American Idol Thoughts...

Hey Kanakuk Girls!!! How we doing today? It's Wednesday...Wednesdays seem like great days. Anywho, so last night was Idol and the themes was the Beatles. I like the Beatles but do not want to claim to understand or be a major Beatle fan. I thought overall the night was good. I feel like I like each of them now (except a certain 17 year old girl that I am still bitter that she is still on the show...Lily it should have been you!...however she is getting better and I agree with Simon that she should not be R&B but country...long side note) so at this point it gets tough to know who is going home and really I hope each of these folks do well. But here are my random thoughts for you to enjoy or get mad at because you disagree:

1. Siobhan Quirky Magnus: I sort of have lost my enthusiasm of her. I still think she is just cool but I don't know if I would like buy her album.
2. Big Mike: Still a fan.
3. Lee Deeeee-Wiiiizzzzyyy: I would 100% buy his album! Love his voice! Different and cool!
4. Andrew Garcia: Add as a fan, check!
5. Aaron Kelly: would not be sad if he went home soon
6. Casey James: not sure if I like him or not...feel like he has better hair than some of the girls and it's awkward...good voice.
7. Crystal MommaSox: adore! She is so different but I must admit I don't know if I would run out to get her album but would love to see her play live in a small coffee shop setting.
8. Katie Stevens: you are getting better but I just still am not a huge fan. I am very sorry.
9. Tim Urban: why are the judges so hard on you? poor guy gets harrassed for smiling and i think it is just nervousness and you are having a ball. So more power to you! I do think he has great weeks and a good voice but probably will be gone soon.

So there are my thoughts. My predictions for bottom 3: Tim, Katie, and Andrew (now bottom 3 will start to consist of people that I do not want to leave). Kick-off: Katie (I can hope...and I'd be ok with Tim)

Be awesome, love Jesus & Simon is the only real judge,

Kanakuk Ashley Robbins / ashley@kanakuk.com
Picture: www.google.com image search

When Friends Move On...

Hey Kanakuk Friends,
Oh, the word "friend" is so very dear and a word that bring tears to my eyes this week. Have you ever had a dear, dear friend move away? I realize I am 29 years old (yep, I'm 29...holler!) and I feel like I am in 6th grade and losing one of my bestest friends. At 29, I realize that friends are going to move and life and my little bubble of a world will change. I realize it but that doesn't mean I have to like it.

So today, I will call Jane to hang out or walk or something to simply be around her before she leaves on Friday morning. We have had so many memories and she is a woman I want to each day be more like. Here are some of my favorite memories:
1. Kelly Clarkson...no need to type more.
2. Dressing in "costumes" for a midnight movie
3. Our love for crafts...you are actually good at them, me...I need to keep learning.
4. Our talking...I mean no one else finishes my sentences and talks as fast with me.
5. Wicked...we must go again if it comes to Chicago! Sweet Memories! It's at 2 pm...AHHHH!!!
6. Musicals in general...love you Margo!
7. The Cottage...bathroom buddy!

Okay, so I could keep going through #500...but I shall stop. Kanakuk girls, I pray you have great friends. Friends that challenge you, encourage you, speak truth to you, and love you. I have been blessed with just that for many years and I know Jane and I will continue, we'll just have to use our night time free minutes now.

If you have great Godly friends...then PTL (Praise the Lord!)...if you don't, be praying that the Lord would lead great friends into your world.

Be awesome, love Jesus & hears to you Jane,

Kanakuk Ashley Robbins / ashley@kanakuk.com

Being the Green Gummy Bear...

Well, first of all, all you Kanakuk girlies I hope you all had an awesome Easter with reflection on the fact that He is Risen (he is risen indeed...does every church do that little saying?), lots of time with family, and maybe a fun easter egg hunt.

This morning I awoke bright and early for our 7th/8th grade small group that Katie Hurst (K-Life Branson gal and K-Kountry leadership) and I co-lead. We are going through Ephesians with the girls and it's been awesome. This week we hit on the Holy Spirit...

"And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession --to the praise of his glory." ~ Ephesians 1:13-14

Well so this verse speaks of being sealed with/by the Holy Spirit...which then made me ask the girls, "What does the Holy Spirit do in your life?" (Insert: Silence and the hum of the coke machine in McDonalds). They just weren't sure...and maybe you aren't either.

So tying it all back together to the gummy bear picture...we are to look, be, act, speak, live DIFFERENTLY. I always say the Holy Spirit lives in my gut...when I choose to sin there is that moment when my gut turns and I know I'm doing something wrong. That's the Holy Spirit pulling at you. (Please no theological comments about Holy Spirit in my gut :) You sweet girls should look different than this world. You should walk away from gossip...you should desire to dress to point people to Jesus not your body...you should feel the twist of your gut when you walk by your mom and preceed to slam your door only to see all your laundry folded nicely on your bed and you should go out and say thank you and hug her. You should because the Holy Spirit lives in your girl! You are different. Be that...be different.

p.s. I adore Haribo Gummy Bears...and now because of the picture I like want them! Wish they grew on trees...

Be awesome, love Jesus and be the green gummy bear,

Kanakuk Ashley Robbins / ashley@kanakuk.com