Life is Hard...

Hey K2 Kanakuk Friends, 

My heart is aching as I just read this poem by a blog I stumbled upon. I don't endorse her blog or her beliefs but the poem was beautiful and real and raw. It made me think of teens...the world that is encircling you. 

PARENTS: the number one things our kampers said on what they wish their parents knew was "IT'S HARD being a teenager." The second thing was "I am not perfect / There is so much pressure."

We have to start listening to you girls. You have to start talking and talking real and upfront. You have to start seeing YOU with all the wonderful elements that Your Creator put just in YOU to be YOU. 

it's hard to forget what others think and go after your dreams

it's hard to make your own opportunities
it's hard to let someone know how you really feel
it's hard to do the right thing when everyone around you isn't
it's hard to look in the mirror and like what you see
it's hard not to let negative comments fill your thoughts
it's hard to be the bigger person
it's hard to forgive
it's hard to smile at a total stranger
it's hard to be someone's friend, when you know they could careless
it's hard to be nice to someone who never returns the favor
it's hard to be yourself
it's hard to let things go
it's hard to fail
it's hard to hold your head high while others judge you
it's hard to always do the right thing
it's hard to wake up positive
it's hard not to judge others
it's hard not to gossip
it's hard to not let pride sink in
it's hard to help others when you could be doing something for yourself
it's hard to always do your best
it's hard being a teenager
it's hard to look and really see
it's hard not to yell and scream
it's hard not to swear
it's hard when your best isn't good enough

but when it all comes down to it; it's just hard

 being yourself.

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Be awesome & Love Jesus, 

kanakuk ashley robbins

ashley@kanakuk.com

Someday...

Hey K2 Kanakuk Friends,
Well the above picture says it all...honestly, be patient. Maybe someday! Haha!

Be awesome & Love Jesus, 


kanakuk ashley robbins
ashley@kanakuk.com

You are Cool...

Hey K2 Kanakuk Friends,
Well, today (this might be a series of posts or I might forget my fun name for it and it will be a one time deal) is Pinterest Pretties...Pretty sayings/quotes I found from Pinterest. Super fun!

Today's is easy and just true...YOU ARE COOL. Don't forget that in a world that continues to say you are not enough and never can be enough. You are cool!

Be awesome & Love Jesus, 

kanakuk ashley robbins
ashley@kanakuk.com

Peer Pressure...

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Hey K2 Kanakuk Friends,
Oh, peer pressure...I just found myself letting out a very long sigh as I even typed the words. Peer pressure is not new, but heavier. It's not surprising, yet still makes me sweat when I utter the words. It's the hardest things in the hallways of high schools, yet we all mask like it's not a big deal.

I recently read through a survey that K2 did with some of our kampers. It was very eye opening and this word popped out hundreds of times when ask what the hardest thing in high school is. Peer pressure. 2 words that bring you guys to your knees in life. Whether that be passed out from drinking due to peer pressure or on your knees to the Lord asking for courage or on you knees at our parents lap begging to be grounded so that can be your excuse not to go to the party.

I think as I thought what is my angle with you girls with peer pressure is simply...don't be afraid. Oh sweet girls, young women, every day you have influences and those influences in high school seem like the loudest voices echoed by like 5 million. You feel like if you don't drink you are doomed for the empty table of loners. Or maybe you are the loner. Either way you my sweet, talented, beautiful young lady are more than peer pressure. Your voice, your thoughts and your heart are more than any peer pressure. You just have to believe that part...and your voice becomes much louder than others telling you how to be you, how to be cool or how to live. Your voice (prayerfully seeking the Lord's voice) becomes strong, confident and is not afraid. Don't be afraid to stand up. Don't be afraid to say no. Don't be afraid to be alone. Don't be afraid. Don't be afraid! This world needs YOU to be the whole of who God has made you to be.

You're going to make it...don't be afraid my strong, confident and lovely sweet girl!

Be awesome & Love Jesus,

kanakuk ashley robbins
ashley@kanakuk.com

K2 App...

