Some Food for Thought

I'm tired, and not in much a mood for blogging tonight. Plus, I need to get some sleep because it snowed all day today and tomorrow the skiing is going to be great. So, to make up for my lack of blogging, here are two things you should check out:

1. Brett's blog, which contains a story from ESPN that Nic has also Twittered about. It's a pretty cool and inspiring story. You can read it here.

2. A video posted on Stuff Christian's Like. About 2 minutes in Pen from Pen & Teller has some pretty cool things to say about why Christians should share their faith. Its only about a 5 minute video, so you should watch it. Check it out here.

Hope Everyone Has a Good Christmas!
Jenna

My Experience As a Snowboarder

In case you just started reading today, or missed the blog I wrote yesterday, I tried snowboarding for the first time today. It was a very interesting experience.

Martina and I had lessons this morning with a very nice snowboarding instructor named Trevor. On a completely unrelated side note, he is a kite boarding instructor in North Carolina for most of the year and then comes to Colorado to teach snowboarding in the winter months. Extremely cool life right?

Anyways, the lessons went decently well. I had fun and I learned a lot, but in the beginning I needed a lot of help. Snowboarding is really hard to pick up! I did, however, finally get the hang of it towards the end.

Unfortunately, all I really have to show for it is two huge bruises on my knees from stopping and falling toe side so much. That's right, I said toe side, like a real snowboarder. Pretty soon, I'll be saying things like ride, and grind, and half pipe.

Regardless, I have decided that I enjoy skiing much more, so I traded my board in for skis. I really want to get some ski time in with Ally and enjoy my trip to the fullest. Maybe one day I'll try snowboarding again, but for now, at least I can cross it off my list of things to do before I die.

In other news, I read the first five chapters of Crazy Love today. It is so good! Good in a way that it isn't full of deep, never thought of before things, but rather good in a way that Frances Chan writes things that you knew all along in the back of your head, but never really thought about in the forefront of your mind, or in the way he puts them for that matter. Does that make sense? I don't know, but its good.

I read it in the bathtub today, making note taking difficult. But I promise, notes are coming soon.

Had a Rad Day Shredding It on the Slopes (more snowboarding talk I picked up),
Jenna

Things You Learn On a Long Car Trip

Yesterday morning at 8 o'clock in the morning, my family and I left to go to Colorado. We spent the night yesterday in Salina, Kansas got up at 7 and drove today until we finally arrived in Winter Park, Colorado at 4. In case you're counting, that's 21 hours on the road, that's with stops though. Its actually only a 16 hour drive. Here are some updates from the car trip.

1. Apparently, I dominate at the Peg Board game.



The whole point of the game is to jump over pegs, removing them from the board, until there is only one left. I was the only one able to complete it. My dad tells me my great grandpa could pick out which peg he was going to leave on the board and still finish the puzzle. I am going to practice until I can do that too. Then, we can add it to the list of "Things I'm Good at That in No Way to Contribute to Society or My Life in Any Way."

In case you're wondering, that list doesn't really exist. But it could if I sat down and took the time to make one. List making could also be on that list now that I think about it.

2. I am extremely good at fitting into tiny spaces. I volunteered to take the back seat so I could sleep, not knowing that the back seat would be half full with luggage. If I was literally an inch wider, taller, or longer, I would not have been able to fit in this space. But I did it, for 16 hours. All I really have to show for this talent is some cramped muscles and a bruise on my butt for sitting in one position for so long, but at least I survived.

3. I am able to sleep in any circumstance.

I was already acutely aware of this talent given that I have slept on a tile floor, in desks, sitting straight up, small couches in the library, etc. But, I was able to sleep in such a tiny space for almost the entire trip, so I think its safe to say that this talent in confirmed.

4. My sister is an amazing source of useless facts. Today she new all the tallest mountains in the world and the US and their locations. In addition, she shared with us that 70% of the people in Japan live on 10% of the land or something like that. Please don't quote that fact, as I probably got it completely wrong. The point is, if I'm ever on Who Want to Be a Millionaire, she'll be my phone a friend, and she should be yours too.

5. I add Crazy Love my Frances Chan to my book rotation. I'm only through the intro and I already really like it. Be looking forward to some quotes and thoughts.

6. I found out today that I got a 4.0 this semester. I'm not really that excited about it, because I don't feel like I did anything to deserve it. Praise God that He helped me get through it successfully. Next semester is my final semester in the classroom, and I solemnly swear that I will put in more effort and try harder.

