Good Sunday

Last night's adult session of stake conference was good. I may or may not have suffered from some adult ADD, but all in all I behaved pretty well. I'm sorry, but straight lecture is not the most effective way of teaching, but I understand that it's the last best resort when teaching a very large group of people in a reverent forum, so I'm still learning how to harness my wiggles.

After last night's session, a group of friends met at the Dairy Queen for some delish treats. I had my first-ever frozen hot chocolate. It's not on their menu, so if you wanna try the heaven, you have to special request it. And I recommend you do. Tell them that Ashley sent you, and they'll take care of you. :P

Today's general session of stake conference was broadcasted from Salt Lake City. I took some good notes, and did better today than last night (how ridiculous does that sound coming from a near-26-year-old?). HA! I attempted to pick up that girl that I met the other night at that training, but she was sick, and lost her cell phone or cell phone charger, or something (she wasn't very clear), so I'm placing full blame on Satan, because I can.

And then I did a little visiting teaching about an hour ago. And now, I'm just taking the rest of my Sabbath day easy, and trying to store up on positive energy to face the upcoming work-week!

Last Night's Performance and Today's Plans



Aaaaah, I don't think I've ever appreciated Saturdays the way I do now. This week was full. So glad it's over, and that I've had today to do what I want. I got to sleep in, take my time getting ready, run a couple of errands, talk to some peeps, facebook, and now--blog!

Last night's BYU folk dancer performance was phenomenal! I kinda wish I could go back in time, learn to dance like that, and then go to BYU to do what they're doing. It was a real treat, and on a cheap dime, too. If you ever get the chance to see them, do it! To my knowledge, they don't have any DVDs, so live is the only way (and best way, anyway. Wow, that's a lot of ways) to go.

Slated for the rest of the day:

• I might hang out w/one of my guy pals--he said he'd arrange something to do this afternoon, but haven't heard from him yet. Men--typical. ;)
• Talk on the phone to one (the only one) of my more-than-a-pal guys.
• Attend the adult session of stake conference.

I'm loving today! Hope you are, too!

Busy Week and Fun Media

Wow, it's been a long week. Starting Monday, I've had something going on every single night this week, and will continue to do so through Saturday.

Monday: FHE
Tuesday: work-related training
Wednesday: same
Tonight: picked up tickets to the BYU folk dancer performance happening tomorrow night, visited my nephews, and made some phone calls
Tomorrow: BYU folk dancer performance
Saturday: adult session of stake conference

And we're supposed to get more snow tonight and tomorrow, so I'm hoping for another snow day like I got last Friday; that would be premium.

And now for some media:
1. Thought-provoking picture I found posted on Facebook.
2. Music video of Greyson Chance's Waiting Outside the Lines. Check out that piano!
3. Music video of band I recently discovered called He is We. The song is called Blame it On the Rain.
4. Video of a young girl who will NOT get married until she is employed. So funny!

Right Place. Right Time. Right Jewelry? Part II.



In regards to yesterday's intriguing blog post (I know you're dyyying to know what it's all about):

I showed up to some work-related training last night a few minutes before it was to begin. The room was PACKED full of women, and there was only one seat left. I took that seat and exchanged obligatory hellos with the two women sitting across from me.

After some blah blah blahing about some really important, educational, and exciting topic, the presenter popped in some 1982 video, and so I tuned out and started to doodle on my PowerPoint printout (tree killer). After some nice little flower doodles, the girl sitting across from me wrote on her paper and showed me: "R U Mormon?" I nodded my hand and pointed to my CTR ring, non verbally questioning if that's how she figured it out. She nodded her head. I then asked if she was LDS too, and she again nodded her head. She then wrote, "I moved here one month and four days ago. I'm looking for a church."

I ripped out a sheet of paper from the notebook that I definitely did not use during the presentation and asked her to write down her name, address, and phone number. That way I can send her to the nearest family meetinghouse via mormon.org. She has a four year old daughter, and is engaged to someone (so technically she's still single), so I could pick her up and take her to the singles ward with me. I'll have to see what she prefers.

Immediately after this exchange, I felt the confirmation of the Holy Ghost telling me that I was where I was supposed to be. The Lord is looking out for this young woman, and He placed me in this only chair left in this large room. What a blessing for both of us.

Right Place. Right Time. Right Jewelry?



Being in the right place at the right time with the right jewelry can change lives. Stay tuned...

President's Day and Wedding Dance

Happy President's Day!

Unfortunately, I didn't get the day off like many people because I had to participate in some training for work. It's all good, though. But if you got it off, hope you enjoyed it! Gotta love George and Abe!

I follow David Perry's wedding videography (is that a word?) blog, and he recently posted this super fun daddy/daughter wedding dance. Way cool, right? Right, Ashley. I'm so looking forward to planning my own wedding and doing neat, creative stuff, too.

Good Sunday



It was a good Sunday, indeed! I was spiritually fed on topics ranging from covenants to eternal marriage, to service, to home and visiting teaching. I love the gospel of Jesus Christ and for the opportunity to remember on a weekly basis those important principles that it teaches.

Someone very important to me shared this quote by Marianne Williamson with me this afternoon. This person is always so spiritual, and is gracious enough to lend me insight to his super-righteousness. Here it is:

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.' We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we're liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

Heeeey!



My snowy street!

Howdy! Happy weekend!

Mine is going really well. As I mentioned, I got the snow day I wanted yesterday, and we got even more snow overnight! So a portion of this morning was spent doing some more shoveling. My right arm, shoulder, and back are feeling the repercussions. My muscles are kinda screaming for relief. But it's good for them.

