Our little place ~ Episode I

Our little one room house...this is pretty much it. 

I took this the day we were moving, so there are boxes and clothes everywhere. :) 

Pictured above, you see our little fridge in the corner and my husband's massive bookshelf--which I call a huge chunk of my marriage inheritance, lol.  Beside that, and directly across the room from the bed, sat our TV atop my hope chest (which was FULL of wedding gifts and household items stored away).  Then directly to the camera's right was our clothing closet, which was also full of household items and baby things.  AND under the bed was also storage.  I don't know how I found places to put things.  Whew.

(below) From the other side of the room, you see our door and a bookself which has been partially cleared off.  And our little bathroom, which I did not take pictures of, since I didn't clean it til we moved everything out of it. ;)

It was a neat little place to start; just a little dorm room in a ministry building.  Hubby lived here for a couple years before I moved in, and it quickly became our little "home".  The ministry director (along with his wife and kids!) became a close friend, and he was gracious to let a newlywed couple and their "house" move in.  He was even prepared to let us stay there with a baby, which would have made us the first "family" to have ever lived there.  As cool as it would have been, I think my organizational skills were at their max with just the two of us. :D

Thankfully, we never had anyone openly criticize our decision to marry quickly, even though we didn't have a legit house yet.  Even still, no one criticized when we announced that we had a "honeymoon baby" on the way, and STILL with no house.  Either no one criticized, or maybe the peace with where God had us kept us from noticing?  Because even in the midst of discontentment or frusteration in the small space, He blessed us with undeserved peace there.  We're thankful for this little place, and the people involved with it, that allowed us to marry and have a neat beginning to our little family.

We miss it, too.  You probably always miss your "first place" in different ways. ;)

What do you miss about your first place?  Were you super blessed with a first house?  I've heard some pretty crazy stories about couples starting out--did you, or your parents, have a crazy beginning?  Would you be willing to marry, or did you marry, without a legit house???  Please share!

(our new apartment pictures coming soon in Episode II)...

The rules:

1. Thank the person who gave you the award.
2. Write seven things about yourself.
3. Pass on to seven other bloggers.
4. Tell the seven awardees of their award! :)

Thank you Miss Chloe at tryin' to throw my arms around the world for TWO awards!  Chloe is an expecting Mama, wife to a law-student and a passionate Jesus-lover/runner/blogger.  She also faithfully checks my blog on her roll, even when she knows I haven't posted anything new in months.  I heart her looooots.
We will tackle one award at a time, since I'll need something to blog about next time.  Am I clever?  Well lets not get carried away...:)

[1] The real reason I haven't blogged much.
With a relationship, engagement and marriage within a 5 month period, I haven't lacked for subject matter--and I still would like to share some fun details that are dear to my heart very soon.  But to be honest, friend, I've not been in a good spiritual season of late. I can't explain it wholly, nor know what the Lord is trying to teach me here.  I DO know that the health of my relationship with my Abba affects EVERYTHING.  It affects my perspective, my marriage, my desires, my job, my friendships--and yes, it even affects the way I blog. :)  I'm praying for God's grace to grow more healthy in whatever ways that glorify Him most.

[2]  I really, really love this man.

He is a blessing from God that I never expected this year.

My journey to Prince Charming wasn't perfect in the slightest--even though I'd practiced purity, read the books, did the courtships, etc.  I'm just so thankful that God does EVERYTHING the way HE wants to.

[3]  The Mr. and I live in a university campus Ministry Building as the live-in custodians--we think it's a pretty sweet deal, and we're praying for any opportunities God has for us to serve there (other than clean the bathrooms, but we hope to glorify God in that too!).

[4]  I MADE A BOOK LIST.  -gasp-

I used to love making yearly book lists, and scratching one off each time I closed a cover.  But I stopped two years ago in protest to all the marshmellow fluff they package in the genre "Christian" and sell.  It's ridiculous the stuff they shelf in the name of my Savior.  But now that I've cooled down, with thanks to a husband that knows his stuff and recommends sound books, you can check out my new book list here. :)

[5]  I heart Lo Mein.  Like, not even kidding, I want a plate of it right now.

