Day 24 and Day 25!

This gift was so much fun to open! I am going to have a video blog to show you all what fun I had, but I haven't had a chance to upload that yet. So, you have to stay in suspense until then! How will you ever survive?!

My letter, or should I say letters, were from my parents. I have had such a wonderfully blessed life, but by far one of my greatest blessings was the foundation my parents gave me. From living a life anchored in Christ to giving of yourself to others, they helped instill such important values in me.

Day 25 was a real surprise! My letter was from my good friend Josh. Josh has the distinct honor and privilege of being married to Tami, who has been creating each page of this special book. I don't exactly recall when I first met Josh, but I am sure that it was one of his first visits to Houston to see Tami. I have had the honor of being a part of Josh and Tami's wedding, meeting their daughter the day she was born, and just living life with them.

Perhaps the thing I love most about Josh is his honesty. Upon first meeting him, and getting to know him, it might have been the thing I disliked the most but know I truly admire and appreciate it. He calls it like it is, whether it is "a good time" or "the right way" to say something are not huge factors in his thinking. His honesty has challenged me on numerous occasions to dig deeper into my beliefs about God, His word, His people, and my own values and priorities. For that, I am incredibly thankful.

He stinks at his choice of sports teams to follow, but I guess I will give him a pass since he sure knew how to pick a wife!

Thanks, Josh, so very much!

Day 23...

Day 23 was so much fun!

Aside from my Rockin' Tour, I got to see Jennifer Knapp in concert, with some pretty great friends and Amy's icecream too! It was technically what Amber wanted to do for her birthday, but I consider all celebrating that occurred during the 30 Rock Tour to be in honor of my birthday! :)

Day 23's gift was a beautiful, hand-painted "A" frame. It is perfect. Such a wonderfully thoughtful and unique gift. It captures my feminine side with absolute perfection! I think it is one of the things that has made each gift so incredibly meaningful to me, the way they demonstrate my friends love and knowledge of me so clearly.

And my letter was from my great friend, Susan! I met Susan in 2003, but it certainly seems like I have known her most of my life. If you are lucky, at some point in your life, you will encounter a friend (or a couple of friends!) who is a true kindred spirit. Someone with whom you can lounge in your PJ's with, share a hotel room with, stay up past midnight watching Survivor, or go to the movies and laugh at all the same things.... Friendship with a kindred spirit happens so naturally, so quickly, and gives you such comfort.

My prayer is that each of you have experienced a friendship with someone who is a true kindred spirit.

Day 22!

Day 22...

The letter yesterday was from my grandparents, Ma and Bob. Today's letter was from my grandmother, Gma Betty. I am so thankful to have these special treasures in my book, and even more thankful that I have lived 30 years of life with such wonderful, loving grandparents being a part of my life.

Today I opened some playing cards shaped like a bunny! They are so cute! There was a good long stretch of time where we (coffee girls) would gather almost weekly to play cards and drink coffee. We don't get to do that nearly enough anymore, but we sure do love the chance to play games together. And I love the chance to play games of "chance" together!

Can you believe you have been following this crazy 30 Rock Tour for 3 weeks now?

Thanks to everyone who has come up to me and mentioned you were reading along....feel free to comment too!

Day 21...

Day 21 is brought to you by Cracker Barrel, and one of the cutest little girls ever!

Why I thought it would be "such a good idea" to film this little video at a loud restaurant, with a two year old, and AFTER we had just reminded our waitress we were waiting on biscuits, is beyond me!

But you people seemed to like the scissor video, so I simply had to include it!

Untitled from Ashlee Liddell on Vimeo.

And yes, I had a two year old unwrap a piece of paper. :)

Day 20...

One thing I have loved about blogging through my 30 Rock Tour, is that I have a record of these 30 Days to look back on and remember all the love showered upon me during this tour.

