charlotte, here i come : )

it's funny how often you take things for granted. this entire experience has made me aware of so much. i get to head home to Charlotte in a few weeks- the 19Th of Feb to be exact, and oh boy i am so excited. i can not wait to give my dad and brother a huge hug! i can't wait to see my friends, and the familiar streets and faces... it's just what i need.

my job is not going so well, terrible actually. i am in the process of applying to work at "The Master's Baker" and i couldn't be more excited to find out the outcome!

Christie is doing well.... enjoying Roller Derby and kicking some butt on the track! She has made a few new friends and even joined the sponsorship committee. I could not be more proud of her! She's at the rink 2-4 times a week.... working really hard to pass all the levels. Shes almost to level three, only two more to go!

the weather here is super cold. i can not wait to see the grass again. it's rather depressing to look out the back door and see nothing but dirty snow and ice. the vibrant colors have disappeared and i can not wait to get them back. funny, i never thought i would be wishing for green grass, but it is certainly missed.

like i said before, heading home for the weekend will be the best thing I've done in months, and i couldn't be more excited to hop in my car and make the 9 hour drive!

can't wait to see you guys! xoxo.

.... and it's almost Christmas!

Wow, i have surely neglected this blog. that's an understatement. i have somehow become so caught up in the moment that i have forgotten what it means to stop and take it all in; what it means to take a minute for myself, a minute to reflect- that's what i should be doing with this blog... and i should be doing so more often than not!

with that being said...

so much has happened in the last month.

i got a job which i was REALLY excited about, and now i am more disappointed with, but hey, it's a job and i am NOT going to complain when i have steady employment.

Christie joined roller derby, and i am super excited for her. i hope this gives her the chance to make new friends and meet some really cool girls. one thing i have learned from this experience thus far is that friends were my life-line in Charlotte. i was constantly surrounded by amazing friends and family and not having that here is the hardest part... and i am sure Christie is really wanting to meet some new people, so i feel roller derby is a great chance for that.

speaking of Charlotte, oh man i miss it! like, whoa! i think it is way more beautiful here in PA, but you can't replace your friends and family and i miss them more and more every day. it's been incredibly difficult for me to come to the realization that i can't pick up the phone and find a friend to hang out with because, well, i have no friends here. sure I've met great people through the Weldon's but, i haven't made those connections to where i can just stop by, or call, or spend hours talking to over coffee.

i know i will make new friends, i have no doubt in that, but for right now i find myself incredibly lonely. i realize now that i took my friends for granted. they truly were one in a million. i can not wait to go home and actually hang out with my friends. they are missed. a lot.

my brother is coming to see me in 14 days! YAY! I can not believe he will be here in two weeks. It makes me smile really big knowing that he's coming to hang out with me. i have a ton to show him, and it will be REALLY nice to have family around for a minute!

Christmas is right around the corner, which is nice- i love how the season makes people more thankful and joyful! i love the lights and carols. and Christmas trees. oh how fun!

We've been getting flurries here on an almost daily basis, which for those of you who know me, know that even one or two flurries are a big deal! I have been wishing for a white Christmas this year.... we will see what's in store!

Over the past month i have learned how grateful I am for certain things... such as:

The people:
- Christie
- The Weldon's, including Ang, Clint, Rowan, Foster, Beck, Chad, Deb, Greg, the boys, and Mr. & Mrs. Weldon.
- The Henricks.
- Dan and Lauren
- Steve and Lauren

The beauty:
- The creeks
- The snow
- The stone
- The bridges
- And all the wildlife!

My family:
- My brother and dad are amazing. I am so lucky!
- My grandparents who are so cute and loving!

I am just really thankful. for all of it, and all of you!

All in all life in PA is nice. Beautiful really. But it doesn't replace home. Not even close.

I have arrived... in Downingtown : )

We moved in Saturday. Today is Thursday. I have yet to find a job, however I would be perfectly content staying home, making meals, cleaning house- I have become quite fond of the homemaker role! oh wishful thinking.

Although we have yet to be here a week, I have seen so much beauty. This place is amazing. I never, in 100 years, thought nature could be so beautiful. I can not see enough covered bridges, creeks, ponds, streams, everything of the like, stone, deer, and the list goes on and on. It truly is amazing here, and I am so happy to begin this chapter of my life.

I am no longer scared, for I know this is where I should be right now.

I wish I could bring every friend I know from home here. They would never believe the beauty I am privileged to see every day.

I am happy, content, and excited to see what's in store for me.

Day 6

We've begun the packing process. so. not. fun. no matter how excited i am about moving, i will never be excited about packing. it actually saddens me a little. i am actually leaving behind everything i have ever known. my lively hood. (takes deep breath). wow. however, i am super excited and know that this is exactly what we should be doing right now. i am trying to soak up every last moment here in NC before the big move. my friends and family mean the world to me and i only hope they will welcome this transition. i mean, they have a free place to stay up north, so hopefully they will come visit often, as i am going to miss them more than words can express.

these boxes are such an eyesore and i can not wait to get them out of here.

we backed up our moving date... we will officially leave Charlotte November 8th. it will be such a bittersweet goodbye.

however, i can not wait for everything that is in store for us. i know this is such a blessing in disguise.

Day 1

Welcome to my blog. However Cliche that may sound. For those of you who don't know me, I'm Ashley. Just a small town Southern girl about to make her way up North. I was born and raised in Charlotte, NC and will soon call Downingtown, PA my new home. I am super excited, scared, happy, and blessed all at once. I think this journey is just the beginning of the rest of my life. I hope to find meaning in more than i can possibly begin to comprehend.

So here it is... Day 1 of the big move.

Today we found out we got our place in Downingtown. It's a cute 3 bedroom house within walking distance to shops, bars, restaurants and parks.

This is our new home and I couldn't be happier.

We move in November 1.