A-Z: About me!

A. Age: 27
B. Bed size: King
C. Chore that you hate: Folding Laundry
D. Dogs: 2 - Maddie (Mini Dachshound) and Staten (Golden Retriever mix)
E. Essential start to your day: STARBUCKS Caramel Macchiato
F. Favorite color: Blue
G. Gold or Silver: Silver
H. Height: 5'6"
I. Instruments you play: Piano
J. Job title: High School Math Teacher & Volleyball/Track Coach
K. Kids: one - Colton (turns 2 next month!)
L. Live: Mesquite, Texas
M. Mother’s name: Cyndi
N. Nicknames: Ash, Coach Boots - this one is from my athletes... LOL
O. Overnight hospital stays: when I had my little boy :)
P. Pet peeves: inconsiderate people
Q. Quote from a movie: "The best love is the kind that awakens the soul and makes us reach for more, that plants a fire in our hearts and brings peace to our minds, and that's what you've given me." The Notebook
R. Right or left handed: Right
S. Siblings: Little Sister - Mackenzie
T. Time you wake up: 6:15
U. Underwear: every day LOL
V. Vegetable you hate: Peas - the smell is SO GROSS
W. What makes you run late: not getting out of bed when my alarm goes off
X. X-Rays you’ve had: Back (after a very dumb rookie cop totalled my car)
Y. Yummy food that you make: Super Easy Apple/Peach Cobbler (thanks Ashley), Cinnamon Cheesecake, Key Lime Pie
Z. Zoo animal: elephants :)

Song-filled Sundays

Today we told our home church of 20+ years that next week would be our last week... My mom cried... My MIL cried... and I'm sure my dad and FIL felt a little sadness as well. And although I am sad to say goodbye, I am extremely pumped to see what God has in store for us. Next Sunday marks Casey's two year anniversary as the interim music minister and with that - it also marks the end of our membership at RBC. That church has been home since I can remember... for both of us - without it, I might not be married to the man I am today. We've been through a lot together, but for Casey and I the ride stops in 7 days. Our pastor used a verse this morning that said this - "where your treasure is, your heart will be also" and HOW TRUE is that. My treasure - my family, friends, comfort has been in RBC for so long and I know my heart will remain there for a long while. I am looking forward to our future, wherever that might be, but like I have said so many times before - goodbyes are never easy. SO, if you are the praying kind, keep my hubby and me in mind this week (and the weeks to come). To all of our friends at RBC, we love you and we appreciate the support you guys have given us growing up, in our marriage, and now with our own family.

And now, so I can leave you on a happy note...

My son truly takes after us, don't you think?? He has music in his SOUL!

goodbyes still aren't easy the 3rd time around...

my blogging hiatus ends TODAY!! sorry for the long-time no post era... but it's over I promise!

Today, tonight actually, this little stinker -

helped his Aunt ZZ pack up her things to head back to Arkansas. He did not want them to take the U-haul away and had a blast pretending to drive the big truck!

So to my sister... my best friend -

I know this summer might not have been what you had expected or even what you had hoped, but God knew exactly what you needed and every single millisecond was planned many years ago. Get back to Arkansas and continue to finish what you started there... don't let anyone tell you can't do something - because you can. Dream big - bigger than you ever imagined before. Think with your head, but let your heart lead - it is truly the size of Texas and it was made that way for a reason.

instagr.am

instagr.am

Day 3 - First Love

Well my first love has to be Dr. Pepper... I mean I hardly ever go a day without having one... Kidding... kinda :)

But seriously....

This post might be a difficult one for me... but here it goes.

Strangely enough, I was thinking about this very topic a couple of nights ago while I listened to the speaker at our church's Disciple Now. He started by asking the students if they thought they knew what love meant and several of them raised their hands. From there, he didn't try to tell them that they were wrong or they really didn't know what love was, he simply said that our idea of love changes over time. When we are young, love is for our parents, siblings, and other members of our family. It's also used to describe how we feel about ice cream, pizza, swimming, and presents. Love is just a feeling that we are taught to use for things that we enjoy. Then a few years later, we discover the opposite sex and we might have a few "serious" relationships and our view of love changes again. We think that love is about kisses, hugs, love notes, late night phone-calls (I guess texts would be more correct theses days), and prom dates. I'm not going to lie and say that I didn't fall into this very category in high school and even college. I dated a guy for almost three years that I thought I would "love" him forever. I won't ever deny that I cared for him on a deeper level than my other friends, but neither one of us really knew what love was truly about. [I can say that without reservation since both of us are very happily married these days.] Anyway, college was about the same for me... I wasn't the dating type and I only got into a relationship that I could see myself in for the long run. There was a time right after college where I hit, what I thought to be, rock-bottom in relationship world. I remember telling my mom that I was tired of being alone and that the true desire of my heart was to be married and eventually have children. Her response? If that was the true desire of my heart, then I needed to pray about it. Me, being the most incredibly impatient person that I am, did NOT like this response because I was already tired of waiting... so why should I wait some more. I didn't want to be an older bride, and eventually an older mom. But, low and behold, the dream I had was too small for the man upstairs... His plan was already in effect and within a week, I was re-united with the guy that I would soon call my husband. I can't say that from that day on it was candy and roses because it definitely was not. He and I were what I like to call "damaged goods." We had trust issues because we had both been burned before and that took a toll on us for a long time. BUT, when you wake up one day and you absolutely cannot imagine your life without that person.... That is love. When you find someone who is honest with you about even your worst attributes and you still can't imagine life without them... That is love. When you bring a new life into the world together and it turns your world upside down, but you still can't imagine life with anyone else... That is LOVE. There are many things that I love about my husband, but the one thing, above all else, that I love is that he teaches me daily how to love more than already know how. So for that, I believe, that Casey is my first TRUE love.

