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Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Confessions & The Zoo.

Tuesday Confessions. Why not?

1. I'm absolutely 100% addicted to Candy Crush. I admit it. I can't stop playing, or spending .99 cents on lives only to lose them all in in .634 seconds. But I can't stop. I don't wanna stop!! I get jealous of people who are on level one hundred bajillin and nine. I wanna beat them!!! I'm begging my Facebook friends for lives and tickets! If you are one of them, I apologize...But I'm going to do it again. Ha. If this continues, I think it could be a real problem.


2. I hate doing dishes. LOATHE dishes. I would rather give myself a shot. In the eye. Seriously. I would do the laundry of 4 football teams before I would volunteer to wash a pan or a cup or a plate, or anything.
3. I am not a morning person. I hate waking up. I really need two good cups of coffee to get it together in the mornings. Today was no exception.
4. I'm a procrastinator. Big time. I wait to do everything until the very last possible second. It doesn't matter what it is... I always put it off. ALWAYS. Laundry, studying, waking up, getting gas, buying gifts. You name it, I'm gonna wait to do it. I frustrate myself. Haha.
5. I love cupcakes. I have never been a huge fan of cupcakes or cake or icing, but one of my coworkers has a dream to own her own bakery. And her baking skills are beyond fantastic. Lucky for us, she's always bringin' in cupcakes. My expensive jeans? Not so lucky. They hang in the closet. Because I love cupcakes. And cakes. -She brings cakes, too.- Lucky for me, I wear scrubs to work and have plenty of sweats. Haha!
6. I have a very, veryyyyyy strong desire to pack all my things and move to the beach. Of course, I would have to have a job first. Maybe things will work out... maybe...just maybe there is a move in my future! 
7. I have a Backstreet Boys Pandora station. Yeah, I said it.



I spent Saturday at the Birmingham Zoo with my nieces!  I always have fun with the girls... but sometimes I really struggle with the whole zoo thing... I like the zoo, and I understand that kids LOVE it because they have no concept of "captivity". But it totally breaks my heart sometimes. Those animals can't possibly be happy there. I'm not saying they aren't well taken care of... I just don't think it's fair. It makes me so sad. I just wish I could free them all! Haha. I think I would go to jail for that. For now, I will just try not to think about it. Here are a few pictures from our zoo trip!!

Maddie and I got to feed the Giraffe!! That was actually really cool!!

Alexis was trying to decide if she was going to get in the water.

Sweet girls...Sharing the window and holding hands!

Talking to the Elephant!

Mr. Peacock was definitely showing off!

Pretty parrots.

Our Zoo has a really cool butterfly garden!

This guy followed us up and down the fence line! He wanted out!

Pretty Girl. She was just watching everything.


Happy Tuesday, Y'all!
-Jen-

Thursday, April 25, 2013

Freely You Have Received.

Why is it that we always hurt the ones we love the most? And why do we expect to be so easily forgiven, yet find it so hard to freely offer the same forgiveness that we expect? Double Standards. And it's always easier to receive than it is to give. It's not right, but that's the truth. We are called to "FREELY" give. Just as we have received. We are expected to!! Matthew 10:8-Loud and clear, y'all.

Apologizing is always the first step, right? Why is apologizing so hard? Sometimes it's a pride thing. But most of the time... It's fear. I'm human. I'm always going to make mistakes. Apologizing implies change. Saying you're sorry implies that you were wrong and need to make a change so you don't do the same thing again and have to apologize again. I can't guarantee that I won't make the same mistake again. It's almost impossible. But, I'm learning.

I don't know about you, but I get really annoyed when someone has to constantly apologize for the same thing and constantly does the same things over and over again. It makes me feel like it doesn't mean anything. I always feel that if they really meant the apology, they wouldn't continue to do the same things again and again. I started to look at things differently...I asked myself just how many times I do the same thing, then turn to God and ask for forgiveness? I laughed. I do the same things day after day, and apologize and ask for forgiveness day after day. And it is freely given to me, day after day after day...time and time again. I'm still human. Mandi Mapes says it best... "For the record I'm a full time failure...I'm a high class screwed up mess, but you love me just because." I don't always get it right. I rarely get it right. But I'm trying, y'all.



God forgives me every single day. Don't I owe others the same things that I am so freely given even when I don't deserve it? Absolutely.  

"Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times." Matthew 18:21-22


Happy Thursday, Y'all!
-Jen-



Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Coffee & Conversation.


Okay, Okay. I'm a little late for this one.  I got busy yesterday and didn't get to finish typing this post out but I didn't want to miss this link up! You should go check two of my favorite Alabama bloggers, Lauren and Kalyn and join the link up!



Coffee & Conversation


Todays Coffee & Conversation question: What do you consider your two greatest strengths? What about the areas you would like to improve?

As I was growing up, we were taught a lot about spiritual gifts/strengths. I haven't taken the spiritual gifts assessment in years, so I am not sure what those are now. I think my biggest strength is my ability to connect with people. I have always been very outgoing. A social butterfly, if you will. I never meet a stranger. I still have my moments when I occasionally feel awkward, but I'm only human. For the most part, I can make friends anywhere I go. I love people and people love me. I try to be a light in every room.

