a new life milestone

So I just received my Bachelors Degree in History :D a huge accomplishment and I am still shocked that I could finish it in four years, even after transferring schools. I know that this was a huge accomplishment and thought it deserved a blog with some pictures.

As for what is next, I leave for China soon where I will be teaching english! I am hoping to get a job in China and continue doing work there for at least a year, my life has become addicted to traveling and I can't wait for the next adventure God has planned for me. I am going to eventually go to graduate school but in what? I have no idea, but I hope that traveling and working different jobs will help guide me in what I want to do for "the rest of my life" or at least for what I will do for a certain part of my life, I have a hard time believing I will be able to settle down for very long. :)

Here are some pictures from graduation, pray for my trip to China and pray that my friends who are all going to different places in the world and in life, that they do what they love and share God's word every chance they get! I know that there are some amazing people going out into this "real world" and are going to do amazing things! I can't wait to do what I can, to make a difference!

China town. Little Italy and Broadway ooooh and a nun

Today was a whirlwind literally! windy like crazy and 29 degrees towards the end :/ freezing!

I started my morning by going to China town and sort of embracing the culture and it was great! It made me much more excited about going to China. I got to bargain and have people harass me and it reminded me of India and made me miss it much more! here are some pictures from China town




after china town i headed over to little italy and st marks place where was a retro place. it was really cool to see all these places and see the people in their element it was very cool. i was sad that the day could not last longer.


after all that i went to Rockefeller center, grand central terminal, NBC head quarters. after all of that I went to St. Patricks and it was BEAUTIFUL the best looking church i have probably ever been too! it was great and i loved it. while i was walking away i ran into a nun (and if you know me i am fascinated by nuns and i get excited) but i controlled myself and did not talk to her. she talked to me. haha she went to hs at the school i coached swim at a couple years back and so we had a lot of things in common from back home it was really cool and random. God definitely knows how to show up randomly :) buttttt we walked like 6 blocks about mission work and her becoming a nun and she got to meet mother Teresa! and so we talked about her and all of the things that i find so amazing. she lives in a convent in NY and has been a nun for 18 years. she works specifically with single mothers with new borns and helps them out during those first few months. she was seriously amazing and then her and I got to pray together and she showed me around her chapel and the convent. it was really cool and such a random experience but i loved it!






at the end of the night I saw a show on Broadway. called Rain: a Tribute to the Beatles. excellent. I recommend it to everyone. it was a lot of fun and the closest I will ever be to a Beatles concert!



tomorrow is my last day in NYC. sad to leave but excited to be back home and plan the next adventure

with much love,
Ashley

Times Square. Lady Liberty. Twin Tower memorial.

Today I had a late start and overslept and just really wanted to lay in bed so I went and got Subway and then headed back to the apt when I then realized they were filming some kind of movie outside! stoked. found out all kinds of famous people are around me. I also ran into Leighton Meester literally. quite fun haha.

but once I was up and about I went back to St. Paul's and Trinity church and got to go inside and actually read the grave sights. So crazy to think that some of them are from the mid 1700's. I loved seeing all of this and really getting to read them and see what they had to say. it was Beautiful! and I saw Alexander Hamilton burial sight and where George Washington went to church! (history geek moment) :)
Trinity Church is exactly across from the Twin Towers memorial and it was moving to see how this church helped the firefighters and the people that day. That Church played such an important role in keeping people calm and in God's word and it was just super moving. I loved it.

I went on the Staten Island Ferry (the boats in Deja Vu, the movie) hehehe anywaysss I went on that because it is FREE and it takes you by Miss Liberty and it was nice to see it so much closer! beautiful (definitely another history geek moment)

I then had to go to the Apple store to get a new phone. but what is new 4th iPhone and its working so far! great news haha 3 story Apple store though! beautiful! and a live band playing on the first floor it was crazy!

tomorrow should be eventful. last full day in NY. China town, Little India, Little Italy and some vintage shopping as well. stoked! and then a Broadway show at night with the cousin and her friends from school.

here are some pictures from the day

Enjoy!!

much love,
Ashley

art. parks and subways

Today was a early start day sort of, got up was really tired did not sleep well. woke up to rain and made me not want to go out but i did. had to buy an umbrella and i headed for Central Park it was beautiful even if it was raining and I only got lost on the Subway once!

I decided no iPod today. just God and I and that was a good feeling, I had all day to myself and was able to really think things through and figure some stuff out and of course over analyze stuff but everyone does that :) buttttt it was a really good day and I can't wait till tomorrow!

I had a chance to go to the American Museum of Natural History where I saw so many things! fossils, human remains, country history, religion history, all kinds of history. my element for sure. i loved it! Definitely the best museum I have ever been in.

Later on I went into Central Park! huge! i only got half way and I had to leave! the lake was frozen over and there was snow along the pathways. I saw strawberry fields and where John Lennon was killed. pretty crazy to see in person. I also got to walk by the famous boathouse that is in so many films. It was nice to just walk around and take pictures. I left for a bit to go to lunch at Nicks Pizza! really good pizza :) 3rd time having pizza. haha and it was great then I went to a two story Apple store to charge my phone because it sucks but thats ok I had a lot of fun in there. West Central Park is super amazing.

