I know that everyone has probably heard the phrase "Everybody hurts." When I first heard that phrase my thoughts were along the lines of "Duh, of course they do." This phrase has begun to mean more to me over the years. I've always struggled with self-image, how I look, if people like me or not, and other things like that. I've begun to realize more and more that every girl struggles with these things. Even the most beautiful, talented, popular girls struggle with thoughts like "You're not pretty enough," "You need to lose some weight," or "You'll never be as good as that person." No, this might not be real, physical pain, but it hurts just the same. Thoughts like these so easily take over our minds and many times, our lives. It's helped me so much to know that I'm not left alone to try and overcome these thoughts by myself. This phrase reminds me that there are people out there that know what I'm going through and can understand and help me. But I don't think this simple phrase should stop after "Everybody hurts." Because there's something that can help me more than a million people. I can always turn to God. I forget so often that God is always there for me and He can do even "more abundantly than we could ever ask." But it's true; He is there and He will help. So perhaps instead of just "Everybody hurts," this phrase should instead read something like "Everybody hurts, and God will heal hurt."

Exciting!!!

Exciting news!!!  So, some of you know how much I enjoy acting. Although I enjoy it so much, I haven't had a whole lot of opportunities to try out or participate in plays and musicals, other than church productions. I tried out for our community play recently, and got a part!!!  Or rather, I should say THE part. There are four people in this play, only one of which is played by a female, and I got it! I will be playing three or four roles myself in the production "39 steps." I'm really excited!!!!!  I get to be in a play!!!  Not only that, but I'm one of four people in it!!!!! I know I'm going to be really nervous, but I have until the beginning of September, so hopefully I'll be ready.  Wish me luck!!! :)

Hey everyone!!!!
I know I haven't posted anything in a while, but I assure you that I am still alive and well.
I started college last week, and I've actually been enjoying most of it.  The homework is pretty time consuming, but the classes are fairly easy.
I also started working at McDonalds a couple weeks ago.  I know a lot of the people I work with, and I've learned my job pretty quickly, so it's been fun!
So, between classes, homework and a job, I've been keeping pretty busy.
I hope all of you have been doing well!
-Jen

Don't Waste Your Life

Recently a lot's been going on in my life.  As I've found myself growing up some, I've been faced with fear, confusion and decisions.  I haven't really stopped to think about it all, and then I did.  I found myself on a path I had set; a path that I wanted to follow.  I hadn't been seeking God like I should.  I hadn't been asking Him what His will was for my life.  I started looking, searching for Him and what He wanted for my life.  I started reading parts of "Don't Waste Your Life" by John Piper, and realized that I was going through my life with a "whatever" attitude.  I've been living a lazy, self-centered life, completely blinded to others and what's going on around me.  Let's just say that I've had a wake-up call.  While I've been sitting at home doing nothing, people have been risking their lives to spread Christ.  While I've been wasting time on face book and the internet, there are people who are dying for Christ.  When I step back and look at my life I have to ask "What exactly have I been doing with my life?"  God gave me this life to use to glorify Him and further His kingdom, and I've used it for myself!  I've been ignoring my Creator and Provider who gave me this life.  I mean, He's always gonna be there, right?  He wasn't top priority in my life, because I knew He's always there.  I've been too comfortable in my Christian life.  What if I died tomorrow??  What if I died today??  If someone asked if I had wasted my life, I would have to honestly answer them that yes, I have.  That's something that's really hard to own up to, but until I was able to own up to that, I couldn't do anything to change it.  I want people to look at me and see Christ.  I want to further His kingdom in any way I can.  I don't want to get to the end of my life and realize I've wasted it.  So, I'm going to do something about it.  With God's help I'm going to change the way I live.  I want to wake up every morning and my first thought to be "What can I do for Christ today?"  It's going to be hard, but Christ is worth it.  So just think.  Have you made the same mistake I have?  Are you wasting your life?

Wow!!  So much has happened in the past month!!  I turned 16 the first of November, and took my driving test.  I ended up failing, but took it a couple days later and passed!!  I'm now legally allowed to be a road hazard!! lol...just kidding :)  I also enrolled in classes October 31st, so in January I'll be keeping up with 13 hours of classes at Jefferson College.  In addition to these things, I'm looking for a job.  Something's gotta pay for all that I guess!  Anyway, that's what's up in my life! :)

It's kind of hard to see, but this is a link to a song that I've been listening to recently...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orc4TuIO56s

This song is from the Veggietales "Sweetpea Beauty."  I've never seen the movie, but I really like this song!!  It's such a great reminder of who we are in Christ, and who he's made us to be.  We shouldn't get so caught up in outward apperances or what others think, because the only thing that matters is who we are inside and who God sees us as.  I hope you enjoy this song! :)

I can't believe how much I've been blessed!!!  My life just keeps overflowing with blessings from the Lord, and I'm just so thankful for it.  In the past year He's done so much in my life and the lives of those around me.  He's blessed with some amazing, close friends, He's blessed me with health and protection, He's blessed me with so many reasons to enjoy life, and He's blessed me by always being there for me.  He never leaves, no matter what I do or how much I ignore Him when I get caught up in things of this life.  Thank you, Lord, for being the perfect Father and friend...

annual barn bash/chilli mixer

Winners of the scarecrow making contest

Face painting...I think this is going to be a dragon

Hey!! I know I haven't been on in a while-sorry!-but I wanted to share some pics from the latest sleep over/birthday celebration :)

Lol...cute!! :) 

And...*drum roll* we managed to not fall over!! :) 

Ummm... :) 

Power puff girl board game!! :) 

 

Picture time!! :) 

Our excellent, personal tour guide/fudge sample server :) 

Yes...we have a plan! :)

Wisdom teeth!!

