A sweet moment....

Children just say the most crazy, bizarre, sweet, embarrassing,  innocent things....

The other day in the car I had just the most precious moment with Alex in the car.  It was a sweet reminder of how simple children make life and how blessed we are to be surrounded by children.

I wanted to share....

Hey a sweet moment happened in my car yesterday.  A big gust of wind blew the car while we were at a stop light.  Alex was in the car with me, he said wooo that was a big wind mom.  I said ya.  He said you think if I wrote a letter and let go of it in the wind that it would fly up to heaven?  I was caught way off guard.  He said, the other day I had a piece of trash at the park and the wind blew it out of my hand  and I think it went all the way to heaven.  I said, well Alex - I suppose that's possible.  He said - I just thought it would be neat to write a letter to Aunt Jean (what he called Jean Pharr), Old Grandpa, and Buffy (our neighbors dog that died).  A  small tear ran down my face and he said....oh mom - I bet they are having a big party up there mom.  When we all get there it will be one big party.  That of course made me smile and say - well yes it will be Alex, yes it will be.

the end :)

Ashley

HAPPY 1,000 POST BLOG!!!

I reached 1,000 posts on my blog!  How cool is that?!

I thought that deserved a good post, even though this post will put me over my average of one post a month :)  At first when I made my last post I couldn't NOT believe I went that long without blogging.  I would have guessed one month.  Oh well.  The lack of posts I guess just means I prioritized other things right?  That's what life is all about.  Prioritizing our time and making time to do the things important to us.   I'm a firm believer in doing what makes you happy. But let me clarify.  The blog is so important me.  I love it.  It's fun.  It's a srapbook. I love to share and I love to make time for it. Now that the boys have a bedtime routine for school, that means from about 8:30-10pm is my free time!  Sometimes I'll use that to catch up on housework. Sometimes I'll use it to catch up on TV and think of as little as possible.  Sometimes I'll use to have a Stay at the house date with Mike.  and those othertimes....I'll use it to update the blog!

Let me take you back to my first post.  April 2009! 

We've started a blog!!

Mike and I decided to start a blog today and we are pretty excited about it. A lot of the names we came up with were already taken..so we humerously thought of this one, I hope we aren't the only ones that find it's humor.  We'll try to keep it as updated as possible, and I'm guessing with me on maternity leave..it might be pretty often, but we'd thought you'd enjoy keeping up with our busy little lives.  Max and me spent most of the day cleaning and than we cooked some chicken fettucine for dinner to be ready when Mike walked through the door from work and we also took some over to Todd and Jennie's.  We watched American idol and than spent some time with Max in his nursery reading him some books, rocking him in the glider, and looking through some of his clothes.  We put him down in his pack n play around 9pm and he's been sleeping great so far but of course will be up for a feeding shortly.  We are waiting for the night he sleeps through the night, his longest stretch so far is from 10pm to 3am. I actually don't mind when he wakes  me up to eat, it lets me hold him and see him during the night, so I love that, but I love my sleep also..haha.  As soon as he gets a little bit more consistant with his sleeping patterns we'll put him in his crib, but for now he's in the pack n play bassinet next to mommy and daddy.

The Struggle is real, but so are the Blessings.

The Struggle is Real,

but so are the Blessings

Last week me and Mike got to help teach our Sunday school class.  We chose to do a lesson on parenting.  With kids all over heading back to school this week, we thought a good lesson on parenting could help us as we enter a new school year. I came up with the title after watching a pretty funny British comedian preform a skit on people who don't have kids verse people with kids.  He mentioned how when you have kids things you didn't even know were things become near impossible.  Me and Mike laughed how he left the house with kids and without kids.  We laughed as he talked about the differences  when you ride in a car with kids verse without kids. Our favorite part:

Without kids in passing by restaurant " Look a new restaurant....we should go there!  Any night...yes any night really.....

With kids "  Look, a new restaurant.....we will never go there.

Watching the skit not only made me laugh but it reminded me that parenting is sometimes a struggle.  It is not easy work, but I am not alone.  We all face challenges with parenting.  But this time of year it is also easy for me to look at my children as a blessing.  Max is going into the first grade tomorrow, as I am also preparing for Alex's 4th Birthday party.  It never gets easy that first day of school watching your child walk into school with a backpack on their back.  Its an emotional day.  You are proud, you are excited, you are nervous, you are tired, you are anxious, you are sad, you are stressed, you are filled with joy.  It's an emotional day.  

Below is an outline of our lesson.  I invite you this week as you go through the emotions of parenting, that you flip through the below bible verses and think of the below questions.  Be honest with yourself, and hopefully one or two things will stick out to you and you can carry them with you through the school year.

1.      P is for Perspective

a.       As parents we need to keep focus and prioritize those things that God says are important.  We need to remember to ask for wisdom in dealing with children and each other

b.      Psalm 90:12

c.       James 1:15

d.      What does perspective mean to you as a parent?

e.       When was a time you had to prioritize your children over something else?  Or vise versa?

2.      A is for Attitude

a.       As parents we need to have a positive cheerful outlook and pray that the fruits of the spirit would be evident in our lives and have an attitude that was also in Jesus.

b.      Philippians 2:2-3

c.       Do you and your spouse have a united front when it comes to parenting?  When are you?  When are you not?

3.      R is for Relationships

a.       Relationships are important.  With God, with each other, with our kids, with our parents, and as parents.

b.      Ephesians 6: 1-4

c.       What is a relationship you personally can improve as a parent?

                                                                      

4.      E is for Energy

a.       Parenting is hard work!  As parents we pray God would refresh us and rejuvenate us in hopes that he renews our strength and replenishes our energy, and that we not grow weary in well-doing, but persevere.

b.      Isaiah 40:31

c.       When are you the most tired as a parent? Or where do you struggle?

