My Journey

My Journey

On May 9th of 2009, I graduated from Mars Hill College.

From August 12, 2009 - August 12th, 2010, I participated in the Disney College Program at Disney World and Disneyland. I had the time of my life! A passion was totally ignited within me for guest service and making magic.

Though I worked at the two happiest places on earth, I was lacking a sense of fulfillment. I was happy, but my deep inner joy and purpose was missing. I had taken God off the throne in my life and started living for me. My goal in life was to do whatever I thought best for me, in order to have the most exciting, epic life possible. The problem with that was that it was MY plan and I had left any plan God had for my life far behind me.

On August 15, 2010, at the end of my year with Disney, God called me home to Dublin, Georgia. I knew there was a void in my life and God gave me the strength to put Disney on the back burner so He could fix me. He knew I needed an overhaul, to get my priorities straight, before I could get back on HIS plan for my life.

On January 1st-4th at Passion 2011, through the power of the Holy Spirit and God's word spoken through various Christian leaders, God totally turned my life around, refocused me, and showed me that my whole purpose in life is to glorify Him. He took my confusion, bitterness, and void and threw it out and gave me a fresh start and a new perspective.

On February 25, 2011, while watching the fireworks from the Polynesian resort at Disney in Florida, God put a calling in my heart to return to Disney, pursue my passion for guest service, and be a light for Jesus there.

On February 28, 2011, I found a fb group for a ministry called the CP Apartment that is a group of Disney College Program Alumni who's, "mission and goal is to permanently infuse a christian and evangelical presence in the Disney community." News of this ministry and following their Facebook account all year has been such a great encouragement to me and kept me enthusiastic about what God is going to do and is doing even now.

Ever since then God has had me on a journey of discovering His purpose for my life and how He intends to use my passions for His glory. All year God has provided me with a very steady, full time work through baby sitting, nannying, child care, chauffeuring, dog sitting, and now an out of the blue job at Vision Savers. None of which have I applied for or sought out! They have all just fallen in my lap. ...Yea...I know. Cool!! I've literally worked a whole year of odd jobs. It's been a great ride and allowed me the flexible schedule and free time to pursue God.

God has given me the dedication to work hard all year to save for an eventual move to Florida, to pursue this calling. The plan: save money, find, apply, and get a job at Disney, move to Orlando. I felt as though I should give myself a whole year to save a significant amount of money, enjoy the freedom of non-disney life, spend time with my parents, and prepare myself spiritually by seeking God like never before.

Well folks, the year is almost up and my time to apply for jobs that start in January is fast approaching. I have found myself getting nervous.

Nervous? But that's ridiculous! Have I somehow diluted myself all year into thinking that I have been in control of this first part of the plan, making the money? Because, in reality it was God alone who provided me with those jobs, it was nothing I did on my own. He did it all. So why then should I even question or worry about Him providing the job and making the move to Orlando possible!? I shouldn't! I absolutely shouldn't worry. As 1 Thessalonians 5:24 says, "Faithful is he that calls you, who also will do it."

So why worry?! God has proven Himself faithful on my behalf time and time again! I was lost and He found me when no one else was looking and He turned my life around for His glory. The best is yet to come!

One of the reasons I fell away when I worked at Disney before was the crazy schedules that led to lack of church or christian community. I have been praying for quite some time now that God would either eventually provide me with a husband who can help keep me accountable and on track with God as I venture out on my own or that He would provide me with a community of Christians in Orlando that can be my support.

On October 30th, I found out that a church that I had been following on Facebook and hoping to attend whenever I relocate to Orlando, is actually opening a campus on Disney property in early 2012 that's sole purpose is to cater to the needs and schedules of Disney cast members and equip them to be a light at Disney. Wow. God answers prayer!!

So why should I ever worry!? God is faithful. :) Thanks for reading and following my journey. Please pray for open doors and favor at Disney as I apply in December.

Vote for Ruthie Fu!!

Hey guys!!

I have entered my 5 month old beagle in a the Petsmart Monster Cute Halloween Contest powered by Greenies! Please go and vote for her at the link below. You can vote once a day every day until October 24th! Thanks so much!! If she wins she will be in a Petsmart commercial!

http://apps.facebook.com/petsmarthalloween/gallery.do?op=detail&entry_id=28163

Welcome Fall! Here's what's up!

It's October 1st, the air is crisp, and I'm listening to Christmas music! ...yes I know..I'm weird. I have the mindset that Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas are all one big holiday and I tend to celebrate them in a swirl of holiday goodness.

This is absolutely my most favorite time of year!

Here's a quick update.

I recently realized that God has provided me with steady work from the moment I moved back home to Georgia last August, up until now and at least until January. I am truly blessed. And each of those job just fell into my lap. How I've managed to turn babysitting into a full time job is beyond me. It's been a fun ride. I have definitely learned a lot about kids and come to many conclusions about any hypothetical parenting I may end up doing one day.

I will be applying to Disney World in December. I am praying hard that God will open a door for me to start working as a Cast Member again in January. I know I'll need money to make the transition to Orlando, so I have been saving money like never before! God is definitely teaching me about discipline and self-control this year. I now wake up early, care about my eating habits, save money, care about being on time to things (well...sometimes ;P), and run three days a week! I am SOOO not into any of those things, it just goes to show that God really does answer prayers. I have prayed to be more disciplined and it's clear that God has been helping me to become more diligent. I am amazed, because it's definitely not by my own will power, that's for sure! I'm just so glad that I'm developing these good "grown-up girl" habits before I move out on my own!

I am happily, hard at work dreaming up and collecting for my future apartment on my own. My kitchen is going to be retro 1950's style with lots of red and some black and white checkers, like an old soda shop. I've already started my collection. My whole christmas list is filled with cute kitchen necessities and decorations. I guess I've become a legit woman now that I'm enthused about kitchen gear. Sheesh...I truly thought that day would never come. I can remember thinking my sister-in-law, Becca was absolutely nuts for putting kitchen stuff on her Christmas list. I have seen the light now though. Haha! My living room is going to be filled with framed photographs of very lush, green nature scenes for a black and green modern nature look.

