Showing posts with label thoughts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label thoughts. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Forgiveness
Forgiveness. It's one of the hardest things to do. Without God, it's impossible to do.
"Show me how to love the unlovable
Show me how to reach the unreachable
Help me now to do the impossible
Forgiveness."
I pray that God will show me how to love the people who it seems impossible to love. I pray that He'll help me reach the people who've put up walls and don't want to be reached. I pray that God will help me do what I can't do by myself and forgive others. That is my prayer today.
- Jenn
Thursday, February 14, 2013
For My Valentine
For my Valentine....
The ABC's of Why I Love You...
Your love for others and your dedication is ADMIRABLE.
You're a BELIEVER and a follower of Christ.
You're CUTE. Seriously, you are.
You're DETERMINED in every aspect of life.
You're ENCOURAGING to me and to every person you encounter.
You're always FAITHFUL...to God, to me, to our country.
You're GENTLE and caring toward others.
You're the most HANDSOME man I have ever laid eyes on.
You're simply INTRIGUING. I love listening to you and just staring at you.
You're JOVIAL. You can make anyone laugh and smile.
You're KIND...always thinking about others.
You're a LEADER. You know how to be in charge and effectively lead others.
You're MERCIFUL - always willing to forgive me when I do wrong.
You're NUTTY (and I am too!).
You're OPTIMISTIC, even in the worst of situations.
You're PATIENT. You seriously have the patience of a saint with me at times.
You're QUINTESSENTIAL. Everyone deserves a spouse as amazing as you!
You're very RESPONSIBLE and mature.
You're SINCERE in everything you say and do.
You're THOUGHTFUL - constantly thinking about others before yourself.
You're altogether UNDERSTANDING.
You're VALIANT - determined in everything you do.
You're WISE - full of more wisdom than anyone I know.
You're eXactly the man I was looking for and you give the best X's and O's.
You're YEARNFUL - a.k.a. you're the one that I want.
You're ZEALOUS - devoted and committed to what you do.
And those are just a few of the reasons that I love you. Thanks for being a wonderful husband and my bestest friend! Happy Valentine's Day Josh!
<3 Jenn
The ABC's of Why I Love You...
Your love for others and your dedication is ADMIRABLE.
You're a BELIEVER and a follower of Christ.
You're CUTE. Seriously, you are.
You're DETERMINED in every aspect of life.
You're ENCOURAGING to me and to every person you encounter.
You're always FAITHFUL...to God, to me, to our country.
You're GENTLE and caring toward others.
You're the most HANDSOME man I have ever laid eyes on.
You're simply INTRIGUING. I love listening to you and just staring at you.
You're JOVIAL. You can make anyone laugh and smile.
You're KIND...always thinking about others.
You're a LEADER. You know how to be in charge and effectively lead others.
You're MERCIFUL - always willing to forgive me when I do wrong.
You're NUTTY (and I am too!).
You're OPTIMISTIC, even in the worst of situations.
You're PATIENT. You seriously have the patience of a saint with me at times.
You're QUINTESSENTIAL. Everyone deserves a spouse as amazing as you!
You're very RESPONSIBLE and mature.
You're SINCERE in everything you say and do.
You're THOUGHTFUL - constantly thinking about others before yourself.
You're altogether UNDERSTANDING.
You're VALIANT - determined in everything you do.
You're WISE - full of more wisdom than anyone I know.
You're eXactly the man I was looking for and you give the best X's and O's.
You're YEARNFUL - a.k.a. you're the one that I want.
You're ZEALOUS - devoted and committed to what you do.
And those are just a few of the reasons that I love you. Thanks for being a wonderful husband and my bestest friend! Happy Valentine's Day Josh!
<3 Jenn
Thursday, January 31, 2013
My Prayer
In the book of 1 Chronicles, a man is introduced. That man's name is Jabez. The name Jabez is only mentioned one other time in the Bible. In that particular instance, the name is referring to a location and not a person.
Jabez was obviously introduced for a reason, considering that everything in the Bible is introduced for a reason. In 1 Chronicles 4:9-10, it says " Now Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother called his name Jabez,saying, “Because I bore him in pain.” And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, “Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!” So God granted him what he requested."
This is a very short and simple prayer, but very meaningful. Jabez starts off by asking God to bless him. This isn't a selfish request. He's not asking for God to bless him so that he could boast in what he has or so that he can build himself up. He then asks for God to be with him and to keep him from evil. He recognizes that he needs God's help and protection.
We studied this prayer last night in midweek service at church. One thing that hit my was the simplicity of the prayer. Jabez didn't use fancy words and ramble on and on. His prayer was simple and to the point. I think sometimes I try to impress others while I pray, but that shouldn't be. My prayers need to be pure and simple, directed to God and God alone. Another thing that hit me was his unselfishness in his prayer. He didn't ask for money, land, or anything else selfishly. He asked that God would bless him so that he could be a blessing to others.
This prayer is now my prayer. I pray that I can be as unselfish and reliant upon God as Jabez.
- Jenn
Jabez was obviously introduced for a reason, considering that everything in the Bible is introduced for a reason. In 1 Chronicles 4:9-10, it says " Now Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother called his name Jabez,saying, “Because I bore him in pain.” And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, “Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!” So God granted him what he requested."
This is a very short and simple prayer, but very meaningful. Jabez starts off by asking God to bless him. This isn't a selfish request. He's not asking for God to bless him so that he could boast in what he has or so that he can build himself up. He then asks for God to be with him and to keep him from evil. He recognizes that he needs God's help and protection.
We studied this prayer last night in midweek service at church. One thing that hit my was the simplicity of the prayer. Jabez didn't use fancy words and ramble on and on. His prayer was simple and to the point. I think sometimes I try to impress others while I pray, but that shouldn't be. My prayers need to be pure and simple, directed to God and God alone. Another thing that hit me was his unselfishness in his prayer. He didn't ask for money, land, or anything else selfishly. He asked that God would bless him so that he could be a blessing to others.
