Crazy Love

Hey all!

In the past few days I have had at least 4 people reccomend this book to me. So yesterday, I was in Maple Grove after my Nanny job, so I decided to run to one of my favorite stores... Barnes and Noble! :) Woot! :) And of course they had the book! So im pretty pumped right now, I am "working" so hard to try and get my spritual life back to where it was, no wait scratch that, I want it BETTER than it was :)
I am only on the first chapter of "Crazy Love" and I cant wait! :)

Have you read it? What do you think of it? Any suggestions/comments? 

Continuing with my theme of growing and loosing my heart, I had a facebook chat with my lovely Youth Minister Kym, she gave me this fantastic analogy!
"Don't worry it will go away; it's like the seasons.... you have spiritual spring (TONS of faith-filled lovin'), then summer of dry-ness, the fall of faith (a good fall cleaning of your sins/great reconciling times with God), and then there's frozen tundra of doom (aka minnesota OR when it's a of questioning/uncertainity)..."- Oh Kym you rock! Thanks for always being there for me! Haha and after that MN comment can you tell she isnt from here??! haha :)

God Bless!
Ashley

1 John 4:8

"Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love"

Hey all!! :) Lots has been going on soo here is an update for you! :)

-School, School, School.... oh goodness! I can hardly believe that i am 3/4 of the way through my JUNIOR year of high school! Where did it go????? :) School has been challenging, but i try and take it in stride to not loose my mind, but saying that doesnt mean that i DONT loose it because i definately do!
-TRACK STARTS ON MONDAY!!! :) Super EXCITED!!! :) First year for me, i was asked to throw shot and disc a few years ago by the coach but declined. This year i thought.. why not?! :)
-My AP English test is coming up in May and i do not feel prepped whatsoever... wonderful...
-I am going to apply for a summer internship with my lovely Youth Minister Kym Allex :)
-I will be continuing my job at St. Benedicts Senior Community over the summer and most likely picking up more hours.
-I am SUPER excited to Nanny once a week for our family friends the Merserau's, who have two boys! :) They live in maple grove so its a little drive but not bad at all-- that will definately be part of my personal prayer time when driving there :) And its really cool that i will be able to take them places, do crafts, play outside, go swimming etc :)
-I cannot wait for Church Events this summer! :)
-I will be taking various College visits this spring and summer... please keep me in your prayers as i dive into this new chapter of my life in less than a year and a half! WOW!
-Yesterday after work i went to confession and after talked to Fr. Tim about my scapular decision.
(Okay super cool story about my discernment of my scapular... i went to a confession session that they had with various Priest at St. Henry's about 2 weeks ago... BEST CONFESSION OF MY LIFE! :) The Priest was AMAZING! After confession i asked him to please Bless my rosary and he did. I went into the Chapel in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament and prayed the previously blessed Rosary. I looked down at The Blessed Mother's Hands (Mary) on my rosary and they had turned RED! They were never like this before!! It reminded me of the Passion Of Jesus and the Stigmata's. I went home to look up what a red scapular might associate with and low and behold.... The Red Scapular Is The Passion Of Jesus Christ. Sooo cool!! I continued to discern if this was the one that God wanted me to wear and I felt the answer in my heart which was yes!) <----SOOO COOL! So Fr. Tim approved of me wearing the scapular and he said that next Saturday i can come to confession, he will bless the scapular and i will be able to put it on! :) Sooo cool!! I am super excited, and the scapular should be arriving any day now :)
-The "White Rose Waltz" is creeping up on us!! :) We have been doing lots of promoting and marketing from businesses, radio stations and newspapers. Jessie, Emily, Erin and Kym are working sooo hard and i am soo proud of them and happy to be on a project together with them! It was one of the things to do was contact a few radio stations so the ones that said they would post our event is Relevant Radio 1330am, Spirit 92.9, and Am 1180 KYES Catholic Talk Radio. I have also put in requests for EWTN's website buliten board and KTIS as well :) Here's were it gets cooler........ spirit 92.9 forwarded my email to the productions director at am1180 KYES radio and i recieved an email from him out of the blue. He told me he had heard of our project and i really impressed by our project and wanted to come up with a few 30 second promo's to play for a $25 donation, he said they would also post the event on their Community calendar..... ANDDDDDDDDD He invited us down to come and be interviewed and talk about our project for their radio station!!!! :) SOOO AWESOME! :) We are hopefully pre-recording the show on Tuesday morning- Please keep all of us (Jessie, Emily, Erin, Kym and Myself) in your prayers for this interview it is soo exciting and such an answer to prayers :) Please also pray that we will finish this project strong and that by God's grace along with the Holy Spirit, that they will lead the night! :)
-Also just got word from Emily that this morning at the 8:30 mass we got a total donation of $125!!! We had 2 sign up last night and one this morning, which is making our number grow! God is soo good! :) We have recieved various donations and are expecting a $75 from the CCW! :)
-A week from Yesterday i am hoping to help on the make up confirmation retreat at St. Henry's. Please keep all the participants and leaders in your prayers for this event. Confirmation is soo important! Set their hearts a blaze with his love!

