I’ve been feeling like a bit of a fraud for keeping that profile photo up of myself with long hair…..it’s not who I am anymore. I’ll replace it soon. My friend Tara cut my hair today and bleached the top….fun, right? I’m off to San Francisco tomorrow….if any of you live in the area come and say hi!
It’s hard to believe it’s been 6 months since I was here:
On a heavy note, as I do everyday, I’m praying for all those fighting for their lives. I don’t know why I’m still here and others aren’t…..but I am….and I’ll never ask God for anything else for myself.
Dear God, all those prayers I may have prayed for stupid, petty things…..I’m taking them back.
I have a friend who is in the fight for her life. She’s in the hospital after a clinical trial was cut short because of complications. Her name is Jen Thompson and she’s amazingly strong. I don’t always talk about other people with cancer….it just takes me to a place I don’t want to be….but I felt like I needed to put this out there tonight to the world: please keep Jen in your prayers. This video was made shortly after Jen was diagnosed with ovarian cancer one year ago:
This quote from my journal jumped off the page tonight. It always reminds me that it’s okay to be an outsider. Being on the inside isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. I have no idea where that came from but maybe someone needs to hear it tonight…..
XOXO,
Ashley
I love your new hair. It is like it was always meant to be like that.
Love you my dear friend. I am constantly amazed and inspired by you. Love you so much!!!
xoxoxoxo
Beautiful… the post, the quote, the video… all of it is just beautiful. And please don’t feel like a fraud, that gal in the pic is a part of who you are today, and you are fantastic! Hair is just an accessory.
I agree!
She is in OUR Prayers. My husband Jon lost his Grandmother and his mother’s Identical twin to Ovarian Cancer.
My 3 year old and I watched the video and when it was over she look up at me and said ‘mommy I think she’s tired’, to which I cried harder. I’m sending prayers her way.
I am forever grateful to you Ashley for your strength and courage. Your unselfish ways and that you share yourself with us in such an open and honest way. My prayers are with you, your family and whats important RIGHT now your friend <3
The video is POWERFUL, and makes me step back and remind myself of what life IS.
Thank you for always sending out positive thoughts when they are needed most!
It looks so cute short and sassy! Thank you for sharing your journey with us!
Love the hair and post. I had seen this video some time ago about your friend and my prayers go out. Thank you for sharing, inspiring and reminding us to all choose joy! Michele M
What a powerful video. I will add your friend to my prayers.
you are beautiful in all ways, always Ashley! hugs, Valerie
My thoughts and prayers are with your friend Jen & her family. God bless her & praying for a recovery. Thanks so much for sharing.
P.S Love your funky new hair do 🙂
Inge xx
You are beautiful. And praying for Jen.
Both you and Jen are amazing! While I do not personally know either of you, you both are in my prayers every day. Since finding out about both of your stories, I make sure to remember just how blessed we all are. I make sure to take time to kiss my little one and hug my husband. I am just so sorry that this is part of your story, but at the same time, I thank you. Your words and Jen’s video inspire me, move me to tears and make me pray much more. You both have so much left to do here! xoxo-Candi (Well wishes and salty kisses from FL!)
Crying…and Praying.
Prayers and healing light to two beautiful women…
Ashley you look fantastic! You’re new hair is cute and fun and suits you beautifully!. I am way older than you and my kids are grown but I just can’t help myself…I love your blog…everything aobut it. You are an inspiration on ALL levels! And your smile … it just lights up my day (and everyone else’s I’m sure!) I’m so glad that you are doing so well and I truly hope that your friend is soon on the road to recovery too. X
I cannot even begin to imagine…
I sit here and bawl my eyes out watching these beautiful videos of you and your friend. The courage it takes to remain strong…is astounding I am sure.
I think of you often – and pray for you – and I have added your friend Jen to my prayer list. Thank you for always being so real and sharing your journey. Youre truly an inspiration to many! God is good.
btw, your hair looks great. You totally rock it!
Oh sweet Ashley how I wish we were still in SF so that I could come and hug you in person!!!! I pray for a safe trip for you and I will be praying for your sweet friend. Cancer is TERRIBLE! I wanted you to know that my husband used your blog in his classroom yesterday. He has been teaching his classroom kids about being happy where you are and striving to be a better person for your self and for others. To not be the person who resolves yourself that this is just where you have to be or WHO you have to be. You continue to inspire others and I thank you for it.