Also, good part of this day was spent talking to some special people in my life, especially BK. Hi, BK!

This evening, I had the wonderful opportunity of performing baptisms for the dead in the temple. I love my ward family! It's neat to be able to experience such a sacred ordinance with them.

And tomorrow will be a good Sunday; looking forward to it!

*I've neglected to welcome my dear friend, Chels, to my blog; thanks for following! Oh, and I had a blog visitor from Isle of Man! Check out their flag--too cool!

Snow Day and Kiev Temple

My finger-crossing came through, and I got a snow day today!! I loved it! It was so nice to just lounge around and relax.

And it's still snowing!

You gotta watch this moving video of youth in Eastern Europe celebrating the LDS temple dedication in Kiev, Ukraine. It is so good. Simple videos like this really strengthen my testimony of the truthfulness of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. These kids are so inspiring to me! Plus it strengthens my desire to travel!

Does it Snow on Mars?



Snow galore!!! There's even a possibility that my work will be canceled tomorrow (keepin' my fingers crossed so I can enjoy a three-day weekend) but at the very least, we're on a delayed start, so that'll be nice too. When I watched the 5 o'clock news this evening, they reported that the highway patrol counted 120 accidents in the area since 8 am yesterday. One hundred twenty!! It's dangerous out there. Be careful!

Sorry, the next portion of the blog is really for Ben, but you can enjoy it, too. And please do! Bruno Mars has a single out right now called "Grenade," and the music video is pretty cool. I'll first post that, followed by a parody music video. Funny stuff.

Snow = Every Rose Has Its Thorn



That wind from the last couple of days brought in a nice storm of snow that I hear is supposed to run through Friday night. Fun. Not. I'm such a warm weather person. But every rose has its thorn, right?

Which segues nicely into this Miley Cyrus cover of Every Rose Has Its Thorn by Poison. I first heard this last summer, and I really like it. Hope you do, too.

I Feel Like a Duck

Holy wind!!! I can sure relate to these little duckies today!

My Best Valentine's Day Ever



What a difference today was from last Monday! Today was so wonderful! I got so many little and not-so-little Valentine goodies, like:

• cards
• lotion
• bath products
• giftcards
• flowers
• teddy bear
• chocolates and other candy

Oh, what a special day it has been. Hope yours was great, too!

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

Good Sunday

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY EVE!

I had a really good time at church today. I love Sundays because it's the one day during the week that I know I'm guarateed to feel the spirit and focus on Jesus Christ and the gospel.

We had some great sacrament meeting talks on love (of course), humility, and forgiveness. The choir also did a neat medley of primary songs about love. Awwww.

Gospel doctrine class was really good, too. This particular teacher always brings the spirit so strongly into the lessons he teaches. And the Relief Society lesson was taught on fasting and sacrifice. I always learn so much from the sisters in my singles ward, and even though I'm their "president," they're the real leaders to me.

And then I had a couple of meetings after church, including ward council, in which our main focus is now meeting the needs of individuals. It's about the one, and it's important that we move away from administration/calendaring/activity planning (which ward councils have been about in the past) and really hone in on the people. I love my dear bishop and the leadership of my ward. I'm becoming a better person because of my calling and association with them.

Sundays help me remember the real treasures of this life and build up my reservoir of faith for the upcoming week.

Soarin' Spirit



Life's good, but I feel like I'm falling into the submit-to-the-man zone. I'm realizing what a big chunk of my life is being devoted to "the man" and doing what I'm told without much leeway. I'm a good girl; I obey the rules (well, most of the time; but that's another story), and that's all good and fine. But sometimes, I just wanna throw it all in the air and turn into Lady Gaga for a season. She's like the ultimate free spirit, right? I wish I had more time to let my spirit fly, but I'll have to fly half-winged for awhile. Here's a new Lady Gaga song for your entertainment:

Super Mistake



In case you didn't hear (yeah right, you didn't hear) Christina Aguilera fumbled up the national anthem at Sunday's Superbowl. I didn't watch the game, but I suppose a few people did, and now it's all over the media. But from one mortal to another, I forgive the "Genie in a Bottle."

Christina Now:



Christina Before:

They're Here

Angels are here amongst us, some immortal, some mortal. I'm afraid to admit that I don't really think about being ministered by angels, but I am. We all are, because, "God never leaves us alone, never leaves us unaided in the challenges that we face."

Listen to this powerful story of a real-life angel sent to help a young boy.



Read the entire talk here. You'll be glad you did.

Deleting Posts and a Hard Day

I went through, and deleted any posts having to do with my new job because corporations mean business and I don't wanna get in trouble.

I'm normally a very upbeat, positive person because for the most part, things go pretty darn well for me. After all, I work hard at making things go well for me. But today I had quite a trial that shook me up and taught be a few lessons; tears were shed and emotions were reluctantly, but happily released. But when all was said and done, those most important to me love and support me, and are helping me see the big picture.

Oh, life!

Good Sunday

I spoke on the phone with a good friend today, who shared with me a gem of a thought that a young teenage girl bore in her testimony today in his ward. I'm paraphrasing:

We need to live in such a way that our heads are full of truth, our hearts full of love, and our lives full of service.

I'm so grateful that we have spiritually-in-tune young people, like her, in the world. We're in good hands.

E.T.

Even though Katy Perry's kinda borderline with some of her lyrics, I must say that I do like her catchy pop tunes, and this one has just come to my attention.

Shout-Out

HI BK!!!!!!!

Less than three,

Ash