currently

currently, i am:

loving: the art of typography. It's the way we advertise, be creative, and convey messages. Although, if you are a perfectionist like me, then you must know typography requires patience.

 

 

reading: The Arists Way. Such a rewarding and life changing book. It's similar to a 12-week weight-loss program but more of a 12-week program to get rid of anger, jealousy, addictions, guilt, and all those unpleasant things and to replace those with your original creativity and productivity. Loving every bit of it.

watching: the Bill Cosby Show. My family and I watch at least one episode a week!

listening to: so many different artists it's unreal. I always love finding a band that i enjoy listening to that has less than 100 followers (relatively speaking) - they're unique, original, and real. I feel rebellious by not listening to the top ten on iTunes. Creating and finding my own top ten is more adventurous and enjoyable rather than partaking of the fruit at gratification. Catch my drift?

playing: the piano and ukulele. i taught myself to play the piano when i was six and still play to this day. I use my right hand and my nub. It's totally awesome. I started to teach myself to play the ukulele about two months ago! Music is my passion.

learning: how to take pictures with a film camera. I got a Nikon FE with a Nikkor Nikon AF-S 50mm f/1.4G lens. It will take me a while to let my creaivity free with it because the camera is a manual (much to learn). I wish i could emphasize the excitment when i say: I AM SO EXCITED!!!! I want to take pictures all day every day - but unlike digital cameras, it costs money for every picture you take. I don't care, i still love it.

working on: a leather strap for my camera, two skirts, jewelry, and shorts. My hands are busy.

overcoming: anxiety. But do not fear, life is just so perfect otherwise:)



This is my life in a nutshell at the moment. Tadda!

Sincerely, Ashlyn

Dearest Sons and Daughters of God

You have a purpose, a unique purpose. We were all chosen for this day and time to raise up the Kingdom of God, to bring the goodness and the love of God to those we surround. You are someone special, and you are loved. Every moment we live, every breathe we take is a precious moment that we can use to grow and become more like our Savior. Please, be the Son or Daughter you are meant to be. Dress modestly, listen to music that would only invite the spirit, read your scriptures.. do everything you can to be worthy of His blessings. Heavenly Father is right next to you every step of the way and i know it takes a great deal of faith to believe that. Build up Zion, build up the kingdom of God that we were sent here to do! Do not get distracted by the worldly things that make Heavenly Father a lower priority. Eternal life is our goal, our direction, our destination.. your destiny. You knew what you came here for, you knew what would come your way and beside the level of difficulty.. you knew you could do it only with the hand of the Lord. We can build up Zion and that we will do! As royal Sons and Daughters of God, we will fight... we will FIGHT! Get rid of those short shorts, that music that swears once, that hilarious T.V. show that has a couple bad jokes... "Stop it!" Be who you are meant to be and by doing so, you will spread much goodness across the face of the earth. This earth has billions of people waiting to hear our message, a message of peace, and true happiness. My plea is that we will find our purpose and live it. Don't forget that you are highly favored of the lord and that is why you are here now in the year 2012, because you have a purpose - a purpose that only you can fulfill. Together, we can all return, and that.... we will. 

Sincerely, Ashlyn

what a lonely day.

today is.. quite lonely. 

at precisely 8:13 A.M. i stood out on my gray and dull driveway, waving a shaking goodbye to my best friend, my brother.. steven. He's moved on to college. i stood out on my driveway thinking of how much i hated goodbye's and wished they never existed. If only i could take back all the moments i had with him and turned them as if they were my last... i eventually left my lonely driveway knowing he wasn't coming back and sank into my couch and cried till wiping my tears became too frequent. All of a sudden, the door opened from the garage and i heard my brother say, "whoops, forgot something!" i didn't want him to see me crying... so i buried my face into the pillow... then before he left, he said "goodbye ashlyn... i.. love you." (so much for trying to stop the Niagara Falls from pouring out of my eyes) i lifted up my soggy red face and stuttered as i caught my breath to tell him that i loved him, more than anything... then he said the word i hated. "goodbye." at that moment... i felt utterly alone. he is everything to me, my best friend, my supporter, my brother, my example... literally, my best friend. I am sitting at the computer trying to get across my point of how much i will truly miss my beloved brother - of how lonely alone i feel.

-right now, I'm listening to Be Here Now by Ray Lamontagne. oh how i am abusing the replay button. -

there are so many different kinds of "lonely's"that people go through. you could be in a room full of people and yet feel like an outsider and completely alone. One could even be so alone that they find a volleyball and name it Wilson and desperately grow to have a relationship with something so lifeless yet, more alive than the people around them. The word 'lonely' is avoided by so many yet one of the most common feelings we encounter. We've all been through it... we know that feeling of emptiness and desertion.

Dearest Steven,

I love and miss you already.

Sincerely, Ashlyn

truly blessed.

right now I'm just laying in bed thinking about my wonderful life and how truly blessed i am for all that I have! I definitely have my trials and hardships with health and life in general, but think of all the people who have it so much harder. I am truly grateful for all the trials I have been given - to just think Heavenly Father knows what I am capable of is an honor. I am so blessed to be able to wake up in the morning knowing that i can just get on my knees to pray for protection! Im so blessed to be in a home where love is truly desired and spoken. I am truly blessed to have a left hand strong enough to play the piano. I am truly blessed for technology and medicine and all it has done to heal me. I am sincerely blessed for all the living angels on this earth that have been sent to heal my wounded heart and to become my light.  Despite all my trials, don't you think im blessed for all that I've been given? There are so many others out there that have it harder than us, which a lot of us (including myself) don't think about during a trial.... Heavenly Father wants us to be happy and only gives us what we can handle. I think it's an incredible knowledge to know that each of us CHOSE to come to this earth - and its because we knew we could do it! We knew that through Christ, ALL things are possible! Remember what choice you made and remember why you made it. You chose because you knew Christ personally and you knew the truth. You KNEW you could get through your trials and return to Him with honor. You are blessed no matter the circumstances, so be of good cheer! When Joseph Smith was chained to a tree in the night of freezing rains about to go to jail, he turned to his men in faith and said, "Bretheren, we will live through this experience... So lift up your heads and be of good cheer!" you will get through your trials, I know you will - and so do you. Be of good cheer! Because...

You are truly blessed.

Sincerely, ashlyn