[6]  First first book I've finished from my list is one I highly recommend, friend.  It's a little coffee-table-style, simple (yet heavy) overview of the Gospel.  Why I love it so much is it wasn't a overview of the Gospel for me to SHARE with others...it's an overview for ME, to be reminded of the Gospel I heard and believe.  There's a difference, though there shouldn't be. :)

The Cross Centered Life: Keeping the Gospel The Main Thing
--C.J. Mahaney

and [7]

If you haven't caught the cat-out-of-the-bag on Facebook yet...

Even when you tell only a few, there's always a chance of an information leak. :)

[in case you can't tell, those are plus signs.]

It's still so very early yet, which is why we wanted to keep it under wraps for awhile.  But maybe with more people knowing now, more can pray with us--which we request sincerely. :)

Since I've been awful with blogging faithfully, I haven't any idea on who to award and definitely don't think I could pick seven others.  Boohoo.  So if you read this post--thank you---and you've just been awarded by Jen :D

Spelling cont...

Nearly four months later, here I am. ;)  While skipping through the alphabet, I hope to share some things that have kept me insanely busy...

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.

Wordless [hardly] Wednesday

This isn't the only reason I've been blog-absent.

Buuuut it contributes. :)

God is good.

Wordlessless Wednesday

Missy - PJ - Kaitlyn

S.W.A.T. girls on the mission field.

Paint and a girl's intuition.

Watch out This Old House.

Wordless [psych!] Wednesday

Summertime + Trampolines = CrazyawesomeHILARIOUSfun!

Sit a Spell to Spell a Bit

A is for adoption, something I really hope I get to do one day, Lord willing.

(I agree with Ash, who tagged me for this cool ABC thingamabob, and also begins with A)

B is for blog friends.  I've thought about blog friends ALOT lately and how I appreciate getting to know you amazing people.  Blogging allows me to know things about someone's heart that could take months/years of a friendship to know.  It's pretty cool.

C is for CNA, which I now AM.  My test results and certificate came in the mail last week--thank you for your prayers!

D is for Daniel.  I've had many Daniels leave footprints in my life.  Some good and some notsomuch.  This name seriously follows me around.  But I've been blessed with a couple of brothers-in-Christ that are stuck with their snippy sister: (L: Finney, my adopted lil bro, and me at Passion 2010 and R: "Skyguy", my partner in crime student ministry and fellow StarWars nerd.)

E is for experiencing the body of Christ outside of a church service.  Outside of a denomination.  Outside of a belief system.  Experiencing the love and fellowship of Christ, the joy of the Word and very little else: on the phone, in a coffeeshop, Facebook, blog, or workplace.

F is for funny pictures I find on my $800 camera that I, myself, didn't take.  Suspects under the age of 12 have taken these (can you say self-portait-queen?  There was about 100 of these on my Canon when I got back from Kenya)...

G is for [the] God of Abraham, Issac and Jacob.  Recently I read a comment from an athiest on a Christian article, saying something along the lines of never being able to worship a god like the One in the Old Testament because He was about nothing but wrath.  Journeying with the Bible Retreat, and going through the OT at about 3 books a week...I wish this person took the chance to know this God for themselves.

H is for happinessssss....there's Grace enough for us and the whole human race...ohhhh happinessss....Thankfully, Lady Gaga has nothin' on this catchy David Crowder Band song that has been stuck. in. my. head!

I is for imagination.  Or lack thereof for this Interesting letter. [skuh-Ip]

J is for Jen moments.  My friends have them.  They usually consist of forgetting items in their hand, taking 6.7 seconds to receive information that has been spoken, lack of sarcasm sending and receiving, and things of that nature.  Do YOU have Jen moments?

K is for Kenya. Its crazy how you can continue to learn from a place/experience you're no longer in the middle of. I can't wait to relive a little as I share pieces of Kenya with you soon.

L is for lengthy posts and church meetings...the reason there will be a PART 2 to Jen's ABC thingamabob.

Love, Jen :)

I heart Coffee Drips Art (that rhymed)

Guess what came in the mail?
[oh my...see the fake blonde growing out. See? See?!  Now I have no excuse for my shenanigans]

Beka at hold on, love... was taking requests before I left for Africa, and I couldn't pass it up.  I chose earth colors, and a Scripture that is very dear to me:

John 13:35

"By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."