Ruthie Fu is getting SO big! Also she has already started losing her baby teeth and getting her adult teeth in. It's amazing how quickly puppies grow! The tooth fairy visited her the night she lost her two front teeth and I am going to take her trick or treating in costume on Halloween. I'm basically raising her like a human child...it's pretty intense. Haha. She even has her own little hoodie. She knows how to sit, lay down, and play dead when I say, "bang". It's extremely cute.

So that's about it for me, I am thoroughly enjoying this time living with my parents and raising our two puppies. Life is good. I can't wait for all the holiday fun that is just around the corner!! There's excitement in the air.

Here's a slice of what's to come: Halloween, Putting up the Christmas tree, Thanksgiving, The Muppets Movie, The California family comes to stay for a WHOLE MONTH (and possibly Jon and Mallory too!), Applying for Disney, Christmas, and Passion 2012....to name a few. Let the good times role. :)

You Found Me

I was in my car with my ipod on shuffle the other day when it shuffled to an old song by Kelly Clarkson called "You Found Me" I was only half paying attention until I heard the words,

"You found me when no one else was lookin'
How did you know just where I would be?
Yeah, you broke through all of my confusion
The ups and the downs and you still didn't leave
I guess that you saw what nobody could see
The good and the bad and the things in between
You found me, you found me"

Now I'm not a huge Kelly Clarkson fan, BUT...these words spoke to me. She expressed the words that have been on my thankful heart all year (with a twinge of bitterness towards all men...which I can get behind :P) I feel as though this is what happened with me at Passion in January. I was angry and bitter that I was still single and alone at the *old* age of 24. But then HE found me...when no one else (no guy) was looking for me. No one else cared. God did. No guy noticed me. So what. God did. He found me, He broke through all of my confusion. He has stuck with me all along through the ups and the downs, He still didn't leave! I guess that He sees what nobody (no guy) could see. The good and the bad and the things in between!

Now that I've listened to this song in a new light, I can't imagine how anyone in their right might could actually expect a human man to be so superhumanly awesome like the song is implying. I feel like probably one of the reasons for so many failed relationships is that women expect men to be their Savior! No matter if he's the "one" or not...he's not going to fullfill you, he's not gonna save you, he probably won't notice every little detail about you, though he may be great. Only Jesus can do all of that.

To hear the song and look at the lyrics here's a link to it on youtube. :) Enjoy!

Puppy clips!

Check out some clips of our new puppies, Ruthie Fu and Cali! :D Also my brother got their sister, Maeby!

Meet...Ruthie Fu Daws!!

I picked out my new sidekick today.

It was a hard decision. Look at how cute they all were!!

But Ruthie had the exact white spot on the back of her neck and the same white tipped tail that Molly had. We were torn between her and another girl who had cute speckled feet.

We decided that Ruthie would be a tribute to Molly with her same coloring.

We will pick her up a week from tomorrow!! She's fully mine.

Ruthie comes from Ruth which means "friendship" (which we learned while watching Secret Church) and the real Ruth from the Bible who is known for her loyalty.

Ruthie's life's verse is:
Ruth 1:16-17
But Ruth replied, "Don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.
Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me."

Her middle name of course comes from Amber Fu. My favorite Chinese girl in the whole world and one of my best friends ever! Hehe.

I can't wait to start training her.

Adulthood is...having to buy your own couch...

This has been an AMAZING year. It's only halfway through and I've already seen God do so much in and around me. It's truly exciting. God has revealed a lot of vital things to me in these past 6 months.

For instance. In this year I have come to the FREEING discovery that my life doesn't revolve around finding a man and getting married. Thank God for that because..if it did I'd be totally failing at life lol. Seriously tho. This may be common sense to everyone else but boy has it set me free! I always "knew" that I'd get married and have kids right out of college and that would be my life. I'd never have to worry about transitioning into adulthood...my man would take care of providing for us and managing all the "scary" details and our life together would be blissful.

When life didn't exactly pan out that way, I grew increasingly more bitter. By the grace of God opening my eyes, I now know, I was gravely mistaken to plan my life as if it revolved around my wedding day. The fact is...who really cares that my life didn't pan out the way I planned!? Surprise, surprise. What's the big deal!? God NEVER promised that my life would unfold in MY time frame or even that I'd get married period. And let me tell you, that thought would have scared the pants off of me last year. But to be perfectly honest. I like that I'm making my own way and that I've been given the experience of depending on God alone for my leadership into adulthood. That is something that girls who get married right off the bat or are in godly relationships do not have the opportunity to experience.

I have been trying my best to take responsibility with my life ever since this sobering discovery. I admit it is hard, and it is scary being a family of ONE. However, I WILL NOT sit around and wait to get married to start living my life. What an insanely stupid thought! I can't believe I had it once. It's so ridiculous. No. I will pursue my passions. Pursue God. I will set goals for my own life and work towards them, apart from any man. I'm not a feminist...I've just seen the light regarding irresponsibly putting all my hope into marriage and expecting a man to do everything for me.

God has given me a passion for the Disney Parks. I fully intend on pursuing that passion and doing the best job I can for God's glory. That's my plan. If I'm married or not...doesn't matter. I'm honestly not worried about it. I am setting up shop...just me, myself, and I. Sure it would be nice to have a husband to lead me, make all the hard decisions, plan with me, pick out furniture and curtains with me, build a home with me, etc. But that's not the way my life has unfolded. So what. My life is killer!! I love it so much! God has blessed me with SO MUCH.

Even with this recent realization, it honestly had not yet occurred to me that eventually I would need to BUY all the items that most girls are GIVEN for their wedding and pick out with their husband when they get married. Things like a blender, utensils, a vacuum, a table, and a couch. I came to this epiphany a few days ago. I feel like that is yet again another thing that it would be silly to wait on. I am 24 now. Life is in full force. It's time to pick out a couch (so to speak) and settle in somewhere. Sure it is SO NOT FAIR that us single ladies get the shaft and actually have to buy our own stuff. But we'll be stronger for it in the long run. (Though I would totally be open to starting a revolution to make a mandatory tradition for single women over the age of 23 to be thrown a party where practical gifts are given ;P)

So, I have a long term plan. I'm buying a dog. I'm setting goals. I'm pricing appliances and furniture. I have ambitions. I am saving money like crazy for the first time in my life. I've never had that kind of drive or self-control about anything before. It's incredible.