This prayer is now my prayer. I pray that I can be as unselfish and reliant upon God as Jabez.
- Jenn
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Comfort Zones
Every individual has their own comfort zone. For some, theirs is large. For others, theirs is small. Personally, I have a smaller comfort zone. I like talking to people I know, going places that I'm familiar with, doing things that I'm used to, etc. I don't like venturing outside of my comfortable area very often.
I've seen recently that this can be a bad thing for me. I stick with the same people and build relationships - which is a good thing. However, I don't welcome new people in very easily. I do things that I'm used to, which is also a good thing. However, I don't branch out and try new things very much.
I've decided that it's time to get out of my comfort zone a little bit. I'm going to try to talk to at least one new person every week - whether it's a neighbor, the cashier at the grocery store, someone at church, or someone I meet along the way. This is one way that I can minister to others. I'm also going to try to find "uncomfortable situations" to put myself into. That might involve something as simple as going to a store that I'm not used to or doing an activity that I normally wouldn't do.
It may seem weird, but I've decided that I want to stretch myself a little and get out of my comfortable little bubble more often. I think this will help me grow personally and it may very well open up new opportunities that I never would have known of otherwise.
- Jenn
I've seen recently that this can be a bad thing for me. I stick with the same people and build relationships - which is a good thing. However, I don't welcome new people in very easily. I do things that I'm used to, which is also a good thing. However, I don't branch out and try new things very much.
I've decided that it's time to get out of my comfort zone a little bit. I'm going to try to talk to at least one new person every week - whether it's a neighbor, the cashier at the grocery store, someone at church, or someone I meet along the way. This is one way that I can minister to others. I'm also going to try to find "uncomfortable situations" to put myself into. That might involve something as simple as going to a store that I'm not used to or doing an activity that I normally wouldn't do.
It may seem weird, but I've decided that I want to stretch myself a little and get out of my comfortable little bubble more often. I think this will help me grow personally and it may very well open up new opportunities that I never would have known of otherwise.
- Jenn
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
New Year, New Beginnings
We just celebrated the ending of 2012 and the beginning of 2013. With this new year comes new beginnings. For some, it may be just making a new years' resolution to change some aspect of their lives. For others it may be more serious changes - a new house, a baby on the way, a move cross country, or one of many other possibilities.
This year, as in years past, I have decided to make a new years' resolution. Of course, it's easy to make the resolution. The hard part is keeping it. I think one of the hardest parts of keeping it is the lack of accountability. It's easy to say you'll do something, but then when no one holds you accountable (including yourself), it's a lot easier to break it.
So, as one way of accountability, I decided to write down what my new years' resolutions are. I'll be writing them here and then it's viewable to the public and I have it to look back on to know how I'm doing.
First, I'm going to begin eating better and exercising more. I know that I need to get healthier - as my doctor has told me. So, I've decided to cut back on calories and fats. I'll also be focusing a lot on not eating as much red meats, white pastas,high fat dairy products, and junk foods. I'll be increasing fruits and vegetables, fibers, and drinking more water. I'll also be trying to exercise for at least 30 minutes 3-5 times a week. This may just be walking around the neighborhood or doing the Wii Fit, but it's better than what I have been doing.
Second, I'm going to make sure that I'm reading my Bible every day. I know how important this is, but often times I put it off and neglect it. I have a devotional Bible that I'll be using for this. I want to, and I need to, spend more time studying His Word.
Third, I'm going to strive to be a better wife to my husband. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that I've been a horrible wife. I just know that everyone can stand to improve. I'm going to try to be more encouraging, do more around the house, be more respectful, and love him even more than I have before.
Last but not least, I'm going to try to update this blog more. I've realized how much I miss writing on it so I've decided to come back to it. Hopefully I do better this time than last. I also am working on another blog project that I'll hopefully be introducing soon.
So, those are my new years' resolutions. Did you make a resolution this year? If so, what is it?
- Jenn
This year, as in years past, I have decided to make a new years' resolution. Of course, it's easy to make the resolution. The hard part is keeping it. I think one of the hardest parts of keeping it is the lack of accountability. It's easy to say you'll do something, but then when no one holds you accountable (including yourself), it's a lot easier to break it.
So, as one way of accountability, I decided to write down what my new years' resolutions are. I'll be writing them here and then it's viewable to the public and I have it to look back on to know how I'm doing.
First, I'm going to begin eating better and exercising more. I know that I need to get healthier - as my doctor has told me. So, I've decided to cut back on calories and fats. I'll also be focusing a lot on not eating as much red meats, white pastas,high fat dairy products, and junk foods. I'll be increasing fruits and vegetables, fibers, and drinking more water. I'll also be trying to exercise for at least 30 minutes 3-5 times a week. This may just be walking around the neighborhood or doing the Wii Fit, but it's better than what I have been doing.
Second, I'm going to make sure that I'm reading my Bible every day. I know how important this is, but often times I put it off and neglect it. I have a devotional Bible that I'll be using for this. I want to, and I need to, spend more time studying His Word.
Third, I'm going to strive to be a better wife to my husband. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that I've been a horrible wife. I just know that everyone can stand to improve. I'm going to try to be more encouraging, do more around the house, be more respectful, and love him even more than I have before.
Last but not least, I'm going to try to update this blog more. I've realized how much I miss writing on it so I've decided to come back to it. Hopefully I do better this time than last. I also am working on another blog project that I'll hopefully be introducing soon.
So, those are my new years' resolutions. Did you make a resolution this year? If so, what is it?
