Love from Ashley!

I have to say THANK YOU & I love you each from the bottom of my heart for each of my blog readers who follow my blog & have reached out.  I have had so many e-mails & notes that have touched my heart, & also my Father's.  Dad was able to leave the hospital on Tuesday.  As of now, he is doing well, just resting a lot & on a very strict diet.  What we found out about his condition before he left the hospital was that he had 98% blockage in one area & 70% in another.  He is scheduled to go back in 30 days to have them go in & look at another few areas of blockage of concern.  At that time they will possibly do another stent or as the doctor mentioned an open heart bypass surgery.  They will not be clear on the extent of the blockage until they do some more searching.  They have recognized some other areas of blockage so we are praying for that right now.

These next 30 days are crucial to me.  I want as many people out there that read my blog to just throw a prayer our way not only for Dad's healing in his current state, but also healing over what could come.  We believe that through God all things are possible & I truly in my heart know that God can heal my Dad.  I am praying each day as I think of him asking God to heal what could be there & just take it away.

When I sat down this week to visit with my Dad I remember us sitting on his porch during one afternoon & him talking about how all of these comments have touched his heart.  He has read every one of them, he follows my blog daily.  He said that this was such a good testament for him personally & that God has touched him through reading these comments about truly reaching out to others in time of need showing them love, support, prayer & devotion. It's true.  Sometimes we say we will pray for someone or even think that they are going through a hard situation & don't realize the extent of really how hard it is on that person going through it.

... I was talking to a friend on the phone the other day just chocking up with her about the situation that has happened with my Dad.  I explained to her how hard it was that day to not know what was going to happen & how hard it was that my Mom was out of town rushing to be by his (our) side.  I truly know now that we don't always realize how hard something is in someones life until you actually experience yourself.  I really thought I could lose my Dad that day in that moment.  That fear is something I will never forget.

I feel like my last few posts have really been a journal in my life.  I am thankful.  I love my pictures & updates on each moment of our life, but I truly feel that when something is touching an important part of my life with my family & in my heart with something, I need to remember it forever.  I am so thankful to write my thoughts in my journal & share them with each of you.  I hope I am always taken very real, honest, humbled, & true.  I am only that.  I enjoy life's sweet moments & if I can be a light & share some of my story, I will.  

So, my week.

My week has flown by.  We have kept busy doing the usual although I must admit that I have been somewhat depressed.  Gloomy more than anything.  I found myself going to the gym trying to do my normal routine on Monday & ended up leaving my spin class because I just couldn't do it.  I had no energy & wanted to be alone.  That evening I cheered up because I was to take pictures of our awesome neighbors & their sweet family of "almost 5"!  It really made me smile & helped me get out of my funk. They have been really great neighbors to us!

We had another milestone in our life on Tuesday.  Avery got rid of her passy at the dentist.  It was the greatest idea!  The doctor just said she didn't need it anymore & she said ok.  It has been great!  Although I can't lie, we have had 2 horrible restless nights out of the ordeal, I was up all night the first night!

She did great during her X-rays.  She thought the dentist was "cool".

I have also been busy this week decorating for a baby shower that was Thursday evening.  My sweet friend 

Erica hired me to help throw Amanda's baby shower.  We all spin together.  It turned out beautiful!  I made an awesome centerpiece that I can't wait to share & show in detail how you can make it too!  If you follow me on Instagram I post tons more there!  I made a cute wreath & added all kinds of other cute details!


Here is a glimpse, I actually didn't even bring my camera in I was SO busy trying to get everything together- so all of these pictures are on my phone.  It was so nice shopping last week for these pretty goodies, it kept my mind off life a bit.

 I took Avery to the pool a few times this week & then Friday night we celebrated not having a passy so we enjoyed dinner at her favorite & jump zone!!  So much fun!

I ended my week/weekend with the greatest time of all, seeing my sweet Mom & Dad.  Chad & I went over there to visit & it was so nice.  He was looking himself & acting more himself.  I am just so thankful for this man.  What a blessing in my life.  I have said before that being at their home is like being at a resort.  Their backdoor is on the water & it's so relaxing & peaceful.  I just love the nature part of it, the boats, summer, the tree frogs, the plants, tree's, smell... you name it.  The perfect place where I think of nothing,  is their back porch! =) The good life.

Thanks again for all your support, you are beyond thought of by our entire family!