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.!

Easter: that kind of holiday where you dress a little nicer for Easter Sunday at your church, and then spend the rest of the day eating and visiting with family and/or friends.  Over all, an enjoyable day in, most likely, pleasant atmospheres, with chocolate, bright, colorful Easter eggs filled with candy, and fluffy bunnies and cute and cuddly chicks.  Yes, you get to the end of the day, slightly stuffed from all that good food and candy, but also filled with memories of good times and friends and family.  Yes...the dream Easter!
Now imagine, for a moment, an Easter void of all things Easter.  Imagine sleeping in, having a late breakfast of bacon, eggs and pancakes, singing a couple of "non-Easter" songs, listening to a sermon on adoption, playing hide-and-go-seek, eating pizza for lunch, playing board games, watching movies, and taking walks in the rain for the rest of the day, and you have...
...my Easter!  The reason for this horrendous outrage? :)  Rain.  Yep!  Rain.  Oh, and a creek that, when filled with rain, is impassible unless you have some form of helicopter, airplane, or hot air balloon.
"But, am I upset?  No!  Well...maybe a little..."  But, I'm not trying to complain or anything.  Actually, there were a couple of Easter things during the course of the day.  For instance, I found Mom's "hidden" stash of Hershey chocolate kisses, and there were some chickens outside (well, they were wet...and not really cute and cuddly...but...they WERE there :).  And, we played hide-and-go-seek!  ...which I guess is a form of an Easter egg hunt...
Anyway, it turned out to be a nice, relaxing day at home.  Not your typical Easter, but still nice!
Hope you all had great Easters!!

Once again, my sister rises to the occasion!  And, along with the help of some of my brother's accessories, we were able to put Faith into a band! :)

This is a little friend of mine, and I thought these pictures were too cute not to share! :)

Winter Jam this year was really fun!  We got pretty close seats on the side of the stage.  In addition to this, Faith ended up winning a chance to get really close and record Francesca Battestelli singing "This Is the Stuff."  She got to bring a guest (me!!), so we both got to watch Newsong, and the first two songs by Francesca Battestelli from this excellent view!  We both also got real "VIP all access" passes!!! :)  And we got a small tour of backstage where all the bands were hanging out!  We even saw members of some of the bands while we were back there!!  Anyway, it was REALLY cool!!!! :)

Our deepest fear

Hey!  Sorry I haven't posted in a while!  Things have been kind of busy!  There was a really cool quote that I found recently.  Some of you might recognize it from "Akeelah and the Bee."

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.  Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.  It is our light, not our darkness that frightens us most.  We ask ourselves, "Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and famous?"  Actually, who are you not to be?  You are a child of God.  Your playing small does not serve the world.  There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that people won't feel insecure around you.  We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.  It's not just in some of us; it's in all of us.  And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.  As we are liberated from our own fears, our presence automatically liberates others."

My sister Faith is so compliant when it comes to me taking pictures!!

I hadn't posted in a while, so I thought I'd put some pictures on that I thought were kind of neat.

Not really sure what she's supposed to be doing or looking like in these, so maybe some of you have some creative ideas.  I'd love to hear them! :)

No idea what I'm supposed to be doing there...anybody got ideas?

Excellent picture that my friend Rene took!

Sometimes accidental pictures turn out the coolest!

Occasionally, the Lord will remind me how short life is, how serious it is, and how quickly it can end.  On the way home from Bible study tonight, I had such a realization.  It dawned on me that at any moment, we could get into a head-on collision and all lose our lives.  Or, for some reason, I suddenly could stop breathing, or my heart could just stop beating.  Then I started thinking of my life, what I had done, and the way I had lived.  Would I be able to say that I had lived a good life?  That I had accomplished much good?  And, most importantly, would I be able to say that I glorified God in everything that I did?  Would I be able to honestly say that I hadn't wasted my life?  Unfortunately, sitting there in the car, I could answer none of these questions with a "yes."  Any moment my life could end, and I wasn't ready for it.  There is nothing more sobering than the thought that you might die without having made a difference in the world.  I'm not trying to make anyone depressed or anything, but I think it's important that we keep in mind that this could be our last day, our last hour, or even our last moment.  So, instead of, like most people, ignoring death because it's scary, I've chosen to be different and always remind myself to live like I'm dying.

