A Very Hard Day

So today was a hard day for me....
It all began around 6 pm last night. i came home from shopping to find that Bella was missing. Sean and i drove around the neighborhood hours looking for her and couldn''t find her. Needless to say we called our the local shelters, contacted the homeowners association, and had posters made. But haven't had any response yet.
For those of you who dont't know, I purchased Bella the Feburary after Sean propsed. She is a very important part of our family and i have been crying quite a bit today and yesterday.

TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE....

I have been having some back pain for a while now. Today i went to the doctor to find out that i am in the early stages of scoliosis. i didn't really know much about it, besides knowing that it means you have a crooked spine. after reading up on scoliosis alot of things made sense, upper back pain, fatigue, the knot between my shoulder blades. I start therapy tomorrow and based on that, the doctor will decide what else is needed.

So with all that ... Today really sucked, but i try to remind my self that is could be worse. at times its hard to imagine it getting worse, but it could be worse. I just try to keep faith that GOd has many plans for me, and while i may not understand them, i must trust in him.

Our One Year Anniversary

I cant believe we are just 9 days from our one year anniversary! This time last year, I was going from one store to another looking for last minute bridal party gifts or looking for goodies to stuff baskets for our out of town guests, and a little Christmas shopping here and there. It was such a hectic week. I told my mom I felt like i had nothing to do this year, after such a a crazy 2007.

Anniversary Plans~

We originally planned on attending the Dallas/W hotel rocking NYE, and go big. But after some thought, why spend $400 on our anniversary??? It was more important to just be together and take in the importance of the day. With that said, we have decided to stay home, maybe go to the corner bar around 11 and ring in the new years then come home and relax.

New years day, my parents are hosting a dinner for us and our wedding party and close friends and family. We will probably watch the wedding DVD, eat the top of the wedding cake (hope its still good), and just reflect on what this year has been for us.

2009 Plans~

As a couple we have decided the 2009 is the year of the baby!!! well baby making!!! wait that's kinda graphic.... oh well you get the point. Ideally, we would like to get pregnant in August or September, so to avoid taking maternity leave. (for those of you who dont know, teachers dont get a traditional maternity leave, we take disability. which means partial pay and up to 3 weeks with out pay :S ) So having the baby during the summer would be more convenient, plus i wouldn't have to leave my students for 2-3 months! So we will keep you posted on that scene. We also have both decided to get healthier. i know that sounds like such a typical resolution, but its very important to us that we are healthy so that we can enjoy life with young children.

Well I hope everyone has a very blessed Christmas and a happy new year!

It's Beginning to Look Alot Like Christmas!!!!!

Well, everyone who knows me, knows how much I love the holidays. We decorated our Christmas tree and fire place at thanksgiving.

I've also finished most of my shopping. Just a few little goodies to pick up here and there, and finsish up our christmas card. I must say though, hearing all the music and seeing all the lights just gets me into the christmas spirit.

Sean and I have decided to go and take christmas pics at Santa's village. hopefully this is a tradition that we can continue with our children!!!

So far we have decided to cook at home and spend christmas just the two of us. Last year, with all of the wedding plans and last minute to-do's it all went by so fast, that we missed our holiday. So we are definately looking forward to spending our first christmas as husband and wife together

Not to mention we are only a few weeks away from our 1 year anniversary. it's hard to imagine that its been a year already. i will definitely keep you all posted on those plans, as soon as we finalize things.

i guess thats all for now.... i wish you all a very blessed Christmas and a wonderful New Year!

So Thankful!!!!!

I have had the most amazing week. I got to see Usher in concert, and go to the Cowboys Game on Thanksgiving Day. Of course i've caught a cold and been sneezing non stop... but it's so worth it. I had the most amazing time and may have become a football fan... lmao.. (anyone who knows me knows i dont know crap about football)!!! But i must say that i am so thankful for the opportunities my life has alotted me. I know that many people are having a difficult time this holiday season. I m just so lucky for all that God has given me this year! I just pray that next year continues to be amazing and that God continues to carry us in the palm of his hands.

Happy Holidays for the Harris Family!!!

Here are a few pics from the week!!!