- Jenn
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year
As the song says, "it's the most wonderful time of the year". It seems that right around Christmas, people who are usually miserable have a little bit of joy in their lives.
You wonder why they have that joy. Do they know the real meaning of Christmas and are filled with joy because of it? Or are they just more joyful because everyone else around them is?
It's great to know the real meaning of Christmas - the only source of true joy in the whole world. It's great to know that God sent His Son down to earth as a newborn baby. He was born in a manger. He came here to die for my sins and your sins. He came to earth KNOWING what was ahead of him - that one day He would suffer and die a horrible death for sins that He didn't commit.
If that isn't a source of joy, then what is?
So, this Christmas, celebrate the true source of joy - our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Make this truly the most wonderful time of the year by accepting His free gift that He offers to each of us - the gift of salvation.
I'm happy to say that this really is the most wonderful time of the year - only because I know Jesus as my Savior.
- Jenn
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Consequences vs. Punishments
Josh and I were discussing the differences between consequences and punishments yesterday. It may seem like a rather odd topic to discuss (which maybe it is), but it's what came up in our conversation.
After much discussion, we came to an agreement that consequences are "natural" results that come from an action. Punishments are deliberate or intentional "disciplinary" actions that come because of something you have done.
To give an example... a man robs a house and gets caught. The punishment is jail time and a criminal record. The consequences are that he won't be able to get a job as easily and will experience general distrust from people.
It was an interesting discussion to say the least. In fact, it was so interesting that I threw it out there for opinions from my Facebook friends and got some more input.
So, what are your thoughts on consequences vs. punishments? How are they differentiated?
- Jenn
After much discussion, we came to an agreement that consequences are "natural" results that come from an action. Punishments are deliberate or intentional "disciplinary" actions that come because of something you have done.
To give an example... a man robs a house and gets caught. The punishment is jail time and a criminal record. The consequences are that he won't be able to get a job as easily and will experience general distrust from people.
It was an interesting discussion to say the least. In fact, it was so interesting that I threw it out there for opinions from my Facebook friends and got some more input.
So, what are your thoughts on consequences vs. punishments? How are they differentiated?
- Jenn
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Little Hands, Little Feet, Little Hearts...Little Lives
Little hands. Little Feet. Little hearts.
These are three of the biggest things that I deal with on a daily basis at work.
Little hands that push and shove. Little hands that give hugs and high fives. Little hands that touch my face while saying "I love you Jenn". Little hands that draw pictures and paint artwork.
Little feet that run around. Little feet that climb up ladders and on chairs. Little feet that occasionally kick. Little feet that dance.
Little hearts that are so full of love. Little hearts that are eager to be filled with love. Little hearts that are so tender and moldable.
Oftentimes I take these "little things" for granted. Often times I focus on the negative aspects of these little things- the pushing and shoving, the kicking and running. I've been thinking about how I need to not take these "little things" for granted and how I need to look for the positive each day. Each of these "little things" belongs to a little person - a little person who is longing for love, commitment, and dedication. I need to focus in on each of these "little people" individually and invest in their lives individually. I need to show them how much I care and how much I love them.
It's so hard to stay positive in a fast paced, high stress job that's full of challenges. But that's my goal. I want to be positive for these children, for these little lives. I want them to know that I love them and care about them. I want them to know that I am there for them. So, that's my new goal for myself. I want to stay positive and enjoy the "little things". I want to invest in little lives every day in hopes that one day they'll make a BIG impact because of something they've learned now.
- Jenn
These are three of the biggest things that I deal with on a daily basis at work.
Little hands that push and shove. Little hands that give hugs and high fives. Little hands that touch my face while saying "I love you Jenn". Little hands that draw pictures and paint artwork.
Little feet that run around. Little feet that climb up ladders and on chairs. Little feet that occasionally kick. Little feet that dance.
Little hearts that are so full of love. Little hearts that are eager to be filled with love. Little hearts that are so tender and moldable.
Oftentimes I take these "little things" for granted. Often times I focus on the negative aspects of these little things- the pushing and shoving, the kicking and running. I've been thinking about how I need to not take these "little things" for granted and how I need to look for the positive each day. Each of these "little things" belongs to a little person - a little person who is longing for love, commitment, and dedication. I need to focus in on each of these "little people" individually and invest in their lives individually. I need to show them how much I care and how much I love them.
It's so hard to stay positive in a fast paced, high stress job that's full of challenges. But that's my goal. I want to be positive for these children, for these little lives. I want them to know that I love them and care about them. I want them to know that I am there for them. So, that's my new goal for myself. I want to stay positive and enjoy the "little things". I want to invest in little lives every day in hopes that one day they'll make a BIG impact because of something they've learned now.
- Jenn
Thursday, April 28, 2011
In God's Time
I heard this song on the radio tonight and couldn't help but cry a little. It's what I needed to hear. It's so hard to wait on His timing, but I know He has a plan for my life and that His plan is best. Anyways, listen to the song. I hope it touches someone else too...
- Jenn
- Jenn
Friday, April 22, 2011
Mighty Is The Power Of The Cross
A friend of mine shared this song today on Facebook and I was really touched by it. I figured I'd share it with you and hopefully it'll bless someone else as well.
It's so amazing...the power of the cross! Right in the middle of this Easter season, I can't help but be so incredibly thankful for the power of the cross and for the sacrifice that Jesus made on it for me - for lowly me. I'm eternally thankful for all that He's done for me and for the power of the cross!
Happy Easter! And don't forget the real meaning of this season - the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord and Savior so that you and I can have our sins forgiven and spend eternity in Heaven one day.
- Jenn
It's so amazing...the power of the cross! Right in the middle of this Easter season, I can't help but be so incredibly thankful for the power of the cross and for the sacrifice that Jesus made on it for me - for lowly me. I'm eternally thankful for all that He's done for me and for the power of the cross!
