Prayer Jog??

Picture this with me if you will. It's Saturday night....10:00pm and we've turned the clocks back an hour and I'm OVERJOYED about getting an extra hour of sleep!!! Work has been extremely stressful, and having a headache for 7 days straight has NOT been a treat, so I'm hoping the extra sleep will help.

The flannel sheets are so inviting, and I'm JUST about there...you know....to that place of blisshful SLEEP...................and the phone rings. As I lift my weary head, the clock now reads, 11:30pm. My dh picks up the phone and I can tell from his tone of voice that it's Ashley calling from Maui. (Remember...she is 5 hours...wait...we turned our clocks back, so now she's only 4 hours behind us..so it's only 7:30pm to her) My first thought it....oh...how sweet he picked up the phone, lucky him....I get to go back to sleep. (NOTE: I had talked to Ashley earlier in the day)

As I'm just about to drift off to sleep I hear, "How bad is it?" Then silence..... Then I hear, "Don't you think you need to go to the Urgent Care?" Then...silence again. Of course, by this time, I'm fully awake, wondering what in the world has happened.

Between conversations with my husband, he with Ashley on the phone, and Ashley sending me text message photo's I began to realize sleep would have to wait.

Lately Ashley has had a lot on her mind. Things from, "Lord, how am I going to raise the balance I need for my trip and we leave in less than a month?" To, "Lord, there are SO many things stirring in my heart, help me sort them out." To, "Lord, some of the things they are teaching, don't agree with my spirit."

The best way for Ashley to sort through her thoughts is by running, so off she went. It didn't take long for her get into her groove, and I'm guessing she wasn't paying to close attention as she tripped, and fell.

The outcome of her fall was a rather large cut on her hip bone, as well as 2 skinned up elbows, and knees.

Thankfully she was close to the YWAM base, and they were able to clean her up, and get her comfortable. And, we agreed with Ashley's leaders that we didn't think she needed stitches. (my insurance company should be thanking me today :-)

By the time we got her settled down, relaxed, and ourselves relaxed, it was now 1:00am. So much for getting some extra, much needed winks.

Our poor girl sent a text message during church yesterday with a picture of her knees, and needless to say, they were rather large, and swollen! She opted to stay home from church, icing her knees every 15 minutes once an hour and catching up on some much needed sleep she needed as well.

By late last night our old Ashley was back..chipper, and full of banter with her brother Andrew. In fact, he's seriously thinking about finding her a pair of knee, and elbow pads, along with a helmet to send her in her next care package. lol

The pictures today of her knees look horrible..but we'll keep that between us. :-)

So, this is my story of how a Prayer Run can go? If you do Pray Runs, I hope you have better success??

Update from Maui

It's been awhile since I've updated you all on Ashley, and how her life is going in Maui with YWAM, so I thought it was time. Ashley is greatly anticipating, and counting down the days (31 or so) until her team leaves for Thailand.

I would ask that you please keep Ashley and her team in much prayer as they prepare for their departure as they will be in a sense, going underground into Thailand, to reach woman who are trapped in prositition.

I thought I'd update you through some recent photos. Enjoy~

Ashley was water baptized as a teenanger, but because of the transformation that is taking place in her heart, she wanted to be baptized again...as evidences of her faith in Christ!!! We, as Ashley's parents have been SO moved by her decision!!!




Isn't she adorable???? We are so thankful to see just how happy, and excited Ashley is to be at YWAM. Who would have thought she could be away from home..for the first time...and it's been 7 weeks and she's not homesick yet!?!?




An amazing sun set in Maui....it sure makes ya wanna go and visit!


Isn't this an amazing picture????


This past Saturday night, YWAM had a banquet, and the girls got all dressed up!!

*~*~J*~*~U*~*~M*~*~P*~*~

One nice thing about Ashley being at YWAM, is the fact that she's given me her log in information to her photobucket site so I can see all of the neat pictures she's taken.

Well, this past weekend she had a fun time in the ocean. Now mind you, when I looked at these pictures I thought to myself, "what in the world does this have to do with Mission work'?







I was then quickly reminded...it's called....

.....................PRAYER................

Let's hope Grandma doesn't see that Ashley's been cliff diving!!! :-)

Friday Pictures

Ashley was finally able to upload some photo's so that I could share them with family/friends. Here Ash and I are at the airport, just as she was ready to board her plane!! Doesn't she look cute!!?!?!?