And she painted them in the beautiful language of Kiswahili.

I'm truly loving it on my wall.

Life has been absolutely, absolutely, absolutely (is more than one absolutely unnecessary, since it's absolute?) nuts.  Crazy, I tell you.  [thinks for a minute] My life has been crazy for two years.  It wasn't this crazy before...whatever happened, it became my lot in life.  Maybe life isn't so busy, as much as my mind is.  Ever feel like that?  There's a whole lot more going on inside there than there is outside.

No, really, there is! :)

I've been praying about some direction with the Swat girls, and I believe we're gonna start this...

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 heart that is inclined to her Savior.  I've used it for lessons and given it as gifts many times cause I loved it so much. :)  She has A Woman After God's Own Heart as well--I'd like to check that out sometime.

The family went to the water/theme park, Holiday World, this week (all ten of us!)--got sunburned, got exhausted, got some REALLY needed family time.  My little brother Caleb is definitely my hero...that almost-nine-year-old-and-very-unadventurous-boy rode every single roller coaster...even The Voyage, which is one of the world's largest wooden coasters, and was featured on Travel Channel's Extreme Terror Rides 2 Death-Defying Drops: The World's Scariest Summits and Plummets...oh yes.  MY brother went on it THREE times.  I have the official picture.  You know, the unattractive ones they take of you as you've volunteered to basically skydive in a wooden cart...and charge you $10 a pop for.  Yep that one.

In the middle of all the craziness, I'm trying to pull my hair out be still.  Because busyness in my mind means I have a hard time focusing, getting things done, and being efficient.  Be still.  When Israel was crazy-busy with things that took their focus, God spoke, "In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength..."  Such gooood words.  Repentence (for loss of focus/idolotry), REST, Quietness, Trust.  Mmmm.  Israel wouldn't have any of it...but I sure do. :)

Back in APRIL, Chloe gave me the Beautiful Blogger award, yay!  I have just had a time with these 7 interesting things...but here we go...

1. 
   
   I am exactly 1/8 full Cherokee Native American, 1/8 Spaniard (from Spain) and alot of everything else.  I could have received free college because of my Native American heritage...BUT...my great-great grandfather was onery.  How?  On the reservation, he would shoot the clay water jars off the women's heads, drenching them.  One of the husbands wasn't happy, and they had a draw.  My Grandpa won, but since he killed a man, he fled the reservation to Mexico.  Changed his name and we have no documented proof.  Oh wells.  Interesting fact though, right? :)
2. 
   
   I am dense.  I lost my sarcasm meter somewhere recently, and I've needed every joke explained.  Unfortunate fact.
3. 
   
   Music.  I love to play guitar, listen to the radio, sing, (I have my Grooveshark playlist going now).
4. 
   
   I LOVE the color blue.  In all hues, it's fantastic.
5. 
   
   Parables, analogies and word pictures make me happy.  They explain deep things so much better.
6. 
   
   It really takes alot for me to be angry.  But lately, self-righteousness/arrogance (expecially if I realize it in myself) makes my blood boil.  I'm trying to work on that.
7. 
   
   I love tortillas, and I will eat very-nearly anything in them.  Anything.

The Beautiful (inside and out) Bloggers I award are:

Jen:  My sweet RanchGirl friend I've known since I was TWELVE!  I answered her pen pal request, which quickly turned to emailing and chatting all the time, which turned to telephone convos, etc.  She's a beautiful blogger, Mama, wife, friend (and has a cool name too). :)

&

Sara: Ironically, Jen's sister!  A beautiful young lady with a heart for foreign missions and a spectacular sense of humor. <3

The end.

P.S. Stay tuned. Once I have Africa pictures to share, instead of posting it all in one gi-normous post (cause there's ALOT), I will post small entries that expound on highlights. :)

[un]Wordless Wednesday: May Flowers Edition

FlowerMama's visit was muchly needed, and perfect timing for Jen.

I heart them.

In ten years...

I would really love to share about Kenya now, but I have to wait until I have pictures too--because they're really going to say more than any blog words I would clack. :)  Though I'm happy to be home, I miss it very much.  When I was with the Challenge Farm students, my heart thought it was home and falling in love at the same time.  God is still working on my heart, and I can't wait to share the real-realness things that have come to the surface since being there.

