Saint Mary's University

Hey all!!

So much to update you on but how to find the time!? :) Here is a little update for you....
in September I was accepted to Saint Mary's University In Winona, MN :)  This school has proven itself perfect for me, from the beautiful campus, wonderful/genuine/sweet staff, peaceful environment, Youth Ministry Degree & more :) I absolutely am in love with it!
I think i have found my home :) Still praying about it though!

So mom and I stopped to see it again yesterday after my apt in WI so here are some pictures :)

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

When you hear God's voice

Ever since i went to confession last week i feel that God is speaking to me. At first i thought it was just a subconconious thing ya know? Like "Oh yeah i was just thinking about it, its nothing.." Its a difficult thing to describe to you readers but i will try...

When i am thinking about things in silence, like in class where i normally keep to myself, i will just be thinking about random things but then a Bible verse will come into my head, or a song, or just simple words. For example.... I was in Math class on friday and went to the restroom (TMI i know! :) lol) and i was thinking about college and what i am going to do with my life and all of those kind's of things, and i start to semi-panic.... and then all of a sudden "Be NOT afraid" has entered my head, and i feel at peace. And i stop in my tracks..  Like God is trying to tell me "Ashley its ok, I've got you, its gonna be ok, dont fear." I am stunned and have no idea what to think. So then going to mass at 10:30 this morning, Father Tim's homily was about how when you are at crossroads you should "Be NOT afraid" All i can do is smile.
God planted that seed, and then when i doubted that it was actually him, he reinforces it :)

All i can say is AMEN my Heavenly Father is amazing! And i never thought i would have this kind of connection, but all i can do is praise him for it and listen to what he has to say to me :)

God Bless,
Ashley

Best Friend's Night Out :)

Hey All! :)

DeDe and i had a great time tonight! :) We went to applebee's and had a nice, and funny dinner! With lots of chatting and commenting on our interesting waitress :) lol good times! :) then we went to culvers to get ice cream and headed over to her house to hang out. We had lots of fun and took hillarious pictures! (More to come at the bottom!)

Overall today was a good day! My mom had a Bagolitas http://www.bagolitas.com/ and Norwex http://www.norwex.com/norwex.php?lng=7&cnt=223 party with lots of wonderful ladies over at our house :) Judith and i helped make lunch and shopped around. I got a super cute purse for 50% off! Regularially $68 and i got it for $33 :) i am sooo happy! I love purses!

Then after that Judith and i were invited over to Sandy and Ashley Suchy's house to watch movies for the afternoon! We watched "Ghost of Girlfriends Past" and "21". Ghost of Girlfriends Past wasnt that great but it was alright i guess, and i got to watch about a hour and it looked really good! So i am hoping to get to watch it someother time :)

Then i headed over to pick up DeDe and we had a great time!

Oh my goodness! I leave for NCYC in 4 days! :) i am so excited! :) Oh yeah! And i went and got a wall charger for my ipod for the trip :) haha im prepared! I cant wait!

Right now i am just cuddling up with Lilly so i can spend some time with her :) She is such a cute puppy!

Life is going good right now :) i am really happy! :) Thank you God for such and amazing life that you ahve set before me! :)

God is Good! :)

Haha Nice Pics huh?!?!? :)

haha :) love these pictures! :)

So as you can see we had a great time! :) I love you DeDe! Your such an amazing friend! :) actually a sister :) love you!

Lord-

Thank you so much for giving me great friends and great times :) You truly bless me day after day and i am so thankful. Help me to continue to do your will, and help me to be open to what you have in store for me at NCYC in 4 days :)

Amen

"I will love you lord with all my heart"

"Bring me joy bring me peace, the chance to be free, bring me everything that brings you glory"

"Everything lies on hope now, everything lies on faith somehow, and when the world has broken me down, you love sets me free"

LOVE!!! :)