So its been a little over a week since I got married to the most WONDERFUL man EVER! (and i'm not just saying that b/c he is now my husband... i say that b/c its true.)
my family teases me for being too picky... and you know what, i count that as a compliment! I am SO thankful i didn't settle for all the other guys that came along. God knew LONG time ago that we would meet and we would be husband and wife. We both made mistakes along the way, but i see that is God's perfect grace... b/c when i look at Brian, i do not see myself worthy of such a man.
I see God's gift to us as the same... we are not worthy to live with God, but he sent us his son so we could. We do not deserve such a love from a perfect God, but yet he gave it to us! its SO awesome! Thank you Lord!

so enough preaching... i just want to write and let everyone know how things have been! its my first blog as being Mrs. Ashley Ross! (SO weird!)
First off... the wedding... it was SO amazing! Thank you ALL for coming to it and making it such a special time for Brian and I! All preparations and everything was SO worth the big day! The ceremony was fun... i guess... i don't remember much other than the kids throwing pillows and trying to talk on the microphone! HAHA! but thats what makes weddings fun!
The reception was GREAT! at one point Brian and I stood back and saw everyone playing volleyball, tamahawks, and mingling! that is EXACTLY what we wanted... and we are SO blessed you guys joined us! We love you all!
and thanks parents, sister and family, and the speights for traveling SO far to be here for us! our time with you guys will not be forgotten, and we love each of you SO much!
The honeymoon was GREAT! If anyone knows us, you know that snow is not our 'thing'. We like it from inside a building... where it is warm and dry. the night of the wedding, we drove up to Kings Canyon b/c we got a cabin at Grants Grove. During the drive, we had lightning, hail, rain, and snow. All day Sunday we could look out our window and see the snow falling down. It was SO beautiful! by the end of the storm, there was over a foot of fresh snow!
I have to say (Again) that God is AMAZING! since we got engaged and i knew we were going to have to be outside for our reception. i just prayed and trusted that God would not allow rain to fall during our big day. I believed so much it wouldn't happen that i didn't even look at the weather channel! and sure enough, not only was it beautiful, the temperature was PERFECT! and by the time the last person picked up the last decoration, rain came falling down from the sky! God is SO good! he gave us perfect weather for the ceremony and reception, and then perfect weather for the honeymoon! God is Good!!! =)
Well... as for things back home...so far we have been getting cleaned up and organized! we have been decorating and rearranging rooms and cabinet space! its SO great... i am SO thankful to be living in a house again!
My horses (well now 'our' horses) have been doing just GREAT! i think they both have adjusted well to their new home. its been fun riding them and i have enjoyed getting to know one of brian's friends better. i see a good friendship coming out! and i am SO glad i have had these riding opportunities with such a wonderful girl who LOVES God and horses! its great that my husband and her husband can hang while the girls hang! fun couple!
well... thats enough for now! love you all!
Ashley Ross =)

So i haven't posted a blog in a while, and i figured i would update people on wedding planning and things brian and i are up to:

First off, if you haven't noticed... i posted new engagement photos of brian and i! Chance and Dominique James were the ones doing our photos. they have AMAZING talent and are some of the nicest people you will EVER meet! We took our photos on my mom's birthday (Nov. 12, 2008) at a barn along a road outside of wonder valley in the foothills. it was a beautiful setting with changing leaf colors! i'm VERY excited to see more and also have them do our wedding photos! i mean brian and i will be looking at these photos for the rest of our lives... so its exciting to have GREAT ones made!
this day just showed me again that we are getting married... something i finally came to terms that would NEVER happen! and sometimes it feels like i'm in a dream! i mean how could i be SO blessed!
oh, and the previous day...i got my eyebrows done and nails done at Reflections, the biggest salon in california! the people there were WONDERFUL and afterwards, i got my ring cleaned at the place brian got my ring done (more details in a later blog).

secondly; wedding plans are going kinda good... i mean we found the place where we will be married at (the cross church) and the pastor to marry us (jerrod rumley). and we know of some witnesses... so i guess those are the only things you really need to get married. =)
the other 'small' details are being worked out:

right now we don't have a reception site... we are still looking and trying to find the best place.