Yes, I am now officially without wisdom!  Which, at this point, is a good thing!!  It only took about 15 minutes to remove all four of my wisdom teeth, and a few hours to recover from the drugs they gave me :) lol.  My brother had his out with me, so it was kinda fun sitting around and laughing at each other!  Anyway, so now I have two excuses for when I don't get something...I'm a blonde in disguise, and I no longer have my wisdom teeth!  I'll try and post a video of me all drugged up if I can get it from my bro :)  Anyway, tootles!! <3
Jen :)

Hey!!  Sorry everyone I haven't posted in a pretty long time.  Let's just say that things have been crazily slow...if you kind of know what I mean.  So, other than the normal things of life, a couple things have been going on.  We're currently in the process of building a bridge that will span our creek, making it possible to cross in high water, and (may I add) make it possible to get a really cute car and drive it all the way up to the house to spare those cute shoes the toil of walking down to the creek, across it, and to the cute car.  Yes, I think these things through :)
I'm also still sort of getting back to normal life in the U.S., but I think I'm almost there.  In addition, still trying to settle in with the new kids and find the new normal for us.  It's slow going, but I think it's still going.
Batman (our newest addition to the family-a kitten) is absolutely adorable and loves playing with Sashi, who is as cute as ever!
I'll be heading to Bates Creek next week.  It will be a new experience but should be a lot of fun.
So, that's what's happening with me right now...not a whole lot-or it doesn't seem like a whole lot-but things will probably speed up soon, so I'm trying to find the pleasures in the slowness of life.
Toodles!!
Jen :)

Honduras

The ultimate game in Honduras...well...the table size version :)

Me, Jeremias, Maxs, and Elmer

Puppies!!!!! :)

This is Cindy with the adorables :)

We have safely arrived in Honduras!!  The flight went pretty well and there weren't any delays, so that's good.  I found a special surprise when I arrived here...6 puppies!!!!  Most of them are really sweet and adore attention!!  And they're so cute!!!  So, I've been entertained! :)  I've also gotten to help out some at the school with various odd jobs and stuff.  Anyway, other than that not a whole lot's been happening.
I'll try to keep everyone up-dated, and I'll try and take some pics :)
Ttyl!!
Jen

Hey everyone!!!
Some of you might already know this, but me and my Mom are heading back to Honduras Tuesday!  We'll be helping out at a Christian school up in the mountains like we did last time.  We'll be there for about ten days, so, if all goes well, we should be back next Thursday.  It will be really weird and cool to be over there again, but prayers are appreciated!
Anyway, just wanted to let you guys know that.  I'll try to get on my computer a couple times while I'm over there, but the wifi at the school is very moody, so we'll see :)
Hasta La Vista!!! :)

Okay, so here's a pic from the graduation...

Hi everyone!!!  Sorry it's taken me so long to post something.  Life's been kinda crazy!!  Anyway, we got back from a trip to Florida Tuesday morning (like 12:00 a.m.).  We had a great time going to my cousin's high school graduation, visiting with family, and spending some time at Disney.  This past week has just been filled with the normal busy things of our lives, which seem to be getting increasingly busier :)  Yesterday Mom and Dad went to pick up the kids we're adopting for good, so now they are part of our family and lives.  It will take some adjusting, but it'll be good :)  Faith and I took the ACT today, and that went pretty well...I think... :)  I guess we'll find out in a couple months.
Anyway, I'll try to get better about keeping everyone posted on current events! :)
Ttyl!! :)
Jen

These are the kids we're adopting:  Donovan is almost 5, Madison is almost 8, and Destanie is 9

All of us, them included, are excited! :)

Prom pics

I had the opportunity to take Senior prom pictures for David and Lauren, so I decided to share some of my favorites...hope you like them! :)

Adoption

Hello!  Some of you know that we've been looking into adoption for the past year or so.  Less of you know that my parents actually got called for a staffing in Springfield yesterday.  Basically, a staffing is an interrogation (just kidding :) of the possible parents to determine the right fit for the kids.  Well, Mom and Dad got a call today asking if we'd like to be a forever family to this sibling group of three!!  It's official!!  We are adopting!  We've been praying for stuff to happen for a long time, and now we're just so grateful to God that it has!  Yippee!!  I'll try to post a photo when I can.  There's one on my parent's facebook, though, for those of you who have that :)
The ages are: Destanie is 9; Madison is almost 8; and Donovan is almost 5.

Our brother had been stuck out the whole time we were stuck in.  He finally had to come by to get some extra clothes, cell phone charger, work uniform, and other stuff like that.  Dad crossed the creek to bring him these things (it was one of the first times we could actually walk across without ending up down-stream), but I guess he really wanted to get home or something :) Anyway, our family reunion ended in everyone (except Mom, and technically Dad-he had the waders on) getting wet.!