The Glitterie! (Christina Gibbs)

July 12, 2014

A few years back Christina and I came across The Glitterie, a locally owned crafting store, when we were browsing Craigslist. Tonya, the owner, was hosting a weekend crop at a local hotel so Christina and I along with another friend booked a room and scrapbooked a whole weekend away. Both of them were pregnant and I was nursing so we were a mess that weekend. We paid all this money to have a weekend to craft and Im pretty sure we were more excited to go to bed early and take frequent naps!
 Flash forward a couple of years and I happened to see that The Glitterie was hosting a 12 hour crop on a Saturday at the store in Beech Grove. It was a day I had nothing else planned and I also hadn't seen Christina in quite a long time so we booked our spots and were able to preserve memories in books all while making new ones :) 

I have known Christina for years and years (about 11 to be exact). She and I came to know each other when we were both working at Hancock Regional Hospital Home Health. She worked days and I worked nights but we cared for the same patients. We each heard about each other from them and then one day we actually met at the office and had an ahh haa moment. It didnt take long for each of us to figure out that we were both avid scrapbookers. Im not sure how it all started but we ended up doing Sunday crops at each others houses. Over the years we have both gotten married and had kids, we are both short on time to craft but we still love scrapbooking. It gets overwhelming now with kids to keep everything organized and to find the time to actually sit and archive the things that we want. I have gone through my books and realized that Ive actually scrapbooked things more than once. Its extremely annoying AHHH! I used to be so anal about how pages looked and how things had to be in chronological order. Now Im like the hell with it. Just put the pics in a book before someone poops, throws up or eats it! Its one of the hobbies that I dont have much time to do anymore but I still love. I also love the times that I have spent with Christina. I hope that once our kids get a little older and our mommy worlds calm down we will be able to have many of days/evenings where we can meet up, catch up, and scrapbook the crazy days we are currently living!

Thanks Christina for being a close friend and for encouraging me to take the time to remember all the good times. I love this pic of us by the way. Who needs make up, showers, or decent attire! Lets just go cut some pics up and glue them on paper in a basement. Its all good! 

Pre-Surgery visit (Amanda Britton)

July 5, 2014 

The kids and I went over to Amanda's to take her family some chicken salad. Amanda was scheduled to have bariatric surgery and I wanted to do something for her. Unfortunately, a meal wasn't something that would benefit her but her family would be needing to eat while they helped her recoup so I made up a batch and took it to her few days before the surgery. 

I first met Amanda last summer when she posted on a Facebook yard sale site that she had some free craft items that she was getting rid of. I loaded up the kids and headed to her house. (Im not saying its totally safe to just show up at a strangers house that you met online but if they are giving away craft supplies its totally worth the risk!) Upon arriving I found out that she had recently had a son, Caden. He is such a little cutie. I also learned that she was a daycare provider at a local facility. We started talking about how hard motherhood was and she was talking about how it was particularly hard for her because her husband was gone for work long hours and his schedule was unpredictable. (??? Sound familiar) by this point I'm very curious so I have to ask where her husband works. He's an installer for ATT. HA! This was the shocker of the week I'm sure. I also found out he actually works at the same place as Luke's brother, Matt. He was actually trained by him. It's a small world after all! 

So after leaving with my free craft loot we became facebook friends and I have been following her weight loss journey in her private group that she has is the admin on. She stated a few months back that she had decided to have bariatric surgery. Since going through the surgery just two week ago she has already lost a total of 37 lbs! Congratulations Amanda. I wish you the best on your journey and I hope that if you ever need a walking buddy that you call me up. :) 

Me and Amanda a few days post op 

Caden with Hazel and Aspen 

Hey Bidder Bidder! aka The Amish Auction (Kyle Lomax aka Poppi)

June 20th, 2014

Kyle is Luke's father and my father in law. He and my mother in law own Buck Creek Farms a bed and breakfast on the southeast side of Indianapolis. Last summer, they decided to add a farmers market to their business. Twice a week they go to Centerville, Indiana aka Amish Country to bid on and purchase their product to sell locally. I only had to ask for about a year and then he finally called to set a date for me to go with him. I was pumped. 

Now you see going to an auction on a Friday was some serious business for me. I had to first off get up early and get two kids out of the house which is definitely not my strong point and secondly, I was missing out on all the good garage sales! But I sucked it up and saved my quarters and spent some dollars at the Amish auction! 

