I carry this list in my pocket, every day. I have more than 100 reasons to go home--but this makes my heart happy.
In 25 days I embark on my adventure home--17 whole days at home. Family, friends, love, comfort, food, English TV, shopping for things that will fit me, hugs, DRIVING!....so many things waiting for me. I can't help but think that there are things waiting for me back in Asia. I am torn on leaving, I know I will be returning, but I can't help but miss my friends when I do go home. China has become a home to me and I have a lot of amazing friends, here in Asia.
We recently took our Christmas photo's together, 16 fantastic human beings, that I get to see once a week. Shout has made China home. God has shown me what it is like to have only a few to depend on and now he has given us an abundance of support and love, to carry out what we need to do. Blessed doesn't even begin to cover it.
We were able to come together for Thanksgiving. All of us sat at a table and enjoyed a traditional Thanksgiving meal. I could not see myself celebrating what to be thankful for in any other way, it was fantastic. Pray for us as we continue to work with students, friends, jobs and everything else that gets thrown at us here. Pray for guidance on future plans, what's next? Who knows, I am just glad I have amazing people to be here in the now as I figure out this big kid life and do God's work.
Prayer requests:
Strength to get through the next few weeks
Speaking at Shout tomorrow
Guidance in figuring out where to go next in my life.
That I can be a spiritual leader to my friends.
With love,
Ashley
The list as promised, I hope you enjoy it as much as I do :)
1. The Constitution of the United States of America.
2. George Washington.
3. The proximity of Southern California to beaches, mountains, deserts, and other desirable locations.
4. In 'n Out.
5. Frank Capra.
6. Smores.
7. Thanksgiving.
8. Long, hot summers and mild winters.
9. Girl Scout cookies.
10. Baseball.
11. Peanutbutter and jelly sandwiches.
12. James Madison.
13. Cortina's.
14. Cowboy Hats.
15. Barbecue.
16. The Grand Canyon.
17. "The Sandlot."
18. Jonas Salk.
19. Dunkin' Donuts.
20. Mike Tr..Tro...Trout. Mike Trout (agggghhh that was painful. You're welcome Dinkleman!)
21. The U.S.' cumulative 2,549 Olympic Medals in the modern games- the MOST of any country (Russia is in second with 1,204!!!)
22. The Beach Boys.
23. Fireworks. Especially on the Fourth of July!
24. Converse shoes.
25. College football.
26. John Wayne.
27. Apple pie.
28. The frontier.
29. Vin Scully (duh).
30. Watching "Die Hard" during the Christmas season with your Dad! (Ashley Turner)
31. James Stewart (because China has nothing on George Bailey and Jefferson Smith) and while I'm at it:
32. "It's a Wonderful Life."
33. Frank Capra.
34. Sun Records (for that American early rock 'n roll sound).
35. The Empire State Building
36. Vitamin C ("As we go on, we remember...all the times we [STUDIED] together....").
37. The Los Angeles Dodgers (c'mon! I gave you Trout)
38. "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" (The movie, not the outlaws. Eh- what the heck, the outlaws too!)
39. Route 66 (Road trip!!!)
40. Otis Redding.
41. Tailgating (see #25).
42. Hike to the Hollywood sign.
43. 1966 Ford Mustang convertible (seriously bitchin' ride).
44. Norman Rockwell.
45. NASA
46. Being able to say, "What does that have to do with the price of tea in China?" and be understood.
47. F. Scott Fitzgerald.
48. Nathan's Hot Dogs.
49. Las Vegas.
50. The 1980's USA Men's Olympic Hockey Team (how many miracles on ice does China have?)
51. The Velvet Underground.
52. "Kissing the War Goodbye." (great WWII era photo)
53. Atticus Finch. (greatest character written? possibly!)
54. Homeruns.
55. Superheroes! (What other country has Batman, Superman, Spiderman, etc..)
56. "The Brady Bunch."
57. Walt Disney.
58. "Cool Hand Luke."
59. Oversized food portions.
60. James Earl Jones' monologue from "Field of Dreams" ["People will come Ray..." classic. ](see #10).
61. Monument valley and the American Western.
62. Bourbon St.
63. Scott Joplin.
64. "The Jazz Singer." (You know, the first "talkie" film... No big deal.)
65. "Gone With the Wind." (An epic film. And how about films from Hollywood in 1939 while we're at it! Can China match that?!?! No sir-ree-Bob it cannot. Nor can it rebuttal with such an epically awesome phrase like "No-sir-ree-Bob." Ha!)
66. The Beatles American debut on the Ed Sullivan Show. Legendary.
67. Matt Marrujo's Mazda.
68. Disneyland.
69. "Casablanca."
70. "Friends."
71. Herman Melville.
72. Kerri Strug and the 1996 USA Women's Olympic Gold team (becoming the first American Olympic team to place so high in a non-boycotted came after Strug nailed her vault landing on a sprained ankle and was carried to the podium. AMERICA!!!)
73. The Wright Brothers.
74. The Interstate Highway System. (Genius. See #39 and #67).
75. Navy SEALS, Army Rangers, etc.
76. Fireside Chats.
77. Lou Gehrig's Farewell Speech. (This list could really begin and end with this, but I've never been one for brevity, so onward...)
78. "I Love Lucy."
79. "Saturday Night Live."
80. Jesse Owens at the Berlin Olympics.
81. Ben & Jerry's.
82. Otter pops.
83. Bobby Fischer.
84. Alexander Graham Bell.
85. Victory at Yorktown.
86. "12 Angry Men."
87. Henry David Thoreau (With whom I feel personally acquainted).
88. De Tocqueville was so intrigued by America he wrote some little book about it...
89. Vince Lombardi.
90. Steve Jobs and Apple.
91. "Rocky."
92. Trick-or-treating.
93. The Marlboro Man.
94. In God We Trust.
95. Arthur Miller.
96. Bruce Springtsteen.
97. The American Dream.
98. Louis Armstrong.
99. Matt Marrujo and me.
100. Family. Home.
This list is most certainly not exhaustive-- just a few thoughts. Not at all intended to entice you home...(or is it?!)