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Hey K2 Kanakuk Friends,

Some of you may have already found out about this but this is the K2 Family app. It helps you stay connected and there are tons of little devos from the Adam Donyes, Brian Wang (old leadership guy) and the K2 Directors too! I'm supposed to have a few on there but I'm a bit nervous to do them. I promise Tanya Beardsley and I will record them soon. I'm sure they will be life changing...haha! Below is how to get it. 

ATTENTION Smart Phone Users!!! We have created an App for our K2 family. Search “The Link Year” App on Android and Apple markets for encouraging, Gospel centered content. There are many kinds of content including Podcasts from this summer and our featured content titled the “K2 Minute”. The “K2 Minute” segments are 60 sec Biblical encouragements on Today’s hot topics from the K2 Director team.

 

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/link-year/id560371843?ls=1&mt=8

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.subsplash.thechurchapp.kanakuk

Be awesome & Love Jesus, 

kanakuk ashley robbins
ashley@kanakuk.com

Vaca is Over...

Hey K2 Kanakuk Friends,
Well, vaca was over a week ago but then the hubs went to Atlanta for Passsion/Speak at a school and so I was home with the 3 littles. Needless to say, computer time is somewhat of a challenge to get to.

But I'm back and the deep, theological posts will return...who am I kidding, they were never deep? The fun, random posts will return.

Be awesome & Love Jesus, 

kanakuk ashley robbins
ashley@kanakuk.com

Merry Christmas...

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Hey K2 Kanakuk Friends,
Merry Christmas! I pray today is full of the Lord's love, precious family and friends and lots of laughter and memories.

Be awesome & Love Jesus, 


kanakuk ashley robbins
ashley@kanakuk.com

Sorrow during this Season...

Hey K2 Kanakuk Friends,
All I can do is stare at this screen...not really sure where to move my fingers on these keys. Not sure what, if any, that my words on this post would do to help or on the other extreme hurt if not worded or typed right. Honestly, I have nothing to offer. I've cried. I've wondered how? Why? I've held my littles much tighter. I've wanted to hide us all away from this world...I honestly didn't want to write anything but not writing seemed wrong or ignorant or even worse not honoring what is surrounding us. Sorry it took me a bit to finally do it...

But all I keep thinking is of those precious faces...the little ones and the older ones. The ones with all the future and all the hope of life in their eyes. The ones that had braids and others that had teeth that someday would have braces for years. The ones that had glasses and others beautiful red hair. The ones that had boyish grins and the ones that had giddy laughter in their smiles. The ones that showed bravery on that day to protect little ones. The ones that wanted nothing more than to help raise the next generation. The ones who went to school innocent and young...

It's not just my tears but my heart for the moms and dads and sisters and brothers and grandmothers and aunts and cousins and...all of Newtown, Connecticut. So many hearts are praying, hoping, desperately begging for comfort, peace, love and a little bit of faith will wrap around your heart and your life...with each moment and each breath.

Just thoughts, 

kanakuk ashley robbins
ashley@kanakuk.com

Merry Christmas from K2...

Be awesome & Love Jesus, 

kanakuk ashley robbins
ashley@kanakuk.com

Freedom of Christmas...

Hey K2 Kanakuk Friends,
Well, today might be a "mom"/older gal post but yet, maybe the message could ring true to teen hearts too...you decide.

Freedom...what a word! What a way to live...I thought 3 years ago when I had the 1st little Robbins I would forever live under an umbrella of guilt and nothing of the sorts of freedom. I was so worried I was going to mess her up, screw up her self esteem, or destroy her fragile heart but always falling short of being a perfect mom, perfect wife, perfect christian woman, and perfect kamp director. I was exhausted and not from the lack of sleep from having a newborn. I was simply exhausted because I was failing at every turn, every moment, every other mom I saw that was so "perfect...I was a failure and freedom was the "f-word" in my mind. One that I couldn't say and definitely didn't feel.

