Yes, it's a beautiful day

The negatives in my life right now:
I have 2 research papers due next week that I haven't even been able to get started on... One is 7-10 pages long, the other, 5.
On top of that, I work 8-9 hours a day, 4 days a week.
I have classes 5 days a week.
I have stories to do for Cedar Valley Today and my broadcast journalism class.
I've had a cold for a legit 3 weeks.
I'm exhausted out of my mind and It's freezing outside.
And most of all, I really really miss my family.

The positives:
I got a new pup on the 23rd of October. His name is Murphy and he is the cutest little booger. He seriously makes me so happy and I am so glad I found him!
Also, I have the greatest family in the world (which is why I miss them so terribly).
My mom came up (mainly to see my brother) on Thursday, and after a stressful morning of having a flat tire and waiting forever at the car shop, she dealt with the hassle of bringing Murphy along to leave with me for the whole afternoon/evening. That meant so much to me. I really wish I could've spent more time with my mom, but it was so good to see her while I did.
And my good friend Steffi came up to stay with me for 2 days during her fall break. She goes to Simpson College and we both were interns at KCRG this summer and have been super great friends ever since.

So going into this post I thought my negative list would be wayyyy longer than my positive list, but I was wrong... Notice how much detail I put into my positive thoughts opposed to the negatives?

Life is good, it's just difficult sometimes. And it is really hard missing my family so much every single day, but it's such a blessing knowing they support me and have my back in everything I do. Everything I'm doing, everything I'm taking on right now, may stress me out, but its making me stronger and leading me somewhere. I've been so blessed by God with the opportunities I've been given in my life so far, and I look forward to see what He has planned for me coming up.

So I'll end with this quote: "If every morning you can find a reason to say, "Yes, it's going to be a beautiful day." And every day you find a reason to say, "Yes, it's a beautiful day." And every night, you find a reason to say, "Yes, it was a beautiful day." Then one day you'll look back and say, "Yes... it was a beautiful life.""

Blessings to all,
Ashley

Murphy and I on Oct. 24, 2014 <3

Life of a journalist...

I just had to share this picture, because YES, I am a journalist, and today I am on my 5th or 6th cup of coffee... I can't remember though, I lost count.

 

I got this image from http://www.pressat.co.uk/blog/2014/09/here-are-the-professions-that-glug-the-most-coffee-journalists-are-officially-the-biggest-addicts/

 

#journolife

Happy Birthday, Dad!

Even though one of the first things I did today was call my dad to wish him a happy birthday, I wanted to dedicate a blog post to him!

Sooooo...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DAD!!! :)

 I wish I could've spent the day with you, but I know next weekend when I FINALLY get to see you, we'll do plenty of celebrating to make up for it!

I hope, regardless of what you did and who you were with, your special day was a great one! :)


There's not a man in this world, I could ever love more than you... even if sometimes I don't always show that.

You've seen me on my absolute worst days and my very best days... and through it all, you never love me any less.

All that you've done for me, all that you've taught me... it doesn't go unnoticed.

You taught me to always work hard, and to follow my dreams.
You taught me to be respectful, and to treat others the way I want to be treated.
...and if they don't treat me the way I want to be treated, to let it go and put my energy into those who matter.
You taught me that it's not selfish to think about myself every now and then.
You taught me that I can always get through the hard times and that faith and family will always pull me through.
You taught me how important faith and family are.
You taught me to love others, and to love myself.
And most importantly, to enjoy moments in the now.
You taught me how to be the woman I am today... I am who I am, because of you.

This list could go on and on. You've taught me so much. And continue to teach me so much everyday.

I look up to you so much, and don't know where I'd be in this life without you.

I hope you had a great birthday, and I really really REALLY can't tell you how much I look forward to seeing you in just a few days!

And mom -- I CAN'T WAIT to see you Wednesday!!!

(If you can't tell, I miss my family like CRAZYYYY)

Stay safe and I'll see you soon... I love you so much mom and dad!

Blessings to ALL,
Ashley

Dad & I this past Christmas.

Partyin' in Waverly during RAGBRAI.

Hangin' with the Gov. at the Iowa State Fair!

Dad, Mac & I a couple years ago :)

Life ain't always beautiful, but it's a beautiful ride

Well, it's about 4 in the morning, and being as tired as I've been all week, of course I'm still awake right now...

But I'm alive and I'm oh so very blessed!

Just wanted to say that... and how incredibly excited I am for Wednesday to see my mom!

And then for this upcoming weekend, to be in one of my best friend's weddings and see BOTH my parents on the SAME DAY! :)

Life is good, busy, but good. I still miss my poochie, Mac... for those of you who don't know, he passed away just under a week ago. Missing him is something that will never change, but I am so blessed to have had 14 amazing years with him. He certainly made my life so much better by being apart of it. So I am truly thankful for those years I did have with the greatest friend of all. <3

I should get to bed, though. I am flying solo for the very first time editing the 6 and 10 p.m. shows tomorrow, so I have to be fully rested for that!

Blessings,

Ashley

Missing you always, good boy <3

I chose this

I've been required to write a blog so many times that I always said I would never write a blog by choice.... well, I am.

I have so much to say some days and I can only annoy my Facebook friends so much with my posts, so I figured why not put it all on a blog?

Lately, life has been pretty stressful for me.
I'm 21 years old.
Sounds real tough, doesn't it?

Well, here is a Facebook status I posted just a few minutes ago, and later deleted because I didn't want it on my Facebook wall.
But it just touches on what's going on in my life TODAY...

"Finally home and in bed after a long LONG day...

Seriously, not sure how I'm still going. I'm running on fumes right now.

-I was up late last night, or uhh this morning... and woke up semi-early with a blood sugar of 51.

-I was THAT girl walking around campus while attempting to type on my laptop to get homework done.... yeah, it's gotten to that point.
-While multitasking hardcore between classes, I did my best to finish editing my volleyball preview package, which airs tomorrow.
-I had to work 3:30 until 11 tonight..didn't get done until 12... (not really a bad thing).
-I have resorted to eating gas station food, because I no longer have the time to go to the grocery store or to cook anymore.
-I sat at a stop SIGN for a good 2 minutes before I realized it wasn't going to turn green... oops.
-I sat at a GREEN light for about 10 seconds before I realized it had turned green. (Yeah, I'm tired I think)
-I really really REALLY miss my dog :(
-And right now my computer screen looks like its jolting back and forth, which is probably a combination of all the coffee I've downed this week and being exhausted.

HIGH POINTS of my day - talking to my dad on the phone, really, nothing could've topped that... Then tonight, Chris brought Livy in to see Shelley on her last day at KWWL and that made me really really happy.

Oh, and a high school girl told me she liked my jeans.

So while I spend my time focusing on ALL the things that are bringing me down, the good things of each day really do overpower all of that. Counting my blessings."

 I'm going to leave you all with that. And maybe, just maybe, I'll be able to write on here tomorrow.

Until then,

Ashley