Today

Lately things have been crazy. Crazy busy and crazy fun! We had my parents come for a visit. We went on a weekend trip with Ryan's family to Chattanooga. We had Andrea stay with us for a whole week! We had a quick visit in Atlanta with Julie & Jason and with Chris & Sarah. We had Rabbi and Lisa here for almost two weeks! We had a fabulous weekend trip to the TN river with wonderful friends. We've been to several braves games. We had Adam and Theresa here for Labor Day. We've been blessed!

But today, well, today was one of those wake up too early, work too many hours, sit in traffic too long, have too much cleaning to do when you get home but too tired to even try kind of days. The kind of day when you wish something good was on tv, but isn't. The kind of day when you just want to snuggle with your puppy and not do anything that a grown up is supposed to do. Like go to bed at a reasonable hour so that tomorrow doesn't start off in the way too tired way that today did. One fabulous thing happened today. One of my sweetest friends had a baby! Alice Elizabeth Thompson has arrived safely and I spent the majority of the day in prayer over her and her mommy. Marissa, Julie, Brooke (and Emily too, though she was busy giving birth) and I were emailing and texting all day. Today I miss my friends.

When I was 27...

Meet Bauer Paco Pearman

Bauer's first bath.
Sips and Strokes with Mom.

Bauer meeting Shelby. His head is soaking wet from being in her mouth.

Bridesmaid luncheon cakes

Potty training time. (notice shoes have been moved from the floor to the ledge - someone hasn't learned what is and is not a chew toy)

Bauer's first visit with Mr. Danny. You should have heard the other dogs barking their heads off - Bauer was definitely the best patient of the day.

Watching Julie get into her wedding dress.

My new snuggle buddy

Meeting Barkley

When I was 27 I...
... lived in Miami on the Miracle Mile
... lived in Manhattan in Midtown East
... lived in Atlanta
... passed the CPA exam
... re-entered the working world
... watched my little brother get married
... cheered Ryan on as he passed Step 1, Step 2 CS, and prepared for Step 2 CK
... was lucky enough to see 5 Broadway shows (love Broadway so much)
... started exercising, stopped exercising, started exercising, stopped exercising
... gained approx. 7 pounds - having a desk job can be hard on a girl with my chocolate habits
... regularly attended Sunset Church in Miami, Trinity Church in Manhattan, and North Atlanta Church in Atlanta
... became a huge Yankees fan
... attended several Marlins games and one Braves game
... went to a Knicks game and cheered like I'd been a fan all my life
... got a new niece and found out I'm getting another one
... went to a Minute Clinic in Miami, NYC, and Atlanta
... lost my tan
... had to start regularly coloring my hair to cover up the grey
... celebrated cupcake Wednesdays every Wednesday
... applied for a holiday position to be an elf at Macy's on 34th street (as in Miracle on 34th St)
... finally talked Ryan into getting a puppy!

To sum up, when I was 27 I was loved, healthy, happy, homesick, stressed, excited, thankful, a little bit fat, and very, very blessed!

