Answer Me This: Volume 9

This week's edition of Answer Me This from catholicallyear.com!

1. How did you get your name?

I'm pretty sure my parents just liked the sound of "Ashley." My mom said she thought it was beautiful and different. And then, a few years later, she realized that EVERYONE who had a girl in the late 80's named her Ashley. So there goes the "different". She wanted to name me Alexandra, but my dad said no -- too long. Then she wanted to name me Noelle, but my dad said no -- kids would make fun of me at Christmas (plus, my brother and I would be Nick and Noelle...even more Christmasy). 

My middle name, Lucia (pronounced Lew-sha), comes from my paternal grandmother's best friend, Sr. Lucia. I have never personally met Sr. Lucia, but I feel like I have a special connection with her, especially because I have a rosary she gave my grandmother (which was involved in a miracle that I will soon write about).

2. Do you have a set time for prayer in your day?

My Grandma's miracle rosary

Yes. I plan to write an entire post about this soon. I have found daily prayer to be the most important thing in my life. And since I'm an incredibly lazy person, I must devote a set time for it every day, or else it just won't happen. Daily prayer has been a very difficult thing for me to implement, because to be quite honest, most of the time I don't really want to pray. I'd rather be doing something else, like surfing the internet, or watching TV shows, or writing my blog. But it's like working out...you just have to do it. Regardless of how you feel that day.

I say a rosary every day. I do not give myself the option to skip, because if I do, then I won't say it. Usually, on weekdays, I get up at 5:30am with Trent, walk the dog by myself while he's getting ready for work, and say a rosary. I love this time of the morning...it's quiet, cool, and calm. Plus it's nice that I have a dog who is made for bitter cold mountain weather, so I can even do it in the winter mornings. Now that I'm not working outside the home, I also go to daily Mass with Elizabeth whenever possible. I feel extremely blessed that I have the opportunity to do this now, since I never could when I was working. 

If Trent is off, or if it's a weekend, I let myself sleep in. But when I get up in the morning, I figure out exactly when I will say my rosary. Usually, I plan to say it in the car. But if I don't plan, I know it won't happen.

Trent and I always pray together before we go to bed, too. It's short and sweet, because we are both typically exhausted and ready to go to sleep. We usually like to read a daily short Bible verse, and just meditate on it for a minute or so. It's nice to have quiet and just let Jesus talk to us in the stillness.

I'm struggling knowing that my prayer routine, which has worked really well for me, will soon totally change when the baby comes. But I know I'll figure it out.

3. Did your mom work or stay home (or both)?

She worked part time as a nurse. From what I remember, she typically worked 3 days a week. So it was nice because I got a good amount of time with her, but she was still able to keep up with her nursing job.

4. Do you vote?

Heck yes. I like Kendra's take on it: if you don't vote, you have no right to complain. I like to complain, so I vote. More seriously, though, I feel like it is such an honor to be able to vote and have a say in who runs our country. So I take it very seriously. And you should too!

5. What's your favorite drink?

Just posting this picture made me drool.
I'm being serious.

CHOCOLATE MILK. The real stuff. Not the regular-milk-mixed-with-Hershey's-Syrup nonsense. We have our milk delivered to our house every week, and I only allow myself one half gallon per week. Because if I had more, then it's probably all I would consume. You'd find me in a corner, rocking back and forth in the fetal position, glass in hand, muttering to myself about how "IT'S MINE...MY PRECIOUS...."

Oh wait, are we talking about alcohol? Because really, I don't like alcohol. It tastes terrible to me. I do love a good glass of red wine with dinner (and do still drink it occasionally during pregnancy). I feel badly for my beer connoisseur of a husband, because I just can't bring myself to like beer.

6. How are your photography skills?

Hahahaha. I like to think I can take pictures, but really, I can't. So I'm more of a utilitarian-type photographer. I get the job done...and I'm not really that artsy about it.

This is probably the most "artsy" picture I've ever taken.
It was during our honeymoon in Rome and the Mediterranean.