i do have:
-my dress
-two of my bridesmaids have their dresses
-our unity candle
-our invitations
-my garter belt
-our flowers arrangements are in line
-got our cake person
-got someone to do my hair and makeup
-we know were brian is going to get his and the groomsmen's suits.
-we got our pictures and videography taken care of

so all in all... good progress! i'm excited and can't wait! i want it to hurry up and be march so i can see all my family and friends!

oh, and thirdly... one of the hardest things we got to do before we get married is to have a fence and barn made for when my horses come in march!
brian has been doing SO Great at building the fence. he has had his parents watch his dogs for past few weeks... he has the fence all up, but we got to install wiring so his dogs can't get out. but that is almost done and he will have them back soon! then he can start building the barn and shelter around the water pump! (i have pics of his property... i hope to post soon... i just keep forgetting my camera at his house)

n-e ways... thats probably about all in as little room as possible! we love you guys and appreciate ALL your support!

always,
Ashley (Ross... soon)

so i probably should have brian write this blog... but he probably wouldn't since he hardly gets online in the first place... so i am going to share with you all how he made my ring!

in may or june, we went ring shopping for a few weeks. i pointed out designs on rings i liked and didn't like. from there he spent the last three months looking for a store, looking for the right diamond, and finding the right person to make it.

he finally came to a store in fresno (on bullard and west) called ara karkazian. and ara and brian sat down and designed the ring from scratch! brian found something close online. the ring was from israel but wasn't EXACTLY what he thought i would like. so ara and brian sat down on a designing computer to reconstruct ALL the details!

brian said he spent over a month designing the ring and over 80 hours of his own time going to jewelry stores looking for the perfect center stone. he looked under microscopes and rejected MANY diamonds people brought to him. but ara, again, came through with the perfect most sparkly diamond EVER!

so yeah, this ring means more to me than just a "ring my fiance saw i liked and then bought it"... he did research and spent his time, showing how much he cares about me and loves me. and i felt that is what an engagement ring should symbolize, and he did a FANTASTIC job at showing just that!

thanks honey... i love you SO much... and i love my ring! its BEAUTIFUL!!! =)

So, I have gotten many people who ask me "how did he propose?"
and I just figured I would write and tell you all.

On Aug. 30, 2009, Brian and I heading to Kings Canyon National Park to go camping with another couple. (I did not know this, but the husband is a photographer).

When we passed by Boyden Cave, I saw a GRIP of people there (which is unsual for other days, but this was Labor Day weekend). Brian then is driving along and saying "oh, there is a pretty picture spot around here for a picture." and I pipe up and say, "Lets get a camping spot and then we can come back." Our friend then pipes up saying, "Hey, i'm sorry, but i'm not feeling too good. I think we need to pull over."

So then we get out of the truck and i follow brian down the bank (i still don't know why i followed, probably just b/c i could). So while we are down there, Brian finds a rock with some "ooose" coming out of it and he asks "what is that?"

I look closer, realize that it is sandstone and the rocks around are granite. I knew something was wrong. so we then turned it over and there was a Bible verse printed on it. I got excited and said we needed to take it with us. I HONESTLY thought that someone just didn't want it, and threw it down there.

Then brian says, 'lets look around some more. maybe there are more.' so he turns over another one and that one said "Geologists rock." and I was SO excited! I kept saying we got to take this, i'm keeping this, i'm putting this up at my house, etc...

He continues to say "lets keep looking" and i'm like no, lets take them and go. then he reaches down and turns over a rock that said "brian and ashley" in a heart. For the first 5 seconds, i was like "WOW, what a coincidence!" the i realized that he was either being "REALLY romantic" (i mean he really is) or he was proposing!

so i got scared and nervous and didn't want to look for the rest of them. Well he kept trying to get me to look for them. and after begging me for a little bit, i asked "how many more rocks are left?" and he said, "2" so the next rock i found said "I have another rock for you..."

so i thought that was funny, and so i turned to pose for the picture since i know our friends were taking the pictures by now. when i turned back around, he was on knee with the ring in his hand and said "i have this shinny rock to give to you. will you spend the rest of your life with me?"

he said i said "yes" but all i remember is the hugging, kissing, and butterflies going on!