Happy Easter! And don't forget the real meaning of this season - the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord and Savior so that you and I can have our sins forgiven and spend eternity in Heaven one day.
- Jenn
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Dreams
Dreams... what is your biggest dream in life? What do you hope that you'll do before you die?
I know what my biggest dream is. I've had this dream ever since I was a little girl. My dream is to be a wife and a mom. I know; I have the first part covered. For that I am truly thankful. I'm so incredibly thankful that God blessed me with the man of my dreams...a man who I can do anything and everything with and a man who I can dream about the future with.
The second part of my dream is what I am waiting on. Right now I am just waiting on God for it. It's not easy to wait for his timing...not easy at all. When you've dreamed of something for years on end, it's so ahrd to sit back and wait for it to happen. Waiting...I think it's the hardest seven letter word in life.
So, what's your dream? What do you hope to accomplish on this earth before you die?
- Jenn
I know what my biggest dream is. I've had this dream ever since I was a little girl. My dream is to be a wife and a mom. I know; I have the first part covered. For that I am truly thankful. I'm so incredibly thankful that God blessed me with the man of my dreams...a man who I can do anything and everything with and a man who I can dream about the future with.
The second part of my dream is what I am waiting on. Right now I am just waiting on God for it. It's not easy to wait for his timing...not easy at all. When you've dreamed of something for years on end, it's so ahrd to sit back and wait for it to happen. Waiting...I think it's the hardest seven letter word in life.
So, what's your dream? What do you hope to accomplish on this earth before you die?
- Jenn
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Blinded
It's saddening to me to think of how many people are completely lost - following a person, a person who's completely warped in their thinking and beliefs. I watched this video today and it made me sad...sad and angry all at the same time. Sad for this woman whose completely blinded to the truth and angry that she's leading so many astray....
Despite being saddened and angry, I realize that all I can do is pray for her. Pray that somehow she finds the Truth and uses her influence on millions for the good and not for the bad. Would you pray with me for her and for all of those who are blinded to the truth?
- Jenn
Despite being saddened and angry, I realize that all I can do is pray for her. Pray that somehow she finds the Truth and uses her influence on millions for the good and not for the bad. Would you pray with me for her and for all of those who are blinded to the truth?
- Jenn
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Roller Coaster Rides and Country Roads
Roller coaster rides and country roads... you may be wondering what in the world the title of my post means. Well, read on to find out....
People always say that life is like a roller coaster ride. It's full of ups and downs, twists and turns. Well, whoever came up with that analogy was right on. Life definitely is like a roller coaster. On a roller coaster, you slowly go up the hill and it's super exciting. You get to the top of the hill and it's amazing. You're excited about everything, things are great. You're ecstatic to be up there. Then, all of a sudden you drop and you drop fast. You're at the bottom - lower than you realized you were going. Your stomache's in knots and your head is spinning. But before you know it, your headed back up a hill. You don't have time to think about what's going on. You just hang on tight and go with the flow of the ride. You might scream. You might cry. You might close your eyes and tell the person next to you do let you know when the ride is over. Then all of a sudden you come to a stop. You get off the ride and are so thankful that you made it through. You stagger down to a bench and sit down, slowly letting yourself unwind from the experience that you just had.
To me, life truly is like a rollercoaster - although more intense. Actually, life's like a series of rollercoasters that are ridden right in a row. You experience the "ride" - the slow uphill climb, the joy of being on top, the sudden drop to the very bottom, the quick ascent back up, the whips around the corners, and the turns that lead to the end. The "ride" stops. Then all of a sudden it starts back up again. You don't have time to get off and unwind. You're going through it again.
In life, the joys come (the uphill climb). Things seem to be going wonderful - God's pouring out His blessings and things are wonderful. You think to yourself, "Can this get any better?". You're at the top, the tip-top of the hill, and you don't realize what's coming ahead. All of a sudden bad things come your way and you drop faster than you knew you could. While you're dropping you're having second thoughts, wondering if you can just get off the ride. All of a sudden you're at the very bottom and it seems like it can't get worse. Then you're suddenly going back up - you know this is the better part of the ride. As you go up, the bottom is a distant site. The bad things are history. However, you get back up and realize there a loop and a twist in your plans ahead. Then there's another dip. Then you're back uphill and downhill and "BOOM!" you come to a stop. Whew! What a ride life is...
I hope you're following my analogy, the analogy that's been floating around in my head. It may be slightly confusing, but I hope it's not. What do you think? Do you think our lives are like a series of rollercoasters? Or perhaps our lives are more like a windy, country road....
Think about driving on an old country road at night. There's twists and turns. There's deer running out, obstactles of all sorts. There's the occasional drizzle or perhaps the downpour. Then a clearing comes into sight. You can see and drive perfectly fine. All of a sudden the road gets bumpy. Your car is being jerked around and you're starting to feel sick. However, after a few bumps the road is smooth again. You drive through the night and soon the morning comes and everything clears up. You can drive comfortably and see better. It's much better and much easier.
People always say that life is like a roller coaster ride. It's full of ups and downs, twists and turns. Well, whoever came up with that analogy was right on. Life definitely is like a roller coaster. On a roller coaster, you slowly go up the hill and it's super exciting. You get to the top of the hill and it's amazing. You're excited about everything, things are great. You're ecstatic to be up there. Then, all of a sudden you drop and you drop fast. You're at the bottom - lower than you realized you were going. Your stomache's in knots and your head is spinning. But before you know it, your headed back up a hill. You don't have time to think about what's going on. You just hang on tight and go with the flow of the ride. You might scream. You might cry. You might close your eyes and tell the person next to you do let you know when the ride is over. Then all of a sudden you come to a stop. You get off the ride and are so thankful that you made it through. You stagger down to a bench and sit down, slowly letting yourself unwind from the experience that you just had.