Thanks So Much for all your prayers and support!
Any Prayer Requests? Email me at ashleywalz@gmail.com or comment here! :)
God Bless You All!,
Ashley

"For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans for you to prosper, not to woe. Plans that will give you HOPE and a FUTURE.." Jeremiah 29:11

Swimming With Scapulars

Hey all!! :)

So due to the strong encouragement of my Youth minister i picked up this book from our Church Library. And let me tell you im half way through and I LOVE THIS BOOK!!!! :)

Swimming with Scapulars is a great book about a Young Man's Catholic Journey, not only with the indulgences of wearing a scapular, but just his life in general and how he lives out being Catholic. Through the struggles, and triumphs! Thats about as short of a synopsis i can give right now! haha :) I am really loving this book.

Throughout reading this i have been praying about if God wants me to wear a scapular or not. Through praying i know that he wants me to, but i am still in the process of praying for him to show me which one he wants me to wear. There a few different ones but they all have such great meaning! :)
A scapular is:
(Dictionary.com Definition! haha) Two small pieces of woolen cloth, joined by strings passing over the shoulders, worn under the ordinary clothing as a badge of affiliation with a religious order, a token of devotion, etc.

Here are some pictures! :)

Each Scapular has a different "meaning". For example my Youth minister Kym wears the green scapular--which is for the Conversion of Hearts, which she prays for while wearing etc.    The blue scapular is the immaculate conception.

So right now i am asking that you please pray for me as i discern what God is wanting me to wear to fufill his mission for me here on earth.

Thanks and God Bless!

Ashley

Amazing Women :)

http://www.oprah.com/oprahshow/Lisa-Ling-Goes-Inside-a-Convent

Go to the link above and read it! :) You can also search for it on youtube. )

Ok so i saw the commercial for this Oprah episode and thought it looked interesting. And then right after school i got a text from my youth minister Kym telling me about it and how i should watch it, so that renfourced my decision to watch it. Now Kym and i are not super fond of Oprah but at the same time enjoyed seeing the AMAZING sisters from Michigan on the Oprah show :)

These women left me speechless with many different things that i witnessed while watching the show. These women are wonderful and i respect them and look up to them for answering the Lord's call to this wonderful vocation of being a sister. These women live a life of "poverty", now i know when people hear the word poverty the have one sterotypical vision of poverty but this poverty is different. Women CHOOSE to live out this life for Christ, because thats what he asks of the sisters. How amazing is that?! They CHOOSE it!

