The Lion King & Family Time

There is one thing that's for sure.... This last week has been filled with unlimited family time. There have been cooking lessons and all-you-can-eat sushi! From late nights and Rock Band marathons to numerous walks through casinos and deathly SPOON matches, we have been together. All five of us.

Yesterday came the highlight for me! Of course, UNC won a great game against Maryland. BUT there was even more! We went to see the Lion King yesterday afternoon. I've wanted to see this show ever since it hit the scene in New York, and now it is showing daily in Vegas at Mandalay Bay. It was fantastic. The music! The costumes! The giraffes and the elephants! And, of course, the story! Pumbaa & Timon were a hoot, and Simba & Nala were precious! I felt like a little kid seeing the Disney movie for the first time. It was certainly I treat I had not expected.

Today, one of our five will be going back home. While it's a little melancholy, I have set my sights toward the next adventure! By this time next week, I will be back in my second home... Haiti. I can hardly wait. This year has been full of overwhelming excitement and joy! How is it even possible? One thing is for certain...I am blessed. Blessed to have a wonderful family. Blessed to have amazing opportunities. I am so very thankful.

Pure Bliss

The last few days have been filled with complete, utter bliss. Clint & Arlene arrived on Tuesday night, and I feel like my feet have not hit the ground since! Whether it is watching UNC play basketball, or playing Yahtzee, or sitting in an ice bar at 23 degrees, our time together has been magnificent. Yesterday, the family was complete with the arrival of Michael, and now I am looking forward to a weekend of happiness and bonding. Moments like these are truly precious, especially now that the boys are older and they're going their own ways. I am so thankful for these few days, and what a great time it has come, right before a big trip to Haiti. What great memories I will have to keep me company each night as I listen to the roosters and generators! Ah, yes, I am so thankful for the Broadhurst Boys!

Prayer Partners, Part #2

I have been absolutely overwhelmed with the responses to my Prayer Partner request! Thank you to everyone who will be participating. I can already feel that our trip to Haiti will be completely covered in prayer.

You know, I was especially overwhelmed with those that said, "Of course, we'll be praying everyday, but you can put me down for a specific date if you wish." To know that so many people care for our team and our work is simply precious to me. I hold each of you dear to my heart, and not a day will go by that I will not thank God for you and your friendship.

Just because the prayer partner list is "complete," there are no partners that we will turn away! If you'd like to participate, please comment or email me, and we'll pray for YOU during our journey, too!

We hope to have an internet connection while in Haiti, and I will post updates as often as possible. Rest assured that your prayers are already working! My heart is full. Thank you. 

Haiti Prayer Partner List

March 6-25, 2010

Sunday, March 6 – Carl Jones

Monday, March 7 – Becky Field-Ross

Tuesday, March 8 – Becky Memmelaar

Wednesday, March 9 (Ash Wednesday) – Diana Grace 

Thursday, March 10 – Debby Burt & Barbara Shaffer

Friday, March 11 – Barb Black 

Saturday, March 12 – Everludis Lopez

Sunday, March 13 – Dad

Monday, March 14 – Rebecca McMahan & Kathy Miller

Tuesday, March 15 - Faith Nettnin & Cook Family

Wednesday, March 16 – Meg Visi & Julia Bradt

Thursday, March 17 – Patrick Lesley

Friday, March 18 – Tim Myrick

Saturday, March 19 – Jon Yingst & Emily Ronis

Sunday, March 20 – Isabel Eaddy

Monday, March 21 (Classes start!) – Sean Devolites 

Tuesday, March 22 (World Water Day!) – Kendall Cox

Wednesday, March 23 – Anita Szerszen & Louise Horst

Thursday, March 24 – Victoria Bole

Friday, March 25 – Jenna Hogan & Colin Hogan

(Mom, Carrie Delisio & Kathy Hogan... I will feel your prayers everyday, too! And Jay, I'll look forward to your "hail mary's"!)

Prayer Partners

Every mission trip I have been on, the most important thing I take with me is my Prayer Partner. They don't physically go with me, but this one person is tasked to pray for me each and everyday while I am away. This is not always an easy task, as I often find myself in sticky situations or random emergency rooms! But I can't tell you the joy it brings to me knowing that wherever I am or whatever I am doing, someone is praying for me. It strengthens my spirit and gives me the encouragement to face whatever the day brings.  And, the prayer goes both ways. While I am on the trip, I pray for my designated prayer partner.

