A great weekend!

Last weekend Andy and I had the opportunity to go to Bloomington, MN to celebrate our first anniversary! We had a great time at the Mall of America and really enjoyed getting away for a few days. It's amazing how much of an attitude shift a short vacation can produce! For a look at our entire album of the weekend, check out the link below (just scroll over "1st Anniversary Celebration! below)!

1st Anniversary Celebration!

This week Vacation Bible School begins at Cedar Heights Baptist Church. Andy took on the responsibility of Director, so he's been working very hard for months to put everything together. Luckily, we're working with two great women, Becky and Lynn from Follow Hard Ministries. These women are so energetic, enthusiastic, and inspiring! I'm so glad to have them facilitating VBS at CHBC again this year! The first night was a success and we're both really looking forward to the rest of the week. 

We received yet another blessing from God the Friday we left for MN; Andy got a job! He starts his training Tuesday to be the new assistant manager for the Arby's in Cedar Falls. We are so thankful for this blessing and are praising the Lord for it! Andy's excited to get working (as he finishes up his last year in college!!!!) and is confident Arby's will be a good fit. Plus, who doesn't love roast beef sandwiches?! haha. 

The last few weeks have been really great and we want to make sure to praise our God for all of the blessings he's bringing our way. 

Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples! Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wondrous works! -- Psalm 105: 1-2

Summer!

Well the summer is off to a great start! I had the opportunity to go to Arizona with my mom to see my grandfather, Gops. It was a lovely visit and I fell even MORE in love with Arizona! As soon as I got back home, I told Andy, "we need to start saving now; we're retiring to Arizona!". It was such a different experience and felt like a true vacation. We slept in, swam, and just took it easy. Plus, it was nice to see Gops, as I hadn't seen him since May of 2005. I'm really anxious to take Andy out to Arizona, to show him the sights and have him meet Gops. Hopefully that's in our near future.

Gops!

The view from Gops' house!

Last weekend, my "bestest" friend Stephanie got married. It was a beautiful ceremony and really really fun reception. They just returned from their honeymoon to Playa del Carmen and Steph said it was absolutely gorgeous. We're already planning a joint trip back in five years!

This picture cracks me up!

Next weekend Andy and I are heading up to Minneapolis, MN to enjoy a late anniversary celebration weekend. We plan to explore the Mall of America (which, when I saw the map, blew my mind!) and check out Underwater Adventures, an aquarium inside MOA. We were in downtown Minneapolis last October and really had a great time, so we're looking forward to going back again!

Summer work is going well for me, as the pace is much more manageable and I get to really focus on projects I enjoy. Andy's work is going well too; he's been umpiring a lot of softball and baseball games and just finished his second interview for an assitant manager position at a restaurant. He'll know more about that job opportunity next week. We're praying that something comes through!

I'll try to post pictures of our trips so far this summer, with more to come after our weekend in Minneapolis.

Spring 2009 photos

Follow the link below for pictures from Spring 2009.

Enjoy!

Andy and Ashleigh

Spring 2009 Album

Revive Me

It's the end of the semester. Tensions are high everywhere. Everyone is just done, done, done. I was given the opportunity to speak with an angry parent this morning. It managed to shoot my mood right down to the ground. Now, as I'm sitting at my desk, finish conduct paperwork (yes, conduct. One day before we close the building. Are the students out of their minds?) this song came on Pandora Radio (check it out, if you don't know what I'm talking about) and soothed my soul. I was instantly taken over by a calming patience. Praise God for small miracles.

Consider my affliction and please deliver me
Plead my cause and redeem me
Salvation is not for the wicked
For they don't seek your word
Great are your tender mercies Lord

Revive me, according to your loving kindness
Revive me, that I may seek your word
Revive me, according to your loving kindness
Revive me, oh Lord

You give me understanding
According to your word
Great peace for those who seek your face
I long for salvation
My lips shall praise your name
I rejoice in the treasure of your keep

Revive me, according to your loving kindness
Revive me, that I may seek your word
Revive me, according to your loving kindness
Revive me, oh Lord

For all my ways are before you
I let your hand become my help
My soul longs and adores you
Let my cry come before you oh Lord

Revive me, according to your loving kindness
Revive me, that I may seek your word
Revive me, according to your loving kindness
Revive me, oh Lord

Oh, Revive me
Revive me
-- "Revive Me", Jeremy Camp

Our New (to us) Car!

