2010 Sinkhole in Milwaukee

Well, it seems disaster does seem to follow me to an extent.

In 2007 the Interstate Bridge 35W collapse. This was approximately 2-3 minutes away from my college campus in Minneapolis, MN. All of us college students took this bridge all the time to go get groceries and food! Below you will see pictures of this devastation. God's hand had to be in there because it was amazing how low the death toll was for how horrific it appears.

Now, we have a large sinkhole in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Once again, minutes away from my college campus. Luckily, Ben and I live north of Milwaukee in a town called Glendale in a third floor condo. We had horrible flooding that stranded cars, as the car seen in the sinkhole. It occurred last night. As of this morning, the car was still running with the lights on and wheels turning. When the sinkhole collapsed, there was a man in the SUV. He managed to get out with minimal injuries. I don't know how he got out because at the time it fell, there was water gushing into the hole as well.

I'll stop talking and just let you look at the pictures. The first one is the sinkhole in Milwaukee. The three pictures after are the bridge collapse in MInneapolis.

Jury Duty Calls

Well, my Mom is about to turn the big 5-0 this December and she still has yet to be called for jury duty. Here I am, 22, only lived in this city for almost 2 years, and I get the call for jury duty!!! Granted, I live in the big city of Milwaukee. I am positive there is much more crime here than in the little dinky towns of Janesville, Lee's Summit, Cameron, and even Kearney. (Okay, I do not mean dinky in a disrespectful manner, I love ALL those places I just listed). I just think it is a little ironic. I've been here since 9:15 am, it is now 1 pm. I've yet to be called for a court case. I'm starting to get a little bit bored. I have to be here until 5pm, and all day tomorrow! The good thing is this forces me to work on homework that I otherwise would have been putting off. So thank you everyone for having blogs to entertain me when I am sick of reading about symmetries, transformations, constructivism, cooperative learning and all the other stuff I'm learning right now.

I guess I might as well fill you in with my life. Forgive me if I have said this in a previous blog. Ben now has a new job, thank the Lord. He is still LOVING it! :) He works for Teen Challenge. It's a faith based non-profit organization that provides support to people of any age that have life-altering addictions. Specifically, he works in their re-sale shop where all proceeds go to support their cause. He is able to do something he knows very well, retail, while also ministering to the people who work with him. He's the only paid employee, everyone else are "students" enrolled in the Teen Challenge program. I've recently begun volunteering their as well. I love all the women at the store. They have amazing stories and great hearts. I pray the best for them always. I may become a women's supervisor during the summer.

As for me, I'm still in school right now. I'm finishing up the semester with the huge portfolio and presentation I have to do. It is hard work. I also applied for student teaching next year. I can't believe I will be applying for GRADUATION next!! It is so invigorating knowing I will be done soon. I'm also a little afraid, knowing that I could be teaching my own wild 5th grade class of over 30 kids myself pushes me to learn as much as I can now! Speaking of 5th grade, that is the grade I have been in this semester for a day and a half a week plus two full weeks. It will be hard to say good-bye to those kids! :( I love them so much despite the pain in the neck they can be! lol! :) I'll say this - THANK YOU TO PARENTS WHO TEACH THEIR KIDS RESPECT! A lot of elementary/middle school kids do not have this concept modeled for them at home :( It definitely shows its toll when you try to teach.

Well, I guess that is all I will write for now. I'm starting to get sick of looking at the computer. I may just go wonder around this little room I'm stuck in. Hopefully I will be called for a case soon. I think it would be an interesting experience to be on the actual jury panel.

-Ashley-


PS

Interesting Things I've learned lately:

5 of the 1st US Presidents authorized federal funds for evangelism & church planting.

The 1st Continental Congress paid to publish & distribute the BIBLE during the American Revolution.



And on the not so random...

If you are faithful in your relationship to God and with God, He will be faithful to you!!!

Sickness & Loud Junior High Girls

Well, I don't know what it is but Ben and I both seem to get sick all the time! Apparently I need a lesson on being healthy! Geeeesh! I think I should even go get the H1N1 shot, although now I don't know if it will do anything for me. Although, Ben did have pink eye and I didn't get that. Thank you God! I'm about to leave on a weekend retreat with a bunch of loud, crazy, hyper junior high girls. I'm still getting over what apparently was not Strep Throat. I think I actually have strep throat, but they did a rapid test, which isn't as accurate. My throat hurts even when I don't talk! I can't swallow or do anything. How am I supposed to be loud and giggly with all the girls?? I don't want them to think I'm boring! haha. Anyway, regardless it should be fun. Alright, that's all for now. I'm watching a scary movie and it is getting intense! It's called State of Play. Russel Crowe, Ben Affleck (if I spelled those right)

So long amigos!

Tribute to Cindy (kinda)

Hey everyone,

First of all, let me clarify. This is not actually a tribute to Cindy. She simply put up her little poem, because she was sad not many people comment or blog. So, I decided that I would blog. For the first time in what seems forever, I actually have a lot to say.

