Yesterday started another school year for me, the LAST school year!!! I cannot in words convey the full extent of my excitement. If you know me, you know that I love school. Well, gosh, I must, since I've been in school for the last 22 years! But now I can say without reservation that I am ready to be done. School for me is over forever. I am usually not this decided about anything. Just ask my family and friends. I tend to be very wishy washy and shy away from making decisions. But I have officially decided that Ashley Hawk will not be enrolling in any type of school ever again!
I think one of the reasons that God placed me on the path of law school is so I would finally be ready to close that chapter of my life- being a student. Law school has been nothing like the rest of the my school experience. Yes, there is the occasional joy of learning something new, but for the most part it is intense and draining and hard to enjoy due to the sheer amount of work. So, therefore I am done as of May 12, 2012! There are some things about being in school that I will miss like the excitement of buying school supplies or Spring Break or having a flexible schedule, but that's why you have kids, right?
I tried to explain it to someone the other day that being in graduate school is like being in a holding pattern. You really want to land the plane, but you can't. I feel that my life in a way has been on hold for the past 5 years, and I am so ready to land the plane! While I am so grateful for the privilege and opportunity to go to graduate school and now law school, and I know that my law degree is necessary for me to fulfill my calling, I can't help but wonder if remaining in school has been my way of avoiding the future, of hanging onto the known so I don't have to venture into the unknown. But I am now happy to say that I have matured and am ready to face life full on, full of its challenges and trials. I am ready to break my holding pattern and land the plane. Some people reach this point in their life far earlier than I have and for that, they are fortunate, but I hold no regrets because this is my life and this is my journey!
So, to the LAST year of school, "Welcome, I've been waiting for you!"
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Friday, June 17, 2011
The Deglers Go on Vacation
The Deglers came to visit us this past weekend! They are some of our very best friends from Kentucky, and it was soooo good to see them again. They stayed with us in our 2 bedroom apartment, which was just a tad bit crowded with all 6 of us. I don't know how some people live like that permanently. But is was so much fun. We packed a lot of activities into the 3 1/2 days they were here.
THURSDAY
They arrived Thursday night and we headed down to Channelside to eat at a japanese place down there. Then we grabbed ice cream at Coldstone. Yum, yum!
FRIDAY
On Friday, we went to Busch Gardens all day. Below are some great pictures from the day. We had a great time and really only had to stay in line for one rollercoaster. The most funny thing from the day was that after we rode Kumba (rollercoaster), we went to see our picture and the guy said that he couldn't show it to us because Beth was flipping the camera off. For those of you who know Beth, you know that that was absolutely not true! hahaha
SATURDAY
On Saturday, we went to Passe Grille beach, which is a nice, quiet beach in St. Petersburg. We only stayed for a couple of hours as Josh had to be back to preach that night. We played Kan Jam and frisbee in the ocean. Chris reapplied sunscreen like 3 times and sat with a towel around him most of the day to keep from getting burned. That night we went to the 5:00 service at church and then went to eat at a great restaurant in Tampa, Ballyhoo. After Josh finished preaching, we went to see Super 8. I was fighting to stay awake the whole movie, so I didn't enjoy it as much as I probably would have.
SUNDAY
On Sunday, we had a quiet morning waiting for Josh to finish preaching. Then we went down to John's Pass, which is a great boardwalk area. We rented wave runners to ride on the ocean. Nicholas kept pointing out to me how slow I was driving. The waves make me nervous and I don't want to be thrown off to the sharks! After the wave runners, we ate at Bubba Gump!
If you know the Deglers, you know that you will always come away from spending time with them with a load of funny stories. Most of my Degler stories are Chris stories, but the best one this trip was from Nicholas. In our apartment complex, the gate closes after 7PM and you have to use a card to get in. We told Nicholas that we have to pay $5 every time we use the card. He believed us the whole weekend. Then on Saturday night we were having to use the card to get in and told Nicholas that it was his turn to pay. He said, "Mom I'm not stupid. Josh already told me that they have a season pass!" HAHAHAHA We finally told him the truth on Sunday.