I love your new look! I am so happy you are doing well. I think and pray for you often.
Hugs
You are a beautiful person!! Just wanted you to know..
You look fantastic! So sassy!!! Can’t wait to see you guys! Love you, Sis!!!!
You look beautiful. Sometimes it really makes my heart heavy to consider all the pain and seeming “unfairness” of this world. But it’s all God’s plan- even the pain and hardship. Prayers to your friend and many thanks to God for your continued health and healing.
Ashley, you could rock a scrunchie you are so gorgeous! But dont. just saying….
My forever friend was diagnosed with Ovarian cancer, stage 3C and five months later, 7 chemo treatments and one surgery later, she is officially cancer free! It it such a miracle. She wasnt in the greatest health, a smoker, underweight and had just lost her husband of 40 years one year before to a fast spreading cancer. Her emotional diagnosis was anything but good but we all prayed to God to overlook that and heal her and he did. As simple and as complicated as that. I will now get on with the same prayers for your friend. Miracles abound.
Love, Melissa
She is sooooooo lucky to have you on her team.
You are gorgeous! You are so inspiring to me. My grandmother was just diagnosed with breast cancer and we have adopted you and your enthusiastic ‘Choose Joy’ as our motto. Thank you for sharing your journey with the world…you have no idea what kind of impact you have made.
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your hair. And sending up prayers for Jen!!!
whew- that almost brought me to tears. and i only held back bc im at work!!! she is beautiful! and this video made me miss m y children so much.
God Lord you are gorgeous as ever!!!
Praying for Jen to join the club of survivors. So grateful that I am in that club myself. I have been in remission from Hodgkin’s Lymphoma for almost 9 months now – praise God.
Not Fair! Seriously, could you get any prettier!
You have “bachelorett Jeff’s” haircut now! You know they live in Charlotte now!
LOVE your hair!! Have fun in San Fran.
Thanks for the hair update. You look fabulous with short hair, sassy and sweet and badass at the same time. It’s growing a LOT faster than mine is!!
I’ve seen Jen’s video before and I continue to pray for her, and send her healing thoughts and strength to continue fighting. xo!
Ashley- I pray for you every day, but I’m thinking you kind of have this licked!!! I am adding Jen to my prayer list. I can’t get over how much you two resemble each other. both very beautiful women.
So many magical wishes
for your dear friend Jen .*)
wish we could get her out
to California for some special
healing time. Sometimes it is
Soooo important to take the
risk and Fly to adventure .
The possibilities are endless !!!!!!
We would fix her .*)
best wishes are in my heart
and mind that she is WELL and seeks
Survival mode ASAP …
My mom always used to say, you could be bald and you’d still be beautiful. I Dont know if I agree with that so much, but you ARE THAT girl! I love the cut and style and the color is great!
What a beautiful video of Jen and her family. I’m so sorry that she is suffering and she is in my prayers as well as her family and those beautiful boys. Thank you for sharing
Your haircut looks awesome!!
Praying for your friend, Jen- do you have an update?
I am inspired each and every day by you, even when I don’t read your blog for weeks … or months…. even thus I have never met you, even thus you don’t know who I am. What power your life has had in mine! You have impacted me in ways you will never know and I am so thankful TO YOU for that. …. and Jen. I will pray and I will HOPE. THANK YOU.
Wow. I’ve recently found your blog and I’m so glad I did! You are beautiful AND amazing. You go girl!
I love your rocken short hair! I wish I could pull that off. Do you have naturally thick hair? I have thin straight hair and cut it short my sophomore year of HS and have kept it short since. How long does I take you to fix your hair? I wonder if I could try and pull it off?!?!?
Jen is never far from my mind, and like you, it can take me to some unwanted places.
So unfair 🙁
And your hair! I LOVE IT!!!
Mine is growing back in wackadoodle curly! LOL
Can you be any more amazing? You are awesome. P.S. the hair style rocks!
My heart is heavy for Jen. Cancer. God, there’s nothing to say about it. I’ll keep her in my thoughts. Thanks for sharing.