The two time per year when the Beautification Board members are asked to take a section of Vestavia and invite someone to be a judge always seems to be the time when there are a millions of other things going on for everyone.  At the December meeting, I drew the Altadena section and just like everybody else, I had many things going on for the Holidays.  I invited my friend, Lynn, to judge and she was thrilled!!  She said she liked nothing better than to ride around and look at pretty houses!

So we agreed to go on Friday afternoon.  Lynn took her job very seriously!  We rode the entire route in the afternoon and ten rode the entire route again after dark.  Lynn so wanted to pick just the right house that even after the evening trek, she felt she just had to go back ONE more time in the daylight to be absolutely sure that she had selected the "right" house.  She did have it narrowed down to about 5 houses at this stage.  I already had plans for Saturday, so I told her she would have to go by herself and just let me know which house she had decided upon.  

It turned out that we both knew the owners of the home she selected because all of us had sons that played sports together.  And, Lynn, being an Auburn fan, almost did not select this house because of a BAMA sign by the front door!  However, the overall understated decorations and the lighted back deck which was visible from the side won her over in the end.

I told Lynn that I would go by the house late Sunday afternoon and make the presentation.  When I rang the doorbell, I was warmly greeted by the master of the house, who invited me in and told me that this would make his wife so happy.  YOu see, the wife had been dealing with her mother's cancer and deteriorating health throughout the holidays, and it brought such delight to her face to realize that something good had happened to her that evening.

So maybe the  yard judging is just a little thing we do and maybe some days we don't even think it is worth out time, but the joy on her face made it all worthwhile - PRICELESS!

~Mary Berryman

I love Christmas in Vestavia Hills.  As of right now, the Christmas street lights are up and the boys scouts are setting up their tree lot.  Is there any better smell of Christmas than fresh trees?  It takes me back to being a little girl growing up in this beautiful city and going with my dad to pick out our family tree.  Happy memories.

Over the next month, the beautification board will be busy busy busy.  We will be decorating from city hall to the Dogwood Room to the Senior's Lodge.  We will be helping the city decorate the twenty foot Christmas tree, and participating in the lighting.  You will also see us driving around the week of December 8th to perform our biannual yard judging.  It's one of my favorite, albeit very busy, times of the year.  The days are short and cold, but the heart of our city is warm with homecoming.  

Next week is Thanksgiving, and I'm looking forward to having my family home to celebrate.  I'm thankful for many things in my life and am truly blessed beyond measure.  On behalf of everyone on the Vestavia Hills Beautification Board, Happy Thanksgiving!
~ashley  

I love spring.  The flowers are blooming; everything is turning green except for my car which is yellow from the pollen.  We are finally emerging from the never ending winter we have had.  I feel like I've been inside the movie Groundhog Day.  There is a part in the movie when Bill Murray's character says "I'll give you a winter prediction:  it's going to be cold, it's going to be grey, and it's going to last you for the rest of your life.", yeah I was there.  By the way, the next big scene is him kidnapping Puxatony Phil.  Classic.

But, winter be gone!  Welcome spring!!!  This past Saturday was our inaugural Art in The Hills.  Ask me how nervous I was.  I don't think Cindy, who came up with AITH, was nervous, she looked cool as a cucumber.  The same goes for Debra, who was in charge of our entertainment & Gina, who was in charge of hospitality.  Not me though, I just knew I would forget something important, or do or say something stupid.  I am proud to report that everything went swimmingly!  We had 46 very talented artists and artisans set-up to sell their pieces.  I loved walking around talking to them; learning their stories; and asking them about their artwork.  Talented people!  Some of us like to dabble in art & then there are some that can take your breath away with their paintings.  I had fun this Saturday! 


We were so blessed to have TONS of teenagers helping us the day of AITH.  They were everywhere & were willing to do anything.  These days when you hear so much negative surrounding teenagers, it is nice to be around good kids.  We also had some very talented middle and high schoolers entertaining us all day.  Go check out the pics if you don't believe me.


