ebenezers

The following is taken from Beth Moore's Believing God:
      "Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, "Thus far has the Lord helped us'" (1 Sam. 7:12)
       Ebenezer means "stone of help."  As we walk out the remainder of our time line of faith, let's keep memorializing God's obvious interventions and spiritual markers through stones of remembrance.  In the meantime, by faith let's walk with a (figurative) stone in our hand as an "Ebenezer" until we see the next astonishing evidence or spiritual marker and lay it on our line. You see, the "Ebenezer" stone constantly reminds us, "Thus far has the Lord helped us." In other words, with God's help we're making is so far, and we'll make it some more.

You probably noticed the title of the blog has changed.

I've been back from Texas for just about a week and a half, and have had plenty of time to digest the things I experienced while back home.

It's still hard for me to believe that I'm living in Falls Church, VA - and as much as I find it hard to believe, I also find that I don't deserve it, by any means.  The Lord has grown me an awful lot since bringing me up here - mostly in areas I didn't aware I needed growth in.

I was in Texas for the week before Labor Day weekend and flew back up here on Labor Day.

For 22 years we've been having a "family reunion" at my parents house in Frankston on this weekend. This was our 22nd year. So practically, all of my life.

For 22 years it's been mostly the same people, with a few dropping off and adding a few.

For 22 years it's been the "fat camp" weekend (meaning, all we do is eat, play cards and shoot guns)

For 22 years it's been one of my favorite weekends.

But this year, it came in a whole new light.  For awhile now, since around my last semester at college, I've been praying that on my trips back to Frankston, that I would love and serve - just like I do 99% time.  Only, when I go back home - it seems so easy to fall back into the way "thing always were."

I hated that. I didn't realize how much I couldn't do it on my own, to not act in the way I grew up acting, fighting for a place and doing whatever it took to get it.

But this year - was different.  I found the most joy when I was serving and helping. Whether cooking, bathing children, feeding the 14 dogs, or just doing something I really didn't care to do (there are a number of those things).  I'm thankful for that, I'm thankful that this year - it didn't all fall on my mom to do everything.  That for maybe the first time, it seemed like she wasn't doing it all.

I mean, really, 20ish people at your home for an entire weekend? It's like an army invasion. Especially with all the kiddos.  And the older the kids get, the more of an army it will become. But an army I wouldn't trade for anything.

So back to the title change.

I spent some time just thinking while back home, about how many things I could look back on, in my life - and clearly see that the Lord had His hand over me.  When in most of the situations, let's be honest - all of them... He probably should have just let me go for how wretched I was being - but instead, because of His sovereignty and grace, He chose to dust off my trail and call me back home.

I'm thankful for His grace.

I'm thankful He's in control.

and most importantly, for His unwavering, unconditional love.
--------------------------------------
I stand amazed in the presence
Of Jesus the Nazarene,
And wonder how He could love me,
A sinner, condemned, unclean.

O how marvelous! O how wonderful!
And my song shall ever be:
O how marvelous! O how wonderful!
Is my Savior's love for me!

He took my sins and my sorrows,
He made them His very own;
He bore the burden to Calvary,
And suffered and died alone.

When with the ransomed in glory
His face I at last shall see,
Will be my joy through the ages
To sing of His love for me.

I'll Be Somewhere Down in Texas....if you're looking for me.

Tomorrow.. I head off to Texas - again, yes again. Though this trip has been planned for many months! I'm off to the great state until Sept. 7th and I'm so super excited.

On Saturday I get to see people that I've missed dearly and that I'm super crazy about.

On Sunday: continuance of above as well as attending a New Life service, which I can't wait for. (The podcasts just don't cut it...)

On Monday: Seeing my sister and Will again...and heading to Frankston to Mom & Dad's!

On Tuesday: Getting to see Sarah, Wade & Travis for dinner.

On Wednesday: Playing in Frankston (which I can't wait for...)

On Thursday: Repeat Wednesday

On Friday: See my most favorite Rachel in the whole world - it's been about 4 months and that's the longest it's EVER been. As well as see some family members as they begin arriving for a fun-filled-family-frankston-weekend!

On Saturday: Repeat Friday + getting to see Anna!! And more family I'm sure.

On Sunday: Play

On Monday: back to VA.

Man, when I spell it out like that, it seems soo short, but I guess it's not.

I still find it somewhat amazing how I "never thought I'd go home" and now, it's my favorite place to be. I'm thankful the Lord brought me away from my family, far away, so I'd know just how lucky I was and how amazing of a family and friends I have been blessed with.

Also - I'm reading a book titled "Through Painted Deserts" by Donald Miller - and I leave you with this quote - I absolutely love it.

And so my prayer is that your story will have involved some leaving and some coming home, some summer and some winter, some roses blooming out like children in a play. My hope is your story will be about changing, about getting something beautiful born inside of you, about learning to love a woman or a man, about learning to love a child, about moving yourself around water, around mountains, around friends, about learning to love others more than we love ourselves, about learning oneness as a way of understanding God. We get one story, you and I, and one story alone. God has established the elements, the setting and the climax and the resolution. It would be a crime not to venture out, wouldn't it?

It might be time for you to go. It might be time to change, to shine out.

I want to repeat one word for you:
Leave.

