Raspberry Road Designs

One of my favorite digital scrapbook sites is Raspberry Road Designs - she had great inexpensive kits, and great freebies too! Well Raspberry Road just began its new Raspberry Road Shoppe and is having its Grand Opening Event!!!!

The entire Raspberry Road Shoppe is 50% off Saturday, November 1-Monday, November 3rd!

If you are a digital scrapbooker, or if you are new to the digital scrapbook world, this is a FANTASTIC time to stock up on great kits, elements, quick pages and alphas!

And - for every $10 purchase, you get this new Birthday Bliss kit FREE!!!!!

Great new site...

In this economy, i am trying to learn more ways of being frugal (but please don't tell me I have to get rid of my new car :) ). But anyways, I found this new site called SuperCook. This is a website that helps you throw together a recipe with the food you have on hand.

I entered that I had chicken breasts, stewed tomatoes, onion and bell pepper. It then asked me if I had Italian Seasoning, and I do. It came back with a simple recipe for "Easy Chicken Cacciatore. After I entered my ingredients, it listed many recipes that may only need an extra items that I have not listed (i.e. paprika, vegetables oil, flour, cheese, butter, etc.) What a great way to use some of those un-used canned goods or other items in your pantry. I can't wait to use this site on a regular basis.


I also read an article today about how to save money this holiday here. I think one of the greatest ideas that I try to do every year is to buy a little at a time...spread out the buying. There is nothing more stressful than spending half of your paycheck on gifts, then living off the rest. But if you spend $50 one paycheck and $50 the next for several pay periods, the spending doesn't hurt as bad. For more money saving tips this season, check out the article.

If you have some great tips for being frugal in a questionable economy, let me know! I love saving money!!!

Calling All Paralegals

For the past few weeks, my firm has been trying to hire some new paralegals. We have promoted some great people to higher positions, leaving our paralegal staff at a minimum and we are SWAMPED! Therefore, we are actively interviewing, but we have only received a few resumes. So if you are a paralegal, WE NEED YOU!

This is a great opportunity for someone looking for a paralegal position - even with only a little experience. We ask that you have a paralegal certificate, or several years experience. This is an excellent high-profile litigation firm - mid sized with less than 40 attorneys. I can honestly tell you that I LOVE my job...so if you are looking, or happen to know anyone that may be looking, please contact me!!! You can either comment here, or email me at ashleywages at sbcglobal.net.

Happy Birthday to you...

Happy Birthday to you...
Happy Birthday dear DAX...
Happy Birthday to you!!!

That's right - today is Sweet Daxy Boy's 1st birthday! This morning he got one of his favorite foods for breakfast...peanut butter! He loves peanut butter so I scooped a spoonful out of the jar and he went to town. Brant and I were going to take him to Pet's Mart after work tonight and let him pick out a new toy, but we ended up having other plans. So we're going to take him this weekend. Here are a few pictures of our sweet boy!

Also, I wanted to give those of you praying an update on Kristi. She had her first round of Chemotherapy today and this afternoon, after no side effects were found, she was finally able to leave the hospital. Thankfully, Kristi's parents live very close and the family is staying with them. The obvious prayer requests are that Kristi is healed...the family has grasped the medical possibilities here and are not overlooking them, but they are also fixing their eyes on a King who is extremely miraculous! But also please be in prayer for her time with her family, her husband, her children, especially baby Zane.

The LORD is my light and my salvation—
whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life—
of whom shall I be afraid?
Psalm 27:1

Calling all Prayer Warriors

UPDATE:
I received another email today. The test results from Kristi's bone marrow biopsy was not good, but neither was any news the Walker family received today. The cancer in Kristi's body is surrounding her brain, all of her bones, and spreads throughout her entire body. Unfortunately, Kristi's cancer is a type that is extremely resistant to chemotherapy, and obviously very aggressive. The doctors believe that the cancer has only been in her body for two months, and the prognosis given by the doctors is that Kristi has less than one year to live.

Please be on your knees for this precious family!



Chuck and Kristi Walker are old friends from First Baptist Church of Irving. Chuck was the youth minister when I began going to the church and his wife Kristi was pregnant with their first baby when I began teaching 12th grade girls Sunday School.

I just received word that while Krisit was in her 35th week of her third pregnancy, the baby put too much pressure on her hip and it broke. They induced Kristi into labor and their new precious baby boy, Zane, is doing well. However, Kristi was not recovering from the break and the doctors began to run some tests. They discovered that Kristi has stage 4 bone, liver and breast cancer. It is a very aggressive type and at this time, they are still trying to determine all the "details" of the cancer.

I am asking for everyone to be in prayer for this sweet family, Chuck, Kristi and their children: Cade, Mason and Zane (all under the age of 5, Zane being only 5 days old.) Please pray for the Father's complete and total healing over Kristi's body and provide a peace for their entire family.

"God's way is perfect.
All the Lord's promises prove true.
He is a shield for all who look to him for protection.
For who is God except the Lord?
Who but our God is a solid rock?"
Psalm 18:30-31

"Let us hold tightly without wavering to the HOPE we affirm,
for GOD CAN be TRUSTED to keep his promise!"
Hebrews 10:23

3 Years...36 Months...1095 Days...

...is how long I have been dating my husband!!! Yes, today marks 3 years since we started dating...and oh my what has happened in those 3 short years!!!

I can remember our first date...I even remember what I wore and what he wore. We went to Pappadeauxs. We were there for over 3 hours just talking and enjoying each other. It was great!!! We dated, then a year and a half later...he proposed and we were married 5 months after that!

So Brant, if you happen to read this - thank you! Thank you for a great 3 years of being together. You are truly my best friend and I will forever thank the Father above for bring us together! I love you more and more everyday!

