Grey's Anatomy? Scrubs? ER? Nope! It's Just My Life!

Remember the back pain I told you about? The 3 herniated discs, spinal stenosis, and pinched sciatic nerve?

Well, it all exploded on Sunday! I was in so much pain, I couldn't stand up or move. It was the most terrifying experience of my life. I was alone in my apartment, bawling, and screaming. My family was at church, but luckily my brother Nathan carries his cell phone all the time. I called him, panicked him, and he ran and got my parents who rushed out of church and came up to my apartment. My mom has a key, so they came in and found me still bawling on my bed, unable to get up. So of course my mother starts bawling and just wraps her arms around me. I don't know what I would do without her!!!

My dad and Nathan gave me a blessing which eased my pain enough so I could stand up, get to the car, and they rushed me to the emergency room. One morphine shot and one valuum later, I was much happier. The neurosurgeon looked at my MRI results and couldn't believe I had been living like that for 4 weeks.

So, they admitted me to the hospital and I had surgery on Monday. He said my sciatic nerve was so pinched and swollen, it was now wonder I couldn't walk! He fixed it all up though! I spent one more night in the hospital and came home today. Now I just have to heal from the surgery. I will gladly deal with that pain though!

My family has been amazing and supportive and helped me so much! I can't begin to tell them how much I love them!

My work family has been the same! I have not had to worry about subs or plans! I love you all!

My ward family has been amazing too! My visiting teachers, home teacher, bishopric, and friends visited, texted, and facebooked. I love them all too!

In fact, I love everybody!!!!!!! :)

I will be staying at my parents while I heal. Then I will go home. . .to my new townhouse! I am not allowed to lift or bend, so my family said they will move me in while I watch. But I get to set up my house! That's the rule!!! :)

Count Your Many Blessings

So. . .I am in excruciating pain, can barely move, burst into tears often, am stuck in bed, am missing work, and am suffering through school.

And yet. . .I feel like one of the most blessed people on this earth.

* My wonderful mother insisted that I come and stay with them for awhile. She, my dad, and my brother Nathan have been waiting on me hand and foot. My dad even gave up his bed for me! I feel really spoiled!

* Before I came to stay at my parent's, my brother Ryan and his wife Becky brought me dinner, took out my garbage, and made me enough food to last a few days since I can't stand up long enough to cook! My nephew Tanner gave me a stuffed rabbit to help me feel better.

* My amazing team at school has rallied around me. Heather, Kerry, and Jessica have been taking care of everything at work for me. They have been printing my sub plans, getting out materials, and telling me not to worry.

* I have been well supplied with brownies! Kerry and her cute daughter brought me a plate of delicious mint brownies last night and visited with me for awhile. Tonight my friends Beth and Mary are bringing me some more brownies. I can't wait to visit with them!

* I have received so many messages of support on Facebook from my amazing friends: Marci, RaeAnn, Traci, Beth, Brenda, Mindy, etc.

* I have had many visitors, many phone calls, and many text conversations with people just checking to make sure I am surviving.

So. . .Even though I may be miserable, I am very happy and will willingly count my many blessings!

Love you all!!!!!!!!!!

There's No Place Like Home!

Welcome to my new home! Come on in for a mini tour!


This is my kitchen - minus the appliances! I am most excited about the long bar and the pantry.


This is the dining room. A real dining room! Those are hard to find in places these days! Once again, notice the long bar. Plus, I love the big window.


This is the huge window and wonderful view from my master bedroom.


I am so excited for my master bathroom. This is my huge tub and huge vanity. It also has a shower, walk-in-closet, linen closet, and the toilet has its own room. I feel very spoiled!



This is the second bathroom upstairs which you can use if you come to visit me! :) Or you can use the 1/2 bath on the main level! :)


Thanks for joining me on this mini tour of my new digs! There are two more bedrooms, the living room, laundry room, and garage which we did not see. So, you will have to come on a real tour with me when it's finished! I still have this fear that something is going to go wrong with my loan (even though I was pre-approved), so pray for me! More updates to come!!!!!!

On a Whim and a Prayer

I realize that I am a little crazy and I like to do things on whims. But it is fun to be spontaneous and do things on the spur of the moment! So, I did two crazy, spontaneous, spur of the moment things:

1: I am now a red head. Which means I get to be feisty!

2: I am buying a town house. Seriously! And I am so excited!

It kind of just fell into my lap, which is how most things seem to happen for me. So I fasted and prayed about it, and it feels so right! I will only be 2 miles away from work, which means I will officially be a Pleasant Grove resident.

It is brand new, so I went and picked out my options today. They will finish the inside and then I can move in - as long as everything works out with my loan! It is the perfect location, the perfect size, has big windows and plenty of light, a two car garage, a real dining space, a nice size living room, a master suite with a walk in closet, shower, and huge tub, 3 bedrooms total, 2 1/2 bathrooms, a laundry room, 2 pantries, 2 linen closets, etc. Plus, a clubhouse with a gym, theater, and pool. I think I may be in Heaven!