Christmas Staples

So every family has traditions for the holidays. here are some cummings family traditons:
1. everyone opens one gift at midnight (pajamas)
2. these albums are in constant play: stevie wonder christmas and jackson 5 christmas
3. everyone wears their new pajamas all day
4. we eat dinner around noon
5. all decorations must be taken down after Jan 5. (three kings day in panama)

One thing i'm excited about, is incorporating Harris family tradtions
1. stocking stuffers (our's were more for decoration)
2. all the children sleep in the same room

And i guess now making our own traditions together for our children and our children's children

a wolf in sheeps clothing

So i usually dont post angry blogs but this time i have one. i am so tired of people being all up in your face smiling and come to find out they are on of your worst enemies. i just try to remind myself that God shows us things for a reason, and it is beeter to find out now then later.

say a little prayer for me

so at this point in my life i'm going through a really ruff time. sometimes its hard to have faith that there is a light, when you are in the middle of a dark place. i keep trying to remember that god has a reason and a purpose for all that he does. but sometimes its hard to imagine that. so please keep me and my family in your prayers.

Sorry So Long

Well.... things have been crazy.... since the last time i wrote, my hubby turned 27 and officially became an old man.... i have anticipated my future as a wedding planner and realized i may be over my head at times.... i'm 6 hours away from turning 26, "which is almost 30, which is almost middle age" to quote Jessica Simpson... and yes i cant help but to say it Barack Obama was named the next President of the USA. This was actually my 2nd time voting (i was registered in nac still last time). so for me it was awesome to know that i was apart of history. no matter who won, this was going to be a land mark decision. But i will say i am a bit excited that Obama won.





about this time 1 year ago i was helping my mother work the caucus, and even though i hoped and prayed for Obama to win, nothing prepared me for the feelings i had last night. the tears, the pride, the joy... I understand that thing will not change tomorrow, next week, maybe even next year. But what i do know is that nov 4th 2008 marked the dawn of a new era, and the day that any kid could say one day i want to be president and actually know that its possible

Whats been up!!!!

So its been a while since i've written but things are good here. Our birthdays are in a few weeks and our one year anniversary is just around the corner. Needless to say this year has been life changing. i never in a million years would have thought i would have learned so much about myself and my husband in the past year. you start to think that after knowing someone for 8 years, you know all there is to know. but everyday we learn something new. I can only imagine what a lifetime of new days and lessons can bring. I'm just glad that i have him to share my days with. through the good and the bad days i know at the end of the night we always still have each other's back.

the truth...the whole truth... and nothing but the truth

Ok so one of my students asked me on friday if i believe you should always tell the truth. Well being a teacher, of course I answered yes. followed by a wonderful mini-lesson on the truth. (my fellow teachers know about the teachable moment).

My student then gives me a hypothetical situation. ... "your best friend is reallllllllly ugly, and asks you if you think she is pretty. what do you say?" needless to sayi was a bit dumb founded... do i tel my student that in ths case you should lie, eventhough i gave this whole mini lesson on the value of the truth. or do i tell him that i would tell the truth, which would actualy be a lie.

my wonderful student, just kinda smiled while i sat there contemplating my next move. he chuckled a bit thenwalked off. I know i could have came back with some awesome answer about inner beauty over powering physical.... but at that moment all i could do was sit.

So my question to you... do you always tell the truth, even if it meant hurtng the ones you love?

I really have a hard time answering this, as at times tellign the truth has cost me friendships. I told a friend a honest answer and it was not what he/she wanted to hear. so when do you tell the truth? when do you lie? and when do you just sit there dumb founded? And is not answering worse than answering?

does the truth really set us free?

God's Little Wonders

I believe sometimes God sends us little miracles that we don't take the time to notice. Like a rainbow after a hurricane, or the beautiful breeze on your face, right before a storm. Today i took notice of one of these little miracles. There is this beautiful white crane that lives at the pond/lake/creek what have you, by my house. It's always there by itself, and it will let you get only so close before it flies away. it never flies to to far though. Maybe to the other end or just across the pond.