To me, life truly is like a rollercoaster - although more intense. Actually, life's like a series of rollercoasters that are ridden right in a row. You experience the "ride" - the slow uphill climb, the joy of being on top, the sudden drop to the very bottom, the quick ascent back up, the whips around the corners, and the turns that lead to the end. The "ride" stops. Then all of a sudden it starts back up again. You don't have time to get off and unwind. You're going through it again.
In life, the joys come (the uphill climb). Things seem to be going wonderful - God's pouring out His blessings and things are wonderful. You think to yourself, "Can this get any better?". You're at the top, the tip-top of the hill, and you don't realize what's coming ahead. All of a sudden bad things come your way and you drop faster than you knew you could. While you're dropping you're having second thoughts, wondering if you can just get off the ride. All of a sudden you're at the very bottom and it seems like it can't get worse. Then you're suddenly going back up - you know this is the better part of the ride. As you go up, the bottom is a distant site. The bad things are history. However, you get back up and realize there a loop and a twist in your plans ahead. Then there's another dip. Then you're back uphill and downhill and "BOOM!" you come to a stop. Whew! What a ride life is...
I hope you're following my analogy, the analogy that's been floating around in my head. It may be slightly confusing, but I hope it's not. What do you think? Do you think our lives are like a series of rollercoasters? Or perhaps our lives are more like a windy, country road....
Think about driving on an old country road at night. There's twists and turns. There's deer running out, obstactles of all sorts. There's the occasional drizzle or perhaps the downpour. Then a clearing comes into sight. You can see and drive perfectly fine. All of a sudden the road gets bumpy. Your car is being jerked around and you're starting to feel sick. However, after a few bumps the road is smooth again. You drive through the night and soon the morning comes and everything clears up. You can drive comfortably and see better. It's much better and much easier.
Perhaps life is more like that? As we go along the "road of life", we encounter the twists and turns and obstacles. We never know when they're coming because we can't see around the next bend. We also encounter the storms, times where we have to do all we can to be able to see through the rain and stay on the right path. We have to work hard to keep our focus on the road ahead and our ultimate destination. Sometimes the "road" is bumpy and other times it's a smooth ride. Sometimes it's dark and rainy, and other times the light is bright. The good times are there and so are the bad times. However, the bad times (the darkness) seem like nothing once the good times come (the light).
What do you think? Are our lives like a rollercoaster or a country road? Or perhaps life is kind of a mix of the two? All I know is that, whether on a rollercoaster ride or country road, the ride is always challenging and sometimes scary. But in the end we always look back and say "Wow, that was worth it!" or "Wow! That wasn't as bad as it seemed."
So, whatever we're going through in life - whether we're on the bumpy part of the road or on the uphill climb of the rollercoaster, we can be assured that in the end it'll be worth it. As long as we keep our focus on the ULTIMATE goal and purpose - the Lord Jesus, the ride will be worth it. Also, it's comforting to know that no matter how scary the ride gets, He's right beside us holding our hand the entire way...
- Jenn
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Thank You
I was watching YouTube videos by Ray Stevens yesterday. If you've never heard and/or seen him before, you MUST check him out. He has a lot of really good, meaningful songs. Some of them are really funny too. Anyways, this particular one caught my attention and I think it says it all...
So, THANK YOU to all those who serve! I wish I told you more often how much I appreciate what you do. But, I'm telling you now - thank you...
- Jenn
So, THANK YOU to all those who serve! I wish I told you more often how much I appreciate what you do. But, I'm telling you now - thank you...
- Jenn
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Our Life
Since it's been well over a month since I posted last, I figured I would update with a post about what's been going on in our life...
- It's hard to believe that today is September 1st! It seems like it was just May and we were preparing for summer. Now summer is pretty much gone. Kids are going back to school and the weather is cooling down (well a little bit). It's crazy how fast time goes by!
- Speaking of going back to school, I didn't get a full time teaching job for this year. That means I'll be substituting this year. I'll also be working on my resume and cover letter, trying to make it better as I apply for new jobs as they are posted. I actually don't mind subbing though. I kind of like the adventure and the unpredicatability of it. So it should be an interesting year.
- Josh was gone for over a month of the summer. In June he had his normal Annual Training with the Marines and was gone for 2 weeks. In August he was involved with another training exercise and was gone for 17 days. To say I missed him would be an understatement. I missed him more than I could have imagined! But, now he's home which of course makes me happy. Hopefully he won't have any more long training exercises in the near future.
- We celebrated our second anniversary in early August (right before Josh went away). It's hard to believe that it's been over two years already since I married my best friend! I do have to say that each day is better than the last and I fall more and more in love with my husband every day. It's great to be able to spend my life with my best friend. And, although there are challenges and trials, it's great to know that we have each other to go through them together. I'm looking forward to many more years with him!
- We went away for a little weekend away earlier in the summer. It was actually over the 4th of July weekend. Of course, with our luck, we both were sick with pretty nasty colds over the weekend, but that didn't stop us from enjoying our time with each other. We didn't go far from home. We actually just went to Allentown. We went to the drive-ins together and out to dinner on Saturday. On that Sunday we went to Dorney Park. Josh actually got in free because he was military, so that was nice. The park was definitely interesting, but we still had fun there. Then on Monday we just hung out and then headed home. It was a relaxing weekend and was our early anniversary getaway, since we knew we couldn't get away on our actual anniversary.
I can't think of anything else to write about from this past summer. I'm sure I'll think of more later. Hopefully you all enjoyed your summer as well and are enjoying the cooler weather!
