Home Renovation

We have been in our house just under 4 months now and we have made so many changes! Our main changes starting out were: paint, flooring, and appliances. All downstairs. The upstairs was in pretty good shape so some paint was all it needed.

Here are just a few of my favorites!

LAUNDRY ROOM BEFORE 

LAUNDRY ROOM AFTER

FRONT DOOR BEFORE

 FRONT DOOR AFTER

KITCHEN/DINING BEFORE

KITCHEN/DINING AFTER

LIVING ROOM BEFORE

LIVING ROOM AFTER

PHILLIP'S ROOM BEFORE

PHILLIP'S ROOM AFTER

What do you think!?

Happy Anniversary to You!

What's that you say? It isn't your anniversary, but Phillip and I's wedding anniversary? Well you are sort of right....
We have, in fact, as of today, been married for 4 wonderful years. But we celebrate our marriage every day. Today is about celebrating those who have supported our marriage for 4 years now - so happy anniversary to you!

Cheers!

• To our family for giving us the most solid foundation possible.
• To our long-time friends for celebrating our independence before marriage while appreciating our new family unit.
• To our newer friends for never imagining us apart because, to you, we never have been.
• To our beautiful baby girl for giving mommy and daddy lots of kisses to show we are modeling affection for you.
• To our biggest fans for seeing our victories as your own.
• To our acquaintances for reminding us that our love story is an impressive one.

Master Ashley

It's official. My diploma came in the mail yesterday. I have a Master's Degree in Health Studies from Texas Woman's University.

What a great feeling to have another thing crossed off my list. I worked hard for this degree and will display it with pride once it's framed.

Now on to my doctorate this fall...

"and I don't know how it gets better than this..."

I hear people saying all the time that love gets stronger with time and experiences. And I absolutely agree with that idea. I definitely love Phillip in a different way than I did when I was in high school. But what does that mean? What does that look like?

I have to pay homage to Taylor Swift for making these love songs that inadvertently make you think about things. They are playful little songs about how this guy's hair makes her love him or how talking on the phone late at night is a way to her heart. And they are catchy songs.

But then I combine her little songs with thoughts of a mature love and I wonder how I can connect to those little moments. Do I no longer get as much out of those small phone calls or how he fixes his hair? Does that mean my love for him is changing?

The answer to that question is a resounding no. Absolutely not. I do not love him any less or any differently. Just the things that make me stand back and think "man I love him" are not the same things that 16 year old Ashley (and Taylor Swift) would find meaning in.


His laughter doesn't make my heart stop as often as it once did. What makes my heart stop now is Elayne's laughter when he is playing with her.

His hair doesn't make my heart stop as often as it once did. What makes my heart stop now is how adorable it is when he can't figure out how to fix Elayne's hair and calls me for help.

His gifts he gives me on special holidays doesn't make my heart stop as often as it once did. What makes my heart stop now is when he gives me the gift of clean dishes put away or picks up the toys for me after a long day at work.

His physical appearance doesn't make my heart stop as often as it once did. What makes my heart stop now is how my physical appearance post-baby and post-college doesn't mean as much to him as it once did.

His saying "I love you" doesn't make my heart stop as often as it once did. What makes my heart stop now is when he gets Elayne to tell me she loves me.

Planning our future doesn't make my heart stop as often as it once did. What makes my heart stop now is realizing we are living our "future" now and realizing we get to have a future together.

 

What wonderful ways to explain how my love for him has changed. And it does get better than this.

Our House is a Very Very Very Fine House

Today we finish packing up our old house. Yes, it's taken us this long. It was a huge house, ok?

Saying goodbye to a house that was "ours" for two years is rough. That's the longest I've lived in a place since moving out of my parents'. Yeah. Sad truth. But I'm serious.

That house witnessed so much. Our baby coming home. The sounds of a phone call putting in my two weeks - and the sounds of a phone interview that has jumpstarted my career in Student Affairs. A soulmate for Heather found in the living room. Tears over deaths in the family. Elayne's first steps by the fireplace. Emmitt coming home. Murphy and Holland saying goodbye. A fire scare. Overnight guests. Sports games. The joy of a new washer and dryer. And so so so so so much more.

As I look around the house today, I'll be flooded with memories and nostalgia. Some of it will be good and some of it will be painful. But it's time to close a chapter fully so our new one that has begun can officially start turning pages faster. Houses are meant to be homes, and the one we are leaving definitely fit the bill.

I am so excited to see what our new house has to bring. More kids? More heartache? More pets? More milestones? I know that this adventure will be even better than the last.

Bring on the nostalgia. But bring on the hope for a future.