Hiya!

I'm in the mood to post right now...so I'm going to do it before the disciplined side of me tells myself that I need to be doing homework...who needs to do homework anyhow? I'm kind of in anti-homework mode right now, 'cause I was up pretty late last night (or early this morning, whichever you prefer) finishing three writing assignments that were due today. Why is it that assignments tend to be due all on the same day?

School is actually going really well so far. I'm not sure if it's just because its the beginning of the semester, or maybe all that I'm going to have to do hasn't sunk in yet, or maybe it has something to do with being a commuter student, I'm really not sure, but it's been good so far. Being a commuter does have its drawbacks, but I think it's worth it to be able to see my family more and live at home. Now here's something interesting, they announced in Chapel today that on Friday is "Dorm Chapel"...so my question is, where do I go? Hmm...I suppose I'll have to ask someone tomorrow.

I'm trying to think if there's anything else that's new with me...oh, did I tell y'all that I'm an officer for WCC? Yah, I'm the secretary. Basically, I get to run around and do anything Dr. Simons or the president needs me to do. If you think of it, I would appreciate your prayers concerning WCC this year. There were some challenges last year with some of the girls involved, and I really hope that won't be repeated this year, and that us officers would be able to lead the group wisely. Also, my being involved in so many choirs...I'm starting to feel the pressure...and come Christmas time, I'll really be feeling the pressure.

Love ya!

Jennifer

P.S. What do you think of my new profile pic? A.J. took it...

Hello! Do many people go on here much anymore? Is it just me...or does it seem like everybody is enamored with "facebook" now? Everybody is like, "Do you have facebook? (*gasp*) You don't have facebook!!??" O, horrors! (*sarcastically*) Blah, blah, who really cares? It's just another way to use up your time that could be used on something else. Don't get me wrong, I don't think it's bad, I just think that sometimes people get a little too carried away. Anyway, so much for xanga...it's kind of been lost in the shadows it seems to me. Oh well, I guess it's like anything else, fads come, and then before you know it they go. Such is life. I really do hate change. Sometimes I wish everything/everybody would just stay the same, but I know that's just wishful thinking on my part. Ahhh! Why does change have to be sooo hard!

On a more personal note: I'm not sure what's wrong with me...but some days I'm excited about my life and the things that are happening in it...but then other days I'm really down about not knowing what I'm going to do with my life...how I'm going to continue to pay for college, Daddy finding a job, the possibility of my family moving, school, just everything. It's so very frustrating. I'm very much a control person, I like knowing when things are going to happen, I like making things happen...but not knowing, and just floating along is so hard. I really hate it! I'm sure God is trying to teach me something through all this...but I don't think I've quite grasped it yet. I'm so confused, I don't know anything right now. It's too bad life can't just be all clear cut and simple...all planned out and ready to go. But I guess that's where "life experiences" come in...my dad keeps telling me, "Just think, you're only paying $28,000 a year to get 'life experiences'." Yah, only.

On a happier note: this is my class schedule for this semester (that's starting in 2 and 1/2 weeks, Ahhh!). It will be interesting to see how everything works out now that I'm going to be a commuter student.

		Jennifer's Class Schedule Fall '07
Time	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
9:00	Chapel		Chapel		Chapel
9:30	9:10-10:25	N.T. Survey I	9:10-10:25	N.T. Survey I	9:10-10:25
10:00		9:35-11:00		9:35-11:00
10:30	Basic Conducting		Basic Conducting
11:00	10:40-11:35		10:40-11:35
11:30	Intro to Biblical		Intro to Biblical		Intro to Biblical
12:00	Counseling		Counseling		Counseling
12:30	11:45-12:40	Foundations	11:45-12:40	Foundations	11:45-12:40
1:00		of Science		of Science
1:30		12:45-2:10		12:45-2:10
2:00	Critical Thinking		Critical Thinking		Chorale Sectional
2:30	& Problem solving	Chorale	& Problem solving	Chorale	2:00-3:00
3:00	1:55-3:20	2:20-3:45	1:55-3:20	2:20-3:45
3:30	WCC
4:00			Women's Choir	Piano Practicum
4:30			3:30-5:15	4:00-5:00
5:00	Collegiate
5:30	Singers
6:00	5:00-6:15

*I had to copy and paste my schedule in...so if it looks a little off, that's why.

