My parents found out that they got the "second" house. I will be living in this house and renting it from them. It is on Winter Street. Escrow will close just before I move at the end of May. The Lord has provided. I was able to get of my year long lease here in my apartment, and I now have a place to live when I return back to CA. Now only two more obstacles - selling my car here, and finding a job in the Valley. There is a promising lead with Bethany Adoption Agency which I would love - so maybe God has that in the works too. I'll keep you up to date! In any case...here is my new WC home!

Happy first day of Spring! It doesn’t look like it around here – with snow on the ground and temps in the 40’s…but just the thought of today being the first day of Spring makes me feel warm inside – even if it isn’t warm outside.

Here on the EC there is a place called Rita’s. It is a place where one could buy water ice, gelati, etc. (I know, the name “water ice” is a bit redundant, but that’s what its name is. It is basically shaved ice, but it is much yummier then that.) Anyway, they care only open during Spring and Summer, and on the first day of Spring they give out free regular water ices. I was pretty darn excited about that. Chad, Katie (the kids I baby-sit) and I went to get ours, and the line was ginormous when we showed up. When we hopped out of the car I was greeted by several YL kids running up to me and yelling, “Ashley’s here!” It was a good moment for me.

You see, when I came out here to interview my “tour guide” stopped at Rita’s. It was my first water ice (or wuder ice as they pronounce it here) and I remember wondering what the heck all the fuss was about – I mean, we don’t have stuff like that on the WC. Of course that was my first time in Hunterdon County so I knew absolutely nobody. Today, three years later, kids who I have come to know and love greeted me at Rita’s.

While there are many annoying things about New Jersey, there are many wonderful things as well. This is my home. I will be sad to leave it in exactly nine weeks from today.

I have been blessed to have this EC experience.

Snow Day Surveys

1. Favorite country song?
Right now? What hurts the most by Rascal Flatts.

2. Last thing you bought?
Dinner

3. Last time you got flowers?
Valentine’s Day – and they were my fave flowers too!

4. Do you share a toothbrush with your significant other?
no

5. One of your stuffed animals' names as a kid?
Anderson

6. Did you ever own at one time a Barenaked Ladies CD?
I don’t think so.

7. Favorite day of the week?
Friday or Saturday

8. Favorite Sundae topping?
Hot fudge

9. Did you take Piano lessons?
Yes – for 10 years

10. T.V. show you secretly enjoy?
The Hills

11. Date someone older or younger?
Either

12. One place you could travel to right now?
Ireland

13. Do you use umbrellas?
Rarely

14. Do you know all the words to the Canadian national anthem?
No. Only the first two…lol

15. Best job you ever had?
I loved being on work crew in high school. Does that count?

16. What is the last thing you do before you go to sleep every night?
Usually watch Dave Letterman

17. Ever been in a car accident?
Yes, several

18. How would you like to die?
In my sleep

19. When do you think you will get drunk next?
never

20. Were you ever in a school talent show?
yes

21. Allergic to?
nothing that I know of

22. Favorite fruit?
strawberries

24. Do you soap first or shampoo?
Shampoo

26. Do you scream on roller coasters?
Sometimes

27. Who was your first prom date?
Chris Johnson

28. Who was your first roommate?
Courtney

30. What was your 1st job?
For money? I guess that would be babysitting.

31. What was your first car?
Red Toyota Tercel

33. Who was your first grade teacher?
Mrs Pitts

35. Who is the first person you call when you have a bad day?
Oh that depends! I have many good friends I can call…

36. What's your favorite store?
Target

37. What's the name of the last restaurant you ate at?
McDonalds

38. What did you do yesterday?

Work, which included a WyldLife club

39.What book are you reading right now?
The Safest Place on Earth by Larry Crabb

40. Why did you fill out this survey?
Stuck in my house due to snow and I’m bored!!!

And yet another survey…

1. 4th grade teacher's name: Mrs. ?? Don’t remember but I can picture her. She wore a wig, bless her heart and everyone made fun of her. She went to my church.

2. Last words you said: “Sure. OK, bye.”

3. Last song you listened to: What hurts the most by Rascal Flatts.

4. Last person you hugged: Linda

5. Last thing you laughed at: Kids are WL club last night

6. Last time you said I love you and meant it: I don’t know…probably in some phone conversation to someone

7. Last time you cried: today while watching QEFTSG. A soldier was leaving his family for Iraq.

8. Do you have a car: Yes. But I am selling it when I move back to CA.

9. What color socks are you wearing: None – I’m wearing slippers.

10.What is under your bed: luggage mostly

11. What time did you wake up: It was a snow day so I got to sleep in!

12. What's you least favorite ice cream: pistachio

13. Current hair: down

14. Are you thinking about someone right now? No

15. Current annoyance: my procrastination habits

16. Current desktop picture? Me, Kristin, and Jerelyn skating on the pond in front of the Capitol in D.C.

18. If you could play any instrument what would it be? guitar

19. Favorite color(s): red

29. How tall are you? 5’ 41/2”

30. Current favorite word/saying: wow! Or soooo good!

31. Favorite Show: The Hills or anything news-y

32. Favorite season: Fall

36. What is your career going to be like: hopefully effective as a therapist!

37. How many kids do you want: as many as God chooses to bless me with

HAVE YOU EVER...

