Show us your life Singles- My friend Amy.

Today I am participating in a fun post at my girl Kelly's blog for "Show us your life Singles 2013".  I have been waiting patiently for this post to come as I want to share someone very special & near to my heart to the world, & of course locals too in NWA.

She has no clue I am doing this but ya'll, I have to share...

Two years ago I was introduced to someone that I have grown very close to who is one of my nearest & dearest friends.  She has taught me so much about being a strong woman & is an amazing girl.

Meet Amy...

I could go on for days about the loyal friendship she has given me & the sweet spirit she has blessed my life with but let me just first start by telling you a little about what she is all about in her day to day life!

Amy just turned 35 on Tuesday.  She is tall, & beautiful.  She has a sweet adorable Sheltie dog, Mia.  Amy loves music & concerts.  She enjoys country music but can't help but love some fun hip hop & 90's rap!  {Trust me, I would know}. When we are on the phone she is always humming to a song that is on; love that about her!  She loves her music.

Amy has always been that girl that enjoys being with friends.  Whether it be hanging out watching a game, cooking with friends, celebrating an occasion or just getting together to have fun, she always has something funny to say to make us smile!  She is easy to be around whether we are just chilling at at a friends house, or out & about listening to a band with a group of friends.

She is a HOG fan & loves going to games & spending time with friends tailgating!  

In the heart of HOG country, we love our Razorbacks!

Amy loves attending church as well as being active with mentoring young woman out of the foster system.  She devotes time to meet with these ladies & loves to encourage them on ways to better their lives.  

I personally love this girl.  Yes, I am partial because she is one of my best friends.  But, I have to say she is a catch.  She has changed my life, that's for sure.  I have been married for 8 years & look up to her wisdom in so many ways.  

A true friend I will have forever...

Feel free to e-mail me @ Ashleyavenue@hotmail.com!

January so far...

It's been such a great month so far starting off this New Year.  I am just keeping busy, enjoying my Woman's Bible Study classes on Wednesday morning, throughout the week being with Avery teaching her new things when she isn't at school,  spending time at the gym getting back in top shape for summer & hanging with my adorable friends that I am so blessed with!

One highlight of my month so far was getting to meet this lovely friend Becka!  She lives in Dallas & has been following my blog since I started it.  We have been friends on Facebook/Instagram for so long following each others daily lives.  I was completely in shock when said she was coming into my town to have dinner with me!  We had such a great time.  We laughed for hours!

Recently she opened up her own boutique, Kiki La' Rue.   It's an amazing business that is just doing so great, go  like them on Facebook now!!!  She is always doing amazing giveaways.  When my Dad had his heart troubles she sent me 4 outfits & 4 pieces of jewelry for NO reason but to brighten my life during those hard days.  Oh such a humbled diva she is!

This Month we also celebrated my friend Lane & Danielle's birthdays!  We enjoyed a night of dinner & bowling, laser tag & go cart riding.  Man us 30 year old Momma's really know how to have a good time! They bless my life!

Got my friends a special gift from one of my fav stores, Perfect Choice.   

My child continues to have a love/hate relationship with the bathtub each night.  While I was enjoying a coffee date Chad sent me this & I laughed so hard!  She really is starting to look like me!

I get alot of e-mails on how my Dad is doing!  He is doing so great!  He finished his last day of cardio rehab on December 31st the last day before the New Year.  God has healed his heart. He eats a very good diet, does cardio exercising everyday & just stays on top of his health so much.  He lives for Christ, his family & being happy.  We are all better because of what he went through in 2012. 

I visited them last week & we just had a blast playing!

I have been making tons of time to teach Avery when she isn't at school.  We have been going to the library checking our books & learning games on the computer.  She enjoys these days so much!

I got back in the grind of working out hard this month.  I kind of put myself on the back burner when Dad's surgery happened I was so busy helping take care of him with my family that I just didn't put the time in to take care of myself, which wasn't important I love my family.  After Dad's heart issues & my now thyroid junk I am working hard on staying on top of my health again.  It's so important to me!

Avery's hair finally started fitting into a pony tail this month!  We are antipating the summer months of getting to wear these often!

One Sunday afternoon we enjoyed painting!  It's one of her favorite things to do!

I didn't say much a few weeks ago but Avery had the flu for a week & it was horrible!  I was inside for 5 days straight!  When she FINALLY started feeling better we went to Chucky Cheese.  I know, the most germafied place in America if that is even a word.  I was running around with my hand santizer in my pocket the entire day.  I think I had more fun than she did winning tickets.  I blew $40.00 on tokens, I am a nerd!