I have had great prayer partners over the years -- my husband, my parents, pastors I work with, pastors I listen to, and amazing, wise youth. Last year, as I ventured on six trips, I felt as though I was constantly covered in prayer. They have filled me with cards and candies to uplift me physically, and words of wisdom to carry me through the day.

Two weeks from today, I will embark on one of my more lengthy mission trips. Destination: Haiti... of course. This time, there is a small team of three going to install FIVE clean water systems. We will be in Leogane and Jacmel. We are excited, a tad nervous, and resting up to prepare for long work days.

Our trips dates are March 6-25. Since this is a long period, much longer than the usual week-long mission trip, I thought it might be nice to have several prayer partners. Perhaps even have a different prayer partner for each day! Maybe this is something you'd like to participate in? If so, leave a comment, or text or email me, and let me know which day you would like for me to pray for YOU!  And vice versa... Just choose a date!

Together we will fill Haiti and five clean water systems with prayer!

Acts 1:14

They all joined together constantly in prayer...

"Ashley Days"

For the past seven days, I've had my nose in a book and writing lengthy pages on the Apostle John and Augustine of Hippo. I'm trying desperately to get ahead in my classes so that I can take all of next week to spend time with Clint, Arlene & Michael! After seven days of nonstop reading and writing, my eyes were bugging out and my head was overflowing with information. Nothing was absorbing anymore. It was time for a break.

That break came today, and what a great day it has been. After a run this morning, a cup of coffee and oatmeal, and a nice amount of quiet time, I have done absolutely nothing. I've chatted with my dear friend, Kathy, and another great friend from Houston, Todd, and my heart is filled with friendship and love.

It reminded me that even though I'm unemployed, I still need days to devote to filling my cup back up and recharging my batteries. Tomorrow when I wake up, it'll be back the grindstone... But today, today is filled with quiet.

Psalm 46:10

Be still and know that I am God.

MEPS

Many of you have asked, "What exactly happened last Friday?" (See last Friday's post...)

After much debate, I'm finally ready to talk about it! While the story here may not be as funny as me telling it with multiple hand gestures and reenactments, I nevertheless hope you will have a good laugh. 

MEPS stands for Military Entrance Processing Station. As many of you know, I have applied for a Commission with the Navy as a Chaplain. I have completed all of the paperwork, fingerprinting, had my interview with the Chaplain board, etc. Really all that was left for me to do was to go through MEPS. In layman's terms, it is much like the most thorough physical you'll ever experience.

It all started with the time to meet. Granted, I have been working with officer recruiters in San Diego. They have been amazing, and I really appreciate all of their hard work and communication with me. They set me up with a couple of folks here in Vegas to get me to MEPS at the Air Force Base. I was told to meet the folks at 6:30am at Nellis Air Force Base. Naturally, I arrived at 6:15am, as I am an early bird and like to make sure I know where to go. I waited. 6:30am passed. 6:45am passed. I called the number I had for the petty officer, and nothing. Finally a car pulls up, asks if I was "Broadhurst", and I jumped in. 

When we arrive at the medical facility on base, we wait again. Apparently a 7:00am appointment meant 7:30am. I quickly realize that I will be there with a group of 18-year old future enlistees. Great....  They hear I'm going in as an officer and a chaplain, and suddenly everyone begins to act scared of me!

They call three of us back for the first test - a hearing test. We go into sound proof, "Clark Kent" booths and put on head phones... And mine don't work. The nurse comes in, readjusts...and they still don't work. I hear a noise, push my button, and nothing... Finally, she gets it to work, and apparently I do have exceptional hearing! One down...

The three of us are taken to a room with the other two that we met before. The nurse comes in and asks if anyone needs to use the restroom. I had been waiting for this since 7:00am! I jump up and head to the bathroom, receive my cup, and then the nurse does not leave. She continues to stand over me... Yes, yes, she must watch me pee! Oh boy! Now, I have a shy bladder on the best of days, and usually cannot go to the bathroom if someone is in the stall beside me! So, of course, I sit there for a few, and then get up with no success. The nurse sends me back to the room, tells me to drink water, and relax. Relax? 

