What Happens At YTM?

You meet Amazing young women, who comfort you when you cry, give you advice, pray for you, and love you unconditionally.

You make a lasting friendship. She becomes one of your best friends, your roomate, your prayer buddy, text message-a-holic and so much more!

You goof off all the time!

You aspire to "Be The Church" of Jesus, and Sing it at the TOP OF YOUR LUNGS! :)

You meet people who make you think ;) haha

You hug....LOTS!

You Choose to make your Faith your own.

You pose for pictures even if your face is stained with tears.

You cant help but smile!

You find the courage to sing to your Savior, on stage by yourself.

You meet this young lady, who WILL touch and Change people's lives, for the better :)

You lead morning prayer the day after you get there, and you love it!

You have so many inside jokes, quotes and funny things that were done, too many to include all on this picture!

And this is only pieces of what happens :)

2 weeks+St. Johns University+Theology+Amazing People+Prayer+Service+Friendships=

Priceless :)

God Bless,

Ashley

Teaser Pictures :)

    :) An amazing night :) I love you Daddy... sooo much.. :) <3

God says "Build It Up and They Will Come!" :)

That title of this post is someting that my youth minister has contiuously said to me and man does it ring true.. :)

Our group for the White Rose Waltz hs ben sooooo blessed with everything that has happened and all we can do is PRAISE THE LORD!!! :)
So here is a little update of things that have happened! :)
-As of Tuesday night we had 17 couples, as of last night we hae 24 couples!!!! :)
-We are under budget by LOTS which means we can do this again next year comfortably! :)
-The Catholic Spirit is coming to interview us on Tuesday! :)

This whole project has been amazing!!!! I just cant believe how much has gone on! :) I am so lucky to be working with the BEST GROUP EVER!! I LOVE YOU LADIES!!!
THE WHITE ROSE WALTZ IS TOMORROWWWWWW!!!!!! :) I am so excited and so is my Daddy! :)
I work 8-9am tomorrow morning and go set up etc for the dance at 10am, then our mentors are kicking us out at 2:30 so we come home and get ready, and come back as participants :) :)

We have been so blessed!!!! :)
God Bless and Thank you for your support!,
Ashley

On the radio... SAY WHAT?!!

Hey All!!! :) Soooo we got an email from KYES talk radio in Grand Rapids MN and they wanted us to come into there studio for an interview!!!! :)  Sooo here are some of the pictures from the interview as well as links to the articles and community calendars tha we have been featured on! :) http://www.kyesradio.com/pages/VoiceFromtheCloud

http://www.spirit929.com/index.php?mod=Calendar&event_id=1135

http://www.ktis.fm/calendar/events/index.php?com=detail&eID=1880&year=2010&month=03

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

My God Loves Me Anyway

"Some people tell me that i look kind of funny
my nose is red and the braces don't work at all
they say the clothes i wear are all out of fashion
i don't fit in and should be shopping at a different mall
i studied classical piano
when i could've been playing guitar
i used to drive an el camino
and i'm not even sure it's car

Chorus:
i'm no cool but that's okay
my god loves me anyway
i'm not cool but that's alright
i'm still precious in his sight
i'm not cool but i don't care
how i'm supposed to do my hair
i'm not cool but that's okay
my god loves me anyway



it doesn't matter if i know all the lingo
he doesn't mind if i'm not hanging with a certain crowd
some people still believe in building an image
but i am finding that's a worry i can do without
i used to wish i was athletic
but football was never my game
i made some friends in mathematics
but no one can spell my last name

chorus
he says that i am a one of a kind
and i don't have to try to be somebody else
he believes in me and says i'm free to be myself
i can be myself"

Hey All! :)

So i hope that you all enjoyed my post from yesterday afternoon :) And by God and all his AMAZINGNESS on my way to the Purity Ball (White Rose Waltz) Meeting the song posted above was played on the radio and all i could do was smile :) What a perfect song right after the post i made the night before! :) God is soo good! :)

The song really relates to my life, and pretty much all of the things listed in the song have happened in my life haha and its so true though! I mean wow! Just because i dont fit into the "norm" of what society and high school portray is not something that i should conform to at all. And my prayer this morning along with Bible verse was...
"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.--- Romans 12:2. Praying for strength today" And wow it totally fits! :)

Lately i have been finding myself wanting and wanting to take that time before bed and not only pray but write in my prayer journal as well. I know that God knows whats all going on in my life, but at the same time, here i can write it out all that i want and need to pray for. It also helps me relax and just be in the presence of God and all of his wondrous deeds :)

Things have been going on in my life and recently it has been hard to deal with. With me being a people pleaser and all of that it makes it more and more difficult. Ya know the feeling when things keep happening and they just should'nt be happening the way they are.. and all you want to do is SCREAM!?!? Take that as an example of the past couple days of my life haha, no lie. It has definately had its up's and down's let me tell you! But at the same time, i am moving away from those situations and trying not to focus on myself but more focus on WHO needs the help. With that i have been trying to be proactive and not focus on myself in every situation, because the thing is... I am not the only one with thing going on in my life. And there are situations worse than mine out there. And if anything i should be thanking God for what i have and what i have been given more than focusing on the bad.

So i think that if it is something i am conciously going to work on, why dont you all as my readers try to do the same? It is completely up to you, but maybe as something during Lent (if you are Catholic, because it is all about sacrifice) or if you just plain want to do it! :) Step out of yourself and look at the broader picture :) Let me know if you are up to the challenge and how it goes for you! :) I would love to hear your personal testimony on stepping out of yourself and looking at the broader picture, what a way to serve God and his people :) if you would like to get in contact with me feel free to comment here or email me at ashleywalz@gmail.com :)

Good Luck and May God Bless You All!,
Ashley

Let me be his hands..

Hey all! :)

In the last post i wrote about the service project that i am doing with 3 other wonderful ladies :) We are all super excited and cant wait! 

One of the things that has been on my mind today how our mentor told us that this night (of our project) is going to be about honoring Him, not ourselves. Hearing that reassures me that everything is going to be ok. All of our hard work is going to pay off soon, this is going to be a huge success, only if we let God lead us.

Knowing all the work that is ahead of us is a lot that consumes my mind currently, but giving it to God is the best thing. He knows all of our weaknesses and our strengths and all he wants to do is lead is, thats all :) just givin' it to him :)

Thinking and Praying will you please too?  Thanks

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

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