In the meantime, I have been blessed with some blog awards from some bloggers that I'm starting to consider more than blog friends.  You know...we're at the phase where you're pretty sure they're not a psycho-maniac and without fearing for your life you really maybe want to visit them one day. :)

Who would have thought fellowship and kindredness could be found in blog form?  It's a crazy thing really.  And one of the blogs I get both from is by Miss Kaylene at Face Value--who awarded me with "You're going places, Baby".  The rules to this award are:  Share where you see yourself in ten years and then award this to ten other bloggers.

In my limited humanness, only God knows where I will actually be in ten years.  No matter what, I pray to be doing what He's led me to.  BUT since we're talking about what I would LIKE to see...Lord willing...

I hope to be a Registered Nurse and Certified Midwife, and serve people wherever I will be.  I would love to be doing this on a foreign mission field, but I know the mission field is anywhere.  That could be here, in a hospital, or in a refuge home for teenage girls, etc.  Whether here or on foreign soil, I would love to be married too, and have a family (though I don't see myself working a job here if I have children).  By then I will be 32, which is amazing to think about.  Ten years isn't very far away. :)

So this I award to ten bloggers that I know are going places, especially places they have been led to by God...

Miriam at mim's blog

Beka at hold on, love...

Chloe at tryin' to throw my arms around the world

Melinda at Abounding in Hope

Mary at Here am I, Lord.

Sarah at saramblings

Abbie at Abbie Writes.

Alicia at If a Tree Were to Fall

Ash at once upon a dreamer...

and my 10th blogger is actually a prayer request for a dear lady I've been incredibly blessed to follow--Stephanie at Still Waters.  Though she may be absent from blogging, the blog award isn't important.  But I do know she's going places; places that our amazing God is going to lead her to.  Please pray for her and her family on their journey.

--Jen

Wordless [oh, never] Wednesday

Kama mkipendana hivyo, watu wote watafahamu ya kuwa ninyi ni wanafunzi wangu.

~Yohana (John) 13:35

May Flowers

They say April showers bring May flowers...but I don't think we can credit the showers for THESE Flowers!...

Summer 2009

Tomorrow my home will be graced with my dear, LeAnna "FlowerMama" and Q--from Thoughts n Whatnots!  If you are a follower of LeAnna, you probably can guess this is a precious one.  I've been so blessed to call her one of my dearest sister-friends, and have been able to since she was 16 and I was 15 (I was also honored to a bridesmaid in her wedding to B!).

Spring 2004                                Fall 2006

This girl has seen me through thick and thin--circumstances, spiritual warfare, heartbreak, etc.  If I had something to cry about, LeAnna cried with me.  If I had something to pray about, oh my did LeAnna pray with and for me.  She and I have struggled in the friend-department at certain seasons in our life; we were homeschooled, poor things.  Apart from "no social life" (sarcasm) good, sturdy friends were always hard to come by.  Some friends have come, and some have gone--but I'm sure thankful that I still have her, and I have a certainty in my heart that I always will.

PLUS...have you noticed she has me a DARLING nephew?! (and one on the way, yay!)

She is also bringing her Bro and Sis, and they will be staying FIVE whole days.  Oh my, I'm so excited.

It's just what the doctor ordered for me.  It's been an exciting/interesting/difficult year so far, and a visit from my Banana Bread in the middle of it is going to be good.  JUST sayin'.

A Demand, a THANK YOU...and an Apology

If you haven't taken adivce that I have blogged about before...IM TELLIN' YA....
You MUST meet Chloe at tryin' to throw my arms around the world.  I met this sweet lady via blog-hopping (this term I have learned not to use in non-blogger circles, haha.  They just don't know of this world, they just don't know), and have been hooked. :)  This girl has a wonderful sense of humor, sense of style, and sense of all things important in the life God has given us.  AND she posts some sweet stuff about her law-student-husband...if Mr. J doesn't read her blog, someone needs to give him a heads up when she posts those awesome things about being his lady...which is just about everytime she writes. :)

