Motivtional Story

All during my 21 years of life, I have always been taught to love God, to pray to God, to worship God, make God and His perfect will be your life.
I literally grew up in church. I attended my first service when I was 3 days old, and as a child, I was in church whenever the doors were open.  I loved participating in anything my church had to offer. I sang on the children's choir, I danced during worship, I did sign language during worship, I even played piano and bass during worship.  It seems like worship may be something I love!

At the age of 12, I knew that I was supposed to work with children, specifically preschool age, for the rest of my life.  I worked with the kids at my church, I worked at daycares, I babysat.  It pained me to see children hurting in any way, shape, or form.

Summer of 2014, I came to NAOMI House as an intern.  I absolutely fell in love with the children, the culture, and the overall ministry that NAOMI House was and still is. Going back to my home in Kentucky was so hard to do.  Not even a month after being back in Kentucky, I knew I was called to move to Arizona.  Wait...WHAT! I was about to graduate college.  I have never lived on my own.  I have never spent more than 5 weeks without my parents. I doubted myself like crazy.  I doubted God, and what seemed to be His will for my life.  He must have been crazy.

For years, I had a sign on my closet door that read 'Trust and Obey, God will do the rest'. My mom constantly reminded me that all I have to do when I felt like I couldn't make this move, that I was going to fail at my calling, is to TRUST God.  He is capable of WAY more than I could ever imagine. He called me to this ministry, and He was going to equip me with what I need to be successful.  My mom also told me I needed to OBEY God. So I did just that...I moved 2000 miles away from my friends, family, and my comfort.  I am living in my most favorite place on Earth doing what I know God has called me to do. I get to teach these children about God, I get to love on these children, and my most favorite part: I get to impact their life for the better.
And guess what? I play piano on the praise team at my new church.  Not even a month after being here, we played the hymn 'Trust and Obey' (didn't even know it was a hymn).  God has a nice way of reassurance, even if it is by a song referencing something you made years ago.

"O LORD Almighty, blessed is the man who trusts in you."- Psalm 84:12

Until next time,
Ashley :)

Goodbyes and Hagoonee

Goodbyes, I have learned, are absolutely horrible.
I have often heard that we don't say goodbye, we say 'see you later'. But recently, I have gained an irrational fear that when I say goodbye, especially to those I associated with in Kentucky, are people that I very well might not see again.  Many of my friends that I went to high school or college with have moved away to a college that is not in our hometown, or they have moved away to start a new life(I am one to talk, huh?). It just saddens me that people I have developed a friendship with may have reached the end of that friendship.  And that is hard for me to admit because I am really bad at making new friends.
I have yet to make friends here in Arizona, but it shall happen! God will bring me a friend in His time.  For now, I will just love on my oh-so-adorable children whom I love dearly. 

As for the title of this post, hagoonee means goodbye in Navajo...however, there is several apostrophes that are over the letters and I'm not sure how to add those apostrophes in text ;)

See you later, friend!
Ashley :)

I'm Back, and Better Than Ever!

Hello, blog world!
Last summer, I blogged about my summer internship at NAOMI House.  For those who are unaware of what this is, NAOMI stands for Native American Outreach Ministries.  It is basically a foster home/emergency placement home for Navajo and other Native American tribes. 
I had the time of my life last summer.  I got back to Kentucky, and I felt so unsettled.  After praying and talking to some dear friends, I realized that my heart and my home was no longer in Kentucky, I was called to work at NAOMI House. Even though I wanted the move to be immediate, I decided to finish up my Associate's Degree, and to save up money (thankfully!).
Soooooo, on July 18, 2015, I left my home of 21 years and made my move to Arizona!

This move was the most scary thing I have ever had to do.  I was going to be living without my parents...I would not have the comfort and security of living at home.  I would not have the comfort of having all my friends near me.  I would not have the comfort of making more than double the income I make now.  I honestly struggled with all of these factors the entire time I was preparing to make my move here.  If I let myself think about it, I still worry about every single factor that was just mentioned.  But you know what, God has got me covered! He called me to be here! He will provide in every way that I truly need, even if it is not in the way I anticipate (funny how God knows best!:] )

While I am working here (which will be until I feel like God is calling me to be somewhere else), I am the preschool teacher for such lovely, adorable kiddos, and a childcare assistant,  This goes from basic childcare, to driving children to doctor appointments, random shopping trips, church, and anywhere else we decide to go. 

As mentioned above, I am the preschool teacher here.  I also struggled often with my ability to teach these children well.  I am barely out of college, with half of a degree at that.  I feel crazy unqualified! BUT...the week before I moved, my Pastor did a sermon on how God does not call the equipped, he equips the called,  He also said that if we feel like we can do something else or be somewhere else, we are not doing what we are called to do,  Well guess what, I feel like I am exactly where I am called to be,  There is no greater feeling to be where God wants me to be.  I have never been happier and more content with my life.

With all this being said, I shall close this blog post.  Sorry for talking your ear off (I need friends...hahahaha), hope to see you back here soon! I will *hopefully* post at least once a week...we shall see how that goes.

Until next time,
Ashley :)