Thursday, February 28, 2013

Snow Days...

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Hey K2 Kanakuk Friends,
Well, the snow/ice has come and then melted and then come and now melted. I love snow days! Here is a fun/random list of snow day activities:
1. hot cocoa...duh and done! With milk people, not hot water!
2. watch a RedBox movie (DVDONME is a code they promo that everyone can use once. not applicable online)
3. stay in pajamas all day.
4. go to www.kanakuk.com and sign up for summer kamp and dream of warmer weather.
5. dance party...as my eldest little calls it "mommy, you put on some jams."
6. craft. yep. craft something.
7. organize (oh, wait I'm starting to make my perfect day for myself...sorry)
8. play Settlers of Catan. I know it sounds weird but it's a really fun board game! You can find it on Amazon.
9. watch old home videos.
10. write your kamp friends...a real, on paper, email.

Enjoy your snow day...and if you aren't having one...well, enjoy reading this random post.

Be awesome & Love Jesus, 

kanakuk ashley robbins
ashley@kanakuk.com

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Boyfriend Talk 3...

Hey K2 Kanakuk Friends,
Well, Boyfriend Talk Installment #3 is back! I loved this "hey girl" pic from above b/c this girl does have a obsession with owls...I just wish I had photoshop so I could crop Ryan What's-His-Name out and put the hubs on these pictures!

Okay so today is basic but a touchy one. Today I want to remind you that high school LOVE is rare. By love I mean the biblical, healthy relationship when you find the right one and marry him. I know all moms and older staff folks might read this and say "I married my high school sweetheart" and to that I would say AWESOME. I would also say that your story is so very rare to have done a high school relationship right and honoring to Jesus and to truly find each other that young. I love that that is your story but for the most part...oh, let's just make up a statistic as most statistics are made up...95.6853234591% of high school relationships are NOT THE ONE. So guard relationships and the seriousness of it while you are there. Don't do promise rings or take pictures like your engaged when you are 15 years old and only dating 3 months. Don't plan college totally around each other based off of your love for him b/c you are sleeping together. If you are walking with Jesus then nothing will deter the man He has written for you to enter your beautiful story when the time is right. So remember high school relationships...keep 'em healthy and just friendly...

Be awesome & Love Jesus, 

kanakuk ashley robbins
ashley@kanakuk.com

Sunday, February 24, 2013

Go Talk...

Hey K2 Kanakuk Friends,
Oh, teenage years...why are you so hard?!?! Today I wanted to challenge you daughters to go have conversations with your moms, your aunts, your grandmas, your adopted or foster mom, or a woman that has impacted your life. I fear the art of question asking and then listening is being lost in our generation so therefore I am fighting that fear with simply posing a question for you to ask your mom (or above all mentioned women) today...

You simply sit down, remove your cellie, iPad, and all other technology and make some hot cocoa, tea or any cold drink that  sounds yummy and ask her..."Mom, what was your favorite thing about growing up in the time period you did?" Follow up question would be to ask her, "Mom, what was the hardest time in your life growing up as a kid?"

Deep discussion begin...

Be awesome & Love Jesus, 

kanakuk ashley robbins
ashley@kanakuk.com

Friday, February 22, 2013

Kanakuk Staff Hiring...Check...

Hey K2 Kanakuk Friends,
Well, this past week was hiring, paperwork, lots of calls and tons of excitement for Summer 2013! It's been an awesome week of truly letting go of our hands and allowing the Lord to direct each application to exactly where it needs to be!

K2 Kampers...seriously we have the BEST staff in the whole world! I truly truly mean that!

Be awesome & Love Jesus, 

kanakuk ashley robbins
ashley@kanakuk.com

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

The Sun is Rising...

Hey K2 Kanakuk Friends,
As I was running today (side note: I'm training for a half marathon with my best friend) I was listening to Britt Nicole's Gold Album that I a slightly obsessed with! Thanks to Caitlin Lochstampfor! I love the album!

As I finished my run this song came on and the lyrics rang so loudly for so many of you that I see and meet with all through the summer! Read them and let them linger...


When life has cut too deep and left you hurting
The future you had hoped for is now burning
And the dreams you held so tight lost their meaning
And you don't know if you'll ever find the healing

You're gonna make it
You're gonna make it
And the night can only last for so long

Whatever you're facing
If your heart is breaking
There's a promise for the ones who just hold on
Lift up your eyes and see
The sun is rising

The sun is rising

Every high and every low you're gonna go through
You don't have to be afraid I am with you
In the moments you're so weak you feel like stopping
Let the hope you have light the road you're walking

You're gonna make it
You're gonna make it
The night can only last for so long

Whatever you're facing
If your heart is breaking
There's a promise for the ones who just hold on
Lift up your eyes and see
The sun is rising

Even when you can't imagine how
How you're ever gonna find your way out
Even when you're drowning in your doubt
Just look beyond the clouds

Just look beyond the clouds

Whatever you're facing
If your heart is breaking
There's a promise for the ones who just hold on
Lift up your eyes and see
The sun is rising

The sun is rising

Even when you can't imagine how
How you're ever gonna find your way out
Even when you're drowning in your doubt
Just look beyond the clouds
Be awesome & Love Jesus, 


kanakuk ashley robbins
ashley@kanakuk.com

Monday, February 18, 2013

Teenage Life Back When...