DEMAND
You.
Yes you, reading this right now.
Go to Chloe's blog, because she's doing a giveaway--for a CUTE resuable bag (I heart cute bags--I'm actually going to blog about cute bags in the near future), and a gift card to one of my favorite places.  So go follow her (because you won't be sorry) and comment, letting her know that I sent you to be a follower.  Then YOU (yes you!) and MUAH will get an extra entry in her giveaway.  If you're one of my male-readers/followers, don't let the pretty bag stop you...I'm sure you have a special lady (wife/daughter/sister/mom/girlfriend) that needs a pretty reusable bag...just sayin. :)

THANK YOU
Aforementioned sweet-friend-Chloe also gave me the Beautiful Blogger award. :)  So you can thank her too, cause she's given us all hope that Jen will return to the blogosphere.
So thank you dear sis-in-Christ...I sure hope I get to meet you on this side of heaven. :)

APOLOGY
And I'm sorry I've been such a stranger--in comments and posts. I've been keeping up with everyone's blogging, and I LOVE all of it.  I'm just sorry I don't let you know faithfully. :(  Thanks to youth group, school, Africa preparation, family...Jen's brain is out-of-commission most of the time.  Ahem.

But stay tuned...I have much to share and I cannot wait to clack it out here.
Love, Jen

(GO SEE CHLOE'S GIVEAWAY...follow and comment. Kthxbi) :D

Ohmygoodness: JenCode for backed-up-blog. We're gonna need Blogger Drain-O after this.

Tuesday 1. Bible study with my prettymuchamazing college group--on the book of Malachi & empty religion (wonderful study, btw!).  This is the place where Jen dominates at Apples to Apples...a fantastic rare thing, indeed. :)

2. Stay the night with these two wonderful ladies: Ashley & Andrea...

My Bulgarian placebo sisters.  We were triplets in the spiritual womb and no one knew it. :)

Wednesday
3.  Andrea, Ashley & Jen motor to a Children's Home where we will help with any indoor/outdoor work they need accomplished.  That evening, we will hang out with the kids/teens there--have a devotional, worship and games.  Please pray for us--this is kind of our "spring break mission trip", and we hope to be a blessing to the kids there.  It's not about us...it's about our Savior and our "faith expressing itself through His love" (Gal. 5:6).

Thursday

4.  Go shopping for similar outfit to this.  Only without the cute lab coat.  Rebekah (my cousin and fellow future nursing student) and I went shopping for scrubs yesterday.  She made me laugh because our scrubs for class have to be white.  Yes, plain white.  No cute designer scrub-tops here (did you know they actually have name brand scrubs?!  Like Grey's Anatomy scrubs?  No joke).

And Rebekah figured we looked more like we're from the psych ward than cute nurses.  Ha, you never know. :)

Friday

5.  Pack up the cool cats on my sidebar: SWAT--and head to Nashville, TN for the weekend.  We are blessed to be able to go to Acquire the Fire for the second time, and we're looking forward to what God has for us.  It's like mini-Passion for high school/pre-college students.  Again, pray for us--I'm praying sincerely that the students are incredibly and imperishably (which means is lasts forever!) by Who their God is. :)

Saturday & Sunday

6. Return from Nashville and crash.

Monday

7. Nursing classes commence.

See what I mean by ohmygoodness?  I will be backed-up on posts, and unable to vent them until next week when I can sit down and breathe once again. :)  Blogging friends, prepare for battle.  You'll need your infectous blogging-bug sneezes and some Blogger Drain-O.

Wordless [notsomuch] Wednesday

I know this isn't a real blog post...BUT...I couldn't help sharing the goods of today...

The neighbor called at 7:30am, so patiently telling us that our horses were in her field.

They come back to the barn, and we realize we're missing one--the old one.

Worriedly we start searching. Far and wide. We searched her Field#1, the wheat field, and on our way to yet another one, we pass this long double row of round bales.

It's not everyday you look at bales closely...

...but it's a good thing I saw his ears just over the top. :D

Oh, we laughed.  And laughed.  AND laughed at the poor old man.

He was probably a tad ashamed.

He probably thought he was in hay heaven.

Only it wasn't heaven enough to want to be stuck there for all eternity, you know?

