Bug Watching

There is a bug crawling across my wall. I have been watching its slow, steady migration. Yeah, I am just that exciting...

On a more interesting note: some pics from easter weekend!

Kristin came to visit for the weekend! I love these two pics.
Above: happy faces
below: serious, studious, intense-type faces

And the last one: a fairly subdued me @ cracker barrel.

Okay, it seriously sounds like someone is digging up the sidewalk. I'm going to go investigate.

And then go to bed.

Night!

:-)

The sheer joy I am experiencing now.. I can't really explain it! I returned from a long weekend in Grand Rapids (my home away from home) just two and a half hours ago. I already miss it; longing for the environment of love, encouragement, and joy that I have down there. Prior to heading for GR I felt worn out and lacked confidence in my ability to survive the winter. Just an hour and a half into my vacation there I began to feel renewed, loved, significant. I had more energy than I knew what to do with. Strange, huh?

I talked with Dr. Adams, who shared some of his own ministry experiences that helped me realize, seeing where he is now and knowing many of the things God has used him in, that one bad go of it isn't the end of me... or anyone else... in ministry. After that I hung out with Perini (mentor/friend 1) for a while, spent some quality time with Heather, had dinner at B-dubs, etc. The next day I went to chapel and simply "was" in the company of 300 or so, albeit tired and sluggish, of my peers. I then had coffee with Larry (mentor/friend 2), Lunch with Christine (mentor/friend 3), and spent the rest of the day with Megan, the Birthday girl. Saturday, Heather and I (along with a couple others) went to lunch and a movie and then went home to her family's, went shopping for Superbowl with the girls, went to coffee with Brad and Rebekah, and then to bed. Sunday was Church and the Superbowl. And then I left. Boo. On the upside, I got to see some friends and the Well when I got in town. Including this man:


This post is kinda list-y, and for that I apologize, but the refreshing that my soul received cannot be overstated. And I'll write some specific thoughts later. But for now, I must rest.

Peace,
AA

Milestones

August 13 marked a year since I spoke at Keystone.  That was my last teaching.  (I'm itching to get back at it, too)  

August 17 marked a year since I moved to New Hampshire.

September 22nd will mark a year since I gave up and moved back to Michigan.

September 25th will mark 24 years of life

September 26th will mark 1 full year with Gap, Inc (Old Navy Outlet 2891)

Please keep me in your prayers as I move through these bitter-sweet milestones.  Pray that I would give myself grace and love and not judgment and harshness.

Asher

Things & People I Miss...

...since graduating college...

People-

• Christine Mutch
• The Professors' Beach
• Dr. B
  
• Prof. Smith
• Jim & Momo VanStensel
• Brandon M. Calvin
• My 5-point Calvinest, Andrew Bossardet
• Heather Minner (& Fam!!)
• Sara Riley
• Kayla!!
• Matt
• Tim
  
• and lots of others

The things:

• Evensong
• being a youth min major. I loved the people... and the people + the courses = craziness, fun, and lots of self-discovery & growth that I wouldnt surrender for the world
  
• HC dates with the ever beautiful Megan Ciha
• random meijer runs
• reciting the entirity of the Sound of Music via IM with LN when we should be writing papers
• campfires on lake MI
• trips to Rockford w/Jim & deats
• climbing the rock each May... thanks, Jim!!
• living with Heather Miller
• interacting with lots of different people (and learning from them)
  
• leadership retreats
  
• Traveling Buddies!!! (that will only make sense to about... 3 of you)
• and lots more!

-Asher