Things I hope/plan/am excited about when I'm 28:
1. Add a new member to the Pearman home - a soft coated wheaten terrier!
2. Watching my BFF get married
3. Finding out where we will live for the 3+ years of residency
4. Losing at least 7 pounds :)
5. Planning my first trip ever to Wisconsin
6. Finally making it to the Naples in November trip
7. Wathcing Ryan graduate medical school!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The poem I wrote for Julie's wedding:
Nearly sixteen years ago, in the fall of 1994
I walked through the doors of JCS not knowing what God had in store
I was new in Jackson and not sure where I would fit in
Of all the people I met my first year in school, you were one of the "forever" friends
From the day that I showed up in shorts and the assembly began
I know that us being friends has always been part of His plan
Memories from the youth group, church camp, and devotionals
Experiencing Chrysalis together - where we were all quite emotional!
Attending tons of sporting events and summers at the pool
Discussing the perfect outfit for the first day back to school
Many hours talking about boys - but then acting like we didn't really care
Sitting behind each other in chapel so we could fix each others' hair
Physics parties, pumpkin launching, and even butt charades
Swimming at my house all summer and going mudding on the rainy days
Dave Matthews concerts, dances, and learning how to drive
No matter how many times you tried to teach me - I still cannot do a proper dive
Trips to the beach, many sleepovers, and even more telephone calls
Singing songs at the top of our lungs and cheering on the Vols
We had so many conversations about our future dreams and goals
Although our plans were constantly changing, we knew God was in control
We made lists of the characteristics our husbands must possess
When I look at us today I can't believe how we've been this blessed
When graduation came and it was time to move away
I hated that things were changing - I didn't like that day.
I was not as excited as you for our college years to begin
I can't tell you how thankful I was to start that phase with a friend
Pledging quickly came and we were as excited as could be
I don't know how you made it through without your 9 hours of required sleep
Delta Na Na Na was always a blast and we were sure to stop the show
From the Supremes to Britney Spears to choir members in robes
Remember the day we found a house where we could afford the rent?
You, Mandi, and me - all grown-up and independent!
We always had people over - for TV nights, egg hunts and cake walks
For showers, parties, and sleepovers, or just to hang out and talk
I loved our girl trips to Chicago, especially the super short flight
Our suitcases filled with H&M clothes really were a sight
After college graduation we headed to New York to see shows and the Yankees too
We met Charlie Gibson and Dianne Sawyer and made an appearance on The View
We are so blessed with great friends, we both know that's a fact
But there aren't many friends who will make a trip to Dominica and back!
We have been together through all the major phases in life
And now I get to watch as you become a wife
I know that Jason is an answer to many prayers, just as you are an answer to his
Of all the things we've done together, it doesn’t get better than this
I'll walk down the aisle first and watch Jason as he anxiously waits for his bride
And as you make your vows to him, I'll be right there by your side
You pray for your friends to find someone who will love them as they should
Who will help them get to heaven and stand by them when things aren’t always good
I know you’ve found that someone who knows how special you truly are
And you will share the kind of love you once wished for upon a star
Tomorrow is the day you have dreamt of since you were a little girl
The day when you will marry your best friend in the world
I am so honored to be a part of the happiest day of your life
When you will become Mrs. Jason Orr, united as husband and wife
I pray for you and Jason to share a life full of love and laughter
And after tomorrow I know you’ll live happily ever after…

And now a few Bauer video clips... He reached a milestone this week! After 2 weeks with us he is finally able to get in the chair with me without me having to pick him up. He literally throws his neck into the chair to try to sling shot the rest of his body up the side of the chair! As the middle-school cheer goes, you've got to want it to win it - and he wants it bad!!!

roots vs. wings

On the same topic as my previous post, I was watching Sweet Home Alabama on tv the other night and one quote in that movie stuck out and bothered me. "You can't have roots and wings." I immediately responded "yes, you can" (do ya'll respond to the tv?), but the more I think about it, I'm not sure that's really true. You kind of have to pick between a life with steady jobs (hopefully), a house, a church you attend regularly, friends you see regularly, and the occasional exciting week-long trip OR you choose a life where you never really have any true commitments - flexible job, short-term rent, and friends and family you see much less often as you constantly move from place to place. When you put it like that, the choice sounds simple. Maybe.

Our friends, Kyle and Andrea, just got back from graduation in NYC. I almost teared up when I got the text from Andrea that said "it's official - kyle's a doctor!". It's such a long and tiring (and ridiculously expensive) road but all of that just makes it that bigger of an accomplishment when it's finally accomplished! So, our turn is next. When Ryan is really and truly and legally Dr. Pearman we will have accomplished the goal we have been working towards the entire time we've been married...and then what?

The closer we get to the light at the end of the tunnel, the more I find myself thinking about what we will do next. Where will we match for residency? Will we test our wings on another adventure? Or dig our roots deeper into the South? I've always considered myself to have roots and wings. I've always loved to travel and believed the world is way too big to spend your life in one place. In the next breath I believe there are people in your life that are way too important to spend too much time away from - and I love the South. And you can't really have both... c.r.a.p.

