TS Fay

Tonight and tomorrow I am going to be hit by Tropical Storm Fay. I can't say that I'm "looking forward" to it, but at the same time I'm not bothered by the fact that it's coming.

I don't mind storms...and since it's technically not a hurricane yet, I'm just looking at it as a big storm with lots of wind, that causes everything to shut down. :-)

I've not been paying tons of attention to it yet, but I am okay with that. I went and bought a few necessary items for the storm, and I also know that help is right close if I need it.

Anyways, all that said, I get to experience my first Tropical Storm that could potentially become a hurricane, and I'm ready for it.

The good part is I don't have to go to work. They evacuated the kids from the building, but with that I still get paid...how sweet is that?

Things I Learned About Kids

This weekend being around Jaxon I learned a lot:

1. They can be very perceptive. Jaxon unfortunately heard some arguing between a roommate and I. He wanted to know why I was so angry, I told him that the person did something inappropriate, he then understood that "Ashley is mad, because _____ did something to her." I didn't mention anything more than what I said above, but kids can easily figure things out.

2. If you are scaring a little kid...I will flip out. The roommate started yelling and hitting things, and he came to me, and said "Ashley, I'm really scared of _________." I then had to console him, and my anger worsened towards a person, because you don't mess with a kid when I'm around.

3. Five year olds don't forget much. When Jaxon got home, and Grandma asked him what all happened this weekend, one of the first things he talked about was being scared of ______. When asked why, he said, "She hurt Ashley somehow, and then was doing lots and lots of yelling."

4. Kids are really listening even when you don't think they are. I was talking on the phone about the weekend and how I was by myself, and Jaxon pipes up from the backseat, "Ashley, you aren't by yourself, I'm with you!" Lol, needless to say, he was determined to inform me at all opportunities that we were doing things 'together' not alone. :-)

5. Five year olds are so much fun!! They are still in the stage of always winning and stuff, but overall they are great to play games, have conversations, and to just chill out as well.

6. Jaxon has an abundance of energy...slowing down was not really an option until the end of day 2. :-)

7. Kids like to always be around. He never wanted to be left alone.

8. Imaginative conversations are going to take place, so you better get creative.

9. They can be very very loving. Jaxon hugged me, thanked me, and told me that he loves me more times than ever the last two days.

Day 2 With Jaxon

Jaxon and I had a lot of fun on day 2. It started early! But, I was rested because he and I both went to bed at 9 p.m. (after he had a Superman photo shoot!) :-) This morning we woke up and the first thing he wanted to do was watch Power Rangers the movie (Power Rangers suck...I could barely stand to watch it!!), then we took showers, drank some juice, and headed to the park (no, I did not skip breakfast, he didn't want it). At the park he sat on the spinning toy again, (yes, I laughed even harder today!!), played with a little girl named Sarra, and interjected himself into a baseball practice between a dad and son to which he got to play on the playground and superheroes with the little boy.

After that we went to McDonalds, went to the Dream Center, then we headed to the pool swam all afternoon, ate dinner together, watched another movie, and then I had to take him home because his first day of school is tomorrow. I had a blast with him, I really love that little boy and can't wait for our next fun day together. Below are pictures and another video of him on that spinning toy because it makes me laugh every time I watch it!

My Little Superman
"I've fallen and I can't get up!"
Playing his favorite sport...the kid is not shy, I never would have gone and asked to play.
His little friend Sarra.
Ashley wore me out!

This is a little long (about a minute) but the wipe out at the end is worth it! I crack up every time.

Our Day

Jaxon and I have been having a blast today!

We started out with grocery shopping (the non-fun part of the day), but then we went bowling, went to the park, went to the store to get a toy, had some pizza and now we're finishing the evening watching a movie and playing with the toy.

At the park, there was this seat he could sit on that makes him spin around...oh my goodness, I could not stop laughing, he couldn't get off it, and it just keeps going and yeah, I thought it was hilarious Below are some pictures and videos of my day with my little man.

Monkey Bar Time!
The Spinning Seat

Such concentration getting over that wall!



It's Heavy...
Aha!! I got it!!
Gotta keep my balance after throwing it.
Posing before I go up the "mountain"
Just hanging...

My very cool bowling technique

The spinning toy that Ashley had fun watching me on.

