So much emotion...

Let me begin by saying that I'm sorry for not updating sooner (Planning a wedding and learning a new job take up a lot of time!) But I promise to be better!

The past month has been an emotional roller coaster for me.  Highs of excitement, lows of fear from the unknown, no matter what the issues, I have begun to realize that I mostly wear my feelings on my sleeve.  Now I'm not sure if this is necessarily a good thing...I do think that my honesty and true feelings make me the person I am, however, I often wonder if my initial feelings are to much.  I don't want my initial reaction to hinder my ultimate judgment.

When many overwhelming changes cause many mixed emotions, I feel as though after I've analyzed and recalculated - that my initial reaction was possibly the correct one and that though I try to look at it in different ways, the situation remains the same.  

After much time and consideration, I choose to not let so much effect me.  My emotions have become so overwhelming in the past month that if I continue to let them continue, I might go mad by the wedding! (And we wouldn't want that now would we!)

I guess what would benefit me the most is that I take each situation a day at a time, if something crazy happens, it might just be that I put it on the back burner for a while until I have a more appropriate time to deal and handle it. Although this may not be ideal for other parties involved, it is what works for me....and since this is my life, I choose to let positive and happy emotions be what flow through me for a while.

So here's to you feelings....bottoms up...

Engagement and New Job....WOW!!!

First and foremost, let me apologize for not posting sooner, the past weeks events have been slightly overwhelming. 

Lets being with the fact that on Janurary 21, 2011 - I was verbally offered a new position at the University of Georgia's Office of Special Events, as an office manager. Yippee!!! It is a full time position, with full benefits which will be very beneficial considering that on January 22, 2011, Agan PROPOSED!!!  We will be getting married on October 22, 2011!

Now this may come as no shock to some of you, but for the past 8 years, I have known from the beginning that Agan and I were meant to be together.  God has blessed me we a man who loves and cherishes me and with an unconditional love that most will never know.  I understand that I am so lucky and blessed to begin 2011 with such a multitude of grace and I look forward to what else God has in store for the upcoming year.

Check out the pic's below and our Wedding Website!!

http://www.theknot.com/ourwedding/AshleyFreeman&AganTankersley

Patience...Not one of my Virtues...

And so there comes a time in everyone's life where Patience is a must...And I must say that NOW is one of those times.  I also have to realize that we live in a such a fast paced society. How can we expect everyone to have patience when we can get anything we want in a drive through environment.

Patience is the companion of wisdom.  ~St. Augustine
Patience is also a form of action.  ~Auguste Rodin

 

Patience as a form of action is something that we need to consider carefully... 

Patience is the state of endurance under difficult circumstances, which can mean persevering in the face of delay or provocation without acting on annoyance/anger in a negative way; or exhibiting forbearance when under strain, especially when faced with longer-term difficulties. Patience is the level of endurance one's character can take before negativity. It is also used to refer to the character trait of being steadfast.

 

When we don't have patience we miss out...we miss out on the smallest most amazing things, we miss out on the beautiful things, we miss out on life, the best things in life.

What I have learned is that the wait might be worth it in the end...and in the end,  you might get more than you expected in the beginning...all because of...Patience.

SNOWPOCALYPSE 2011

January 9-12, 2011 -

SNOW FALLS IN ATHENS and the SNOWPOCALYPSE has begun...

Only in Georgia will people FREAK OUT over snow (haha) and head to the store to buy the essentials, which include: milk, eggs, bread, and ALCOHOL.  I can promise you once snow was mentioned these items disappeared from Athens-Clarke County. 

I also want to mention that even though I love being a UGA Alum, I was bummed that my first 3 days of school never got canceled!! HAHA - But fortunatley we had fun with great friends and got to enjoy the snow! 

Check out some pics below!

After first night of snow

 Dallas wasn't to sure - he could barely stand up!

 Agan After being inside to long - hehe

 Huge Snowman in the trailer park!

 Ice cycles!

 

The Boys

  

The Girls!

The Arch!!

New Year - New Beginnings

As the new year begins, I can't help but think about those God awful new year's resolutions.  Mine this year...only do things that you choose to do...and this really isn't a 'new year's' resolution, its a life lesson.  I've decided to do my best to do things that are positive and beneficial influences for my life.

Examples:

Instead of going on a diet - I'm making a lifestyle change...No honestly, I know that for health reasons, I honestly don't need to be this big, so I'm gonna do something about it, for me, for my health. (Even though I'm beautiful no matter what size I am)

Optimistic - I plan on being more positive.  Being positive gives you different outlook on life, it makes you be a better person, causes less stress, and all around causes other around you to be more positive.  The better the atmosphere, the more you can enjoy life.

Friendship - being a better friend. Although I feel as though I'm a good friend, there is so much more that I can do for those that mean the most to me, I plan on making the most with those that mean the most.

Life is about the lesson's you learn and the mistakes you make along the way.  We have to experience life to really live and I suggest that each and every person do something New every year, that they have NEVER done before. This keeps us living life to its fullest.  We owe that to ourselves and to those who no longer can.  We have the ability to change not only our lives, but others, and by making those choices that can change our lives for the better.

Overall I plan on being an all around better person and making the best of the life I have been given.  

So far 2011 looks to be a promising year...I hope that it continues to stay this way.

Congratulations to the Class of 2010...

