Guess what tomorrow is?

Tomorrow marks history. It does, for me at least! It is my sister's graduation, and many other people who are very dear to my heart.

I love Hannah for being absolutely ridiculously unconditional in her love. I appreciate her consistence in who she is..I adore her understanding me when no one else does. We're stuck together forever and I am so thankful for that.

I love Grace for being the bestest ever. I can't help but treasure her presence. She brings so much joy in my life. I feel her love constantly and I can't help but cry imagining her not in my life. She is so important to me and has rocked my world tremendously.

I love Bradley for being exactly who he is. He is my brother who I just love so much. He gives exceptional hugs and gives honest raw advice. He is such a blessing and a treasure. He cares for people individually and that will never change.

These three people are just a few of who mean SO much to me that are graduates of 2012.

{A new} Adventure begins tomorrow for many hearts tomorrow. That is an exciting truth! It is so fun! But let me say, it is not easy. I think it is a beautiful thing that it is difficult for all of us. It has been such a beautiful time and leaving that part of life behind is unbelievable. It is destined and purposeful. Excitement.


"Cause we're stirring up deep deep wells We're stirring up deep deep waters We're going to dance in the river, dance in the river Cause we're stirring up deep deep wells We're stirring up deep deep waters We're going to jump in the river
Jump in the river and everybody singing now"

Seaside Soul & Scattered Me

I am captured by the sea. Oh, it is radiant. I am delighted by its beautiful eloquence. This girl on the beach with her dogs is a wonderful picture of me someday. I will go everywhere. I have a wandering soul, I do.

Though I have not had the delight to sit in its wonder very much, I dream of it often. It is such a joy in this beautiful world.

Out of high school, I plan to take the road to the clear waters as often as possible. I have been listening to Seaside by The Kooks [Left Picture] daily and I have been messing around with it on the ukulele. It just makes me desire it even more. 
As dramatic this probably sounds, I really do feel this way. I love it. There is something more, something beyond "the beach"within... I suppose it is all the simple beauties [Right Picture] that we must catch and find when we're there. When we're anywhere.


~My lover-self remark now~ 
The other day, a couple of girls and I were talking about, "Who on earth will I marry on this stinking earth!?" I sat there for a minute, I was trying to dig deeper than I had before with this often-asked-question, I pursed my lips and tilted my head, "I don't know if he'll be white..or black..or what..but all I know is that, in him,  in his heart will be so many nations. The same nations or different as mine, who knows? Who cares?"


My friends smiled and said they had never heard it that way before. I was so delighted. I felt like I had this little revelation and happiness burst through me about my future love. 


The reason I am saying this is [when this topic arises] to challenge, remind, ask you to contemplate beyond the surface level aspects about your wondrous lover. It is such a joy, friends. It will not only refresh you, but regain perspective whenever you begin to go overboard on the unimportant things.


I love living. Living is so extravagantly fun. Summer has been grand. 


I am having deep cravings for the Lord. I want deeper. I want us to be in a reckless abandon, step and move with Him, like a swaying seaside tree. I have been praying for revelation on how to move with Him. I am in a beautiful transition of trying to become absolutely ready for when He says move so I can move. If He says speak, to speak. If He says sing, to sing. If He says dance, to dance. If He says now, I will say okay. 
We all have to open our heart. & keep it open for Him. "Where You go I'll go" is something we have to prepare ourself for..
Yes, we have to prepare our hearts for it. We have to surrender all. 
Oh and friends, it's not going to be easy sometimes, but do not lose hope and do not become weary because my God is full of hope and exceedingly strong.


Enjoy your Friday evening!

Beautiful Truth

I saw this as a blog draft and it needs to be posted. I remember whenever God was revealing this beautiful truth to me. It is overwhelming really.

Why do we let go of the One who never lets go of us?

Hebrews 13:5 He will never leave us or forsake us.

Laughter is Fantastic & Hilarious

Simply that!

Laughter is fantastic. I absolutely adore people's laughs. Tonight it's just Hunter, Hannah and I  home and we all have a similar laugh.
It's the one that is silent...We either point our fingers, bend our body's back and forth, or clap. It looks something like a half otter/ half old man. After a few seconds of silence, a loud burst comes out and then it goes right back to the silent state. Repeat this until we no longer find the funniness amusing. I am normally the last one to stop this weird seizure..thing.

Okay, I probably just made us sound like freaky creatures or something. Really, all I am intending in this blog post is to maybe make you LAUGH. Maybe just a chuckle. Or a smile. Any of those are good medicine.

Enjoy laughter. Your own, your siblings, your family's, whoever! It is a hilarious delight that we must choose constantly.

The half otter/half old man laughing chick

Ashtyn (:

Summer

Hello there.

 It's summer. With summer, comes to-do lists and sunshine, fulfillment and happy hour. I must say, although I have many posts, I am a failed blogger. FAILED! Oh, but not anymore. I have added to my summer bucket list to blog 3 times a week. Do you know what that means???? THAT MEANS I HAVE TO DO IT!!!
This also means I can actually keep you guys updated on happy moments, delightful movement and extravagant adventures that are occurring in my life. Do me a favor and keep me accountable. It would be a huge blessing.
Because of my failed blog, I know for a fact I don't have faithful readers, but perhaps, as I become more consistent, so will my viewers. This in itself warms my heart entirely.

It is a new season, is it not? So, I will refresh you, welcome you, invite you.

 I am Ashtyn. By the end of summer I will have a license and be 16. For now, (the moment that matters) I am 15 and alive as ever. I am sitting in my front room with my dogs sleeping beside me. I am listening to New Soul by Yael Naim Radio on pandora. I have a smiley face on my hand, as always and three bracelets on my left wrist. My legs are propped up on the little table in front of me.
 Do you have a visual?

 Well, let me just encourage you. Encourage you to enjoy summer. Not just as a whole though, but piece by piece-as it comes. It is extremely important to live in the moment we are in right now, because we are ignorant of what is waiting for us in the next one. Always take the road where adventure is possible. Hm, is that every road? I'd say so.

Oh and hey, guess what. You. Are. Beautiful. 

All of my love, Ashtyn