Andy and I started seriously shopping around for cars last night. Today, after five hours, we bought this! It's a 2005 Chevy Equinox. Enjoy the pictures.

Easter 2009

I just uploaded these Easter pictures to Facebook. Just follow the link below!

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2104799&id=51803609&l=19c351d1e7

Easter was great this year. It was the first year that Andy and I have spent in C.F., as we were driving back from Spring Break during Easter last year. We spent the morning at church, involved in a really great, warm, inspiring service. Once back from church, we had an Easter egg hunt in the apartment (as you can hopefully see from the pictures) and then finished the day with a lovely Easter feast. Two of my RAs who were around joined us and we had a great time, eating yummy food and enjoy one another. It was such a peaceful, fun weekend. Every holiday that Andy and I can spend here helps to make C.F. more of a home for us. Of course, we missed our family, as usual, but it was nice to have a relaxing weekend.

There are only 22 days until closing...not that anyone is counting! Okay, I am counting. And anxiously awaiting summer. I'm looking forward to taking the time to spend my energy on different things and r-e-s-t. And of course see family and friends! C.F. is such a great place in the summer! Plus, Andy will be here the whole summer, so I'm really looking forward to everything. We're both just working feverishly, trying to get as much accomplished as possible. I'm trying to take the time to slow down and enjoy everything, since I really have had a blessed year, with students and staff. 

Hope the pictures link worked!

In love and peace,

Ashleigh

Anxiously awaiting Spring

Oh...living in Northern Iowa. 

The week of Spring Break was so glorious in C. F.  A few days, I think the temperature reached 70 degrees! I was out and about, taking walks, getting the dog out, enjoying life, in awe of God's glorious creation. After convincing myself that I most definitely suffer from SAD (seasonal affective disorder), considering how much BETTER I felt with a little warmth and sunshine, I was feeling good! 

Today, it's April 5. And there's about 2 inches of snow on the ground. Luckily, my heart has been filled with other things, like a wonderful worship service this morning and a relaxing end of the weekend with Andy to worry/complain/be sad about a spring hiatus. In fact, as Andy and were driving home from the grocery store, cursing he "stupid" weather, I was suddenly reminded that the snow was created by God. Brought to us by God. Intended for us, on this day, at this time. Instantly, I got over myself. Yes, it's colder than I would like. But the warmth will come again. It was just another example of my need to remember that everything is part of God's plan :-). Even when I think that a minute detail like snow on April 5 is unnecessary. 0:-). But, alas...it's not my plan!

In other news, Andy and I both anticipating the end of the semester. It's been a tough year for Andy and we could both use a restful summer. Right now we're trying to decide how to celebrate our first anniversary! I'm excited to have Andy here ALL summer (his first full summer in C.F.!) and can't wait to have a chance to spend my time in a different way at work. While I love the busyness and constant change during the school year, the most accurate description of my daily life is hectic. During the summers, I'm able to develop different skills and spend my time being more creative. 

Since I've used the word "anxious" twice in this post, I thought it was time to look up Scripture related to that topic (yet again...certainly not the first time I've looked to Scripture for guidance with anxiety. I think "anxiety" could be my middle name). Here is what stuck out:

"The Lord is with you when are with him. If you seek him, He will be found by you." 2 Chronicles 15:2

I love that passage because it reminds me time and again that when I take time and discipline myself to spend time with Scripture, my heart and mind are satisfied in a way that I can never find in anything else. And the good Lord knows I've tried my whole like to find other (usually destructive) ways to satisfy myself. Just this afternoon, I experienced this again. I have to admit that reading Scripture is routinely overwhelming. But this afternoon, as I opened my Bible, I found myself so eager to read. I ended up finishing Luke, a Gospel I had been reading for months. Praise God for giving me such a desire :-). 

Now I'm off to start my week with some Sunday evening meetings. 

In love and peace,

Ashleigh