One of the coolest things that happened this month was that my parents celebrated 37 years of marriage.  I wrote a big post on FB and can't re-write it or will start crying for hours again.  I will leave it at this, they are my best friends & 2 of the most amazing people in the world!

Today was amazing outside.  We spent this Sunday hiking & going on a scavenger hunt.  I have been on a fast with my church & today was my last day.  While out today I was just in amazement of God's beauty & all the greatness he keeps showing me in my life!

Over all, I am so thankful for my husbands love & my beautiful baby girl...

Bring on MORE good in January!  It's just been such a lovely season for me. Thankful.

It's never too early for hearts!

Those who know me would say I have a slight sickness for decorating.  It's never too early to start for a fun Holiday full of love, hearts & red/pink!  I started my decorating for February & can't wait to finish!

Thought I would share on the "love"...

"kisses"

AWAKE! January is here!

Happy New Year Bloggers!

First....

A video I wanted to share that is my heart for 2013! I hope you find comfort in how amazing this is & will try to apply it toward your life!

Chris Tomlin - Awake My Soul (with Lecrae) [Official Lyric Video] from chris-tomlin on GodTube.

We rung in the New Year with Chad's family & had such a great time playing games & cards.  I enjoyed spending the evening with family & being with Avery, it was fun & a tradition I would like to start!

With a new year we always have "new resolutions".  To be honest I started some new resolutions for me personally beginning in September 2012 when my Dad had heart surgery.

As the song I shared above is "Awake my soul", I have to say that during this time of my life God "WOKE ME UP".  I feel like He had a master plan to use me specifically during & after the trials I endured with my Dad to where I am presently in my life in this moment.

Sometimes in life we ask "Why do bad things happen to good people, & why do good things happen to bad people?"  I think there is a time in all of our lives that we have thought that & asked God WHY while thinking this season in life just isn't fair.  I have even heard people say, "Well is there a God out there if so why would God cause such pain to myself, my life, my health, my family even through death?"

I cannot speak specifically for anyone but me personally in that above statement so hear it is:

I HAVE experienced exactly what I just said before September 2012 when God drastically changed my heart.  It wasn't until I endured the pain of heartache that God started to work in my life.  You would think at that time in my life I would have been angry, and sometimes people do get angry & run from God.  But just as we endure bad days, we have seasons of our lives where we are being tested, molded & changed to new life.

Shortly after his surgery watching two of my friends deal with the tragic loss of their husbands brought that question again to my mind, WHY?  It wasn't until December that I finally found peace with why God's timing is pure & precious.  Through both of the men that passed, I KNOW there were people that needed to hear God's word that did & were lead to Him; I personally found peace with my life after death, finding comfort in my eternal life when I die.  I was always scared of that; & finally became at peace with it through Him.

You see God started my journey with Him of "knowing Him" & "seeking Him" in September; where I was tested & had to have faith that his hand was on my healing Dad.  I spent 15 days in prayer scared of the unknowns with his health & if he would ever be "Dad" again.  I cried for days & during those moments realized that it was a shame I called myself a christian but was only reaching out to Him during the utter most tragedy of my life.  He taught me & is continuing to teach me humility before Him, the power of prayer in good & bad seasons of life, forgiveness of others, as well as life through death.

Even crazier it's neat for me to see God's journey & how He is molding me into a stronger woman for Him.  I JUST started a study this week on James with my Woman's Bible Study class & WOW.  It is a Beth Moore series & WOW!  It is EVERYTHING God was trying to prepare me for from September until now.  He says, "Humble yourselves before me & He will lift you up in honor."  I feel like my walk just began but for the past few months he was calling me to seek Him first through faith & humility before him giving him my burdens, & now the magic begins, a true relationship with my Father.

I have had tons of e-mails on blogging & where I am these days...

I use to blog so often but honestly God has called me to put down the camera a bit, & chill with Him.  I'm human don't get me wrong I still take my pictures on my phone everyday, & post them & love every second of my life with my family & child, and sharing it!  But, for me personally with my camera I was spending so much time editing, carrying the thing around everywhere & focusing on what to take pictures of next.  I have learned to utilize my phone camera & post things quickly so I am not so consumed with being on my computer all day.  I am sure one day I will be taking more pictures & posting more about our life; but for now in THIS particular season of my life, I feel called to be more still & in "the now moment" of where I am in my life & walk with Christ.

I am human.  I am a sinner I am by no means perfect.  But I desire a relationship that is better than what I have been giving God & He deserves that from me.  I hope you too will take part in some of the things I have said & "AWAKE your soul & let God breathe on you, & let him speak to you"...

Happy 2013, I love you!