Far Too Long

Well, it's definitely been far too long since I've updated my lovely blog. Life has been pretty intense since I last wrote (May '07).

I got to go on a LOVELY vacation with my parents...we flew to Florida, spent a day in Fort Lauderdale, then went on a 8 day cruise to Costa Maya, Mexico (don't ever go there, it's a little TJ), then to Panama, and then to Costa Rica. It really was one of the best all around vacations we've had. When I got back, I started a new job with Riverside County. I was working with Elementary School kids in a youth drug & alcohol prevention program. It was great, but I just officially quit that today. It's a positive step, that's for sure. I'm currently trying to get a job at Cal Baptist (where I go to school) so I can be even more plugged in on the campus.

After I worked the job for a month or so, I got to go on another vacation. Some may call it work, because I originally went to babysit, but it truly was one of the best vacations of my life. It was great, but it was filled with relaxation time, pool time, and playing with the kids. Who could ask for more? 2 weeks in Hawaii, doing nothing - it truly was the greatest. It was different, because when we travel with my dad, we have to do something every hour we have available to us. So sleeping in, enjoying my days, was wonderful.

When I got back from that trip, I had about another month of work, then it was time to go back to school. I'm a FOCUS Coordinator at CBU, which means I work with 62 leaders that we have that help assist with all things the freshmen do on our campus. So we have spent the past 3 weeks preparing for the new students. It was a great time, just very tiring. Sometimes, people don't understand the commitment level of my position - so it was a bit challenging at times, but it all was worked through. I came home finally on Tuesday night, only to start school early Wednesday morning.

Overall, the summer was great...but that's not all. For some reason, I was quite on the adventurous side. I went ziplining in Costa Rica (through the rainforest) and then I went skydiving in San Diego a couple weeks ago. Both were indescribable, and I have a video of skydiving, so if you want to see it - I'll gladly show it - it's quite entertaining.

The Lord definitely stirred in my heart this summer more than ever. Or actually, it was probably as much as He has always been, it's just I finally opened up and let Him come in to change me, not to just bless me. I seriously feel convicted in the way I've lived life in my little Christian bubble. But this summer, through great teachings I got to hear and APPLY in my life, He was stretched my heart to accept so many things. I'm now going to be leading a Young Adults Bible Study, and I'm excited to see what the Lord is going to do through that.

Ok, I think I've included enough for the night.

I will honestly try to update more often. Everyone needs some where to let their inner thoughts out, and I need to take more advantage of this.

Tah-dah, SCHOOLING!

So, I have recently changed my major from Liberal Studies (to become an Elementary School teacher) to Nursing.

With nursing, I hope to work in either Pediatrics or Neonatal Intensive Care. I had already put 2 complete years of schooling into my teaching, but had felt called to another profession. Nursing has been my choice, and I plan to stick with it. There's only one downside - I have 4 more years of schooling to complete in order to get my Bachelor of Science, Nursing. However, it'll be more than worth it because my pay will be much greater down the road. The only set back 4 more years of schooling puts in my path, is the cost of attendance at CBU. I can go to another school (hopefully CSU Long Beach or CSU Chico) for much, much cheaper. It's exciting to know that a new journey may await me if I transfer to another school, but at the same time, I'm scared of the change. I've had such great community here at CBU, and I wouldn't want to trade it. Though, new is good too. I'm struggling with these thoughts (leaving my little community) and with staying here, I'm taking on much more financial responsibility later in life. I truly am not sure where I am going to go, what I'm going to do, how I will pay for it - but I am sure of one thing, God is in control, has been in control, and will ALWAYS be in control.

The journey He has taken me on thus far has been great, I wouldn't change any of it if I had a choice. Because I am who I am today because of each step I've taken. If you could, please pray for what is before me. I'm excited, nervous, and concerned all at the same time. Whatever I do will ultimately be for His glory, but sometimes that process is not according to our own plans. Pray that I will continue walking in His will, not my own.

A place for me to speak and for you to listen - if you so desire.

Since I have recently deleted my means of internet communication (myspace, facebook, etc.) I've now decided to create a blog (thus, you're reading it.)

I intend this space for me to talk about the things going on in life, things I'm expecting to experience, how events impact me, and what not. I'm not at all intending the use of this site for communication with friends. If you want to communicate, we can plan time (which means MAKING time in our busy lives), we can pick up the phone and call, we can write a letter, there's many other ways to keep in touch. I'm a firm believer that friendships do not revolve around online communication...we are human afterall!! Humans need interaction, and I think we're all lacking in that department. Interpersonal communication is key, and in our society, we are seeing less and less of this.

I will most likely post pictures of recent events...so keep your eyes open for new and exciting things. I look forward to informing you all.

Thanks for your time :o)
Jeni