M is for Mark Schultz. I thank God, and thank Mr. Schultz for coming to my area for a concert on June 17th. Without that concert, I wouldn't have agreed to go see him with a friend who wanted to catch up. Two months after catching up found me engaged to that dear friend. :)
[You can read a breeze-through of our story at weddingwire.com/craigandjennifer]
N is for nursing, again. After receiving my CNA, and going through one crazy semester of generals that were required for the nursing program, I've felt led to change my major to Education. How's that for stereotypical college student???
O is for ohhhhh, God is so good. Those words aren't flippantly spoken from a girl who is on cloud nine and has everything together. They're spoken from lips that are typically Overwhelmed and Oh-so-often standing in the need of God's grace, which He offers consistently...which is why He is oh so good.
P is for prayer. Dear friend, it's fast, free, and the rewards are priceless. We Americans are all about things like that. But this is something I've struggled to take advantage of to it's highest potential. I'm praying to be better at that.
Q is for quite a year. It's weird to think we just have a couple weeks leff of it. Mine has been FULL, and I don't merely mean my schedule. It's been FULL...of blessings, of difficulty, of lessons, and of grace. Has yours been Quite a year?
R is for reading. Something I've missed dreadfully. I used to keep updated book lists, and check them off after each book was finished. I would read books with friends and we'd discuss them--which was so good for fellowship and retaining what was read! But I haven't been able to do more than a here and there, which is why I needed to put down the Bible Retreat after Psalms. :( I hope married-life will be paced enough to be immersed in books again.
S is for SWAT, the youth ministry I've been involved in for over two years. I was one of the few who started SWAT as a small youth group Bible study, and I have seen so many students come and go since then. All of them have taught me so much, and have become precious to me in cool ways. I've decided to no longer volunteer with the youth once I'm married--which will be difficult, as much as it will be good for me. :)
T is for True Princess. For the last six weeks I will be helping with SWAT, I started the Lifeway Bible study True Princess: Embracing Humility in an All-About-Me world with the girls. This has been one of the best student studies I've found in a long time. It's rich with the Word, very deep and challenging! We started a tradition of having tea with the study each week, and we've been going to our local nursing home to do manicures for the ladies there. It's been amazing. :)
U is for unexpected plans. If you just skip back a few blog posts, you'll see that even 5 months ago, marriage wasn't even on the horizon of my mind (look at what I had to say about my relationships on my About this Jen page, haha). I had come out of a difficult relationship early this year, and if anything, I was ready to commit to a lifetime of singleness and servitude. :) But lo and behold, I'm so sincerely grateful that I have a Father who knows me so well. His plans for me aren't copies of anyone else's life and plans--they're just for me, and for me to trust Him with.
V is for very scatterbrained. I think my brain only knows one mode, and it's THAT one.
W is for wedding, which is on New Year's Day 2011. One of the reasons we chose that day is thanks to Chloe...she blogged about her wedding on July 4th, and the perks of always having your anniversary off. Since Craig and I will be in school for awhile and working ALOT, it would be nice to have our anniversary on a holiday between semesters. :)
X is for...not very many things. Including this line, haha.
Y is for why are there so many letters in the alphabet? Y is for I can't think of anything for this one either.
Z iz for zuppa, vich iz veady.
And I'm hungry, because my Mom has be on a "your wedding dress doesn't zip and you have two weeks" diet. Ahem.
Elizabeth George's A Young Woman After God's Own Heart. My cousin Rebekah gave me this book when I was around 16, and it was such a critical blessing in my spiritual life. Elizabeth talks to you like she's your best friend, and her musings are FULL of wisdom/Scripture/stories on foundational things like: prayer, the Word, our love-life with Christ, guys (hard subject, there!), and just having a 
as well--I'd like to check that out sometime.
