My Girl Turned the Big 5-0

This is what 50 looks like! Pretty good if you ask me😉🥰🥰

We planned on having a big shebang but you know with Covid we decided that wasn't a great idea. 100 degrees in masks just kind of sounded awful. 

It's been years since I've sent her flowers so that's where we started. 

I made Sky go with me so he could learn how...he thought it was great especially since this time he didn't have to pay! He was quite shocked at how expensive they are!🤣 Save up kid! 

But they were worth every penny! 

We had dinner, cake and ice cream with our immediate family and even though it wasn't a big blow out, I think she enjoyed it. 

Sky insisted on 50 candles! Luckily the smoke alarms didn't go off😏

Can't wait to do another 50 with her!💖

Is Halloween Still On?

Is Halloween still on? 

We are trying to live as normal as possible during this completely jacked up time.

So, I dug out the decorations and I'm trying to be festive. 

It can sometimes feel weird or wrong at a time like this. So much misery going on and I'm worried about decorations. 

But. I have a 13 year old and I don't see this shit going away anytime soon, so yes I'm going to try and create a sense of normalcy for him. 

He's already been put on the backburner so much because his parents are TEACHERS DURING A PANDEMIC!! 

Talk about jacked. 

So yes we are celebrating Halloween. 

It's Already Been Ten Days...

So one of my goals was to do a post once a week but here we are 10 days out. 

Which made me look a little more closely at the word goal. The definition according to google is, "the result or achievement toward which the effort is directed."

Why then do people think their goals have to be met on the spot? As soon as they are stated? When in reality our goals should be a work in progress. 

If we looked at our goals in this way perhaps we'd stick to them longer and actually succeed instead of giving up because the path to the end result is winding instead of a straight path. 


The photo above is from my wedding. I have been with my wife for almost 27 years, yet we've only been legally married for little over a year. However, it was one of our goals. Although we couldn't accomplish this goal due to laws in our state for much of the time, we still didn't give up and once it was legal we worked our butts off to make it happen and it was a beautiful and worth the wait!

Moving forward is my word for the year. In order to keep moving forward I can't keep looking back. Even if I stumble I will keep moving forward. 

I'll take three days late over three months. I have 50 weeks left in 2018 to accomplish my goal and I believe I can do it. 

My best, 

Ashli

Goodbye 2017, Hello 2018

Happy 2018!!! 

I have to admit I'm extremely happy to be entering a new year. While 2017 wasn't horrible, it wasn't great either. 

There was my surgery, which basically stole my entire summer, goals I didn't meet and so far, this school year has been less than wonderful. If I'm being honest, it's sucked. Big Time.

However, the surgery WAS a success!! Yay! We are all pretty healthy (aside from the weight we need to lose), Lisa is closer to graduating (double yay!) and I passed my Special Education endorsement license exam! Praise God!

So, all in all, not too bad. 

I was going to do one of those year long recap posts with a gazillion pictures that scrolls on forever, but then I thought, why? 

Why spend the energy to go backwards when I can spend it moving forward. 

I am beyond ready to move forward. 

• Forward with my health
• Forward with my career
• Forward with my debt reduction
• Forward with living with less 
• Forward with spending my time more purposefully

As a family we set some goals for 2018. 

The first one has been something we've wanted to accomplish for a very long time. We are giving ourselves 9 months to "train" for our 7 mile walk around the lake. Sky suggested a picnic at the end to celebrate. We thought that sounded fabulous! 

Next up is going to be a doozy. We have a serious problem with the consumption of pop. I would call it very close to an addiction. So, this one will be tough but I truly believe it will bring the most impact towards being healthy. 

Lastly, is one I actually chose for our family because I think it's imperative to put forth effort towards bonding as a family. We all enjoy games and this is a way for us to spend time with each other that does not involve ANYTHING electronic. 

These are my personal goals for the new year. 

Be mindful.

Be present.

Be grateful. 

They seem simple enough but actually encompass a great deal that I will expand on in future posts. 

Which provides for a great segue into my next goal. 

This blog has lacked consistency on my part, much like many of the goals I set for myself this year. I have stated before that I want to post more often but have yet to follow through. 

I WILL make this year different. Once a week NO MATTER WHAT. I don't care if I do a weekly post that says, "I don't have anything to say". LOL! 

Until next time, 

Ashli