Aww..Moment

Tonight, I was watching a movie and I got a phone call. The I.D. said my mom but I picked it up anyways. :-)

It wasn't really my mom...it was Jaxon, this is our conversation:

A: "Hello"
J: "This is Jaxon!"
A: "Hey Buddy, How are you?"
J: "Good, Grandma says you are going to come get me tomorrow night to sleep over."
A: "Yep, if you want too, I'm planning on it!"
J: "Yeah! I want too, can you come get me now?"
A: "No buddy, I gotta wait until tomorrow afternoon."
J: "Oh"
A: "But, then I'll be with you all Saturday and all of Sunday, and on Sunday I'll take you swimming!"
J: "Cool!"

Then, I talked to "grandma" again...

Then, I got Jaxon again:

J: "I got a Scooby Doo bag to pack my stuff in!"
A: "Very cool buddy, don't forget your swimming suit."
J: "Are you going to go swimming too?"
A: "Yep, bud, I'm going swimming with you too. Can I talk to Grandma again?"
J: "Yeah...Hey! Ashley!"
A: "Yeah bud?"
J: "You're pretty. I love you! Good night!"

Umm....can we say, "Aww???"
I love that little boy!!

Which Is Appropriate?

Is it inappropriate to call and leave a message in the middle of the night about something ministry related to a person that you know will have their phone off?

I had a question last night while I was at work preparing for children's ministry. I knew that I would not be seeing or talking to the individual that I would need to speak with before Sunday.

So, I called at left a message with the question, and told them that they could just call and leave a message whenever they had a spare minute.

I just received an e-mail from that person explaining to me how that is inappropriate, and that calling between 9 p.m. and 7 a.m is for emergencies only.

If my 'daytime' is at night time, how am I to call when they find it appropriate? Out of all people I know, they are the only ones that have seemed to have an issue with a message being left.

So, what do you think? Is it inappropriate to leave a message at that time of night? Or should the person who works at night, have to rearrange their schedule to try and get in touch with the other person who works during the day? Which is appropriate?

Prayer

I had a person write me today and tell me that they prayed for me. Not only did they just say that, they told me specifically what they prayed for.

Perhaps that's selfish, but I thought it was the coolest thing that:
1. Someone was praying for me because I have no idea if people do that or not

2. That they took the time to share with me that they prayed for me

and

3. They actually shared the specific prayer so that I could see what it is they want to happen in my life, what they are expecting God to do in my life, and the faith that goes along with their prayer.

It's pretty interesting to see how God led this person to pray for me today...and honestly it was a lot of encouragement on my end to see it.

The Bucket List

I watched the Bucket List this afternoon. I think it's a movie everyone should see. It could have been developed further I believe, but at the same time it is a very thought provoking movie.

The scene in the airplace at the 47 minute mark, the scene on top of the pyramids, and then the ending is where most of my thinking has taken place.

I'm not going to share much on it because everyone else needs to watch it, but I just wanted to throw out the three scenes that rocked my brain for today.

Go rent it, go watch it, then go bless someone's life today...life really is short.

The Blame Game

For many years I have I have played the blame game. I have done it with just about every single circumstance for where I didn't want to have to do something, or wanted to act in a certain way.

Recently it was brought to my attention how much it occurs and honestly I see it all the time not only in myself, but in others as well.

The other night a person mentioned to me that they have not been good with God since being angry on Sunday. That got me thinking about blaming others.

For example, "I can't seem to focus on God because others around me are not focusing on Him." "If I was around more positive/encouraging people I would be doing much better in my own life." "Well, if Bill hadn't done ______ to me, I'd be able to relate differently." "If this hadn't happened in the past, then I wouldn't act this way now."

And on and on the list can go. Seriously, have you ever noticed how people can make excuses for everything all the time in order to justify their own actions, thoughts, and behavior?

I am guilty as ever on this, as I let something control and justify everything I did for years. I have been doing the same thing the last few weeks, and today I finally owned up to my own responsibility in regards to how a few things are in my life. I can't blame others.

Do circumstances and people have the opportunity to fully effect you? Yep. Does the effect of those things have to end up being the controlling factor in your life? Nope.

Here's my encouragement for you today...if things are not going well in you life, if you are more focused on what others are doing, are more focused on circumstances, and are just trying to blame everyone else for your lack of self-discipline, self-control, and growth perhaps you should take a deeper look at it and see what it is you are responsible for, and what you can do to change it.