A Simple Act of Kindness

I had a very bust morning. Test, Class, grab something quick to eat, check mailbox...I was running around absorbed in my own world when someone past me and said hello. I looked up to find one of the most amazing Christian guys on campus and when i replied to his greeting, he asked about how the ministry team was going. After i informed him that we only got one more weekend to go, he said something that struck me and has kept with me all day, "Your doing an amazing job Ashleigh". I do alot for CSU and I don't see myself as doing my job as something that i volunteer for, but rather it is something i must do because i am called to do it. For some reason i don't expected to be thanked for doing my job, and when i am, it leaves me speechless. I appreciate the moments when people have come up to me and thanked me, it encourages me to keep pressing on. It's also a reminder that a simple act of kindness can mean to world to someone - such as this instance.

It's almost the end!

So as usual, Lifetime is on the tv. I just got back from a DNOW with the CSU Ministry Team to Memorial Baptist in St. George. Although it was really crazy getting ready for it, i was really thankful for the team who did so much. Nichole and Emily especially (thank you for doing so much!). The Driggers were an amazing host home, as well as CSU alumni...yay for the Buc connection! As soon as we got back i headed back to my room to try and finish up this major project, after this week it will unofficially be the begining of the end! After so much stress, i've actually begun to relax a little more and have even made it back to the gym, i've got to get my stamina back up for a summer for chasing bad guys! I know this post is short and sweet, so perhaps i'll end with a few words of wisdom, The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away - Blessed be the name of the Lord!

Life

It's crazy. So many things going on at once it's a wonder they don't all collide. I'm back from spring break and just finished a week back at CSU (6 more until summer vacay!). I'm working on two projects due in the next couple of weeks, as well as trying to prepare for some upcoming tests. I've been given an amazing opportunity to interview for an internship with the Internal Affairs section of the Marietta police depart...hopefully i'll get it...and i've got 4 ministry team weekends in the next 3 weeks. And my sunglasses broke....and i really liked them too...My gawwww what have i gotten myself into?
I'm escaping campus tonight, bound for the Town of Dorchester. Heard of it? I haven't either. So much has been going on that i've decided to take a break. Michael is currently venturing to south Georgia for his spring break - so i should have plenty of time to just chill by myself, and then come back to campus and tackle all of this work.
Every morning i wake up and ask God to give me the strength to make it through the day, and so far...He's been faithful =)

By the time you read this

I will be more than halfway through my 4th semester at CSU. I have just come back from taking my last midterm before spring break, and am feeling pretty good about myself right about now. It's crazy how quickly time passes when you get caught up in doing so much. I've recently taken on another mission - which is helping another local church start a youth worship band. We have auditions for the band tonight where me and a panel of judges (the youth minister and michael) will asked questions concerning spiritual growth, maturity, and leadership qualities. The auditioner then will play/ sing a song selection. Think of it as American Idol meets Johnny Caruso (for those of you who know Johnny). I'm very excited about this and hope enough students step up to where this can work. The Ministry Team is also getting alot of requests recently. I'm going to have 2 weekends back to back, as well as a double weekend. Yay for the oppurtunity to serve! Boo for the work =).

Yesterday i was sitting in my Policing Admin. class taking my midterm. The class meets right after an English/Philosophy class and whats cool is that the professor always writes a quote on the chalk board and then my professor never bothers to erase it. Past quotes have included "If it's stupid, and it works, then it's not stupid" and “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” Yesterdays quote was this, "He who knows nothing, doubts nothing." All i can say is - how ironic.