Below are some pictures from the trip:
THURSDAY
They arrived Thursday night and we headed down to Channelside to eat at a japanese place down there. Then we grabbed ice cream at Coldstone. Yum, yum!
FRIDAY
On Friday, we went to Busch Gardens all day. Below are some great pictures from the day. We had a great time and really only had to stay in line for one rollercoaster. The most funny thing from the day was that after we rode Kumba (rollercoaster), we went to see our picture and the guy said that he couldn't show it to us because Beth was flipping the camera off. For those of you who know Beth, you know that that was absolutely not true! hahaha
SATURDAY
On Saturday, we went to Passe Grille beach, which is a nice, quiet beach in St. Petersburg. We only stayed for a couple of hours as Josh had to be back to preach that night. We played Kan Jam and frisbee in the ocean. Chris reapplied sunscreen like 3 times and sat with a towel around him most of the day to keep from getting burned. That night we went to the 5:00 service at church and then went to eat at a great restaurant in Tampa, Ballyhoo. After Josh finished preaching, we went to see Super 8. I was fighting to stay awake the whole movie, so I didn't enjoy it as much as I probably would have.
SUNDAY
On Sunday, we had a quiet morning waiting for Josh to finish preaching. Then we went down to John's Pass, which is a great boardwalk area. We rented wave runners to ride on the ocean. Nicholas kept pointing out to me how slow I was driving. The waves make me nervous and I don't want to be thrown off to the sharks! After the wave runners, we ate at Bubba Gump!
If you know the Deglers, you know that you will always come away from spending time with them with a load of funny stories. Most of my Degler stories are Chris stories, but the best one this trip was from Nicholas. In our apartment complex, the gate closes after 7PM and you have to use a card to get in. We told Nicholas that we have to pay $5 every time we use the card. He believed us the whole weekend. Then on Saturday night we were having to use the card to get in and told Nicholas that it was his turn to pay. He said, "Mom I'm not stupid. Josh already told me that they have a season pass!" HAHAHAHA We finally told him the truth on Sunday.
Below are some pictures from the trip:
Monday, May 30, 2011
Summer Internship
Since I transferred this past semester from the University of Kentucky to Stetson College of Law, I lost some credits which has forced me to take summer classes. After taking summer classes during my master's program, I swore I would never take them again. Who likes going to school during the summer, especially in sunny Florida??? But my choices were to go to school during the summer or graduate in December 2012 instead of May 2012. Not even a choice-- of course, I am graduating in May!
So, this summer I am taking 2 classes, one at school and one online, and I am doing an internship for class credit. I am so glad that I got the placement I did with my internship. I was placed at the Bay Area Legal Services (www.bals.org). BALS is an organization that operates under private grant funding to provide legal services to people who can't afford hiring a private attorney. Their services include representing clients in domestic violence cases, elder abuse, child neglect and abuse, and divorces where domestic violence is present. My very first day there I had the privilege of attending one of their meetings where former clients spoke about how BALS had helped them in their situations. It was so neat to hear the testimonies. One man who has 3 young children came to BALS because his wife was being abusive to him and the kids and was not caring for the children at all. He found out later that while he was working 16 hour shifts, his wife would keep the babies drugged and sedated because she didn't want to bother with them. Then when he came home, the kids would be wide awake and he would have to stay up to take care of him. He shared how BALS had helped him file for divorce and had also helped him get the resources he needed to take for his 3 children. I sat there in the meeting thinking, 'WOW, I would love to work at this place.'
