Today I would have been wishing my dad a happy Birthday… but instead I said a prayer and wished he had a very heavenly birthday in heaven today!
It has been 4 years since my father passed away, and its not a day that I don’t think about him! On special days such as today it’s a little more harder.
I know I have the memories, and I take pride and comfort knowing that my father lived a full life. Not a long life, but a FULL life. I believe he did everything he wished to do.
He retired early with 32 years do to health issues, but his health issues didn’t stop him from enjoying life.
In my eyes, 69 was pretty young. I wasn’t ready to let him go, BUT the Lord let me know that it was time. (I will tell yall about that one day).
I know my dad is in heaven with all his loved ones that have passed on before him! He is having a great time! My dad loved to socialize, and family gatherings were very important to him! He is up there having a ball partying!
I can see my dad smiling and looking down. I like to think that he is my guardian angel up there! He is looking down at his grand kids and protecting them… I know he is!
Happy Birthday Daddy! You would have been 73 here on earth! Angel kisses from here to heaven xoxoxoxo
This was a small room that needed a transformation! This started out as a dull room with boring white walls! Most people are afraid to use a pop of color in a very small room!
In my opinion a child’s room shouldn’t be so boring! I dared to be different and decided on going purple. Not a boring light lavender, or so pale it would only be a hint of color. I decided on going with a very deep purple!
Many moms are now going very neutral, having their kids room whites and light beige. The only hint that it’s even a child’s room, you may see an occasional teddy bear upon the dresser or bed!
I also dared to be different with my theme! I went with something fun! We decided on Tinkerbell! I thought fairies were fun and girly! Just oh so appropriate!
This post is for other moms for a bit of inspiration and ideas. Adding color makes a child’s room so “happy”. I don’t know what you all think, but I love it. I know everyone isn’t thrilled about colors and adding characters, but rooms can always be changed! Who wants the same room and colors till they are a teenager? I am sure we will change this room quite a few times in the future!
Written By, Ashley Porter
Where I purchased Items for this look Links Below:
Tv Stand Not Pictured in Photo (not in this angle of photo): If my memory is correct, was not a actual tv stand but a nightstand because I couldn’t find the type of tv stand I was picturing. I could not find on Walmart.com But I did find something very very close to it, it had a opening at the top which I put her dvd player etc… and 2 drawers. https://www.walmart.com/ip/Prepac-Calla-2-Drawer-Tall-Nightstand-White/32501958
White Bookcase (not in angle of photograph) Could also not find on Walmart.com where I originally purchased, but there are many options online.
I realize that I will most likely not
be able to write daily. I know I wanted to, but that doesn’t mean I am not
being consistent if I’m not blogging on a daily basis. I have a lot that I am
trying to do these days.
Being Consistent, doesn’t mean daily.
I was trying to tell myself that, because I didn’t want to start a project, and
end up not finishing! I do that a lot. For that reason, I was trying to force
myself to blog every day, so that I wouldn’t go a few days, and look up one day
to have never blogged again!
I
can see my drive is much different now! I am in a better place with myself. I am
trusting myself for the first time. “wow, did I just say
that? Yes, and you know what? It feels really good.” I have never been this
focused before in my life! For once in my life I am determined to reach my
goals. I have a plan this time!
This is a whole new world for me. I
can’t explain to anyone or find the right words on how ecstatic I am on where I
am going! I guess this is that feeling people have when they say they have that
natural feeling of being high! My life finally feels like I am on the right
path. This is where GOD wants me to be!
I’m working on multiple things such as this blog, my husband and I T-Shirt business, a book, a YouTube channel, and trying to juggle all these social media accounts! Now I see why this is a job! It is a lot, but all worth it, and so satisfying!
Written by, Ashley Porter
I won’t be back on tomorrow, or the
weekend, because that is family time! So, I shall be back next week.
Until then #Follow and #Subscribe to my other accounts as well…
What are spirits? Some people say ghost, but I don’t like this term. A spirit is a soul that comes from a deceased person’s body. I could get much more detailed, but for simplicity, I am going to get straight to the point.