7. Tomorrow I am trying snowboarding for the first time. I have gone skiing probably 8 or 9 times over the last 10 years, and every year, I say I'm going to try it and I never do. This year, Martina wants to try snowboarding too, so I told her I would go to lessons with her tomorrow morning. I'm pretty nervous about it, so we'll see how it goes. Hopefully I don't break anything. Keep your fingers crossed!

Hoping I don't pull a Sonny Bono,
Jenna

My Life in Bullet Form

Here are some updates on my life that you might or might not care about. Feel free to read if it so moves you:

1. I finished finals yesterday. I only have one semester left in the classroom. I don't know how I'm going to get through it. I am so very over school. I studied approximately ten minutes for all four finals. I did really well on the first couple without studying, but I probably failed the last one, and I can't even make myself care about doing good or bad. I know I sound like a whiny baby. I know I am supposed to be grateful for the opportunity to go to school. I know I am supposed to thank God for the intelligence that allows me to do what I am doing, and for a great career field, and a job I enjoy. I know I am supposed to be thankful for the opportunity to finish a Masters and Bachelors degree in half the time that most people do it, but right now, I'm not. I've tried bribing myself, I've tried convincing myself, I've tried lying to myself, I've tried faking it. Maybe the break will give me a better attitude.

2. My dog A.J. died today. We've had him since I was 7. He was old and blind and had had a stroke, so its for the best, but still sad.
Also today I have to give Bella to Amber so she can watch Bella while my family and I go skiing. I'm really going to miss her. Today is a sad day in the area of dogs for me.

P.S. Amber, thanks for watching Bella, you're the best!

3. I realized that I have left some lose ends on my blog. A few posts ago, I asked everyone to pick my 5 favorite songs off the Taylor Swift album. They are as follows:
1. Fifteen
2. White Horse
3. You're Not Sorry
4. The Way I Loved You
5. Forever & Always

Congrats to JMob and Foster, who, in a joint effort guess all five. Unfortunately, you only get a part of the blog dedicated to you, instead of the whole thing, but you guys are still awesome!

4. I also forgot to tell you guys about the tattoo I am considering. I want to get a ring tattoo on my left ring finger of the verse Psalm 45:10-13. It's inspired from the Perry Noble message that I wrote about here.

One problem with the tattoo? I'm afraid people will see it and think I'm hip and modern and its a wedding ring and I'm already married. Hopefully my nerdy appearance will convince them otherwise. Feel free to share your thoughts, comments, and concerns. Actually, I'm begging you, tell me what you think.

5. Recently, JMob, and someone else, although I don't remember who, posted this website called Iamsecond on their blogs. Since I stole this from JMob, I feel as though I should give him some credit. You can get to his blog here. Check out the blog from today, it has a really cool quote on it.

Anyways, back to the subject at hand. I have been watching videos every once in a while on this website and I feel like you should watch them because they are really cool. This one right here is my favorite so far (click the here, in case you didn't catch that). It made me cry. I havn't had a chance to watch all of them yet though. Which ones are your favorites?

6. Finally, I am in need of some prayer. I am playing around with the idea of doing something really cool and life changing and big for the Kingdom over the summer. It's also something really scary. I don't want to tell you about it yet and jinx it, but be praying that God will show me what He wants me to do and that the doors down the path I should take will be open.

Also, I am still trying to sell those Cowboys tickets I bought. The game is on Saturday, so some prayer is definitely needed!

Enjoying the first day of Christmas break,
Jenna

Today was a Great Day!

Today is a great day for many reasons:

1. Today is the day of David's birth, so tell him happy birthday. I am very blessed to have you as a friend David, so way to be born!

2. No kids showed up at work today, so I got paid for driving to the church and back home. Excellent.

3. Last night, it snowed, and it really isn't the holiday season without snow.

4. Last night, I wore flannel pjs and slept with my electric blanket. Both of these things make me uber happy.

5. Today, I told my 8 o'clock class teacher that I couldn't come because there was still ice on the road at 6:30. Then, my teacher's for my 11 o'clock and 1 o'clock classes told me not to worry about driving down because speakers canceled and such. So, I got to skip class, without be charged for skipping. Its even better than the snow day I was hoping for because everyone else in my class had to go to school and I didn't. Suckers.

