Monday, March 31, 2008

If You're Happy and You Know It....

It has been a busy weekend for me. Lots of family visiting and then going to visit even more family kept me running around trying to keep up. :0) It was a blast.

My sister blessed her baby yesterday and while sitting in church, a woman got up and talked about adversity. Now, her adversity was that {heaven forbid} she would have to be ALONE {without hubby and chidlren} for an entire week in California {90 degree weather} house sitting for a friend. I was sitting in the middle of 10 children trying to keep them all quiet while my siblings sat in a completely different row and would turn their heads toward me and point to their fingers motioning for me to get them to be quiet. Ummm...yeah. So, as I'm listening to this woman complain of her adversity for the week, I was thinking...I'LL TRADE YOU! :0) Honestly, I love that my neices and nephews love me so much that they want to sit by me. They are such little "blessings" in my life. I wouldn't trade these little moments for anything....usually. :0)

On a different note here...{more random Ashlee thoughts} something else I've been thinking about this last weekend...

Are we content with where our lives are at right now? We have led ourselves to this point. Where ever it is that we are at, was because of the decisions we made in the past. Unfortunately, some decisions get made for us, and can scar us, BUT what we do about what has happened is what really decides where we end up. Does that make sense? Something bad can happen...but it's how we deal with the bad that decides where we let our lives end up. We can become bitter and angry and let it affect everything around us, OR we can learn and grow from these bad experiences {yes, even the horrible ones....I've had a few of my own} and become a stronger person. Anyway....are we happy with where we ended up? If not, what can we change? Can we change it?

My life has had some SERIOUS ups and downs. And by serious, I do mean serious. I'm not even 30 yet, which is what is truly sad. I feel older. My experiences aren't ones I would wish on ANYONE. It took me awhile to let go of the bitterness and anger, but after that, I was just left scared. What happens next? Where do I go from here? I became scared to let anyone in and I mostly just holed up in my apartment. No social life, just work and family. I could have ended up a very unhappy person had I continued in this direction. It took an act of God to get me to change the course of my life. Maybe I'll tell you about that sometime. It's a warm and fuzzy story. Perhaps on me and the hubby's anniversary. :0) But, I had to allow it to happen. I could have decided to keep my door closed. To not open up. I was truly scared too. But, I'm so glad I did. One of the best decisions I have made in my ENTIRE life. :0)

I know....deep thoughts here today...sorry. :0)

For more about my happy weekend, you can check out my other blog. http://www.burnham-blog.blogspot.com/ Good times were had by all. I hate that my family lives so far away. Just me and my mommy left here now. Sniff. But, it makes the visits all the more fun. A whirlwind...but fun. :0) Hope you all had a fabulous weekend. I know Sassy and Honey Bunch did. :0)

10 comments:

Sister Honey Bunch/Judi maloney said...

I love your deep thoughts. I was just talking to one of my sisters this weekend about how one decision can have such an impact on your life.

You just never know. 22 years later I'm looking at something that made me feel so confident and good about myself. But I lost that along the way and am trying to reclaim.

Great post Ashlee.

Montay said...

Yes I know your pain we were at a baby blessing and there we were sitting in sacrament and as you know I am a bit of a control freek so I do not let the kids have toys in church and they can not have anything until after the sacrament is pased and the boys sit down ( I do not think that that is to much to ask ) Well We are sitting in the middle of the whole fam damly and they are letting the kids eat like a four course meal of cherrios and fruit snacks before the prelude is over SIGH.... then the sacrament is passed and my brother in law turns around and is like look at this he is putting sacrament cups in his sons eyes backwards so it looks like glasses and Well I have to get up and move I know what a sour grape but there are limits!!!!!!

OHmommy said...

I love your deep thoughts. I often have the same ones.

What a blessing to be with family. So many kiddos in your family.

Bridget said...

Wow, ten kids in Sac. mtg! That's got to be a ......challenge. Good for you! Blogging is great therapy for trials. Although with mine right now I can't blog about them because it's a mess with my siblings and dad. They do read my blog every now and again so I can't post about it. Hope you are at a good spot now dealing with your trials.

Ashlee said...

HB~Great minds think alike! :0)

Montay~yes, sacrament meeting is truly a frustrating hour and 15 minutes sometimes. Landon was a very unhappy little boy at the end of ours yesterday. :0)

OhMommy~There are a lot of us, and we are a crazy bunch. It makes it so much fun!

Bridget~Blogging is definitely therapuetic! Some don't understand that. Sorry to hear you are having trials of your own. It can be so hard. Hope things end up ok for you. Thanks for your kind words! As far as those old trials I mentioned in this post, I am definitely at a good spot. Those problems almost seem nonexistant to me. Different ones always come along, but like I said...they make us stronger. I am who I am today because of the crap I got through years ago.

Alicia said...

Wow, that was intensely deep, but great things to think about. When we came to your ward, we just sent all the kids over to my mom, and they were great for her, although we kept Mollie, and I think she is the trouble at this point.

Victoria said...

You remind me so much of me sometimes :) There was a time I was so filled with anxiety I had trouble pumping gas or other little stupid everyday life things. Then came a do or die moment when I had to take a chance and I did and it worked out for me. God had to reach in and point me the right way but I trusted and followed. That is a good story.

Victoria said...

Hey...that looks like my widget up there! *points to the upper left*

Widget stealer!

Unknown said...

morning ashlee -- don't apologize for feeling, hon. it amazes me when i read your serious thoughtful posts ... you sound so much like me sometimes. yea, we could've been sisters.

if you can find the good out of the bad experiences, we are better off and more at peace.

look forward to your next note.

great day sweetie, kathleen sis

AmyJ said...

So now that I had to redo my account, I forgot what I wrote. anyways, thanks for letting me someone out there really is reading my blog.You inspire me!