Pay It Forward

We had the best experience today when we went out for our Thanksgiving Dinner. We were going to go eat dinner on the Army Base with Mitch, but he was sick of eating chow at the Base. So, we took a short walk to Cracker Barrel and decided that that was the closest we would get to a home cooked meal. As we were waiting for our table, Mitch and I were playing checkers outside and just having fun.

Then, a man came up to Mitch and asked what rank he was. Mitch responded "I'm a private." The man then said, "I wanted to have the honor to shake your hand. It's a real privelege to meet you. I am a Vietnam Veteran and I wanted to thank you for all that you are doing for our country." I was so touched. It was so sweet that it brought tears to my eyes. I thought it was so cool! Little did I know, it was about to get even more heartwarming.

We had just sat down and ordered our Thanksgiving meals when this woman came up to our table and said, "Excuse me, I would like to thank this young man for his service to our country and I would like to buy his meal." It was so sweet and wonderful! I started crying right then and there! She was so sweet and humble and she said that she had been looking for someone's meal to buy today and saw Mitchell in his uniform and felt that she should buy his meal. I was so touched. It was the best feeling ever! And she put a $20 on the table and walked away.

It got me thinking that I would like to do more things like that to pay it forward. Things like buying meals for servicemen and women. Helping out people more often, and just being more thoughtful and have better manners towards our brothers and sisters - no matter where they are from and who they are. I feel blessed to have been witness to such a wonderful experience. That feeling will never leave my heart. It has truly made me feel so happy and blessed.

One woman's kindness will never be forgotten and it won't be in vain. I will be doing more things to make this world a better place - one good deed at a time. It is truly a day to give thanks.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Here we are - in Louisville, KY!

Wow! What an exciting couple days and a great lead into the Thanksgiving holiday! My dad and I flew down to Fort Knox/Louisville, Kentucky to go see my brother graduate from Basic Training. It has been so fun! Considering the factors against us this week - connecting flights, traveling all day, and being the Thanksgiving week holiday - traveling has been an absolute pleasure! It has been fantastic!

We started our journey by driving down to Salt Lake City International Airport and getting all checked in (2 hours early) and then hopping on our plane and landing in Minneaoplis. The airport in Minneapolis was so cool! They had the neatest gift shops that were all bear and moose themed. Me, wanting to be a total tourist, made my dad pose and made him take photos of us in the airport at the coolest things.

We had about a 2 hour layover and then boarded on the TINIEST airplane I've ever been on! It was cozy, but it made me so sick! But, the flight landed in Louisville about a half hour early - which was great! So I didn't have to be on the plane for too long...

We took more photos at the airport - I got a new camera and REALLY wanted to use it! Then we got our luggage and our rental car - and seriously, within 20 minutes of landing, we were in our car and on the highway headed to our hotel!

This morning, we got up SUPER early (5 AM - Eastern Standard Time - OUCH!) and got ready for Mitchell's graduation. It was so exciting! We got to the field house and found our seats and waited for the fun to begin. There were a good number of people there, but it wasn't too crowded. Then, the soldiers came out! It was so exciting! We tried so hard to look for Mitch, but ALL of the Privates looked alike! They handed out awards to the best performers of the D company and then the soldiers shouted their "Soldiers Creed" - it was so great that it gave me goosebumps! We still couldn't find Mitch, so we took my dad's camera lens and were looking through it to try and see his face...it didn't really work.

The ceremony lasted for about 45 minutes and then the soldiers were allowed to "mingle" with their family members and catch up. Mitch found us right away! He said that he spotted us right away and was trying so hard not to smile when he saw us. It was so cool to see him in his uniform and he just looked so mature! I was overcome with emotion and I couldn't help it - I was crying like a baby! It was so cool! He looks great and he has really grown up a lot, but he is still the same-old Mitch. We signed Mitch - I mean, Pvt Nelson, out and we got in the car and headed to E-Town or Elizabethtown, we went to the Waffle House and had breakfast. It was so fun! Here are some photos of our time in the Waffle House - keep in mind - I was the only one who actually HAD waffles...

