I Spoke to God Today

God spoke to me today.

The last few weeks have been a roller coaster. No matter where we turned or what we were doing we couldn't figure out what was in store for us or Gods plan for our little family. After coming back from Maleas last doctors appointment we knew in our hearts that something big was going to happen. Not knowing what to do or where to turn I sat down and prayed. As we met with family over the following week it became very apparent to us that we had options that we didn't even think about beforehand. We decided that starting over would be the best option for us.

After we had slept on the decisions we were being faced with we decided to sell everything we had and start off new. We had thought about moving back to Washington for a couple of months, and we both felt like there was opportunities up there that we wouldn't have staying in Southern Utah. The hardest part is figuring out how to get the whole family up there and figure out how to tell our family and friends.

Now after a few weeks of preparation and planning we sold everything we owned, donated the rest, and packed one bag of possessions each. Here we sat with our car packed last night not knowing what was going to happen or if it was all going to go as planned. As we drove up to Salt Lake City I kept thinking to myself if I had made the right decisions about leaving the life that we had. I know really bad timing to be second guessing yourself right? Well things didn't go quite as planned last night as we arrived here.

We went to church this morning with some very close friends. I felt the trials that we faced last night brought us right where we needed to be to go and hear the message that was being presented today. The message was Restoring Your Soul. Now please understand that the last couple of years of our lives as a family have been a total and complete roller coaster. I haven't been on the best terms with God after our daughters accident. It has been a complete battle internally just to come to the realization of what has happened and why it had to happen. These things I will never fully know or understand.

At church today he spoke about the situations in life that as everything breaks down around you that no matter what you are still loved and supported. The last few months I have felt like everything I have worked so hard to establish has been breaking down and crumbling beneath me. I am not alone in this at all and I never have been. I will never know why the things that are happened or have happened are happening until I am meant to. Gods timing is perfect, and I just need to trust that no matter what my needs will be taken care of.

As I sat at the church I knew that no matter what that message was meant for me. I needed to hear that everything is going to be okay and that he knows of my struggles. I just need to trust that the direction that I am being pulled in is meant for me even though I feel like I am not ready to face it. I am so thankful for everyone in my life right now. I know that I have needed a lot of support in the past and this time around isn't any easier. I am strong, beautiful, and determined. I can get through this. I have my team, family, and friends. I don't know how many times while receiving donations I have broken down in tears of gratitude. I am ready to forgive. I am ready to feel happy again. I am ready for a new start.

FReeDoM 2014 Pt. 1

Well my conference experience was definitely an experience. I would not trade it for anything in the world. From the beginning not everything fell into place like we had hoped. We got it all paid for and flights set up. Then my ride to Las Vegas was accidentally overbooked and moved up to the night before. I actually ended up sleeping in the Las Vegas airport. So by the time I had gotten to Tampa I had been up for about 30 hours straight. There was nothing that was going to keep me from going to conference. I ran into big problems on the home front right after I had landed. I was thousands of miles from home. I couldn't do much of anything at this point in time. I literally felt like everything was working against me at this point. Everywhere I turned there was no way that anything was going to work out, and then something clicked.... Why was the universe so against me when I had the best intentions for everything that I was doing? What is this honestly going to accomplish? It pushed me past my breaking point. So I did some soul searching. What was my why? Why am I working this hard to make this happen? To even be in Tampa and go to conference. Why? 

My family. I let that fuel me and drive me. I couldn't wait for the full experience. To see my team. To follow my dreams. To make this really come to life. 

 This is how I spent the night in the airport. 

 The world wasn't going to push me down. I was a woman on a mission. I was also being very goofy and extremely excited to be on my way to Tampa. 

Finally on my way! 

To be continued. 

My ItWorks Story

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Here is my story...

Okay so here is the thing... I want to share why I got started into the amazing company called ItWorks Global. I could tell you how much I love it but I know some of you reading this are like "Yeah, yeah... okay moving on...". Here is my story.
I started ItWorks on March 20, 2013 I would be lying if I said I wasn't nervous about how my investment was going to turn out. I had faith in it and I was introduced to it by a good friend who was actually my pen pal at the time. We had been struggling already and just to fork out $112 (including tax) was so much for us with 2 kids in diapers and a 3rd child on the way due in May. On February 19, 2012 we had a major family tragedy strike. I was 28 weeks pregnant with our daughter and on that stormy Sunday we had chosen to go out shooting with some friends. That day my husband was injured in a shooting accident. From that day forward we had no source of income whatsoever. We took out loans to stay afloat, used our tax returns, borrowed from family and friends... We basically did everything could possibly think of to just make sure we could have food. We never got caught back up after that. At about 4 months after having our daughter we were blessed yet again to have another baby. I was due in May and money was already extremely tight. I met my amazing friend Angie in December through a Mommy and Daughter page on Facebook. Finally after 3 months of talking and a lot of debating I make the leap and joined ItWorks. No I didn't have the funds to do it but I did know that something had to change.
On July 30, 2013 tragedy struck our family once again. Our daughter was burned and 20% of her body was covered in 3rd degree burns which required us to be thrown onto a helicopter and flown up to University Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah. Where our lives were turned upside down. We sat in the Burn Trauma ICU for 2 months. When I say our life was a roller coaster it is literally not an exaggeration. We almost lost our daughter more than several times. I worked my business with a newborn and my daughter in a hospital bed every single day. I cannot tell you how nice it was to be able to do it when it was right for me to do it. I didn't have to take work off to sit at her bedside. I didn't have a boss calling me. I was there every single day right where I needed to be. No I am not saying I was making thousands of dollars a day. If that $25 that you sell in wraps means the difference between you eating dinner and not trust me its amazing to have that on you to make it possible. I had people from my team and friends who I consider angels bring me clothing (because I had none except the clothing on my back). They brought me dinners. They came and sat with me in the hospital to keep me company so I didn't completely lose my mind. When it was time to leave the hospital so many of them came together to donate their own children's clothing to our daughter (because she had outgrown everything we had for her). These people are incredible. Most of them I had never met in my life. They were complete strangers.
Since then I work 100% from home. I blitz when I go out to the grocery store. I talk with new people every single day from all around the world online. The most important thing for me is I am home with my kids. I get to make time to do our daughters physical therapy, clean the house, spend time with the kids, and I am on my own schedule. If I can make this job work around the schedule that I have anyone can. I am currently working towards my $10,000 GOOD (Get out of debt) bonus. I cannot even express how much these people and this company has changed my life and were there for me when I needed it. I have friends for life. I have the freedom of my own time. Most of all I am home where I am needed. Anyone can do this job. Let me show you how that $99 can change your life. Please just give me the chance. It will buy you so much more than you could ever dream of.