He couldn't turn around, so we had to make him walk backwards for about 100ft or so. 

It wasn't fun a'tall.

I have to say, the sight was almost worth the searching, pushing, coaxing and fence reparing.

Almost.

Thursdee...My Dagobah Swamptini & Me

Say hello to my breakfast everyday this week. :) Only in liquid form!

I have been searching juicer recipes that have specific purposes...ie, detox, skin, fasting, etc.
Did you know there are recipes for natural gallstone removal? What you probably don't want to know is it involves drinking a cup of olive oil in a day. Sounds great. :D

I kinda wanted to do something healthy after the Thanksgiving festivities...AND it gave me a good excuse to get my Dad's handy fruit-veggie juicer out of storage. I imagine, being in the nutritional field and all, it was one of those things he "had to have!". But to Mom's chagrin, it ended up on the tallest shelf of the tallest kitchen cabinet. Such is life.

This recipe is a skin cleanse:
1 cucumber
1 bunch of parsley (I used half)
1 4 oz. box of alfalfa sprouts (I used a little under half)
1 or 2 springs of mint
Water

and because I didn't like the sound of liquid roughage...I added an apple and half a lemon.Ta Da! I call it....The Dagobah Swamptini...in honor of my brothers Justin, Daniel C. & Alex (the latter two, in Christ/adopted) and their love for all things Star Wars. What made me think of a Star Wars beverage was the blue stuff Luke Skywalker drank in A New Hope...remember? As a child, I always thought that looked tasty. Probably alot better than my green stuff.

--end of complete SW nerd moment--

Don't be fooled by the picture. I just thought the glass and sprig of parsley would make it pretty. But that's only 4 of the 8 oz. I drank...yum!

I must say I will not be posting before and after pictures of my skin and what this strange potion will do to it. 1) Because my face skin does, indeed, look horrid. And 2) there just may NOT be an after picture to make it all better.

happysunshinythursday,

Jen

I've been Sugar Doll-ed!

Sweet Mrs. Chloe at trying to throw my arms around the world... gave me my first ever blogger award...isn't she sweet?? I'm so excited! I never thought I would be given one of these because I don't have a great blog following, I don't post very often, and I don't blog-hop as much as I would like. It's neat how on the world (didja catch that, the WHOLE WIDE WORLD) wide web, you can meet kindred spirits. You would love Chloe's posts--her sense of humor and perspective on her daily-to-do's brighten my day...stop by and see her sometime.

What I am to do is post 10 things about myself, and award my favorite bloggers. :) I'm having a hard time thinking of things to write, so it may be COMPLETELY random, but real...which I believe is the nature of it anywho. :) Here it goes:

1) Something I enjoy: Anne of Green Gables. I read some of the books growing up (I would love to finish that series sometime), and watched the movies in my early teen years. Those movies still make me laugh and cry! They are squeaky-clean too, which is rare these days. I recently watched them again, and I've found that I'm alot like Anne in the way I perceive and respond to things. Don't know if that's good or bad...especially in the love-life department, ahem.

2) Something that changed my life: Central Mexico. When I was young, I begged God to never make me a missionary (thanks to persecution/martyrdom stories). As I've gotten older, I've been drawn to it. I was able to go to Mexico for my first mission trip last year and it changed me in this way...we are called to one mission field: wherever our feet are. Whether it is here in my hometown/workplace/school, or on foreign soil, my heart for mission work should be based on my heart-in-love with Jesus Christ and sharing Him. :) God opens doors and nudges us here and there, but I don't think the "heart" of it should change with geography. :)

3) Something I find funny: my 5 year old sister Jaelyn (see pic from previous post). I wish you could meet her! She is positively hilarious. She is a drama queen and her sarcasm capacity grows by the day. I could write a book on the many funny things she says!

4) Something I want: I would really like to be married and have little ones one day. I would like to make a home, and have my own kitchen. I would even want the fires and tears that come with all this.

5) Something I confess: I sometimes struggle with #4. Thanks to my gracious, gracious, gracious God, I've never fallen into "the depths of despair" (aforementioned Anne quote). And because of that grace, I may tend to have a "mask" that says I don't struggle in this department. But my friend, I do indeed. I've had my heart broken. And my hopes deferred. Then again. And yet again. I am so happy at home, and content with where the Lord has me. But I confess, while I try my hardest to be strong and remember my God is in control, once in awhile, there comes a day to cry about this. :) Maybe I'm just a woman that way. His grace is sufficient for me (and for you).

