Why I Love Ashley.

Ashley Stanton is one of a kind.

She has been making me laugh since 3rd grade. We went to Camp 89er Village together (Go Pink Panthers!). We were part of a Candy Crew in middle school together. Being on drill team together brought us even closer. 

After making her way out of the trash can.
(Jessica Moore literally ROFL)

Left and Right End! Represent!

Ashley is so silly and yet, is one of the most contemplative friends I have. She has always been a great role model for me. My mom always felt good knowing I was going over to the Stanton house. On Monday nights in high school, I would go to the Stanton home for dinner, then go to Young Life with Ash at 7:47. I remember how happy I was in those days!! Life was simple.

Jordan, Ross, James, Matt, Justin, Ash, Me, and Sean, at Young Life. 

Ashley is still very active in her church. She's a girl who not only talks the talk...still, at 24 years old, she walks the walk...

We always had fun wrestling and spitting on one another. Real mature.

Roadtrips to the lakehouse!

Despite being a very "good girl," Ashley is always up for innocent mischief. Like, say, sneaking a "free to good home" dog in the backseat of her dad's car. And waiting until he slowly turned his head and said, "Put it back. Put it back." LONG LIVE, LANA FAE!!

One of my favorite things about Ashley is that we don't have to be drinking to have a good time. We can be playing games and it might be the best night we've had in months.

        

My favorite childhood and high school memories involve THIS GIRL. She was (and is) absolutely essential to forming who I am today. So much of my teenage identity was wrapped up in what we were doing, what we thought or felt. I still value her opinions, thoughts, and feelings, so much. 

We graduated! And the two of us moved up to Oklahoma. Though we didn't spend much time together in college, it was comforting knowing a familiar face as only a 45 minute drive away. Ashley went to OC and I went to OU. This was our high school graduation night. 

When I moved back to Texas, Ashley and I picked right up where we left off. About a month ago, she came over on a Friday night, and the two of us talked for hours. My favorite attribute about Ashley, and what I think is SO RARE (I've never met anybody like her), is that she clings tightly to her Church of Christ religion, yet not so tightly she excludes others. A lot of people assume that somebody who attends church twice a week, takes the message from the Bible literally, and lives out her values on a daily basis, would be judgmental, or close-minded. Not Ashley. Her whole family is similar in this aspect; they have very strong beliefs, and their actions live up to their beliefs...but I can have an honest conversation about what I think or feel (which might be different than what she thinks or feels) and I don't feel like she's going to try to change my mind about it or judge me for thinking differently. She is a beautiful example of what a southern Christian woman SHOULD be. She talks the talk. She walks the walk. And yet she'll never judge the path anybody else takes. Mrs. Stanton, you ought to be proud. You raised an amazing woman! And I love her to death!!!!