-Ashley

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Our 2013.

I never realized how much time had passed since I blogged last. So here it goes. 

In the last year I watched my little sister (the baby of the family) graduate from high school, and yes I did cry. We suffered heartache and loss. We started a new life in a new home. Gained and lost friends. It was a bumpy ride. 

 Aunt Courts Graduation.

As you can tell by the end even Malea was ready to go home.

Ryker was being goofy.

We got ready and added a new addition to our family. 

On May 23, 2013 Radley Joseph was born. 

Radley at a week old. 

We had lots of smiles from Malea.

Pool parties became a daily routine. 

Some more laughs. 

(I cannot ever get enough.)

I started working from home. I love ItWorks and it has given our family a fresh start. I wouldn't trade it for the world. 

 Mr Radley and his bright eyes. 

On July 30, 2013 we faced the hardest hardships our family has ever faced. Our sweet princess was burned in a tragic accident. We are truly blessed that it wasn't worse than it turned out to be. We faced some truly difficult decisions along the next 2 months. 

Our sweet angel sleeping. 

 Malea had to relearn how to do everything again. We started at the small things like even holding her head up and worked to bigger things like walking and learning how to function in daily life. 

Miss mia recovering. 

Maleas first time standing up in 5 weeks. 

 The very last step (extubation) after her last surgery (3rd surgery).

Radley and I spent a lot of time together while sissy was recovering. 

Once Ryker finally made it back home we spent a lot of time playing. We had a lot to catch up on. 

 Mia and Ry back together at last.

We got home just in time to enjoy the last of the hot summer. 

Radley and I got pretty close we are good buddies. 

Thanks to an amazing friend we were blessed enough to get some long overdue pictures of our sweet girl. She captured her quirky personality perfectly. It was truly a blessing and she has no idea how much we truly appreciated it. 

 I love my bubbers smiles. They brighten up the hardest of times.

Mias first swing ride. She was laughing the entire time.

 I met Spiderman on Halloween. He stole all of my snickers candy bars. 

 I couldn't think of a braver superhero than our little princess. 

Our Rad man was NANANANANANA Batman!

As you can tell its been an insanely crazy year. We are ready to see what 2014 has to offer. We met new friends and lost a few in the process. But we are still a family, and family is all you need. Thank you to everyone who helped during Mias accident for all the help and support. You will be in our hearts forever. Saying how crazy this year has been doesn't even begin to cover it. We love you all and cannot wait to see what the new year has in store. 

-Ashley

10 weeks

Yep thats right baby number two is well on its way. I am due May 13, 2012. We are very excited for our new addition to our family. We are hoping for a girl but we will be happy either way. So far the baby is about 2 inches tall kicks and swims around all day it has all ten fingers and toes.

It breathes in and out once in a while, even without air.

Its skin is getting thicker and harder to see through.

The baby often prefers moving one hand more than the other.

If I am a boy, I am now making testosterone just like dad.

It loves roll over and can even do flips!

My joints are a lot like my parent's joints.

It already has more than 4,000 body parts—just 500 more to go! 

It's hair is starting to grow on its brow and near my mouth.

My Crazy Life...

So much time has passed and all I can think is where did the summer go? I mean really.... It's September already. All I can think is I am so not ready for the journey ahead. Going to school and being a mom is a tough job. All  I know is I know its possible. I feel like I am starting over at the starting line and this is just a new race. May looks so insanely far away. Can I really do another 30 credits? That would be just enough to make it through and graduate with my associates. On top of everything I still have at least another 3 years of school. So far my favorite class is photography. Its becoming more of like an expensive obsession. I find myself stopping off to the side of the road taking pictures of a sunset or flipping on my camera to take a picture of ryker sleeping with my pajamma pants (he thinks they are a soft blanket.) I miss being home with my bubba and being able to take him to the park and play with bubbles any time I please. Is this school thing really for me? Do I really want to not be home and just work my life away? I keep running these questions through my mind and all I can come up with is what if something happens to Trent and I have to be able to support my family? Its a scary thought but in all honesty its the truth. I know all you can think is blah, blah, blah.... nI have had nightmare after nightmare for the last couple of months and I cannot get them to go away. It's starting to give me anxiety.

On the plus side I have gone down two pant sizes just from playing volleyball again and walking across campus. I have also lost a few "friends" over drama. I have became a more educated person. I have also learned so much about myself and what I can handle. I love how my life has turned out. I honestly wouldn't change the craziness for anything.