6) Something that rocks my socks: the students in our youth group. I never would have thought I would be able to work with teenagers and keep my sanity and most of my hair. But they make me laugh. They are patient with my insufficiencies. They help me remember the important things--about God and life--and teach me more than I could ever teach them. I wish you could meet Levi, or talk to AJ and Jessi. I wish you could play Star Wars Trivial Pursuit with Alex. I wish you could be prayed for by Tekoa. I wish your day could be brightened by Missy, or be encouraged by Emily.
There's many MORE of them, and they all would rock your socks too. :)

7) Something that confuses people: I am a living paradox, let me tell you.
--I thrive on organization; it comes with being the eldest child, and a woman. My desk and it's contents are an absolute mess at the moment.
--I think things through. I am incredibly spontaneous.
--I would love to fellowship (or "church") in homes/spontaneously, rather than in church buildings. Yet the Lord has led me to fellowship/serve at a church in my hometown.
--I would love to be married. I have considered celebacy too.
--I share my opinions. I strongly dislike, and avoid, controversy.
--I'm on top of things. I tend to do things last minute.
Stuff like that, ya know?

8) Something that makes me so happy: early mornings, just before the sun rises. Everywhere, there are people awake and buzzing. Animals have been out and about long before you. But that stillness...indescribable. The air, the soundlessness, the sunrise...it's quietly liberating. :)

9) Something that I currently find positively amazing: a combination of the Holy Spirit and the book of Romans. The world can have this world. Please, just give me Christ. Check them out, you will love them both.

10) Something I'm thankful for: for you, dear friend. :) I can't believe you made it through this ramble of rambleness. Wellgeethanks for bearing with me.

I award:

Jen at Ranch Girl Diaries

Ash at once upon a dreamer...

Angie at From Center to Circumference

M at Musings of a Ranch Wife

I would award Chloe

or

LeAnna at Thoughts n Whatnots

but they have been awarded. :)

Wordless [notreally] Wednesday

The weekend was kinda rough.
Monday was rough. Tuesday got a little better. The run this morning was good...but rough. :)
And then I stumbled across this...

"When I said, "My foot is slipping," your love, O LORD, supported me.
When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my
soul." Psalm 94:18-19

[Happy Veteran's Day]

Monday. It Begins.

Winter sport pants........$10 (Kohl's sale!)

Size-8 Women's Running Pumas.....$78

iPod Shuffle.......Free (a gift, those are the best)

Old Navy Hoodie that miraculously matches aforementioned Kohl's pants...free from bag of clothes

5k training schedule...free, thank you Chloe...and world wide web.

Early morning 5k training run in God's creation to God's-creation-themed David Crowder....PRICELESS.

So, I really like certain things. Things like staying under warm covers on fall mornings (the season doesn't really matter in the scheme of things).
Under the covers anytime before 7:30 is bliss. Bliss is this wonderness.
I like other things like running...running to the barn. Running to the mailbox. But I'm usually dying a little when I run those distances. Embarrassing fact.
So in light of my love for running, I decided to take up the art beginning this morning, and get better at it. Regardless of the hard work, it comes with some pretty nice-sounding benefits. :)
And in light of my love for under-the-coversness...this is how my 1st morning went.

I awoke...to sunrise? Wait. I set my cellphone alarm for 6am. It's not this bright at 6.
The cellphone won't power up. Ugh. Dead battery.
Hmm...yawn...maybe I'm not supposed to go on my run today.
--pulls covers to chin and turns over--
Ugh. Starting over on an un-Monday would really stink.
I get up and walk across the room to Phelisha's phone and see what time it is. 7am.
My plan was to go back to bed, but I'm glad I didn't.

It was a beautiful morning...and "O Praise Him" and "There Is No One Like You" make good running songs on such a morning. They say the 1st couple weeks are the hardest, but I'm impressed with Day One.
The motto for this stuff is "Don't push yourself too hard"...I can handle that. :)