My next strength is that I am extremely empathetic. Sometimes too much. Especially when it comes to those who can't take care of themselves. I have an insatiable desire to do things for others and take care of them. have a huge hurt that is constantly overflowing with emotions and empathy for others. I am a great listener, but my heart actually hurts for people. Or animals, or children, or the elderly. Commercials make me cry all the time. Haha. I love being able to relate to people on such a personal level, but this can also be a huge weakness for me.

I have two things I would really like to improve... I think we all suffer from the first at some point or another. I'm a procrastinator. Big time. With everything. Laundry, packing, school work, studying, cooking, shopping. Whatever. I do everything at the very last possible second making myself a total mess. Haha. I really am working on this.

This one is a little more personal. I have a very hard time walking away from things or people. I don't feel like I have to do this often, but even when something is totally bad for me, and it's hurting me, I can't just walk away. Because I am so empathetic, if there are other people involved, I don't want to hurt them too. I end up being hurt in the process because I didn't just walk away when I should have. I am really trying to learn to "Let Go and Let God". It's really easier said than done.

I hope you are all having a great week!
Happy Tuesday, Y'all!
-Jen-




Thursday, April 11, 2013

Things Women Need To Be Told.

I'm going to rant for a minute...Sometimes, things just need to be said. Don't worry, there are only a few of them...

1. Ladies, I know we all think public restrooms are gross. You know what's more gross than the restroom itself? YOU. You when you pee allllll over the seat and don't wipe it off. Seriously. Just wipe it off. That's all you gotta do. I don't hover all the time. Sometimes, you just gotta sit down, and the last thing I want to do is sit in your teetee because you're lazy. Oh, and don't even get me started about how many of you don't flush the toilet. Sheesh. 



2. I know you have all heard this before. But for the love of all the eye balls in this world, Leggings. Are. Not. Pants. Unless you want to be one of the most pinned pictures on Pinterest, or on the People Of Walmart site, stop. Stop it now.  This is not an acceptable way to wear leggings. I don't care if you are 110 pounds soaking wet. It still doesn't look good. Example...

Source: google.ca via Becky on Pinterest

This is an acceptable way to wear leggings...

For those of you that are still confused... I found this little quiz for you. Read this before you leave the house. If not for yourself, then do it for the rest of us. 

Source: melbgirl.com.au via Jen on Pinterest


3. Stop playing dumb. It's not cute. At all. And stop posting half naked pictures of yourself on the interwebz trying to be sexy. You aren't. It's trashy. And once you put them there, they are there forever. Think about the kind of woman you would want your daughter to be... then be that kind of woman.


4. Our society sucks. Seriously. Stop defining who you are based on who our "society" thinks you need to be to fit in. A thigh gap? Is this really the latest trend women/girls are following? Stop reading the magazines and killing yourself to look/be like someone else. Love your curves and your glasses and your frizzy hair. Embrace every part of your being.  Be you. You were created perfectly. The sooner you accept yourself just as you are, the sooner you can be the best you you can be.



5. STOP JUDGING EACH OTHER. How can we possibly expect other people to respect when we are constantly attacking each other? Women and girls are mean. We are meaner to each other than to anyone else. Seriously ladies, let's get it together. Instead of beating each other down, we have got to start lifting each other up. Maybe, just maybe, when we stop calling each other "bitches" and "hoes", the rest of the world will too.



Okay. I'm done.
Happy Thursday, Y'all!
-Jen-

Thursday, April 4, 2013

Happiness Is A Choice.



We live in a world that convinces us that we need this or that to "make" us happy. Our world tells us that in order to find real, true happiness, we need to follow the ways of this world. Be thin, buy this, eat that, travel here, make this much money, have this size house, be this important to this many people. The truth is that happiness doesn't come from any of those things, or this world. 

Happiness comes from within. People say that all the time. People say it all the time because it's the truth. 

Happiness is a lifestyle. It's a choice you make every day. It's a choice you make before your feet hit the floor. You can be unhappy that your alarm is going off and it's super annoying, or you can be happy that the Lord let you wake up to live another day. You can be unhappy that you have to go to work, or you can be happy that you have a job. You can be unhappy about the driving in the nasty rainy weather, or you can be happy that you have a car to drive. You can be unhappy that your lunch options aren't what you wanted, or you can be happy that you have lunch and that you aren't wondering where your next meal will come from. You can be unhappy that the woman in line in front of you is using a bajillion coupons, or you can be happy that you make enough money you aren't even worried about saving a buck like she is. You can be unhappy about your crappy cable service, or you can be happy you can afford cable in this economy. You can be unhappy that church service starts so early on a Sunday, or you can be happy that you have a place to go worship where you are loved, accepted and welcomed just as you are. See, it's a choice. Everything is a choice. Your happiness is in the palm of your hands. You get to define it. 

A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. 
Proverbs 17:22

Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

“Happiness is not a feeling, it is a choice. To be happy, one must choose to be happy, not respond to a circumstance that now controls your happiness.”
Joyce Meyer


Source: m.weheartit.com via Jen on Pinterest


Choose happiness today. No matter what your options are, choose to be happy. I promise you won't regret it. And if choosing happiness over anything else doesn't work for you, well, then you can tell me I'm wrong!

Happy Thursday, Y'all!
-Jen-