All in all, I would mark the first Art in The Hills as a huge success!  If you didn't make it this year, we are going to be doing it again next year, so don't miss out!!!  Thank you Vestavia Hills for supporting this new venture of the Beautification Board, we couldn't do it without you.  A special thank you to Mayor Zaragoza & our city manager, Jeff Downes, who helped us get off the ground!


We are already planning for next year & can't wait to make it even better!
I love my hometown,
~ashley


   

This is a posting I'm bringing over from my personal blog that I wrote.  It is about the snow from January 28, 2014.

That should be the new motto of my state & city.  I stand in utter amazement this morning as I read about all the acts of kindness.  Is there anything more humbling than being served by someone? 

There have been pleas on FaceBook to rescue elderly grandparents, children, stranded motorists.  Churches opened their doors; neighbors opened their doors; businesses packed people in.  There were friends who abandoned their cars to start walking home last night, and stopped to rest at restaurants that were slammed with customers.  You know what they did?  They became servers!  How great is that?  (Kim & Jason)  Have hands, will serve.

This morning an alert went out that there was a good Samaritan that didn't make it home last night & he was not responding to calls or texts.  He is also diabetic.  Oh yeah, and it dropped down to 17 degrees last night.  SCARY!  You know what a group of people did?  They formed a search party. (Steve, Shelia, Mike, Marc, John & the W's)  Thank you Lord that I live in a community that cares.  They found him thankfully, alive.  They helped emergency responders carry him up a ravine and he is now in a local hospital.  Have hands, will serve.

Teachers...mother hens.  Reading books, giving snuggles, reading goodnight books.  Keeping middle school and high school kids entertained, safe and warm.  Many of them have children of their own that they couldn't be with because they couldn't leave their classroom kiddos.  From the bottom of this momma's heart, thank you.  (Connie, Carla, Jessica, Mark, Jennifer, Sally, Melinda...just to name a few)

To all the guys with 4 wheel drive trucks helping others, you rock!  (Hopson, Steve, Mike to name a few)  Have 4WD, will serve.

There are days I'm glad I can multitask.  I may not be out in the ice & snow, but if  you need help I can hook you up with someone who can rescue you.  I can give you a warm safe place to stay & a hot home-cooked meal or two or three.  It reminds me of 1 Corinthians 12:11-20.  It doesn't matter how small you think your role is, it makes a difference.  God gets all the glory anyway, so who am I to say my small part isn't important?  Have hands, will serve.

To all of you out there who have hands & have served.  You are my heros!  I love being a southerner.

Celebrating Life & the love of servants,
~ashley

Welcome to Beautiful Vestavia

You know, I have lived in Vestavia Hills most of my life, and I love living here.  When I married my husband 20 years ago I can't tell you how happy I was when we chose to come back to the city of my youth.  It is the place we are raising our children and the place we plan to grow old together.

Home...there's no place like it.  Vestavia Hills is home.  It is home because of her traditions.  It is home because of her people, and her people are her heart.  I think of Mayor Wuska.  If you ever want a history of Vestavia Hills, she is the person to tell you.  I think of Sharon Lovell and Helen James.  Is there anyone who shows us how to be the hands and feet of Jesus better than these two beautiful women?  I think of Betty Moss.  I smile when I think of the countless young people who have learned that manners matter, and that swaying from side to side is not really dancing.  I think of the teachers and coaches at each of our wonderful schools.  Do you have any idea at how blessed we are as a community?  We have educators who are challenged to bring their 'A' game everyday, because in Vestavia Hills, mediocre is not acceptable.  I know that 'Once a Rebel, Always a Rebel'.  I can go on and on, but I think you get the picture.  We are a city with heart. (and a few characters thrown in as well)  



I love living in a city that loves and has heart.  Vestavia Hills is a city where we celebrate our triumphs and support each other in our tragedies.  It is a beautiful city.  I can't imagine living anywhere else but my beautiful Vestavia.

~ashley