39. Said "I love you": yes

40. Ever get into a fight with your pet: yes

41. Have you ever been to New York: City and Upstate - YES (live near it)

42. Been to Arizona: Yes

43. Been to California: Hello, um, yes

44. Been to Hawaii: no

45. Been to Mexico: Yes

46. Been to Italy: no.

47: Been to Ireland: no

48. Dreamed something really crazy and then it happened the next day? I don’t think so?

52. Do you have a crush on someone? no

53. What book are you reading now? A book for school by Larry Crabb

54. Where is it? on a chair in my living room

55. What is the first thing you think when you wake up in the morning? what time is it?

56. How many rings before you answer your phone? depends

57. Future daughter's names: I have learned that that is dangerous if I think of that because what if I don’t have them? Sad, I know, but I have had to make that rule for myself.

58. Future son's names: Read above.

59. What do you sleep with: I usually fall asleep with my TV remote next to my head

60. What do you wear to sleep: pjs of course!

61. Where are you: stuck at my house

62. Where do you wish you were? somewhere sunny and warm!

63. Piercing: 6

SOME EXTRA STUFF

67. Where are you staying tonight: Home.

70. Who is the last person that you called: My landlord

71. Where do you want to get married: Can’t allow myself to think of that – but of course in a church

72. Have you ever drank: Yes

73. Hate: bad drivers

74. Are you or have you Been In Love: yes

75. Are you timely or always late: depends!

77. Do you like being around people: Yes I do!

78. Best feeling in the world: feeling wanted and loved

80. Are you a health freak? not so much!

82. Are you lonely right now: Not really

86. Do you want kids: It’s not up to me. But if it were, yes.

LAST 48 H0UR'S HAVE Y0U

87. Cried: yes

88. Bought something: yes

89. Gotten Sick: not technically, but I am still recovering from my bronchitis

90. Sang: I don’t think so??

91. Said "I love you": I don’t think so??

92. Wanted To tell someone you loved them: Everyone knows that I love them

94. Moved On: From what?

95. Talked to someone: Yup.

96. Had a serious talk: yes

97. Missed Someone: must say yes!

98. Hugged Someone: yes

99. Kissed someone: yes

100. Yelled at Someone: Not someone, I did yell at something (My lame cell phone!)!

From sixties to snow? Yep! Winter wants to leave with a bang and we are forecasted to have up to seven inches in the next couple of days! Crazy!

I got my new CD in the mail today. My friend Holli recommended it. It is "Cities" by Anberlin. Get it. It will change your life.

Here is a blog post for you all...finally! I apologize for letting my blog go for weeks without posting anything. Unfortunately this is going to be the trend for the next ten weeks. Because, ten weeks from today, I will be moving back to CA! Crazy, huh? I don't think that that reality has sunk in at all yet. To think that I am leaving my beloved EC is very disheartening. At the same time though I am praying that this is indeed what God will have me do next - move back to Kingsburg. Don't get me wrong, there are several things I am looking forward to about CA. And, I can always come back to the EC to visit, right? And, who knows, maybe I will move back here again someday if God allows it.

Once March hit my life became even busier and crazier then normal. As mentioned, this is how my life will be from now on until the move back to the WC. Every weekend is booked, and I am more then occupied with school (a 60 page paper that I haven't even started), work (both jobs), visitors, and hanging out with my EC friends as much as possible. So, I apologize in advance for not being a good blogger in the weeks to come. But, I will try to drop in every once in a while.

I got back from WA yesterday morning. I went for a long weekend to visit Hannah in Tacoma. I had a great time hanging out with her. She seems to be very happy in her new job and new location. I'm so glad for her. We did a lot of fun things. We went to Pike's Place, the first Starbucks ever, got pedicures, went to the Glass Art Museum in Tacoma, watched movies, went to her church, spent a bit of time with her family, went on a ferry, went to Gaswork's park, went to fun WC restaurants, etc. I was sick most of the time I was there, but was able to handle it up until Sunday night when I just knew I had to see a doctor to get on some meds. I had a red-eye back to PA on Monday night and knew that I needed to be feeling better in order to do that. The doctor thought I had walking pneumonia, but after x-rays revealed I didn't (praise the Lord), I was diagnosed with viral bronchitis - which, lucky me, means no meds. However the Lord gave me strength and I felt a bit better on Monday and was able to fly back as planned, and although I am still home sick, I am improving each day. Anyway, the ER trip was quite the adventure. Let's just say that Hannah and I got to mingle with some of Federal Way's finest. And I definitely mean that in a sarcastic way.;-) Ask me for details.

The weekend before that I had a high school friend from the WC come out to visit me for a long weekend. Alena had never been to the EC before and we tried to fit the highlights into her whirlwind trip. We went to D.C. and hung out with Kristin and hit all the major monuments and memorials, and then went into NYC for a couple of days where we also were able to get a lot of "touristy" stuff in. It was good having her here.

See what I mean about being busy? (But you know I love it when it involves friends!) And this weekend Kristin is going to come and stay with me. We are considering going into NYC for the St. Patty's Day parade. Whether we do or not, it will be fun to have her here. She has not been to Jersey since early Fall.

School is good. I am counting down the weeks though! I think I might have a touch of senioritis...or whatever you call that apathetic feeling that comes over a person during her last semester of grad school. I am so ready to be done with homework!! I think I only have seven weeks left... I think I can hang in there!:-) Now on to that massive paper. Yikes!

The weather is warming up a bit and I do believe that Spring is around the corner. Everything in WA was blooming and it made me so excited for that to happen here. I miss my green trees and all the pretty scenery. I also miss my flip-flops! Isn't March 21 the first day of Spring? Yay - it's almost here! Here's to hoping we won't see any more snow!

That's enough updating for now...see ya later alligator!