Disaster Results Blessing in Disguise!

I came home from work today, not feeling too well (as I've been a bit under the weather since Sunday) only to open my bedroom door to see my closet in shambles. If you know me at all, I've been on this organized/neat freak kick ever since moving out (when I lived on campus) and thus sticking with it since returning home in December.

Well, apparently from weight & multiple earthquakes (my assumption here) the rack that holds all of my clothes and storage stuff, decided to take a dump today. Here's a picture.

So you're probably wondering what the blessing in disguise is. Well, since everything came tumbling down, I had to obviously pick it all up to get the rack out, so we can put a new one in. I have this bag, that I've used to keep special/important papers in. But knew it was very old. I decided what the heck, I'll go thru it. Well, in it I found 2 very important letters. They were scholarship letters! Of $ I had earned during my youth bowling leagues. At first I was upset, because I've obviously graduated college & didn't use them. I continued reading this letter, to find out the monies don't expire until 6 years from my high school graduation date. This year makes 4 years since then, so it's still good!!!!!! But, I'm no longer in school - bummer. Except, if I can show a receipt that I used $ to pay for tuition, books, etc. they can reimburse me. Wahoo, Jeni is getting $130.58. Hey, it's not a whole lot - but it will do. I'm not complaining!!

To Do or Not to Do

This is a product of my no longer being a college student. If I had to write a persuasive essay, it would go something like this! Sometimes I really miss school!!! I miss having my outlets of writing!

Contrary to popular belief, I don't think it's such a bad idea! It's funny how often this topic of conversation comes up, and it's very interesting to hear the different sides that people present. I'm pretty open, and am typically an out of the box thinker. I don't just agree with people because it's the "expected" thing, I tend to voice my opinion & form my own beliefs. I think it's definitely hard sometimes to stand behind your own beliefs, especially when they're contrary to popular demand - particularly with those closest to you, but then what would this world be like if we all just simply had the same thoughts & belief system? It'd be pretty dull if you ask me.

So, my thoughts on online dating.... 1st, I think the term "online dating" needs to be defined. I guess it could be interpreted in many ways, but here is what I deem the meaning to be, a social network, providing just an additional avenue of how you could potentially meet someone. I'm not sure "online dating" is very accurate either. Because you don't date online, unless you only intend to converse with someone online, never having the potential to meet them & become friends. If that's the case, then online dating is accurate, though that's now how I'd interpret it. Dating is an actual act, going out, getting to know someone - how you'd ever do that online, I'm not sure. Anyone can type something out about themselves, making them out to be whoever they wish, but when you interact with them, seeing their personality come to life, etc. you can make a judgement on whether the individual has portrayed themselves properly or not.

Just as you meet someone at a restaurant, waiting in a line somewhere, at a theme park, at a bar, at a park, through a friend, etc. you have the same chances of meeting someone online. Sure, there are crazies, and creepos out there, but who's to say that the person you meet in line at the grocery store doesn't have the potential to be just as crazy, if not worse, than someone you'd meet online. Bottom line, there are weirdos and creepos everywhere, we'll never steer clear from them. Whenever or however you meet someone, it should be done w/ caution & discernment, because you NEVER know what you're getting yourself into. Just as someone can send you an email stating facts about themselves, a person telling you face to face could easily be lying to you the same way.

I think we all know the potential dangers of online dating...you hear the stories on the news, you get the horrific emails, etc. If you're going into something blindly, you need to have your guard up, and be prepared in any given situation. I'm going to focus on the positives, because I think we all get in this rut of negativity, and it's time for a change.

Watch a TV show, and you're bound to see an eHarmony commercial, a Match.com commercial, or something of the sort. Why are these so popular? Is it because they're making bank? Well, they are, because people pay to use their services, but it's popular because people have found it to work. Technology has been so advanced over the past 2 decades, and especially in my generation, our focus has been on virtual communication. We were the generation that used to hang out in chat rooms, spend hours on end on AIM, email our friends/family whenever the opportunity presented itself, etc. We have known online communication, so of course internet dating seems like a valid option.

If I were to label a perk of online dating, it would have to be that you get to bypass the awkward stages of getting to know someone. Sites usually have profiles, where you can post pictures of yourself, your basic information, answer typical questions, and then you would generally have an area where you can say anything else, & mainly state what you're looking for in someone. One of the best parts, is if you're completely honest in stating what you want, if someone reads your profile & they know they don't fit to what you're looking for - you don't have to bother talking to them. I guess you could more or less say that profiles are like pouring flour into a sifter & sifting out the parts you don't want. You're not wasting anyones time, and that's a plus. You're not wasting your heart, emotions & efforts to try and impress anyone either. They either like what they see, and you can communicate, or you don't. Sounds good to me!

