So far, so grateful.

Well, I have officially been in Riverside for two weeks!

"When obstacles arise, you change your direction to reach your goal, you do not change your decision to get there." Zig Ziglar

                           

  My going away party in San Francisco was completely heartbreaking and heart warming at the same time. I was so incredibly grateful for the footprints that were left in my heart there. I have never cried that much at a farewell in my many moves throughout the years. I am indebted to the hearts that never stopped loving me throughout my time there. --Thank you SF <3


  Being in Riverside has been a non-stop adventure. I have 7 new roomies, a new campus to embark on, and many new friends to make priceless memories with. This past week I've been able to walk to campus in the bright sunny morning and pray. Riverside reminds me a lot of Arizona; I feel at home.
  Plans have changed quickly since I have arrived, but God always encourages me through unveiling new plans. Changes always push me to continuous surrender. Hopefully if it is God's will, I will be moving to Palm Desert this summer to help lead an amazing group of people there :)




Phoenix send-off to Long Beach 2009
There has been something that has stood out to me that's really moved my heart lately. Here in Los Angeles, I get to see so many friends in one city that really represent different time periods of my life as a disciple. In the staff meetings every Tuesday, I get to look around and see faces of people that literally helped me change my life throughout the years. I see a glimpse of the Chloupek's, an amazing couple, that represent my first couple of years as a disciple. I remember Sonja and her hardline convictions and her loving support. I see the Speckmans and remember the first time I witnessed what commitment in marriage should really look like as they exchanged their vows. It amazes me how much they've risen up to be a pillar couple for God. Then I see the Bartholomews and remember all my Hawaiian memories and how they were there to teach me and give me the freedom to learn how to love God without legalism. I saw the Brooms and I remember the direct yet encouraging talks they have had with me that called me to love the people God has put in my life. I noticed the Gonzalez's and remember the times they've brought me into their home and fed me. Then there's all my old roommates and friends; the Valdez's, joy, the OC crew, and many more. It breaks my heart down and softens it quickly when I think about all the people God had to use in my life to help me and continue to help me --God's work is never done :p

   
Agustin Wedding 2012
Going away party to Hawaii 2009

Exodus GLC 2010
"Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith." Hebrews 13:7

  Last night we had an all congregational devotional for the campus students; There I was able to see even more friends from around my kingdom 'childhood' and many new faces, too. As time has passed, I've seen so many choose a path of least resistance and fall away over the years, but there's the few that I look around and I think thank God your still here. This battle isn't over until we die, and I often cling to the memories I have throughout the years to remind me that it is always worth it.

Morgan's baptism 

  I'm ready to see what this phase of my life will bring and the friendships that will imprint themselves in my heart as milestones of growth and change!

"If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country--a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them." Hebrews 11:15-16

Hasta luego,
Ashley


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

When things don't make sense, it's okay.

Image
So, it's a new year.. (side note: I feel silly having a blog again, but here it is! The last time I had a blog was myspace and xanga like 6 years ago..wow. I'm getting old) Dear Future me, Please, remember this time of your life. I wouldn't want you to regret it, or even worse, repeat it. Love, Past you.    Well, let me start by saying that 2013 was the best/worst year of my life. The best because I've been given opportunities to learn things about myself and my walk with God I've never learned before. The worst because I've never felt so much heartache in my life ever.    Starting January of last year I was able to finish out my associates in college (finally! I've been doing missionary work for the past 5 years and put it to the side for a while). I was able to serve in the ministry full-time. I was able to visit family for the holidays. I was engaged to a man I couldn't wait to start my life with. That June we got married! We moved up t
Read more

Is it enough?

Image
  Something I've realized since I've been separated is that nothing is guaranteed.   For the past six years, I dreamed that one day I would go into the ministry, get married, have an amazing family of my own, live out of the country at some point, and grow old as couple recalling the many ways God worked in my life with gratitude. And while all those are great aspirations, they are based off of an assumption of what  'life to the full ' looks like. As a disciple, I can misplace my hope; I confuse God's promises and replace them with my own expectations. danger!   When I was asked to become a full-time intern and moved to San Jose, my heart got excited to check-off a dream answered. Then when I got engaged, I thought another dream achieved.  As much as God would soon expose sin in the relationship, he wanted to expose my own heart. I quickly realized that in my own heart I needed to check where my hope was --was it in the things God gives me or in the cross h
Read more

and just when I thought my tears were dry, there came the box.

  After weeks of learning to deal with the emotions, tonight was a random reminder of just how hard it is.   Before I get into it, the past couple of weeks have been amazing. I was accepted into the ICCM (a college for ministry). I was asked to move to LA. My bosses have all been completely supportive of this decision. My subtle and random prayers have been continually answered in awesome ways. Things have felt like they've kept falling into place.   ..So, back to THE box.   I decided to organize my couple-of-boxes worth of stuff, throwing away old papers, planners, the usual pile up of unwanted objects. Then I came across THE box. The dreaded box I had packed up months ago, pushed aside, and out of mind. Inside my gut I heard a voice saying don't open it, leave it be, but I ignored it. I opened the box and there it was, two years worth of dating, engagement, and marriage memorabilia.   I've fought many internal conversations on what I should do with all of the memo
Read more