Throwback

So, I'v been seeing a new trend on Facebook about putting up an old picture of yourself. Well, I do not have any very old pics of me here in Stilwell, so I'm going to write about my throwback.

Tuesdays At the Gym

6th-8th Grade that would be... 1998-2000 for me.

Walking down 86th street with my best friends. Showing up the at the mass chaos check in counter. Scrambling to find your name on a checklist. Hitting up the snack bar. Pop and candy bars for .25 cents each. (miss that) sitting at table in the fellowship hall talking with friends. Matt Wilmeth standing guard at the doors that lead to the rest of the church. Going into the gym. Switchfoot blaring. Basketballs flying. Kids everywhere. Running through the cat walk upstairs. Sneaking out to the rest of the church to get a away from everyone trying to their best to be cool and fit in. Sitting on the carpet stairs. Devo. Junior High crushes. Best Friends. God. Good Times.

What's one of your random throwbacks?

New Year: New Goals

Take more risks.

Trust God more.

Love God.

Love Others.

Be a better wife.

Our Year in a Nutshell

Jan: We moved to Fayetteville, AR.

We started our first youth ministry in Stilwell, OK.

I started my student teaching!

The ice storm hit and we had no power for 7 days!

Feb:

March: Trip to Walt Disney World!

April:

May: Jacob and I graduated college!!!!!

June: Moved to Stilwell, OK

Went to my first CIY. (Loved it!)

July: Went to FL with Jacob

Jacob turned 24.

August: Started my new job as a Literacy Lab Assistant.

3 year Anniversary!

Sept: Turned 24.

Oct: Went and saw Texas demolish OSU. :(

Nov: Shopping trip with my mom and sister at Lake of the Ozarks!

Dec: Christmas with the families!

That sums it up. It was a pretty big year as far as change goes. I think I handled it pretty well.

Happy New Year!

Jennifer

Christmas Break....

OK, I admit it. I am a busy body. I like to be busy. I like coming home after a long days work and feeling like I accomplished something. It makes that time at night so much more enjoyable. It's like you deserve it more.

I can't relax over Christmas break. I feel like a sloth. I have been staying busy doing things like house cleaning. Seriously, I cleaned the oven today. Yeah, I'm that bored. I have been going up to the church and doing some deep cleaning in the nursery. I don't think that place has been deep cleaned in..... never mind. Back to cleaning... I know God has a plan for everyone's life and today a little more of my plan made sense for me.

Daycare. I worked at a daycare for 5 looooooong months, In the 1 year old room. By myself. With 5 1 year olds. For 5 hours a day.

Yeah, I wasn't sure why I took the job or what purpose it would have in my life, but today part of that came full circle. I actually used the knowledge I gained in the daycare. Things about baby safety, cleaning, disinfecting, diaper changing, ect all became useful today. Then I realized, hey this will be useful when I have babies.

Random ramblings. Part of my life just made sense for me OK. It was part of that time I spent in Stillwater, my life changing year as I like to call it. Maybe I'll elaborate more on that later. Stay tuned.

Thanks for reading.

-jennifer

Christmas Time!

So I'm not really feeling in the writing mood, but I know I haven't posted in awhile so here goes...

School is out! Yay! I love my job, but man a break is soooo nice.

Christmas shopping is done. Enough said about that spectacular event...

We are having our youth group Christmas party tonight. I hope it is fun. You just never know how those dirty Santa games are going to go. Are we going to have the "nice" people who don't want to steal anything (boring) or are we going to have the rebels who like to spice things up a bit. I prefer the later myself. It's just more exciting that way.

Logan, my nephew, is coming in 4 days!

I am in a positive mood about church in this moment. Let's hope it stays this way. Wednesday night was very discouraging, but for some reason (God) I feel more upbeat today. :)

The church plant (in Japan) I mentioned before in a post (mustard seed global fellowship) www.msgf.com had their first service yesterday! I am so excited for them and somewhat envious. It must be so invigorating to do something like that. You know, doing something that will only succeed if God has His hand in it. Be praying for the new church and the missionaries.

Merry Christmas!

Jenn

Editor's Note

Ok, so I'm not sure if you noticed, but I did. In my last post I said I had reading strategies oozing out of my pours. Really?! Jennifer! :) O well, my bad!

I meant pores not pours. That is a homophone in case you didn't know. I can tell you all about them. They are one of the strategies oozing out of my PORES! :)

2 More Weeks

of school that is...

That is one reason why I love my job! I still get to experience all those breaks, and now I'm actually getting paid during them! Yay!

School has been going good and it was nice to get back in the routine of things again. My reading groups got shifted around due to one of my lovely co workers moving to Texas. I miss my old students, but I have some really great new ones too. I think I have reading strategies oozing out of my pours... nice visual huh? :)

Christmas will break will be really nice. I hope it snows!

On another note... today at the church we went around with the youth group to houses and passed out fliers for service projects. It was really cold, but we had a good number of students show up which was great! Jacob and I are definitely in need of some encouragement, and this day helped a little. I'm really praying some service projects come out of this so that we can stop talking and start doing! Loving others through our actions! We shall see. I will keep you posted.

A new thing going on right now for Jacob and I is missions. This summer we have decided that we are going to take a mission trip. We are not sure where to yet, but hopefully God will reveal it to us. I have been thinking about doing this for a long time and I know this is something that we need to do before we have kids to tie us down. The only places I have been are Dallas inner city and Mexico. Jacob has been to New York. I want to do something overseas. I have been looking into mostly Asia. I think we have got it narrowed down to either Japan or Thailand. I know a group of people from my home church are going to Thailand so we will definitely be looking into that one. This summer is going to be packed, and we are not sure how we will afford it, but I know my God is BIG and if He is calling us to do this He will provide!

I hope you all are having a fabulous time getting ready for Christmas! May you give lots, laugh much, and hug everyone!

Merry Christmas!

Jennifer