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September 27, 2004
The boy with the pink shirt
This reminded me of the first boyfriend I ever had. It was 8th grade. He was a year younger, two heads shorter, and the sweetest boy I ever knew. He had blonde hair and a smile that just made me melt. He had a light pink oxford button down shirt that I loved. He used to make me mixed tapes that I listened to over and over. He would write me sweet letters, in shaky handwriting and simple words that smelled of his cologne. I still have those letters, tattered from reading and re-reading them, each word whispering to me that we would one day get married, have a million babies, and live in a little house with a white fence. It was eighth grade, and he was the first boy I ever held hands with. We broke up over something silly I am sure, I can't even remember the details, only the heartache. Its funny, as the years pass, the memories get sweeter. When I think of him, I have this wonderful, child-like love for him. He represents my innocence, and for that, I will never ever forget him.
Posted by ashley at 05:18 PM | Comments (1)
September 21, 2004
God's Design
I have been thinking a lot about listening to God when He speaks. Several years ago, a friend and I were going out for a night on the town. We stopped at a gas station across the street from another friend of mine that I had not spoken to in a while. I felt a tug to go over to his house that night. I remembered a promise I had made to his sister in law a few weeks ago that I would look after him. He had been kind of down lately. I even told the friend I was with that we should really stop over there and ask him if he wanted to go with us. But, despite the gut feeling I had to go over there, I didn’t because he had an annoying roommate who I knew would have wanted to go with us too. The roommate sometimes embarrassed me when he would go with us and I didn’t feel like dealing with him that night. I shrugged off my feeling and went about my night. Two days later his sister in law called me very early in the morning; my friend had hung himself two nights before, the night I should have gone and saw him. Several years have passed since then, but here lately I have found myself thinking about him. They said it was an impulsive action; there was no note; he was right in the middle of working on his computer and drinking a coke when he decided to do it. The point being, an impulse can be easily distracted into something else. I know in my heart that God was speaking to me that night, urging me to go to his house. And I ignored Him. I don’t know if I could have stopped what happened. I don’t know what God’s purpose is, but because I did not listen to Him, I will never know. The point being is to listen. God speaks to us all the time. The tugging at our hearts, the “gut feelings”, the minister’s sermon, the bible verse that seems to jump out at us; that’s God quietly telling us His will for our lives. God’s plan for our lives is perfect. By ignoring Him, we are not only being disobedient, but we are missing out on what God has in store for our lives.
Posted by ashley at 10:36 AM | Comments (5)
September 10, 2004
goin on a campin trip
So, Eric and I are taking a week off in October, and for part of it, we are going to go camping. Tents, dinner by fire (eating beans and Vienna sausages, I guess that is what you eat on camping trips), and days spent hiking and biking: the whole rustic thing. We are going to Petit Jean State Park in Arkansas. There is a 90 ft. waterfall and is supposed to be absolutely beautiful. We have never done anything like this together before, so it should prove to be quite interesting and fun. I have certainly not seen my husband get rustic. I will get the chance to see how well he can brave the wild for me, killing ferocious bears with his hands for food and skinning me fur blankets for warmth. Hopefully, it won’t get to that, though. And if so, we are in trouble. Anyway, you should check out the website: the park has an interesting history. I am super super excited! I bet it will be so beautiful in the fall. If anyone has any camping advice, what to bring, what to do in case….and other hints, hand it over; we novices need all the help we can get!
Posted by ashley at 04:57 PM | Comments (3)
September 07, 2004
news for thought
An interesting read for you here on this bright and beautiful Tuesday!
Posted by ashley at 03:57 PM | Comments (4)
September 03, 2004
ah, the memories
HOW DO YOU KNOW YOU'RE A CHILD OF THE 80S EARLY 90S???