I just gotta say that to the world of girls who are waiting around for prince charming...get off your butt and live your life, ladies. Stop waiting for prince charming and start living it up, just you and your Savior...plan as if it's just you and Him forever. If you're not content with that thought, you need to seriously evaluate your Christianity. I did. And here's what I learned: It's not about your MARRIAGE. It's about your LIFE and glorifying God with it. If He chooses to bring you a companion. So be it. But no where does it say in the Bible that your prince charming is on His way.

Put down the fluffy, romantic, christian self-help books, turn off A Walk to Remember and Michael Buble, and open your eyes to the life that God has waiting for you. It's truly wonderful when you do.

God has a plan for your life as a single person. Ask Him and He will show you the way! You're not helpless. "Man up."

"'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'" Jeremiah 29:11

These words are from the song "Lead Me" by Sanctus Real:

"So Father, give me the strength
To be everything I'm called to be
Oh Father, show me the way
...Won't you lead me"

They are from the point of view of a husband asking God to help him lead his family. But I think of them in another way. I am often overwhelmed by "going it alone" in this crazy world. I feel often like I don't even know where to start or what to do when it comes to the many things that go into adulthood. But God is FAITHFUL to lead me! I must remember that!! It is as much exciting as it is scary because in all my fears there are opportunities for God to blow my mind with His careful guidance in my life.

So I leave you with this ladies:
"Faithful is He that called you, who also will do it."
1 Thessalonians 5:24

So what are you waiting for? Don't be stupid, people. Don't be stupid.

The Daws Show

Check out the video I made for Dad for father's day. :D

I love our family. What a blessing it is to be apart of it.

Happy Father's Day.

To my Dad who has always been there, who is wise, who has always taught me what's right, and who is a huge goof ball:

I love you!

Happy Father's Day!!

California Epic Adventures

I had an amazing week in California last week. Check out my video of my adventures with friends and family!

The Parent Trap: Dublin Style

Me and some girls from church had a Tangled Party/Sleep Over

We made a movie!! Enjoy The Parent Trap: Dublin Style

Eternal Optimist Vlog 28

I figured I needed to do a formal video blog update since my last one was in February. Check it out.

Passion Meets Purpose.

I went to the Orange conference on children's ministry/student ministry. While there I had the opportunity to meet a Disney executive who is a strong christian. Random? No. Divine. :) God is good. It was extremely encouraging! He shared with me about a Disney animator who is using his passion and talent for Christ at Disney. I found this video on youtube of the animator talking about his work. Check out this video of Glen Keane. He animated the Beast, Ariel, and Rapunzel. So cool. I LOVE how he doesn't feel like he has to be a pastor in order to be a Christian influence in the world. Here is an article about Glen's work. Instead he is using his passion (animation) while fulfilling his purpose (to glorify God). I think that is EXACTLY what God intended us to do with our passions. Louie Giglio did a sermon relating to that at Passion 2006 called Passion, Purpose, and Designer Jeans. Check it out on iTunes for free.

The Great Movie Ride Challenge

I have decided to watch all (except for a few movies I refuse to watch) of the movies in the Great Movie Ride at Disney's Hollywood Studios. I found the list on wikipedia and I copied it into a word document where I color coded it with this key:

Own It
Seen It Before
Excited to See
Not Excited to See
Will Not Watch

Make your own list and use netflix, redbox, or blockbuster to do the challenge. :) I will be starting as soon as Footlight Parade arrives from netflix and probably blogging about my progress.



Great Movie Ride Movies

Movies in the Ride

1. Footlight Parade (Warner Brothers)
2. Singin' in the Rain (MGM)
3. Mary Poppins (Disney)
4. The Public Enemy (Warner Brothers)
5. The Searchers (Warner Brothers)
6. Alien (20th Century Fox)
7. Raiders of the Lost Ark (Lucasfilm)
8. Tarzan the Ape Man (MGM)
9. Casablanca (Warner Brothers)
10. Fantasia (Disney)
11. The Wizard of Oz (MGM)

Current films in finale

12. The Cure
13. The Rink
14. Behind the Screen
15. The Great Train Robbery
16. The Birth of a Nation
17. The Ten Commandments
18. The Kiss
19. Wings
20. The Jazz Singer
21. Show Boat
22. 42nd Street
23. Dirty Dancing
24. Yankee Doodle Dandy
25. Grease
26. Jailhouse Rock
27. Sister Act
28. Chicago
29. Babes in Arms
30. Cabin in the Sky
31. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
32. Anchors Aweigh
33. Airplane!
34. Saturday Night Fever
35. Cops
36. Take the Money and Run
37. Down and Out in Beverly Hills
38. A Plumbing We Will Go
39. Blazing Saddles
40. Arthur
41. Bright Eyes
42. A Night at the Opera
43. Three Men and a Baby
44. Broadcast News
45. Arsenic and Old Lace
46. Beverly Hills Cop
47. Trading Places
48. The Godfather
49. The Godfather Part II
50. Taxi Driver
51. Shanghai Knights
52. True Grit
53. The French Connection
54. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
55. North by Northwest
56. San Francisco
57. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
58. Never Say Never Again
59. The Terminator
60. Rambo: First Blood Part II
61. A Nightmare on Elm Street
62. King Kong
63. Young Frankenstein
64. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
65. 2001: A Space Odyssey
66. Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
67. Top Gun
68. The Absent-Minded Professor
69. Platoon
70. The Karate Kid
71. The Bridge on the River Kwai
72. Amadeus
73. Citizen Kane
74. Chariots of Fire
75. 10
76. Tootsie
77. Funny Girl
78. Giant
79. Pal Joey
80. Adam's Rib
81. Gone with the Wind
82. From Here to Eternity
83. Shakespeare in Love
84. Pearl Harbor
85. Wuthering Heights
86. Notorious
87. The Way We Were
88. Lady and the Tramp
89. Who Framed Roger Rabbit
90. Grand Hotel
91. Queen Christina
92. A Place in the Sun
93. Stagecoach
94. Sunset Boulevard
95. The Grapes of Wrath
96. Gentlemen Prefer Blondes
97. A Streetcar Named Desire
98. Klute
99. Roman Holiday
100. Gilda
101. Hud
102. Good Morning, Vietnam
103. Apocalypse Now
104. All About Eve
105. Lawrence of Arabia
106. Doctor Zhivago
107. Armageddon
108. Finding Nemo
109. Thelma and Louise
110. High Noon
111. Unforgiven
112. Honey, I Shrunk the Kids
113. Lassie Come Home
114. Patton
115. Malcolm X
116. Forrest Gump
117. It's a Wonderful Life
118. The Sound of Music
119. Ben-Hur
120. Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope

Films previously in the finale film

121. Swing Time
122. The Band Wagon
123. The Three Musketeers
124. The Adventures of Robin Hood
125. Cocoon
126. Independence Day
127. Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
128. Fatal Attraction
129. The Seven Year Itch
130. Big
131. Million Dollar Mermaid
132. Aladdin
133. An American in Paris
134. It Happened One Night
135. High Society
136. Crocodile Dundee
137. Terms of Endearment

Molly Remembered.