Then I let Jesus in to that place in my heart of fear and anxiety of not being enough and thinking I have to live in guilt because I have so many friends, fellow moms and myself that sit in guilt...not just sit but lay and flop around. That's an odd visual. Anyways, the Lord started lovingly calling my heart and life to freedom. I was so scared. Scared of truly living in freedom of clearly not being perfect. Clearly. I was scared of how many apologies I would go through when I messed up and not riding myself for that mess up for 6 months after. I soon found though an amazing peace from pressing into this fear of failure and guilt. I found the freedom in Jesus. I found the freedom to be me...all of me. I found the freedom to be okay that other moms do other things better, are more crafty, organized or more fun than me. Great! I found freedom in when I am impatient with the littles I go into their room that night, wake them, hug their little bodies and say, "mommy is sorry." Freedom! Freedom in walking into new friendships, freedom in loving new areas of ministry, freedom in the chaos of my life with our very little people. Freedom! It's so sweet! Does guilt still come to my thoughts...yes, but I am so quick to ignore and walk away from flopping around in that guilt. I mess up...ALL THE TIME. I have days I am in my pj's all day with bad breath b/c that is my season in life. I will choose freedom in my heart in Jesus any day over the year I had of battling so much guilt of not being enough. That life I will never go back to...I pray I press into the freedom we have in Jesus every single day.

Be awesome & Love Jesus,


kanakuk ashley robbins
ashley@kanakuk.com

p.s. this ended up having nothing to do with Christmas...or does it?

Heroes...

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Hey K2 Kanakuk Friends,
Well, maybe it's just leftover having a baby hormones but right now in my life I have 2 heroes. I want to keep the specifics close to my own heart but I will simply say one is my best friend and one is someone who would never call himself a hero.

My best friends stands to be my hero simply for putting up with my craziness. That alone could make her a hero. But there are so many many reasons why that word resonates in my heart for her right now...today, yesterday and probably still tomorrow. She walks with grace, answers with the Word, and loves in the face of any bit of a heartache. She is deeply thoughtful, always growing in the woman she is, and pushes me in making me better. She is all those things but today she is my hero.

The other hero is simply from afar. My husband called to talk to me about this hero of ours. He is tenderhearted, the heart of so much, and a person I would walk into any battle with. He shepherds like no one else I know. He has the most humbling spirit that it aggravates me b/c I want him to speak more, write a book and simply tell me how he and his wife/family/kids do it...he is my hero because he follows Jesus with every breath. He allows his life to be solely Spirit led,  a prayer that Shay and I pray so often for our home. He is my (and my husbands) hero today...and most likely every day after this too.

Who are you heroes? Who you follow says so much about you...

Be awesome & Love Jesus, 

kanakuk ashley robbins
ashley@kanakuk.com

The Giving Tree...

Hey K2 Kanakuk Friends,
Well today as a part of our Robbins' Advent Calendar and our local churches "Giving Tree" our family is taking food to a family in our town. I love this program at our church and actually was so floored last week when our pastor shared that all the envelopes they had were picked up and taken care of by the end of our 1st service. They literally had to go find more families that are in need this season. Wow!

As I packed the bags of food we purchased for them I was so so convicted of my flesh...why does it take a church campaign with a cute logo and poster to make me find a family in our town that needs food. Don't get me wrong I love that my church does it and they should and we will always take a family each year...but should it have to be designated to a month of the year, a time of jolly and cheer...or should it be my heart always seeking those opportunities to feed others, provide shelter, or meet folks' physical needs. That people will see Jesus in those moments...

Today, what if we have our own "giving trees" each month, each day and vowed to not miss opportunities to show Jesus and His love to the least of these...and "the least" can be defined in many, many ways...

Be awesome & Love Jesus,

kanakuk ashley robbins
ashley@kanakuk.com

Kamp Friends...

