So my computer is up and running, which is happy news. I was able to sit down today and catch up on blogs. Joanna wrote an interesting post today about Googling names when job searching. She talked about potential employers being able to find out things about her by Googling her name. I decided to see what Google had to say about me (and also future me, which yielded only 20 results). I found two interesting things; one, a Xanga blogring called “We suffer from Ashley Deprivation Reflux”. I also found pictures from my senior show on Taylor’s Art Department website. Coming across that website has made me reminiscent, as well as a few unrelated things like a post on Susan’s blog and seeing Margaret’s senior show last weekend (hung in the exact same place as mine).

My senior show went up in late September 2004. I worked very hard on it, and was very pleased with the outcome. I explored the theme of “Home”, since that is a topic close to my heart. I asked a lot of people what home meant to them. I even read a book on the subject called “Longing For a Homeland” (many thanks to Joanna!). Sopeak‘s story about being a refugee, and Paul’s mom’s story about finding a home in the church no matter where in the world you are. My conclusion was that home is not so much a place (although that is true for many), but rather loved ones – family and friends. A lot has changed since September 2004, but I still feel that it is true. I feel at home in Orlando with my family, but yet I am trying to make a home in Atlanta. This big, beautiful city is my place-home and I yearn to be comfortable here, so I can truly call it my home. Paul joining me here is a huge step in that direction.

I was rereading the journal that people wrote comments in about my show. I am amazed at how many names I didn’t know – how cool that people who didn’t even know me took the time to leave their thoughts. I wish I had done that more to other senior shows. A lot of the comments make me smile. Like this random one where someone informs me that she thinks my tractor is sexy (huh, wonder who that could be… ZAY!). It’s neat that other missionary kids were able to relate to the subject, and the other non-art types appreciated the effort and depth. I even got a note from Walt Campbell (Dean of Students)!

Anyways, I guess I just wanted to share my show again with ya’ll. :-) I have a feeling this search for a home is a lifelong quest, since:

…And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one…
Hebrews 11:13-16