we had a surprise going away party for ashlyn. surprise because she thought it was just her and jessica coming to dinner and not 30 other people, as opposed to a “surprise, you ARE going away” party. she knew she was going away, she is going to pensacola, flrst to do her internship and then who know where God will take her. personally, i can’t wait to see what God does with her life, she is one heck of a wonderful girl.
ashlyn has run a triathlon with me, stayed with me whenever adam left town (she loves my 1000 count sheets on my bed), eaten dinner at least once a week at my house for 6 years, eaten lunch with me almost as many times, kept my kids, given millie an entire wardrobe of her not really old clothes, house sat for me, flooded two rooms of my house and almost killed my dog once while housesitting and as her dad said, “imagine what would have happened if she didn’t like you so much.” her dad said this while he was at my house cleaning up from the flooding, and she and sarah cleaned out the entire scary potty after that flood and knew what they could throw away and what they couldn’t and i have NEVER missed one item they threw away because they know me that well.
she never asks, “what do you need me to do?” she always knows and she always does it.
she was the one that stayed with my mom whenever my dad went out of town. she and mom loved being roommates every year for a week or so. she actually stayed with my mom about a month before my mom’s stroke.
that is the hard part about college ministry, the good byes every year at this time. this first week in may is always a tearful week. six years is a long time to practically have a girl live with you and to become a part of your family...and then to leave you with a hole in your heart.
i really cannot believe that ashlyn has been with us for 6 years! she stayed to get her master’s degree. i think because she couldn’t bear to leave me alone with all my dishes. she is the best dishwasher after a party (and as you all know, we have parties all the time, showers, cookouts, all with lots of dishes. first she drinks all the leftover coffee frappe (and there is always coffee frappe) and then she is so hyped up on sugar, fat, and caffeine that she does all the dishes and cleans the entire kitchen until it sparkles...
whatever will i do without her?
i think she was VERY surprised when 30 people popped up in the living room and yelled surprise! look at these photos... i love a surprise party that works! we made everyone park down by the lake so there were no cars. jessica took her out for coffee first and then to my house for dinner. it was a great night!