Well what do you think? I guess it looks kind of busy doesn't it? And it doesn't even have my piano lessons, voice lessons or work schedule either. Oh well, I like being busy. I'm not sure how I'm going to manage being in 4 choirs though...memorizing all that music is not going to be very fun.

For those of you who read this, I hope this rather long post made up for my not having posted in a while. Love ya!

~Jennifer

Ahhh!!! Why oh why? Sometimes I wish life would slow down a little...

Can you believe I'm 20 years old today? I'm trying not to think too much about it. The random colors I chose are to show my somewhat confused state of mind...it's going to take some getting used to...this whole being in "my twenties" thing.

Now that I got that out of my system...I have a question...do I look like I'm 20 years old? I have always wondered if I look "my age." Generally when people guess how old I am, they guess about right...although sometimes they guess older (*groaning*), I'm old enough as it is, why do they have to make me feel ancient? My mom doesn't like it when I refer to myself like that...if I'm old, she wants to know what that makes her.

Random thought: I kind of think our society has the whole birthday thing backwards...I get presents on the day I was born, but what about my poor mom, she should really be the one who gets the presents, she's the one who went through everything for me to be who I am today. Hmm, something to think about. Another thing...who started the whole presents/celebration thing anyway?

Before you finish reading this, thinking that I'm a total stick in the mud about my birthday...I'm not. I do love all the conventional celebration, "spoil the birthday girl" things myself. And it does make me feel special when people wish me a happy birthday.

Still working on the pictures...

Love, Jennifer

Wow, it's been a really long time since I've posted on here...

A bit of update: I finished my first year as a college student (yes!) and I didn't die...God has taught me so much in this last year about trusting Him with the direction of my life...I just got back from Women's Chamber Choir East Coast Tour and singing at Carnegie Hall ('twas pretty exciting)...I'm back at work (as of today) for the summer at TMC's Student Employment office...my Granddad is not doing too well, so our family is leaving on Saturday to travel up to Spokane, Washington to see him (probably for the last time)...I'm so excited that it's summer break!

Hopefully before too long I'll be able to post some pictures from my trip and tell y'all a little bit more about it. Until then...I hope everyone is doing well.

Love, Jennifer

I can't describe it...except that it was amazing.

Tonight our guest speaker for the Truth and Life Conference here at school was Art Azurdia...he is definitely my new favorite speaker...he spoke on Hebrews 12:1-2. God is truly amazing...if you read my last update, you could probably tell that I wasn't being very content or joyful about coming back to school. Well, tonight's message just hit me so hard...I really needed to hear it. God just totally used it to get my focus back on track and to give me an attitute that's ready for the semester. In a way, it's like a load has been lifted from my shoulders...God used the words Mr. Azurdia spoke tonight to really get my attention. As you can probably tell from my heading, Heb. 12:1-2 is my favorite Bible verse...so I was really excited when he told us to turn to that text. Here are some of the things that he pointed out that really struck me, "To run this race to its conclusion, we must divest ourselves of anything that heeds our progress..." (I need to put aside my worries about classes and such), "If you are to run the race that God has set out for you, you must focus on the one who ran the race perfectly..." (I must keep my focus on God and nothing else), "Keep your eyes focused on the goal...don't become distracted with secondary things..." (the Lord has me here, so I need to make it my priority), "Don't calapse before you get to the finish line..."(I can't and won't give up), "Instead of the joy...He endured the cross..." (a reminder of His sacrifice for me), and "We must run the race, keeping our eyes on Jesus..." (here is the key...not focusing on myself, but on Christ). I have been so focused on myself lately, and how hard this semester is going to be...when I should have been focusing on "running the race" and keeping my focus on Christ. I'm so glad that I was able to hear this tonight and that God showed me how I needed to implement it in my life. Still pray for me...but now I have a renewed energy and endurance for the semester...let's just hope I can keep it.

Wow, I know I probably have y'all thoroughly confused, the way I've been going back and forth like this...but God is good, I feel so much better about everything now!

Love you!

Jenn