October...can't believe you're here already!!!

    I LOVE October...not only does the first day of the month happen to be my birthday:), but October means fall, which means the holidays are soon approaching! It's my absolute favorite time of year; I love the weather, the family get togethers, buying gifts, etc...which ultimately leads to the day I get to celebrate the birth of my wonderful Savior. That's all to come, but I'll talk about the past few days for the time being.

        This year was the big 2-6! I know it's not considered old, but I'm past 25, which means thirty is around the corner. I do have to say that this year was easier than last year. I think mostly because I feel like all the parts of my life are in a good place. Not that things weren't good before, but as God continues to mold and shape me constantly into a different person, I just have more peace. It's amazing how he does that too, he always has you on the potter's wheel, always creating this new, beautiful piece of art. Each time, it looks amazing because he designed it, but you notice something you may have not seen before: a new strength, a new notch from a life circumstance, a new crack that needs repair.

      We just had a Night of Worship at Citylife Church and one of my favorite parts of a song we sang is "You make beautiful things, you make beautiful things out of the dust, you make beautiful things, you make beautiful things out of us." This is something I know, but so often and so easily we forget who created us the way we are. I said all of that to say, this was a fabulous birthday because my heart is just so happy, I thank God daily for my family and friends, who made this such a memorable Ashley extravaganza :)Now time for some birthday details...

   Lauren came home from UCF for a few days to help celebrate. I'm so happy she loves school, but I miss seeing my sis face to face, so I was so excited when I found out she was able to come home! We started the birthday events with lunch at The Lime, just us girls of the family. Ate way too many chips and queso, but hey, you can ignore calories for birthday meals right? My sister made me wear the following attire, because she knows how much I hate attention. At least it was cute pink jewelry!

     Later that night we went to the Columbia Restaurant for some Spanish food and Flamenco dancing. Watching, not participating of course, that wouldn't have been pretty, they were amazing! I think I could have beaten them at the Robot though, I'd like to see them try that in their ruffly dresses :)There was their classic bread, ropa vieja, a cuban sandwich with platanos, and all kinds of goodies on the table. Flan and churros for dessert, WITH dipping sauces to add a few more calories just incase we missed some.   

     So Jeremiah tells me on Friday night I need to be ready at 9 the next morning to go somewhere but no details as to where. I respond by telling him,"You know I'm a girl and need to know what to wear, so where am I going?" He knows I don't do well with surprises, and despite the begging, he wouldn't budge. I went for dressy casual and hoped I wasn't going to  the beach or rock climbing. It's getting close to 9 and he's still in bed so I'm assuming my friends are up to something.
    The door bell rings and Nicole is at the door, I knew it!!! We drive around aimlessly in the city I've grown up in, but because we made a thousand turns, no idea where we're at/going. Somehow we ended up in Ybor and we arrive at La Creperia...never knew this place existed but so glad it does, because I love crepes! We walk in the door and too my surprise lots of my girlfriends are there. The tears started coming because it was so sweet that they gave up a Saturday morning to have a birthday breakfast for me. Love them so much! As usual when you get a bunch of girls together mixed with highly caffeinated lattes it gets loud and crazy. Not to mention the conversations are off the wall and heaven forbid if a guy walked by and listened in :) Needless to say, it was such a surprise and blessing to spend the morning with them, they all have a special place in my heart.

All the girls!!

Crepe with nutella, bananas and strawberries

My sis, Lauren, and sis-in-law, Nahal.

Me and Brit

Stacy and Gyn

Being silly!!!

Some of the most fabulous girls I know!!

Kaci and Beffers

     Jeremiah and I celebrated at a place that takes us WAY back when to homecomings and Valentine's Days...Melting Pot. I love cheese and chocolate and he loves meat/seafood, so we compliment each other well there. Love the times when just the two of us get to do something special amidst the hustle and bustle , they hold such priceless memories. He is such a wonderful husband and never seizes to amaze me or make me laugh! Of course we took a few pics...

It goes without saying that without people in your life to celebrate with, it wouldn't be much of a party. I thank God daily for his love, but also the abundant love of my family and friends. My life is more cheerful because of them all. Thank you.

As summer comes to a close...