Hey K2 Kanakuk Friends,
I love these pictures. I mean I LOVE these pictures! Sometimes I just want to halt everything. Doesn't it feel like we are changing or evolving too fast? Technology too fast? Information too fast? Everything feels too fast. I found these pictures on Pinterest from Teenage life back in the 1940's. Wow! I love the one above as I imagine she is doing homework and listening to "tunes" of the day. The loafers, the rolled jeans, the button up and precious curled hair. The picture below just seems precious. The days of innocence that I will fight for in this day in age.

Sometimes I think it is valuable to look back. Not to dwell or linger in past guilt or junk. But to look back and remember. Remember what made it good and hold onto those things. To remember and look back to what we should learn from those times.

So look back for a bit in your life. What do you miss from the days of your innocence or simpler life? Look back and learn...


Be awesome & Love Jesus, 

kanakuk ashley robbins
ashley@kanakuk.com

Saturday, February 16, 2013

Boyfriend Talk...


Hey K2 Kanakuk Friends,
Okay, I got so stupidly excited about my genius series about boy talk with you girls that I am coming at you again with deep advice. Seriously, I think I am going to be serious. I feel like I need to warn you when that is coming as it's so very rare.

Lesson #2:
No boy...ever is worth giving up any amount of your body physically to so that you can keep, have or prove LOVE. No boy! I promise. I think each of you if you stopped and thought about your future daughters or even little sisters you would want them to hear and really KNOW that if any boy pushes to go further or uses lines of manipulation or threatens ("you will do this if you love me," "everyone goes this far," "this is what teenagers do and i love you.")  that they are NOT guarding you or your heart or your body. They are not honoring you, your body or your heart for Jesus, no matter where your walk might be with the Lord. So know and remember and set a standard in your heart and share it out loud from the forefront of a relationship that your body is yours (hence then the Lords) and for your future hottie of a husband warrior. Long to save your body for the one that the Lord is perfectly scripted YOU for.

Be awesome & Love Jesus, 

kanakuk ashley robbins
ashley@kanakuk.com

Thursday, February 14, 2013

Happy Valentines...

Hey K2 Kanakuk Friends,
Happy Valentines day to you sweet friends!!! I realize in junior high and high school Valentines Day can be well, not the best at times. And for some you love love love it! I hope that wherever you fall on the LOVE/HATE relationship with Valentines Day that you know LOVE is deeper when Jesus is at the heart of it. Whether your relationship with the Lord or others around you...His love is so deep and so wide and so true and so real and so grace filled.

Be awesome & Love Jesus, 

kanakuk ashley robbins
ashley@kanakuk.com

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Boyfriend Talk...

Hey K2 Kanakuk Friends,
I am sure most of you clicked on this blog post mostly because of who is in the picture above and then some of you out of plain curiosity of the title. Let me explain.

After reading through a survey of our kampers and just remembering teenage years and thinking of all the conversations I have in the summer...BOYS are a big deal. Whether you have never had a boyfriend...they are a BIG DEAL. If you have had hundreds...they are a BIG DEAL. If you think they boy in literature is your future husband...they are a BIG DEAL. If you pray no one in your high school is your future husband...they are a BIG DEAL. Summation...boys are a big topic for your teenage years.

I by no means am in any way a dating expert but I thought I would use the "hey girl" Ryan Gosling photo and start a little series of posts. They will be simple, practical and just real. So lesson 1...

Teenage boys are not Ryan Gosling from The Notebook or Zac Efron from High School Musical. Those sweet girl are movies. Not real. They are scripted and no teenage boy dances on top of a roof. Side note is there really high schools with beautiful gardens atop their roofs.

Deep, thoughtful and life changing. In the words of the Sonic guys...mind just blown.

Be awesome & Love Jesus, 

kanakuk ashley robbins
ashley@kanakuk.com

Monday, February 11, 2013

If I Had to Make a Cute Print of How I Feel Sometimes...

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Hey K2 Kanakuk Friends,
Just read the above print over and over. I love that they put this saying with cute chevron print and cute font but yet it is such a brutal "quote." Ironic and weird and so very true!

Basic, simple, truth spoken here at Kanakuk Ashley.

Be awesome & Love Jesus, 

kanakuk ashley robbins
ashley@kanakuk.com

Saturday, February 9, 2013

American Idol Awkwardness...


Hey K2 Kanakuk Friends,
Wow! Where to even begin with this post!?! I must admit I have only watched this once and really am pretty much off the American Idol crazy train. BUT WOW! The 30 minutes I watched were CRAY CRAY. Like all reality TV shows smashed into one crazy. I literally was awkward in my own living room watching the judges. I was sweating and had to look away. I am feeling awkward just typing it. Seriously!