Now since I told him that i have a rule that you cannot tell me you love me until you are ready in the next 2 minutes to tell me you love me. so the last rock he had ingraved said "i love you" on it!

since then we haven't been able to say it to each other enough times! Wedding plans are going good... just a LOT of work and not fast enough! i'm sure things will be good soon! i looking forward to spending the rest of my life with this VERY romantic, kind, caring, loving, handsome, generous man!

Wedding will be March 21!!! 7 months from our engagement! i can't wait!

always,
Ashley

SO... you guessed it... (or i told you b/c of the subject) that i'm ENGAGED to the most amazing, thoughtful, wonderful, handsome, etc... man!
i posted our 'story' in my pics (as the captions) under my engagement album. take a look!
I am SO happy and excited and overwhelmed and blessed! God sure does know what he is doing!
God's plans always work out to be the BEST plans!
=)

Well, I have to say that our trip to Arkansas was very ADVENTUROUS! We fully enjoyed ourselves and wished we had more time (except change the humidity).
So to brag... i have some points that stood out to me...

- having Brian hang with my family... and actually enjoy it!
- meeting my friends and enjoying himself!
- entering Brian in his first horse show and winning ribbons!!!
- Ms. Linda announcing over the loudspeaker as he was riding "Real men don't hold on to the horn!"
- Falling off Slick.. the BOTH of us (i was jumping... he was riding bareback)
- going on a picture scavenger hung with Rachel and Charlie
- playing in the toy store
- having the boys 'shop' at the mall
- introducing him to "Aqua Teen Hunger Force"
- showing him a GOOD thunder/lightning storm
- riding at the lake and galloping down the levee
- our walk to my elementary school
- swinging
- SNOWCONES!!!
- arguing with my nieces about who brian's girlfriend is
- watching Narnia for under $15
- getting gas for under $4 a gallon
- Hot Springs...
- Road kill
- watching Howdy stick his hand in a mare's anus
- watching how horses get artificially bread
- going to the Cowboy church
- watching Baptisms in a water trough
- going on a tour of my dad's work
- listening to my dad and brian speak in mechanical 'tongues'
- seeing my Aunt Faith
- seeing Mrs. Louise and her dogs
- waking up and seeing Brian and knowing i get the spend the day with him
- long conversations with my sister and brother-in-law
- 'God' talk
- visiting my old church (FBC)
- watching Greg and Brian bond
- going to my nieces ballet (Brian's FIRST ballet)
- showing brian all the places i went as i was younger!

and i'm sure there are SEVERAL more i am forgetting... but going back home and allowing Brian to see all the places i talked about and i talked to him at, was truly AWESOME!
If you want to see some of those pics i mentioned... click on my photos and take a look!
always,
Ashley

So as not to be outdone by all the redneck, hillbilly, and Texan jokes, somebody had to come up with this.

You know you're from California if:

1. Your coworker has 8 body piercings and none are visible.

2. You make over $300,000 and still can't afford a house.

3. You take a bus and are shocked at two people carrying on a conversation in English.

4. Your child's 3rd-grade teacher has purple hair, a nose ring, and is named Flower.

5. You can't remember . . is pot illegal?

6. You've been to a baby shower that has two mothers and a sperm donor.

7. You have a very strong opinion about where your coffee beans are grown, and you can taste the difference between Sumatran and Ethiopian.

8. You can't remember . . . is pot illegal?

9. A really great parking space can totally move you to tears.

10. Gas costs $1.00 per gallon more than anywhere else in the U.S.

11. Unlike back home, the guy at 8:30 am in Starbucks wearing a baseball cap and sunglasses who looks like George Clooney really IS George Clooney.