Throughout the show the elaborated on the fact of how materiallistic our world is today and how that differs from the simplistic life that they live and how much relief comes from that. These women completly inspire me :)

The times of silence, prayer, reflection, mass, and even the games and fun things they do. It is completly opposite of the sterotypical view of convents or nuns that people have. They are just like us, to an extent that is, i mean they have fun and do all of the activities that we would do such as playing games or sports. :)

Its really hard to put all that i got out of this show into words, so if you can please read the written version and youtube the show to watch it as well :) believe me its worth it! :)

God Bless,
Ashley

NEEDING PRAYERS

Its prayer time... last night Kym Delarosa Allex (my amazing youth minister) and family had a grease fire at their home. Everyone is fine, but Preston has 2nd and 3rd degree burns on his right hand. He needs prayers because of possible skin grafts. Its prayer vigil time! He has and appointment at 8:15 tomorrow AM, pray from now until tomorrow afternoon for sure. Comment here if you are willing to join me! :) We need everyone!
Please pray!!
God Bless,
Ashley

At The Foot Of The Cross

"At the foot of the cross
Where grace and suffering meet
You have shown me Your love
Through the judgment You received
And You've won my heart
And You've won my heart
Now I can

Trade these ashes in for beauty
And wear forgiveness like a crown
Coming to kiss the feet of mercy
I lay every burden down
At the foot of the cross"

A song that i have been falling asleep to each night, but do i really realize the meaning behind it???
(Let's back track!)

Being a catholic in a public high school is SUPER intimidating. I feel the looks and the questioning of who I am and if they should even talk to me. I know it all goes on so its not anything new to me one bit. But even though i know its going on doesnt mean that it DOESNT effect me, because as much as i hate to admit it does affect me. 

In all honestly i really wish it didnt effect me, just to go on and blow it off, but its not as easy as it sounds. Thats where i find myself at the foot of the cross. 

Walking the halls i can feel and sense it. And i am ashamed to say that i want to hide from who/what i actually am. Thats where i find myself at the foot of the cross.

In high school in general you are judged and even looked down apon for what you wear, what you say, what you do and sadly enough what you believe. Acceptance is something that i can honestly say i dont come by easily with many people, but im working on coming to terms with it.
Thats where i find myself at the foot of the cross.

 Im not perfect, but i am who He wants me to be. I am praying that God will give me the strength to perserviere through this and let his light shine inside and out of me. Thats where I find myself at the foot of the cross.

So now looking back on this amazing song... wow does it mean a lot :) after all of the things that go on in my life, the good and the bad, eventually i find myself at the foot of the cross. And all i can do is just watch, with tears in my eyes, listen and wait. For he is the Lord my God. Forever i am grateful.

Thanks so much to Kym for going to Caribou with me to talk tonight. You really opened my eyes :)

If i can ask one thing of you readers is to pray for me right now, i just had to tell someone something that isnt easy. Please pray for me and this person, we both need it.

God Bless,
Ashley

White Rose Waltz

What could these girls have in common with this college??

This is what we have in common!

YTM Stands for Youth In Theology and Minstry :) Which is an amazing program!!! Emily, Jessie and Myself were invited to go and all i can say is that we are glad we did! :) Ytm is an amazing place filled with amazing people doing wonderful things! Since we went this past sumer (2009) we are sent home with a mission. We are asked to do a service project to help in our community :) So along with our AMAZING mentor

This is Kym Allex! :)

 We present..... "The White Rose Waltz"

The White Rose Waltz is….

A father-daughter formal event!

That consists of delicious food and great prizes!

That has lively speakers!

And I willingness to hear the word of God!

For Fathers to commit to living out their job as the guardian of their daughters, and willing to respect their dignity as well!

And the MOST IMPORTANT…

This is an event for young women to commit to staying pure until Marriage!

At St. Henry’s Catholic Church in Monticello, Minnesota


March 27th, 2010

Doors Open at 5:30

Event starts at 6 until 11pm

OUR MISSION STATEMENT:

“ The St. Henry’s YTM delegate ministry, is



a ministry called to serve the young


women in our community,


By supporting and encouraging


them to live out a chaste life. And also to follow


the example of Saint Agnes. Who was given a


soul made beautiful with the


jewels of grace and virtue.”