 Hey K2 Kanakuk Friends,
Well, today is a flashback and a reminder for each of you. I know kamp friends can sometimes come and go but something about Kanakuk's friendships (the true ones) seem to be very very different. Now before you go thinking, "Ashley, how do you know? You weren't a kamper." I would say you are right. But many many moons ago I was a first year, new to kamp ever, staff gal and the summer of 2000 changed my life forever in so many ways (hello...met the hubs which brought about 3 wonderful littles and also I now work for that same kamp that I still LOVE) but one awesome, surprising, humbling blessing was the 2 gals that were my co's...but have now become dear dear friends.

So never doubt the gals you are "kamp friends" with that encourage you in the Lord, remind you of how awesome you are, and spur you on in the grace and love of Jesus...that can grow into  the following....

Picture above: Summer 2000...crazy pic of 3 blonde bombshells (named by Trish Helsel) and we were counselors together for cabin 11, woop woop!

Fast forward 11 years to Summer 2011 and Kristin Kobosky and I were able to work alongside of each other as she was a part of our K2 Leadership team. What in the world! She is one of the most gifted people I know. She lives authentically and pushed me every day that summer in being real and spurring one another along! Treasure her! She teaches in Tennessee and boy would those students be so lucky! I still beg her to come back to kamp...summer 2013?

 Fast forward to Branson life: The 3rd co-counselor is now a call 2 times a day or at least text and simply scream hello if 3 kids are also screaming in the background. She is the friend who we love each other, the hubs love each other, and our kids love each other. They moved recently, boo, but that just gives me a chance to pray and pray hard that God would lead them home soon...please soon! (ps. this pic below is not the greatest of all of us...it was a funny story that we were mid-laughing in this pic b/c the employees were telling us the wagons were not for children but for the larger pumpkins you could buy...woops!)

So my K2 friends, don't doubt the friendship that starts at age 10 at K-1 that is so very special. You truly never know what can come from those dear friendships that begin at some crazy summer camp!

Be awesome & Love Jesus,

kanakuk ashley robbins
ashley@kanakuk.com

Christmas Heart Check...

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Hey K2 Kanakuk Friends,
Just a quick post today. How is your Christmas heart? Have you spent more time on a list for your parents of stuff than time adoring and abiding with the Jesus who came to earth to be your Savior?

Our pastor said a simple little message the other day...Spend less, Give more...just think about it and then after thinking, do something.

Be awesome & Love Jesus,

kanakuk ashley robbins
ashley@kanakuk.com

I Choose Jesus...

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Hey K2 Kanakuk Friends,

It's amazing how one simple line can resonate in your heart and truly transform life. It's even more amazing when it comes from a tiny 3 year old. This song is by Moriah Peters. She came to kamp this summer and we got her CD before she arrived to hear her stuff. Well, it was great. After kamp I put her CD in our swagger wagon (minivan) and the littles and I would listen to it. After a week of her CD, our 3 year old started asking for her "Jesus song." Mommy translated that into her meaning this song...imagine a precious 3 year old singing..."I choose Jesus, from now to eternity..." 

After I was so overwhelmed by my 3 year old the song became my anthem when I awoke, when I was impatient, when I felt anxious, when I wanted to choose other things but Jesus...3 words...I CHOOSE JESUS.

Who are you choosing in your life? 

                                                             "I Choose Jesus"

I have searched to find the meaning of this life
Something that would fill my empty soul
Some believe a lie, choose darkness over light
But I will stand and let the whole world know

I choose Jesus, I choose Jesus
The One who first chose me

I stand unashamed, trusting in one Name
'Cause I have seen the cross and I believe, oh
His choice comes at a cost, all other things are lost
No other love could mean so much to me

I choose Jesus, I choose Jesus
The One who first chosen me
I choose Jesus, I choose Jesus
For now and eternity

He choose to love me when I felt unlovable
He choose to reach me when I felt unreachable
He carried me out of my fear and doubt
I want the world to know I choose Jesus

I choose Jesus, I choose Jesus, the One who first chosen me
I don't want anyone but You, my Jesus
I choose Jesus, I choose Jesus
For now and eternity, for now and eternity

Be awesome & Love Jesus,

kanakuk ashley robbins
ashley@kanakuk.com

Peppermint Marshmallows...

