Sick as a Pig-Faced Dog - a true Jen blog (random)

Sorry, Facebook readers, I accidentally published this post by hitting the Enter button before I had even typed anything... So a note is going to post with this picture and the title "Sick as a Pig-" (kinda funny). This is us setting up our new tent on the lawn at our apt. complex. We are super excited! :D

Anyway, I have a cold. I got it from Steve. He's spent a few days at home and now I am hoping I am better by tomorrow for work. Work is going pretty well for me at AAA. Although I had a dream last night that I got laid off because I went to get a copy of something and fell asleep and my client in travel (of which I am not an agent) left! We were living back in Linden and it was really weird. But I wasn't worried about it because I *knew* in my dream that it was o.k. - you know how you *know* things in your dreams?

Dreams are cool. I have lots of dreams. Most of the waking ones involve music and nature and travel. Most of the sleeping ones do too but in a more abstract way. Working on a couple songs right now and wondering if I should ever copyright my songs (since they really aren't mine, but God's... and if someone steals them - isn't that a form of flattery?).

Steve is still praying and looking for a position at a church in the youth/young adult area. Currently in the process is Highlands in Paso Robles, CA. Thanks for your prayers if you read this.


"If the road I'm on falls out from under me, walk with me..." JE

ABC's of Me

A - Age: 34

B - Bed size: Eastern King

C - Chore you hate: housekeeping

D - Dog's name: Dot

E - Essential start your day item: breakfast

F - Favorite color: greens

G - Gold or Silver: Silver

H - Height: 5' 7"

I - Instruments you play(ed): piano, guitar, cajon...

J - Job title: AAA Sales and Service Associate

K - Kid(s): n/a

L - Living arrangements: apartment with my husband and beagle

M - Mom's name: Patti

N - Nicknames: not really

O - Overnight hospital stay other than birth: none

P - Pet Peeve: bad drivers

Q - Quote from a movie: "It's possible..." ("Pig")

R - Right or left handed: Right

S - Siblings: 2 younger brothers

T - Time you wake up: 6am

U- Underwear: yes

V - Vegetable you dislike: lima beans

W - Ways you run late: ways? procrastinating, watching TV, zoning out...

X - X-rays you've had: teeth, back, ribs, kidneys, hand

Y - Yummy food you make: phyllo wrapped asparagus

Z - Zoo favorite: bears

Answers to Prayer

Some may say that life is life and that "answers to prayer" are just coincidences and not the hand of God's providence in our lives. I know that God answers prayers. Sure, they may be co-incidences (two things happening at once seemingly related), but they are not just coincidences.

* Steve had an interview with Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Novato on Sunday Mar. 22, 2009. We both went, had a great time with the church family there, and spent the day in services and going to lunch. We found out earlier this month that they are going to keep their search going for other candidates but assured us that God has something planned for us. (And we know that to be true.)

* The 20/30 Couples group at PCC in Redwood City is done with the Love Dare challenge and we really enjoyed hosting the group at our apartment. The group will be meeting in the Fireside room on Tuesdays for the next several weeks to discuss the next step in the small group ministry for young couples at PCC. Please join us!

* La Tartine was fun and I enjoyed singing some songs that weren't my own. That night, and other moments during days, inspire me to write new phrases and rhymes that may or may not become songs or be heard. But I know that God hears them, even for the brief moment that I think them, even when I forget to write it down, even when that tune is lost and I beg for it back. It's His, I guess, not mine, and I gladly sing to Him every day, a new song. Maybe He'll sing my thoughts and words back to me when I get to Heaven and I can say, "Oh ya... that's how it went..."
:)

Prayer Requests

* Steve has an interview (4th time of contact) with Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Novato on Sunday Mar. 22. The position is for Youth Pastor. We are both going for the day to morning services, lunch with committee members, dinner with more members, and evening service ! It's going to be a long day but we are prayerful and relying on God's wisdom and plan for us as we move through this turbulent time and continue to seek his will.

* Steve and I are currently helping lead a small group for young married couples at PCC in Redwood City and are really enjoying it. We are so thankful for the great group that treks up to our apartment every week. We are going through the Love Dare book together and share our highlights and fears as we do one small (or big) thing each day that grows us closer to our spouse and to God. I highly recommend the Love Dare book. I'm halfway through (much like many PCCers) and it's such a great marriage picker-upper!