This project is something that we are all passionate about! :) Let me know what you think and if you would like to participate or volunteer your time!

Thanks so much and God Bless,
Ashley

Wake Up To God's Word! Social Experiment Chapter 1

Hey all! :)

Alrighty like I told you guys a few blogs back that my youth minister Kym, and I are doing a social experiment! We are both reading the same book, and blogging about our assigned chapters on here :) Its a way to see Kym's take on the book, Kym being a Wife, mother, youth minister, catholic! and so much more! And me being a catholic, being a junior in high school and still learning as I go:) You can visit Kym's blog by clicking -----> KYM   alright so here we go! :)

Our first book that we will be blogging about is "Wake Up to God's Word" By Mary H. Reaman :) 

Chapter 1 (my job! :))) haha)

So far this book is really interesting and cool to depict and figure out! In Chapter 1 the author is talking about the Israelites being slaves under Pharoah, and their journey to freedom. What I thought about while reading that part is how we are all slaves to the devil and to sin. This was something that was surrounding the Israelites, just like how sin, temptation, evil, greed, lust, dishonesty, and jealousy surround us on a daily basis.
"Though the idea of freedom must have sounded promising to the Israelites, they had to know it would cost something of them to gain it." (6)  Does that sound like our lives today?? Now when it said cost I thought... what?? But then once I re-read it I realized that its not the cost that we think of in our lives today, but the "cost"  of giving our lives to follow the Lord. That is what will lead us out of that sin, slavery and evil, and into that Freedom that we recieve following the Lord. Like it says in the book, Jesus set off on a journey and invited/told others to follow him on that path. The journey being freedom. This journey that the book talks about is not easy! It is helping us to grow, to learn and to live it out. That takes a lot! What stuck out to me in the beginning of this chapter is the fact that they refered to this journey as a "Transformation". Because turning away from that slavery and running to God, is a transformation, of your heart, mind, soul and whole being! :) This freedom may seem out of reach but, when you decide to take that step, it can only get closer!

Next in the chapter the book references a Cherokee Tradition Story of Two Wolves..
An old Cherokee is teaching his grandson about life. "A fight is going on inside me," he said to the boy.


"It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves. One is evil - he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego." He continued, "The other is good - he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith. The same fight is going on inside you - and inside every other person, too."


The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, "Which wolf will win?"



The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed."

Isnt that so true!?? The evil wolf being the devil and the beautiful wolf being the Lord. :) How relevant is that!

Some Key Points that I read and noticed were:

-Put on the Mind Of Christ
-For a better understanding of the word, dig deeper into scripture
-Ponder Jesus' call for us to be free
-Acknowledge that inside of us we have the capacity for both good and evil.
-When we are free from our selfish desires we move way from our "Ego"
-Become who God wants us to be
-Ger rid of the "Ego"
-Ego is an emotional response, but dont be locked down by it. Dont see yourself as a victium to it, live up to your full potential and overcome it.
-"The blueprint for dysfunction is something that every human carries within" (11)
- In the story of the Israelites the "ego" is represented by Pharoah, and his control over them.
-The "ego" is the "opponent" trying to distract and sabotage us. Also known as Satan, and Lucifer.
-Unleash Christ's consciousness and be truly free!
-Spread that freedom to the WORLD!
-God's word is within us, spread it! :)
-The living water is within our grasp!

All this "ego" is trying to do is to take us away from God and what we should be following and turn us in a different direction.

At the end of the chapter it gives you four things to do...

1. DEFINE and IDENTIFY what exactly your ego is. Sit quietly for 10 mins observe your thoughts as they come to you and do not resist them. Simply watch them. Do this for 10 to 20 mins in the morning and before you go to bed. This helps you determine what your ego is.
2. CONTEMPLATION-- Memorize this line... "Hear, O Israel, The LORD is our God, the Lord alone" Deuteronomy 6:4-9. Recite this line as often as you can. Contemplate and consider how your life journey is like the Israelites under Pharoh's rule.
3. PRAYER-- Pray that God will open you up to hearing his word in all the ways you can see it. Through people, actions, and so many more! :)
4. ACTION OF LOVING KINDNESS-- Look for someone who you think displays Christ's conciousness, Drop them a note or an email letting them know you noticed their compassion.

