🎼 "who's that girl, where did she come from?" 🎼

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Well, My name is Ashley Eischeid.  I have an 11 year old daughter named Berkley and a 9 year old son named Boston.  Go Red Sox.  I am married to this guy that I met in highschool!! We call him Chad.  I don’t like the phrase “highschool sweethearts” because we broke up two times in college. So this wasn’t like a fairytale.  However, he smartened up and before I was packing up to teach in Arizona, (I. Love. The. Sun.) he put a ring on it!  I was headed back home.  Gillette, Wyoming bound.  I would move anywhere for him because he’s the best man I’ve ever met in my life.  And he builds things!  Very handy!! Oh, and we have two dogs.  Fenway is a yellow lab and Axe is an American Bulldog I made the mistake of petting at the 4th of July parade.  Now we have a puppy!  P.S. Bulldogs are nothing like Labs.  In case you were wondering. 

Chad went one way after highschool and I went to Black Hills State University, where my sister went.  I wanted to be just like her.  In four years I received my degree in Elementary Education.  I then would teach for a couple years and then I would visit BHSU again, but this time I would be receiving my Masters in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis in reading.  Masters in one hand, a tiny baby girl in the other.  Berkley was about two months old when I walked across the stage.  Let’s hear it for my girlfriends that do this school stuff with kids.  I had a hard enough time and it literally was just Chad and I. 

Yep, I was/am a teacher.  Taught 3rd grade for seven years, 2nd grade for four years.  I would end with a loop of 1st and 2nd grade.  I taught the same kids for two years.  The best years of my teaching career.  I didn’t want to teach 1st grade.  I was terrified of them.  Can they speak?  Hold their pencils?  I agreed to it, but only if I could teach my son.  My principal didn’t recommend it, which to me meant “watch me!”  It was the coolest experience as a mom, that I probably will ever get.  I loved teaching Boston, having him in my classroom every day and seeing his face when we did fun things!     

Then, one day...God put a stirring in my heart.  It started a while ago, like two years ago actually.  However He waited until I was fully equipped.  I went to a teaching conference, I was inspired.  Our family was financially stable.  I had had the best teaching experience for the past two years, leaving me fulfilled.  My school was going through a “shift” and it wasn’t feeling like home, like it used to.  He set everything up perfectly.  I was going to take a year off from teaching.  At that time I had no idea why.  To be honest, it just sounded nice.  It sounded fun and relaxing.  Dang it, I deserved a break.  Little did I know, resting would be the last thing I did! Ha!

Feeling a bit lost and needing a purpose I put on my first teachers conference.  It was one of the best things I had ever done in my life.  The biggest blessing from it (there were, what seemed like a million) but one of the biggest was feeling so close to God, who orchestrated every detail so perfectly.  It was so amazing.  I knew I wouldn’t be the same after Devote 2019.  Then, one day, feeling lost and needing a purpose (see a theme here) God put a certain person on my heart along with an amazing idea!  It literally came to me at the stop sign by my children’s school at 8:15am.  Rejuvenate 2020 was planned and again, I got to see what trusting in God can lead to.  100 women, with yoga mats, taking time for themselves and allowing themselves to find rest and relaxation.  Along with getting to experience the feeling you get when you move your body!  Strength, accomplishment and freedom!  I had no idea that I would put on another event besides Devote.  I’ll pretty much do and go, wherever God tells me to.  When I have done that, the outcome is bigger and better than I could even imagine!  Now, on to Devote 2020.  

Ashley, why is God such a big part of everything you do?  Simple.  When I look back on my life, I know, without a doubt God was there.  I didn’t have the best home life growing up.  There were moments in my life that were so scary!  However, I look back and I was never scared.  Ever.  God was with me.  There were so many times where I could have made some very bad decisions, and I didn’t.  I should have.  I didn’t have anyone telling me no.  Telling me that’s a bad idea.  God.  God was guiding me my entire life.  He never left me.  I didn’t go to church.  I definitely didn’t read the bible.  Nothing.  I couldn’t have been farther away from Him in my everyday life and practices.  Just goes to show that we actually don’t have to win His love.  He loves us in a way that we can’t even comprehend!  (that just sounds beautiful)  God has been shaping me my entire life.  He has made me confident and strong, physically and mentally.  He has given me creativity, determination and vision.  My childhood has given me perspective and blessed me with empathy for others.  I also appreciate everything I have.  Hard work is something I saw my entire life through my mom.  She would work two jobs.  One during the day and one at night.  I saw and experienced goodness from people and from the church body.  We  received a car from people my mom was employed by and baskets of food were dropped at our door on holidays.  I appreciated every single thing I have today.  

Was I confused as to why God would pull me from a place I was comfortable and confident in, to go and do something brand new.  In an area I was not confident in.  Yes.  Yes I was confused.  We actually have this conversation often.  “God, why am I doing this?  There are women that know the bible SO much better than I do.”  He whispers to me, “You know my heart and I know yours.” and actually because He has given me some of the best people to surround me right now, AND because sometimes I’m a bad listener, He uses them to scream “You know my heart and I know yours.”  That’s why you were called to do this.   Now comfortable?  Sure.  I mean, I had a stage and a microphone in my classroom.  That was second nature to me.  But who are we kidding, He knew that already.  His love.  I want to tell everyone about His love.  

This season has been such a whirlwind for me and my family.  I mean you want to shock people, tell them you’re quitting your job and you’re not sure what you’re going to do.  I’m thankful now that I have an answer.  “I was called to minister to women about the love of God.” 

Done.  Boom.  That’s it.  Who knew?  Not this girl. I envisioned my retirement from education!  Right down to my speech, who would be there and receiving my golden apple.  My retirement plan isn’t as clear now.  But God knows that I’m up for anything at any time!  As long as He’s the one leading, I’ll go.  

I had no idea this was what I would be doing right now.  I’ll tell you I knew I was going to do something big.  My entire life, I knew I was going to do BIG things.  I just thought it would be with children, in a classroom.  Now my fellow bible study gals say I’m still teaching, just bigger students!  (they tell me this weekly, when I start crying saying I miss the classroom) Such good friends I have!  What am I teaching?  I want every single woman on this earth to live the kind of life that is filled with pure joy, peace, freedom, confidence, love and ALL THE THINGS!!!  This happens when you abide in Jesus.  You live your life for Him.  I didn’t see this coming.  Which is exactly how He works.  His plans are SO much better than ours.  I didn’t think I was good enough. Worthy enough.  He says “You are enough, because I made you.”

I love this journey.  I love the people God is putting in my life.  You are one of them.  Thank you for reading this.  If you read all of this, you and I are going to be best friends!  

Love you SO much,

Ashley Eischeid