February 2021-May 2021

Hello!!!!
It has been a long time since I've shared a monthly overview post, so here is one (very late) update now with lots of pictures from the last four months of college, which was February to May. 

There are so many gorgeous flowering plants blooming on campus all the time. (Plus, the lawn guys are always digging up flowers and replanting new beauties.) 

These photos were taken during the labs in my photography class. 

God blessed us with a beautiful day during Bible Conference (Feb. 22-24) to enjoy a lovely picnic. The theme was 'Take Me Out to the Ballgame', and there was “baseball game" foods, as well as baseball-themed games and kite flying.

More photos from photography class...

These are my favorite displays created by art students, shown at the art show. 

More nature photos...

This photo and the next two are ones I shot for my final photography project. For each, I had to shot the photo in RAW format, and edit them according to my teacher's specifications. For the above flower, I had to edit the color photo to enhance it. 

This is a color photo, converted to black and white with one color added back in. 

This photo is called a HDR photo: the combination of one regular, one overexposed (too much light), and one underexposed (not enough light) photo. When put together, one is able to see the details that are usually hidden by the highlights. In this photo, detail can be seen in the tree trunk. 

At the senior party, Sarah won the grand prize when she found this Woody character. :)

These railroad tracks were near a beautiful beach that Sarah, her friend, and I visited to take pictures at. 

Sarah graduated on May 13th from PCC with her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. 

Her friend made the lovely graduation cap.

Donuts from Krispy Kreme for 2021 graduates.

Sarah's nursing pin...

After Sarah's graduation, we all left college and went home for a week. 

We girls visited the Elliot museum as well as the House of Refuge museum and beach. 

A painting of the House of Refuge...

The beach...

Across the road from the beach is the river. 

God gives us the prettiest scenes to enjoy.

 Toby

Zoey got stuck in a tree and had bad I nternal injuries. Sadly, she had to be put down on June 23rd. 

Toby and Gracie miss her. Gracie loved playing with the goats. Here Zoey is chasing her.

And that about sums up February through May. Now the summer is upon us and I hope to do a summer update within the next month or so. I’d love to hear how your year has been going thus far...feel free to leave a comment! 

love,

Ashley

“And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:”  ~Hebrews 10:24

 

 

Happy 4th of July!!!

Today is the 245th anniversary of America, and I’m so grateful to be living in this country.  Lauren and I went to a picnic hosted by the church here on campus (we’re working at college for the summer), where they served yummy food catered by Sony’s BBQ.  The Lord gave us beautiful weather to enjoy the picnic.  

Here’s a joke for you: Why aren’t there any knock-knock jokes about America? (Answer is at the end of this post.) 

Some things I’m grateful for today: 

-A day of rest set that’s aside to remember and celebrate the founding and independence of America.

-Fun celebrations and festivities that the holiday brings. 

-Patriotic music 

-An extra day off of work tomorrow 

-Time spent with my sister and friends

-Freedom in Christ and freedom in America to worship God freely

(Answer to joke: Because FREEDOM rings!!! 😄) 

What are you thankful for on this Fourth of July? How did you celebrate today? 

“But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.” ~ Galatians 4:4-7

We Remember.

Happy Memorial Day!!!!!!!!

 

I am so grateful for this day that is set aside to remember all the men and women who have died who sacrificed so much for the freedoms we enjoy today. We are very much indebted to them, and I will not forget them. 

"And if words cannot repay the debt we owe these men, surely with our actions we must strive to keep faith with them and with the vision that led them to battle and to final sacrifice."

~ Ronald Reagan 

 

"Words are even more feeble on this Memorial Day, for the sight before us is that of a strong and good nation that stands in silence and remembers those who were loved and who, in return, loved their countrymen enough to die for them." ~Ronald Reagan 

 

 

love,

Ashley  

 

John 15:12-13

"This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."

 

 

He is risen as He said!

A happy hello to you, friend!

I know this post is a few days later than I had originally planned, but it's okay...we can rejoice in Christ's resurrection on more than just one day of the year. I am so thankful we serve a risen Saviour, aren't you? People entangled in other religions worship or follow a leader who once lived, but now is dead. As Christians, we worship the Lord who not only lived and died, but now is living! And because he is living, we can place our full trust in him without any reservations. I love this passage in 1 Corinthians.