That being said, Day 19 held a birthday surprise that wasn't in the big box on my kitchen table! My dear friend Susan took me to dinner at the Melting Pot! What an incredible treat! I had been to the Melting Pot before, but only for dessert-not a full FOUR course meal! It was a wonderful experience and, as always, great conversation. Thank you Susan for helping to make my birthday so special this year!

One Day 20 my Little Letter was from Addison, Tami and Josh's daughter. I can still remember the night she was born, and the way her arrival changed her Daddy instantly. Tami and I have known each other since childhood, and having the privilege of also sharing a relationship with her daughter is extra sweet.

The neat thing about Addison's letter was that I actually was with her when I opened it! What a special memory! (Addison's Mom is also the dear friend of mine who is putting all these beautiful pages together. I wish I could show you all how beautiful they are....)

On Day 20 I also opened up some recipe cards and a cute notepad! Who doesn't need recipe cards? What a wonderful gift! I also would like to report that I have been writing almost everything lately with my SHARPIE PENS! You have got to try these things- they are amazing!

Day 20- what a wonderful day!

Ashlee Scissorhands...

Ashlee Scissorhands from Ashlee Liddell on Vimeo.

Yes, I did in fact "secure" my scissors as well as an innocent co-worker's scissors, to ensure that we lose no more pairs of scissors. Death toll for adult scissors in the last six months: 6. This called for serious action....

What goes missing at your work place?

Day 19

Well, don't look now, but day 19 is actually being posted on its correct day!

Today I opened a card from one of my favorite "A" girls- Alaina! She colored the front of my card pink, and wrote, "Happy Birthday Ashlee." On the inside she drew a picture of the two of us, and on the other side of the card she wrote this message:

I love Ashlee because she's silly and because she's Ashlee and I think that's great.

On the back of the card she wrote; From Alaina and Pinky Ashlee Unicorn.

Who is Pinky Ashlee Unicorn, you ask?

Well, let me tell you a story. For Jadyn's 4th birthday I asked her if she wanted to have a special day with me instead of a birthday present at her party, and she took me up on that offer! We went to lunch at the place of her choosing, to Toys R Us to pick out a toy, and just had a fun day just the two of us. Well, for Alaina's 6th birthday that same year, I made her the same offer. She declined.

For Jadyn's 5th birthday she was already planning her special day with me before I even asked her about it! That meant Alaina had to watch Jadyn get two special days with me before ever choosing to have her own. Well, this year, for Alaina's 7th birthday she took me up on the offer to have a special day with me. Her selection for her birthday gift was a unicorn, that happens to be pink.

After we had purchased her unicorn, and we were driving to lunch, I asked her what she was going to name her unicorn. She thought about it for quite awhile. While she was thinking I suggested to her that a great name for her unicorn would be Ashlee! She was having NONE of that! At lunch she declared her unicorn's name to be, Pinky Ashlee Unicorn.

Can she really be seven? I still remember taking her places when she was a baby and how people would just stop and stare at her, all remarking how beautiful she was. What joy she has added to my life over the past seven years...

I have no idea how many "little letters" will be in my special book, but there are lots of "little ones" who have stolen my heart!

My gift today was a hot pink beach towel! Just what I need- more hot pink! I did a little bit of shopping today for my big birthday bash, and I am so happy to be able to have some of my favorite people all together for a special night of fun!

So, what is the best thing that happened to you today?

Day 18...

Oh my! Day 18 threw me a curve ball...

My envelope had two pages, and the first one said, "Little Letters" and had an envelope from Princess Jadyn! The other page had lots of pictures with me and some of my favorite children on the planet....oh the tears were rolling before I ever opened Jadyn's masterpiece creation!

One of the things that I love so dearly about each of the friends who have put this 30 Rock Tour together for me is the role they let me play in their children's lives. I love and cherish each child, and the unique relationship that is forming with them as each day passes. They bring so much love into my life. I can't wait to see what God has in store for their precious lives, as I know He has already used each one of them to teach me different things.

