Who am I?

I often become so wrapped up in life and everything that is happening around me that I sometimes forget who I am and what I stand for. And I think now is a better time than any for me to remind myself just that!

AND

I challenge you to take time today and really listen to your heart and remind yourself WHO YOU ARE, too!!

Relief Society Declaration:

We are beloved spirit daughters of God,
and our lives have meaning, purpose, and direction.
As a worldwide sisterhood, we are united in our devotion
to Jesus Christ, our Savior and Exemplar.
We are women of faith, virtue, vision, and charity who:

Increase our testimonies of Jesus Christ
through prayer and scripture study.

Seek spiritual strength by following the
promptings of the Holy Ghost.

Dedicate ourselves to strengthening
marriages, families, and homes.

Find nobility in motherhood
and joy in womanhood.

Delight in service and good works.

Love life and learning.

Stand for truth and righteousness.

Sustain the priesthood
as the authority of God on earth.

Rejoice in the blessings of the temple,
understand our divine destiny,
and strive for exaltation

I am a Christian and I love being LDS! I yearn to be closer to Heavenly Father and be an active member of the church. I'm a twenty-something year old young lady with the world at my finger tips, I have the ability to become whatever it is I choose. I'm a Daughter, my Mom's Baby, a Sister, a Cousin to many, a Best Friend to few, and an Auntie too!! I adore my family and friends and am passionate about helping others. Whether it be in the medical field or just in every day life, it gives me a sense of purpose that keeps my clock ticking.

A little Bit About Me:

Birthday: December 15th

Hometown: West Side, Arizona

 Favorite Colors: Pink, Turquoise, Purple ohh and Green too!!

Favorite Movies: Sweet Home Alabama, The Notebook, My Best Friends Wedding

Dream Job: Nurse / Ultrasound Sonographer / a Mom / a Wedding-Party Decorator

Favorite Food: Mexican Food

Favorite Dessert: Oreos!!!

Hobbies: Crafts, Decorating, Journaling, Reading, Spending time with Family & Friends, Dancing, Boating, Duning, Swimming, Working out, Watching my favorite TV shows

Favorite Thing to do with Friends: Sit around doing nothing and chat about anything that comes to mind

A Little Bit About What I Want to Be:

The Best Wife My Husband EVER had!

A Patient, Loving, Super Clean, Fun Mom

Fitness Guru / Health Nut Too

Organized Woman

A Role Model to those around me

A Best Friend- the best you could have

An Amazing Listener, that's always there

A Well Educated and Wise Lady.

A Giver-of my time and love

A Gracious Receiver

A Traveled Woman

Life goes on!!!

I guess things happen for a reason, tears eventually fade and one day everything will be exactly how it's supposed to be. MOVING ON is a process and you have to PROMISE YOURSELF that you are really READY TO LET GO!

And a life support of family and friends helps too!!!

So.....

As Rascal Flatts says, "I'm Moving On"

I'd say that this year has been one of the hardest in my life thus far and I don't ever wish to be here again. I've been in the darkest of places for far too long and I've come to realize that just because one person doesn't love you like you want, it doesn't mean that at one point they didn't love you with everything they had. A year ago I would never have imagined I'd be where I am today. I've loved, I've lost, I've hurt, I've learned, I've forgiven and been forgiven and I've done many things I promised myself I'd never do, but the fact is, I did!

And you know what??? God is still there!! He as been holding me up this whole time and for that I am thankful.

 I've learned to actually DEAL with the pain, the loss and the regret instead of putting it in the back of the closet because "it is too hard to deal with." I know far too many people who brush everything under the rug and pretend everything is "okay." They become something they aren't and end up hiding there "skeletons in the closet" and with Halloween right around the corner, I don't think I can handle any ghosts!

I've learned that IT'S OKAY TO CRY when your sad or hurt and its ok to not be "perfect" all the time, because everyone has something going on in their lives and believe it or not if you just sit down and talk to someone around you, they possibly have gone through something very similar or are going through their own rough patch. I can definitely say that I have made more friends this year then ever before. All the while finding out who my real friends are. And I want to tell them all THANK YOU!!! You have helped me more than you will ever know, I am so thankful to have people there to lean on. That goes for my family too...I don't want to say that they haven't been there for me because they certainly have.

The most important words I've learned this year...

LIFE.GOES.ON! 

Believe it or not, it does! It goes by so fast too that's why you can't waste time on the ground, you have to push through the adversity so you come back standing stronger then ever before.

And that's exactly what I'm doing!

I'm moving on with my life because you can't live in the past and keep wishing things could have been different and there certainly is no Hot Tub Time Machine here. Haha!

So here I go living for the present and the future...I'm not promising that everyday is gonna be rainbows and butterflies, but it has to be brighter than yesterday.

Here is to...MOVIN' ON & holding true to the promise I have made with myself  because I can't share my life with anyone until I find myself  lost in my own happiness.

Courage to Stand

"Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee wheresoever thou goest." (Joshua 1:9)


I often times find myself pondering on both this scripture and what I've done throughout the day to be the best example I can to those around me and to share the gospel and a smile with others.
Before I go to bed at night I pray for all those around me who may be having a hard time or struggling with things in their lives because I too have gone through more than I ever thought I would have had to endure at my age, but it has made me a much stronger person, even if at times I don't always believe that. (But that's for another blog. haha) I also thank our Lord and Savior for all the blessings and sacrifices he has made for us, all the while wondering what it is that I can do to help serve others around me. They say service big or small is one of the biggest blessings and best opportunities we have. I want to take full advantage of this in every way I can because when we have the courage to do what we know is right and we live by gospel standards, we are blessed and the lives of others around us are blessed.
It is my hope to be able to be the best example and friend that I can to those around me while leaving them with the feeling that someone really does care. Especially in today's world where so many of us are caught up in our own lives and keeping up with what society expects of us, but really all that matters is serving our Heavenly Father and those around us. Let us not disappoint him. He loves us!
Elder W. Craig Zwick Said, "Never forget that you are a child of God. He loves you. Live by your standards. Stand up for what you believe in. Sometimes it is not easy, and you may be standing alone for awhile." I am taking this challenge and going to do just that. If Jesus can sacrifice himself for us, the least I can do is sacrifice a little of my time for family, friends and strangers so that we may all be strengthened through him. My hope is that I can be an example to at least one person while I am here and help them and if I can do that, then I have succeeded.
I'm sure you've heard, "I never said it would be easy, I only said it would be worth it."
Let us all apply this to our own lives. Use it to remind yourself to have the moral courage to be a light for others to follow!!


XOXO
Tara Ashley

Ready.Set.Blog

I'm back and ready to blog!!!
I'm so super excited to share my thoughts about..........EVERYTHING!
Please join me in my process of self discovery, life, love, family, and friendship.
So hold on tight.....'cause it's going to be wilder than any eight second ride.


XOXO
Tara Ashley