The nurse comes back in and asks for two people. It's blood drawing time. Woo. Again, on the best of days, it takes about two to three tries to get blood out of me. It's never a fun process. However, the boy who came with me decided to distract me and tell me the stories of all of his tattoos. Sure enough, she gets blood on the first try, and I'm out of there. As I walk down the hall, a man is staring at me and points to my arm. I look down, and it's like Old Faithful! Blood is squirting out of my arm like a geyser! My arm is covered with blood! I walk back to the nurse's room, and say, "Um, I think something may be wrong." She comes over, cleans me up, applies much more pressure, and finally I stop bleeding. I go back to the room and drink more water. 

The eye doctor then came and got me. Color blind test, check. No problem. Then I put my head on the "letters" machine. Nothing. He says to read the smallest line I can. Nothing. I see absolutely nothing. He says to look down or tilt my head. Nothing. I see nothing. Then he realizes he hasn't hit the light button. Oh yeah?! I shook my head, read the smallest letters, and he commends me on my eyesight. Then there's a depth perception test. Now sitting here right now, looking at items around my house, I can tell you what is further away and what is closer. Outside? Same thing. I can tell you what mountain is in front of the other mountain. This test? I look at the circles. I got nothing. I ask to make sure he's illuminated the correct one, and he gives me a look... I got nothing. Big fat FAIL. Hey, at least I'm going to be a Chaplain, not a pilot. 

Finally, I am about to burst with pee. I grab the nurse, we go to the bathroom, she talks about her snowboarding vacation to distract me, and finally I pee in the cup with a person standing over me. Success. 

When we come back to the room, she calls the three of us girls to come with her. We come to a hallway that is cordoned off with two black sheets at either end. She gives us each a clothes basket, and tells us we can put our clothes in it. What? Why would I take off my clothes in the middle of a hallway that people continue to walk through? But, that's what we do. Strip down to our undies. And here walks in a male doctor. Excellent. It's me standing with two fit 18 year old girls. Great. We proceed to go though a series of exercises...in our undies. Walking on our heels, walking on our toes, walking on our knees... Mortifying. And then...we have to walk around the room like a duck... Oh yes. So I walk like a duck in the way I've been walking like a duck since I was three. However, he wants us to walk a different way... I just don't get it. I cannot make my body move in the way he wants us to move. After three minutes of trying, he finally says I'm good... Mortifying. Absolutely mortifying. 

But wait, there's more...

Clothed again, I am taken to a regular examining room. I sit, sit...nap...sit, wait...sit, nap, text, check the box scores, sit. After 90 minutes the nurse and doctor came in. The same two that watched me pee and watched me duck walk. We talk, he makes notes, we talk more. Then he says it's time to get naked. Okay, sure, got a gown? No no, just stand in the middle of the room without clothes on.  Are you kidding me? 20 minutes I stand in front of this doctor without clothes to he can measure scars, measure birthmarks, and poke and prod places I didn't know were able to be poked and prodded. When the words "bend over and spread 'em came," I cringed. While I tried to dream up my "happy place," it just wouldn't happen!

As I'm getting dressed and he's writing notes on my chart, he says the following words, "Well, you're no spring chicken." 

My head jerks up, and I say, "Excuse me?!" He repeats, "You're no spring chicken. I'm used to seeing 18 and 19 year olds."

What kind of doctor, what kind of MAN tells a WOMAN who has just been standing in front of him without clothes for 20 minutes that she is no spring chicken? 

I looked at him, and said, "Sir, if I weren't a pastor, I'd deck you right now."

And so ends my day at MEPS. It's now 1:30pm. After arriving at 6:15am, it's been quite the mortifying, embarrassing day of firsts and hopefully lasts! 

I hope you have enjoyed this laugh, and I am thankful that I will never have to relive this day...ever again!

Carrie Delisio

With Carrie at my going away party in November.

Guess what today is? Today is the birthday of the one, the only Carrie Delisio! For Carrie, birthdays are at least a weeklong event, if not a monthlong celebration. In my mind, it's a national holiday!

Thus, a note of singing... Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday dearest most wonderful Carrie, Happy Birthday to YOU!

I met Carrie during my first week at Herndon UMC in June 2009. She was one of the college kids, and we were destined to be best pals. Throughout that first summer, we drank coffee, we ate so many meals, and the best part about her was that I didn't have to say goodbye to her...her school was in town. Coffees and cookies soon turned into beers and fried green beans. Texting turned into to skyping, tweeting, and phone calling. Sunday sightings turned into midweek gatherings. It's safe to say that I never went long without hanging out with Carrie.