When you see something out of the norm like this, I think it's God's way of reminding us he's always here. Maybe not right in the palm of our hands, and he may be a bit illusive. But always close enough to keep watch if we would just take the time to notice.

tired tired tired

So i'm exhausted from the 2nd week of school and need a break already... good Lord what would i do if i worked all year long

Last Lecture by Randy Pausch

So. i started reading "last lecture", which is the last thoughts of Randy Pausch as he finds out he has only months to live at such a young age. I actually heard about this book during inservice and began crying listening to his ctual last lecture (which is not the book revolves around). It got me to thinking... if we all knew that we had 3 months to live would we all have the same spirit as we entered our last days? Would we still view life and in such an optimisic life. I cant say that i would. But i found his last lecture so touching that i immediately purchased the book. Now I'm not a member of Oprah's book club, but i do read from time to time and i think if you watched his last lecture you may be motivated to check this book out too. So here is the link to his last lecture (http://www.cmu.edu/uls/journeys/randy-pausch/index.html). i hope that it inspires or touches some of you the way it touched me.

wedding pics

many of you werent able to share in our big day, so here ya go!

First Day Back!!! new hair!!!! dog gas!!!! the hills

Well... today was the first day back at work, and i am so tired!!! it's so hard working all day and waking up early when i've gotten used to sleeping in and napping every day... uggggggggggggggh... i will say i love the way my new classroom is looking, but i am nervous about teaching new material

on another note, i did change my hair again. lately i'v been going through a phase of trying new things, which isn't typical for me. Like i've had the same 4 hair styles my whole life... Now granted it isn't dramaticly diffrent, but i do have bangs and highlights. (thanks to my fabulous cousin toni, who i'm sure is checking randomly to see if i gave her credit)

Another new story... my dog is having some hideous gas lately..... like i've been sniffing around for poop, and really its just her tooting...lol... any suggestions, cuz i'm about to purchase a gas mask. Someone told me to try this organic dog foos, but when you have 3 dogs and need the 50lb bag every few weeks, $60 is alot to spend on dog food. I wonder if there is like a beano for dogs or something, cuz this is a mess!!!

ok... i gotta go THE HILLS IS ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH

Forgetting My Name

Ok this probably sounds absolutely nuts, but i have a tendency to misspell my last name...lol
After i got married, i didn't legally change my name, because it was hard to go to the Social Security Office while school is in. So now that my name is officially changed, i tend to misspell it. sometimes its "harriss" or "hariss". i wonder why i have such an issue spelling "HARRIS" correctly. i mean its so much shorter than my old last name; its a pretty common last name!!!! i just dont get it!?!?!?!

photography

so i've been practing my photography. i thought i'd share...

School StartsWay too Soon

OMG... I cant believe i start workshops next week, much less begin teaching the week after. I guess it could be worse, i could have started already!!! I will say that i've had an amzing summer hanging out with friends, traveling, and just enjoying life.... I started to think how most people dont get a 3 month vacation, and i couldn't imagine working all year round. Maybe i'm a bit spoiled ... I mean kona grill on thursday..... luna de noche on fridays.... movie nights on tuesdays.... now i'm actually gonna have to work.... arrrrrrrrrrrrg

Harris Family Theater!!!!!!

I am so excited!!!! Sean and Iworked really hard to decorate our new movie room!!!!

Well i dont know if new is really the right term, seeing as we began building and remodling it a year ago. But this week we decided to buckle down and getter done!!!

I think we were most proud of ourselves for carpeting the stadium seating lift ourselves. it was a lot of work, but definately fun to do as a couple.

Our next venture is stocking the bar :P

Welcome to My World

ok so things in ashley world may not be what everyone aspects. there are good times, bad time, and every other time. I have had the pleasure of growing up in a privledged life. So now that i'm an adult and doing big girl things, it takes some adjustments. for instance, I'm having to learn that bank accounts have limits and there are limits to shopping.

I must say that having a husband has definately taught me some limits. The beauty of having sean around is that he balances me out. he reminds me that there are limits to life and to everything else. he also takes care of me when i do cross, smash and demolish those limts. I must say that i have learned so much in the last 8 months of being married. I have learned that not only do bank accounts have limits, but so do people. Living in such a close proximity to someone else you learn them very quickly. i mean i've had roommates, but its very diffrent having a "room"mate. but i wouldn't give it up for a day!!!