After Molly passed away, a friend gave me a small stuffed animal of a brown dog. I have grown quite attached to it since her death. It looks like Molly as a puppy and is about the same size that she was when we first found her. I have started sleeping with it at night (Yes, I still sleep with stuffed animals. Get over it.) Today when we got back from church, the stuffed animal had somehow left my bed upstairs in my bedroom and was mysteriously sitting in front of our fireplace downstairs where Molly used to sleep. It was freaky. I suppose one of our cats could have done it. Or MAYBE...it was the spirit of Molly wanting to be near us again. :P Anyways it was a nice reminder of her. ...not that we have or ever will forget her.

Today I suddenly remembered a line from a poem I wrote about Molly when I was bored in class one day in college. I searched through my chest of old journals and notebooks and I found it! Here it is:

Molly.
My pillow, my solace, my friend.
Chocolate, cow dog.
My eternal hug.
Your penetrating eyes...
I'm sure you understand every word.

I'm not sure if that could actually be considered a poem or not. But I was heart felt.

Colder Weather

My brother plays bass for Levi Lowry and the Community House Band and they are touring with Zac Brown Band!


Zac Brown has the number one song in the country right now, Colder Weather.

As his sister it's my job to shameless promote Jon Daws. :D So here's how you can help:

* Call your local radio station and request Colder Weather!!

* Check them out at www.levilowry.com and post the site to your facebook profile.

* Go to Conan O'Brien's facebook page (team coco) and let them know on the discussion board that you want Levi Lowry and the Community House Band on the show! Do it! We've started a discussion topic to get their attention so help me out!


Thanks guys,

Proud Sister :D

Molly

Molly Daws is gone. My best friend has died.

...What now?

I've never experienced a death of a loved one. The thing that strikes me most is the permanence of death. I'll start to imagine hugging her and I can almost feel her velvet ears and coarse hairs and then I realize that I will never again be able to do that. She took care of us for 14 years, at our left overs and licked our tears when we cried.

She went down fast and our last night with her was so rough and painful for us both, for her physically and for us emotionally. There were seizures, bleeding, barks filled with pain. It breaks my heart. We spent the night next to her holding her paws through it all. When the vet finally opened, there was no question what we had to do. In weeks prior we carried her outside to pee, hand fed her, and got all types of her bodliy fluid on us. But I was happy to do it. In fact, I'd say it's the very least I could have done for all she did for me.

She brought so much joy to my heart and filled our house with love. I was always so proud of her, she was beautiful, she was obedient, she was friendly, she was loving, and she was mine. My baby. My best friend. And she's gone.

I once punched a guy on church property defending Molly after he had kicked her. I said the f word for the first time after a neighbor threatened her. If you knew her you'd understand ...she was a dog worth fighting for! I stuck up for her as if she was my own sister, because she was really an extention of the Daws family.

My favorite story about her is the time when we were living in Rome, GA and Dad was pastoring FSBC. We lived right next to the church and our dogs roamed free. One Sunday morning, Dad was preaching away and he looked up and saw Molly walk in and take a seat on a back pew. He kept it together and moved on and at the end of his sermon he found her fast asleep in the back of the church. Haha. That was her. Full of personality, I guess she woke up that morning and said to herself, "I think I'll go to church today." Here's what I think, she surrendered her life to Jesus that day and spent the next 14 years being a light in our home and to all she met. :P (j/k)

I will always treasure the memories I have with her and hold them close to my heart. She made a huge impact on my life and taught me to love others unconditionally, to be a loyal friend and family member, and to be an encourager.

I told her repeatedly throughout her life that she was never alloed to die. Never have I dreaded a death so much. All my life a sure fire way to make me cry was to think of her inevitable death. The only time I ever cry in movies is dog related, because of how much I even remember one time I was afraid to go down a zipline. The guide tried to convince me to do it by telling me to think of a loved one that needed to do it for. I thought for a while and down I went screaming, "Molly, Molly, Molly, Molly, Molly!!!" the whole way.

I loved her SO much. She will never be forgotten. I fully intend to have another dog one day, a beagle or a basset hound. It will not be a replacement for Molly, because that would be impossible. She was one of a kind. Instead, I will raise it as a role model for the perfect dog. If I have a little girl one day I would like to name her, Molly.

Thank you all for your kind words and for sending your love and prayers towards me and our family. And thank you God for the blessing of Molly Daws. She will be missed.

Molly Daws Video Tribute

Molly Daws

May 7, 1997 - April 7, 2011

Today was a rough day.

Written blog to follow soon.

I miss her. :-/

She was the very best dog.

30 Day Photo Challenge: Complete!

I SO enjoyed doing this. You should do it too. Here's the list below. I may try to do another one and use this site as a spring board. http://content.photojojo.com/tutorials/project-365-take-a-photo-a-day/

Day 01 - A picture of yourself with ten facts

Day 02 - A picture of you and the person you have been closest with the longest

Day 03 - A picture of the cast from your favorite show

Day 04 - A picture of your night

Day 05 - A picture of your favorite memory

Day 06 - A picture of a person you'd love to trade places with for a day

Day 07 - A picture of your most treasured item

Day 08 - A picture that makes you laugh

Day 09 - A picture of the person who has gotten you through the most

Day 10 - A picture of the person you do the craziest things with.