Girls Night at Melting Pot

Carrie is a friend, a sister, a confidant, a partner in crime, and a party buddy. She is my sanity in the midst of chaos, and my accountability partner...when I need one! I can share a secret with her, and it stays locked up. I can share a cookie with her, and she makes sure I have half. She's a baseball and hockey fanatic, which in my mind, makes her the perfect gal. Most of all, I can act extremely silly around her and be myself...and she is OKAY with that. She celebrated my 30th birthday with me...twice! She was the host of my New Years Eve party! In essence, it was not a celebration unless Carrie was there. Could you ask for any more in a friend? I can't.

I miss Carrie everyday now that I'm in Vegas. After spending so much time together over the year and a half, it feels strange not to have pull up in front of my office to go on an adventure. Thank goodness for Skype, Twitter, Facebook, and phone calls. Rarely does a day go by that we don't communicate somehow, some way. And one day, she will visit Vegas...
The city will never be the same!

So Carrie, Happy Birthday. I love you so much, and I am so thankful for you and our friendship. Honestly, I don't know what I'd do without you...and I hope I never have to find out!

And iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii..... 

My 30th Birthday 

One of the many dates at UNO

In Costa Rica

On the bus to San Isidro

Interns

     First off...a note...  We FINALLY had our shutters installed yesterday! Yes, it was the best Valentine's Day to date! There was no street light coming in on my pillow last night, no early morning sunrise laser beam hitting me in the eye this morning. Ahhh.... I am so very thankful for shutters!
  
     Yesterday, while we were getting our shutters installed, I continued my trip down memory lane. Thinking of Costa Rica naturally made me think of Sean, the super intern, and as I thought of Sean, I was flooded with thoughts of the other best intern in the world, Claire.
     As a youth pastor, you have the opportunity of working with all types of kids. Some are shy, some have the personalities of a talk show host! Others are brainiacs, and some require hand-holding. There are the loud ones, the quiet ones, the athletes and the drama queens. And then there are the special kids, the ones that tug at your heart each and every day and remind you why being a youth pastor is the best job in the world.

Sean Devolites and Claire Sparks are two of those people. 

     I first met Claire in December 2004. She was a sophomore in high school then, and now she's finishing her senior year at Lewis and Clark College in Portland. During her high school years, she was quiet and ended up spending her junior year in Europe. When she returned her senior year, we really began to bond. She was always at Donuts & Devos, and Sunday afternoon youth group. She was a leader on mission trips and the historic beach retreats. One Sunday afternoon at the Texas Rock Gym, we were enjoying a snack and I asked her what her summer plans were. Nothing was firm, and I asked her to consider being my summer intern. It was the best question I had ever asked a senior in high school.

With Claire in St. Petersburg, Florida

     Claire started the summer, and I quickly realized that I didn't know how I ever did ministry without her. That first summer, I was prepping for my first ever Living Waters trip. Claire ordered all of my supplies, completely packed the bags to appropriate weight, and had me organized and ready to go. Not only that, but she had plans for the youth group while I was away, and I knew youth ministry would not stop with me out of the country. On our youth mission trip to Tennessee that summer, she was my sanity, as we had one little darling who decided not to be a "perfect" youth group member that week. (All CCP folks who are reading this will cringe with the memories!) She even took on solely teaching the Sudanese Sunday school class...as she was supposed to be teaching with another pastor, and he bailed! Claire needed no direction; she had enough initiative for the both of us. She was dependable, encouraging, creative, and I loved her so much that I begged her to intern a second summer. She agreed, and while I pushed her a bit outside of her box (think teaching the Book of Job to a group of senior citizens!), she handled it with poise! Claire even took the "Box of Sin" skit and turned it into "The Box of Sin: Remastered!"
     Claire has since become one of my best friends. We experienced Haiti for the first time together. We cried and laughed and depended on each other. She was even our first visitor in Vegas, as she spent Thanksgiving with us! As I looked through my pictures, there are so many of me and Claire together that I could hardly choose just one! However, the one above is the picture that Claire framed for me when she returned back to school after that second summer of interning. That picture frame has been placed prominently in my office and now my house, and I will never be thankful enough for the friendship of Claire.

