Happy Birthday Beautiful!

20 years ago on October 29, 1994 at 9:20 am a little 6 lb 14 oz baby girl was placed in my arms. I remember her birth like it was yesterday. Even at the young age of 16 I was the best mom I knew how to be. Ashley always came first, and her life was full of lasting memories, lots of love and laughter. Not a day goes by that I don't think of all the great times we had together and all the memories we made.
6 months and 23 days ago Ashley went to heaven, this is her first birthday we will be spending without her. I would give anything to hear her laugh and see that smile. It will be a day full of tears but it will also be a day we will celebrate the life she had. We are taking the kids out of school, Aaron took off work and we are heading up to Centerville to the cemetery where Ashley is buried to place balloons and flowers on her grave.
I know this will be a sad day so please pray for us, our family and all of Ashley's friends.

We had a balloon release yesterday evening in Ashley's honor. Thank you to our friends, family, our worship pastor, JJ and our pastor Zach for being there for this special occasion. We are truly blessed to call you all our friends and we continue to be amazed by the love everyone has given us.

Foot Tattoo

I know it's a little cheesy to write about a tattoo but it's my blog so I will. I have wanted a tattoo on my foot for a long long time. I always said I would wait until we were done having kids first. What I wanted was 5 stargazer lilies to signify my children, Ashley, Preston, Mason (passed in utero at 25 weeks) Lily and Carly. I had high expectations though. I didn't want just a random tattoo artist. I wanted the best, Dan Smith from the show LA Ink. Over labor day weekend 2012 Aaron surprised me with a trip to LA to get a tattoo by Dan. I was shocked! I showed Dan my idea and he made it happen. He drew it free hand and made it everything I could have dreamed of. My next tattoo will be a tribute to my dad and daughter. Both lost too soon. I want to get the same sparrow on the back of my neck that Ashley had on her lower abdomen. She was such a free spirit and really soared above like a bird. Under it I want to put "Fly Free" in my dad's handwriting just as he and Ashley did their whole lives. 

#dansmith #capturedtattoo 
{foot tattoo} {stargazer lilies}

Ashley is missed everyday!

Since Ashley passed I have read articles, blogs and posts about teen addiction. I have questioned my own ability to parent. I have questioned every decision we made on Ashley's behalf. I have looked at my 3 little kids and wonder if there is something that I can do now to prevent them from following a troubled road. Reading articles like this one help me realize that people are people and are going to do what they are going to do. All we can do is love them and be there to pick them up when they fall.  I realize God has a plan for us all.
Parenting Teens That Struggle

I have learned over the years to not judge. You don't know what people are going through. You don't know what struggles lie within the walls of their homes. Be an encourager and uplift people. 

The healing begins.....

Ashley's service Saturday was beautiful. I felt a peace come over me that I haven't felt. There were so many friends and family there to tell her goodbye. I know she was deeply loved and I know she would be so happy that everyone came together for her. I miss her sweet, spunky, bubbly self and her contagious laugh. I put together an album with the things that were read at her funeral.

Funeral readings

Songs played:

Leeland "Carried to the table"

Bldg 429 "Where I belong"

Fuel "Shimmer"

Slide show and Obituary for Ashley Schoen

Slide Show

Obituary

My beautiful baby girl will forever be missed!

It is with a heavy heart and great sadness that I inform you my daughter, Ashley Schoen, passed away this morning. Funeral arrangements are being made and service will be Saturday April 12th at 10 am at 

Walter's Funeral Home
610 S. Commerce St.
Centerville, TX 75833
(903) 536-2551

1 Peter 5:10
And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.