Casey Deree Pruitt, I love with with my whole heart and I can't imagine my life without you. Thank you for putting up with me every day and loving me back.

Day 2 - Meaning of your blog name

Truth be told, there is no hidden meaning behind my blog's name. I'm a working mom, like many others, and as much as I love my little boy, I wouldn't have it any other way. Of course there are days where I miss my family and I wish for nothing more than to be home with them. BUT - I love what I do and I wouldn't give it up. I fully believe that teaching is the MOST important job in the world. We shape the minds of the future... kids will become doctors, lawyers, presidents, other teachers, etc because of their own teachers along the way. You can't have all of those other careers without first being taught. I also love being able to provide a safe environment for my kids at school because for so many of them, that is the ONLY safe place they have to go. All that to say, I love my job and I love my son...It's just about balance between the two. Some days are harder than others, but when it comes down to it, God isn't going to give me more than I can handle, right?

30-day Blogging Challenge: Day 1

Day 1: introduce, recent picture, and 15 interesting facts

My name is Ashley Pruitt, formerly Ashley Johnson. I am 26 years old and I am married to a guy that I have known my entire life as the older brother of my childhood best friend. After a crazy dating experience, we decided to get hitched on the 4th of July in 2008 and then had our first child, Colton on October 22, 2009. I love my job as a teacher and coach at Poteet High School, where I graduated from, but I would be lying if I said every day was full of smiles and giggles. Teaching is hard... Coaching is time-consuming... But I wouldn't change my career for anything else in the world. I have a family at home, but I also have an amazing family at work. After Casey and I got married and then pregnant shortly after, we decided that we needed to upgrade to a house. After several weeks/months of looking, we decided to settle down in Mesquite, somewhere in between both of our parents (for easy babysitting access of course!). So we are very blessed to have a home, 2 great jobs, 2 incredible families, 2 dogs, and one very special little boy!

Facts:

1. I love Dr. Pepper

2. I love Caramel Macchiatos from Starbucks

3. I love Sweet Tea... like rot your teeth sweet.

4. I start every morning with one of the above (even my students know this)

5. I have a healthy addiction to the Food Network and would LOVE a gourmet kitchen to cook in

6. I love James Patterson books

7. I love Key Lime Pie

8. My favorite color is red, and green comes in a close second (but not red and green together)

9. I have an obsession with the idea of being organized. I am not that organized myself, but I try to be... I have a planner, lots of storage containers, etc.

10. To go along with #8, I love buying new office supplies. Nothing is better than a brand new package of pens, pencils, or post-its :)

11. I love Pei Wei and I wish we had one in Mesquite.

12. My favorite kind of pizza is buffalo chicken.

13. Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day, although I hardly ever eat it in the morning.

14. When Casey and I decide to have a second baby, I am hoping for a little girl that I can name Addison or Peyton. If we have another boy, that would be great too, but I am at a loss for what I'd name him.

15. At some point in my lifetime, I want to visit the Greek islands of Santorini.

That's ME! Stay tuned for more of this 30-day challenge!

30-day blogging challenge

So I am stealing a friend's idea and hopping on the 30-day bandwagon. I too, have been in a blogging rut and haven't really found much to say that I haven't already. SO, I thought this might give me some interesting things to share!

Day 0: The 30 Day Challenge Explanation and Description
Day 1: Introduce, recent picture of yourself, 15 interesting facts
Day 2: Meaning behind your blog name
Day 3: Your first love
Day 4: Your parents
Day 5: A song to match your mood
Day 6: A picture of something that makes you happy
Day 7: Favorite movies
Day 8: A place you've traveled to
Day 9: A favorite picture of your best friend
Day 10: Something you're afraid of
Day 11: Favorite tv shows
Day 12: Something you don't leave the house without
Day 13: Goals
Day 14: A picture of you last year - how have you changed?
Day 15: Bible verse
Day 16: Dream house
Day 17: Something you're looking forward to
Day 18: Favorite Place to Eat
Day 19: Something you miss
Day 20: Nicknames
Day 21: Favorite Picture of yourself ALL TIME Why?
Day 22: What's in your purse?
Day 23: Favorite Movie
Day 24: Something you've learned
Day 25: Put your iPod on shuffle, first 10 songs
Day 26: Your Dream Wedding
Day 27: Original Photo of the city you live in
Day 28: Something that stresses you out
Day 29: 3 Wishes
Day 30: a picture of yourself this day and 5 good things that happened since you started the challenge

Day 1 coming tomorrow!! Let's see if I can actually stick to this!

Happy New Year!!

I can't believe how fast this past year went by! I know that I have always been told that once you have kids, time literally FLIES by... and now I completely understand. Last year, I was still trying to get rid of my baby belly (who am I kidding... I still am!) and I was carrying around a newborn baby boy that had just graced us with his presence. This year, I was chasing around a one-year old little boy who is still the absolute light of my life! We have had a whirlwind year in my household and I promise to update tomorrow or the next day with lots of pictures!

Until then, best wishes to you all for 2011! I am incredibly blessed to have such an amazing family and group of friends to spend this next year with. May God bless you infinitely in the days to come!