I came to the conclusion during this trip that this was the longest amount of time that I have ever spent with my father in law. We had some quality time to chat about family members and of course Luke. He disclosed to me that he was worried in the beginning of our relationship because I seemed to have my life together and he had no idea why someone like me would want to be with Luke. Then after only meeting me a few times we disclosed we were getting married and a few months after that we announced we were expecting a baby. He was thrown for a loop! Luckily, five years of us being together,  four years of marriage and two grand kids later he realizes we are perfect for each. Its true. Luke is the ying to my yang. 

During our little day trip I lost count of how many times Kyle said, "You are just like Mary." Its kind of funny because Luke says the same thing to me, "You are just like my mom!" Just because neither of us sits still and we both put up with Lomax men and their shenanigans makes us alike I guess.   

I didn't bid at the auction but I was able to buy asparagus, squash and zucchini off the retail table that they had there. The auction was fun and spending time with my father in law was a joy but the highlight of the auction was the fish sandwich that I had from the Amish food cart! Wow. It was so good. I'm not sure if it was the fresh veggies that they put on it or the fact that it had Colby jack cheese but I was a fan for sure. 

After the auction Kyle told me he had to pick up some pig that he ordered in St. Paul. Ok, no big deal, lets go pick up some pig. Then we go out into the middle of no where down a gravel road and then pull up to a butcher place that I swear looks straight up like its out of a scary movie! I could smell death as soon as I got out of the truck. I guess the look on my face said it all because he told me I could just stay in the truck. Umm, hell no! I was waiting for some guy in a hockey mask to come out from around a corner. I guess the severity of the statement, "we have to go pick up a pig" didn't hit me until I was actually there. Earth to Ashley things die here! Im glad we got there when we did because the owner told us they had just gotten done with the slaughtering and were just about to clean stuff up. Would we like a tour he asked? Nope! Im good! HA! Thanks for the offer. 

In conclusion, Kyle thanks for taking me to visit your Amish friends and showing me a part of your business. Also thanks for being such a great father in law and grandfather. Let me know when you need an auction side kick again. 

For more information about the farmers market and Buck Creek Farms visit 

www.buckcreekfarm.com 

or like them on Facebook to get updates in your newsfeed.

Two Double Dates (Adam Buckley)

May 3, 2014 and June 28, 2014

I know Adam Buckley through Luke because he and Luke have been best friends since Jr. High.  Adam was one of the groomsman in our wedding four years ago and Luke was the Best Man in Adam's wedding last summer. He and Luke have many stories that they share when they get together and Im sure they have many more memories that neither of them actually remember. Adam is a very special person to my husband. I believe he had quite the influence on shaping Luke into the person that he is today. So Adam I would like to thank you for having such an impact on Luke's life. The two of you may have had crazy pasts and made some not so great choices in your youthful days but you have managed to shape up and become great husbands and fathers. Congrats. 

Here are some pictures and details about some recent double dates that Luke and I have been on with Adam and his wife Jennifer, on May 3, Luke decided to plan a double date for both of us couples to celebrate me completing the 500 Mini Marathon. This was a fantastic idea. I had just completed my first half marathon. Who doesn't want to go out to dinner and drink and dance late into the night after walking 14 or so miles? Ha. It was fine but I was so tired. 

Adam and wife Jennifer! 

Me and Jennifer out on the town

 Before I was able to blog about the mini marathon celebration another double date was planned. On June 28th the four of us went to the Journey/Steve Miller concert. The concert was good but I decided before it started that I wasnt going to drink because somebody was going to have to pick up our kids and Luke and Adam had already finished off a bottle of Crown Royal. I was still having some issues related to drinking as a result of Luke's 30th birthday. I was not ready to even smell alcohol. Jennifer and I went to the bathroom and couldnt find the boys among the 60000 or so people. That may be a sign my age, I got lost at a concert sober. :(

So to sum up the concert experience we got to have a date night but Luke drank his weight in booze and I got to corral and make sure he behaved himself as he took pictures and decided to be friends with a large percentage of the other concert goers. I can at least always count on him for a good laugh when alcohol is involved. At one point he took a picture with a guy in a batman shirt because he really liked the shirt.

In conclusion, Id just like to again thank Adam for being a good friend to Luke. In our lives many people come and go but only a few special ones will stick around for a lifetime. I believe you two will indeed be lifelong friends.