I heard a preacher who had been in the military say that moving from place to place and never setting down roots is a constant reminder that we're never truly "home" anywhere on this earth. Our true home is in heaven and that is where we are designed to be - this is all temporary anyway. It also helped him and his wife not get caught up in materialistic things. Believe me - from the 8 moves we've done in the past 4 years - you don't want to have much stuff to pack and drag along with you from place to place. Keeping it simple makes the job of moving way less stressful.

Since the majority of our families lives within a 3 hr radius of each other, I'm 99% sure we'll choose roots (happily). But that 1% of me still wants the adventure of experiencing, not traveling to, but experiencing different places. Who knows, maybe we can still fly south (way south) for the winters...

a little bit of hollywood

Some of my favorite movie quotes - most are about love, but I threw in a few other ones for fun. :)

- "Hakuna Matata! It means 'no worries' - for the rest of your days. It's our problem free philosophy." - The Lion King

- "You know, even though I had to wear that stupid back brace and you were kind of fat - we were still totally cutting edge." - Romey & Michelle's High School Reunion

- "I just like to smile. Smiling's my favorite!" - Elf

- "I do not see plays, because I can nap at home for free. And I don't see movies 'cause they're trash, and they got nothin' but naked people in 'em! And I don't read books, 'cause if they're any good, they're gonna make 'em into a miniseries." - Ouiser in Steele Magnolias

- "Laughter through tears is my favorite emotion." - Truvy in Steele Magnolias

- "I don't like her. I don't trust anyone who does their own hair. I don't think it's natural." - Truvy in Steele Magnolias

- "I can't think about that right now. If I do, I'll go crazy. I'll think about that tomorrow." - Scarlett in Gone with the Wind

- "You should be kissed often, and by someone who knows how. " - Rhett in Gone with the Wind

- "Whenever I get gloomy with the state of the world, I think about the arrivals gate at Heathrow Airport. General opinion's starting to make out that we live in a world of hatred and greed, but I don't see that. It seems to me that love is everywhere. Often, it's not particularly dignified or newsworthy, but it's always there - fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, husbands and wives, boyfriends, girlfriends, old friends. When the planes hit the Twin Towers, as far as I know, none of the phone calls from the people on board were messages of hate or revenge - they were all messages of love. If you look for it, I've got a sneaking suspicion... love actually is all around." - Love Actually

- "I am nothing special; just a common man with common thoughts, and I've led a common life. There are no monuments dedicated to me and my name will soon be forgotten. But in one respect I have succeeded as gloriously as anyone who's ever lived: I've loved another with all my heart and soul; and to me, this has always been enough. " - Noah from The Notebook

- "That's my sweetheart in there. Wherever she is, that's where my home is. " - Noah from The Notebook

- "So it's not gonna be easy. It's going to be really hard; we're gonna have to work at this everyday, but I want to do that because I want you. I want all of you, forever, everyday. You and me... everyday. " - Noah from The Notebook

- "Iris, in the movies, we have leading ladies and we have the best friend. You, I can tell, are a leading lady, but for some reason, you're behaving like the best friend." "You're so right. You're supposed to be the leading lady in your own life, for goodness sake!" - Author and Iris from The Holiday

- "Well, yes, ma'am, I do... I mean, I got everything I need right here with me. I got air in my lungs, a few blank sheets of paper. I mean, I love waking up in the morning not knowing what's gonna happen or, who I'm gonna meet, where I'm gonna wind up. Just the other night I was sleeping under a bridge and now here I am on the grandest ship in the world having champagne with you fine people. I figure life's a gift and I don't intend on wasting it. You don't know what hand you're gonna get dealt next. You learn to take life as it comes at you... to make each day count." - Jack from Titanic

- "We never found anything on Jack... there's no record of him at all." "No, there wouldn't be, would there? And I've never spoken of him until now... Not to anyone... Not even your grandfather... A woman's heart is a deep ocean of secrets. But now you know there was a man named Jack Dawson and that he saved me... in every way that a person can be saved. I don't even have a picture of him. He exists now... only in my memory. " - Conversation from Titanic