If they like what they see, and you like what you see, you can likely pursue further communication. It is often recommended to not give out personal information, which is obviously smart, for reasons we all should know. If communication is continued & you feel like your values match & you would be interested in getting to know one another further (either just as friends, or in pursuit of a potential relationship), an exchange of #s would be a good start. Then you just progress as if you'd just met anyone. You have to spend time together in order to get to know someone, but I would highly recommend not going alone for the initial meet. Better to be safe than sorry, right!?! If you hang out, in due time you'll be able to see if their character reflects who you thought them to be, etc. If you're in the right state of mind, and aren't just desperate to be with someone, I don't see online dating as being all that bad. Your motives should be pure (as in seeking out ANY relationship), and if you have certain expectations & standards for a relationship, don't ever lose sight of those!!! You should always seek someone who not only shares the same values/morals as you, though someone who helps you & encourages you to keep those values/morals in tact.

Here's to you & whichever avenue you choose to take in order to meet new people. Maybe it's one or the other, or maybe it's both. I wish you good luck & discernment in making wise decisions, in whatever it may be!

176 Days

Britt & I will be running a 1/2 Marathon together in 176 days. In 3 days I will begin my training, wahooo. Life change here I come :o)

If you want to read about the marathon, please visit:
http://www.afchalf.com/

1 Item To Be Crossed Off

A year ago, Brittany Ingold & I became Speef's. What is a Speef? Well, a Speef, is a Spouse/Friend Forever. We became "spouses" because we had a health class together and the professor often referred to "how your spouse might do something" etc. etc. Obviously, neither of us have spouses, so we starting calling eachother Spouse. Then from there, she enlightened me to tell me that in high school, when they referred to their best friends, they called eachother Beef's (which is just pronouncing BFF's) So, we replaced the B w/ SP and thus we have SPFF, which is pronounced Speef. Now that you're clear on what Speef is, we can proceed.

When we moved back to campus this year, Speef & I lived together in a house w/ 4 other friends. It was great. We had similar school schedules and work schedules, so every Thursday we would go out for Speef Dates. We went to the MI (Mission Inn) and did hw and just enjoyed time together. During these times, we created a Speef Bucket List, and just recently added (due to Britt's amazing life goals) another item to the list, that WILL be crossed off in 2009! Now that I work full time...we've changed Speef dates to Wednesday nights. They're a ton of fun - and we do a variety of things. Someday SOON though, Speef Dates will be turning into marathon training nights (either running x amount of miles, or doing cross training). Britt had the brilliant idea of running a 1/2 marathon, and it took me all of about 2 minutes to invite myself to do it with her & jump on the bandwagon. I'm excited to do this!! I will keep you posted on what 1/2 Marathon we decide to do, and will probably do updates of how trainings are going :o)

The pictures are from our latest Speef Date (Wed. 2-4-09) at the Tyler Mall. Gotta love photo booths, $3 and you get a strip of pictures for each of you - you should do it - they rock. And, press for instructions in Spanish...it's even better! Cinco, cuatro, tres, dos, uno...Foto!

The Power of THANK YOU

Don't you just ever wish someone would say thank you?? I mean, we hear the average "thank you" on a daily basis when we hold a door open, say hello, or something just to say "thanks" for. But really...when someone does something thoughtful and/or caring do the least and say "Thank you!!!"

There are 2 particular things I would've expected a "Thank you!!!" for in the past 2 months, and really... REALLY!?!?!? REEAAAAALLLLLLLLLLYYYY? Is this what we've come to? Take take take and never give. All I ever expect is a thank you, you'd think that's the least someone could do - but they can't even do that.

Lord, I give these thoughts that have been consuming me, to You...

Crybaby!

I know the term wasn't meant for harm, but it definitely has got me thinking.

There are a lot of things in life that make me cry: being upset, being hurt, hurting someone else, emotions (love, weddings, etc.) other people crying, or PMS. It's not that I cry all the time, but the above listed things trigger my crying. I am glad to say that the Lord has created me to be an emotional being, and I truly like to embrace this quality. I wouldn't be me, as He created me, if I didn't have this quality.

Now the term "crybaby" it wasn't used negatively, it was just posed to me in a question. "Awww, Jeni, are you a crybaby? Cuz I thought I was bad!" My response to that was, "Yes! Yes, I am." What made me cry, you may ask? Well, I was at a Bridal Shower for my dear friend Erika, and 2 particular things made me cry. 1: Erika presented her mom w/ a poem she wrote, then gave her a handkerchief w/ an inscription on it, reflecting on the purpose of tears, and how these tears she is crying as Erika's wedding is approaching are those of joy, and delight...as she sees her daughter bloom into a woman and soon to be wife. 2: The video of Erika & Jay! They put together a video, which told their story. Each step of the way. At the end, they just embraced eachother and said why they love the other. It was so wonderful, and of course, the sentimental value made me cry. At the end of the video, a friend from another table came over and offered her napkin to wipe my eyes - then we reverted to the fact that there is probably NO WAY I will ever be able to make it thru my own wedding, or anything of sentimental value without crying.

I'm excited for what the future is going to bring. I am in no rush for things to come together, for I know the Lord has His hand in it all, and it is His will I want to trust in and follow after.

Here's to the tears I've cried - and to the tears that will come! Cheers.

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!