Have you ever been visited by a loved one’s spirit after
they have crossed over? When your loved one has left this life as we know, and
has made a transition into the afterlife, have you seen signs? If so, please
comment below, would love to hear other people stories.
I have had several encounters in my life. It isn’t so hard
for me to believe and know, because It was something talked about in front of
me at a very young age. I know for some people; they don’t even think about the
subject till they become an adult. I am aware many families don’t speak of
Spirits. In my life growing up speaking of a spirit visiting to this realm of
life as we know from the afterlife, was “normal” talk.
My very first personal experience was when my grandfather passed. I was laying in the bed with my grandmother, she had awakened me from my sleep. She said my grandfather was in the room, and that she could feel the hairs on her arm stand up. You could hear in her voice that she was frightened. At this point I was sitting straight up in the bed! I was just as scared. Then suddenly, the bathroom light came on, then went off. The lights did that 2 more times, for a total of 3 times came on, and then went off! I was too shocked to say anything. I grabbed my grandmothers’ hand and began to cry! Through all the years of me hearing stories of my grandmother saying a spirit has come to visit her, now I am experiencing this with her! I saw, we both saw! This was no flicker of lights; This was a definite on then a pause and then the lights would go off. My grandmother then said, “I love you, but you need to go to the light, you know how I am when spirits visit”. I never actually physically seen my grandfather’s spirit, but it was more of a feeling, we just saw the lights go on and off. Spirits, and loved ones always came to my grandmother after they passed, but she never got used to them coming to her! She was always frightened by these visits.
My next encounter was in 2015. My father had a stroke and
was in ICU for 2 weeks before he was taken off life support. During these 2
weeks, my mom and I stayed at the hospital (the ICU lounge), except to go
freshen up at home, and never at the same time. One night I went in the room
with my father. I was alone, just him, and I. The lights went off and on behind
his hospital bed. The lights went on and off 3 times. I had chills instantly. I
knew I wasn’t going crazy, but just needed clarity. I went out into the hall,
and at the nurses’ station, I asked if they were able to control the lights
from the desk. I remember the nurse kind of looking at me weird, I then kind of
laughed and said, oh well I know you can control monitors etc. I just thought
maybe with all the technology you had a button back there for that too. She
laughed and didn’t think anything of it, I guess. I went back in the room and
just kind of took everything in what had happened.
I was in the ICU lounge with my mom, we were talking. It was
kind of weird, that this night it was only us in the lounge. Usually the lounge
was always busy, some nights more then others, but usually someone else was
always there! My mom, and I was watching tv when suddenly, the lamp turned on
and off 3 times! At the time I was unsure if this was my father. My father was
on life support, now I have read that sometimes when a person has had a near
death experience the spirit can kind of be between worlds. I don’t know, but I
kind of think maybe it could have been my grandfather! I’m still not a 100%
till this day. I sometimes think maybe it was my father, because how the lights
went off in front of both me and my mom. Then I think sometimes maybe it was my
grandfather trying to tell me to let my father go, that it was his time to go
and be with the Lord. Then the night my father past there were triple 7’s in my
phone in multiple rows that just kept repeating. I know that was a message for
me from him. My father always told me 777 was opposite of 666. He told me that
triple 7’s was an angelic number, a holy & sacred number. I think he was
telling me that this was how it was supposed to be and that he was at peace,
and for me to know he was there, without scaring me.
My third experience was right after my youngest daughter was born. I had a cesarean and had just gotten home. I think I had a doctor’s appointment, so my husband & I also had to run an errand at Walmart. He got out the vehicle and I stayed in under the air, because that was just too much walking for me after surgery. I noticed this butterfly, the most beautiful I had ever seen. It was yellow and black. It just kept circling around our vehicle. I was around for so long that I immediately began to wonder was this a message from my father. Is he trying to show me that he is here, he is around? I had been in deep thought and was wishing he was here to see and know my newest baby. We had got home, and what do I see, the prettiest yellow and black butterfly. I swear it seemed like it was the same one! I have never seen a butterfly in my life like that, and then what are the odds that I see 2 the same exact color? I know for a fact this was not a coincidence.