With Sean in Raleigh, NC

     Which brings me to Sean, the super intern! Sean grew up at Herndon UMC, and I would go as far to say that he is the golden child of the church! The church family surrounds him, encourages him, and loves him like no one I have ever seen. With the flash of a smile, the young man can raise enough money to send an entire youth group on an international mission trip! My first week at HUMC was actually the Senior High Mission Trip week. Talk about being thrown into the fire...!! It was an absolute blessing-filled week. Sean jumped into my van for the ride to Maryland, and an instant bond was formed. Though he was in college, he was along as a chaperone and spiritual leader for the youth. His wisdom amazed me, and the way the youth flocked to him for advice, leadership and friendship amazed me. Throughout the rest of the summer, he was around for service projects and card games and movies. He was an inspiration and encouragement to me and made me feel immediately at home.
     We first started talking about a summer internship during the fall. I could already see that Sean will be a natural pastor; the boy can preach like none other. He came back to lead youth group several times throughout the year. When we sat down to start planning for the summer, we quickly saw that we were going to die with the amount of activities. His internship would kick off with a mission trip to Mexico, followed by a Senior High Lock-out, a Senior High Mission Trip to Louisiana would follow two days after high school graduation, and then a Summer of Service would kick-off...and Vacation Bible School. Oh wait, then the Junior High Mission Trip...and finally Upward Basketball Camp! I am getting tired just thinking about it... I don't know how in the world we survived it!
     Poor Sean took everything I threw at him with a grain of salt. He preached, he led, he organized, he lost his passport (see yesterday's post), he took the jobs that no one else wanted, and he served.  While the rest of us flew to New Orleans, he rode in a truck all the way to and from Louisiana, just to ensure our tools and luggage arrived in one piece. He even sat with me in the emergency room for hours as I tried to pass a kidney stone!
     I can still hear Sean's voice saying, "Ashleeeey!" He's a great brother, a best friend, a confidant and a ministry partner. It would not be an understatement to say the he taught me much more than I taught him.

     I am so completely blessed and thankful for Claire and Sean. My ministry is deeper because of what they taught me. I am thankful for not only their friendship, but for becoming part of my family. In their own individual ways, they are two of the best ministers I know.

Going Bananas For Jesus

For whatever reason, I have kept a journal of all of my mission trips and end up ranking them in the order of most influential in my life. There have been numerous trips to Mexico, several domestic trips, and gorgeous trips all through the Caribbean and Central America. Number one was steady at the top since April 2002.  This was when I went to Honduras with a group of Baptist Men from North Carolina, and on the way back home, I met my husband! I mean, how much more influential can you get than that? Thus, even the best of trips have ranked at number two and three... 


I was reminded yesterday of trip #2 on my list! My old youth pastor tweeted this yesterday...

"Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness & Self-Control. The fruit of the Spirit is not a banana..."

(Be sure to check out his blog! You can also follow him on Twitter at @YouthGuy07)

This tweet took me back to last May when I went with a group of college students from Herndon United Methodist Church to Costa Rica. This was my second trip to Costa Rica, as I had just been with a group of adults from HUMC that March. Our trip was sponsored by Costa Rica Mission Projects and the Wil Bailey, whom I dearly admire despite his choice of seminary! 


Before the trip, I was so excited to go to Costa Rica for so many reasons...


1 - I came into HUMC in June of 2009. I spent most of that summer on a mission trips, VBS, Upward Basketball Camp and trying to get to know the junior high and high school students that I would be working with daily. Thus, I had managed to let the college students slip by and really hadn't gotten to know them as well as I should have. I had tried college visits throughout the year, but unfortunately had not made it to see everyone... This trip would be a building block to great college ministry! (...and then we moved!)

Day One of the trip.... Check out those awesome t-shirts.

2 - As I said before, I had participated with a group of adults in Costa Rica in March. It was a trip that would rank in the top five, and I could not wait to go back to Costa Rica. I had made plans for our college group to visit the site where our adults had worked... It was a part of my plan to build the bridges between the generations of our church and show a common interest!


3 - We were going to go to the beach! While we had gone to a fabulous volcano in March, I was stoked to see a Costa Rican beach!