I am excited about the opportunities this internship may bring, and I am also praying that doors will be opened so that in May 2012 when I graduate, I will have a job, whether or not it is with BALS. For the longest time, it seemed that my career was so far off, something in the distance, and now all of the sudden, it looks like it might become actually become a reality. I know that God has placed a passion in my heart to work at an organization like BALS. I know that all the schooling and student loans were not in vain. I know God has a plan for my life, a plan to use my gifts and talents for his glory. I know this now, but I have doubted it so many times. I doubted it after I finished my master's only to be turned down for so many jobs. I doubted is as I bounced around from one part-time job to another. I doubted it as I watched my friends begin their careers. I doubted it in law school as I sat beside students younger and smarter than me. I know that a job is not everything and that it doesn't define you, but it is a desire of my heart. It is a way that I believe God will use me. I have the privilege of watching God use Josh in his job everyday, and I see how much joy he has in doing what he loves and was created to do. I long for that and know it will be worth the wait. I almost cried sitting in that meeting last week because I could see the promise of a plan for my life at work. Even if it is not at BALS, I know that I will be making a difference somewhere in Tampa, and that one day, I will be listening to my clients' stories. I CAN'T WAIT!
So, this summer I am taking 2 classes, one at school and one online, and I am doing an internship for class credit. I am so glad that I got the placement I did with my internship. I was placed at the Bay Area Legal Services (www.bals.org). BALS is an organization that operates under private grant funding to provide legal services to people who can't afford hiring a private attorney. Their services include representing clients in domestic violence cases, elder abuse, child neglect and abuse, and divorces where domestic violence is present. My very first day there I had the privilege of attending one of their meetings where former clients spoke about how BALS had helped them in their situations. It was so neat to hear the testimonies. One man who has 3 young children came to BALS because his wife was being abusive to him and the kids and was not caring for the children at all. He found out later that while he was working 16 hour shifts, his wife would keep the babies drugged and sedated because she didn't want to bother with them. Then when he came home, the kids would be wide awake and he would have to stay up to take care of him. He shared how BALS had helped him file for divorce and had also helped him get the resources he needed to take for his 3 children. I sat there in the meeting thinking, 'WOW, I would love to work at this place.'
I am excited about the opportunities this internship may bring, and I am also praying that doors will be opened so that in May 2012 when I graduate, I will have a job, whether or not it is with BALS. For the longest time, it seemed that my career was so far off, something in the distance, and now all of the sudden, it looks like it might become actually become a reality. I know that God has placed a passion in my heart to work at an organization like BALS. I know that all the schooling and student loans were not in vain. I know God has a plan for my life, a plan to use my gifts and talents for his glory. I know this now, but I have doubted it so many times. I doubted it after I finished my master's only to be turned down for so many jobs. I doubted is as I bounced around from one part-time job to another. I doubted it as I watched my friends begin their careers. I doubted it in law school as I sat beside students younger and smarter than me. I know that a job is not everything and that it doesn't define you, but it is a desire of my heart. It is a way that I believe God will use me. I have the privilege of watching God use Josh in his job everyday, and I see how much joy he has in doing what he loves and was created to do. I long for that and know it will be worth the wait. I almost cried sitting in that meeting last week because I could see the promise of a plan for my life at work. Even if it is not at BALS, I know that I will be making a difference somewhere in Tampa, and that one day, I will be listening to my clients' stories. I CAN'T WAIT!
Friday, May 20, 2011
I am Israel
During my month hiatus from blogging, I have been working on a couple posts, which are still in progress and will be posted soon. Tonight, though, I just wanted to share something really quick that is on my heart before I forget. Blogging can be such a good exercise of reflection.
Over the past two days, I have been reading through the book of Hosea. I absolutely love the story of Hosea's love for his wife, Gomer. If you haven't read Redeeming Love, do yourself a favor and go buy it. You won't regret it. It is a fictional account based on the story of Hosea. But that's not what caught my attention during this last read through of Hosea. I don't know that I've ever really carefully read the book, or if I've just been so focused on the fact that Hosea married a prostitute, that I missed the bigger picture. Of course, Hosea marrying Gomer is an example of God's love for us in that even when we throw ourselves at other things, God still pursues us, but the main subject of the book of Hosea is God's love for Israel and his chosen people.
The book of Hosea is devoted to Hosea giving the Israelites a message from God of how God is turning his back on them because they've continued to live in sin and have run from the things of God. Several chapters go on and on about how God was faithful to the Israelites and they continued to run from him. Hosea's whole message seems to be leading to the fact, that once and for all, God is done with Israel. However, in the end, Hosea tells of God's great love for Israel and how God would always pursue her. In fact, Hosea is just one of the many places in the Old Testament where God uses a prophet both to rebuke Israel and to tell of his great love for the nation.
