in Haiti makes the list of the worst things about 2010, but the response to the earthquake makes my best list.  Southland members sent 63,000 pounds of supplies and $65,000 for other relief measures.  I'm thankful for all the volunteers who selflessly went to help out

February -   The Colts made it to the Superbowl-unfortunately, they didn't win;  however, we were happy that Drew Brees former Purdue University player (Brian's school) did win

February -  Baby Charlotte was born 

March - Baby Hannah was born

April - Reading Crazy Love by Francis Chan -my favorite book of the year - although, I'm not really sure what month I read it - it may have been May or June- if you haven't read it, I highly recommend it.  It made me ask myself, "Am I living for Jesus?  Am I loving and serving others like Jesus?"

May -  Vacation to Italy and Austria~ a lifelong dream of mine.  I loved every minute of the trip.  My favorites were:  the Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, Tuscany, the food, getting lost in Venice, and the fortress in Salzburg ~Oh how I miss gelato

May - Girls weekend at my house

 June - New Job!  I'm finally back in OB and loving it :) - picture of the doctor I work for- Berry and his daughter

   June - Weekend getaway to Lake Cumberland with our friends

July -  4th of July at Greg and Rebecca's

August -  Mary's surprise birthday weekend

 September-  Southland Christian Church bought the old Lexington mall- can't wait to see what God has in store there

October - Nikki's and Justin's wedding

October - Chris Tomlin concert - my favorite singer- awesome worship experience

November - Jesus Prom - one of my favorite nights of the year - prom for mentally and physically handicapped individuals - I'm sure Jesus was smiling during the whole event.    Luke 14: 12-14  "Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid.  But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

November -   Completing foster parenting classes -we have really been praying over the children that will be in our house

December - 4th Anniversary

December -Chris and Brittney's engagement

December - Ugly Christmas Sweater Party

 

December - Christmas with our families

 It's been a great year!  There have been lots of ups, a few downs, but great overall!

 

Snow Fun

Brian, Peyton and I braved the cold and played in the snow yesterday.  We only lasted about a half an hour, but it was fun for the short time.  I grew up in North Central Indiana and should be used to the cold, but in the past 4 years we have been in Lexington, I have become a Southerner and have gotten used to warmer weather and love it.

We set the camera up and turned on the timer and initially had Peyton in the picture, but about a second before it went off, she took off.  I love our mismatched clothes~we went for warmth rather than style

Take 2 - Brian holding her this time

It was too cold for pitiful Charlie boy, so he had to stay inside

Peyton loved chasing snowballs and having them thrown at her

Happy Birthday Sarah

Hope you have a great day!  I'm thankful for you!  You're a great wife, mother, and friend!  You have a heart of gold and such an optimistic personality.  You're one of those people that everyone loves to be around.  I'm also so thankful that God added Hannah to your family this year~she's just too precious. 

Happy Birthday Sweet Friend! 

1 Samuel 12:24  "Consider what great things He has done for you."

Merry Christmas

Luke 2: 1- 20    "In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.  (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register.
  So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.  He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.  While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born,  and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
  And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.  An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.  But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.  This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
  Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
  When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.  But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.  The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told."

We wish you a Very Merry and Blessed Christmas! 

Christmas in Indiana Part Two

Wednesday Brian and I drove to Indiana again to spend two days with my family.  Once again, we had a great time.  My mom made a delicious breakfast Thursday morning and my Grandpa and Aunt Marion and Uncle Denny came over, also.  I just love hanging out with my parents.  Here are a  few pictures:

My brother's girlfriend has two sweet kids.  This is Tylene showing off  a music box she got for Christmas

My dad with Wyatt

My mom and dad

 

My mom is talking in the next pix - we took several group shots, some with my camera and some with my brothers and this was the best one I ended up with - Wyatt was excited to show off his pillow pet and Tylene was excited to show off her music box -maybe we can get a better picture in the spring

Before heading back to Lexington, we stopped at Dave and Beth's and hung out and had pizza.  I got some cute pictures of their kids, but it's on a different sim card.  :(

Lexington is supposed to get 2-4" of snow tonight!!!  We're so excited, looks like it will be a white Christmas.

We're so thankful for this time of year! 

Merry Christmas! 

To: Addie Girl

Happy 5th Birthday Sweet Addie Girl!!!  5 years ago my dear lovely friend Sheri asked me to be with her and her husband during her delivery ~ that was back in the old days when I was a labor and delivery nurse.  That was such a great day filled with wonderful memories.  ~I stole all the photos from Sheri.  I have a lot of pictures of Addie, but none saved to my computer.  Sorry, I couldn't find any pictures of Addie and Brad. 

Such a beautiful baby

the next picture is one of my all time favorite photos ~ just a little melt down

Addie and Drew 

 

Happy Birthday Sweet Girl!! I thank God every time I remember you.  

Love, Ashley

Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you,"  declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Christmas in Indiana

This past weekend we had Christmas at Brian's parents.  We got up there Friday afternoon and went to Ivanhoe's for dinner and ended up running into our Chapel Hill friends ~ it was great and shocking ~Dave, Beth, Noel, and Elise;  Scott, Robin, Kendall, and Grant;  and Randy, Angie, Megan and Mason.  We hung out for about an hour.   We loved catching up with everyone.   Later Friday evening Chris and Brittney arrived.  Indiana is quite shockingly cold for a Texas girl, hopefully she'll come back.  Saturday we drove over to Purdue and met Doug for lunch.  Sunday we celebrated Christmas and opened stockings and presents.  We had a great weekend!  Brian's family is so great!  We wish we could see everyone more frequently~too bad we're all so far away from each other. 

Friday night Brian and I were messing around waiting for Chris and Brittney to show up.  Mary has a Purdue and Colts snuggie.  

 

Messing around with Charlie

The three dogs getting along

 

Indy sits wherever he wants

 

are we really this pale?

 

Melissa and Michael

 

The newly engaged couple -Chris and Brittney - wish I had gotten a picture of Brittney's beautiful ring ~ we can't wait for their wedding next June

Indy helping us clean up after presents

We love spending time with family!