* I'm doing a short set at La Tartine tomorrow night around 8:30pm. I'm singing a few of my most recent originals but the scariest part is that I took on the challenge of learning a few "covers" so I'm going to attempt Bubbly by Colby Callait, I'm Yours by Jason Mraz, You've Got a Friend by Carole King, and Beggar by Jetty Rae. P.S. if you haven't heard of Jetty Rae, she is awesome!

25 Things About Me

1. I took the month of January off from Facebook and never missed it once.

2. I go to bed at 10pm! (Used to be like 1-2am)

3. I always laugh at that commercial where the dad has the T-Mobile phone and the family plan but says "Sorry theres a no Derrick's with mustaches clause in the contract. Ohhhh, what a drag DUDE."

4. I love watching American Idol and trying to imagine what they're feeling as they audition.

5. I can do DMV transactions for members at the AAA in Palo Alto.

6. I know how to make lumpia. (After I made them like Steve made them.)

7. There isn't much more interesting stuff about me that people don't already know from my Facebook or blog.

8. One of my favorite authors is Dean Koontz.

9. Right now I'm reading One Door Away From Heaven by Dean Koontz (Then I'll start Twilight)

10. Pizza Rolls rock! (Haven't had them in a few months...)

11. If I start listening to music on my computer, I can get lost in the music.

12. I love searching for indie artists on amiestreet.com

13. The first scary movie I ever saw was Scream and I loved it.

14. I've never seen any of the Friday the 13th or Nightmare on Elm Street movies.

15. I started out hating coffee, now I drink it black.

16. My guitar needs new strings and a new battery (ok so that's about my guitar, but it implies that I am a procrastinator)

17. I have a dentist appointment for Feb 19th.

18. I haven't been to the dentist in 3 years.

19. I have never had, nor will I ever have a cavity.

20. I can't believe I haven't seen the 2nd X-Files movie yet. Shame on me.

21. I'm growing my hair out.

22. I can look straight with one eye and cross-eyed with the other at the same time.

23. My favorite album right now is Rock What You Got by Superchick

24. I gotta go to work tomorrow and that is awesome.

25. I'm a child of God. :D

Last Day of 2008

This is a great day. I've got the weekend off and I'm watching Fellowship of the Ring on "The Wall," cleaning house, making lumpia for tonight, and being thankful for so many things. 2008 - The first part of the year was hard. Steve and I were still living separately: me with my folks and he in a studio. We continued "dating" until June when we were able to get an apartment together with Dot our 6 year-old Beagle. The view is great at the 526 and I love sitting on the balcony watching the tops of the trees and sipping coffee while the sun rises (o.k. that was in the summertime).

I'm still working at AAA and loving it. Steve is still working at Bank of America and not loving it. We are praying for God's guidance and will in this next year. What does He want from us and for us?

One thing Steve and I are doing is eating better. We got ourselves a Vitamix from Costco for Christmas and it was just the right motivation for us to now eat at least 5 fruits and vegetables each per day! We even cook soup in it. :D This is one New Year's Resolution we are keeping as we speak, so I'm confident we will continue! Finally, a success!

And as we start 2009, I pray for continued wisdom most of all. Wisdom for making choices, spending time, and growing closer to God. I wish you all a Happy New Year and the blessings of God.

-Jen

Do Something... Anything!

I just read Tony's 2 Cents and I'm inspired to do something, anything, even if it fails. It doesn't matter if 1000 people think I failed. Maybe 1 person will think about God or pray or remember... I will always remember this one girl in high school who signed my senior yearbook. She was a sophomore at the time and said I was inspiration to her Christian walk because of how I lived my life and ran the newspaper... I had no idea I had made an impact on her life for Christ for two years!

So whenever I say, "I know I don't do much," or "all I do is play music," I know that's just the devil's influence trying to make me quit.

Lead a small group in worship, buy some socks for a homeless person, pray for a coworker, mention Jesus' name as the reason why do did something nice... something... anything.