A Year in the Life

And Loving... I recently started a new job.  Yes, at my age it can be a little scary, but it's been great.  Before I go forward, a little back story first... ...For the last 4 1/2 years I have been a sub in my children's school system.  (if you are a mom, love kids, and need a great way to make a little spending money, I highly recommend it.)  I loved being a sub!  I was able to be like everyone's favorite aunt.  You know the one I'm talking about.  She the one who comes in and loves you for you.  She helps you get through the have to's so you can have a little fun while your mom's not around. The way a sub enters a classroom is SO important.  You have to be confident, because it's true the children can smell fear, but you also have to be available to the kids:  available to offer an ear, extra help, smiles, a few hugs, and maybe even a little discipline in a life-giving way. We would play 4 corners if everyone finished with thei...

 A friend from grade school was going through old pictures and found a picture of the house I grew up in.  I have wonderful memories from that home.  We played football in the front yard, swam in the pool, built homecoming signs, and watched movies and the 1984 Olympics.  My parents let me invite the entire 8th grade over to swim the day we officially became 9th graders.  That house is filled with laughter.    My parents didn't care about your background.  They didn't care what kind of home you came from.  They wanted you to feel loved and accepted when you came over to our house.  It was a house that love built.  It's funny looking back.  You think that some kids have it all together just to find out they saw themselves as misfits.  I was always the one who felt like I was on the fringe.  Not cool, not as smart as I wanted to be, not a lot of things.  I wonder how many other kids felt & feel like that to...

I wrote a posting for my sorority alumnae blog and I would love for y'all to read it.  It's about the beauty of grace and mercy.  When they gave us the choice of topics, mine was so easy to choose. I hope you enjoy it & remember that Christ offers you grace and mercy every day!  Click HERE to head over to Live Sigma Kappa. Celebrating Life! ~ashley

Henry, Elizabeth, Hop, Harry and Hop's first best friend, Will D. Birthdays do make me happy.  It's another year to celebrate life.  (and eat birthday cake!)  A chance to celebrate both what has been and what will be.  Having a birthday over the Christmas break can be a bummer.  Friends are out of town or already have plans.  Poor Harry.  He really wanted Mooyah! for dinner that night but they were closed, so we ate Mexican instead.  When Harry was little would have his party on his half birthday.  It's easier to have it during the summer.  This year he just wanted to have a few people over to watch movies, shoot pool, hang out, and eat cake.  Not a problem!   Happy Sweet 16 Harry! WooHoo!! 2 drivers in the house! Harry's favorite cake is a cookie cake & so I made him a double decker birthday cake with lots of icing.  I think he liked it.  :)  Yea for the mommy who doesn't like ...

He's ready to be called to the back to begin this thing! So as  you know, Harry & I tried to go get his driver's license this past Monday on his birthday, but they were closed.  Total bummer.  We made plans then to leave our house by 7 am today to go for his driver's test.  I figured with four days worth of 16 year olds wanting to take their driver's test it would be busy.  And...momma was right.  (but then again, when is momma not right?) ;) At 7 am Harry was the third person in line.  Yea!!!  It was cold this morning just in case you were wondering.  We have all the paperwork needed, and I'm sitting in the waiting room while Harry goes in to take care of everything & at this point I'm excited for him.  I know he's going to ace this thing.  Harry's driven a ton.  If he's in the car with me, more times than naught he's the one driving.  He's driven on the interstate at both day and...

Christy & Jackie Tomorrow a lot of my friends will be moving their college freshman out of their home, and into a dorm, apartment or house.  I'm thinking about my friends.  I'm praying that everything goes smoothly.  I'm praying for safety while their chicks are outside the nest.  I'm so thankful...so thankful, that it is not me, but it will be, in 365 days.   Ellen & Patrick Do you know how fast a year is?  If you ask a pregnant mom to be, it's like a turtle running a marathon.  If you ask a mother of a senior in high school, it's way too fast.  I wish I could slow down time.  I wish I could give my friends one more night with their children under their roof, because once they leave, life is never the same.  Home is just a place you visit, not really a place you call home.  I remember the exact moment I realized that, and I'm not ready for my child to realize that yet.  I like them all in the ne...

I've been doing A LOT of paperwork today.  I feel like I've been working hard, but then I feel like I'm hardly working.  Round and round in circles:  read, print, email, file; read, print, email, file.  Wash, rinse, repeat.  Oui, you could get dizzy.  I complain, but I love it.  I love the details & thinking about what can be.  That's what in my paperwork, the can be.  Love it! Well, I have some more read, print, email & file before I go out to dinner with a group from church.  It's going to be fun.  Y'all have a great night! Celebrating Life! ~ashley

Worship; Day One; Summer Blast 2012 Today began Summer Blast 2012 at my church.  (VBS for those of us over the age of 10.)  We had, we think, at least 2000 children.  Yes, that is 2000.  It was awesome & incredibly insane.  I've seen more than that many teenagers worshipping together before, but to have that many children is indescribable.  I have to say I think, of the entire day, worship was my favorite.  Our church's worship team played, and it just took it to a whole different level.  It's the difference between listening to a song on your ipod and going to the live concert.  The two are incomparable.  The live version is so much better. We have the most amazing children's pastor & leaders in our church.  (Love you Mrs. Beth & Ms. Natalie!)  The planning for something of this magnitude did not just happen willy nilly.  It's months of working logistics, order...

