…to admit that you saw “From Justin to Kelly” in the theater…
…opening weekend…
…and, you own the DVD….
…and still watch it.
Seriously.
It’s Ok…
The Time of My Life
Hey y’all!
Today, I’m finally doing the jump rope post I’ve been talking about for several months. For those of you that are new to Ashley’s Carnival Ride within the last few months, I’ll explain a little bit.
When I was in elementary school, I was on my school’s jump rope team. By the end of our run, we were nationally-ranked! I started with the team in second grade, and in third grade, I made the traveling team. We traveled all over Oklahoma doing demonstrations at schools and other events, and we attended workshops and camps in Texas and Louisiana.
The whole traveling team!
I’m the freakishly tall one in the middle. You can probably tell because of my giraffe legs!
Performing at a school
Me with my friend Britni
As you can see, my love for hair accessories started way back then :)
As fun as it was, it was really hard work. I was definitely in the best shape of my life back then. It looks easy, but it is definitely challenging and a wonderful workout.
We competed two years at Regional competetion in Shreveport, Louisiana. Our first year we placed second in our group routine. Our second year, I was on the competition team, and we won!
I performed a solo at regionals and placed 11th.
Me with my coach
Our winning routine was performed to the theme from Mission Impossible. It was especially exciting because we beat our rivals, the team who beat us the year before. After our routine, everyone in the audience was talking about how great our routine was and that we deserved to win. As the judges were announcing the winners, we were all holding hands and holding our breath. When they announced the second place team, we all started screaming! It was such an exciting moment for us, especially after we worked so hard!
Because we won, we got to move on to Nationals at Disney World! We spent hours and hours during our summer practicing our group routine. As awesome as we thought it was at Regionals, we knew we had to step it up for Nationals.
We performed our group routine to the theme from Mission Impossible!
I got to do my solo as a part of the group routine
We ended up placing 7th, which was really awesome for our first trip to Nationals!
Of course we got to do a little bit of playing too!
Every year after Nationals, ESPN shows highlights from the competition. Our team was shown on TV, and they included the part of the routine with my solo! It is pretty cool to say I was on ESPN!
After that year, our coach left, so that was the end of our team. It was really hard to see such a wonderful thing come to an end. It was hard to see everyone go their separate ways. We managed to stay friends, some of us closer than others, but it was weird not spending several hours a week together. I’ve always wondered what could have been accomplished if we’d had even one more year.
That was such a wonderful and exciting time in my life. I actually got a little teary going through the pictures and watching some videos online. We were such great friends and had so much fun. We spent a lot of time together and made some wonderful memories that will stay with me forever.
I want to leave you with a video of this year’s group show National winner, the Heartbeats. They are a team that we competed with our year at Nationals. Because of my spinal fusions, I’m not supposed to jump anymore, or I’d do a demonstration for you myself! :)
Enjoy!
Are You Ready For Some Football
Hey y’all!
Today I’m linking up with my sweet friend Lindsey to talk football.
I’ve got three teams I’m talking about today because it’s totally ok to like more than one! :)
My favorite NFL team is Dallas Cowboys!
I have watched the Cowboys pretty much forever. I watched during the Troy Aikman/Emmitt Smith era, and they were fantastic! Even when they are having an off year, they are still my team!
Last year for the Superbowl, because I couldn’t cheer for either team, I supported my cowboys! It inspired Wade to change into his jersey for the rest of the game.
Then, a couple of weeks ago, we both showed up at church wearing our Cowboys shirts!
The other NFL team I’m supporting this year is…can’t believe I’m saying this…
The Eagles
The Eagles
The ONLY reason I’m cheering for them is because one of my brother’s best friends just signed with them after the lock-out ended.
He has worked so hard to make it to this level, and we are all so proud of him. I will put aside my dislike for the team to support our boy!
He has worked so hard to make it to this level, and we are all so proud of him. I will put aside my dislike for the team to support our boy!
Now, I can’t talk football without talking college football. I’m sure I don’t even have to say it, but I love my Sooners!
I never really watched college football until I went to college. My adoptive family from church loves the Sooners, so I started watching with them and got sucked into it.
What teams do you love? Link up your football posts with Lindsey!
Today…
Today, I’m finally starting back to my healthier eating plan.
Back in April, I wrote here about how I wanted to be healthier. I started eating better and exercising. I cut myself down to one can of Dr. Pepper a day. I was drinking a TON of water. The first week, I lost 2.4 pounds, and seeing acutal results was a great motivator. Also in that post, I wrote that the iPhone app I was using said I would hit my goal weight in the middle of May.
Well, today is August 8th, and I can tell you I definitely didn’t hit my goal. I have been within two pounds of it, but haven’t been able to hit it yet. I haven’t kept up with my calories in several months, and my water consumption has gone waaaaaaay down.
But, today I’m taking control again.
Lose It! and I are going to be good friends again.
I’m going back to only one can of Dr. Pepper a day.
I will start cooking real food again.
I will start working out again.
(Yes, I actually use a Richard Simmons DVD. Hey, if I’m going to have to do this exercise thing, I might as well have some fun with it, right?)
As of this morning, I am about four pounds away from that initial goal. Last time I did this, y’all were such wonderful supporters and encouragers, and I’m definitely going to need some encouraging this time.
I’ll let you know how it goes!
True Life: I’m a Life Blogger
Hey y’all!
Today is the first day in Tara and Mrs. Monologues True Life blogger series!
I fall into the general life blogger category.
I started Ashley’s Carnival Ride in January of 2010. I’d been reading blogs for quite awhile, and while I was off work because of snow, I decided to start one!