Here are a few pictures from the plane!!




Ashley headed to YWAM thinking she was going to be sharing a room with one girl....hum..it appears she's sharing a room with all 18 girls!! Talk about a huge slumber-party!! Each set of beds are in a 3 tier bunk-bed set up. Ash is sleepin' in the middle.

I'm seeing a few things on her shelf above her bed that look familar!!! I wondered where my black headband and red jewlery case went!!! That little stinker!



Ashley received her Hawaiian Leis!! (Ash is on the left)


The gals on the 2007 YWAM adventure. (Ashley is on the right...in the white dress)

Bonding with her new family!

Now, this picture SURPRISED me!!! Ashley certainly is out of her element, and she seems to be enjoying it.



And, I couldn't resist this picture. It truly capture's Ash...she's such a cutie...and ALWAYS ready for the camera!!


We are SO thankful for this opportunity in Ashley's life, and we are ALREADY seeing the fruits of her labor. God is up to something BIG in her life.....and we are excited to be on this journey with her!!

Happy Friday!

*~*~Bugs*~*~Rain*~*~AND*~*~Three Day's Without a Shower*~*~

We survived the first 74 hours...of NOT hearing from Ashley; and as you Mom's know with all of the technology today it's hard not to be able to connect with your kid's at any given moment; yet, I'm so excited that she called to fill us in our her FIRST adventure.

I however, will not be sharing her story with you...but rather I want to send you to Ashley's Blog to read first hand about her experience. As she shared her experience with me, my heart was so touched at the amazing work God is ALREADY doing in her heart!! Honestly, she brought me to tears!!!

Ashley will be journaling all of her experience's on her blog, which will serve as a great tools in the days ahead. I believe God will use her blog to minister to other's, as well as to her own soul. Especially during the difficult days, (which will come) because I know and believe that God will use her experience's to help her keep her eye's steadfast, and focused on Jesus.

Ashley did shared that her server is down...so I thought I'd take this time to bait the hook so to speak....so that you'll check out her blog! :-) hee...hee...hee...

Let's just say her blog will be full of adventure's ranging from:

*Bugs
*Mud
*Bugs
*Sleeping on the ground
*Bugs
*No Shower for 3 days
*Bugs
*No deodorant
*Bugs
*Eating 3 squares of Romain Noodles
*Bugs
*Chop Stix for silverware
*Bugs
*Scavenger Hunts
*Did I mention Bugs???
*A Foot Washing
*More Bugs
*Servanthood
*And a VERY humbled girl!!!!

For those of you who know Ashley...calling her a *girly-girl* is the understatement of the year!! But, listening to her heart after this adventure, I can honestly say, "God is doing a NEW thing" in Ashley's heart. And there is NOTHING like getting a glimpsy of the Master's heart, and following in his footsteps!!

Ash....once again, you've proven to your Father and I.....that WE are such BLESSED parents!!! We LOVE ya Achie!!!!

(NOTE: Ashley is 5 hours behind CST.....and her day is booked from 9-10:30pm. I've guessing her blog may NOT be updated until tomorrow.....)

Following God's Heart

As many of you know, our daugther Ashley will be leaving us September 13th to follow God's heart and participate in YWAM (Youth With A Mission) in Maui, and then a third world country.

Part of the prepartion for this mission trip is to raise funds of support while there; so today we will be traveling back home as Ashley has an amazing opportunity to share her heart with my Father and Mother-In-Loves church regarding her Mission Trip.

Please be in prayer for Ashley as she's prepared what she feels God would have her share with the body; and that the financial needs will be met as well!

We know that God has amazing things for Ash as she takes this step of faith...and follows after the heart of God; and we are SO blessed to see the beautiful young woman of God Ashley has grown into!

Although the thought of Ashley being gone for 6 months will be difficult, knowing that she's walking with Jesus...following the path he's set before her....how can we be sad??? There is NO greater JOY as a parent...than to see your children seek after God with their ENTIRE heart....no matter the cost!!!

God has TRULY blessed us with our precious ASHLEY!!!

Have a GREAT weekend...and we'll see you on Tuesday!
Kim~

Proverbs 22:6 says:
*Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he shall not depart from it.*