These are the most memorable encounters that I have had. I
have more experiences that I may write about at another date. I just wanted to
share my experiences with others. Some people question things that they feel or
see after a loved one has passed away. Many people are not taught to embrace
the notions of life after death. For me it’s a comforting feeling to know my
soul may be able to meet up with my loved ones after this world.
Do you believe in Spirits? If you don’t what do you believe?
Please comment below and tell me of any experiences that you have experienced.
Or email me at: ThisAndThatWithAshley@gmail.com I will not share your stories if you email
me. I m just really interested in other people experiences. I really have never
talked to anyone other then family about this subject. It is just an interesting
topic to me!
I as a child!Family Photograph Owned by: Ashley Porter
As I close my eyes, I can truly
remember these days (this decade). These memories feel more distant now.
Memories this far back aren’t as clear anymore. I look at the picture above,
and it brings back a fuzzy, selective, warm feeling inside! I swear, I remember
that shirt! My hair style was almost always the same, two pigtails, and
sometimes an added 3rd braid in the back, and seldom would my mom give me an
actual one ponytail.
I truly had a happy childhood! As most
kids, I didn’t have one concern in the world! I never knew of any hardships!
Most summer days I played outside, unless it was probably raining. Then I was
inside playing with my dolls and barbies.
I was raised in the city! Detroit, to
be exact! Always at heart I had a little bit of country in me. I even heard my
father make comments. I would walk outside barefooted a lot. I even made mud
pies! I think my father hated that, because he eventually bought me a sandbox,
and my mud pie making days were over!
I
have seen this picture a million times! The odd thing is, as I glanced at this
picture today, I thought, if only I could tell her what the
future holds! If she could just know a few things from me. If I
could just talk to her, and she could really truly understand. I could pass her
the actual keys to her life. To be able to prepare her in ways she would yet to
comprehend.
Maybe she would have done things a bit
different? I could tell her she would complete college, but it wouldn’t be
until later in life. Maybe she could have planned if she knew the small little
obstacles that postponed it till later. To be able to tell her the first time I
ever attended college and the real reason I ended up taking a long break. By
the way presently, does anyone know the real reason? I practiced, and practiced
my final project, which evolved an oral presentation. What did I do? I ran out
of class, and never came back! Never stepped foot in that school again. The
campus now, doesn’t even exist anymore! All because I have a real terrible
freight of speaking in front of large crowds (meaning more than 5 people in an
enclosed room). Maybe she would be able to master her freight early on, if she
knew the seriousness of the shyness, she now experiences around unfamiliar
people.
I would tell her to take lots of
photos! Try to capture each moment. The regular days, not just those special
milestones! Try to capture the people around you, who mean the most to you! One
day those people won’t be here, and that day when you look up, will always feel
like sooner than later! Love them with all your heart, because they will always
be a part of your heart! Even more specifically record you and your grandfather
conversations, about the family etc, just know he was the wisest men you knew!
I wouldn’t tell her about the sad
things, just looking at this picture I can tell she is about the age of my
oldest daughter, 7 maybe 8. I would tell her though to save every penny! It’s
ok to treat yourself, but all that Christmas money and even your first job,
just save it all! Save as much as you can, because like all the stories she
will hear, the cost of living will steadily increase!
For her to know one day she would be married
and have two beautiful daughters of her own! To know that all she has to do is
to be herself in life! Don’t fight what is already in you! You are a creative
child, who learns as an adult, her creative side was always meant to be! Her
father even knew this! Freshmen year of high school he will let her know this!
I want to let her know that she will be happy! She will go through roller
coasters just like anyone else in this thing we called life. Sure, life will
have its ups and downs. Some people will be jealous and envious. Then you will
have people who will assume things, and try to make you miserable, because they
are! You will have people who feel they need to be in competition with you,
when you won’t even entertain their notions! You will already know what they
are up to!