I love the story of God's love for Israel because it is a picture of how vast God's love is and how passionately he pursues those he loves. Then, tonight it hit me...I AM ISRAEL. God's love for ME is beyond measure. God passionately pursues ME.
Over the past two days, I have been reading through the book of Hosea. I absolutely love the story of Hosea's love for his wife, Gomer. If you haven't read Redeeming Love, do yourself a favor and go buy it. You won't regret it. It is a fictional account based on the story of Hosea. But that's not what caught my attention during this last read through of Hosea. I don't know that I've ever really carefully read the book, or if I've just been so focused on the fact that Hosea married a prostitute, that I missed the bigger picture. Of course, Hosea marrying Gomer is an example of God's love for us in that even when we throw ourselves at other things, God still pursues us, but the main subject of the book of Hosea is God's love for Israel and his chosen people.
The book of Hosea is devoted to Hosea giving the Israelites a message from God of how God is turning his back on them because they've continued to live in sin and have run from the things of God. Several chapters go on and on about how God was faithful to the Israelites and they continued to run from him. Hosea's whole message seems to be leading to the fact, that once and for all, God is done with Israel. However, in the end, Hosea tells of God's great love for Israel and how God would always pursue her. In fact, Hosea is just one of the many places in the Old Testament where God uses a prophet both to rebuke Israel and to tell of his great love for the nation.
I love the story of God's love for Israel because it is a picture of how vast God's love is and how passionately he pursues those he loves. Then, tonight it hit me...I AM ISRAEL. God's love for ME is beyond measure. God passionately pursues ME.
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Florida Adventures- Part 1
Birthday Weekend- January 16
Natalie came from D.C. for the weekend and we went to a Tampa Lightning Bolts Game (hockey) and to the Salt Rock Grill for my birthday lunch.
Kenny Chesney and Zac Brown Band Concert- March 19
MORE TO COME...
Natalie came from D.C. for the weekend and we went to a Tampa Lightning Bolts Game (hockey) and to the Salt Rock Grill for my birthday lunch.
Kenny Chesney and Zac Brown Band Concert- March 19
MORE TO COME...
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Drowning Out the World
This morning while running on the treadmill at our apartment complex, I was reminded of how difficult it can be to live out the command of Jesus to be in the world but not of it. Jesus in the book of John talks about how we are not to love the things that the world loves and how like him we are not of this world. Paul further commands in Romans not to be conformed to the patterns of this world (Romans 12:1-2). Many of us know these words but they are often so hard to live by.
Sometimes while I work out, I like to listen to podcasts of sermons. This morning I decided to listen to Steven Furtick's (Pastor of Elevation Church in Charlotte, NC) latest message in his series, "Grapes and Giants," http://bit.ly/hqnMVl. I started listening to it as I walked to the gym. However, upon entering the gym, I could barely hear my iPod because another guy using the gym had the TV on MTV, watching the morning music videos, at an extremely high volume. It was so loud that I could not hear my iPod at all. Therefore to combat the abnormally loud volume of the TV, I had to turn my iPod up to its loudest decibel level. Even with doing that, I could still clearly hear the music from the TV. In order to pay attention to the sermon, I had to concentrate on the sound coming from the iPod and let the TV noise fade to the background.
I thought that this was a perfect illustration of how Jesus commanded us to live in this world. We often have no control of what is going on in the world around us, just like I had no control over what another gym member was watching on TV. Our responsibility is not always to change what is in the world but it is to not let what the world is about be what we are about. It would have been so easy for me to turn off my iPod and just listen to the music already playing, but God many times has a word for us that contradicts the message of the world. The problem is that the voice of the world is often louder than the voice of God until we attune our focus to His voice.