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Hey K2 Kanakuk Friends,
Well, after the post on hot cocoa I thought about my friend Rachel Sparks who made these precious gifts of hot cocoa and these marshmallows. They were di-vine! So here is a recipe. Go to the store and hole up in your Christmas PJ's with jingle bell rock on and make these babies! Yummy!

Martha Stewart Living, December 2004

• YieldMakes sixteen 2-inch squares

Add to Shopping List

Ingredients

• Vegetable-oil cooking spray
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 tablespoon light corn syrup
• 4 packages (1/4 ounce each) unflavored gelatin
• 3/4 teaspoon peppermint extract
• 2 large egg whites
• 2 teaspoons red food coloring

Directions

1. Coat an 8-inch square pan with cooking spray; line bottom with parchment paper. Coat the parchment with cooking spray, and set pan aside. Put sugar, corn syrup, and 3/4 cup water in a small saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring, until sugar is dissolved. Stop stirring; let mixture come to a boil. Raise heat to medium-high; cook until mixture registers 260 degrees on a candy thermometer.
2. Meanwhile, sprinkle gelatin over 3/4 cup water in a heatproof bowl; let stand 5 minutes to soften. Set the bowl with the gelatin mixture over a pan of simmering water; whisk constantly until gelatin is dissolved. Remove from heat, and stir in extract; set aside.
3. Beat egg whites in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment until stiff (but not dry) peaks form. Whisk gelatin mixture into sugar mixture; with mixer running, gradually add to egg whites. Mix on high speed until very thick, 12 to 15 minutes.
4. Pour mixture into lined pan. Working quickly, drop dots of red food coloring across surface of marshmallow. Using a toothpick, swirl food coloring into marshmallow to create a marbleized effect. Let marshmallow stand, uncovered, at room temperature until firm, at least 3 hours or overnight. Cut into squares.

Be awesome, love Jesus, and fluff fluff, 

kanakuk ashley robbins

ashley@kanakuk.com

Favorite Hot Cocoa...

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Hey K2 Kanakuk Friends,
Okay, I am a hot cocoa obsessed person. I hate coffee, but love coffee shops and even the smell but ugg the taste. So I love hot cocoa and wondered today where have you girls had your fav hot cocoa? Was it homeade? Nutella? Milk or Water? Marshmallows or not? Starbucks or Local hot spot?

My favorite thus far is at Big Cedar at The Devil's Pool restaurant. It is creamy and yummy! However I made some Nutella hot cocoa and it was delish too! You guys know my obsession with Nutella is deep. So chime in and let me know...I might do a little jar of homeade hot cocoa for our neighbor gifts (yes, we know our neighbors and deliver gifts...if you are my neighbor reading this, surprise!). Recipes anyone?

Be awesome, love Jesus, and clink clink to cocoa,

kanakuk ashley robbins
ashley@kanakuk.com

It's Christmas Time...

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Hey K2 Kanakuk Friends,
Merry Christmas Month! I HEART December so much! The cold, the possible snow, the family time, the hot cocoa, the Hallmark movies that I just cry over, the music of Frank Sinatra and Mariah Carey (odd mix, I know), and the ultimate birth of our Savior. That's a great month!

I hope this season for each of you girls is filled with God's love and amazing purpose in your life. Merry Christmas month!

Be awesome & Love Jesus,

kanakuk ashley robbins
ashley@kanakuk.com

Prayer...

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Hey K2 Kanakuk Friends,
Well, from T. Swift to Prayer. That's a great blog when you can cover the whole spectrum. Ha!

Anyways, today might be more for the moms and kampers from back in the day who still follow the blog and are moms now too...that makes me so old. Cool! I came across this simple and precious flip book of daily prayers for our kiddos. It is so simple...print, cut and bind. They are basic yet such great and profound prayers to bathe your kids in. I have placed ours by the bed and we pray them one each night. I just love it.

Here is the link to the free download of it...CLICK HERE.

Be awesome & Love Jesus,

kanakuk ashley robbins
ashley@kanakuk.com

Red...