What the future holds is a
lifetime of memories! A precious understanding, that comes with mistakes, and
learning. Which one could only understand by going through each, and everything
we experience in our own lifetime. This is what gives us wisdom later!
As
I wrote this, I realized it is a possibility to all of this! How can I tell her What the
future holds? My daughters are a future me! As I stated my
oldest is about the age I was in this picture! I could start to tell her these
things! I can prepare her, not for my life, but her life! Now I know she is her
own self, so she will have to go through her own life challenges, but I hold
dear to many things my grandfather told me! Just maybe if I whisper to both of
my girls every now and then some important key things, they too will hold on to
these conversations! They will grasp them early and take them to heart!
Is this a fried mouse? or is it a piece of chicken? Photo by: Ashley Porter
We all hear from time to time the
disgusting restaurant horror tales. Then there are those leaked video
footages’, where you see an employee doing something despicable to the food, or
you may even see a rodent running across food!
Which leads me to our story! My
husband & I decided to grab dinner at a nearby local Coney Island, in the
Metro Detroit area. I usually always get the fried chicken wing dings, but for
some reason I switched it up, and ordered a chicken pita with fries. My
husband, and oldest daughter ordered the fried chicken wing dings and fries.
I
had eaten half of my dinner, my husband didn’t start eating his food until
later. He wasn’t as hungry when we had first ordered our food. I was just about
to actually finish the rest of my food when my husband stopped eating, and
asked me what did this particular piece of chicken?!?!?! look
like?
When
I tell you, I felt immediately sick! I couldn’t even get out my response! The picture I posted
above does no justice of what I
saw! Yes, this is the actual piece of “chicken” in question! I swear to you
all, this is not an exaggeration! I am almost certain this was a fried
mouse! After I told my husband, “that looks like a mouse!”
(which I actually screamed out in real life.) my husband through it in the carryout
box, and basically threw the food away. I did the same with mines! My daughter
had already eaten her food, but I put her food on a regular plate and looked at
it, before she ate it. (something I always do)
It was at this moment, that my husband
and I decided we were no longer going to eat out in fast food restaurants
anymore. This will not be a hard transition for us. It has now been about a
little over 5 years we have not had McDonalds!
Recently, like a few weeks prior I had
played around in the kitchen and made some homemade shrimp fried rice! It was
delicious! so delicious, that my husband said, “we aren’t going to the Chinese
restaurant anymore, why when yours taste the same, but really better.” My mom
also liked it, and even my oldest daughter who is a very picky eater!
There is also a nearby chicken place
we go to and haven’t been really going to as much this year, because I figured
out how to make my chicken wings taste just like theirs. I always know when I
have mastered the taste, when my daughter eats it, and actually ask me when I
will be making the chicken like at that particular restaurant that it is from! So,
I have been making a transition without really realizing, or even having that
as my intention when I have tried these “copycat” recipes.
As a wife & mother sometimes, it
is so much easier to just grab take out! I think every mother whether married
or not, have those days! Sometimes we have a busy day, and before you know it,
it’s getting late. You already racing time with the clock and know if you start
a dinner it may be a little too late to eat. Fast food is so convenient for
days like that! Right now, were in the summer, but just imagine when the kids
are back to school! It can become really hectic!
It really is scary, that you do not know
what you are getting when you are ordering food from these fast food
restaurants! Seriously, we hear the stories, but whoever thinks we will
encounter these stories for ourselves? Not I, that is for sure!
I know people may read this and see
the picture and question it and dismiss it as one of those deformed chicken
pieces, but NO, really, this was something you had to see in person! You could see
where the 4 legs were, tail, and head! You can make out each distinct part… ugh
I can’t even type it out right, I get the heebie-jeebies just thinking about
it!
The
conclusion is my family will no longer be eating out at fast food restaurants!