One of my favorite picture of Jadyn and I was also included on the picture page. It was the night she first had icecream. I love that it was me who gave it to her! (Even if her mother didn't at the time...) I love that I can remember her precious face, and remember her falling asleep in my arms that night, and that I really don't remember much about the game. What a wonderful memory!

Day 18's gift was a snack box from Heidi. It was full of special snacks, as well as recipes for some of her favorite snacks! What a creative and wonderful idea. Can't wait to try some of her recipes! Thanks, friend!

And, for a bit of 30 Rock Riddles for each of you..... Now that I can see the bottom of this huge box of presents, I was trying to put them in order and such and realized that there is NO #30.... hmmmmm. What could that mean? Any guesses?!?

Day 16 and 17...

I know, I know...late again!

Day 16 was one of those days where I absolutely needed to hear from the person who wrote my letter. It has a long, hard, rough week in ministry for me. To be real honest, I was operating on fumes by Friday. And Friday morning, I opened letter 16, and it was from Greg Garcia, my boss. His words were just the reminder and encouragement I needed to hear to finish out the week, and weekend.

I don't actually recall when I first met Greg, but I do recall the exact date of our first real conversation. It was October 5, 2004, exactly one year from when I had resigned from my last church position. He asked me to take a risk and join another church planting team. On paper I was agreeing to walk right into the same situation I had left a year ago, just a different place and different people. Taking that risk has been one of the best decisions I have ever made!

Greg has been an incredible mentor, gently constantly pushing me to grow in my personal and professional life. I cherish his friendship, his family, and his Godly example of servant leadership more than words could ever express.

My gift on day 16 was a bright and cheerfully colored luggage tag and small bag combo set! I was already rejoicing for the brightly colored luggage tag, and looking forward to my big vacation in May!

My gift on day 17 was the cutest cross key chain with a Starbucks gift card hanging on it! Just love it! It was also in the cutest little box, which I just adored.

My letter on Day 17 was from Debbie McCool. I first met Debbie when I went home with Sarah McCool Zullo one weekend our freshman year. Her mom was great, but I would have NEVER guessed what God would do in our lives after that initial meeting. Sometime our junior or senior year at MCC, God transferred the McCools to Houston. They started attending the church I grew up in, and by the time I had returned home in 2002 Debbie was already serving on the church staff at this church. I worked with her for several months, and somewhere in that time frame she decided to start a twenty-something women's Bible study group.

It was because of that group that Amber and I really got to know each other well, and that group gave birth to our Friday night group. And it was through the Friday night group that I was blessed with this incredible circle of friends I call coffee friends! Debbie also blessed us with one of my favorite traditions we have as a group, and that is our annual Christmas baking day!

What a wonderful 30 Rock Tour I have had! It just keeps getting sweeter....

Day 15!

I started this post twice today....let's see if we get lucky this time!

First, I can't really believe that I am halfway finished with the 30 Rock Tour! I know that I will treasure these 30 days for years to come. It truly has been remarkable...

I have lots of gifts inside of my present for today. Some stationary, coordinating magnets, an "A" box, and perhaps my most favorite new thing- Sharpie PENS!!!!! It wasn't until I saw the Sharpie pens that I started to have any leaning towards who the gift was from... Let me just say that I loved the Sharpie pens so much I sat down and immediately made a list! I took them to work, but wouldn't even leave them in my drawer for fear that someone might borrow one. Not only are they permanent, but they are ultrafine and they didn't bleed through anything I wrote on today. I am in LOVE. Thanks so much!

My letter today was from my dear friend Amanda Griggs. I met Amanda a little over five years ago when I first arrived at Creekside. She and her husband were already attending CCF, and I had just been introduced to Amanda when I pointed across the cafeteria to a guy who was packing up the sound equipment. "Who is that?" I asked pointing at this guy. Amanda quickly answered, "My husband." YIKES! Nice first conversation with a church member!

