Memory Lane...and then some

It is always fun and enjoyable to take a stroll down memory lane. I decided to go back and read my blog of what was happeneing around a year ago...back in September of 2009 was when I decided to take the leap and move out of my parents. I loved living at home, but I LOVE living by myself! I also joined a church, but never got plugged in...which is so incredibly sad, but the good news is I have found a church that I am so plugged into and just want to get even more plugged in!
OKay, I am so over memory lane...let's talk about this half marathon I am slaving over. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE to run! I have been doing all my training on the tredmill...which I am fine with, but once you pass a certain amount of miles...8 being my number...the tredmill has just gotten boring. This afternoon I will quickly run my 5 miles on the tredmill, but tomorrow morning, Amber and I will put on as little, but modest clothing as possible and hit the sidewalks. We have a 9 miler to pull outta ourselves tomorrow, but I know we can do it. We have already chatted about where we will have our water stops and the time we are pushing for. Just a few more weeks until race day, and I am getting pumped! We will do our weekend long runs together, and our short 5 mile runs on our own. I can say 5 miles is a short run because after you run 8, you live for only 5.
Fall is right around the corner...what I look most forward to is the cooler weather, my coffee addiction steps up a notch, college football, high school soccer, and my most favorite thing is sweatshirts and jeans...and now that I have a cute chair on my deck...naps on the deck wrapped up in my quilt that my Granny so beautifully made for me!!!
64 days till NYC!!!!!

What a weekend...

Wow. Talk about an extremely fun weekend! Met a new friend, watched some baseball, lost some money, met more new friends, ran 8 miles, went out on the lake, bonfire, church, lunch with friends, and small group cook out!! I had an adventuresome weekend...it was awesome(lowercase a)!!!
The sermon at church was off the chain yesterday! There was a guest speaker, whose name I cannot remember, but his initials are J.J. Anyway, wow. The Lord really used him to speak to all the Summiters!
I am having some issues at work this morning. As I was throwing the football last night, when I caught it, it hit a couple of my fingers strangely, and now I have 2 swollen and very sore fingers. Oh well, I had fun, so that trumps the issues...plus, no pain, no gain...although that statement doesn't really apply to this current situation, it is still my favorite situation.
An update on the running. I felt like an old lady. My joints, my bones, my head...everything was sooo sore while I was running my 8. It was painful...but, no pain no gain. I got through it and I am looking forward to my 2 5 milers and my 9 miler this weekend. Just a few more weeks and a will have finally completed my 1st half marathon!! Woohoo!!!
I am looking forward to my afternoon...I will be plopped at Starbucks having devo time!!

secrets

This is it folks, this is what you have all been waiting for...Ashley over here is going to reveal some of her deep secrets which I don't think many if any even know...are you ready? can you handle the truth? classical music. absolutely LOVE it. piano's and violins...holy cow. I know some people love a good rap song and yes, I love a good Black Eyed Peas song to get me pumped up before a workout, but play me some classical music and I get pumped in a calm way. Were you able to handle that secret? ready for another? i have many...but, i dont think i want to share them all right now...so, i will keep you on the edge of your seat about knowing Ashley's crazy secrets...
I need a new layout for this blog that i am failing at...i need something inviting, something that will make me want to blog. so, if you know a site that has cute layouts, let me know. i need to spice things up here, so that when i read my own blog i am not drowing in ugliness, but creativity.
oh, by the way, it is FRIDAY!!!!! although i feel i have alot going on this weekend, i am pumped and excited! as soon as i get my long runs over with everything will be chill. with my ramblings being rumbled, i am going to get back to work.

OMG...Ashley is ALIVE!!!

Yes, that is a true statement...I am alive and very well indeed. Before I begin with all the random things that make up my interesting life, I would like to give a shout out to one of 2 or 3 people that actually read my nonsense...Amanda Geer Hadley this is your shout out!! Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your BIG day!! I was honored to get to be the program attendant, and what really topped it all off was catching the bouquet at your amazing reception! You were one gorgeous bride, and your wedding was perfect! I wish you and Chesson every happiness!!!

As I like to say...let me bring it back to center (meaning me)...this summer has truly flown by. I have met some amazing people and done some pretty amazing things! I cannot remember what I blogged last so I will just give a quick run down of July...I went to the beach 2x's...the first time was with some friends and we were there all weekend...the second time I left my apartment at 3AM, drove to the outer banks...got there by 6AM, picked up my friend...we stopped fr=or breakfast and were back at my apartment by 10AM...that beach trip was the most fun!!! Went to an amazing wedding!!...painted, did serveRDU with Summit serving under an amazing leader and awesome friend...we were doing Extreme Makeover:Library Edition!! We have one more work day and then it should all be finished!!! The big thing that has been going on is training for my half marathon. Amber and I are running on September 5th in Virginia Beach!! We are both pumped and excited!! I love beasting those runs! I feel like I could take over a small country! I have crossed some things off my summer bucket list...and my new years list too...all in all...I am loving life!