- "You only meet your once in a lifetime friends... once in a lifetime." - Little Rascals

- "Sean and I have been talking and Michael, if you're gonna accept a football scholarship we think it should be to Tennessee. And I promise that I will be at every game cheering for you. Every game. But I will not wear that gaudy orange, I will not. It is not my colour wheel and I'm not gonna wear it." - The Blind Side

- "There's no place like home." - The Wizard of Oz

- "You're never fully dressed without a smile." - Annie

- "I'm one stomach flu away from reaching my goal weight." - The Devil Wears Prada

- "Silver white winters that melt into springs, these are a few of my favorite things " - The Sound of Music

- "Her recommendations for a campsite were totally unsuitable. There were no outlets. And there was dirt, and bugs, and... and it rains there. So anyway, we've found a place that's much more us: the Beverly Hills Hotel." - Troop Beverly Hills

- "Listen to me, mister. You're my knight in shining armor. Don't you forget it. You're going to get back on that horse, and I'm going to be right behind you, holding on tight, and away we're gonna go, go, go!" - On Golden Pond

- "You have to do the best with what God gave you." - Forrest Gump

- "How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard." - Annie

- "A dream is a wish your heart makes." - Cinderella

- "When you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible. " - When Harry Met Sally

In the Perfect World of Ashley Pearman

If money grew on trees, clothes washed and folded themselves, and toilets were self-cleaning, this is what a week in my perfect world would look like:

Sunday: I wake up and have a big breakfast with Ryan before heading off to church. Church is fantastic...very uplifting. The singing is beautiful and we sing all my favorite songs (which should be easy since I have hundreds of them). After church we have a big delicious lunch before turning in for the regular Sunday afternoon nap. After waking up feeling completely relaxed and refreshed, we go for a walk outside because it is a beautiful day. It's always a beautiful day in this perfect world, sunny and low 80s. Next we have a huge snack before heading off to night church. Night church is followed by dinner with friends and a movie on the couch with Ryan before bedtime.

Monday: Wake up when I wake up (no alarm screaming at me to get out of bed). Head off to violin lessons. I'm getting pretty good and will probably be joining the symphony soon. After I play tennis with my girlfriends I meet my mom for lunch at a really good, girly-food restaurant. After lunch Mom and I go get pedicures and go shopping. Dinner is magically on the table when I get home and Ryan has had an equally fantastic day.

Tuesday: Once again, wake when I wake and go to art class. In the afternoon I go to the beach with friends. After a fun day in the sun my friends and I all meet our husbands at ballroom dance class and, surprisingly, the husbands are as excited about it as we are. Ryan and I are such great dancers. People are really getting jealous of how advanced we are. After class our families come over for dessert and game night. Everyone wants to be on my team because my team always wins.

Wednesday: Wednesdays consist of sign language class and cooking class. Once again, I'm great at both. Star of the class, you might say. Wednesday night I have Bible Study with my friends and Ryan with his, followed with Bunco for the girls and sports-watching for the boys.

Thursday: Start the morning off with breakfast and a devotional on the porch with Ryan, followed by a swim in our pool. On Thursdays I attend advanced German and intermediate French classes. Although, I probably should have skipped the intermediate course because, in my perfect world, I'm never "intermediate". I try not to overuse my voice in my language classes because on Thursday nights I'm Mary Poppins in the Broadway hit, Mary Poppins.

Friday: I sleep in because I'm exhausted from all the parties after the big show last night. I'm telling you, if my house didn't stay clean on it's own there is just no way I could handle all of this! Mid-morning on Friday I pack a picnic lunch and Ryan and I take it on our sailboat where we spend the day snorkeling and fishing with all our closest friends. We stay and watch the sun set before docking at a great local restaurant and enjoying a 2 hour, 6 course meal filled with story-telling and laughing til we cry moments.

Saturday: Take a morning jog on this beautiful day and then head to a sporting event that is filled with excitement and nail-biting moments. We eat hot dogs, nachos, ice cream and then our team wins. On Saturday night we get really dressed up and head to the theater because Ryan loves getting dressed up and going to the theater as much as I do...in my perfect world.