Got to walk around a lot and then went back into the park watched the sunset and then met up with Lauren where we went to an Italian restaurant and then we went to Junior's which was NY Cheesecake which was delicious! and was in Times Square and did the typical tourist photos haha it was fun

Here are some pictures from today. Enjoy!

with much love,
Ashley

a little taste of NY

I have now been in New York for 2 full days and I LOVE it. I have been taking pictures and exploring the city and eating delicious food of course. The first night I got to walk to union square and walk around a bit and then saw a movie with my cousin, then on Saturday I went to George Washington square where NYU students preformed Julius Caeser, got to walk around some shops, bought some awesome gloves :) and then got to see Lauren's Studio and get to meet her friends and walk around a bit that was really cool to see all their art work and what they are doing! and then after that we went to a Bar that was just a fun environment and got to see that night life of NY and it was nice not being forced to drink. Today (sunday) I walked from Chelsea to the Brooklyn bridge and back which is about 7.5 miles in between I could see the statue of liberty, walked down wall street, saw the twin tower memorial, and many other things it was really cool. I just had a nice camera, and my headphones in the whole time it was nice to just be in this peaceful environment of my own songs and embracing the city on my own. I had a lot of time to pray and just think and really enjoy what I was doing it was great!

Tonight I was able to go to Hillsong NYC which is their newest church and it was either their 3rd or 4th night of worship and that was just an awesome experience. The pastor was talking about walking in the valley. He based it on Psalm 23 Psalm 23

A psalm of David.
1 The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
3 he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
for his name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk
through the darkest valley,[a]
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.

It was a really good sermon and I really liked it. He gave us some tips of how to use the Bible to get through these valley's of life. 1 to stay active. 2 to connect and 3 to stay focused. I feel like hear this all the time but it was something I needed to hear tonight and I really enjoyed it.

He also said "there is no longer a reason to hide your weakness because your limp could save a life." he wanted us to be open and to stop hiding our faults and what hurts us. I found it really encouraging and I am excited for this church and where it is going.

as for tomorrow: American museum of natural history, central park, broadway's lion king (hopefully) and some time square! stoked!!

Below are some of my pictures I have taken and some that Lauren has taken of me :) Enjoy!!

Library Motivation

I am currently sitting in the library at CUI. writing a paper on John Winthrop, why his crazy claims are wrong. :) got to love being a history major. I am currently stuck at almost 4 pages completed and I have no motivation.

so I have been wondering when my next big trip is going to be and I am going to be going to New York for a week! wooohooo. I was going to go and just sort of "rough" it and not have a plan and just kind of see where I end up, then I realized I can't really do that. I feel since I will be there for only a week I have to have some kind of plan! which I do. I bought the Lonely Planet New York and I have been going through it like crazy trying to find ideas to keep me busy the whole time I am there and I think I have succeeded! So I now have a plan but not down to the minute and I am ok with that. I figure I can open up my lonely planet book every morning and find a section of New York I want to explore and go from there :)

Made a new playlist. You should all check these cds out.

The Script: Science and Faith
City and Colour: Bring me your love
Tyler Barham EP
Neon Trees: Habits
Colbie Cailat: I Do

nothing of the same genre but definitely an awesome playlist.

I should stop procrastinating and get back to this paper. busy week! 2 tests. 2 papers. and plenty of chapters to read.

82 days till graduation...but whose counting? ;)

new year..new decisions..

I have not blogged since my trip in India and I realized that I miss this, so I want to try and blog regularly about what adventures are going on in my life now.

India was such an awesome experience, brought me closer to my friends and most importantly God. I really feel like I was able to find myself and let go of things I did not think were possible. I miss the people there more than I can ever express and can't wait till the day God brings me back to them even if its only for a week! I really did fall in love with that country.

The news of what is happening now!

CHINA! I have this chance through school again to spend 6 weeks in China! and I have definitely been praying about it and trying to figure it out and see if that is where God is calling me and I am feeling really good about it. I am still learning more on the trip and will keep you all posted but I am excited for this new trip and the ways God is going to use me there!

As of now I am on track to graduate in May! I will have my Bachelors in History and Political Science :) I am excited to finish up my college education, but this is not it, I will most likely start my masters in about a year, I can't stay out of school that long :P I am absolutely terrified of what will happen after May, I need to figure out my life and figure out what I am going to do. Time to be a grown up I guess.. ;)

OOOh! big news I no longer live on campus and I am a commuter with the best roommates in the entire world. I love them and don't know what I would do without them

I turned 22 on friday...yes 22 I am getting older oh no! but the roommates threw me a surprise birthday party and really surprised me with their kindness and love they have for me. I have never had something that nice happen to me and it was a nice change in my life. Realizing people care about you and its genuine. Something I will never forget. ever.

That is all that is going on right now!


with love,

Ashley

here are some of my senior pictures!