Happy 21st Birthday my beautiful girl!

There are so many things I want to tell you on your birthday. There are so many times through out the day I want to call you and talk to you. There are so many people who love you and miss you.
Having Ashley when I was 16 was by far the hardest thing I thought I would ever do but losing her at the young age of 19 was heart wrenching. Ashley spent 19 beautiful years here on this earth, made countless memories, and touched so many lives. On her 21st birthday we remember the good times, the laughter, the memories made, the people who love her, the friends she cherished, the amazing food she cooked. We will celebrate by releasing balloons with hand written notes from us and her favorite meal Spaghetti Carbonara for dinner. Ashley's spirit lives on in all those who were lucky enough to meet her. Happy Birthday Beautiful!
Some of my favorite pictures of Ashley:

 

 

Summer Screen Time

Every year before school gets out I go on Pinterest and pin lots of ideas, activities, and summer fun! Then school get out we go on vacation, kids go to vbs and life gets busy. It isn't until about a month before school starts that I say oh yea I have that Pinterest stuff to I wanted to do. So this morning I modified a NO SCREEN TIME list for my kids. Here is our list. My twins are 7 so it may not work for your kids but you can modify it accordingly.

NO SCREEN TIME UNTIL

*You have read for 20 minutes

*Write a paragraph (4 sentences) about what you read

*Complete math sheet

*You have cleaned you room

*Brought down all laundry

*Put away all folded clothes

*Cleaned mirror and sink in bathroom

*Completed anything mommy/daddy have asked you to do

 

http://doubletheblessing.blogspot.com/

To Teach is to Touch a Life Forever

I would have never known how much this quote is true until yesterday. We glanced at each other in the cafeteria as I was preparing to eat a surprise lunch with Preston and Lily. She walked over and hugged me like no time had passed at all. She teared up and I cried. She said she has been a mess since hearing about the passing of Ashley. She looked at Lily and said Lily reminds me so much of Ashley. She said that just this week Lily came in from recess and was standing in her class room with another student. She should not have been in the class, it's not even her grade. I know these are all signs from above. I know Ashley is watching over us and her siblings.

Rewind to last Saturday. A picture of the new second grade team at my twins school came across my news feed on Facebook. I immediately recognized one of the ladies in the picture as Ashley's kindergarten teacher, Ms. Chalmers, back in 2000. I couldn't believe it, my jaw dropped, my eyes filled with tears. How in the world did our paths cross 14 years later at the same school my twins were at? I texted my friend which just so happens to be Lily's beloved kindergarten teacher from last year. I asked her if the lady in the picture taught at Adam elementary in 2000? She said yes and she remembers Ashley. Ms. Chalmers sent me a message on FB. We chatted about the past, about Ashley and about our lives now. She taught at the twins school last year as well. I can not believe that the amount of time I spent up at the school last year (kinder) and this year we have not seen each other. It's amazing to see the love that kids have for their teachers. Ashley talked about Ms. Chalmers all the time, she was clearly her favorite. Lily has the same love for her kinder teacher too. She still goes by her class daily just to say hi. Lily's love for her teacher reminds me so much of Ashley's love for Ms. Chalmers. I can't wait to see what the future holds. Lily's kindergarten teacher and Ashley's kindergarten teacher will be teaching second grade next year. I'll be honest and tell you I have prayed that Preston or Lily get one of them! How cool would that be that one of my kid's is assigned to the same teacher that taught Ashley 14 years ago?!?!?

363 days

On Monday April 6th it will be 365 days since Ashley passed away. I have been thinking about how I will mark that day. To be honest I am not sure that day will be any different than the past 364 days before it. For the past 363 days I have prayed daily, cried often, questioned lots of things, been angry and anxious.
No matter what stage of grief you are in...... it sucks!

Forever in our hearts

Sweet conversation with Preston this morning. He asked me what I was making and I told him a garden flag for Ashley to put on her grave. He asked if we were going to the cemetery while we were in Centerville, Texas I said yes but only if you want too (he didn't want to the last time) He said yea I'll go me, Carly and Lily can play while you visit sissy.