Day 11 - A picture of something you hate

Day 12 - A picture of something you love

Day 13 - A picture of your favorite band or artist

Day 14 - A picture of someone you could never imagine your life without

Day 15 - A picture of something you want to do before you die

Day 16 - A picture of someone who inspires you

Day 17 - A picture of something that has made a huge impact on your life recently

Day 18 - A picture of your biggest insecurity

Day 19 - A picture and a letter

Day 20 - A picture of somewhere you'd love to travel

Day 21 - A picture of something you wish you could forget

Day 22 - A picture of something you wish you were better at

Day 23 - A picture of your favorite book

Day 24 - A picture of something you wish you could change

Day 25 - A picture of your day

Day 26 - A picture of something that means a lot to you

Day 27 - A picture of yourself and a family member

Day 28 - A picture of something you're afraid of

Day 29 - A picture that can always make you smile

Day 30 - A picture of someone you miss

30 Day Photo Challenge: Day 30

Day 30 - A picture of someone you miss

Megan Anderson. She is my bestest friend of all time. And she's been outside of the united states for FAR too long and I am NOT ok with it and she needs to come HOME asap. :D k, Megan?! I love her SO much! I just want to give her a big huge hug but sadly I cannot...at least until July.

PS. This picture reminds me of Dr. Lacy and Meet the Robinsons, "i haven't slept in 8 days!!" haha.

30 Day Photo Challenge: Day 29

Day 29 - A picture that can always make you smile

Danielle Kidwell and David Bass-Clark. Oh how I love them. I miss the safari days and I'm so thankful for that part of my life. It was so great. Wouldn't trade it for anything. :D

This picture will always make me smile...haha they're so goofy! I love that! I say, the goofier the friend, the better.

30 Day Photo Challenge: Day 28

Day 28 - A picture of something you're afraid of

Wasting my life. I don't want to waste it. And I mean not to.

1 Corinthians 6:20

30 Day Photo Challenge: Day 27

Day 27 - A picture of yourself and a family member

Me and Josh. I don't have many pictures with him or Jon...I guess they aren't really photo op kind of guys. This picture was taken in 2007 on the set of Dangerous Calling, Jer and Josh's feature film. What great memories! Josh is my oldest brother and he has a wonderful wife, Becca, and two amazing little boys, Grant and Hudson. He's a pretty silly guy behind closed doors. :)

30 Day Photo Challenge: Day 26

Day 26 - A picture of something that means a lot to you

My Disney World name tag. If I ever lose this I will be VERY upset. I keep this and my Disneyland name tag on my backpack. I am SO proud of this. It was such an honor to work there. :D one of the highlights of my life thus far.

30 Day Photo Challenge: Day 25

Day 25 - A picture of your day

I spend the day at home with Molly. She is very sick. I've taken the rest of the week off to care for her. Please pray that she will have a peaceful death when it comes. She's been a part of my life since I was 10 years old. I've been dreading her death ever since she was born. :-/

30 Day Photo Challenge: Day 24

Day 24 - A picture of something you wish you could change

Time. Sometimes I wish I could fast forward it, other times I wish I could slow it down. Then again there are also days I want to freeze it entirely and still other days I wish I could rewind it. Of course I'm so finicky about what I want concerning the subject, that it's a darn good thing that I'm not able to change it.

I read this verse today and I think it applies..."He has made everything beautiful in its time..." Ecclesiastes 3:11 So I don't need to worry :)

30 Day Photo Challenge: Day 23

Day 23 - A picture of your favorite book

I don't have many favorite books. I should really read more. My bad. I'm working on that. I read The Barbarian Way a few years ago. It's a very inspiring book. :) Check it out.

30 Day Photo Challenge: Day 22

Day 22 - A picture of something you wish you were better at

Dancing! :D I wish I could dance like Mary Tyler Moore, the people on High School Musical, Michael Jackson and his ensemble on Captain EO, or the guys on Newsies.

Whenever I watch stuff like that I get all jazzed up. I love watching, but sadly I have no rhythm. I love to dance for fun though, with low expectations.

30 Day Photo Challenge: Day 21

Day 21 - A picture of something you hope you never forget

Life on the 4th floor of Bailey Mountain at Mars Hill College. My senior year of college was SO MUCH FUN! I miss living with Kristina, Kacie, and Karyn and constantly going down the hall and visiting our boys, Blaine, Vlad, Jared, and Waffles....and seeing Mikey, Reb, Stephen and whoever else would always be there. :D We had so many great people living on that hall! One big happy family. I miss all of you!! Thanks for all the laughs and good times.

30 Day Photo Challenge: Day 20

Day 20 - A picture of somewhere you'd love to travel

I'd love to go to China to visit my lovely chinese sister, Amber Fu. She lives in Chengdu, China. So that's where I want to go. I love her SO much!! I miss so much about her and my life with her when we were roommates. She was SUCH a great roommate! We were so compatible! I miss her calling me, "stupid Jenny" in the most loving way anyone could ever say that. I miss her saying "so cute, so cute" all the time. I miss her talking about how beautiful she was all the time...hahaha. I miss her child-like personality. I miss the way she felt everything SO deeply. She has a big heart and I love that. :D I wish it weren't so hard to go from America to China. It stinks having such a great best friend living SO far away!! Thank you, God, for Skype.


Also always wanted to go to Egypt, but every since I can remember people have always said, "I would hate to be in Egypt right now..." and I supposed the same comment works today. Bummer.

30 Day Photo Challenge: Day 19

Day 19 - A picture and a letter

Today's picture is brought to you by the letter "W". Words with Friends is a great app. It's basically like an ongoing, relaxed scrabble game with your friends. My user name is jennylove. Here's a tip. When you're stuck, remember that "Xi" and "Qi" are words. Use them wisely. :)

30 Day Photo Challenge: Day 18

Day 18 - A picture of your biggest insecurity

My completion. Argh..no fun. I thought break outs ended after puberty. I wonder what God was trying to teach me when he "blessed" me with oily combination skin.

30 Day Photo Challenge: Day 17

Day 17 - A picture of something that has made a huge impact on your life recently

At the end of last year I was feeling pretty low. I was at the end of my rope. In a desperate attempt to find something to be excited about in 2011 I signed up for Passion 2011 that took place on January 1-4th. Those were perhaps the best 4 days of my life.