This first chapter covers a lot! :) I strongly encourage you to follow along with Kym and I! :) This book is giving great tips to show us how to uncover God's word :)

If you have any questions please comment here or email me at ashleywalz@gmail.com :)

Dont forget to look for chapter 2 on Kym's blog coming soon!
Please comment here with that you think!:) Feedback would be amazing! :)

Thanks for reading and God Bless,
Ashley

Waiting For My Future Husband

Alright Guys! :) On the side of my blog I had a poll going for a couple of days about topics that you would like to hear me talk about here on my blog. And the winner was "Waiting for My Future Husband". :) Sooo.. here we go!

It all started after I got out of a bad relationship, it was so difficult for me to not have someone there for me. So I continued to cling to boy after boy, thinking that would make me feel loved and accepted. Once I would get close to another guy, my heart would hurt, and my concience would go crazy! Its hard to explain but its just one of those feelings that you know when something just isnt right. Nights would go by and I would be so upset, and I would think these questions to myself...
-Why wont a boy like me?
-Am I ever going to get married??
-Why isnt this working??
And along with those questions came these statements...
-Im too fat for any guy to love me
-Im not pretty enough for someone
-Im too wierd
-No one likes me
And the list could go on and on.... pretty sad huh?! Typing about my past is really hard for me, and now I am realizing it more and more as I get further into this blog.

***Sidenote.... during my bad relationship I turned my back on God, and turned away from the Catholic Faith as well. I thought that if I had sex with my boyfriend at the time that it was ok because he loved me, and God would forgive me. Not a problem! MAN I WAS SO STUPID! Thank God I DID NOT give up my virginity to him. That I am so thankful for!

So slowly after all of those short little "flings" with boys came and went I started going to Youth Group. It wasnt until the first trip to MOA and Lifeline *Teen Mass In St. Paul* that things started to change. A few ladies had an AMAZING talk with our wonderful youth minister Kym in the car on the way down and on the way back. This is one day and talk that I will never forget. It wasnt until I had a min to talk to Kym just one on one that she just talked to me. She didnt talk AT me she talked TO me. Telling me her story, and so much more. And then, it all just came out, I told her what was going on and how I didnt know what to do anymore. I told her my doubts and my fears. And what I was shocked about was that she told me she knew how I felt! Kym made me feel so much better that night and helped me turn back. And to this day I'm not sure if she knows fully how much she changed my life that night, and how much she continues to change it for the better on a daily basis.

Then Kym introduced me to this book titled "When God Writes Your Love Story". Which is written by a married couple. I LOVED THE BOOK! :) It was so amazing to hear that things do happen through God, Faith and patience.

So after I finished the book I made a list of all of the things that I want in my future husband. :) It made me feel different, but in such a good way though. I have always thought that I have to sink down to a guy's level to get him to like me and be with me. But man was I wrong.

So from that day on, I look back at that list and remind myself that God has MY future husband out there for me, and he will bring us together in his time :) I also make sure to pray for him :) which is very important.  And when Im sad, happy, excited, and so much more I sit down and write him letters. Telling him how much I love him and miss him. And now I know you are asking "How can you love him and not have even met him yet?!?" And I answer that once I started loving the Lord, I started loving my future husband. Its through that love that i have for my savior, and how much i fall more and more in love with him, that I love my future husband. Because the Lord is the writer of our love story. ***I hope that makes sense! :) Hard to explain***

I have also made another big commitment, that being waiting to have Sex until marriage. And for some odd reason society portrays it that teenagers CANNOT abstain... I find that hurtful and incorrect. I'm abstaining, im waiting :) My future husband deserves that gift that God intended for him :)