The reason I was asking was because her husband looked so familiar to me...and sure enough, he was! We went to high school together, and knew lots of the same people- even though he is older than me.

What God has done in our friendship since that first day, has been simply amazing. He connected our hearts and lives in such a way that I still am constantly in awe of His handiwork. Neither Amanda or I were blessed with sisters of our own, but I think God managed to care of that by giving us the kind of friendship that happens so naturally you just start operating as family.

I am blessed beyond measure by her friendship, and cherish her family so deeply. I am honored to be Aunt Ashlee to her sweet daughter, and about to be Aunt Ashlee again this August! I can hardly wait!

What a wonderful day!!!

A little suprise for my faithful readers!

I know I haven't been able to stay on top of the video blogging, so I would like to share with you this video. It was taken during the 30 Rock Tour, but has absolutely nothing to do with it.

It does, however, give you some great insight into a few of the Crazy, and wonderful, people I work with....as well as some of the ways I use my golf cart!

Before watching this footage, I would like to point out a couple of things
1) Yes, Kyla attempted to steal my golf cart prior to this video footage. No, that has no relevance on the events in this video, I would just like for that to be known to the whole world.

2) Joey, although rather silent in this video footage, did in fact approve of my bungee with an extension cord idea for the tree on top of the golf cart. He also told me to floor it..... not that I normally need encouragement to go any faster!

Untitled from Ashlee Liddell on Vimeo.

3) YES, this was us working really hard... REALLY hard. I just LOVE my job!

Day 14...

Well, we are almost half way through the 30 Rock Tour and I couldn't be any more amazed at this incredible gift I receive every morning. Wow!

Today's gift was from Heidi, and just by reading the card I know it was going to be special. I have very fond memories of spending numerous Easter weekends with Heidi and my adopted family (Butch, Lois, Repo, and assorted crazies from the family!). Not only was it the perfect break in the spring semester, but trips to Plainville were always full of fun, relaxation, and tons of laughter! I would gamble (using pennies!) with Butch, we would have home cooked meals, Lois would always have Easter baskets for us, and there were always dyed deviled food eggs.

My gifts today were both Easter related, which made them even that much sweeter to me. One is a beautiful hanging glass easter egg with dried flowers inside of it. It is so beautiful! The other one was a box of NEON food color and egg dye! I am sure not many people would understand how much this box of food color and egg dye means to me, but Heidi did and that is what makes it so special!

As a matter of fact, I was thinking I might just have to serve pink deviled eggs at my birthday party!

Day 13....

Today's gift was a rose shaped loofah, which I promptly used in the shower this morning! I really can't decide who might have given that to me, but I absolutely LOVE it! I found myself just smiling all during my shower.

My letter was from Terri Hansen, better known to some as Terri the Dorm Chick! I met Terri during my freshman year at MCC when I was interviewing to be an RA. Little did I know that she and I would be life-long friends! Terri was at MCC the last three years I was there, and I just love her to pieces. I love her family, her new husband (he will always be new to me, because it took him a while to find Terri!), and just hearing the sound of her voice makes my heart smile.

Tomorrow's gift has two boxes....so I can't wait to open it and tell you all about it!

Day Ten, Day 11, and Day 12....

Well, this week (and weekend!) have been so hectic, I seem to have fallen behind on my blogging again! Yikes!!!

Day Ten was a gift from Heidi. The cutest candy dispenser, with its own little scoop (it is a miniature version of the bins you see candy in at the candy store), full of pina colada and margarita jelly beans! I just LOVE the combination of flavors, but also the memory of sharing my first margarita with Heidi....

My letter on Day Ten was from my Aunt Vicki, and my letter on Day 11 was from my Aunt Gayle, Uncle Clark and Cousin Tom. I still am just blown away that this many people were able to keep a secret from me, and that they would take the time to share these sweet memories with me. I truly have a collection of pages that are simply priceless.