 

 "And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. Yea, and we are found false witnessed of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive."  

I think these songs speak wonderfully of the story of the death and resurrection of Jesus.

My hope is in the Lord, who gave Himself for me. 

And paid the price of all my sin at Calvary. 

For me, He died; For me, He lives. 

And everlasting life and light He freely gives. 

No merit of my own, His anger to suppress,

My only hope is found in Jesus' righteousness. 

For me, He died; For me, He lives. 

And everlasting life and light He freely gives. 

And now for me He stands, before the Father's throne. 

He shows His wounded hands and names me as His own. 

For me He died; For me, He lives. 

And everlasting life and light He freely gives. 

Christ the Lord is risen today, Alleluia! 

Sons of men and angels say, Alleluia! 

Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia! 

Sing, ye heavens, and earth, reply, Alleluia! 

Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia! 

Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia!

Once He died our souls to save, Alleluia! 

Where thy victory, O grave? Alleluia! 

Love's redeeming work is done, Alleluia! 

Fought the fight, the battle won, Alleluia! 

Death in vain forbids His rise, Alleluia! 

Christ hath opened paradise, Alleluia! 

Soar we now where Christ hath led, Alleluia! 

Foll'wing our exalted Head, Alleluia!

Made like Him, like Him we rise, Alleluia!

Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, Alleluia! 

King of glory, Soul of bliss, Alleluia! 

Everlasting life is this, Alleluia!

Thee to know, Thy pow'r to prove, Alleluia!

Thus to sing, and thus to love, Alleluia!

I'll end with this song written by Charles Wesley called "All Ye that seek the Lord who died."

All ye that seek the Lord who died,
Your God for sinners crucified,
Prevent the earliest dawn, and come
To worship at His sacred tomb.

Bring the sweet spices of your sighs,
Your contrite hearts, and streaming eyes,
Your sad complaints, and humble fears;
Come, and embalm Him with your tears.

While thus ye love your souls t’employ,
Your sorrow shall be turned to joy:
Now, let all your grief be o’er!
Believe, and ye shall weep no more.

An earthquake hath the cavern shook,
And burst the door, and rent the rock;
The Lord hath sent His angel down,
And he hath rolled away the stone.

As snow behold his garment white,
His countenance as lightning bright:
He sits, and waves a flaming sword,
And waits upon his rising Lord.

The third auspicious morn is come,
And calls your Savior from the tomb,
The bands of death are torn away,
The yawning tomb gives back its prey.

Could neither seal nor stone secure,
Nor men, nor devils make it sure?
The seal is broke, the stone cast by,
And all the powers of darkness fly.

The body breathes, and lifts His head,
The keepers sink, and fall as dead;
The dead restored to life appear,
The living quake, and die for fear.

No power a band of soldiers have
To keep one body in its grave:
Surely it no dead body was
That could the Roman eagles chase.

The Lord of Life is risen indeed,
To death delivered in your stead;
His rise proclaims your sins forgiv’n,
And show the living way to Heav’n.

Haste then, ye souls that first believe,
Who dare the Gospel-Word receive,
Your faith with joyful hearts confess,
Be bold, be Jesus’ witnesses.

Go tell the followers of your Lord
Their Jesus is to life restored;
He lives, that they His life may find;
He lives, to quicken all mankind.

 

 

 

with love,

Ashley

"Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us."  ~ Romans 8:34

 

 

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El Roi ~ The God Who Sees

"And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael; because the LORD hath heard thy affliction. And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man's hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren. And she called the name of the LORD that spake unto her, Thou God seest me: for she said, Have I also here looked after him that seeth me? Wherefore the well was called Beer-lahai-roi; behold, it is between Kadesh and Bered." ~Genesis 16:11-14

This is a familiar portion of Scripture. In chapter 16 of Genesis, Hagar became Abraham's wife. When Sarah cast Hagar out of the house, Hagar fled to the wilderness where she was met by God. He tells her that he will multiply her seed and that she would name her son Ishmael. She named the place El-Roi, which interpreted is "the God who sees." Beer-lahai-roi, then, would mean "the well of him that liveth and seeth me." 