4 - Our theme for the week was "Goin' Bananas For Jesus!" How can you not get excited about that?! I had made up a prayer journal for the week that included a devotion each day on one of the fruits of the spirit! Genius, right? The t-shirts were even better! (Thanks, Kylee Horstman!) 


The pre-trip events turned into somewhat of a nightmare. Copa Airlines cancelled our flight reservations with no reason. (Thankfully, we were able to book flights again...) One of the key members of our group lost his passport the night before we were to leave, and we left him tearfully at the airport in DC. Things were not getting off to a good start...BUT...God always has a way of turning unexpected misfortunes into greatness.

From the moment we arrived in Costa Rica, it was pure joy. We were in the hands of Daniel, the greatest driver in all of Costa Rica. The sights were as beautiful as they had been in March. Our devotion time each evening consisted of deep, vulnerable, open sharing...thanks to the fruit of the spirit! The work each day was FUN, and even though we didn't have a coffee pot, Papa Hugo made us coffee each morning in the pouch! Without the "usual leadership" of our lost team member, other students stepped up to be leaders and fill the various roles of our team. Midweek, Sean, the super intern, made it to Costa Rica after finding his passport. The friendships made and the bonds formed were so tight that only God could have weaved us together in such a short time. Even when our bus broke down on the curvy side of the mountain in the dark, we knew that everything would be OK! God was with us.

The attacking monkey...

And then came Friday... Friday will go down as one of the best days of my LIFE. We had finished our work for the week and made the trip back to San Isidro. We woke up bright and early and drove to the coast. Daniel drove us to Manuel Antonio National Park. We were assured to see monkeys...and monkeys we did see. The beach was gorgeous, and we found a perfect spot on what I would call a cove. The kids went in the ocean, we played, and then we left for lunch... This was, by far, the best lunch I have ever had, and the culmination to a beautiful week. At dinner that evening, we stopped at a local restaurant, which just happened to be the restaurant we stopped at on our last night in Costa Rica in March. It was perfect.


After a week like this, how could you not be "Goin' Bananas For Jesus!" God showed himself to us through the friendship and compassion of each other and those that we worked alongside in Costa Rica. He showed himself in the beauty that was all around us. There was love. There was pure joy. My heart felt at peace through the kindness and goodness that was shown by everyone on our team. 


While I won't be with the college team going back to Costa Rica this year, I will still be Goin' Bananas for Jesus, and praying them through the week and hoping that their hearts will be open to HIM as much as they were in the last year. For this group of young adults, I am so very thankful. 

Galatians 5:22-23

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Internet Connections

After much debate and months of sinful behavior, we finally purchased our own internet connection. Since we arrived in our new home, our neighbors have been away at their other home in New Jersey. They kindly kept their wireless internet connection up and running, allowing us to borrow the signal. Well...the neighbors returned home around ten days ago, and this resulted in our blocked access from their internet connection. It was a sad day, but we had seen the err of our ways and have since repented and purchased our own connection. Today a nice man named John from Cox Internet came to our house to install our very own system. We are thankful that he arrived and quickly set up our home to receive a signal! So yes, we are back online and connected to the world. School work and blogs will be kept up-to-date, and skyping with friends can commence. Ah, it's a good day!

Friends That Make You Smile

Apologies for not writing yesterday. I had a 5-page paper due, and there were no words left in me by the end of the day.

While I will not go into thorough detail, I am simply thankful today for friends who keep you company through mortifying events. Today was medical processing day with the Navy. I also refered to it as a day of firsts and lasts, as there were things I did for the first time and I hope it will be the last time...ever! It was also a day of hurry up and wait! During those times of sitting and waiting for the next form of torture, I was thankful for friends who laughed with me through embarrassment and gave me strength to continue onward! Afterall, thousands of people have all gone through this process... I should put my head down and finish the day!

Finish I did, thanks to these friends. I am a very lucky gal to be surrounded by so many full of encouragement and affirmation! And thankful to hopefully never live this day again!!!

Grace & peace!

UNC-Duke Rivalry

Today should have been declared a national holiday! Any day UNC plays Duke should be an official day off. There was no school work accomplished, none of my chores completed... All day, I counted the hours until the biggest rivalry game in the history of college basketball.

Sure, UNC is a young team. Sure, UNC has lost the last two in the series. Sure, we only have one point guard now that the other point guard up and transferred. BUT...it's still UNC versus Duke, and I will be cheering "TAR"..."HEELS"...for the next two hours!