Passion is a christian conference/movement of young adults whose desire and hope is for the name and renown of Jesus Christ. In other words: a bunch of crazy kids on fire for God. It was amazing. Every sermon was precisely what I needed to hear, as if the speakers were speaking directly to me and my issues. I worked through a lot of crap. I guess you could say...I was like a lost sheep...I had lost my way...and Jesus came and found me at Passion 2011 and changed my life. :D My life has been impacted and altered. I am SO blessed.

30 Day Photo Challenge: Day 16

Day 16 - A picture of someone who inspires you.

Walt Disney. It was either him or Louie Giglio. But I know Louie Giglio would not appreciate that because he'd rather me just put up a picture of Jesus...which I thought about but...I didn't want to go with the "Sunday school" answer.

Just think, Walt Disney dreamed up SO much of what I love in this world. That's so cool. What a cheery guy! He created SUCH a truly magical legacy. I believe in it his dream so much! He inspires me by all that he created! I'm so thankful for his life and his dream! :)

30 Day Photo Challenge: Day 15

Day 15 - A picture of something you want to do before you die.

If at all possible, God, I'd like to get married and start a family before I die...ya know...if you get a chance...it'd be nice...but only whenever you think I'm ready. Kthanksbai.

Excuse the cheesy clip art, though I think it's kinda cute. :P Except that I'm SO not into red heads!!....If it happens...send me a brunette, God. :) And the man I marry would never wear that tacky outfit with the french flare. Also I think the picture should have a beagle at our feet. And I'd like that pretty green dress in real life too. :P

30 Day Photo Challenge: Day 14

Day 14 - A picture of someone you could never imagine your life without

Dad! We'd all be lost without him. He's a big goofball half the time. The best is when we playfully insult each other with things like, "stink face" and "shut up your face!" :D He's a great guy. You mess with him and I'm coming for you. So watch your back! :P

So thankful to God for such a great Dad!

30 Day Photo Challenge: Day 13

Day 13 - A picture of your favorite band or artist

Billy Joel. For my whole life, no matter what season or mood I am in, I've loved me some Billy Joel. SO good. Timeless.

30 Day Photo Challenge: Day 12

Day 12 - A picture of something you love

Of course I love many things...but this was the first thing that popped into my head. Country Time Lemonade. Hehe...It's like liquid candy.

30 Day Photo Challenge: Day 11

Day 11 - A picture of something you hate

It took me a while to come up with this one. Mostly because there are not many things that I hate. And the things that I dislike are too many to narrow down to just one thing. The only things I strongly dislike are intangible things that would be way too hard to capture in a picture or narrow down.

So here is one of the insignificant things that I hate: the clanging of pots and pans. HATE IT.

Whenever mom gets pots out for cooking, I get very irritated and loudly proclaim, "when I grow up and get married, I'm never using pots and pans!!!!" To which she always replies with some smart comment about how that would be impossible. Argh. Worst noise EVER!

30 Day Photo Challenge: Day 10

Day 10 - A picture of the person you do the craziest things with.

Sara Bryant. She’s always smooooth like Dr. Pepper. We were the bright and shining rebel twins of Disneyland. It doesn’t get much crazier than that. Crazy for Disney, crazy for guest service, crazy for God. When we’re together we’re pretty darn nutty. I can always let my craziness show through when I’m with her. She doesn’t stifle my crazy side and that makes her so much more fun to be around! I love her! And I miss her SO stinkin much! “Buzz and Woody, Woody and Buzz, Buzz and Woody and Woody and Buzz!!” hehe.

30 Day Photo Challenge: Day 9

Day 09 - A picture of the person who has gotten you through the most

Although I have many amazing best friends that I have made in different stages in life and during all of my adventures…none have been with me for the duration of my life like my mom and my dog have been. My mom and Molly have always been there for me when I needed a shoulder to cry on. I love them! No matter where I am in the house, if I start to cry, Molly finds me and licks the tears off my face and paws at me. She really loves me and I realllly love her. As great as Molly is, usually mom has already made it to my rescue before Molly. They’re a dynamic duo of love and care when I need it most. ☺

30 Day Photo Challenge: Day 8

Day 08 - A picture that makes you laugh

Here is a picture of my nephew, Grant, last Halloween. He made this face when he tried his first sour patch kid ever. Teeheehee. You should see the video…it’s even better. I love that kid!!

30 Day Photo Challenge: Day 7

Day 07 - A picture of your most treasured item

My t-shirt quilt and matching pillow. I made them one summer while I was in college. I set out to do it one day, took on the huge project, and got it done in a very short amount of time. I don't like being tied down by instructions that tend to stifled my creativity so I didn't sew it the normal quilt way or look up instructions, I just figured it all out by myself and sewed it all together in my own way. I love this quilt because I was so passionate about the idea and I enjoyed the process of making it so much. It's like a picture of who I am, because most of my interests, views, beliefs, and basically... my life are represented in it through t-shirts. It's a constant reminder of how blessed I am. Each piece of the quilt has a story attached to it in some way. One day if I do get married, I think it would be cool to sit down with my future husband and tell him the stories behind all of the shirts...if he'd listen. If our house were on fire I'd make sure to grab my quilt before I ran out the door!...and also all of my many journals and diaries through the years.

30 Day Photo Challenge: Day 6

Day 06 - A picture of a person you'd love to trade places with for a day

I would LOVE to be a guest relations VIP tour guide one day. Or at least for a single day. Look at their cute little outfits! What a great honor it would be to be a guest relations cast member. I would take SUCH great pride in it. I love being cheery and friendly. It would be the PERFECT "Jenny job". Maybe one day.

30 Day Photo Challenge: Day 5

Day 05 - A picture of your favorite memory

There are far too many favorite memories and most of them are not documented. But this one seems to sum up a whole big collection of memories.

This is me eating a soft serve chocolate ice cream cone with marsh mellows on it, with my friends, on a spring afternoon, in the cafeteria at Mars Hill College in North Carolina. Bliss. I miss those days. Also this was in the era of Megan Anderson as my roomie. It was like Mars Hill: The Early Years, Original fab five small group. It seems like soooo long ago. I loved my college years. I wish that life were still so close knit like it was at Mars Hill. Eating in the caf or Lions Den was always my favorite part of the day because of the camaraderie among all the students, staff, and professors. One big family. :)

30 Day Photo Challenge: Day 4

Day 4: A picture of your night.

