It's my money and I want it NOW

Dear Utah Tax Commission:

I would really love to receive my tax return in my bank account - PRONTO!

I am a poor college student. I have needs. Like I NEED a new shirt. I need to eat on my vay-kay to St. George. I NEED new tires for Eunice. I NEED some money for my savings account. I have lots of needs. Please, get back to me.

Sincerely,

Ashley

bored

I feel like I am stuck.
Stuck in a rut.

I feel bored.
I feel like every day is the SAME ROUTINE.
Maybe because it is.
I wake up.
Go to work.
Go to class.
Go BACK to work.
Go to the gym.
Eat dinner.
Homework.
Bedtime.
REPEAT.

I feel so mundane. So boring. My life has become so uneventful.
I am kinda stuck in this same boring routine until I graduate next January.
Help me.

What can I do to change it up?!

{R's Senior Photos}

I go to school with this lovely lady! Here are some of her senior photos we took on a horrible weather day! Thanks for being a champ Racquell!

bonfire

Ash and I are best friends. We both love fires, maybe we're even a little {pyro}...
We decided to have a little bonfire.
It was so much fun!
We made tin foil dinners.
We played UNO.
We endured strange looks from onlookers as we danced around our bonfire to Mariah Carey music.
We have fun.
"So what, who cares?"
Why don't you go out and have a bonfire as cool as ours.
I'd like to see you TRY!

St. George

This was a trip we took a few summers ago...and guess what?! We're gonna do this AGAIN, but it'll be even BETTER THIS TIME! Woo hoo for breaks from work/school!
Hooray for VAYKAY!

ready to love again

Not many people know this about me.
I've been pushing the ones I love the most away.
I've blocked out all the joy and happiness.
I've hurt for so long that I am afraid that I'm not deserving of happiness.
I know that is FALSE.
I also know that there is this boy.
I'm afraid that if I let him into my life, that I'll get hurt again.
Or worse, I'll hurt him.
It's so much easier to just be alone than to be a risk taker.
Right?
Wrong.
I've been so afraid to let anything happy and good into my life.
I am just trying to protect myself.
But what good is that?
It's BORING.
It brings me nothing.
I dont really know what I am trying to get at.
I am just trying to get my feelings out.
I have been crying all morning, but I don't really know why.

I think I am ready to love again...
but I am not sure this guy is going to forgive me this time (even though he has about a million times before)
I guess, love is all about taking risks.
It's about fighting for what you want.
Taking the risk.

"Be deliriously happy. Or at least leave yourself open to be. Love is passion, obsession, someone you can't live without. I say fall head over heels. Find someone you can love like crazy and who'll love you the same way back. Run the risk, if you get hurt, you'll come back. Because, the truth is there is no sense living your life without this. To make the journey and not fall deeply in love -- well, you haven't lived a life at all. You have to try. Because if you haven't tried, you haven't lived." -Meet Joe Black

The Infinite Atonement

“Those who repent will be particularly blessed by the Atonement. Without the Atonement, the eternal principle of justice would require punishment (see Alma 42:14). Because of the Atonement, mercy can prevail for those who have repented and allow them to return to the presence of God (see Alma 42:15).”

Quentin L. Cook, “Strengthen Faith as You Seek Knowledge,” New Era, Sept. 2008, 6


For God So Loved the World

“There is no greater evidence of the infinite power and perfection of God’s love than is declared by the Apostle John: ‘For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son’ (John 3:16). Another Apostle wrote that God ‘spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all’ (Romans 8:32). Think how it must have grieved our Heavenly Father to send His Son to endure incomprehensible suffering for our sins. That is the greatest evidence of His love for each of us!”

Dallin H. Oaks, “Love and Law,” Ensign, Nov., 2009, 26



We Will Never Walk Alone

“Brothers and sisters, one of the great consolations of this Easter season is that because Jesus walked such a long, lonely path utterly alone, we do not have to do so. His solitary journey brought great company for our little version of that path—the merciful care of our Father in Heaven, the unfailing companionship of this Beloved Son, the consummate gift of the Holy Ghost, angels in heaven, family members on both sides of the veil, prophets and apostles, teachers, leaders, friends. All of these and more have been given as companions for our mortal journey because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ and the Restoration of His gospel. Trumpeted from the summit of Calvary is the truth that we will never be left alone nor unaided, even if sometimes we may feel that we are. Truly the Redeemer of us all said, ‘I will not leave you comfortless. [My Father and] I will come to you [and abide with you].’ ”

Jeffrey R. Holland, “None Were with Him,” Ensign, May 2009, 88


Becoming Whole

"The Savior's atonement in the garden and on the cross is intimate as well as infinite. Infinite in that it spans the eternities. Intimate in that the Savior felt each person's pains, sufferings, and sicknesses. Consequently, he knows how to carry our sorrows and relieve our burdens that we might be healed from within, made whole persons, and receive everlasting joy in his kingdom. May our faith in the Father and the Son help each of us to become whole."

Merrill J. Bateman, "The Power to Heal from Within," Ensign, May 1995, 14




The Atonement Gives Us the Strength to Endure

"The Atonement of Jesus Christ and the healing it offers do much more than provide the opportunity for repentance from sins. The Atonement also gives us the strength to endure 'pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind,' because our Savior also took upon Him 'the pains and the sicknesses of his people' (Alma 7:11). Brothers and sisters, if your faith and prayers and the power of the priesthood do not heal you from an affliction, the power of the Atonement will surely give you the strength to bear the burden."

Dallin H. Oaks, "He Heals the Heavy Laden," Ensign, Nov. 2006, 9

my favorite missionary

I miss my brother a LOT today!

J.M. = {love of my life}

I love this man. Even if I've never even met him. His music speaks to my soul. I love all of his music.

My wonderful mother, my bffe Ash, and I are going to this concert in August! I am so looking forward to this moment in my life. I have anticipated this for a very long time! Now my life is complete.

Some of my favorite JM songs:
1) Comfortable
2) Slow Dancing in a Burning Room
3) Say
4) The Heart of Life
5) Half of my Heart
6) Neon
7) In Your Atmosphere
8) Friends, Lovers, or Nothing
9) Why Georgia
10) Belief
11) Perfectly Lonely
12) Vultures
13) Free Fallin' Cover (from his LA concert)
14) I Don't Trust Myself with Loving You
15) Victoria
16) Gravity
17) 83
18) Bold as Love
19) I'm Gonna Find Another You
20) Your Body is a Wonderland

Ok, I think 20 songs is enough for now...

let's get physical

Ya, let's get physical, thank you Olivia Newton-John for that lovely song.

I've become a little crazier and I decided to get myself a personal trainer. Yes, I am crazy. I am paying someone to kick my butt, to inflict pain (good pain), to make me sweat until my hair looks like I just got out of the shower, to make me have to use my inhaler because I am working so hard...ya, that's what I've been up to.

But guess what? I LOVE it! It is the best feeling in the world! My trainer is so awesome too, his name is Matt L. I workout at Energy Explosion in Springville. They're so awesome there, seriously, go and try a session. It's fairly inexpensive and well worth it! I love it!

Have a GREAT weekend ya'll. Be good!