Today is Day 12. I opened my gift, which was an eyemask with the word, "relax" across the top. It is my word for the day (maybe week, or perhaps it should be my word for the month!). What is so incredible to me is how each gift seems to be the perfect little addition to what I am facing that day. God is so good!

My letter today was from my dear friend Reasa Grogg. I first met Reasa when I was a freshman at MCC, and she was a sophomore. Living life with someone like Reasa is a real life shaping gift. I learned a lot about how to communicate honestly and openly from my friendship with Reasa. I also learned a lot about how to speak the truth in love- even when it might be the last thing you WANT to do. Reasa married a "Pit Boy" and know serves God overseas alongside her husband Jon, and their three beautiful children.

One thing I have discovered in growing older is that you have different "kinds" of friends. Friends who know your day to day routines, habits, and preferences. Friends who where in your life for a season, but may be gone as quick as they came. Friends who are like family. Friends who stay close to your heart no matter how many miles are between you and how many years pass between phone calls or emails.....Reasa is one of these friends for me. I know that if I called Reasa tomorrow we would be able to have a real conversation that would bless my heart to no end. I know she prays for me, and I hope she knows how often I pray for her and her family.

This video is from Day Nine....yikes! Video blogging is so much harder than I realized!

Day Ten, again! from Ashlee Liddell on Vimeo.

(Sidenote: I almost cheated on the 30 Rock Tour tonight... it was a long, hard day and I thought opening another letter would be the perfect medicine. Instead I just flipped through all of my pages, reading over each one, and my heart was so blessed, encouraged, and my spirits were lifted! What a blessing this gift is, and will continue to be, for me.)

Day Nine...a real tear jerker!

Today, day nine of my 30 Rock Tour, also happens to be my brother's 32nd birthday.

Not that this fact particularly has any bearing on the 30 Rock Tour, but it just brings to light just how much this incredible gift has blessed me in ways no one could have known.

My letter today, just happened to be from my one and only brother!

I can not even start to tell you how thoughtful, kind, loving, and humorous his letter is. He titled it, "30 Great Things About my Sister Ashlee on her 30th" and even though I don't know how he did it, he came up with 30 things to say about me. And around number 25 ("But I always still loved her.") the tears started rolling.

Thanks Mike for making my day, which is really YOUR day!, so special.

Video footage to follow, so check back later!

Day 7 and Day 8 all on Day 9.....

Well, I have really dropped the ball on the last two posts.... I will do my best to not let that happen again!

Day Seven, was such a wonderful day of surprises and laughter! Not only was my gift from Heidi hilarious, but in my envelope was a Top Ten List from my dear friend Jamie (Davis) Cooper! Jamie and I met freshman year at MCC, and have shared so many wonderful memories together. We lived together our junior year in a house everyone called "The Palace!" One of the things I love so much about my treasured friendship with Jamie is I know that even if a year goes by without us talking on the phone, I can call her up and the phone conversation would be just as wonderful as the last time we talked.

And so, after opening Jamie's letter I did just that! We had a great catch up conversation, which filled my heart and soul with so much love. This 30 Rock Tour is really so incredible!

And on Day Eight, I opened some really cute magnetic notepads (which I would guess were from Tami) which filled my heart with joy because I recently put myself on a stationary buying freeze. And once I did that, one of the things I had really wanted was magnetic notepads....so it was perfect!

And my letter was from Teresa Huckaby. Teresa and I met my very first Sunday at Creekside, and she has served faithfully on our children's ministry team ever since that day. There simply are not words to express how much I admire and respect the dedication, sacrifice, and patience Teresa brings to our team. I just love her.... L.O.V.E. her!

Now, hopefully, I can get Day Nine its own post......and stay caught up!

Day Seven....a surprise!

Today is a GREAT day!

Just wanted to give you a video teaser, with a real post following later!

Day Seven from Ashlee Liddell on Vimeo.

Day Six....a shout out to Lil James!