- Jenn
- It's hard to believe that today is September 1st! It seems like it was just May and we were preparing for summer. Now summer is pretty much gone. Kids are going back to school and the weather is cooling down (well a little bit). It's crazy how fast time goes by!
- Speaking of going back to school, I didn't get a full time teaching job for this year. That means I'll be substituting this year. I'll also be working on my resume and cover letter, trying to make it better as I apply for new jobs as they are posted. I actually don't mind subbing though. I kind of like the adventure and the unpredicatability of it. So it should be an interesting year.
- Josh was gone for over a month of the summer. In June he had his normal Annual Training with the Marines and was gone for 2 weeks. In August he was involved with another training exercise and was gone for 17 days. To say I missed him would be an understatement. I missed him more than I could have imagined! But, now he's home which of course makes me happy. Hopefully he won't have any more long training exercises in the near future.
- We celebrated our second anniversary in early August (right before Josh went away). It's hard to believe that it's been over two years already since I married my best friend! I do have to say that each day is better than the last and I fall more and more in love with my husband every day. It's great to be able to spend my life with my best friend. And, although there are challenges and trials, it's great to know that we have each other to go through them together. I'm looking forward to many more years with him!
- We went away for a little weekend away earlier in the summer. It was actually over the 4th of July weekend. Of course, with our luck, we both were sick with pretty nasty colds over the weekend, but that didn't stop us from enjoying our time with each other. We didn't go far from home. We actually just went to Allentown. We went to the drive-ins together and out to dinner on Saturday. On that Sunday we went to Dorney Park. Josh actually got in free because he was military, so that was nice. The park was definitely interesting, but we still had fun there. Then on Monday we just hung out and then headed home. It was a relaxing weekend and was our early anniversary getaway, since we knew we couldn't get away on our actual anniversary.
I can't think of anything else to write about from this past summer. I'm sure I'll think of more later. Hopefully you all enjoyed your summer as well and are enjoying the cooler weather!
- Jenn
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
How Quickly Time Flies!
It's amazing how quickly time flies! I remember, as a kid, time seemed like it lasted forever. A year actually went by slowly. When Christmas was over one year, it seemed like an eternity until the next Christmas came. Now it seems like I just close my eyes, blink, and another year has flown by. Lately, time has been flying even faster. It's so hard to believe it's already the middle of the summer. Before we know it, school will be starting up again! It's also hard to believe that...
- My niece just turned 6 years old last month. It seems like just yesterday that she was born!
- My nephew will be turning 2 in just two months. Again, it seems like just yesterday that we were in the hospital seeing him for the first time!
- In less than 5 months I'll have another niece or nephew (due date is December 7th). It seems like we just found out the exciting news, yet my sister's already over half way through her pregnancy!
- In less than a month Josh and I will be celebrating our second anniversary. It's crazy that we've already been married for two whole years! It seems like we were just saying "I do".
- I've been out of college for seven months already. It seems like I just walked across the stage.
- My husband's EAS (End of Active Service) in the Marine Corps is in just 6 months. It seems like we were just talking about how he was halfway done with his contract, and now he's almost done with it!
Anyways, those are some of the things that have just struck me recently and made me think about how quickly time flies by! It makes me treasure each second even more, knowing that time passes so quickly. I guess as I've gotten older I've begun to realize the value that time has. I'm working on really making the most of each moment in life, knowing that soon I'll be looking back and saying "Wow, it's already been 5 years since that happened. I can't believe how quickly time flies!" and also knowing that as each second passes, it's a second that we can never get back...
- Jenn
- My niece just turned 6 years old last month. It seems like just yesterday that she was born!
- My nephew will be turning 2 in just two months. Again, it seems like just yesterday that we were in the hospital seeing him for the first time!
- In less than 5 months I'll have another niece or nephew (due date is December 7th). It seems like we just found out the exciting news, yet my sister's already over half way through her pregnancy!
- In less than a month Josh and I will be celebrating our second anniversary. It's crazy that we've already been married for two whole years! It seems like we were just saying "I do".
- I've been out of college for seven months already. It seems like I just walked across the stage.
- My husband's EAS (End of Active Service) in the Marine Corps is in just 6 months. It seems like we were just talking about how he was halfway done with his contract, and now he's almost done with it!
Anyways, those are some of the things that have just struck me recently and made me think about how quickly time flies by! It makes me treasure each second even more, knowing that time passes so quickly. I guess as I've gotten older I've begun to realize the value that time has. I'm working on really making the most of each moment in life, knowing that soon I'll be looking back and saying "Wow, it's already been 5 years since that happened. I can't believe how quickly time flies!" and also knowing that as each second passes, it's a second that we can never get back...
- Jenn
Monday, June 7, 2010
The Journey...
This song spoke to me today. The journey is often long and hard, but He's always with us and goes before us. We are NEVER alone. That's so comforting to know...
- Jenn
- Jenn
Thursday, May 27, 2010
What Bothers Me...
Warning: The following post may turn into a rant. Don't say I didn't warn you...
Do you want to know something that really bothers me? There are a lot of things that bother me, but this one thing has been on my mind the most. What really bothers me is people's lack of respect and appreciation for our military. Maybe I'm a little biased because my husband is in the military or maybe having a husband in the military has just made me notice the lack of appreciation even more...
It seems to me that a lot of people have absolutely no respect or gratitude for our nation's military. Correct me if I'm wrong, but the last time I checked these are the men and women who have voluntarily put their lives on the line so that each of us can be free. Because of them we live in a country where we are free to worship, free to speak what we want, and free to do many other things as well. If it weren't for them, we wouldn't have freedom at all.
