The Princess Within...

Hey K2 Kanakuk Gals,
Oh, to wake up and be a princess...every girls dream right? Oh, come on, admit it! I mean "Princess Diaries" in real life would be just unbelievable...I wonder if it's ever really happened in real life! I'll google it...

Anyways, so why Princesses? I guess today I just wanted to do a random post (I am sure you are so devastatingly surprised) and just say how much fun it would be if we could still wear the ball gowns and have classy dances like balls. I have a friend, I won't mention names but she used to be a worship leader at K2 with her hubby, who is living out the dream by being a princess at a certain theme park that would have Disney Princesses! Ahh!! I mean how fun is that!!! Again, even if you are too cool for everything and think the Disney princesses are so lame-o, I really think deep down if given the chance with the dress, wig, makeup, and a day at the park to be the princess for all these little 3 year old precious smiling girls you would love it! We all would.

So today, just remember you are one! Quit trying to be 26 years old and all grown up with clothes, sunglasses, handbags and the latest boots...just be YOU! The princess He made you to be...and okay if every once in a while you throw on a tiara and a ball gown that's perfectly okay too! Haha!

(Side Note: I would for sure want to be Cinderalla...hello, blonde hair and blue dress to match my eyes...Which one for you?)

(Second Side Note: I just realized the title sounds very deep and heart deep...but it's just a random post on Disney Princesses...sorry for the let down. Hopefully you all laughed or smirked or reacted in some type of "oh she's cool" teenage way)

Be Awesome & Love Jesus,

Kanakuk Ashley Robbins / ashley@kanakuk.com
Photo: google.com / search "disney princess"

Teenage High Blood Pressure...

Hey K2 Kanakuk Gals,
Goodness, it's Wednesday but yet to me for some random reason it feels like Friday. Very strange! Today I was thinking about high school. It was an interesting time for me. I was by no means the cool, very popular person that you know now (haha! I couldn't even act like that statement was true...I am cracking myself up!). But for real, I wasn't voted Miss Popular by any stretch of the imagination and I was just trying to be average in high school. Grades weren't really talked about amongst each other...but NOW, these days. You girls are so so so very stressed about grades, college prep classes, and having 40 hours of college credit as a 6th grader.

So today, although exceling in grades is not a bad thing at all, I just wanted to simply send out a perspective check to you girls via a blog post. I know that some of you have so much pressure on you but I pray you can stop, talk to the padres, and not let grades/school/college pursuit overtake LIFE. Ya know, laughing with your mom as you make the worst cookies, chasing your brother around the house, going to a weekly small group of girls that encourage and hold you accountable to being a godly young woman. LIFE...school/grades are for sure important but don't let them take over. A "B" or even, heaven forbid, a "C" does not mean you will not be entered into the kingdom someday. So excel and do your best but don't absorb your life into your future college resume to where that is all that matters.

Sure think the world of each of you. Remember, I by no means, am saying to blow off school or work (I want no angry parent emails)...just keep it balanced and in perspective.

Be Awesome & Love Jesus,

Kanakuk Ashley Robbins / ashley@kanakuk.com
Photo: google.com / search "stress of grades"

Thank You's...

Hey K2 Kanakuk Gals!

How is everyone this lovely (well, it's lovely here in Branson! Crisp, fall morning that has evolved into a glorious sunshine-y day!) day? I hope you all had wonderful weekends. I feel like most of you might be having Homecoming dances. I hope you all keep dances like this in perspective...like if you didn't have a date! I promise you, you will make it through the next 4 years! Promise! Click HERE to read a post about dance dates I wrote last year. Anyways, I hope if you went to Homecoming or not, you girls are doing great this fall semester as you hit the somewhat half way point in the semester. Keep loving Jesus and know of His love each day!

Well, so Thank You cards! Why, Ashley do you have a picture of Thank You cards? Well, last night as Shay watched the Chicago Bears (yikes, it was a tough night for Bears fans!) with his dad and brother I sat at the table forcing myself to write and complete the rest of my thank you's from having our precious girl/gifts/etc. Oh, my goodness, I laughed at myself when I was done because our firstborn is about to turn 1 and we are having another one. I am so late and I was so embarrassed but one statement that rang true...better late than never.

I realize the medium of "snail mail" is maybe a dying art form but I was raised that as quick as someone does something for you or a gift is received you sit you tooshy down and get out the note card to say thank you. God Bless Momma Medlin (that would be my mom!) for this deep embedded lesson in my soul.

So today girls...get out a cute note card and write a thank you card to your teacher (gasp! no way ashley! yes, girls, your teacher would love a thank you card), momma, sister, older brother, person who sent you to kamp, counselor, friend, or whomever to simply say thanks for something they did for you. It will melt their little hearts! Promise!

Oh, and there are cute thank you cards on http://www.etsy.com/ (I should be making money from Etsy with all the promotion I give that website :)...maybe one day!

Be Awesome & Love Jesus,

Kanakuk Ashley Robbins / ashley@kanakuk.com

Photo: Etsy.com / Seller: atelierdesigns / Click HERE to purchase these cards

Story Time with Brooke...

Hey K2 Kanakuk Gals,

Well, yet again another week with STORY TIME WITH BROOKE. The picture above was perfect for this post as Brooke heads to her all american hometown picnic...enjoy!

As many of you know-who takes you to certain school functions such as a homecoming dance is a big deal. In the town I grew up in (Quincy, IL-aka America's hometown) students started going to high school dances as sophomores instead of freshman. It was August of my sophomore year...and people were starting to get their dates lined up. Sidenote: the dance wasn't until the end of October so I don't know why people were getting their dates so early...but I didn't want to be left in the dust...so I joined the mayhem. We were at a town picnic (when you live in America's hometown you have town picnics) and boys were beginning to ask girls to the dance. One of my good guy friends came up to me and asked if I would go with another boy, Brock, to the dance (typical...test the waters before asking) . I said I wasn't sure. About 15 minutes later all my friends were standing around in a circle-about 30 of us-just chatting when Brock comes up and stands next to me. In my mind I "thought" he was acting nervous which made me "think" he was getting ready to ask me to homecoming. Being the semi-outspoken person that I am....out of nowhere I just look at him and say,
"Fine-I'll go with you to homecoming!"

The place went silent as everyone turned to look at me wondering why I just said that aloud, who I was talking to, and confused on what I meant! Brock looked at me and says, "You want to go to homecoming with me??????" And I respond, "I thought you were acting nervous and couldn't get the words out so I just sped up the process : )" My girlfriends chins were hitting the concrete, our guy friends were dying of laughter (secretly wishing they had gotten a date that easy I bet!) and I was just in tears laughing about how ridiculous that conversation was...but also relieved that I'd gotten a homecoming date (turns out he wasn't planning on asking me...but we went together...and had a blast!).

So girls, the moral of Story Time with Brooke today is if you are stressing about Homecoming Dance Dates...don't just when a boy awkwardly stands by you blurt out..."okay, I'll go to Homecoming with you" and see what it gets you. Haha!

Be Awesome & Love Jesus,

Kanakuk Ashley Robbins / ashley@kanakuk.com