Well, I will make this short and sweet...

1) I have no idea why I am my handing waving at the end of this segment is so awkward. I am blaming it on how close the camera was to my hand...not the fact that I was trying to fight back tears.

2) Apparently, I will only wear black tops when I do a video blog post...

3) Although it appears that one section of my hair is a much lighter color than the rest, I can guarantee you my gray hasn't reached that level yet.....

4) Can you guess what is on the hangers laying over the chair behind me in this video? Just take a gander....

5) No, I have no crazy delusions that ALL the people who wrote these incredible letters are watching the videos, even if I say, "Thank you, thank you so much!" a couple dozens times a minute!

Day Six, Just for Jamie! from Ashlee Liddell on Vimeo.

I believe I met Kevin and Lisa Ingram my junior year at Manhattan Christian College, it might have been my sophomore year. (Can Heidi or Jamie help me with this?!) Kevin and Lisa are the REAL deal. They came to MCC to serve in the administration, and kept accepting the new challenges the Lord placed before them, and now Kevin serves as the President of Manhattan Christian College.

One thing I admire the most about Kevin and Lisa is how they invest in the lives of others. They have this amazing gift for not only pouring into others lives, but learning the heart, life and story of those they invest in. I seem to be at such a loss for words when it comes to these two! God's love for His children is so clearly, so richly, and so lavishly poured on the lives of those who encounter these two, that whether they realize it or not they walk away closer to their Creator. My life has been (and continues to be) so richly blessed by their friendship and love for Christ.

Day Five...

Are you sick of me yet?

Tomorrow I am taking my special book of letters up to the church to show our accountant, one of my good friends, because she hasn't been in to work since I started my 30 Rock Tour! I can hardly wait to show her and brag on all of my wonderful friends.

Today, bright and early this morning, I opened up number five. It was a small gift, wrapped in strawberry shortcake paper, which made me wonder if the gift was from Amber's house. Upon opening it I found a Massage bar from Lush, which required my immediate attention and usage! My guess would be that this gift was from Azina, but whomever it was from, a big thank you. I loved it!

And the letter....was from 2fs.

That's right, 2fs. As in two "f"s found in her first name- an original nickname bestowed upon my dear friend Jenniffer our freshman year of college. I guess I met Jenn on move in day freshman year, and I am so thankful that God put us in the same suite. She taught herself to play the guitar, and by the end of our freshman year she could put most other guitar players around campus to shame. I have had many very precious, intimate times of worship with my God led by Jenn.

I really can't do much thinking about my college years without a memory of 2fs being front and center. Jenn could make any everyday task an exciting adventure or hilarious memory, and my life has been greatly enriched by her friendship.

I love you, Jenniffer.

Day Four, a day late and a dollar short...

Well, it was bound to happen. As a matter of fact, you might as well plan on me missing a timely blog post on Sundays from this point out....it just isn't likely to happen!

Day four did however end up with some classic video footage. My dear friend Amanda taped me on Sunday morning, and you hear her precious daughter Caitlyn talking in the background. Day four's gift was very unique and my letter was once again, priceless.

Jordanne Bonfield was the author of Day four's gift, and I will admit that I cried while reading it. We met one August day back in 1999...can you believe that Jordanne? She was a freshman in the suite I was an RA in my sophomore year. Jordanne has one of the sweetest, most gentle and encouraging souls you will ever encounter. She also has a fiesty, daring, and adventurous side! True to her gift of encouragement, her letter was just the uplifting my heart needed.

While I would love to spend this post telling you about all the pranks Jordanne was a part of, I will just leave that to your imagination! Jordanne is one of those people who enters your life and leaves a mark that God uses to continue molding you into who He created you to be. What a treasured friend!!! I love you, Jordanne!

Here's some video footage for you to enjoy....only the highest quality for my blog readers!!!

Day Four, 30 Rock Tour from Ashlee Liddell on Vimeo.