Wow, how summer flew by this year! We didn't do an extraordinary vacation, but spent a lot of time together as a couple, with our family and friends. Here are some of the highlights:
       In July, Jeremiah and I spent a few days in Miami to celebrate our sixth anniversary, oh how time flies. What a blessing to have my best friend at my side through all of the MANY journeys of life! Enjoyed time relaxing by the pool, strolling(shopping and eating also of course!) along Lincoln road, a nice Anniversary dinner at the Loews Hotel restaurant  and time at South Beach. Did I mention getting a tattoo??? I have wanted one for ages and finally did it! In Hebrew it's pronounced "Emunah," which is Faith in our terms essentially. In the Bible there were several meanings for faith, this one in particular is not just a believing faith but a trusting faith. It refers to Abraham and his willingness to obey the commands God placed on him that you and I would find crazy. But he trusted God and knew that nothing he told him would harm him. When I think of that I link it to Jeremiah 29:11 and every day I look down at my wrist I remind myself to have a trusting faith regardless of the circumstances and when I am fleshly and begin to doubt things. I continue stand up and move forward, knowing he has it all figured out already:) My eyes are welling with tears even writing this because God is so amazing!

     Shortly after that, the "Miller" girls of the family took a road trip trip Savannah: Me, Mom, Lauren(Who I was glad to have back from being in Spain for 2 months!), Aunt Amy, Aunt Lori, Kata, Taylor, and Grandma Yvonne. Can we say too many crazy girls in one place!!!! What a wonderful time it was, we enjoyed the relaxing Riverwalk, shopping and of course EATING! My fave place was Paula Deen's, primarily because the Mac and Cheese was to die for! I would drive up there again in a heartbeat just for that, although I'd probably have a heart attack on the way home :) We made some unforgettable memories! I love those ladies!

Tybee Island

       Hit up a few concerts: ZZ Top after the Rays game(I get my jam on to La Grange, weird I know!)enjoyed a night out with dinner at Lime with Seth and Sara Elbe, followed by Sting and The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at the Amphitheater. AMAZING! A few weeks later Beth Mirelez, Gyn Hollingsworth and I had a girls night out to rock it out with Rhianna. Good times!

      The summer also held the wedding of my cousin Travis Williams to Nicole in Fort White and my Aunt Amy to Jerry in Steinhatchee. Both were beautiful weddings and enjoyed much needed family time.

      Dad recently purchased a boat, so we took it down the Hillsborough River to Downtown Tampa to the Bay, neat to experience the city I've lived in my whole life from a different angle. Enjoyed my first scalloping experience in Steinhatchee where I swear a scallop tried to eat me! :)The highlight of that day was seeing a group of dolphins and one of them jumped about 10 feet out of the water and did a perfect "Seaworld like" show for us! It almost brought tears to my eyes because it was like God was winking at us and saying,"See all of the beautiful things I've created, that was for you!." Also, enjoyed a day at the lake with our dear friends the Mirelezs and Bowyers. Many, many laughs that day, I almost lost my lunch on the tube with Beth because I couldn't stop laughing, and how could I forget Josh's "dock incident!!!" Won't go into detail for Josh's sake, I'll just tell you it was so stinking hilarious:) Beth and Carrie are two of the most amazing friends  a girl could ask for and have wonderful families who are like family to me.

Work From a different point of view

                                        

This would be why I was laughing so hard :)

Adorable Madison Bowyer

Awesomeness! What a fearless kiddo!

 
 I also just started working in the Neonatal ICU at the hospital. A HUGE  transition from the ER, but I love it. What precious babies! So thankful that God opens doors and has perfect timing: After much continued back pain, finding out that one of my screws from my back surgery is right against a nerve, working to get my back feeling better, and per the doc I needed to find another area to work in until it's ultimately fixed again. Babies in the NICU are itty bitty so it seemed like a good option! I got my heart set on it because I knew I would love it and I just so happened to look on the TGH website and see a job posting, got called the next day for an interview and while interviewing my new nurse manager said," I don't need to ask you all the usual questions, I just feel right about you and think you'll be a good fit for us." How great is God?
    Well I think that's about all :) I'm a horrible blogger so I have to clump everything together!