6. Haley bought Bella a sweater because when she goes to the bathroom she shivers and it is a really cute sweater.

7. Tomorrow I don't have to go to school until ten, and it is my last day of classes for the semester.

8. Everyone is on their way over to play Mexican train, so it is guaranteed to be a good night.

9. Finally, I recently discovered that Meredith has been secretly reading my blog. Dear Meredith,
This is not creepy and I appreciate all the nice things you said. I have also added you to my blog subscriptions. I'm glad my rambles bring you some joy.
Much Love,
Jenna

Also, this realization has left me wondering, who else secretly reads my blog? Consider this your opportunity to come clean and tell me. I won't think your creepy or anything. Of course, if I let you tell me now, and you don't, then I will think you're creepy if I find out later. Just kidding, but you should tell me now.

Enjoying the day!
Jenna

I'd Like to Share This with You

I have 7 papers, a presentation, and four finals in the next 2 weeks, but in true Jenna fashion, I am putting them all off until the last minutes and writing this blog. In all honesty, what I am about to share with you is:

1. cooler
2. better
3. more interesting
4. more important

Than anything school related.

Anyways, recently, I stumbled upon a very good book online. By stumbled upon I mean when God created the universe He decided that it would be a good idea for me to read this book at this time in my life and He made sure I found it and read it.

Anyways, the book is by a woman named Cindy Beall. When I say book, I mean its really a series of long blogs. Regardless of what it is, it is incredible.

Cindy has an incredible story. Married to a youth minister for about 5 years, Cindy and her husband felt called to move from Texas to Oklahoma and serve at a church there. The day after Cindy arrived in Oklahoma, her husband came and confessed to her that he had had an addiction to porn for many years, which had lead to many extra marital affairs, and that one of the women had recently contacted to him to inform him that she was pregnant with his child.

And then, amazingly enough, God helped Cindy to forgive her husband, repair her marriage, become friends with her husband's lover, and genuinely love her husband's son.

The book covers Cindy's experience in this journey and is truly an incredible one. My favorite chapter was Chapter 8, It's Time to Forgive. I'd like to share a couple of passages from it with you:

"It would be very convenient if we all felt like forgiving people. But, that is rarely the case. We often have to make a choice to forgive, even if we don’t feel like it. And it’s wise that we do, because our feelings are often misleading. But the more we make the choice to forgive on a daily basis, the more we will begin to see our wounds healed and resentment diminish. An indication that you have healed from a wound caused by someone else is when you cease to feel resentment against your offender. My mentor says, “You know you’ve healed from the hurt that someone else’s actions have caused when you can look back on the situation and it’s just a fact.” I think that is probably the best explanation I’ve ever heard about healing."

"There are people who have caused hurt and haven’t ever asked for forgiveness. There are days when I don’t feel like forgiving. But, God never asked me to “feel” like forgiving. He just said to do it. This command is far from easy. Forgiving someone who doesn’t deserve forgiveness goes against everything my flesh wants. Why shouldn’t they have to suffer like I have? But that’s just it. They are suffering. It’s just a different type of suffering. It’s the feeling you have inside knowing that the pain that another person is experiencing is a result of your choices. How helpless is that?"

"You’ve heard it said, “The mind is a terrible thing to waste.” When we spend our time thinking and dwelling upon things that cannot be changed, we are wasting it. In another sense, we are also worrying. Matthew 6:27 says, “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?” I think we have all wasted our time by worrying at some point in our lives. Whether it is about financial security or our children or our health, we’ve done it. And plenty of us still do it regularly. So, has it helped us? I mean, can you think back to a time when you worried and say, “Yeah, man, worrying about my children’s future totally helped my situation. I’m so glad I did it and spent those hours consumed with what ifs”? No, you don’t feel that way, and neither do I. We don’t want to worry. We want to have complete confidence in God. After all, in practical terms, worrying is our inability to trust God. Ouch. So, if you and I worry about something, we are basically not trusting God? If the shoe fits. And I think it does."

You can (and should) read the rest of Chapter 8 here.

Also, I highly recommend reading the whole book. Even if you're a boy, or even if you're life story in no way related to Cindy's, it still has some good life lessons to be learned. Plus, its a short and quick read. You can read the entire book here.

Finally, ironically enough, Cindy grew up in Georgetown, graduated from Georgetown High School, went to Texas State University, and spent some time in San Antonio. Creepy right? I think it's just further proof of how great I am going to turn out.

Enjoying Lessons in Literature,
Jenna