...the beginning of Hop's last year of high school.  Every time I think about it I start to cry.  He's been our little guinea pig for so long, and we've learned so much parenting from him.  Both the good and the bad.  He's never complained about being the oldest, and we're honest with him that we've been learning how to be parents too.  Sometimes he benefits from our inexperience and sometimes he doesn't.  He's served as a wonderful example for his brothers and sister.  He has brought us so much joy. Today has been a busy day.  We received his senior portrait form telling us the date and time.  Not ready, I'm not ready.  I've sent in the form for his baby, or in our case, little boy, picture to appear in the sports book for his high school.  I had to email what we want written under the picture.  You'll be glad to know I was not too wordy, it was difficult, but I was clear and concise.  (I tend to write a dis...

Hopson comes from a long line of farmers.  His daddy farmed up until a few years ago.  It must be in their blood because Hopson loves to grow things, and it is something he has passed onto Henry.  When Hopson starts digging in the dirt I call him Farmer Ted, so when Henry came home with a cabbage plant and a HUGE smile on his face, I knew I would need to just start calling him Farmer Ted, Jr. Every 3rd grader at his school received a cabbage plant of their very own.  I think the only thing that would have made him happier is if you gave him Legos.  We love shredded cabbage with a little Hidden Valley Ranch dressing on it.  Yummy!  (but it has to be the kind you mix yourself, the HVR in a bottle is nasty)  Henry couldn't wait to get home & plant his cabbage in the garden in our backyard.  It was so cute!  Since it is March, and March weather is crazy in the south, I talked him into planting it in a pot.  I ...

I was picking up Elizabeth from dance to day & look at what I found... It's a Dogwood Tree & it's starting to bud!!!  Yes, I realize that it's only January 21st, and winter will probably raise it's very cold head at least one or two more times, killing the very tender buds on this tree.  (thanks for the buzz kill all you Debbie Downers)  The reality for us living in the southern United States is that it's only a few more weeks and spring will be here.  Yea for the south!  I love spring, I love spring, I love spring!!!   I'm so glad that it will not be cold and dark and gloomy with naked trees all year, it's just too depressing by half.  It's amazing that just the whisper of spring leaves me smiling, giddy, and looking forward to warmer, longer, and colorful days ahead. Celebrating Life! ~ashley  

Happy birthday Henry Cotton Lowe IV!  I don't think I could be happier...even if I was twins!  Today is a wonderful, happy, super fantastic kind of day.  I have a new nephew!  He was born today at 2:19 PM.  He weighs 8 pounds 9 ounces, and we have been waiting impatiently for him to arrive since June.  I think he's beautiful!  Mom and baby are doing great. Cotton called me last night to let me know Leah's water broke at 11 PM (eastern) and they were headed to the hospital.  They had planned to go in Monday January 16th for a scheduled induction, but the baby decided not to wait.  Children will do that sometimes.  My older three had their cell phones on them today so I could send them updates.  Each one sent me texts wondering if the baby was born.  I think they're as excited as I am.  Hopson has been texting me too.  There is no greater joy than when a baby is born!  What a wonder...

It's 7:30 AM, January 11, 2012, and I'm on pins and needles.  Excited pins and needles... My new nephew, Henry Cotton Lowe IV, will be born today!  My sister-in-law's water broke last night around 11 PM eastern. Y'all pray for a safe delivery, healthy baby & momma, and a calm daddy! I'll post pictures and update once he gets here.  I'm so excited I can't stand it!!! What a day to Celebrate Life!!! ~ashley

Well, today is the day.  I'm 40.  I don't feel any different than I did when I was 18.  A little chubbier and a knee that had surgery in college & creaks a bit, but that is really all.  Not too much to complain about. I don't need glasses.  I have 4 crazy, healthy & beautiful children.  I have a husband to loves me, and just shakes his head when I start acting a little nutty.  I am not perfect, but am greatly forgiven;  I am blessed beyond measure .  Sunrise December 26, 2011 Because I was born at 6:20 am, I wanted one of my first pictures to be of today's sunrise.  I'm glad to see it because it rained all day yesterday & more rain is coming through today.  I love sunrise.  For me it is the possibility of new opportunities where anything can happen.  It is a beautiful time of day.  My 40th birthday cake I love birthday cake.  It's yummy & it makes me happy.  I told my mom ...

In honor of my 40th birthday I am going to be posting 365 days (acutally 366 days because of Leap Year) of pictures.  It will begin December 26th...11 days away.  Make sure to check back starting the 26th. 11 days and counting, ~ashley