This morning I had to concentrate on the sound of Pastor Furtick's voice in order to not be drowned out by the music. Once I concentrated on that, I could hear the sermon clearly. God calls us to discern his voice in the world and to fix our concentration on that and then the noise of the world will fade into the background. Many of us (including me) wonder why we are not hearing the voice of God. How can we when we are bombarded with messages of the world from sex, alcohol, partying, living for self, materialism? So just like this morning when I had to concentrate on the sound from my iPod to hear the sermon, we must concentrate on the things of God to hear his voice and by doing that, we will drown out the world.
Sometimes while I work out, I like to listen to podcasts of sermons. This morning I decided to listen to Steven Furtick's (Pastor of Elevation Church in Charlotte, NC) latest message in his series, "Grapes and Giants," http://bit.ly/hqnMVl. I started listening to it as I walked to the gym. However, upon entering the gym, I could barely hear my iPod because another guy using the gym had the TV on MTV, watching the morning music videos, at an extremely high volume. It was so loud that I could not hear my iPod at all. Therefore to combat the abnormally loud volume of the TV, I had to turn my iPod up to its loudest decibel level. Even with doing that, I could still clearly hear the music from the TV. In order to pay attention to the sermon, I had to concentrate on the sound coming from the iPod and let the TV noise fade to the background.
I thought that this was a perfect illustration of how Jesus commanded us to live in this world. We often have no control of what is going on in the world around us, just like I had no control over what another gym member was watching on TV. Our responsibility is not always to change what is in the world but it is to not let what the world is about be what we are about. It would have been so easy for me to turn off my iPod and just listen to the music already playing, but God many times has a word for us that contradicts the message of the world. The problem is that the voice of the world is often louder than the voice of God until we attune our focus to His voice.
This morning I had to concentrate on the sound of Pastor Furtick's voice in order to not be drowned out by the music. Once I concentrated on that, I could hear the sermon clearly. God calls us to discern his voice in the world and to fix our concentration on that and then the noise of the world will fade into the background. Many of us (including me) wonder why we are not hearing the voice of God. How can we when we are bombarded with messages of the world from sex, alcohol, partying, living for self, materialism? So just like this morning when I had to concentrate on the sound from my iPod to hear the sermon, we must concentrate on the things of God to hear his voice and by doing that, we will drown out the world.
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Food Stamp Challenge
For my Poverty Law class, we are required to do a food stamp challenge. For a week, we are only allowed to use $19.50 to buy groceries. Last night after a delicious meal at Fridays (have to go out with a bang), I went shopping for my food. My first stop was Target. Thanks to www.hip2save.com I knew that Target was giving away a $5 gift card if you bought 10 Smart Ones meals. On top of that, I had a $4 coupon. So the 10 Smart Ones meals were $18 - $4 (coupon) = $14 and I got a $5 gift card! With my gift card, I bought bananas (.69), loaf of bread (.84), box of fruit snacks (1.33), box of peanut butter crackers (1.75), and ice cream sandwiches (1.69). I had to pay an additional $1.63. Total spent at Target = $15.63. If you are looking for a good deal on food, don't overlook Target. They have great deals on snacky stuff and ice cream!
My next stop was Walgreens where I picked up a carton of eggs for $1.19. I always forget to check places like Walgreens and CVS, but they have great deals and good coupons. Today with my remaining $2.80, I am planning on going to Publix to pick up some peanut butter and whatever else I can afford. I also have 8 empty Starbucks bags, so I can get 8 free cups of coffee this week! My whole menu was designed around how I could afford coffee!!!
So, we'll see how this goes. I will eating a lot of Smart Ones meals, scrambled eggs, and PB and banana sandwiches, but I think I will be doing a lot better than some of my other classmates :)
My next stop was Walgreens where I picked up a carton of eggs for $1.19. I always forget to check places like Walgreens and CVS, but they have great deals and good coupons. Today with my remaining $2.80, I am planning on going to Publix to pick up some peanut butter and whatever else I can afford. I also have 8 empty Starbucks bags, so I can get 8 free cups of coffee this week! My whole menu was designed around how I could afford coffee!!!
So, we'll see how this goes. I will eating a lot of Smart Ones meals, scrambled eggs, and PB and banana sandwiches, but I think I will be doing a lot better than some of my other classmates :)
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