We went to an Addison road concert last Thursday.  It was really cool, and we got to get a picture with the lead singer!

Me, Jenny (the lead singer) and Faith

Faith, me, Alexis, and Dad

An igloo we made before the recent snow melted

My CUTE dog Sashi :)

My song writing crisis

Anyone who has ever been in a song writing crisis can understand the predicament I am often in.  It seems that one comes up with incredible words that fit absolutely no tune on the face of this earth; or one comes up with the most splendid tune imaginable, but that will allow no words to mar it's glory.  This leaves endless piles of half-finished words and songs.  I'm usually stuck with words and no music, as opposed to music and no words.  How to conquer this terrible situation?  Perhaps a rap?  Those don't use any melodies, do they?  Okay, never mind about that.  Honestly, I have no idea how to solve this unavoidable problem.  If anyone has suggestions that might even remotely benefit me, please share!  I am in dire need of assistance!

Peer Pressure

Hey!  So I was thinking how much peer pressure influences people today.  We're constantly told what we should wear, how we should talk, who we should hang out with, and even what we should like!  Basically, we're told who we should be.  Doesn't that seem a little confusing?  Why are other people telling us who we should be?  Even ignoring the confusion it causes, this practice has pretty bad effects.  When one girl hangs out with another girl, don't they start acting the same and talking the same?  If you think that can be frustrating, imagine it hundreds of times worse!  Pretty soon, all originality is completely gone, and you are left with a bunch of "normal," boring, un-original, yet "perfect" girls.  In addition to this, most of those girls are frustrated.  No one's perfect, yet they set that standard for themselves.  They try and try to be the "perfect" girl, and, inevitably, they fail.  Peer pressure tells them that they need to set an unattainable standard, and then it defeats them when they fail to reach it.
So, the solution?  Get rid of all your friends?  Live a completely secluded life like an old hermit?  No!  If you have good friends, they're not the problem.  The problem is that girls are so scared of what others think.  Just be yourself!  If you like a shirt that is completely wack and out-of-style, wear it-and have fun wearing it!  So what if other girls think you're weird or laugh at you?  At least you're being you.
Anyway, that's my view on it. :)

Mike's Chair

Faith and I with Mike's Chair at the Joy fm Birthday Bash

The Three of Us

My sister, Faith, my brother, David, and me

Me!!!

Me!

Ten ways I "Do it Different."

Here's a list of ten ways I "Do it Different."
1. I try to follow God and give him glory in all that I say and do.
2. I'm 15, and so far, have never dated a boy.
3. I've never kissed a guy (outside of my family).
4. I try to dress modestly to prevent anyone from being uncomfortable around me.
5. My brother and my sister are honestly my best friends.
...and on a lighter note
6. I like eating ice cream with a fork or chopsticks (whichever is more conviniently located).
7. I never go out with my hair completely down (it gets in my way).
8. I've named my computer and alarm clock and tell them goodnight (when I remember).
9. I like taking pictures of shoes.
10. I eat peanut butter ALL THE TIME!!!

CAUTION:  These are subject to change with time :)
ATTENTION:  I'd love to hear some of your "Do it Different"s!  Please comment and share!

What is "Do it Different"?

To me, "Do it Different" means having the freedom and courage to be different.  It means relishing in your idiosyncrasies, and quirks, because that's how God made you.  Of course, I realize that there are bad ways to "Do it Different," like being gay, or walking down your neighborhood street every Sunday and shooting old ladies with a bb gun.  There are also dangerous ways to "Do it Different," like crossing a street without looking both ways, or hanging on to an elephant's trunk while your friend pulls its tail.  I'm not talking about being different in dangerous or wrong ways.  I'm talking about being different because that's who you are.  Don't let friends, peer pressure, or anyone else tell you who you are or should be.  I'm tired of trying to be like everyone else.  So I've chosen to "Do it Different."