The judges are the show this year. I felt like they are wanting each person to come in and know exactly the artist and music that person wants to do. Isn't that what the show is for? The auditions are supposed to be "sing a song" and decide if potential is there...not sound like you can record that day? Anyways, I am so over the show mostly because it is painful to watch...literally. I just feel for Keith Urban...you can totally tell he is the peace maker.

If you are an Idol fan...I can then infer that you love awkwardness.

Be awesome & Love Jesus, 

kanakuk ashley robbins
ashley@kanakuk.com

Thursday, February 7, 2013

Overshare...but Why?...

{Kanakuk or myself does not condone alcohol...act like it's apple juice!)
Hey K2 Kanakuk Friends,
Well, I was driving in the Robbins' swagger wagon the other day and realized I wanted to share something very little (I can't remember what it was) with Shay and actually others. It was a random feeling. I thought in that moment...why do I feel like I need to share this?  (Oh, I remember it's this new snack I found at TJ Maxx called Mrs. Mays! So good). Anyways, I thought WHY do I feel this urge to share something so little or anything at all?

I thought about your world...the social media blitz world that you all live in and I kind of shuttered! You sweet girls go to twitter with your heart, you post on facebook your anger and share the deepest bits of your heart or your body with a quick pic on Instagram. If you read this blog one might think I am so anti-social media. I honestly am not. I am anti-"it taking over your life and replacing REAL relationships."

Why do you overshare...why can you not have a conversation face to face with your mom or dad. Why when you are with your girlfriends is everyone on their phone the whole time and not being with each other. It drives me bonkers. The hubs and I put our phones up at home, we leave them in my purse on date nights and when I am with my girlfriends we are chatting a mile a minute! BE WITH PEOPLE. Be present and when that urge hits you to share your hearts, your deepest hurts or angers or fears...turn to the Lord. Call your momma up to your room and snuggle in your twin bed with her. Call your counselor from the summer to just pray with her. Have a real conversation...it might blow your mind!

Be awesome & Love Jesus, 

kanakuk ashley robbins
ashley@kanakuk.com

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Salted Caramel Cake Pop...

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Hey K2 Kanakuk Friends,
No those are not my nails, feet or even my cake pop. I just found the picture...oh and I couldn't take one with my phone b/c I had devoured it so quickly!

Just a quick post to tell you if you love cake pops...go get this one! It's rich but small. Seriously! I ran at the Branson Landing and then went and got this...does the running still count? Prob not! Bummer! Oh well...very worth it!

Enjoy a cake pop today! FYI...I do not get paid or endorsed by Starbucks or get any perks for telling you this. In case any one was wondering!

Be awesome & Love Jesus, 

kanakuk ashley robbins
ashley@kanakuk.com

Sunday, February 3, 2013

The Truth will Set You Free...

Hey K2 Kanakuk Friends,
I just was sad...that was all I could think as I watched the 2 part interview with Lance Armstrong. I know it's been a bit since the actual interview but I just wasn't sure what all my thoughts were on the 2 part interview. I listened, tried to act like a body language expert and at the end was in awe of the gospel that rang so loudly in 6 words. 6 words that ended the interview on that Friday. 6 words that Lance's ex-wife says to him still. 6 words that don't just mean the truth of his life. 6 words that mean the meaning of his life.


Oprah: You know what I hope the moral to this story is? It's what Kristin told you: the truth will set you free.
Lance: "Yeah. She continues to tell me that."
Oh, Lord thank you for Kristin...not that I know her or know everything about her and her story. I do believe she is trying to show Jesus to her husband that once was. To show love and honor even in divorce. To show Jesus and to show TRUTH. 
I pray our hearts are not angered or celebratory when we see fame fail. We ALL need grace, love and Jesus!
Be awesome & Love Jesus, 


kanakuk ashley robbins
ashley@kanakuk.com

Friday, February 1, 2013

Welcome February...

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Hey K2 Kanakuk Friends,
Welcome to February!!! Woohoo! Or boo from the crowds. I must admit that February was 90% of the time not my most favorite month in high school and college. I mean since I had boys just waiting in lines...haha! I just thought today I would remind each of you that you, sweet girls, are beautiful and perfect the way you are.

My 2 little princesses are very much into a new little show on Disney called "Sofia the First." It's precious in every way. In a recent episode little new Princess Sofia is reminded by her "village" friends that to be a princess means that everyone is made perfectly (don't get all theological...I know we aren't perfect). She goes to her friends and tells them she loves them just the way they are...

Be reminded today that you are YOU. With each quirk or pet peeve. With each freckle or crazy hair. With each silly laugh or dimpled cheek. You are YOU and that makes you special. So with this month of LOVE swirling around you remember that the greatest LOVE of all is from the One who created YOU to be YOU.

Be awesome & Love Jesus, 

kanakuk ashley robbins
ashley@kanakuk.com