As Told By Ashley

A look at my life

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Thirty-one

Usually around the time of my birthday I do a lot of reflecting on the past year of my life. I also try to be super intentional about spending time with God in hopes of determining what my life should like in the upcoming year. This past year was a big one for me. There were a lot of emotional ups and downs in year 30.

I honestly don’t even know where to begin, but the biggest event of my 30th year was giving birth to my son. I’ve said it multiple times on multiple platforms and to multiple people – there is no experience more humbling than motherhood. NOTHING will test you in every single fruit of the spirit like being a parent. NOTHING! From the moment I found out I was pregnant, there was no decision that could be made without considering the life growing inside of me. Now, I sit back and look at that little boy and I’m in constant awe of just how good God really is. He truly is the best thing that has ever happened to me.

In my 30th year, I feel like I was tested in so many different areas. I was stretched in ways that I did not even think was possible. But I learned that I’m so much stronger and so much more capable than I give myself credit for. Sometimes I forget how strong I truly am. This past year definitely put it all into perspective for me.

I got to bring my 30th year to a close by seeing someone I truly admire live for the first time: Jackie Hill Perry. I went to the Glory conference in Philadelphia. It was everything I knew it would be and I’ve never had a more divine experience than I did this past weekend. If you’ve never experienced a JHP teaching of the text then I highly encourage you to do so. If you’ve never been to Glory then I highly encourage you to go.

I thought that I would have something incredibly deep and profound to say, but I don’t. I’m turning 31 today and I’m grateful. I have a happy, healthy 8 month old son and I’m grateful. We have a roof over our heads by way of my parents and I’m grateful. I have a job that helps me pay my bills and save money and I’m grateful. I don’t know what 31 will have to offer, but I do know that whatever it is – I’m grateful.

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Happy new year!!!

I wish you all the absolute best 2022 has to offer. I hope that in this year you guys find the life, love, and happiness that you all desire.

God bless

Xoxo,

Ash, RN

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Halfway there

Today is the first day of the last 6 months of 2021. What are your plans? What are your goals? What did you say you were going to do at the start of 2021 that you were not able to do?? Now is the time to sharpen your focus and make a plan as to how you are going to accomplish those goals.

Don’t let these last six months be like the first six months, even if your first six months were great. There’s still more to be done, more to be learned, and more to give back for the rest of the year.

Love you guys

Xoxo,

Ash, RN

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Eight

On January 15th of this year I became a homeowner. That may not seem like a big deal to some people, but it was a very big deal to me. If you’ve read my previous post you know how my first trial at purchasing a home went…not so good. This time the process was so smooth, it was just too good to be true.

Over the past month I’ve been thinking about all that it took to get to the signing table. It was the most stressful thing I’ve ever experienced. For someone like me who has anxiety that is damn near crippling at times, signing those papers was the best and worst moment of my life.

It dawned on me in the midst of all my thoughts that it took me eight months from my original settlement date for the townhouse to my actually settlement date with the house. For those of you who are super spiritual like my mama, eight is the number of new beginnings. How cool is that? To go from a moment where I felt like a complete failure to eight months later achieving one of the biggest personal goals I’ve ever set for myself. It’s a nice feeling.

It hasn’t come without challenges though. Since being in the house I’ve had some pretty annoying things happen that at times make me feel like I made the wrong decision, but I’m so grateful for my family who keeps me grounded in the reality that shit happens (pardon me saints ). I’m sure this won’t be the end of annoying things that happen in my house, and I look forward to sharing each and every one with you guys.

Stay tuned as I attempt to decorate this place. Lord knows I was not given the gift of interior decorating.

Xoxo,

Ash, RN

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Day one

2020 was nowhere near what we all thought it would be, and that’s okay. It’s day one of a brand new year. I hope you all decide to make the best of it.

Happy New Year everyone!!

Xoxo,

Ash, RN

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The Nurses’ Station 12/18

Today was a bittersweet day on my unit. One of the most well liked nurses celebrated her last day with us. She recently graduated with her Women’s Health NP degree and plans to start working for one of the practices that delivers at our hospital.

Watching everyone’s reaction today to her leaving was just as inspirational as it was sad. Seeing all of the nurses and doctors congratulate her and wish her well was very special. One of the doctors even said, “it’s the end of an era”. It’s been on my mind all day; I couldn’t wait to write about it.

Some nurses spend their entire career never hearing how truly appreciated and valued they are. Sometimes you leave a job and you wonder if anyone will even miss you. I can only hope that I achieve that level in my nursing career – the one where a doctor calls my departure the end of an era. Of course I don’t expect it to come any time soon, but one day I’d like to know that I made a difference and left an impression that’s one to be reckoned with.

Best of luck to KRP. She’s going to do an amazing job and her patients will be lucky to have her.

Xoxo,

Ash, RN

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Happy New Year!!!

Happy New Year friends. I hope 2020 is everything you need it to be 😊

Xoxo,

Ash, RN

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Welcome

Welcome to As Told By Ashley!

I’ve been told many times by many different people that I should start a blog. I hesitated for a long time because I wasn’t sure what I would write about. I’m not an expert on anything…yet. I never thought that I had anything worth sharing.

At the beginning of this year, I decided that I would start the blog and have it ready in the event that my life became interesting enough to blog about. So, here it is…