Romance Killers

I have decided that children are romance killers.  Hopson and I are so busy taking care of them we forget that before they were, it was just us.  Now, he was working a ton & I was in grad school, but it was still just us.  Our lives were boring, now that I think about it, but it was easier for us to be romantic.  Dancing in the kitchen to James Taylor's Greatest Hits; sitting together and not feeling the need to talk, but just read or watch tv...among other things.  Now we have to make sure teenagers are not lurking around the corner just to kiss each other.  Heaven forbid they see us smooching...they might die from embarrassment. (how do they think they got here?)

He's a good lookin' cowboy

I remember when I met Hopson.  We were on a double date with different people.  I thought he was quick witted and had awesome pecs.  After just meeting me once, he remembered my name.  He says he asked me out in late May/early June, and I stood him up, but I don't remember that at all.  My dad had passed away a few weeks before and I was going through the motions of life.  He left to go work as an advance man for older President Bush's reelection campaign, so I didn't hear from him for 6 months.  He came to Auburn to hang out for a few weeks before finals, and it just so happened his fraternity was having their annual Christmas party.

Our first date

So, December 3rd we had our first date.  He bought me finger bubble blowers.  I think I liked him from that moment.  He was well spoken, cute, rugged, oozed confidence, was (and is) very smart, and did I mention he had (and still has) a great chest?  The more I got to know him, the more I liked being with him.  We would meet-up on the Concourse and talk before & after class, or he would invite me to eat lunch with him at the fraternity house.  We would go out for cheap Chinese food and share an order.  It was fun flirting with him.  I wondered if there was anything he couldn't do.  I loved watching him work on his fraternity's spring party build project...shirtless.  Oh my! 

See what I mean, he didn't have to do anything, just smile at me.  Why don't I see him like that everyday?  Adult life & kids...romance killers.  So, what am I going to do about it?  I think I'll put on a little music, make sure the kiddos are out of the room, and just dance for a little while...

Y'all be blessed beyond measure,
~ashley

And who am I again?

A few days ago Hoppy was surfing around the internet (that really means he was looking at espn.com & sports blogs.) when he told me Harvey Updike, the guy who poisoned Auburn's 130  year old oaks, was released from jail.

I have so many different feelings about this man.  Surprisingly, I'm not angry at all, but I am sad for him on so many levels.

First, he has become a pariah.  People are distancing themselves from him.  Not just regular people, but also the University of Alabama.  He is even having a hard time finding an attorney.  Three different attorneys have asked to have themselves recused from the case.

Second, the team he loves is kissing it's across the state cousin to try to repair the family feud that had gotten so out of hand.  The SGAs from both Auburn and Alabama have planted sister trees on each campus in a show of standing together.  I think both of the schools have great friendly rivalries during the year to help different charities.  There are Bama groups on FaceBook that are raising money to help the Toomer's Corner trees.

Third, and I think most important, is Mr. Updike has placed football as a god in his life.  His hatred of Auburn is so deep he is going to be spending time in jail if he is found guilty.   Don't get me wrong, I love Auburn football, and this past season was magical, but it's a game.  Was I yelling during the game, absolutely.  Was I so happy about winning, you bet.  But, after the game was over, that was all it was, a game.

This year's (and probably forever) saying was 'AU Family, All In'.  Auburn is the sum total of her people, not just football, and  I don't love Auburn because of football, I love Auburn because of the memories I have there.  I'm a graduate, and it's home.

I do not like trashy fans.  I don't care if it's with my child's baseball team or my college team.  There is no room in sports for them.  They can ruin the ambiance of a really good time.  I love the Rick and Bubba Show, and they often talk about 'culling your nuts'.  I so agree with them.  It's time for all of us regular people to start helping our a little over the top brethren.  There are so many other things to be passionate about.

I know there are lots of pictures surfing around the internet of Mr. Updike in his Bama garb & then one of him in his prison orange, and there is also one of him with his grandchild.  These pictures break my heart.  You have a man whose anger for a team is so deep he decided to kill the trees that represent so much to that school.  What a wasted emotion.  I want him to pull for his team.  He can even pull against Auburn, I could understand that.  But this kind of bitterness & hatred must stop.  All over the internet I have read polar opposite opinions of the poisoning.  Some were very sad for Auburn & others said they were happy about what happened to a bunch of stupid trees.  I think the comments that upset me the most were the ones that were making comments about my school that know nothing about Auburn.

I don't care if you don't like my school.  I don't care if you think we are the biggest bunch of hicks in the state of Alabama.  But, what I will ask is that you not comment on what you don't understand.  My biggest hope is that Harvey Updike will hear the gospel of Jesus Christ during this time.  Only He can can set a man to right when he is on the wrong path.  He does it through His love, so Auburn family, are you still All In?  Can you forgive and forget?  Can you be the people the Lord has called us to be?  It's in our creed.  We are to:  "serve our fellow man by doing justly, loving mercy, and walking humbly with our God."  Can we do that?  Can we truly forgive him & reach out and share Jesus with him?  It's a hard thing, but when we set our minds to it, we can do anything!

Y'all be blessed beyond measure,
~Ashley

Knowing who I am

I know this may seem silly to a lot of people, but for me it's a good gut check, and it's my blog & I'll write what I want to, write what I want to, write what I want to.  I need some humor somewhere.