12. Your car insurance costs as much as your house payment.

13. You can't remember . . .is pot illegal?

14. It's barely sprinkling rain and there's a report on every news station: "STORM WATCH."

15. You pass an elementary school playground and the children are all busy with their cells or pagers.

16. It's barely sprinkling rain outside, so you leave for work an hour early to avoid all the weather-related accidents.

17. HEY!!!! Is pot illegal????

18. Both you AND your dog have therapists, psychics, personal trainers and cosmetic surgeons.

19. The Terminator is your governor.

20. If you drive illegally, they take your driver's license. If you're here illegally, they want to give you one.

Things I learned living in Texas.

1. A possum is a flat animal that sleeps in the middle of the road.

2. There are 5,000 types of snakes and 4,998 of them live in Texas.

3. There are 10,000 types of spiders. All 10,000 of them live in Texas, plus a couple no one's seen before.

4. If it grows, it'll stick ya. If it crawls, it'll bite cha.

5. "Onced" and "Twiced" are words.

6. It is not a shopping cart, it is a buggy!

7. "Jaw-P?" means "Did ya'll go to the bathroom?"

8. People actually grow and eat okra.

9. "Fixinto" is one word.

10. There is no such thing as "lunch". There is only dinner and then there is supper.

11. Iced tea is appropriate for all meals and you start drinking it when you're two. We do like a little tea with our sugar.

12. Backwards and forwards means "I know everything about you."

13. The word "jeet" is actually a phrase meaning "Did you eat?"

14. You don't have to wear a watch, because it doesn't matter what time it is, you work until you're done or it's too dark to see.

15. You don't PUSH buttons, you MASH EM.

16. "No. Jew?" is a common response to the question "Did you bring any beer?"

17. You measure distance in minutes.

18. You switch from heat to A/C in the same day.

19. All the festivals across the state are named after a fruit, vegetable, grain, insect or animal.

20. You know what a "DAWG" is.

21. You carry jumper cables in your car --- for your OWN car.

22. You only own five spices: salt, pepper, Tony's, Tabasco and Ketchup.

23. The local papers cover national and international news on one page, but require 6 pages for local high school sports and motor sports, and gossip.

24. You think that the first day of deer season is a national holiday.

25. You find 100 degrees Fahrenheit "a bit warm".

26. You know all four seasons: Almost summer, summer, still summer, and Christmas.

27. Going to Wal-Mart is a favorite past time know as "goin' Wal-Martin" or "off to Wally World".

28. You describe the first cool snap (below 70 degrees) as good chicken stew weather.

29. Fried catfish is the other white meat.

30. We don't need no dang driver's Ed. If our mama says we can drive, we can drive dag-nabbit.

31. You understand these jokes and forward them to your Texas friends and those who just wish they were from Texas.

Texarkana Barbies (so funny)

ANNOUNCEMENT: Mattel recently announced the release of limited-edition Barbie Dolls for the Texarkana and surrounding areas market:

Pleasant Grove Barbie"

This princess Barbie is sold only at Labels, Gayle’s, and other snooty overpriced stores. She comes with an assortment of Kate Spade, Prada and LV Handbags, Rolex watch, a Lexus SUV, a long-haired foreign dog named Honey and a 25,000 sq ft. patio home. Available with or without tummy tuck and face lift. Workaholic Ken sold only in conjunction with the augmented version.

"Wake Village Barbie"

The modern day homemaker Barbie is available with Ford Wind star Minivan and matching gym outfit. She gets lost easily and has no full-time occupation. Traffic jamming cell phone sold separately.

"Nash Barbie"

This recently paroled Barbie comes with a 9mm handgun, a Ray Lewis knife, a Chevy with dark tinted windows, and a Meth Lab Kit. This model is only available after dark and must be paid for in cash (preferably small, untraceable bills) unless you are a cop, then we don’t know what you are talking about.

"Sugarhill, North Ridge Barbie"

This yuppie Barbie comes with your choice of Rolls Royce convertible or Hummer H2. Included are her own Starbucks cup, credit card and country club membership. Also available for this set are Shallow Ken and Private School Skipper. You won’t be able to afford any of them.