BELIEVE ME guys it gets soo hard! Im not going to lie! Some days im like "Ok are you here yet?!?" haha ;) but i know i have to wait which is hard but well worth it. So I plan on sitting and waiting for my Prince Charming to come to me. Im not dating anyone else. I dont care how long it takes. God has a plan for me and him :)

"For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord. Plans for you to prosper, not to woe. To give you Hope and a Future"-- Jeremiah 29:11 :)

"There is a love, unabiding love, more than your dreaming of. And all you are is his hearts desire, beloved beautiful."- Jesse Manibusen "Maria"

"Im waiting, Im waiting on you Lord, and I am hopeful. Im waiting on you Lord though it is painful. But patiently I will wait."-- "While Im Waiting" From the movie Fireproof

"Wait on Me, My princess. My timing is always perfect. I know you're anxious about many things, and I see your passion for all the plans I have put in your heart. I know that you long to fly, and I see your enthusiasm. However, just as a vinedresser nurtures the vine and waits patiently for the right moment to harvest the grapes, so too am I working tirelessly to prepare you to bear much fruit. Don't run ahead of Me or try to fly before My plans are complete. Your strength will fail you, and your dreams will wither away. Trust Me that My dreams for you are far greater than you can dream on your own. You will run farther and soar higher if you will patiently wait for the season of My blessing. Draw close to Me now, and I promise that this season of waiting will bring you the sweetest of rewards.

Love,


Your Kind and Lord of perfect timings"


But those who wait on the Lord will find new strength. They will fly high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. - Isaiah 40:31
 
Thank you all for taking time to read this blog, and I hope that I fullfilled what you were looking for when you voted on that poll. :) 
God Bless!
 
Ashley

NCYC & Changes

Hey All! :) IM BACK! :)

Sooo many people have been asking me about NCYC and how it went...and man Kym was totally right.. you cannot explain it. But im going to try my best!

-We arrived at about 3:00 pm in Kansas City. Got to the hotel quick to change and drop off our stuff and then headed to the conference center.
- General Session I walked into and seeing everyone and all the music by John Angotti made me cry, along with my jaw dropping... Unbelieveable!
-Went to different workshops, such as A Catholic Comedian who was hillarious!, and to Mark Hart the bible Geek! :) Both amazing!
-General Sessions continued to raise the bar :)
-Jason and Crystalina Evert Spoke on Saturday night which brought me to tears... They are my idols and their message is so powerful and so true! Look up Jason Evert on youtube, you wont regret it!
-Steve Arigsano, and Jesse Manibusan were AMAZING emcee's :)
-I MET JASON AND CRYSTALINA! :) I completely freaked out and was in awe by them! :) I got a picture with them too! Plus Crystalina gave me her email adress and said that they would send me copies of their books to give out at my purity ball, and that i should let them know the dates to speak (If they can fit it in their busy schedule)
- Went to Reconciliation and Adoration
-Heard amazing teen speakers! My Favorite was Philip Ryan, he had an inoperable brain tumor which eventually just went away, along with other miracles from God... Sooo amazing!
-Took part in mass with 21,000 other catholic youth! Communion took 40 mins, and there were 140 clergy men persiding! :)
-HAD AN AMAZING TIME! :)

NCYC was so unbelieveable and so wonderful. I learned so much, the major one being that I am not alone! There are so many other Catholic's just like me! :) Completely blew me away!

Thank you for all who donated time, money and prayers for me and our delegation over the trip! They helped so much! Thank you all for this amazing opportunity!
 Here are some pictures.... :)

Now on to the changes aspect of this blog.... Here is a note that I wrote and posted on my facebook, hopefully this gives you the jist of what exactly went on... :

'Hey Everyone!
It has come to my attention that many of my status updates about my faith have been taken the wrong way. To some it was considered "Shoving it down peoples throats". I would like to apologize for those coming off that way. I honestly did not mean for the status' to come off in the wrong was and i am very sorry that people felt that way about it.