the BEST thing that has happened is how much my relationship with the Lord is growing! He has placed some amazing people in my life! My prayer was that the Lord would bless me with a friendship where we could grow in the Lord and encourage each other...I not only got 1 friend...I got a slew...talk about awesome blessings! I have a friend, Sarah, who I am currently studying Proverbs with. We are keeping each other accountable in making wise decisions...let me tell you, if you want some wisdom, open your Bible up to Proverbs...you will get punched in the face...in a good way. Another study I am doing is called Breaking Free by Beth Moore. I am doing this study with Shyana. Let me just tell you what an amazing study this is. Seriously, grab a friend and do this study. We are only on week 3 and I am amazed at how much the Lord is teaching me. What makes it even better is that we are meeting once a week just to discuss what we are learning. We talk about it during the week too just to make sure we are staying faithful in studying God's Word!! I could go on and on about what I am learning, but I will stop now.

Okay...I have typed enough...I am now going to eat Mexican food...until next time...whenever that is :)

Ready to begin...again

My last post was simply a statement...not really a post. After speaking with some friends last night, I do believe that it is about that time that I start to blog...again. Where do I begin? So much has happened since April 10th...the last time I actually posted something somewhat decent. Let me see...I went on a Young Pro's beach trip with Summitt and met some AMAZING people, whom, I know, we will be friends forever!!! I turned 23...woohoo...and now feel so much more mature and grownup!!! Okay, yes, I usually say that because it sounds funny. Can you really feel that much more grown up in just a few days...my answer YES!!! I don't know what it is, maybe it has been because I have been sarcastically repeating it that it has just set in that I do feel more mature and grown up. When I say mature, I do not mean that I don't joke or have fun...trust me, I like to have fun...good clean fun!!! Moving on from my suddenly blossomed maturity...I am just busy busy busy. I do sooo much! Stay up late...which is not an Ashley norm...get up early...which is an Ashley norm...hang out with people all through out the week...which is so much fun and I get my energy from the people I am with, but do love some good ole me myself and I time on the couch!! Ohh....I am currently training for a half marathon...and I am trucking along! My sister and I, and a friend, and possibly some from my small group will be heading up to Virginia Beach in September to the Rock and Roll Music Half Marathon!! I am pumped and ready!!!

There is soooo much more going on, but I need to head to Starbucks before work...let me just say one of the most exciting things that I am pumped and excited about...as I was sitting on the floor chatting with a friend...Molly...talking about how I wanted to go to New York again...the next thing I knew, she and I were booking our flights for October...so spur of the moment...so exciting!!! I know that we are going to have an amazing time!!!

Okay...I must depart...until next time, and I do promise(Amanda) there will be a next time!!! ;)

Birthday!!!

Guess what?!?

Today is my birthday!!!! Happy 23rd Birthday to me!!!!

I gotta feeling...

Have you ever just randomly had that feeling that it is about time you blogged again?!? Well, I got that feeling as I was walking to Starbucks this morning. I know that I have been away for a little bit...when you spend 9 hrs on the computer at work, and then come home and spend an additional 4 hours doing homework...the computer gets old. My computers and I spend WAY too much time together. Anyway, it's about time that I put up a new post...

I will just start with this past week...CRAZY, but AWESOME!!! I did not have any coaching this week since the school is on spring break...what a blessing...I did not know that I would be SWAMPED with school work this week...God knew! He always has my back! I like going into work early...I have been coming in earlier since soccer season is going on...it is peaceful. The phones don't ring that early...unless my favorite Greensboro man calls me :). I feel that I get sooo much done between 6:30 and 8...it is amazing! I did have a bit of trouble getting my young bones outta bed every morning...I know, I am young, and proud to be! :)

AWESOMENESS report:

Things are really picking up at the world of Marble. Well, things are picking up for the whole company, but what I see is wholesale marble orders...oh, and ALOT of people bringing in applications...or new people being hired. I think that I ran the company dry of paper and staples this week. Speaking of stapling...my electric stapler is out of staples and has been for over a month...I should probably order or go buy some, but I have just been using the old hand held...I miss my electric stapler...he really is a good teammate when I have loads of paper to pair up!

Okay, let me just state that I LOVE Michael Buble. Now that I have said that, I can get on with my life...or not, let me say it again...I LOVE Michael Buble. His voice, his music...wow...not to mention, he is dashingly handsome. I am currently being serenaded by his beautiful voice!

Well, I know that many of you have waited to here this, but...I am in LOVE...with my quilt! :) Haha! My Granny...my AMAZING Granny, made my sister, Dad, and older brother quilts...and then she made mine...it is PERFECT. We snuggle, cuddle, hang out...perfect. I told Granny last night that any guy I ever meet will be compared to this perfect creation! Haha!

What is that I hear?!? Nothing...which means I need to fold my warmly dried clothes!

Enjoy this gorgeous Saturday...until next time I sit down on blogspot...

an incredibly happy, content, and joyous me!