2012 in Review

This has been a year full of transition, growth and a lot of fun!  December has been VERY full… but we are THANKFUL for all of the people we have gotten to know over this past year and we always enjoy a Christmas partyJ

We have put together a quick look back over our year by month.  We are thankful for the love of God and how He continues to guide our every step!  We are excited to see what all God has in store for us in 2013. 

01: James started his new job at HighRidge Church as the Media Director

02: Marked 3 years of knowing each other

03: Started serving in the student ministry at HighRidge: Empowered Generation

04: James surprised Chad with a weekend in Chicago for his bachelor party

05: Ashley went on here own with Brush Design

06: Vacationed in Destin, FL with the Thornes

07: Ashley painted the Children’s wing of our church

08: Surprise Bath Remodel for James’ parents when they were out of town

09: Helped with Empowered Generation’s first big event

10: Attended a young married small group and made new friends

11: Our first Thanksgiving with the Thornes – had a fun time camping

12: Excited to spend Christmas in Colorado with the Goads! 

Powder Paint Fight

Check out these fun photos we took of us for our Christmas Card this year: http://jamesandashley.com/portfolio/powder-paint-fight/

We had so much fun throwing color at each other! Thanks to Eric Ewing for great shots!

Prophecy!

For one if you don't know what a prophecy is or a presbytery then you need to listen to this podcast from Robert Morris at Gateway HERE!

We had the privilege to being selected with a few other couples to be prophesied over. Three Pastor's came in from Gateway and were given our names prior to pray and fast over to see what God wanted to say to us. We were so encouraged as they were right on with our present jobs and personalities and continued with some great things in our future.

We love our life here at HighRidge Church and know God has placed us here for a purpose and we really mesh well with this "house".

These holiday seasons coming up are our absolute favorite time of the year! This year we are spending time with my family (James) for Thanksgiving! That night we are all going camping in a cabin up north. It should be a fun time for us all to get away. This Christmas we are going to Colorado to spend time with Ashley's Family for some skiing and some great time with family in the mountains!

Get excited about the Holidays! Happy Thanksgiving!

Peace and Love,

James

Colorado

I (Ashley) had the privilege to spend a week with my mom in Colorado this past month!  I must say… owning your own business is quite great when you get to give yourself vacation days… haha

Colorado has always held a special place in my heart… the beauty all around you is breathtaking.  I love it in every season!  God stirs my heart in new ways each time I get to spend time there.  Refreshment is always welcomed… along with stirred up passion.  I am also intrigued by the people there – many people are seen riding bikes and using canvas bags for groceries (you get an evil eye when using plastic)… some with hope in their eyes but many with a look of searching.  People are living in a beautiful place with God’s hands all over it – yet many turn to empty things for fulfillment.  I am believing for a powerful move of God for the people of this state… God is moving in areas but there are still so many people looking for hope and LIFE.  Who knows… maybe we will get to be a part of sharing Jesus with the sweet people of Colorado one day!

My mom and I did a hike on my last day there – it was a steep hike up to a ridge where we ate lunch looking over a beautiful lake.  On the way up – there were times I wished I had been exercising more consistently leading up to this trip.  I repeated this phrase in my head ‘one step at a time’ in a nice rhythm that I would take steps to.  Sounds funny – but it actually helped when my legs were burning on the steep climbs.   In the midst of this I felt God say… this is just like walking with me.  We often want to jump forward… or sprint forward to see what is ahead… but the reality is that God desires for us to simply take one step at a time with him.  There were times I wanted to call it a day… but the beauty at the top was well worth it! 

Are you discouraged? 

Do you think you can’t make it?

Press on… taking on step at a time… and God will meet you… strengthen you… and surprise you with more beauty and blessing than you ever thought possible.

- Ashley 

Instagram

We have officially joined Instagram!  We noticed that we stopped documenting our lives after we got married.  This is us changing that! 

Check out some of our latest pictures and feel free to follow us! [jamesandashley]

Every Night is Taken!

We have been so busy... and its the good busy. We have been gone at at home every night after work hanging out with friends. We are so blessed to have such a strong, big base of friendships and love spending time with all sorts of people.

I purchased the old NES system with some games from a friend and I have been bringing back memories. My good friend and next door neighbor, Micah came over and we played it one night and laughed and laughed. So grateful for amazing next door neighbors. We need to branch out more to meet the others down our block, but we could not ask for better friends we now have from them moving next door!

Not only have we been "friend" busy, but we have also been work busy. I love where I am at working for High Ridge church as their Media Director. This is the greatest job I have ever had and love going into work every single day! My side business, Thornejam, is going really well and I have more clients and projects than I do time off to complete them. That's not even getting started on Ashley's Business, Brush Design! She has done kitchen cabinets, living rooms, fireplaces, baby rooms, and is just now finishing up a huge project on the kids wing at our church. She is so blessed to be hold a lot of work at such an early stage of her business!

We are so blessed and grateful for what God has continued to do for us. Everyday is a joyous day when we choose to live in Him! Not feeling like doing anything today or sick of your job? Have you chosen to make the best of it, and spent some time with Jesus? Well it works... everyday!

Here is a quote that I pulled from a great communicator's post on facebook: "Those who have a famous secret time with Christ are the ones chosen to make Christ famous in public." Love that it always starts there.


Love you guys,


James

ROAD TRIP: Destin, Florida

         

At the beginning of June we headed to Destin with James’ family.  We loved the time away, being on the beach and spending time with family!  It was pouring down rain the first 2 days we were there…. which made us a little nervous:/  But… it was beautiful the rest of the week!  We both enjoyed relaxing on the beach… under our new umbrella… and did a lot of reading!   It was nice to take some time away from our computers.

We took one date night – we walked down the beach to a restaurant that overlooked the water.  We were seated right by the open window overlooking the beach… it was BEAUTIFUL! 

When we got home from Destin… we jumped right into a family weekend with Ashley’s family!  A family friend was getting married on Father’s Day – so it made for a fun weekend of celebrating.  My mom then stayed in town and we had a big painting job to do!  It was a blessing to have her in town to work on it together – we have so much fun painting!  Stay tuned for details about that project.

We are so blessed by our families!  It is fun to get to spend time with both sides and we are thankful that we have great relationships with everyone.  We are thankful to our families for loving us, investing in us, and showing us what it looks like to live out our faith… together!