Numerous times I've heard people bad mouthing our military. I've heard "They're just in it for the money and the free education" or "They don't deserve our support in a war for oil" or many other things. I'm tired of hearing these things. I'm tired of the disrespect. If someone wants to join the military for a free education, then kudos to them. They're signing a contract that may require them to give their life and in return they're getting a little paycheck and some money towards an education (yeah, for those of you who don't know, the education isn't always free). I think the education is the least they can get in return for their sacrifice. So quit complaining! Also, I don't care what you think about the war - whether you think it's right or wrong - you should still support our military. They don't make the decisions to go into combat - they just listen to their commander and go out to fight when they're told too. They need our support!
Another thing that bothered me regarding the lack of respect and gratitude for our military is our president's recent decision to skip the Memorial Day services at Arlington National Cemetary and instead head out to Chicago for the holiday weekend. This just goes to show where the president's priorities are. He's chosen to go to Chicago to "keep a campaign promise" instead of honoring the lives of our nation's heroes at Arlington. I mean, seriously, our nation's commander-in-chief can't even lead by example and take the time to honor those who've given the ultimate sacrifice. If he doesn't appreciate our men and women who serve, then how can we expect others to appreciate them. It's this thing called "leading by example"...
Then there's the whole "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" vote that was scheduled to take place today in Congress and the Senate. Of course they want to repeal this policy. But when they decided they wanted to repeal it they said that they'd take a survey of all military and their families to get their opinions on the policy and whether or not it should be repealed. The "survey" (more like an open forum to debate it) was started about a week ago and hasn't even been formalized or finalized. However, the vote was scheduled to take place today. Just another example of a lack of respect for the military. Each military branches' Chiefs wrote letters to express their concern for conducting the vote so soon and also expressing their opinion that voting on this issue so soon was breaking a commitment to the military (the commitment was that they'd do the survey and hear everyone's opinions before voting on the issue). So, here we see it again, broken commitments and promises. In my eyes, that's blatant disrespect.
Of course, to make my point clearer, there's also wacko "churches" like Westboro "Baptist" Church who consistently show a blatant disrespect and hatred toward our military. They picket military funerals, write hate letters to military families, and are even planning on picketing the services at Arlington National Cemetary on Monday. They mock the sacrifice of our men and women, yet somehow get away with it. It just sickens me to say the least.
But, the moral of all of this ranting is that we really should appreciate and respect our men and women in the military. Honestly, I wouldn't want to even imagine what this country would be like if it wasn't for them. Come to think of it, this country wouldn't exist today if it weren't for them. So, have a little respect and gratitude for them. They sacrifice so, so much for us yet half of us just bad mouth them and make fun of them in return. So, next time you see a member of the military, hold the door open for them and as they pass by say "thank you" to them for what they do. I can pretty much guarantee that you'll get a shocked look in return, mainly because they're not used to hearing those words...
- Jenn
Do you want to know something that really bothers me? There are a lot of things that bother me, but this one thing has been on my mind the most. What really bothers me is people's lack of respect and appreciation for our military. Maybe I'm a little biased because my husband is in the military or maybe having a husband in the military has just made me notice the lack of appreciation even more...
It seems to me that a lot of people have absolutely no respect or gratitude for our nation's military. Correct me if I'm wrong, but the last time I checked these are the men and women who have voluntarily put their lives on the line so that each of us can be free. Because of them we live in a country where we are free to worship, free to speak what we want, and free to do many other things as well. If it weren't for them, we wouldn't have freedom at all.
Numerous times I've heard people bad mouthing our military. I've heard "They're just in it for the money and the free education" or "They don't deserve our support in a war for oil" or many other things. I'm tired of hearing these things. I'm tired of the disrespect. If someone wants to join the military for a free education, then kudos to them. They're signing a contract that may require them to give their life and in return they're getting a little paycheck and some money towards an education (yeah, for those of you who don't know, the education isn't always free). I think the education is the least they can get in return for their sacrifice. So quit complaining! Also, I don't care what you think about the war - whether you think it's right or wrong - you should still support our military. They don't make the decisions to go into combat - they just listen to their commander and go out to fight when they're told too. They need our support!
Another thing that bothered me regarding the lack of respect and gratitude for our military is our president's recent decision to skip the Memorial Day services at Arlington National Cemetary and instead head out to Chicago for the holiday weekend. This just goes to show where the president's priorities are. He's chosen to go to Chicago to "keep a campaign promise" instead of honoring the lives of our nation's heroes at Arlington. I mean, seriously, our nation's commander-in-chief can't even lead by example and take the time to honor those who've given the ultimate sacrifice. If he doesn't appreciate our men and women who serve, then how can we expect others to appreciate them. It's this thing called "leading by example"...
Then there's the whole "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" vote that was scheduled to take place today in Congress and the Senate. Of course they want to repeal this policy. But when they decided they wanted to repeal it they said that they'd take a survey of all military and their families to get their opinions on the policy and whether or not it should be repealed. The "survey" (more like an open forum to debate it) was started about a week ago and hasn't even been formalized or finalized. However, the vote was scheduled to take place today. Just another example of a lack of respect for the military. Each military branches' Chiefs wrote letters to express their concern for conducting the vote so soon and also expressing their opinion that voting on this issue so soon was breaking a commitment to the military (the commitment was that they'd do the survey and hear everyone's opinions before voting on the issue). So, here we see it again, broken commitments and promises. In my eyes, that's blatant disrespect.
Of course, to make my point clearer, there's also wacko "churches" like Westboro "Baptist" Church who consistently show a blatant disrespect and hatred toward our military. They picket military funerals, write hate letters to military families, and are even planning on picketing the services at Arlington National Cemetary on Monday. They mock the sacrifice of our men and women, yet somehow get away with it. It just sickens me to say the least.