I started it mainly just to have a writing outlet and to have a way to journal my life. I never in a million years imagined it would grow into what it is now. I never imagined making the sweet friends I’ve made! I never thought I’d be texting and tweeting with bloggers. I never imagined I’d be spending weekends with bloggers or taking trips with bloggers. I never imagined I’d call bloggers some of my best friends! Blogging has become such a huge part of my life, and I’m so glad I have it!
I blog about a lot of things!
My family
My friends
Music I love
My sweet kitty Jack
My favorite things
A little more about me…
A Few of Ashley’s Carnival Ride’s Top Posts
What I’m Loving Wednesday-I Met Pioneer Woman!
“As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord”
Want to know more?
Things You Should Know About Me If We’re Gonna Be BFFs
Hope you enjoyed getting to know a little more about me!
What kind of blogger are you? Link up with Tara and Mrs. Monologues! Be sure to check out the schedule and see where your blog fits in!
Boob Tube Babble
Hey y’all!
I’m super excited because today is my first time to cohost Boob Tube Babble with Neely!
Today, I’m talking about televised celebrity weddings.
Last Saturday night, I watched Nick & Vanessa’s Dream Wedding.
I love Nick. I really REALLY love Nick, but I’m definitely not crazy about him and Vanessa together. Their wedding was beautiful though!
Trista & Ryan
The first Bachelor/Bachelorette success story! I thought their wedding was entirely too pink, but I loved them together, and I loved that the series finally had a couple make it to the altar.
Rob & Amber
I couldn’t stand Rob on Survivor, but he and Amber are just so stinkin’ cute together!
Khloe & Lamar
They are just so stinkin’ cute!
Carmen & Dave
I admit, I watched their whole wedding reality show. I have a huge crush on Dave Navarro. Seriously.
William & Kate
Their wedding was beautiful!
Jason & Molly
The other Bachelor/Bachelorette wedding. I didn’t like them so I didn’t watch their wedding. A part of me thought it was really funny that it rained. :)
Anyone think we’ll see an Ashley/JP wedding on TV?
What are you watching this week? Link up your TV talk with Neely and me!
Three Years
Today I’m celebrating three years with my agency.
It’s crazy for me to think it’s already been three years. So much has happened since I started this job.
My position changed four times. I’ve gone from maternity home manager to adoption caseworker to family support specialist to foster care coordinator. As crazy as it has been, I’ve gotten to see nearly every aspect of this agency, and it has made me love it even more.
I’ve also met some of the most wonderful people ever! We have some incredible adoptive and foster parents that I’ve been able to laugh with, cry with, celebrate with, and scream with. They have all blessed me in ways I can’t even describe, and their strength, dedication to the Lord, and hearts for children have been such an inspiration to me.
I have worked with some of the most precious girls who have made such difficult decisions, whether it be to parent their children or place them for adoption. Each and every one of them has touched my life in some way.
I am also so blessed to work with some amazing Christian women! 
Tracy, Holly, me, Brittany, & Baby O 
Tracy, me, Holly
I love having great relationships with my coworkers! It makes it so much easier to do your work when you enjoy being around the people youw work with.
I’ve gotten to spend time with some stinkin’ cute babies. What else can I say about that?
Most importantly, I’ve seen God work in different situations. We may think we know what is going to happen or what is supposed to happen, but He has shown me time and time again that He is in control and He knows best. Even when I can’t see how a situation can be a good thing, He shows me why I should just let go of my control and trust Him!
As hard as this job can be sometimes, seeing the end result of a situation, an adoptive family finally getting the child they have longed for, a birth mother making an impossibly difficult decision to either parent or place a child for adoption, or a foster family making a small difference in a child’s life makes all of the drama, sleepless nights, and stress totally, completely worth it.
I’m truly blessed to have a wonderful job, and I can’t wait to see what this next year brings!
It’s Ok
Hey y’all!
Today is the first It’s OK link-up with my sweet girls Neely and Amber! Here are a few of my thoughts for the week!
It’s OK…
…to take an insane amount of pictures of your pet. 
How can you not when they’re that cute?! :)
…to be ridiculously excited to watch Bachelor Pad, mainly to watch these two yell at each other 
…to take some time to have a good cry when you need to. 
via
…to admit that you’re completely addicted to Pinterest! 
Seriously.
What I’m Loving Wednesday
Hey y’all!
Here’s what I’m loving this week!
I’m loving that starting on Friday, I will be hosting Boob Tube Babble with my bff Neely!
I love talking TV, and I’ve already got a fun post ready for y’all! Don’t forget to link-up with us!
Speaking of link-ups, I’m loving two fun new ones that are starting this week hosted by some of my favorite girls! 
Y’all should like up with all of us!
I’m loving that I had my apartment to myself last night! The bro went to see a friend out of town, so it was just me and this little guy. 
I’m loving that I got to spend a little bit of time with Teddie before she moved away last week to play military wife :) 
Miss her already!
I’m loving our awesome foster parents! I know I’ve said this a lot, but I’m so lucky to work with such awesome people! 
via
I’m loving that tomorrow, I’m celebrating three years with my agency! 
via
I can’t believe it’s already been three years! Crazy!
And, I’m loving this song!
What are you loving? Link up your loves with Jamie!
“As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord”
Hey y’all!
At the end of yesterday’s post, I mentioned our special project we did at the new house. I wanted to share it with you today.
We picked out some of our favorite scriptures and we wrote them on the walls of our bedrooms.
Jeremiah 29:11-one of my absolute favorites!
It is very cool to know that even though the words will be covered up soon, we will always know they are there.
Psalm 37:4
We have also picked out scriptures for the rest of the house, many of them specific to each room. Momma and Daddy are planning to finish the rest sometime this week. I’ll try to share pictures of they take some!
Also, a big Happy Birthday to the best Daddy in the world! I love you Daddy!
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