5.      N is for Needs

a.       We often pray that God would provide for all of our needs.

b.      Philippians 4:19

c.       How do you talk to your children about needs vs wants, privileges, etc.

d.  How do you teach your children to help provide for others who have needs?

6.      T is for Testimony

a.       Do you live your life with integrity? Do you strive to be the salt and light in your community so that the love of Christ shines through you?

b.      Proverbs 3:3-4

c.       We all love our children.  What are ways we can show them this? 

d.  In what ways do you children witness Christ shining through you into the community?

7.      S is for Security

a.       Do you recognize God as the source of your security?

b.      Psalm 121

c. Is God the first one you turn to in a time of need?       

d. What is a song, or verse, etc that gives you comfort in a time of need?

Just call me Erin Brockovich

Just call me Erin  Brockovich

Well, ok, not exactly but I thought it would be a cute title and

I love the movie and I am working in a Law Firm, so sort of right?


Believe it or not, last week marked my 1st Anniversary at Van Es Law Firm, PA.

Here's a throwback picture to me on my first day of work last year.

 (Photo rights courtesy of my mom)

Last year year my brother called me one day and said he was in need of an office assistant/legal assistant at his Law Firm and he thought of me.  I was at the time staying home with my 2 year old son Alex, and my 5 year old son, Max who was in preschool two days a week.  I hadn't really thought about going back to work yet, but something just felt right.  I thought it would be fun to go back to work just a few days a week.  I thought it would be good for my mom to spend more time with the boys and good for me to get out and socialize in the working world.  My mom said she could help with the boys, so I called Todd back, took a leap of faith, accepted the position, and here we are a year later going strong.

I wasn't sure what to expect.  I didn't have any legal experience, but I had been a Marketing intern for Tyson Foods, a Marketing Manager with Lindsey Management Co., and a Senior Producer in Visual Merchandising at Walmart Home Office, so I was excited to see what all I could contribute and how fast I could learn.

First of all let me say, it has all been a completely different experience than what I had envisioned when I first accepted the position, but in a good way. My brother practices mainly in Bankruptcy, Estates, Wills/Trusts, and Probate, but there are also so many more cases I have seen him tackle including Family Law, Divorce, LLC's, adoption, guardianship, criminal law, and more. I have learned in the past year how passionate my brother is about his job, and how good he is at.  He is such a hard worker, and helps so many people.  Yes - he is a lawyer that helps people.  He is so good at helping people.  I have learned that what he specializes in isn't easy.  It's not easy to talk to someone about filing bankruptcy, but he's good at it.  He's a people person.  It's not easy to talk to someone about planning their future death, and preparing for it, but he's good at it.  He is sensitive and real.  It's not easy to talk to someone about a child they desperately need to get back, a husband they need to let go, or about a mother that they are trying to help in the way that she once them, but he's good at it.  He is understanding and will listen.

I'm so thankful I was given this opportunity.  I have not only learned a lot about the Legal world, but I have gotten to spend a few days a week with my brother visiting and working together, achieving goals, and making each other better. Not a lot of people can say that about their job.  I am so excited to see what this year has to come.  If you are ever in need of a lawyer.  If you are one of the estimated 120 million adult Americans that do not have an up to date estate plan to protect yourselves and your family.....maybe you can take the first step today and give Todd a call at Van Es Law Firm by calling 479-366-2715 and setting up a informational consultation and you will get a briefly experience a little what I have been blessed to work with this past year.

So...
Thank you to my brother for taking a chance on me
Thank you to my mom for all of the help with the kids
Thank you to my very understanding Husband
Thank you to the Circuit Court for helping entertain Alex when I bring him with me to file
Thank you to all the people that have helped teach me
and Thank you to all who read this and get something out of it

Happy One year to me!

Here's to another great year!

Ashley

A Day with Bekah and Matt

Our neice Bekah turned 8 in March!  Bekah is Mike's brother Matt's daughter.  We don't get to celebrate with her at Birthday parties because she does those with her mom's side so the boys like to have her over every year to our house to play and have fun celebrating her Birthday for a day.  Matt's Birthday is also in March so it worked out good.  It was pretty weather.  The kids loved to play outside in the new sandbox.  We also used Matt's truck and bought us some wood to start the fort that day!  We invited a few neighbors over to play in the back yard as well.  We decorated, cooked a big lunch, and made her some Birthday dessert.  We sang to her, opened presents, played and visited.  It was a fun day to have Matt and Bekah over.  We get to see them in a few weeks when we go down to Nashville for Tracy's family side reunion.  Looking forward to that.

It was a litle sunny

Our neighbor Maddie playing in the sand box

Add caption

Fun in the sandbox

Birthday present time!

Maddie gave her a cute card and some fun gifts too

She loved out sunglasses, lalaloopsy doll and some clothes

Matt, Mike, and their helpers get to work on the fort

The kids were fascinated with the big holes in the yard for the wood

Alex, Bekah, and Max

group shot

Happy Birthday Bekah!!!!!

Gymnastics

Gymnastics at the Little Gym

I put Alex in a gymnastics class for a few months to make friends and to give him something fun to do and look forward to.  I signed him up at the Little Gym in Rogers on Fridays at 10am.  He loved it.  He learned so many new things.  I would definately recommend them.  We took a break from Gymnastics for soccer and tball season.  Also since the weather is getting warmer we will probably spend more time outside in the yard or a park instead of inside at a gym but we definatley plan on going back this year maybe start back in August when Max starts school so Alex will have something he gets to start too.  I took some pictures of him at gymnastics below.