"Fouke Barbie"

This pale model comes dressed in her own Wrangler jeans two sizes too small, a NASCAR t-shirt and tweety bird tattoo on her shoulder. She has a six-pack of Bud Light and a Hank Williams Jr. CD set. She can spit over 5 feet and kick mullet-haired Ken’s butt when she is drunk.

"Liberty Eylau Barbie"

This collagen injected, rhino plastic Barbie wears a leopard print outfit and drinks cosmopolitans while entertaining friends. Percocet prescription available as well as warehouse conversion condo.

"Genoa Barbie"

This tobacco-chewing, brassy-haired Barbie has a pair of her own high-heeled sandals with one broken heel from the time she chased beer-gutted Ken out of Fouke Barbie’s house. Her ensemble includes low-rise acid-washed jeans, fake fingernails, and a see-through halter-top. Also available with a mobile home.


Texarkana, Arkansas Barbie"

This Barbie now comes with a stroller and infant doll. Optional accessories include a GED and bus pass. Gangsta Ken and his 1979 Caddy were available, but are now very difficult to find since the addition of the infant.

"Texarkana, Texas Barbie"

She’s perfect in every way. No matching Ken available - he’s out with their daughter’s cheerleading coach.

"Hooks, New Boston Barbie"

This versatile doll can be easily converted from Barbie to Ken by simply adding or subtracting the multiple snap-on parts.

(Thanks Amber!)

Texarkana Barbies (so funny)

ANNOUNCEMENT: Mattel recently announced the release of limited-edition Barbie Dolls for the Texarkana and surrounding areas market:

Pleasant Grove Barbie"

This princess Barbie is sold only at Labels, Gayle’s, and other snooty overpriced stores. She comes with an assortment of Kate Spade, Prada and LV Handbags, Rolex watch, a Lexus SUV, a long-haired foreign dog named Honey and a 25,000 sq ft. patio home. Available with or without tummy tuck and face lift. Workaholic Ken sold only in conjunction with the augmented version.

"Wake Village Barbie"

The modern day homemaker Barbie is available with Ford Wind star Minivan and matching gym outfit. She gets lost easily and has no full-time occupation. Traffic jamming cell phone sold separately.

"Nash Barbie"

This recently paroled Barbie comes with a 9mm handgun, a Ray Lewis knife, a Chevy with dark tinted windows, and a Meth Lab Kit. This model is only available after dark and must be paid for in cash (preferably small, untraceable bills) unless you are a cop, then we don’t know what you are talking about.

"Sugarhill, North Ridge Barbie"

This yuppie Barbie comes with your choice of Rolls Royce convertible or Hummer H2. Included are her own Starbucks cup, credit card and country club membership. Also available for this set are Shallow Ken and Private School Skipper. You won’t be able to afford any of them.

"Fouke Barbie"

This pale model comes dressed in her own Wrangler jeans two sizes too small, a NASCAR t-shirt and tweety bird tattoo on her shoulder. She has a six-pack of Bud Light and a Hank Williams Jr. CD set. She can spit over 5 feet and kick mullet-haired Ken’s butt when she is drunk.

"Liberty Eylau Barbie"

This collagen injected, rhino plastic Barbie wears a leopard print outfit and drinks cosmopolitans while entertaining friends. Percocet prescription available as well as warehouse conversion condo.

"Genoa Barbie"

This tobacco-chewing, brassy-haired Barbie has a pair of her own high-heeled sandals with one broken heel from the time she chased beer-gutted Ken out of Fouke Barbie’s house. Her ensemble includes low-rise acid-washed jeans, fake fingernails, and a see-through halter-top. Also available with a mobile home.


Texarkana, Arkansas Barbie"

This Barbie now comes with a stroller and infant doll. Optional accessories include a GED and bus pass. Gangsta Ken and his 1979 Caddy were available, but are now very difficult to find since the addition of the infant.

"Texarkana, Texas Barbie"

She’s perfect in every way. No matching Ken available - he’s out with their daughter’s cheerleading coach.

"Hooks, New Boston Barbie"

This versatile doll can be easily converted from Barbie to Ken by simply adding or subtracting the multiple snap-on parts.

(Thanks Amber!)