I was not sure if this meant a picture of a typical night or my night from specifically tonight. If it were a typical night it would be a picture of me, mom, and dad with snacks and blankets on the couch watching tv or a movie. But I think it probably means tonight. I am a nanny and I was working tonight. So this is a picture of a fort that I made. I'm starting to pride myself on my awesome forts. I know it's past midnight and my picture is late but that kind of also sums up my night because I had to work later than originally planned. But that's ok because I got to watch Peter Pan. :)

30 Day Photo Challenge: Day 3

Day 03 - A picture of the cast from your favorite show

Full House! I own every episode. I'm in love with Uncle Jesse. I grew up with this show. Watching it brings me great joy!

This one was hard because I could have also put up the cast of Parenthood, Family Ties, Arrested Development, or the Dick Van Dyke Show. It was a tough decision.

30 Day Photo Challenge: Day 2

Day 02 - A picture of you and the person you have been closest with the longest

Kristin Wood. We've been best buddies for years since I was around 15 years old. She knows me and my family very well and we've been through a change in address together which bonds us even further. She was there to welcome me home to Georgia after my disney times. She's the best and I love her! I don't see her or talk to her nearly enough, but deep down we are always connected by our deep seeded silliness and various embarrassing mishaps through the years! :) She's like a sister to me! Ask her to tell you the story of her trip to the grand canyon sometime...teeheehee..

30 Day Photo Challenge: Day 1

Day 01. A picture of yourself with ten facts.

1. My middle name is Love and I LOVE that.
2. I'll be 24 soon and that freaks me out.
3. In this picture, I'm wondering if I should cut my bangs again or continue to let them grow out with the rest of my hair.
4. I can't do a cartwheel...and that's ok! hehe.
5. I love that I was a cast member at Disney...I'm so proud of that and I feel so blessed.
6. I enjoy pretending and doing anything considered child-like. Like making tents or having picnics outside or looking at stars or playing with bubbles.
7. I enjoy drawing pictures/making collages or writing in my journal whenever I get inspired. I've been very inspired lately...
8. I love Jesus...and He's really the whole point of why I'm here...not really sure yet what He wants me to dedicate my life to yet tho. But I'm in the process of trying to figure that out.
9. I don't ever want to "grow up"
10. If I had a super power I would want to have Spiderman's powers mixed with Superman's ability to fly. If I could have a superhero I would want Spiderman with Clark Kent (Tom Welling from Smallville) as his secret identity instead of Peter Parker haha.

Valentine's Day Words

I wrote this very short journal entry in my personal journal on Valentine's Day. I've been feeling like it's something I should share on here.

"My last few valentine's days have been pretty horrible. Today I am happy to report that my heart is NOT broken and the hands that hold the world are holding my heart! I will be safe in HIS arms. "

That's all I wrote, because after I stopped to re-read what I had written, I was speechless. That might not seem like a huge deal to anyone else but for me...knowing myself better than anyone else of course...It's a huge deal. It's so neat just to see how my perspective has changed and how I've grown and gone from the lowest of low in the last 2 years to, maybe not the highest of high, but I'm definitely in a far better place now. :) God is good. There is hope for change and renewal.

There you have it.

Kinda Krazy for Kindness!

Check out another wild and crazy video blog full of silliness!!

Eternal Optimist Vlog 26!!

Check out my latest video blog!

Where to go...

California: My parents are going to visit the family out there in March. It would be nice to go.

China: I have a huge passion for China. I miss Amber Fu and all my Chinese friends so bad. I think about them so often. I really care about what happens to them

Uganda: My church is going on a mission trip to Uganda. I do love Africa. I would love to go back. I wish I could go back to Liberia. Our church has an orphanage in Uganda and it does sound pretty awesome to go there and see it and meet the kids who life there. Plus I've never been on a mission trip with my parents before. It could be a pretty great opportunity.

New York City: I went on a mission trip to NYC to work with the homeless a few years back. I thoroughly enjoyed that trip. I have a huge desire to go back.


Here's the deal: Cost isn't even really what I'm worried about. What I'm worried about is WHERE to go! I don't want to go forward with any of these trips without God's leading. I know once He leads me in a direction I can send out support letters and whatnot and God will fund the trip. I just need to know WHERE to go. I'm refusing to let the money issue stop me from pursuing one of these areas. I just don't want to go to Uganda just cause it's what my parents are doing or anything like that. I want it to be because God leads me there. Who knows, maybe I'm not supposed to go anywhere. I need to save my money, i don't want to waste any of it this year. Any help praying for direction would be greatly appreciated. Thanks :)

Hmm: In 5 years?!

At Passion Andy Stanley said that we should write out where we'd like to be in the next five years and then make every effort not to give into our appetites or to let them rule over us so that we can attain those goals.

Here goes...

In five years I will be.... 29 years old. OH MY GOSH. ....let me just let that sink in for a sec....... Dude. I hadn't calculated that before.

In that case, I really hope I'm married or at least engaged or in a serious relationship! I hope I'm an elementary school teacher (at Trinity perhaps!). I hope that I have gone to China and back to New York City. I don't want to be a mom yet. But I would probably start trying to have kids before I turn 32-ish. Because I definitely want kids!

Actually about being a wife...I have been thinking, even though I've definitely seen how hard it can be to be a wife of a man in the ministry, I would really love it if God allowed me to be a pastor or missionaries wife. How cool would it be to live in another country and raise a family on such radical faith?! Sounds so exciting. But on the flip side, how quaint would it be to raise a family at one church (no moving around!!) and enjoy the comforts of a close knit church family and coming up with lots of cool events and fellowship opportunities for the church to grow close as a family?!

If I don't live where I am now, then I hope I either live in Mars Hill, North Carolina; Orlando, FL; or some other country or some place exciting like Hawaii. I hope I still act young even though I am more mature in a lot of ways. I hope I am a joy to be around with a cheerful/friendly attitude and encouraging people around me. I hope if I am married that I don't depend on my husband for my source of joy, but on God alone.