As many of you know, I am a 3rd generation graduate of Auburn University.  It is something I am very proud of, like anyone who has close family ties to a school.  I walked the same paths others in my family walked while at Auburn.  Some of you may say it's just about football, but those of you who are part of the fam. understand what I'm talking about.  It's driving into Auburn, no matter how old you are, and knowing you're home.

Part of that for me are the trees at Toomer's Corner.  We found out today that someone intentionally poisoned the trees, and they may not live.  Before you poopoo on what I'm saying, please know I'm not some tree hugger.  I believe God made us stewards of this earth & put us here to be "keepers of the garden".  It's not the trees themselves, it's what they represent.  The Toomer's trees are over 130 years old.  They have been a part of Auburn for a generations of students.  It feels like a little part of me is dying, because I am Auburn.  It's the tradition that surrounds the original trees that will be missed.

I like what the president of AU had to say:  "It is understandable to feel outrage in reaction to a malicious act of vandalism," Gogue said. "However, we should live up to the example we set in becoming national champions and the beliefs expressed in our Auburn Creed. Individuals act alone, not on behalf of anyone or any place, and all universities are vulnerable to and condemn such reprehensible acts."

I'm glad he mentioned the creed.  Did you know Auburn is the only school with one?  It was written in 1945 by George Petrie who was a professor.  It is our creed that helps to know who we are as Auburn men & women.  If you've never read it before, or love AU and know it's who you are I invite you to read it again:

"I believe that this is a practical world and that I can count only on what I earn. Therefore, I believe in work, hard work.
I believe in education, which gives me the knowledge to work wisely and trains my mind and my hands to work skillfully.
I believe in honesty and truthfulness, without which I cannot win the respect and confidence of my fellow men.
I believe in a sound mind, a sound body, and a spirit that is not afraid, and in clean sports that develop these qualities.
I believe in obedience to law because it protects the rights of all.
I believe in the human touch, which cultivates sympathy with my fellow men and mutual helpfulness and brings happiness for all.
I believe in my country, because it is a land of freedom and because it is my own home, and that I can best serve that country by "doing justly, loving mercy, and walking humbly with my God."
And because Auburn men and women believe in these things, I believe in Auburn and love it."

Two years ago, for Christmas, I bought Hopson & my brother, Cotton, Toomer's Corner seedlings.  I wrote Hopson a letter talking about our tree.  We met at Auburn, so that's where our story began.  Now more than ever that tree is so special to me, because not only does it represent our beginning, but it represents a place we love, and the trees that held such a coveted place in the hearts of the Auburn family. 

I hope they can save the trees, but it is a very sad day for all of us in the Auburn family.

Y'all be blessed beyond measure,
 ~ashley

Toomer's Corner after the BCS Win 2011

College, Roomates & Chicken

I had great roommates & neighbors in college.  We were friends in high school & are still friends today.  My freshman year at Auburn we all lived in the dorm. (shout out to dorm 9!) Our sophomore year moved into College Park II when it was brand new. I have so many wonderful memories of that time.

Kim, Monte, Malia & I would cook dinner & sit down together and eat & watch our soap or a movie together.  It was great, we were a little family.  Have you ever noticed how food brings people together & spreads happiness? 

There are two things that I always try to keep in my kitchen:  chicken & rice.  These 2 foods are so versatile, and so good for you.  A few months ago we accidental bought chicken tenders instead of chicken breasts, and I'll be honest, I like them so much more.  It's easier to control portion size, but still get lots of flavor.  We have to buy meat in bulk (2 teenage boys, 1 tween daughter & an 8 year old who eats like the 16 year old).  We plow through 2 pounds of any kind of meat in one sitting.  It's kinda scary, but at the same time, it makes a momma smile.

Momma's Chicken is one of the first recipes my mom gave me when I moved to Auburn.  I remember cooking it for my roommates.  It's so easy, but so tasty.  Even though it's chicken & rice you can really change the flavor by what you use to cook it with.  I made this for dinner last night & was out of one of the ingredients, so I improvised.  That's what's so great about Momma's Chicken.  I'm going to include the original recipe that came from my mom, the way I changed it the 1st time & then how I served it last night.  The versions I'm giving are the 'small' ones, so if you have big eaters, double it.

I'm so thankful for the memories I have from Auburn with my roommates.  We had a lot of laughter, a few tears, but tons of fun.  They mean the world to me! 

Be Blessed Beyond Measure,
~ashley

Momma's Chicken (original)

1 pound chicken breasts
1 cup rice
1 cup water
1 package Lipton onion soup
1 can cream of mushroom soup

Preheat oven to 350
Mix last 3 ingredients until well blended
Pour rice in the bottom of a baking dish
Wet the rice with some water
Place chicken on top of the rice
Pour all of liquid mixture on top of chicken
Cover with tinfoil & cook for 1 hour.


Momma's Chicken (1st tweak)

1 pound chicken breasts
1 cup rice
1 cup water
1 package Lipton onion soup
1 can golden mushroom soup

Preheat oven to 350
Mix last three ingredients until well blended
Pour rice in the bottom of the pan
We the rice with water
Place chicken on top of rice
Pour all liquid mixture on top of the chicken
Cover with tinfoil & cook for 1 hour.


Momma's Chicken (2nd tweak)

1 pound chicken breasts
1 cup rice
1 cup beef broth
1 cup sour cream
1 can golden mushroom soup

Preheat oven to 350
Mix last 3 ingredients until well blended
Pour rice in the bottom of the pan
Wet rice with water
Place chicken on top of the rice
Pour all of liquid mixture on top of the chicken
Cover with tinfoil & cook for 1 hour.