It's the Day-After Valentines, i had too

My amazing friend since 5th grade was able to come down to visit me this weekend for Valentine's Day. Her boyfriend is a Citadel cadet (as is mine) so we were able to double date pretty much all weekend. I'm not one for mushy love stuff, so i prefer group fun stuff the majority of the time....
And this is the part of the blog where i brag on my cadet. I told Michael that i didn't want him to buy me anything this year, that to dance to a song that meant something to him under the stars would be enough (ok, i like mushy love stuff once a year). He said,"ok!". What did he do? Well... =)
My Valentine's Day Date with Michael consisted of 3 parts. Part 1 consisted of a stuff dog, the meaning behind this gift was that i tell Michael and everyone i meet i want a puppy at least 3 times a day - but i don't want the responsibility of one. I thought the puppy was really cute, it sings "Hot Stuff" in cute lil dog boxers! Aw! Plus the furry hamster card was ridiculously cute.
Part 2 was dinner at Applebee's (i had steak!) where i was presented with diamond earrings. Yes, diamonds. He did goooooood. At this point i was really happy. But wait, the best is yet to come.
Part 3 was a quick drive to battery park downtown where there is a huge white gazebo overlooking the harbor. Michael had me stand on the pathway to the gazebo, then ran back to his car. He rolled down his car windows and blasted Billy Joel's "She's always a Woman" and then ran back to me and asked me if i would dance with him. It's at this part where all my girlfriends skriek and go ,"aaaaawwww!!!!". So yes, i got to dance under the stars afterall, even if it was a little bit cloudy...i didn't notice.
And this was my V-day weekend. I am really blessed with a great boyfriend...he rocks. Enough said.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4nQB3V10i8

Another Ashleigh Moment - you think i'd get used to it

I like to think of myself as an intelligent and witty person, but i guess i can never really pull it off due to my extremely obvious blonde moments. Such an event happened this past friday...*cue flashback music*
Stephanie, Erica, and I were headed to the Citadel for the weekly parade. Me - being the Citadel expert and all - was the designated driver. The only thing was, my car was missing. I could NOT find my car. Not only did Stephanie and i WALK up and down the rows of where my car should've been parked, Erica drove us around and searched for where it might have been - multiple times. After not having any luck of the sort, I did what every mature woman would do...i called Daddy.
Dad's advice was to report the car missing (which i throughly believed at the time that is was). All three of is then hiked to Campus Security to report the missing Scotty (my car) where i turned in a written report and filed all this paper work alongside my new C.P. buddy. I was then given instructions to call North Charleston Police and report it there as well. After spending 20 minutes on the phone with a strongly Spanish accented women, i was able to report my car missing and was told that anyone seen in the vehicle would be arrested on contact. Sweet.

After being told there was nothing else to do but wait, we decided to still go to the Citadel, because gosh darn it if i'm all stressed out, a mob of cadets always makes me feel better, and Stephanie was going to drive us. Steph can not drive without her ipod though, so we had to pick that up first. As Steph pulled infront of our building, i spotted something familar.

Yes, it was my car. Parked in an upper woman's parking spot. How did it get there? I have no idea. I do not remember parking it there. The fact alone that i did not have a parking ticket was a shere miracle. After my shock was over (Dad was on the phone during this part too...i kinda went hysterical, laughing and such) i had to call back North Charleston police and cancel my report...i did not want to get arrested in my own car after all, and then i flagged down Campus Police...and on his approach he yelled , "I Found it!!!"....yeah...sure...

Needless to say, i made it to the Citadel, in my own car...and am investing in a car panick button.

Power Source and Humbletip

So i was right when i said that this weekend was going to be amazing! I was blessed with the 9th grade girls and with a great host family. Everyone got along with no drama and when we had our Bible studies, everyone got into it. I loved being a leader in a Dnow where i didn't have to plan, organize, or make sure everything was going to run smoothly

We had Christian rappers come in to lead part of our worship time, i'll admit i was really skeptical, but the kids really got into it and after the first "service" i was right up front with my girls starting sweet new dance moves. We also had a Christan body builders team called Power Source who did ridiculous things like tear 5 inch phone books in half and curl frying pans into a burrito =).

One of the best parts of the weekend was being able to see my friends from highschool who got to lead alongside me. It's crazy how no matter how long you've been apart, it's like you've never left each other when you get reuinted again. Johnny (my old youth pastor) even took us leaders out to lunch and it was just like old times again with being on the highschool leadership team with only a few key people not present. I look forward to the next time i'm able to head back to Fort Mill, i really miss those really good friends who have known me for years and years...plus its great to see my grandma lift logs that my grandfather can't...