Hey K2 Kanakuk Friends,
Well, my first post back I am going to post on Taylor Swift. As a young mom (can I still be young...31? I write this blog so I will type yes to that question) I just adore her. I love her outlook on life in interviews (of course I watched her interview with THE Katie Couric who I still wish was back on the Today show...side note of information there) and love her honesty in who she is and how she writes. She is just so very talented.

I blog about her album because the one song I literally think of for the generation of teenage girls that are in K2's gates every year is...drumroll please...We are Never Ever Getting Back Together. Honestly, I know that is somewhat random. But after 12 years of working at K2 and lots and lots of conversations I have come to realize if this anthem of a song became true for most of the boys you gals are dating in high school...well, the world (and you for that matter) would be a better place/person. So my sweet friends, if you are dating a boy that truly doesn't know Jesus, doesn't make you the best person you can be, encourage you in your heart and looks you in the eyes and the only pressure he puts on you is when he gently squeezes your hand after a date and walks away then please go get this CD and sing this song to him.

* Side note: this is meant to be mostly funny and mostly serious depending on if it applies to you. If you are dating a great guy and he is Tim Tebow's younger non-existent brother then go girl, carry on. If not, well, I'll leave interpretation to you. But mostly just laugh at this blog. Thanks.

Be awesome & Love Jesus, 

kanakuk ashley robbins
ashley@kanakuk.com

Hello...

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Hey K2 Kanakuk Friends,
Woohoo!! I'm back! I'm sure there are celebrations across the U S of A. Lots of hoots and hollers and celebratory fist bumps and pumps! Go on, do a fist pump! It's fun. See...I told you.

Well, the baby boy has come (in 32 minutes...was that too much information for you...maybe) and life has settled a bit. I'm not sure life is ever settled with a 3 year old, 2 year old and 7 week old. But I love life but have missed blogging to the 6.2 people that read this. So I'm back.

Prepare yourself and your minds to be blown by the blog posts that are coming. I kid...but maybe your mind is blown very easily. Talk to you soon.


Be awesome & love Jesus, 

kanakuk ashley robbins
ashley@kanakuk.com

Some Sweet Flashbacks...

 Hey K2 Kanakuk Friends,
Well, today has been a day of looking back and thinking of some really really funny awesomely hysterical moments from 12 years of K2 Backwoods. Now, I know for some Backwoods makes you simply start sweating as we lost a lot of our shade (aka: trees) in the fire but for me Backwoods is the most special place on the girls side. It is our rally point. It is where you see older gals laugh, be silly, be dorky and encourage each other. It is hopefully where even deeper you see that girls can be friends...true friends. Some of my best and dearest friends are in these pictures...

Treasure being silly, goofy, and totally dweebs with each other. We can love, encourage and trust one another...we were called to when God told us we are now sisters in Him. Look that way!

(Picture above: OLD SCHOOL...that would be Natalie Drew, Lindsay Cannedy, Callie Nixon (behind me, sorry Cal!), me, Trish, Kipp Harmon, Christina Dortch, and Risa Holland)

Anyone remember the Napeleon Dynamite skit that we tweeked for the girls side...EPIC! 

Oh, the things I do. This was when the roof was safe and I wore a Cupid outfit with no shame. Don't worry I still play my euchalayle (no idea how to spell it and don't want to spell check so go with it) to the hubs!

This was not from Bacwoods but c'mon it's hysterical. It's one of those pics you start blowing/wiggling your lips and then they just snap a pic and you see what comes out! Hysterical! (Top: Lauren Shoush, Lindsay Cannedy, Bottom: Erica Rentschler, me, Nika Adidas Spaulding)

"it's hot." That's all she said...and I had to find her a  man...I mean a penguin. (Angela Jennings)

Okay, this skit totally bombed but I still laugh so hard when seeing this picture. Who knows what our point was in the skit...oh, yeah, right, we had NONE! (Erica Rentschler)

Be awesome & Love Jesus, 

kanakuk ashley robbins
ashley@kanakuk.com