But, the moral of all of this ranting is that we really should appreciate and respect our men and women in the military. Honestly, I wouldn't want to even imagine what this country would be like if it wasn't for them. Come to think of it, this country wouldn't exist today if it weren't for them. So, have a little respect and gratitude for them. They sacrifice so, so much for us yet half of us just bad mouth them and make fun of them in return. So, next time you see a member of the military, hold the door open for them and as they pass by say "thank you" to them for what they do. I can pretty much guarantee that you'll get a shocked look in return, mainly because they're not used to hearing those words...
- Jenn
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
FROG
I don't know if you remember the popular acronym that was on everything - tshirts, bracelets, notebooks, etc. - awhile ago. The acronym was F.R.O.G., which stood for Fully Rely On God. That acronym came to mind today. I was pretty stressed out, worrying about a lot of little things (and a few big things too). Then I remembered - Fully Rely On God. That's what I need to do. It's so good to know that none of my worries are too big for Him. He already knows my problems and my fears and He already has them worked out. So my goal is to try to live out that saying, to fully rely on Him for everything and to put my worries and fears in His hands. It's much easier that way, and I know that He'll take care of it all!
- Jenn
- Jenn
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Random Ramblings
It's been exactly a week since I posted last. I'm a slacker - I know. Let's see what kind of random things have been going on...
_________________________________________________
This past weekend was Easter weekend. It was also my friend, Christina's, bridal shower. Josh and I headed up to my parents' house for the weekend. On Friday night I hung out with Christina and most of the bridesmaids for her wedding. (Did I mention that I am one of her bridesmaids? If I didn't, I am mentioning it now.) We went shopping together and just had fun. On Saturday was her shower. The shower was a lot of fun! We played the normal shower games, saw lots of people, and of course she opened her gifts. She got pretty much everything that they need for their apartment, which was definitely nice. After the shower I helped them take some of the gifts over to their apartment. They have a really cute place! Then we hung out for a little. It was a lot of fun!
Sunday was Easter. We woke up early and went to the sunrise service at my parents' church. It was a blessing. After the sunrise service, we had breakfast at church. Then we had the normal service. My entire family was there, which was nice. It was a great service too! On Sunday afternoon we went over my sister's house and hung out. Then we went to my aunt and uncle's house for Easter dinner. It was good to see my extended family again and to hang out with everyone. It was a great Easter and a great weekend!
_________________________________________________
In other news, Josh's grandpa got out of the hospital last Friday. That is definitely a blessing. He is now at a nursing home for rehabilitation. They're hoping to get his strength back and get him back on his feet. It's definitely an answer to prayer though that he is out of the hospital!
_________________________________________________
Oh, something that I'm excited about... in less than two weeks my college roommate, Emily, and I are taking a road trip. The road trip actually just came together. Emily's coming down to PA from VT to visit from April 17th-24th. When she gets here, she's going to spend a couple of days here in PA. Then comes the roadtrip (which I am calling One Insane Roadtrip, or OIR for short). On Tuesday, April 20th, we're leaving bright and early in the morning and heading down to Camp Lejeune, NC where her boyfriend is stationed. We're going to spend the night there and visit him. Then on Wednesday, the 21st, we're going to leave NC and head up to Virginia Beach to stop and visit our friends from college. Then, on the 22nd, we're heading back up to PA. Have you figured out why it's going to be an insane roadtrip? We'll be traveling three days straight, but I'm really looking forward to it! It's going to be a great and random time!
_________________________________________________
Well, I guess that's enough random ramblings for today. Hopefully I'll write again on here sooner. Take care and enjoy the beautiful weather!
- Jenn
_________________________________________________
This past weekend was Easter weekend. It was also my friend, Christina's, bridal shower. Josh and I headed up to my parents' house for the weekend. On Friday night I hung out with Christina and most of the bridesmaids for her wedding. (Did I mention that I am one of her bridesmaids? If I didn't, I am mentioning it now.) We went shopping together and just had fun. On Saturday was her shower. The shower was a lot of fun! We played the normal shower games, saw lots of people, and of course she opened her gifts. She got pretty much everything that they need for their apartment, which was definitely nice. After the shower I helped them take some of the gifts over to their apartment. They have a really cute place! Then we hung out for a little. It was a lot of fun!
Sunday was Easter. We woke up early and went to the sunrise service at my parents' church. It was a blessing. After the sunrise service, we had breakfast at church. Then we had the normal service. My entire family was there, which was nice. It was a great service too! On Sunday afternoon we went over my sister's house and hung out. Then we went to my aunt and uncle's house for Easter dinner. It was good to see my extended family again and to hang out with everyone. It was a great Easter and a great weekend!
_________________________________________________
In other news, Josh's grandpa got out of the hospital last Friday. That is definitely a blessing. He is now at a nursing home for rehabilitation. They're hoping to get his strength back and get him back on his feet. It's definitely an answer to prayer though that he is out of the hospital!
_________________________________________________
Oh, something that I'm excited about... in less than two weeks my college roommate, Emily, and I are taking a road trip. The road trip actually just came together. Emily's coming down to PA from VT to visit from April 17th-24th. When she gets here, she's going to spend a couple of days here in PA. Then comes the roadtrip (which I am calling One Insane Roadtrip, or OIR for short). On Tuesday, April 20th, we're leaving bright and early in the morning and heading down to Camp Lejeune, NC where her boyfriend is stationed. We're going to spend the night there and visit him. Then on Wednesday, the 21st, we're going to leave NC and head up to Virginia Beach to stop and visit our friends from college. Then, on the 22nd, we're heading back up to PA. Have you figured out why it's going to be an insane roadtrip? We'll be traveling three days straight, but I'm really looking forward to it! It's going to be a great and random time!
_________________________________________________
Well, I guess that's enough random ramblings for today. Hopefully I'll write again on here sooner. Take care and enjoy the beautiful weather!
- Jenn
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