This was just one experience we don’t want all over again! I understand this
may not be all fast food restaurants, but just too much of a risk for us! I
don’t want my kids eating a piece of a rodent by accident! My husband, and I
have decided from time to time for our children (which won’t be often) we will
go out at nice sit-down restaurant. I know, this can happen at any food
establishment (even a nice sit-down restaurant), but I just feel like this will
be a better alternative. As I stated just for the experience for our kids… like
maybe a birthday dinner etc… but all in all, I am sure we won’t miss it! Goodbye Fast Food!
So I haven’t been writing! With the Holiday and real life happening… I just had to take a brief moment! My husband was off work, and pretty much we were just relaxing, and enjoying his time off.
I know I just started, and I am working on being consistent, but I am still proud of myself! I am moving forward, and will be posting a new article immediately after this post!
I know there may be times when I can’t blog daily, but I will try! I also know that if I can’t write, I will not take a long break. I will always be back writing as soon as I can. More than likely, I will update you guys with a short message as this. Which I have done so already in the past…. So early in the game! (without many #followers lol)
This is just a post saying…. I have had a rough day. I am exahsted and drained.
I set a personal goal for myself to write atleast one blog everyday. Eventhough I am not writing a long post, I had to keep my promise that I made to myself!
I will keep being consistant! Being more consistent as you know was one of my goals that I vow to keep. (said in my 2nd post)
You ever get tired? So tired of the lies? Tired of the BS, that people feed you. They will have you thinking, do I have stupid plastered all over my forehead? People will fabricate a story in a second! Will have you really 2nd guessing your own self! Like, did I do something wrong? People will have you thinking like, is it me? Because once again your so tired, that you can’t even think straight! People will flip how they truly feel, and try to put some reverse psychology in the mix! Naw, Naw I get it! I got it. I already know the real. Oh so you had a bad day, and then you wanna take it out on me? Oh, but wait, what about all the lies? I’m thinking clearly, I remember the last go around. I know how the plot goes. I thought we were friends? Naw, I’m just too nice! I sit back and chill, most of the time. I try to forget, and move on. Then I remember it’s always the same…. Who is the one that is hurt, sad, angry? Who is the one that even care? People are cold as ice. They feel nothing! No pain… I mean, NOTHING! They care of nothing, but themselves, and seldom think, how does that make them feel? But, then again why would they ask questions like that, when they don’t feel, they don’t know how to feel! Oh you tired? Naw, Im tired!!!!!
This shall be continued, I got a real life headache… migraine!
I wish I could say this in a audible attached to this? could I? Or could I just attach like a YouTube video? Is this even possible? Do anyone have any suggestions on that? …. This would be really kool, if you could hear me say this!
Today I could have chosen not to have written anything. I was so frustrated with my blog visually. I couldn’t quite get my page layout the way I pictured it. My blog still has a picture on the home page, that I do not want there! I do not know how to edit it off! Frustrating? Yes, very much! I will eventually get it taken care of, but at this moment I just need to write… or type lol.
I could have strayed away easily! I could have got so tied up in the fact of my page not looking perfect, which could have led me not to have written at all today. Knowing myself, this would have been a start of a familiar pattern, and me once again failing myself!
Consistency is the key! Consistency is one of my goals! I will not stray from any of my goals that I plan to reach for not only 2019, but also this coming year of 2020. Yes, this woman right here is serious! Now I have told you in my introduction that I am excited to be sharing my new journeys with you! I am over the moon happy!
I am so proud of myself! Today is day 2 of me writing on my blog. I plan to write everyday to maintain my consistency. I have to train, and discipline myself to over come my bad habits. No one is perfect, everyone has things that they could improve on.
Have you thought of things that you could improve upon? I would suggest baby steps. Making a list, taking one thing at a time, and work on whatever that is. Sometimes people just need a little encouragement, and that key word; consistency! No matter what it is that you could improve, it really goes back to consistency. I have the best example right now, but I am going to wait, because that information is for another blog post in the near future!
Consistency will go far! Just stick to whatever it is that you need to be more consistent about! Consistently will definitely lead you down your path to your dreams.
I am going to leave off with this quote:
“Success isn’t always about greatness. It’s about consistency. Consistent hard work leads to success. Greatness will come.” – Dwayne Johnson
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