Author Archives: Ash

We Are Those People

It\’s 5:30am on Christmas Eve and I\’m wide awake. Not because of the excitement of Christmas less than 24 hours away, but because of a quirky little girl who refuses to fall back asleep unless I\’m actively bouncing her rocking chair with my foot. In fact, if it weren\’t for the calendar telling me today\’sContinue reading “We Are Those People”

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

It\’s time again. The most wonderful time of the year! That is still how we see it, right? Despite the shopping lists and the overbooked calendars and the credit card bills and the cooking that needs to be done, it\’s still the most wonderful time of the year, isn\’t it? Living outside of the USContinue reading “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year”

When Dreams Become Realities

I don\’t know how many times it happens in a lifetime, or even if it happens more than once or even once at all for everyone. But, in the midst of the change and tears and fears and doubts and anger and stubbornness and discontentment and the hard over the last almost three months here, somethingContinue reading “When Dreams Become Realities”

Alone in the City: Day Eight (Election Edition)

Being out of the country during election season was quite the blessing. No commercials, no campaign ads, no daily banter. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh…. sweet peace. Yesterday being election day, however, I wanted to keep up with what was going on. But there is a two hour time difference here so by midnight my time I was spentContinue reading “Alone in the City: Day Eight (Election Edition)”

Alone in the City: Day Six

\”I just feel like I don\’t have any control at all!\” I said it with anger, through tears while Richard listened patiently. Then he calmly said the words that were oh so true, but not what I wanted to hear: \”Maybe that\’s the point.\” \”Of course that\’s the point, but I don\’t want that. I wantContinue reading “Alone in the City: Day Six”

Alone in the City: Days Four and Five

Sorry, no deep spiritual revelations in my heart these two days. Just this: And these:   God gave me the chance to visit Porto de Galinhas (google it, I think you\’ll like what you see…) here in Brazil Friday-Sunday. I didn\’t want to go at first because I am an introvert (an introverted missionary sounds likeContinue reading “Alone in the City: Days Four and Five”

Alone in the City: Day Three

God is beautiful everywhere. This simple yet profound thought came to my mind tonight as I looked up at the halfway moon in the cloudless sky, driving back from the most beautiful beach Brazil has to offer. And I felt very, very small. But it wasn’t a condescending kind of small, like I was uselessContinue reading “Alone in the City: Day Three”

Alone in the City: Day Two

\”If you aren\’t content with me here, what makes you think you will be content with me somewhere else?\” I\’ve heard the Spirit speak that to my soul too many times before. Discontent. Always look back, looking forward, wanting more, never appreciating the moment.  \”But godliness with contentment is a great gain.\” (1 Timothy 6.6HCSB)Continue reading “Alone in the City: Day Two”