Thanks to everyone who commented on colors for my condo. I did paint it finally. It is a beautiful tan color. The pictures do not do it justice (scroll down). I even bought some new decorations to put up. Now I just need to paint my bedroom and the bathroom. I finally decided on a color for the bedroom. It's going to be a light blue. I want to eventually get new curtains that will lighten the room up a bit. Maybe that will make me get out of bed a little earlier. Ben has been a bad influence on me in that department. I sleep a lot later now than I ever have.

Anyway, on to the new news. God has finally started opening up doors, the right ones too in our life. We stepped down with helping to start a new church this summer. Things were not lining up. As soon as we did that, we found a great new church that I am proud to call home. We're meeting new people all the time! Ben and I both help lead the junior high group that meets every Wednesday nights. Ben also began a new job! He's working for Teen Challenge (no it isn't something just for teenagers). I'll have to look into how the program got its name. Anyway, it is a faith based rehabilitation program for life's addictions (drugs, alcohol, etc.)It is open to people of any age. Not only do they help people get rid of their addictions, they help them get back on their feet. They offer job coaching, schooling, etc. Teen Challenge recently opened a re-sale shop which Ben is now the head guy for! All the store's profits go towards supporting the program. It is also a place for students enrolled in the program to get clothes. There are many people who arrive with nothing but the clothes on their backs.

So far, Ben loves his new job. I will even have the opportunity to work side by side with my hubby. I have to do community service hours for school. Luckily, I can do it with Teen Challenge! Speaking of, yes, I am still in school. I graduate next May. I'm very anxious for that date. Until then, I still work part-time at Le Club, the fitness club. I love it their. Always new and interesting people to meet. Tonight, I just met a couple who just moved to Milwaukee from ITALY! How EXCITING! They had WONDERFUL accents and were so cute together! Sometimes I cannot believe how diverse that place is! We have people from everywhere! Russia, Italy, India, China, everywhere!



Well, I guess for now I will stop! That is the thing with blogs, you can't write tooo much because then people get bored of reading. See, I'm not good at blogs. I'll just write and write when I finally sit down to do it!

Love you all!

Help! Paint Advice Needed!

Hey Everyone!!

I think I've posted pictures of my condo previously on here before. When we first moved in I enjoyed our green walls. However I am now beginning to get sick of the icky green all over the place. Since I know so many of you are great at decorating I need advice with what color I should paint my walls, or if I should just paint one, etc. I know it is hard to go off of just pictures but do your best!!


Here is a picture of our condo before we got our rug, it shows off our beautiful floors.






And here is a picture of our condo with our new rug :) I love it!!!!









This is our entry way. Don't let the white & purple candle throw you off. It's not there anymore :)


Alright all you interior designers! Show me what you got!


-Ashley-

Seat me next to the irritating talker, please

Well, I don't mind talking. I guess it depends on what the "irritating" thing of the "talking" is though, you know? I mean, if someone is just super talkative and hyper that isn't so bad. If it is someone who is drooling while they talk and lean really close, then I would rather have the quiet starer. But, considering I would be more freaked out by someone staring at me, I will choose the talker!

I want a kitten!!

Well, I am obviously no good at this whole blogging business! There just isn't that much exciting stuff happening in Ben and I's life!!! I'm still in school. I find out in a couple of weeks if I was finally accepted into the school of education. I am very confident about it. I had an interview and it went great! So, I'm just keeping my fingers tied for the next couple of weeks!

I'm still a receptionist at a fitness club and I love it! The people are so great there! It is like its own little community within the health club! Ben finally got a membership (it is really cheap for me because I get a HUGE discount!). He has a work-out buddy who he meets with every Wednesday. Then every Monday & Friday Ben and I work out in the club together. My spring break is this coming week so I am SUPER excited to be able to try all the group classes! I normally can go to any of them because they do not fit in with my school schedule! Bummer!

Anyway, other than that...Ben has a weekly Poker Night he has going! It's great fun! We don't play with actual money (that's bad...lol). Ben is trying to use it as a ministry. It's a time for him and his guy friends to get together and hopefully talk religion :) (Although, a couple of my girlfriends and I have joined in on the fun). We're also in the process of starting up a weekly bible study at our small little condo.

Oh, my friend has a kitten that she needs to get rid of too. I'm going to try to convince my condo association to let me keep a kitten in our place. Sadly, we are in the building that does not allow pets. I just would love a small cute little kitten so much though!!!


Well, that is all for tonight. I am tired. Oh, if anyone is interested, I'm keeping another blog as well. It's mainly filled with my thoughts on what I've read in the bible for the night.

www.ashleysbelovedsavior.blogspot.com


Love you all!


Oh, and Cindy, Lars is adorable! Congratulations on a new addition to your beautiful family!!!!