Saying "Yes"

For as long as I can remember, I have been looking forward to marriage. As soon as a wedding date was set, the countdown began and every day was another set closer to “the big moment”. The time in between was filled with decisions about tablecloths and décor and menus and attire, and just about the time every decision had been made, it was time for the wedding. Saying “yes” to a proposal and “yes” to caring for someone for my life was not hard for me to do.

Ashley SiderAugust 24, 2015

Embracing Transition

I once heard someone say that planning a wedding is a humbling experience, and I’ve never fully understood the weight of that statement until recently. The past few months have been a whirlwind of wrapping up jobs, planning wedding details, packing boxes, and celebrating…lots and lots of celebrating. Never in my life have I felt so many transitions taking place all at the same time. And never in my life have I felt so supported and celebrated and seen. I have felt as if my needs were being met even before I recognized I had them. It’s been unreal and incredibly humbling.

Ashley SiderJune 8, 2015

How a Puppy is Teaching Me About God

Sometimes I pride myself in having a degree in Christian ministries or having several years of experience working in churches, yet nothing has deepened my knowledge of God quite like taking care of a puppy. This experience has reinforced the reality that I still have so so much to learn.

We got her a week after Christmas. It was a bit of an impulsive move on the Ober’s part. We aren’t typically known for being the spontaneous family that goes out and makes crazy decisions like “we should get a puppy”. Nevertheless, it happened and a week after Christmas we found ourselves driving to an amish farm, in the darkness of night, picking up a little furball.

Ashley SiderJanuary 28, 2015

Catching a Second Wind

Researchers call it compassion fatigue or secondary traumatic stress (STS). It can be noticed by a lessoning of compassion, usually a result from being repeatedly exposed to trauma. You can notice it when you read an article about Nigerian girls or people dying from Ebola, or the worsening condition in the Middle East and notice those things no longer wrench your heart.

Compassion fatigue.

Ashley SiderSeptember 20, 2014

Fiancé

I always thought I would see it coming. I’m pretty perceptive and can usually pick up on social cues. However, little did I know that the last time I crossed the border into Canada, would be the last time that I drove to go visit my boyfriend.

Because last night we got engaged. For reals, for reals, engaged.

So I no longer have a boyfriend, I have a fiancé.

Ashley SiderAugust 18, 2014