*bliss in birmingham*

there are times in life
when i feel like the Lord just reaches right on through
the heart & hands of a friend~
a new friend
someone you've never spoken to on the phone
you've never met for lunch or coffee
much less crashed in their home for 3 days
& loves you,
blesses you
& blows you away!

that's what meeting ashley eiler was for me!

a few months ago ashley invited me to come for a weekend, all expenses paid,
at her home
along with 9 other women
many of whom work for her
none of who i had ever met...
& did i already mention , much younger than i....oh boy

look at this girl
everyone needs an ashley in their life!
& i'm so thankful she's in mine!

so i packed up the suburban
my respectable new cell phone
since i was meeting THE darbs and all
i surely couldn't have a flip phone
{so
turns out someone else showed up with a flip phone....& an antenna. but her secrets good with me!}
grabbed my camera
left my insecurity at home
sucked it up
got over myself
stepped way out of my comfort zone
& hit the road
driving the speed limit
snore
being that my fine is due this month for my previous pullover...ugh
see here's proof...70 mph
although this shot taken by said cell phone probably was not the smartest maneuver to attempt with an 18wheeler next to me

ashley has a shop in a super cute (i expected nothing less) development called Mt Laurel
we all met up for dinner at a fabulous restaurant
'a stones throw'
i will forever think of these precious girls each time i order shrimp & grits!

you know how awkward things like this could be
nope
not at all
honestly, i felt instantly like i'd already known all these ladies
each one was beautiful, and so warm and friendly
dang, why do i feel like i might just start to cry?


we then headed back to ashley's beautiful home
is her kitchen the cutest or what?
& anybody who slaps a ginormous monogram on every kitchen towel is AOK by me!

she passed out happies for everyone

beachbags LOADED with more treasures

i'm serious when i tell you that i was blown away by this girl

& the weekend was only just beginning

thank you lindsay for great camera straps!!

i've always wanted one!

one of the things in our beach bag

was these pink tshirts

we all wore them to ashley's church sunday

& speaking of blown away

this church is living their testimonies & convictions in a powerful way

i think about 40sh couples/families are moving into the rougher parts of b'ham to be the hands & feet of jesus, loving on those who need it most

i think approximately 160 families have or are in the process of adopting .... 160 families!

i've never seen a church truly walk it out like they are!

i think its safe to say we were all star struck meeting darby

darby can do it all

cook, sew, entertain, & love on those precious babies like no one's business

she is big fun & truly has a joyful spirit

i love how she shares her faith & inspires me to be a better mom through her writing

{even though she was born the year i started 9th grade....uh ....yeah}

a quick peek into ashley's shop "Favorite Laundry"

ashley is the creator & founder of Blessed Be the Name children's clothing. what a beautiful line, wonderful fabrics, & very well made. the cutest cutest clothes. i highly recommend! sorry i'm all over the lot here

but let me get back to saturday
we were all treated to a morning at the spa
one hour facials
30 minute massage
or was it one hour facials AND one hour massage?
5 minutes or 5 hours....it was heaven
then onto fabulous pedicures
later we were fed ceasar salads from california kitchen
while we all sat around in our robes
hungover from the incredible treatments!

we were then treated to a photography workshop
with susanne king....fabulous photographer & an excellent teacher
i will never shoot in automatic again, pinkie promise

did i fail to mention that we were getting pounded with rain
major rain
thus making the treck from the spa to the studio
all gussied up for our shoot a little tricky
but after a few bottles of champagne were opened

there was even more laughter
& proof that ashley is super tiny
cuz here she is sporting a size 2t tutu

a few more shots of the goody bag....i was trying to play around with

drum roll....aperture!

another lens strap, you too can order one from ashley!




i'm sure i'm leaving something out

despite the fact that this post has already reached an epic status

but i just want to say to each of the girls that was there, ya'll are wonderful. beautiful. talented. super moms. who certaily do not wear mom jeans. can rock a photoshoot. & made me feel so welcome & part of the group. i am blessed & honored to call each of you friend!

ashley

you are the real deal , girl.

you are true. hip. colorful. generous. crazy. sharp. beautiful. passionate. caring. warm. lover of jesus. fabulous. black toenails. leather bracelets & funky rings. hostess extraordinaire. casual & comfy. creative. artsy.whiteteeth. fun mama. authentic.

you're just awesome

i loved your cute little self the moment i hugged you.

i pray we will be friends forever

thank you for taking a chance on me

& for making me feel special

thank you for everything you did

everything you said

every gift you gave

every detail you tended to

every meal you fed

every splurge you lavished

e.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.g.

words aren't enough

YOU

ARE

LOVED

MWAH!!!!

{ps--thanks for letting me use some of ya'll pics...darby, ashley, lindsay, & susanne.

they each have fabulous blogs as does Shelly, Sarah & Amelia!}

{pss.i apologize for whacking a couple of you out of the photos...ugh..i'm so sorry. hope to get back on & edit but for now,my washer just died...so i gotta run.

hey, maybe purex will pick up the repair tab since they retweeted my tweet on how fabulously their product took all, ALL, the coffee out of my white slipcovers! snort}