I hope I am godly. I hope I have learned how to cook and sew and how to do other womanly things. I hope I'm not uptight or nagging or obnoxious or anything! I hope I have a great outlook on life. I hope I am doing something that I'm passionate about and working with people. God has given me a desire to be a wife and mother, I hope I am either on my way to full-filling that or if not that I am patient or if it's not gonna happen that God has taken that desire away.

BUT if all of that doesn't happen in 5 years. It's ok. I'm sure God has a good reason for it, after all these are MY plans, not HIS, there's no telling where I'll actually be in 5 years. My life so far has been great, but definitely completely different than I had ever planned or imagined. So I know from experience that God knows EXACTLY what He's doing and He doesn't need my help. So it's cool. I really don't have to worry.

Goals/Prayer for 2011

Goals/Prayers for 2011:

• That I would not forget the things I learned at Passion
- “My struggle is one of the greatest signs that I’m alive.”
- “I’m not chained down by my circumstances, it is possible to be fully alive and joy filled no matter what circumstances I
am in.”
- “I’ve got to frequently tune everything out except for God and take time for ONE thing.”
- Constantly renew my mind and don’t let my mind go down the same old paths.
- I have no idea what God could do with me if I surrender my will and my appetites.
- “Come to Jesus to get JESUS!”
- Christ needs to be at the bottom of everything I do, like a fountain. He is the motivation; everything should spring up
from Him.
- Do not awaken love before it’s time.
- Don’t let my ideas for serving God dethrone Him.
- Take time for Him.

• Direction and money for any mission trips I am supposed to go on this year. (Uganda, Dominican, NYC, China? Who
knows..)
• Slow down my mind about finding a husband. Give me patience and help me roll with the punches.
• Favor on me in my pursuit of teaching. Direction.
• Opportunities to see far away friends and to share Christ love with them.
• Help me to know what to do with my various passions.


Friends that I really feel like God wants me to pray for this year:

Kristina Donahue (Soon to be Saunders..yay!), Megan Anderson, Brittany Findley Cason, Amanda Lewan, Misako Harada, Danielle Kidwell, Amber FU!, Sara Bryant, Kristin Wood, Macey Reynolds, Hayley West, Luci West, Cassi Bush, Christine Smith, Stephanie Selman, Whitney Barton, Barbara Farnham, David Bass-Clark, Alec Frey, Mike Cook, Carter Lewelyn, Ben Farnham, Blaine Ellis, Patrick Griffith.

If you find your name on the list don't feel weird-ed out. It just means you really truly mean SO much to me and I very much care about you and what happens in your life whether or not you are religious or not or we have talked recently or not or known each other for very long or not. If I can't be near you all, the least I can do is remember to pray for you and that God will give you the desires of your heart and keep you encouraged in 2011! If you don't find your name on the list, don't worry i care very much about you too (i just can't list every single person or else there would be no point in a list...God just kinda inspired me to write one). Write me and let me know what I can pray for you this next year!

What are your goals for 2011?

My Life Montage

Here's a montage of my life over the past few years and my new insights on all of it. If you don't watch any of my other videos, at least watch this one. I feel like it's the most important thus far.

Passion Video Blog 2

Here's part 2 of my update about Passion!

Passion Video Blog 1

Check out my video blog update about Passion. I learned so much and had so much to say that I had to cut it into two parts. This is part one :)

Passion 2011: Jesus

I went to Passion 2011. Jesus. He. Blew. My. Mind.

Today was my first day back to normal life. And my mind is still blown. I know that everyone probably has a slight skepticism about all my talk about Passion, that I'm just on a high from a conference or that I'm being showy. But I swear to you that for the first time in my life I get it. I get that the only thing that matters in life in Jesus and carrying His name. Nothing else matters. Like...nothing. And I get that it's not about me searching for Joy and then finding it in Jesus Christ. It's definitely unspeakable joy, but that's not what it's about. It's about Jesus. It's about God and how freakin amazing He is. Period.

I feel overwhelmed. Like I have all these thoughts, ideas, feelings, that my mind is still spinning. There are so many things I have on a to do list in my head right now about what I need to do, make, start, say, people I need to talk to, friends I need to share Christ with, etc. I don't even know where to begin. I've been at a loss recently about my "famous" (haha) video blogs. I started them when I was going to be doing the Disney College Program in order to chronicle my experiences. But now that it has ended I didn't know what to blog about anymore. Before the theme was Disney. I think now the blog should just be about Jesus. Period. I'm not exactly sure what that will look like but the wheels in my head are spinning. I enjoy making the blogs, though they are usually ridiculous, but I wonder what amount of good I could do if they were all about praising God. Maybe just about things I discover in my walk with God that I feel I need to share with the world (or at least the handful of people who may happen to find them on youtube).

I have all these ideas and I have a tendency to get over-excited when I get hair-brained schemes like this one and all the others that have come to me in the past few days, but God brought something to my mind the other night. I wrote this in my journal, "Don't give me an idea that becomes so "good" that it dethrones you" In other words I don't want my foundation/motivation to just be a great idea to occupy my time, I want the foundation to be Jesus and have all my ideas spring from that FOR HIM. I don't want to lose sight of the point and forget to renew my mind so that I can keep my heart, mind, and soul in the right place because I could definitely see that happening. So please pray for me in that. If I don't make a conscious effort to keep my mind in the right place then my heart will be turned and my actions will not be God centered. I've got to keep my thoughts under control and replace my natural thoughts that take me down harmful paths with Holy thoughts that come from God's word. And I can't just stop there. I have to keep the air ways of communication open between me and God. This has always been something I struggle with. Forgetting to pray. So pray that I will be able to "pray without ceasing".

I am just blown away knowing (and being the only one who really truly knows) how incredibly low I was going into Passion and just for the longest time and in contrast now knowing the incredible way I've been feeling ever since January 1, 2011, 1-1-11 really was the "night of new beginnings" I keep seeing God do amazing things in me and around me and I know it could not be on my own strength, it is so totally Jesus inside of me transforming my heart. It's just like, The. Best. Feeling. Ever. Ahh I could keep talking but I think you get the point. If you get a chance check out a song called "Beautiful Things" by a band called Gungor. It's stuck in my head. It says, "you make beautiful things out of the dirt." What a beautiful thought. And it's true. I feel like that one thought inspires like about a million ideas for art projects and collages...so expect a new video blog and a new collage on the way soon. :)

Jesus. Because nothing else matters.