Nearly 3 Months Later!!

Needless to say, there has been a whole lot going on in the life of Jeni McKeithen!!! So much that I don't even know where to begin - so if this is scattered, I'm sorry, you will have to deal with it :o) My thoughts come & go, so that's most likely how they will be presented here, haha.

Most recently (one week ago to be exact) I graduated from California Baptist University w/ a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies, Cum Laude (that means I had over a 3.5 GPA). What a marvelous 3 1/2 years it was at CBU. Graduating and moving on as a whole is quite bittersweet, I'm really not sure how else to put it! I will really miss the community there, no doubt. I will miss the caf (but that can be a good thing, maybe there's hope of actually losing that freshman 15!). I will really miss my 1 and only room mate: Nancy Barrales, and of course the housemates as well: Beth Crowell, Kendra Faulkner, Brittany Ingold & Candy Teague. We had such a great experience living in the house together, and as I am happy to be back home, I will miss what our house at school was. Speaking of being home, I totally changed my room around today (wahoo!!) I figured I'm at a new place in life, so I deserve something new to come home to. Since I will be a working woman come January 5th (I'll be doing accounting/office assistant duties for M&M Sports and Apparel) I figured my bed should be the focal point & most comfortable place in my room. I got a new mattress memory foam, some memory foam pillows, some decor pillows, and my bed is now complete. It looks good if I say so myself! And the wall decor & lighting is now different as well, it's definitely a different room, a big change...and change is good!

In these past 3 months, I have been wondering what the future as a whole holds for me. I've graduated with a degree, and of course would love to use it - but I'm not so sure that I want to teach in the state of CA, so I have decided not to credential, and to just work for a while and pay down my loans, and see what comes. I have determined there are 2 options that I would like to pursue. One is to seek out administrative positions on Christian college campuses or to teach overseas. There is a great teaching program in Russia, which allows teachers from the U.S. (w/ any states credential) to teach at a private school there while receiving a U.S. teachers standard salary. This would be ideal. But I would have to look into getting my credentials first to do that. I'd like to see what options are out there, and then determine what I would like to do. I know it all rests in God's hands, so I will be prayerful to consider what He has in store for me. I will keep updating as to what I believe the future may hold (only time will tell).

As far as travelling goes, I went up to Chico in November to visit Melissa (my best friend) and had a blast there. My friend/co-worker Mallory flew up with me, and we spent the weekend w/ Melissa. We hung out, slept, went shopping, and also got to celebrate Samuel's 21st bday. Samuel and I have become friends, and he is a great guy! Seriously, if you want a good friend (someone to have meaningful conversations with, someone who is interested in what's going on in your life, someone who is fun/entertaining, someone who is honest, etc.) I know where you can find one!!!! Other than Chico, the only other trip I went on was to Vegas after graduation. What a GREAT weekend that was. Vegas deserves its own post, there's too much to say about that trip. In January I will be going with my dad to Alabama (what has become our annual father/daughter trip). We will be going hunting for white tail deer and hogs. Good times! I'm looking into going out to New York for a friends wedding in the late Spring and then to Chico again for Melissa's graduation. Even though I won't be in school, I know time will continue to fly by.

As I was putting some laundry away about 20 minutes ago, I realized I had completely left something out of this blog update. I was summoned for jury duty this summer, in the late weeks of August, though was unable to go at the time, so I had it postponed. And wouldn't you know it, it was rescheduled for Dec. 22nd. I didn't have to go in on the 22nd, but I had to report on the 23rd. Contrary to popular demand and popular complaints, I have thoroughly enjoyed jury duty! It is my 1st ever experience, and I was actually chosen for a jury. It's a 5 day trial, criminal case. Meaning, we have to have a unanimous vote as the jury, so that should be interesting. However, I really am enjoying the experience and it has tought me so much about the system we are blessed to have. Think of people in other countries who are not innocent until proven guilty, how would that make you feel if you were locked up for life immediately w/ out any say in the matter? I don't know about you, but what we have here is great, and we should be delighted to give of our time and thoughts in order to serve. Call me crazy if you wish, but truly, I look forward to my summons next year. Thank you Court!

For now, this is what's going on in my life. I will be posting more often, as I won't have papers, homework, projects, study groups, etc. to tend to...Hallelujah!!!! Until next time, adios!