without a trace

I find it completely mind consuming that certain people in my life have just been completely erased from the scene in my life. With social networking and technology these days, you'd think it'd be easier to keep in touch than for someone to just "dissappear".
Let me explain to particular instances.
1. a friend from NC that I was great friends with since junior high just disappeared. This loss of communication isn't new with him, but with all of the factors that were considered, I accepted those as just busy time. He was a marine and recently ended his career there. He was married and now has a baby boy. By nature, I like to check in with friends to be sure they are well and keep up with the times. We typically didn't speak for months, often years, at a time. Since he had been deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq on different tours. I would randomly search his name, to make sure the "no news is good news" rang true. I was able to catch up with him just around the time his son was born. Then kept up on facebook for a couple months, then POOF! Gone. I sent him a Hello via phone and nothing. Then it appeared that he deleted his facebook. Okay, facebook isn't for everyone. When talking with our fellow middle school friends he comes up since he was in our circle. Searched him again today, nothing. Search his wife, there she was with a profile pic of all 3 of them. Married to: a code name, 100 percent sure it was him, with none of his friends that he had on his original facebook page. Is that a sign that he isn't wanting to be found. Point taken.
2. Girldfriend from work (previous employer). We were super close and she was there for the birth of Mason. So was a breath of fresh air and always so sweet and true. She disappeared after I found out I was pregnant with Benjamin. POOF! I tried contacting her on myspace (only form of communication since she had changed her number) I didn't want her to think I was phasing her out or anything, wanted to make sure I was putting in my effort. Just gone. Tried sending her a request as to why she wasnt responding to any of my inquiries. You have to keep in mind, I'm not the "stalker" type. We were super close, she even did my make up for my wedding. Since I was already on the search for friend number 1 who vanished, I figured I would search her to. There she was, tempted to message her, I didn't. We didn't have a falling out or anything of the sort, that's why these disappearing acts are so strange to me. Since she hadn't responded before, why would she now? Point taken. 
Anyone have any ideas as to why people vanish like this? Personally I think the more connections you have in life, the more meaningful and fulfilling. Has anyone else had this happen, without a word? Is it strange that I keep checking in on these long lost friends?

Visit with Santa

Mason was so excited to tell Santa exactly what he wanted for Christmas! Benjamin went right along with it and just smiled.

Thankfullness

Adding our family pics... Do I really need to tell you why I should be thankful? :)
See for yourself!!!

I am.

I am.

I am Ashley Lloyd

I am a mother of 2 boys.

I am a wife, sister, daughter, aunt, cousin and friend.

I am a believer.

I am a teacher.

I am open to change.

I am an optimist.

I am a lifetime student.

I am easy going.

I am a movie go-er and book reader.

I am a baker.

I am a crafter.

I am a lover of children.

I am persistent and consistent.

I am a history buff, or like to think so.

I am a sports fan.

I am a listener.

I am a Sinatra-Buble’ kinda girl.

I am a do’er not a sitter.

I am a guide.

I am a now and not later.

I am a mother.

I am a teacher.

I am Ashley Lloyd

Halloween and Inbetween!

Start off with some Halloween Pictures! The boys were Batman and Robin and we went trick or treating with one of our coolest 3 year old friends, Ethan Howard, "I'm Leonardo, THANK YOU!"

Then Mommy and Daddy had some "adult" fun and went as "Walmartians" :)

the boys helping pick out the pumpkins! They were so excited! :)

and now... Ill be doing a lot of this....

I have an obsession with Pumpkin ANYTHING! Tis' the season!!

GRATEFULS....

1. My wonderful husband and loving boys.

2. For my "Intro to ELL" class being OVER! so tough, but its done! Now time to focus on my other classes as they wind down.

3. Amazing family and friends, YOU GUYS ROCK!

Lesson:

This video is amazing, I posted it to Facebook and Twitter, but it is truly inspiring, remember these boys are in high school, yet are more mature than a lot of adults in this world.

Two Cleveland Wrestlers Successful Struggle

a whole month!

A whole month!
I cant even believe its been exactly a month since I have updated!! So much for daily gratefuls!
Well. What can I say?!?! My new job has had me on my feet, THANK GOD!, and Im pretty sure my brain hasn't turned off since my last post. My 5th class started on the 20th of September... and my class that has been kicking my butt is coming near to its end. I couldnt be happier! This class has been something else! Good, but just oobles more than one should have to have on top of 12 other credits!
Haven't looked at my last post, but Im pretty sure I want saying how grateful I was to have my husband! Well, I echo that 1000 fold! He has been so strong and needs some serious RnR for himself.  Tough being a single caregiver, kudos to you single parents out there!!

Sunday was the walk for the cure. Trekkin for Tata's! www.trekkinfortatas.com or www.diaryofamadwhitecancerpatient.com Patti's Blog. Read it! She has had an amazing past couple weeks. Can I say coin toss for the Cards Saints game?!!??! What what? OH and meeting Fitz! AAhhhh!!


My boys, they are getting so big!! Ben is going on the potty randomly, just wish I could be as diligent as I was with Mason and we would be diaperless in no time! FOREVER!!!
Mason, my man is writing his name!!! writing it!

Well, there are some tidbits, Im not even going to lie and say Ill update soon, WHO KNOWS! Its October and my schedule usually never stops until April.
Ill be sure to update on Halloween fun!!

Let me mention the AMAZING ladies at WMG. I can't begin to say how "at home" I feel.

9.13.10

Recap!!

Okay. Started new job today. LOVE the change. Have some questions, but still grasping on who to direct them to.

School, Getting tough, but I have AMAZING support.

ME - walked around the MCC Dobson campus for 15 minutes in the dark looking for the rental. Yeah. That was not fun and I may have panicked inside, a little, okay a lot.

Gratefuls
1. Some great people at the new place, some overly heart warming, some not so much.. BUT everyone is different.

2. Cash to get my self some food on this long long long Monday.

3. Thankful for my husband x 1000000 this morning. The jeep wouldn't start (first day at new job, taking jeep into the dealership for repairs, did I mention first day at new job?) He was there to charge up the battery for me, THANK GOODNESS! He is one great kid I tell ya.

4. Oh and another shout out to my Father in Law switching my tire because my husband was under the weather! Thanks grumpa.

Lesson:
Sometimes when you are just worn out, you wonder why you signed up for whatever task you took on, then you get home find your oldest boy in bed with a picture of you and him, fast asleep, and checking what he did at school today and his name scrawled across the top. We worked on his name last night, although at the time I didn't think he was really taking anything in, he surely was because he did his "A" and precisely the way I explained. Love.