1. You've ever ended a sentence with the word "PSYCHE "
2. You watched the Pound Puppies.
3. You can sing the rap to the "Fresh Prince of Bel Air "...and can do the "Carlton".
4. Girls wore biker shorts under their skirts and felt stylishly sexy.
5. You yearned to be a member of the Baby-sitters club and tried to start a club of your own.
6. You owned those li'l 'Strawberry Shortcake pals scented dolls.
7. You know that "WHOA" comes from Joey on Blossom
8. Two words: Hammer Pants
9. If you ever watched "Fraggle Rock"
10. You had plastic streamers on your handle bars... and "spokey-dokes" or playing cards on your spokes for that incredible sound effect.
11. You can sing the entire theme song to "Duck Tales" (Woo ooh!)
12. When it was actually worth getting up early on a Saturday to watch cartoons.
13. You wore a ponytail on the side of your head.
14. You saw the original "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" on the big screen... and still know the turtles' names.
15. You got super-excited when it was Oregon Trail day in computer class at school.
16. You made your mom buy one of those clips that would hold your shirt in a knot on the side.
17. You played the game "MASH" (Mansion, Apartment, Shelter, House)
18. You wore stonewashed Jordache jean jackets and were proud of it.
19. L.A. Gear....need I say more
20. You wanted to change your name to "JEM" in Kindergarten. (She's truly outrageous.)
21. You remember reading "Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing" and all the Ramona books.
22. You know the profound meaning of "WAX ON, WAX OFF"
23. You wanted to be a Goonie.
24. You ever wore fluorescent clothing. (Some of us...head-to-toe)
25. You can remember what Michael Jackson looked like before his nose fell off and his cheeks shifted.
26. You have ever pondered why Smurfette was the only female smurf.
27. You took lunch boxes to school...and traded Garbage Pail Kids in the schoolyard.
28. You remember the CRAZE, then the BANNING of slap bracelets.
29. You still get the urge to say "NOT" after every sentence.
30. You remember Hypercolor t-shirts.
31. Barbie and the Rockers was your favorite band.
32. You thought She-ra (Princess of Power!) and He-Man should hook up.
33. You thought your childhood friends would never leave because you exchanged handmade friendship bracelets.
34. You ever owned a pair of Jelly-Shoes. (and like #24, probably in neon colors, too)
35. After you saw Pee-Wee's Big Adventure you kept saying "I know you are, but what am I?"
36. You remember "I've fallen and I can't get up"
37. You remember going to the skating rink before there were inline skates.
38. You ever got seriously injured on a Slip and Slide.
39. You have ever played with a Skip-It.
40. You had or attended a birthday party at McDonalds.
41. You've gone through this nodding your head in agreement.
42. You remember Popples.
43. "Don't worry, be happy"
44. You wore like, EIGHT pairs of socks over tights with high top Reeboks.
45. You wore socks scrunched down (and sometimes still do...getting yelled at by "younger hip" members of the family)
46. "Miss MARY MACK MACK MACK, all dressed in BLACK BLACK BLACK"
47. You remember boom boxes and walking around with one on your shoulder like you were all that.
48. You remember watching both "Gremlins " movies.
49. You know what it meant to say "Care Bear Stare!"
50. You remember watching "Rainbow Bright" and "My Little Pony Tales"
51. You thought Doogie Howser/Samantha Micelli was hot.
52. You remember Alf, the li'l furry brown alien from Melmac.
53. You remember New Kids on the Block when they were cool... and don't even flinch when people refer to them as "NKOTB".
54. You knew all the characters names and their life stories on "Saved By the Bell ", the ORIGINAL class.
55. You know all the words to Bon Jovi - SHOT THROUGH THE HEART.
56. You just sang those words to yourself.
57. You remember watching Magic vs. Bird.
58. Homemade Levi shorts. (The shorter the better)
59. You remember when mullets were cool!
60. You had a mullet!
61. You still sing "We are the World"
62. You tight rolled your jeans.
63. You owned a banana clip
64. You remember "Where's the Beef?"
65. You used to and probably still do say "What you talkin'about Willis?"
66. You had big hair and you knew how to use it.
67. You're still singing shot through the heart in your head, aren't you!!!
Posted by ashley at 04:59 PM | Comments (0)