When we went up to visit in November I was reminded of how similar we are. When she asked me if I wanted to wake up at 5:30 and go exercise I was all In! When she came down to visit us for Thanksgiving and I asked her if she wanted to go play basketball the night before Thanksgiving at 9 PM at night she was all in!
I reached out to her mom and sister to get more inspiration and it really did sound similar to descriptions of me growing up!
"She was determined in anything she tried .... She was elected student body president of her elementary school. Using a little machine she made hundreds of buttons using the slogan, “Cash needs Ash” which took her campaign over the top. She loved soccer and basketball and was very aggressive on the field and court. She was sort of tomboyish, never into makeup or fashion. Always had her hair pulled back in a pony tail."
"Ashley is determined and a problem solver...when she was just barely crawling my mom notes how if she got in a jam (like stuck under the table or something) she would persevere and keep trying until she got out of the jam...while Suz and I would just stop and cry when we were her age and in the same situation. She has been like that her whole life - a doer, a hard worker, a problem solver. She is determined and will persevere in the face of a challenge."
"Ashley has also always had a tender heart to those less fortunate. I have seen that throughout her life, but especially noticed how patient and compassionate she was as she helped women who were struggling when she served as RS Pres. She could talk freely with me as I was not in her ward/stake, but she always spoke with such kindness about those who needed help, even if their circumstances were a result of their own poor decisions. I love her Christlike compassion."To follow Ashley‘s example I decided to try to up my game in my calling as a primary teacher. I really love my calling. I love the lessons and I love my primary kids. As I was unpacking my Christmas decorations this year I found a Christmas ornament that one of Hadley‘s old teachers had made for their primary class. It was so fun to look at the picture from a few years ago and see how all of those kids had grown so much. I decided to embrace that and apply it to how I can improve in my calling and using my pretty terrible craft skills I attempted to make ornaments for each of my primary class. Although they didn’t turn out as perfect as I would have liked I hope each of my students will love it.
Ashley my dear sister. I hope you know how much I truly love you. I am so grateful to have you as a sister but more important to have you as a friend. I get so excited every time I see a Marco Polo from you. I love knowing that I can laugh with you cry with you be uplifted spiritually with you and learn and grow from you.
Since I was just a cardboard cut out at your wedding, the only thing I knew about my new sister-in-law when I was on my mission was she was a gorgeous brunette with long brown curls (based on wedding pictures) that made my brother so extremely happy! I had no idea at the time that we had so much in common and would become dear friends.
The last thing I channeled my inner Ashley for was helping my husband with his Christmas service. This year at Thanksgiving my heart exploded with joy attending a temple session with Chuck and Ashley as the witness couple. This year I have recognized their efforts to support each other in recognizing things they can improve and also looking for ways they can support each other better.
As Michael and I prayed about our Christmas services, I felt very strongly that part of my service was to support my husband in getting his done. We felt Ryan very strongly in our home as we worked on the video. I loved feeling the power of our brother in our home, reminding us how much he loves his daughters and reminding us of the truthfulness that all of us are an eternal family. It reminded my once again that there is no such thing as "in-laws" in heaven.
Ashley, I am grateful to be your eternal sister!
Love me
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