To me my faith is SO VERY important, and i just wanted to inspire and help others. I did not mean for it to be taken as me forcing people to be just like me. I know everyone is different that is for sure.



It has also come to my attention that lots of people still really enjoy reading my posts etc... well you people are in luck! :) I am going to continue blogging about more faith oriented things, inspirational things, struggles, life, God, Catholocism, my life, and so much more on my blog! :) I hope that all of you read it, by your own choice. Please visit www.highschoolcatholic.blogspot.com to read all that i have to say.



To me i just want to proclaim God's amazing message to the world, but i dont want to frusturate/irritate or hurt anyone in that process. I sincerly apologize if you were offended or hurt by any of my posts, that was not my intention.



If you choose so please let me know what you think of my blog posts! That would be soo appreciated to see that they are reaching someone and that someone actually gets something out of it. :) Please feel free to comment here, on my blog, message me with any questions/comments/concerns and email me at ashleywalz@gmail.com.



Thanks and God Bless All Of You :)'
 
So this blog is going to be my life, and i really hope to keep up with it! Sometimes its hard to sit down and take time to type and all of that, but honestly I dont just do it for me, i do it for the people that i can reach, help and hopefully inspire. Thank you so much for your loyalty to reading my blog and all its contents. And i apologize if i have offended anyone of you as my readers.
 
ON A LIGHTER NOTE!!! Since at NCYC i had a wonderful opportunity to stock up on a few books (6) my youth minister and I are doing a social experiment :) We are both going to read the same book, but we divided it up into chapters. Going every other chapter, so i am the 1st! :) I will post my interpretation of the chapter on my blog here, and then she will post her interpretation of the next chapter on her blog. I am really excited and glad that Kym came up with the idea! :) So please visit Kym's Blog to see her interpretations as well as mine on here. I can definately tell you that you will for sure get lots of things out of Kym's blog, she is an amazing mom, wife, Catholic, youth minister, smart, funny, and truly an inspiration to many. I hope you like our soical experiment! Let us know what you think, comment here or email me at ashleywalz@gmail.com :) 
 
Lord---
Thank you so much for all you do for me and my family. You truly bless me on a daily basis, and you open up doors for me in all different ways. Thank you for the AMAZING experience at NCYC, let us all be the light in the darkness, shining for all to see. You are an amazing God, who does so much because he loves me and all of you. Please continue to bless my writings here, and the eyes and people who read them. 
In your name,
Amen 
 
God Bless,
And please let me know what you think! :)
LOVE!
Ashley

How to live in a Sex-Saturated World.

Hey all!!!

Well the title of this blog might of just tied you in! haha kidding
That is the "slogan" along with the new book that i just bought at Barnes and Noble. and So far its pretty good!

The Title caught my attention.... "Every Young Womans Battle... How to live a Christian life in a Sex Saturated world" Pretty amazing huh!??!?!? Fits the world today thats for sure!

The book is really good so far, and its really opening up my eyes.
I mean i thought i was alone, you know the wierd virgin girl kind of thing but in the large scheme of things im not!

To be completely truthful its tough to see all of the things that teenagers in my school are going through and it really breaks my heart and i pray for them daily so i urge you to pray for them as well. We need to get good role models out there for young women especially. So this ties into the fact that me and 2 friends are doing a service project called "White Rose Waltz" its a purity ball!!!! :) Still working out the details but we want it to be elegant, father daughter, dinner and dancing and a covenant with God to abstain from Sex until marriage. So i ask you to please pray for me and my friends and my AMAZING mentor Kym Allex. We need the prayers so God will guide us to inspire, empower and challenge these young ladies :)

Please pray for me tonight as i go to a teen leadership meeting and also present to the CCW (Council of Catholic Women) to ask for funding for our possible speaker.... who im trying so hard to keep to myself but i cant...i will give you a clue... "More Beautiful You"  Comment here if you think you know who it is!

Thanks for the prayers!
God Bless,
Ashley