I'm sure Hagar felt very much alone when she was in the wilderness. God met her where she was though, and she obviously noticed his presence because she called him El-Roi. Today, in January 2021, God is still El-Roi. Psalm chapter 139 is full of comforting verses that God sees and knows you. Maybe you are discouraged about the events of the past few months and feel alone, or maybe you are going through a trial and are lonely. Or maybe everything is going alright for you. No matter what season of life you are in, remember that God sees everything. He sees your loneliness.  He sees your trials. He sees the devices of the wicked. He sees the hearts of his people, and he hears their prayers.  Job 34:21 says "For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings."

Whatever happens in our country and in our world this year, be encouraged that our God, who never changes, always sees. He is El-Roi. 

"The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good." ~Proverbs 15:3

Please keep praying, dear friend, and may God bless you. 

with love, 

Ashley

1 Peter 3:12 ~ "For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil."

August 2020-January 2021

Hello and happy new year! 

I had planned to write one more post last year, but it didn't happen. So here we are in a new year, 2021. I hope you had a joyful Christmas season, and a good start to the new year.  Since I didn't post during college, here's a random picture update from August 2020 till January 2021. 

Right before my mom and Deborah left Sarah, Lauren, and I at college, we drove to Alabama to eat at Lambert's- the home of the throwed roll. 

The painting on the side of their building is so patriotic and beautiful. 

The famous throwed roll....

Flags at college to remember 9/11....

Hurricane Sally brought a lot of rain to Pensacola and did quite a bit of damage to the surrounding areas. Students worked a few days in the communities and on campus, cleaning up debris.  

There were many days where the sky looked like a magnificent painting. 

Sarah turned 23 while at college, so we threw her a little surprise party. :) 

"Florida snow" aka frost. ;) 

It's always fun to drive around looking at Christmas lights. Some houses really go all out on their decorations. 

On the drive back to our hometown after finishing college, we stopped at a park in Tallahassee for a brisk walk. 

This Christmas, we girls had fun learning how to make royal icing for cookies with my aunt. 

We were also excited to meet Harry, my aunt's new puppy. ♥

The ice in the latte made a smile! :) 

Our family has had some really awesome fires this winter. 

January 1st-5th, Sarah and I joined Students for Life in Georgia. Almost 200 students from around the country met in Georgia and together we knocked on 70,000 doors, encouraging voters to vote pro-life in the senator election. There were 22 different vans, and every day, each van went to different neighborhoods campaigning. We also held signs outside the voting precinct on election day. 

Saturday, Jan. 2nd, a group of about 80 people stood outside this abortion clinic holding signs. A man who was not part of our group used a megaphone to preach the gospel and talk to the guys who were going in and out of the clinic. 

Our van group had the opportunity to eat at some interesting places. :) This small restaurant called Big Bang Pizza has robots that serve you. 

The spinach mushroom pizza tasted amazing!

This little pig with a sweater on was just the cutest. 

The weather was absolutely beautiful in Georgia.

While taking group pictures in front of this building, the owner came out and shared the history behind this painting. The left side represents old Georgia (1817) and the right side (pictured below) represents the new Georgia. 

The voting precinct we stood at was a library, and across the street there was this tunnel.

Our van group...

Friends, please pray for our country, pray for President Trump, pray for protection for him and his family, pray for God to work a miracle, pray for the impossible. This whole election thing is not over yet, so do not give up praying. Pray harder than ever before. Trust, yes, because God certainly has a plan, but please please pray that God will turn this thing around and ultimately be glorified in all of it, no matter the outcome. 

Here’s a fun song I think you’ll enjoy called Keep America Great, written by two sisters. :) If you’re viewing this post on your email, click here. They also wrote this song called TWALP, aka “That’s why America Loves President Trump.” :) 

Now, let's chat in the comments! I'd love to hear what your favorite memory was in 2020.  

with love, 

Ashley

Psalm 112:7 ~ He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord.

Psalm 9:9-10 ~ The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.