Roll the word around on your tongue for a bit. It is a beautiful word, isn't it? So strong and forceful, the way you have always wanted to be. And you will not be alone. You have never been alone. Don't worry. Everything will still be here when you get back. It is you who will have changed.

--something I've needed to hear for a while.

3 States in ONE weekend...

You couldn't do that in Texas...

My friend Wes came up to visit this past weekend. It was a whole lot of fun and we did so much that it felt like he was here for a lot longer than just the weekend.

Friday afternoon we walked around the monuments and met my friend Lauren, her cousin and roommate at Paolo's in Georgetown (a fabulous Italian restaurant that you must try if you're ever in the area!!) and then, we headed back to see the monuments at night time (the way I prefer them most! There is just something so amazing about seeing them lit up - and that's all you see.

"No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl. Instead he puts it on its stand, so that those who come in may see the light."

These monuments were built to stand out, and not to be hidden. As Christians, we are called to stand out, to be the light in the darkness. I know for myself, far to often, I'm willing to sometimes go into the darkness instead of really proclaim the message of Christ.

We finally made it back to Falls Church about 12:30...and we were rising early to head to Assateague Island, Maryland - right on the Atlantic Ocean, to watch the wild mustangs run. The island was beautiful and the horses, well - you can only imagine an animal placed in it's natural habitat - it's just beautiful, and simply freeing.

From there we headed north along Hwy 1, driving through Ocean City, MD up to Dewey Beach, DE where we ventured out and went Parasailing - which is just incredible. After parasailing we continued north to Rehoboth Beach, DE where we had dinner at Big Fish Grill - as suggested by most of the people on the parasailing boat! (Also reccommended if you're in the area any time soon!) I had blackened mahi mahi with mango salsa and mashers - and it was quite excellent. Wes had swordfish and I'm pretty sure he enjoyed his as well.

We headed down to the boardwalk on the way to the beach where we took a few pictures and headed back to the car - it was about 10 pm at this point, and we still had a 3 hr drive back to Falls Church ahead of us.

Thankfully, we made it back home safe just before 1:30 a.m. and were up bright and early the following morning for church at The National Cathedral....followed by my first experience of Greek food where we met up with Lauren and her cousin again.

We drove to the White House, Capitol, Georgetown Cupcakes and then to Iwo Jima before I dropped him off at the airport!

It was a super fun weekend and I'm so thankful that we had a safe, fun adventure!

I'm heading to Texas on Saturday - spur of the moment - and I'm pretty excited about it. Flying into S.A., staying with my sister in Fredericksburg, going to Houston to see all my nieces and nephews of whom we're taking to Galveston for the day, College Station on Wednesday, Austin on Thursday - to see WICKED! And Friday I'm flying back up here.... only to be flying back to Texas the next Saturday (8/29) for a previously planned vacation!

Side note: listen to how sweet my little nephew is: So his Granny came over tonight and asked him, "Is your A-squared (aunt ashley) going to come see you this weekend?" and He points to the sky...because I'll be coming in an airplane, just like h...ow he came to see me! Makes you wish he was your nephew I bet!

So blessed.

My First Trapeze Lesson

Back to Texas!

Last Thursday I headed back to Texas for Nana's surprise 85th birthday party at Mom & Dad's house.

I flew in on Thursday, straight into Tyler, which was super nice.

Friday, Dad, Eric, Will & I headed to College Station for the day to do a few things and I got to see a few people I've missed! Blair met us for lunch at Cotton Patch and then Dad dropped me off at the Duty's. I was so happy to get to see the Duty's and catch up for a few minutes. Their kiddos have grown up so much and I can't wait til I get to see them anytime I want and not just on special visits to College Station - but that pretty much goes for everyone in that town!

Saturday we pulled off the surprise...Nana had no idea! It was good to see lots of family that I hadn't seen in a while, as well as just to be in Frankston.

My flight was canceled out of Tyler on Sunday evening so I didn't get back to VA until yesterday. I barely made my connection flight in DFW - so close that they had closed the door to the plane and they had to re-connect the walkway to the plane, open the door- and let me on. I was so happy that I made the flight!

Last night I started trapeze lessons, check out my videos on my next post!

New Visitors!

On Thursday, July 9, Mom, Jennifer, Will, Linda, Hayley & Kaylynn all flew up here to visit for a few days.

In those few days we went to Monticello (a 2 hr drive), Cluge Winery, Eastern Market, Mount Vernon, The National Mall, The Holocaust Museum, and Annapolis. Of course with good food at every meal. With having to have the kids in bed around 8 each evening we just relaxed on the couch with a good movie.

I was so glad to have them all up here to visit and was sad to see them leave. Of course - the trip would not be complete without a little drama...

I lost my wallet in Annapolis. I began to fret a little, mainly because my social security card was in my wallet - yes I'm aware that is a big no no. We debated about driving back to Annapolis to see if we could find it. I had no recollection of what I had done with it after I purchased some ice cream, we thought it might had fallen under a bench... so we (Jennifer, Hayley & I) decided to drive back to Annapolis to see if it was under the bench...

of course it was not.

However, we did find it in the yogurt shop we had gone into for everyone else. Apparently I left it sitting on the booth beside me and someone (thankfully) turned it in!

I started crying when we found it! I was so thankful that I found it and that everything was still in it.


For pictures, check out my shutterfly site!

Evian Babies