My dear hubby is gone, and thus, I am left to watch the game on my own. Yes, I could have ventured out to any of the local sports arenas to catch the game...  However, I tend to be a little rowdy and emotional when it comes to UNC basketball. Thus, the beer has been chilled, the pizza has been ordered, the 60-inches of high definition is auto-tuned to ESPN... I am READY! It doesn't get better than this!!!

Libraries

I am very thankful for public libraries! I've always been a fan of libraries. When they built the new library in High Point way back when, I quickly found my spot on the second floor to have quiet time or write a paper. Even at Appalachian,I loved sitting in a quiet corner to study. Libraries, despite the smell of old, mothbally books, are comfortable and like a second home! You can get lost in an old, favorite book or browse the stacks for hours!

The last couple of days I have ventured out into Las Vegas and found a second home. The Henderson library is beautiful. They say it's under renovation, but you can hardly tell. I have claimed a table by the wall of windows overlooking the mountains. It's a gorgeous view and can be a bit distracting, as I often find myself gazing and daydreaming. However, it's quiet and nice and when I need a break, there are tons of books to look thru!

This library makes it feel like I'm actually in school without a physical school to go to. In fact, in the last two days, I've met two other seminary students! It prompts me to be more productive since I don't have the distractions of home around me.

I love libraries, especially this one, and I'm thankful to call it a home away from home!

Reading Glasses

Today marked a milestone in my life... It was time to pull out the reading glasses. I had worn these in college when I was doing massive reading, but since graduation, I had not needed to wear them. Well, after daily headaches and eye strain, I went deep into my closet and pulled out my old trusty pair. The ear piece was a bit chewed up by my dog, but the lenses provided hours of strain-free reading.

With close to three quarters of the US population wearing glasses, I suppose I should feel in good company. After all, I posted on Facebook that I had indeed pulled out the glasses and received an outpouring of support, though some were ready to put me in bifocals!

As I wore the glasses today, I even felt smarter and had a renewed perseverance in finishing my work! I am so thankful for a ache-free day of learning! God bless reading glasses.

Mama Jan

Proverbs 23:25

May your father and mother rejoice; may she who gave you birth be joyful!

When I need to get the word out about a Living Waters project in Haiti, Mama Jan is my publicist. If I ever decide to run for public office, Mama Jan would be my campaign manager. She is the official fundraiser for all of my projects. According to my mom, I can do anything, anywhere, anytime. Everyone needs a Mama Jan in their life...someone who is a constant cheerleader and thinks the world of you. 


Yesterday, when I called Mama Jan to tell her of my spectacular day in San Diego, she was jumping off the wall with excitement. She was singing Navy songs, calling me "Ensign", and already online buying a "Navy Mom" sweatshirt! (Not really, but I know she will!) I can't tell you how great that makes me feel! To share of something great in your life is one thing. To have someone so excited for you that they're doing backflips, too, is pure joy. Just like birthdays and Christmas, she turns the smallest of accomplishments into a national holiday. 


I am thankful that no matter what, I have a great cheerleader on my side to support me through thick and thin. Everybody needs a Mama Jan in their life!  She is the rejoicer and the giver of joy, and for her I am thankful.

Fingerprinting

The Hogans filled me with encouragement and sent me off with a hugs and good luck wishes after breakfast. It left me with a smile on my face for the day ahead. I was so thankful to have spent time with the family. It was exactly what I needed, and I miss them already!

The board interview went superbly. After yesterday's inquisition, this was a breeze! I mainly sat, listened, and responded when necessary. When the Chaplain patted me on the back and said, "Welcome to the Navy," I took it as a good sign! I was very thankful to have spent time with him and learn from his years of service. 

My recruiter took me to another base to finish processing my paperwork/packet and security clearance. To top it off, I got to play with ink! Yes, after three full tries, I gave a good set of fingerprints, smudge-free! I mean really...have you ever been fingerprinted? It requires intense concentration to "let the ink do the work", not to press too hard, and lift without smudging. Who knew?! 

The next steps should be far easier and quicker than the methodical, slow steps over the last several months. Without putting the cart before the horse, I am so thankful and excited that this dream is becoming a reality... It looks to be "smudge-free!"

Jeremiah 29:11

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."