Here are a few pictures of the 3 years we have been together!

Busy Life...Busy Week

Yes - Life is still busy, busy, busy! The Memory Walk this past weekend was Great - Sister has some pictures up if you want to take a look at the Green Team! On Sunday, we all went to Canton and had a blast - as always! I mean seriously, when is going to Canton not a ton of fun!!!

This week has been good, but of course busy! Work is busy, but I still love it - its definitely a challenge and of course can be stressful...but I LOVE it! however, me evenings have been taken up with research - Brant and I have decided that its finally time to get an me a new car - an SUV to be exact. This will be our "family" car (once we actually start a family) and will remain so until its dying days. Brant was raised that you buy a car and drive it until it dies...I was raised that you buy a car and get a new one every 2-3 years! So Brant and I compromised...he is going to buy me whatever SUV I choose (within reason), but I have to drive it until it dies. So, we are looking at three main options: Toyota 4Runner, Toyota Sequoia (the gas mileage is the only issue here), and then possibly a Nissan Pathfinder. We were looking at a Tahoe, but the gas mileage just isn't great and when you drive 35 miles to and from work everyday the gas mileage counts! So if you drive, or have driven any of theses - please feel free to add your input! We are going to test drive all of them this weekend and look at room in each - then we'll make a decision. Who knows, maybe I'll have a new car this weekend!!! YEAH!!!!!!!!!!

And Grey's Anatomy was back on last night. And again - its was just ok. I mean the story lines in these past episodes are pointless. And as far as the "Callica" thing goes - I was content with the show until Haan says the words "maybe I'm just jealous because he has seen you naked." I almost vomited! Was that line seriously needed?!?!?!?!?!?! If Grey's writers keep this up, I'm finished with the show. It used to be one of my favorites, but things have just taken a huge turn - and for the worst! What were your thoughts?

So on to a more somber subject...Bit E (Ethan Parker Rooney, that is) turns one on Sunday - a year old already. God has definitely had a hand over this precious baby boy. He came out so tiny and sick and is a perfectly healthy baby boy now.

From tiny and small...

to this smiling healthy boy!

(picture courtesy of sister's blog)

So Happy Birthday Ethan Parker! Your Grabbie loves you so much!!!

I hate bulk mail

Do you hate receiving bulk mail and millions of credit card offers in the mailbox everyday? I do - but today, I found out a secret. I was reading an article on Keplingers.com regarding great ways to save money and free "tips" on different subjects. One was talking about credit cards and reducing credit card debt...then it said to "stop unwanted credit card offers by mail, check out this website..." Well, I checked out the website...here.

Here is the website description:

Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), the Consumer Credit Reporting Companies are permitted to include your name on lists used by creditors or insurers to make firm offers of credit or insurance that are not initiated by you ("Firm Offers"). The FCRA also provides you the right to "Opt-Out", which prevents Consumer Credit Reporting Companies from providing your credit file information for Firm Offers.

Through this website, you may request to:

• Opt-Out from receiving Firm Offers for Five Years - (electronically through this website).

• Opt-Out from receiving Firm Offers permanently - (mail Permanent Opt-Out Election form available through this website).

• Opt-In and be eligible to receive Firm Offers. This option is for consumers who have previously completed an Opt-Out request - (electronically through this website).

If you choose to Opt-Out, you will no longer be included in firm offer lists provided by these four consumer credit reporting companies. If you are not receiving firm offers because you have previously completed a request to Opt-Out, you can request to Opt-In. In doing so, you will soon be among the many consumers who can significantly benefit from having ready access to product information on credit and insurance products that may not be available to the general public.

So if you are like me and tired of receiving tons of credit card deals through the mail, check out this site!

Life update!

Sorry it's been awhile since I last posted. We had a crazy weekend, and things haven't slowed down a bit! Last Friday, my car died so our main focus on Saturday was fixing it. Brant had to work a bit Saturday morning, so I asked sister if she could pick me up for Mason's football game - HE IS AWESOME! He is great at defense...his team won 24 - 0 !!! But while I was gone to the game, Brant figured out that the battery was my car problem, so that was solved with a quick trip to Wal-Mart (thanks to me keeping my receipt from the previous battery, we didn't have to pay a cent of the new one...thank you Jesus!).

Then late Saturday afternoon, we got a call from Brant's sister that his uncle was in the hospital and not doing very well. Uncle Howard was diagnosed with Stage4 Pancreatic Cancer about 5 months ago and is heading into the end stages. His kidneys are beginning to fail and he is delirious at times. So, we headed up to the hospital which is about an hour from our house. Brant was smart enough to have us pack a bag to stay at his sister's house since she only lives about 10 minutes from the hospital. So we spent Saturday evening, and most of the day Sunday with his family. When we left Sunday, Howard was very alert and being the comical man we all love. Each day could bring a change, so we are just praying specifically for the Lord's will - whatever that may be.

Work this week has been absolutely insane! My boss has been gone and I have had to take care of things that normally she shields me from...so lets just say I've been working 10-12 hours day! But, I still love it!

Last night, we had another delicious crockpot dinner, courtesy of Crockpot365. We had the Meatloaf. It was fabulous and incredibly easy! I would recommend this to anyone!

This upcoming weekend, all of my mom's family is coming in town for the Alzheimer's Memory Walk. My grandfather was diagnosed several years ago with this disease and has been in a nursing home for the past 2 years. We are walking as the Green Team this year in honor of my dear Poppy, David Green. Our team goal is to raise $500 and we can't do that without help. If you have an extra $5 or $10, we would love to have your help in walking for Poppy. You can go so Sister's blog and she has a link to our team website where you can donate online.

Well I hope everyone has had an excellent week so far - I'm counting down the days until Friday!