Then we just hung out for the rest of the day. We had to return him to the base by 7:45 so they could do roll call so we got him back and headed back to the hotel. I am suffering from some serious jet lag! I am so exhausted - and it's only 6:00 Mountain Time! Time changes are so weird!

Anyways, I was just so excited about these photos, so I wanted to put them up so you could see them! Tomorrow is Thanksgiving and we will be having dinner on the base. I'll post more photos from the day tomorrow.

Happy Thanksgiving!

So Many Options!

Here I am, at 25, at what appears to be a crossroads of life. I have in front of me many options to choose from.

Do I continue on with my current job at Olive Garden to become a corporate trainer and a manager - and maybe one day a Director or a Regional Training Director? That option seems the safest and the past of least resistance...it's all laid out in front of me. All I have to do is put in some time. However, this path would also allow me to travel - all over the region, the country, and maybe even one day to ITALY! Hmm...sounds appealing...

The next option is school. Having been in and out of school since I graduate high school - I find myself with nothing more than a few credits averaging a 2.5 GPA and a Dental Assisting Certificate. I feel lame at not having the education that I should have. I credit this to a few things:

#1 - I'm a slacker and sometimes I'm REALLY lazy - I know you're all in shock right now - It'll be okay...

#2 - Work - I tend to be a workaholic. I believe that it is really a sickness. I don't know that it can be treated by medication, but I think therapy might help...

#3 - Boys - Need I say more? Boys are a total distraction - especially when they have BEAUTIFUL red-headed daughters that love and adore you.



As I look at all of these "credits," I realize that they are nothing more than EXCUSES. I am 25 for crying out loud!

Okay, so having moved past the excuses part, I look at what I will do with the rest of my life. What should I do?

*Olive Garden - it's here - I have a career...

*Elementary Eduaction - A long time dream of mine...

*Dental Hygiene - A great job with great hours and pay...

The choices don't stop here! I have just realized that I have a great gift - I have the power to choose! I can create my own destiny! I can choose to continue this career path that I am on, or I can go back to school and have that "college experience" that I missed out on in my early college years.

I feel so powerful! I am in control! I know that I can only get out of my education what I put into it - and so far, it hasn't been much, unfortunately. I can do ANYTHING that I WANT TO! How amazing of a gift.

Instead of wishing that I had realized this earlier on, why don't I take this precious gift and make the most of it NOW. I can have my great education by the time I'm 30. After all, 30 is the new 20 - right? Or were "they" lying?

Writing this post has given me clarity, and hope. I know that I need to finish my education. I need to do what is best for me - and not what makes other people happy.

Now, if I could just figure out what to major in...Oh well, another day.

Who Am I?

I have a slight obsession with the television sitcom "Friends". I love it. I can't help it, but it is seriously my all-time favorite show! As I watch "Friends" and as I compare their situations to my own life - I realize that I have a little bit of each Friend in me! But that got me to wonder - "which am I like the most?"
Am I more like Rachel? Loves to be in the "in" crowd, loves fitting in, loves fashion, and feeling fantastic about life.
Or, am I more like Monica? In control, obsessive about things (yeah, that's me!), loves and wants kids, and can't seem to find the right man to have them with - of course until she meets Chandler.
Am I like Phoebe? Funny, whimsical, childlike, and all around crazy? (yeah, those all sound like me...sometimes I have the mental age of 3...)
Am I like Ross - always worrying, kind of nerdy, intellectual...
Joey? How you doin'? The charmer, innocent, and about 10 steps behind everyone else...
Or, am I most like Chandler? Obnoxious, likes to be the center of attention, tells jokes to get a laugh, thinks he's funny...
As I sit and watch, I realize that I am all of the Friends thrown into one! I have a little - I mean little, but it's growing - fashionista in me, I think I'm hilarious and I like to pretend like I'm 3 when I'm around 3 year olds! I want children, but like Monica, I can't seem to find the right ONE. I have failed relationships just like everyone else! I have issues in my life just like everyone else! I am a nerd and I am proud of it!
And then I realize - I'm ASHLEY! I'm me! And I love who I am. And I'm happy that I have my real life friends to make my life as fun and happy as possible!
The End.
:)