Money and A Dirty Hat..

Here, where I live, the first Friday of every month is Art Walk. It’s this event that takes place downtown where art is celebrated in all forms, dance, music, painting, clothing design, photography, and even hair dressing. I was fortunate enough to be able to go to Art Walk with the salon I have been shadowing with. The stylist were selling temporary pink hair extensions and putting them in to help raise money for breast cancer awareness. It was there that I witnessed the most amazing thing.

Just as we were wrapping everything up and tearing our station down, a man rode up on a bike. He stopped right in front of me. He extended his arm and held a dirty hat.  He slurred something about being a homeless veteran and asked if I had any money I could spare. I was frozen.  I didn’t have any money. I never have any money. I’m a full-time student without a job, which job shadows in her free time. Plus, the only thing I had with me was a scissor pouch full of combs. I managed to pull myself together enough to shake my head “no.” I looked around to the rest of the group for someone to help, and I realized that they were all frozen too. They began checking their pockets in vein. None of us had anything with us. The man didn’t take his hat back. He continued to hold it out with an unsteady stance.

A husband and wife team owns the salon I shadow with. At this point the husband walked up calmly and quietly to the man. I couldn’t hear what they were saying much from where I was standing. They shook hands and talked for what seem like about a minute. Everyone else stood there, on edge, waiting to see the result of the conversation. They shook hands again. The veteran smiled, said thank you, and rode away. The female salon owner gathered us all, like a mother hen gathers her chicks, and the tension was broken. I was mildly in shock at first, unsure of what to think, but later that night I felt like I had witnessed a small miracle. What a team, right? A husband and wife working together to make sure all parties involved were taken care of. This man had not received any money, and yet he went away happy. This experience struck me as a perfect example of grace. God doesn’t always give us what we ask for, but He gives us what we need. I am extremely blessed to have these people in my life, and to have an insight to grace in human relationship. It was a romance directed at my heart.

Love, Grace, and Peace,

Audrey      

Though I cannot say exactly why..

            Today I had a very interesting discussion about the art of being a trophy wife. The following quote about a young woman, that has expressed her desire to become a trophy wife, resulted:

“She has about as much ambition as a snail.”

“And not even an ambitious snail.”

“She just wants to leave a trail of slime behind her and slowly but surely go nowhere.”

            The moral of the story is: Have a little ambition, regardless of how you would like your life to turn out. Setting goals and working hard towards the passion God has given you is much more flattering than waiting for “the perfect man.” If you are single at the moment, God has a reason for it. Glorify God in your singleness, and don’t waste all the amazing things this time can do for your spirit.

            Love, Grace, and Peace,

            Audrey 

Let's get goin'

So, it has been quite sometime since I’ve written a blog, I realize.  It’s not that I’ve been “too busy” or “too lazy” or whatever other excuses people give when they make a commitment and don’t stick to it. In the past, I’ve always been the girl that has had an opinion about everything. I put in my thoughts on every situation regardless of if it was my business or if I even had valid thoughts on the matter. As far as growing up and maturing has gone, this is one thing I tried to change about myself. I have, to a certain extent. I hold my tongue much more often now, and it has only yielded good things. The only thing is, it has made me feel as though my blog, and other writings, are trite. I feel like my blogs must be this grandiose presentation of wit and charm. I have decided that this should not be the case. If no one reads it, it is fine. I want to write as a way to remember certain things and feelings. So the following blogs may be very short or not. It doesn’t particularly matter either way. I just want to start writing again.

For those of you that are wondering about school, it is fantastic. I’m finally getting to the point where I know my craft well enough to be creative. I have started shadowing at an incredible salon that has done nothing less than lift my spirits, spark imagination, and broadened my knowledge. God has most certainly blessed me beyond anything I could ever imagine. I have much more to write about but it will be headed your way in smaller installments soon. For now..

Love, Grace, and Peace,

Audrey

And so it begins..

This week was full of first. I moved out of my parents house, started a new school, and started job hunting in a brand new city. While I've never been a huge fan of change, this one has been amazingly refreshing. I love my apartment and my new found independence. Cooking dinner for myself has taken on a new meaning. My school is already like home. I've learned so much that will help me in my future career, and it is only the first week! I know for a fact that in the next ten months will have their challenges and struggles, but I am ready to face them, knowing it will bring me one step closer to a job I love.
The main reason I wanted to write this blog was to let people know how my schooling is going. I think that I will include a lot about the adventures of cosmetology school, because they will, no doubt, be interesting. :) However, my blog will not be limited to just "cosmetological" endeavors. This week was filled with everything from business to braids to the art of backcombing. What really stood out to me was my attitude. I figured out this week that no matter what happens, I'm going to be okay. I'm no longer worried about what is going to happen a day, a month, or ten years from now. I dove into the Word this week, and it has made all the difference.
I have been reading Hosea. The story of a man who's wife is unfaithful and yet he takes her back time and time again. The metaphor of a God that would take us back, even when we have been unfaithful, is so beautiful to me. We have all been unfaithful to our loving Father at some point, but knowing we are safe in His grace, to try again, is so incredible. My romantic Jesus deserves nothing less than adoration. If you haven't read Hosea, I recommend it in hopes that it will bless you.
Love, Grace, and Peace,
Audrey