As the day draws to an end, I have SO much to be thankful for! I am now an officially a UGA Graduate or rather a UGA Alum!! This road has been one of many bumps and turns and a couple of wrecks that I was lucky enough to walk away from...what's most important is that I did it! I graduated!! And what might not mean a lot to others, overwhelms me with joy.  I am so proud of me and the other graduates that are now among the some of the top in the country... I couldn't be happier!

As I head out into the great wild yonder (lol), I want to thank everyone who made it possible, and you all know who you are!!  These people picked me up, motivated me when I thought I couldn't go any longer and pushed me through many nights of sweat, blood and tears to make it through...but I can promise you, today made it all worth while and I wouldn't have had it any other way!  This experience has helped mold me into the woman that I am today and I want everyone to know that I appreciate your help, your prayers, your love and your support mean so much!! THANK YOU!!!

As a college graduate, I look forward to nights with nothing to do, having a social life again, actually talking to people about things OTHER than grades, papers, professors, etc...it no longer consumes me and I look forward to stress free days, nights and weekends :) That is until I start grad school...if I choose that path.

I look forward to thoroughly enjoying every minute of my life and what I have to offer this big, amazing world...SO LOOK OUT WORLD....HERE I COME!!!

Moving On...FINALLY (Part 4)

FINISHED WITH FINALS....GRADUATING ON FRIDAY!!!

"Free at last, Free at last, Thank God all mighty I'm free at last!!!" ~MLK

Moving On...Stress (Part 3)

If things go wrong, don't go with them.  ~Roger Babson

For YEARS, I've been taking it all home with me, work, school work, group problems, etc. and that's not including the other things that I was ALREADY dealing with.  The older I get I have to come to realize it's not worth it - none of it.  Why should I use my free time to stress about things that I can do nothing about...why am I worrying my life away and giving myself anxiety attacks?

No longer will I bring home the stress of my days into my household, its over.  If I want to get something out, I'll need to take it somewhere else (possibly the gym? lol). I refuse to let the small and petty things of others issues and worries take a toll on my life and my relationships, its not worth it.  At the end of the day, do you want to be that person who worked their life away? I don't!!

After my final tomorrow, I pledge to leave the unimportant things at the door when I get home and then I can pick them back up the next morning on my way out.  I want to live as stress free as possible, so that I may fully live life to its fullest in every way possible and cherish all the times in my life to come.

If you want to test your memory, try to recall what you were worrying about one year ago today.  ~E. Joseph Cossman

 

Worry and Stress bankrupt the spirit

Moving On....Time (Part 2)

I'm movin' On
At last I can see life has been patiently waiting for me
And I know there's no guarantees, but I'm not alone
There comes a time in everyone's life
When all you can see are the years passing by
And I have made up my mind that those days are gone...

 

 I movin on...from the past to the present and looking forward to the future.

As we grow older, there are parts of us that miss the 'Good Ol' Days' and we constantly try to get back to that or fill that void where those good times once were.  What we don't realize is that by constantly looking back, we are missing what's in front of us and therefore it passes us by.

I don't regret my past, each and every part has been an enormous growing experience for me and has ultimately made me the person I am today.  However, I'm tired of dealing with the past. I'm letting it go.  Letting go of the ones who hurt me, the ones who made me laugh, cry, made me angry, sad, happy and all other feelings.  I letting go of the times and places of things that try to haunt me, either good or bad.  I'm letting go of all toxic things, I'm letting go of grudges, I'm letting go of pain and sorrow. And I'm moving on to bigger and better things, even if only in my eyes.

Moving on isn't about forgiving and forgetting.  It's about accepting and letting go.

I can't wait to see what's in store for me and making new and exciting memories is what's waiting on the other side.  Looking straight ahead and looking up are the only places I'll be watching for a while. The more I write, the more I look forward to my future and what it holds in store for me and I've got to let it happen instead of holding myself back...and for that, I'm letting go and moving on up....(to the east side - hehe)

I'm Moving On...Friendships (Part 1)

As my college (undergraduate) career comes to an end, I have begun to think about my life and where I currently am and what I'm doing (which sucks by the way).  Although I have always thought about myself as an adult, the time has come for me to put on my big girl panties and finally be a part of the 'real world' (as most people like to call it).  I'd like to take these next few days to talk about several parts of my life that will be moving on...

See what I think is that the real world will be WAY better than the current one where I work AND go to school.  Now I get to just work, come home, watch tv, go to the gym, go out to eat, etc.  All without worrying about homework, test, group projects, etc.  I get to be a functioning member of society without all the extra effort....oh oh oh and I get my SOCIAL LIFE BACK...HELLO FRIENDS :)

As for the cons of this situation, I have also come to realize that as we get older, things change.  Friends change, family change, we change and not all of it for the better. I feel as though at this point in my life I have been given the opportunity to evaluate my friends and how what role they currently play.  I have always believed that people come in and out of your life as you need them to and each one brings something new; whether it be a new experience, a new opportunity, or just new fun.  Each person always leaves a piece of themselves with you no matter what the situation, your life will be better knowing these people.  But what really sucks is knowing that you do what you can, but as you get older, relationships change and coping with the fact that it takes two to keep this relationship going.  

What I'm really trying to say is that you REALLY find out who your friends are at this point in your life.  As we move, start families, get new jobs, etc.  You find out who your friends are, the ones that will stick with you at all times.  These people have changed over time and as friends, you have grown with that person and not left them behind.  We have to grasp this and understand that this happens to everyone and that it's okay to let go and move on.

One thing that I constantly remind myself of is that you never know what lies ahead.  So lets not mourn the past, but look forward to the future and the new relationship that it holds.