I can't wait until it is finished so I can have everyone over for a party! Wish me luck on my latest whim and spontaneous adventure!

Something Better!

So. . . here goes! The beginning of 2010. My year. Let's start it off with a bang!

I went on a date on Saturday. A miracle! I know!

And I had a really good time!

But remember. . . this is my life! So it has to be a little crazy and a little complicated. Otherwise. . . it wouldn't be my life!

This guy was amazing! We were set up on a blind date by a mutual friend (actually, one of my old student's mother). He texted me on New Year's Eve and we ended up texting for about 6 hours. Seriously! We decided to go out on Saturday. He called me Friday to confirm, and we had a really nice conversation. Then. . . we met on Saturday and I had a really good time! We ate at the Pizza Factory and got to know each other and it was great!

There is just one small thing. . . That makes it a little complicated. . . And maybe a little crazy. But. . . I don't know! Did I mention I had a really good time? So maybe this one small thing shouldn't be an issue.

It was just one date, so who knows what will happen.

All I know is that the Lord works in mysterious ways. And I am going to trust in Him and his plan for me. I still don't know what that is, but I do know I am going to listen to whatever He tells me to do.

In Relief Society today we had an amazing lesson on Life Lessons from 2009. Listen to this:

"Do not fail to take a leap of faith because you have already jumped to another conclusion." Elder Neal A. Maxwell

Don't you love that! Just because I had one thing in mind for my life doesn't mean that I was right! The Lord knows best and I just need to have faith!

Here's another one: When your plans don't work out, make new ones! We talked about this story Sheri Dew told that demonstrates how when things don't work out, pray and ask for something better because the Lord knows best! According to Sheri Dew, Joseph Smith once said this prayer, "Lord, we thank Thee for this Johnny cake, and ask thee to send us something better. Amen." Then someone showed up with some flour and a ham!

I guess it never occurred to me to pray for something better! So. . . (as most of you know) something didn't quite work out for me. And that is ok! Because the Lord knows best. And now I am praying for something better!

And who knows?

Maybe Mr. Saturday was my something better!

Or maybe my something better is just around the next corner!

I don't know!

And that is ok! Because I trust in the Lord and know my something better is out there waiting for me. And I won't stop until I find him!

Welcome to 2010!!!!!!

I am so excited to start a new year! I have decided to make this the best year ever, no matter what it takes! So look out! This is the year of Ashley! It has started out pretty. . .interesting. . .wonderful. . .crazy. . .I'm not sure yet! Let's just say, I have another interesting episode to add to my tv show of a life. I'll let you know how it turns out as soon as I know (. . .after my date on Saturday!).

So anyway, 2009 was pretty crazy. But as I've reflected, I decided it was a good year after all (even if I did go slightly insane - sorry about that!!).

I learned a lot about myself, what I can do, what I want, and what I don't want.

I feel like I've grown closer to my Heavenly Father and Savior. I know they are there, watching out for me, and that they have an amazing plan for me. I'm just not sure what it is yet!

I have grown closer to my family, especially my mom and two amazing sisters-in-law who have helped me through this crazy (did I say CRAZY) few months. I don't know what I would have done without their advice, support, and shoulders to cry on. I really don't know what I would have done without Liz that one day. I am so glad she was there to go swing in the snow with me!

I have grown closer to my amazing friends/team/sisters at work. This includes Heather (the stable one! At least for this year!), Kerry and Jessica (the new ones who are already a huge part of me!), RaeAnn and Marci (who will always be a part of my team!!!), and Trudy (who is always there when I need her!). These amazing women got me through the good times and the bad. Work is still my safe and happy place because of them!!!! I love you girls!!!!!

I made some amazing new friends in my singles ward. Yes, I said it! I am actually enjoying my singles ward. I avoided it for a long time but it has been a good experience.

I am in the best shape of my life and feel great!

I am on my way to earning my Masters Degree in Education (I never want to write another research paper again when this is over!!!!!!).

And I have so many amazing (if not sometimes random!) people who care about me and show me they do in amazing (if not sometimes random!) ways like setting me up on blind dates, hugging me in the hall, inviting me places, etc. I would be lost without the amazing and random people in my life!

So, 2009 was crazy (CRAZY!!!!!) but it was great.

2010 is going to be even greater! Wonderful! Amazing! Spectacular! And hopefully not so crazy! At least not in a bad way!

So let's hear it for 2010! The year of Ashley!!!

Merry Christmas!!!!!

Merry Christmas 2009!!!! I had an amazing Christmas with my wonderful family. We had a great time eating, visiting, and exchanging gifts. Eli, McKenna, and Tanner were especially excited to see what Santa brought them. The whole family got comfy robes and fun Christmas socks. This relaxing and fun day was exactly what I needed. I am so thankful for the birth of my Savior. I don't know what I would do without the knowledge and comfort that the Atonement brings into my life. I know that everything will work out because I have a Heavenly Father and a Savior who love me. Merry Christmas!!!