Frenzied Forty-First

I have been a total and utter slacker when it comes to this blog.

Ok, so there.

I'm back.

The past month and a half have been crazy busy...I was the Youth Director for Vida Nueva (Young women's retreat) last weekend, which was the culmination of about 5 months of planning and creating etc...So, the past 5 weekends in a row I have had to drive down to GA for meetings and to the weekend itself which has kept me busy in itself.

Also, weekend before last, Desmond and I celebrated our first Valentine's day and our 5 month anniversary! It was AMAZING! 

My gifts to him: NBA socks, earrings, a scrapbook I made him and a strawberry cake I made him with homemade icing! 

His gift to me....

This beautiful bag from COACH! I was completely surprised!!!

We went to the Hunter Museum of Art in Chattanooga and then to coffee, and dinner, a movie-He's Just Not That Into You- and walking around the city...

It was cold while we were walking but it was soo worth it! 

It was the most precious day ever! He truly knows me, and he does because he really took the time to learn about me, to find out what I love and what makes me tick. It was so awesome!

As I said above, I just finished working on a young women's retreat called Vida Nueva which is Spanish for "new life." It is a faaaantastic way to connect with other christian's and to grow with God. To find out more info visit www.ngvn.org. I was blessed to be the Youth Director, which is like second in command under the Director. It was a hectic job but so fun and so fulfilling. It is amazing to see how God changes the hearts of the girls and to see him becoming real to them for the first time.

I also just moved, AGAIN. Actually, my AMAZING boyfriend moved me. He surprised me three times, once with all my things put into boxes, next with all the boxes being moved to the new place, and while I was at Vida Nueva, all my furniture being moved! It was Unbelievable! I had no idea he was going to do all of it and it was such a blessing! Since I work all day he knew I would have little to no time and so he just did it when he was not at practice or school...such a keeper :) Hopefully this is my last move until next year, I LOVE my new place, I have stuff in boxes right now but as soon as its all unpacked I will post some pics!

Much love and happy thoughts!

Jill

Double Food for today's thought:

"Faith never knows where it is being led, but it loves and knows the One who is leading."
-Oswald Chambers

"If your heart takes more pleasure in reading novels, or watching TV, or going to the movies, or talking to friends, rather than just sitting alone with God and embracing Him, sharing His cares and His burdens, weeping and rejoicing with Him, then how are you going to handle forever and ever in His presence...? You'd be bored to tears in heaven, if you're not ecstatic about God now!" -Keith Green

Festive Fortieth

OK OK OK! I know it has been a LONG time since I last posted...BUT things have been busy! First there was Thanksgiving, then my graduation, then Christmas and New Years!

The Fam on Christmas Day

Hangin out with friends and fam on New Year's Eve

I spent New Year's day taking engagement pictures for my sister and her fiance. Here are a few from the shoot:

Last week my best friend, Emily who has been living in British Colombia, Canada for the past 2 1/2 years finally came home for a visit! She came up to Cleveland on Monday and we got to hang out all day! It was soo great to see her and catch up!

SO, I don't know what all to expect for 2009 but I am really excited! I know that the Lord has a specific plan for me and I just want to do what he wants for my life and I am seeking him for exactly that.

I hope everyone is doing well in your own corners of the world...much love from mine!

Jill

Food for today's thought:

"Beginning is easy-continuing is hard." -Japanese Proverb

Thrilled Thirty-Ninth

Sorry for the lack of posting, the past few weeks have been INSANE! I have been trying to get things done to graduate and that included 2 exams, a 10 page research paper and 6 pages of service papers, not including work and my regular life! 

Anyway, all the hard work has paid off and I am now

 a COLLEGE GRADUATE!!!!!!!!!

Shaking our president, Dr. Conn's hand and getting that diploma!!!

Des and I, isn't he handsome??!!??

The Siblings minus one :(

My mom, me and my aunt-she also graduated from Lee with a BA in Psych like me!

My wonderful amazing grandparents!

My beautiful graduation ring!!!

Needless to say, I was shocked when I walked across that stage...I really never imagined myself graduating! I think its because I have been there for so long! 

It is such a strange feeling to be done with school...after 18 years of school I barely know anything else...it is what I have been comfortable knowing...So now I am thrust out into the wide world of endless options feeling very untrained and lacking in guidance. However, there is always grad school in the fall...back into the comfort zone I go!

Food for today's thought:

“I hope your dreams take you... to the corners of your smiles, to the highest of your hopes, to the windows of your opportunities, and to the most special places your heart has ever known.”

Thanksgiving Thirty-Eighth

So it's been quite awhile since I updated...things have just been a little crazy here on my end...

Last week was Thanksgiving, Desmond and I drove home to Atlanta last Tuesday and had Thanksgiving with my dad's side of the family. We went to my g-parents house Wednesday and I helped her cook, and that night we went out with Murray and Stacey-Des' best friend and his girlfriend-we went to see Four Christmases, which is really funny, definitely recommend it! Thursday was Thanksgiving with my mom's family, Friday was Black Friday shopping at 6 am and Desmond's b-ball game in south Atlanta, Saturday was my brothers 15th birthday party, Sunday was church and our return to Cleveland!!! Whew!!! Sorry to bore you with all the details but that just explains my lack of writing!

Des and I at about 5:30 on our way to the mall!!! It was sooo early and cold!!!

So this week is filled with reading and writing as I finish up my last college course and my service learning hours before graduation NEX

T SATURDAY- December 13th!!!!!!! 

WOW. 

I can't think about that right now...I'll think about it tomorrow and write about it later...

Sorry I don't have very many pictures I just was on picture taking hiatus this Thanksgiving...

Love you all!

Food for today's thought: 

"Forever on Thanksgiving day the heart will find the pathway home." -Wilbur D. Nesbit

Total Thirty-Seventh

I have had a 5 day weekend like NO other! It all started last Thursday night at the Basketball game, Lee vs. Temple- one of our largest and longest rivals- I went to that game with some friends to cheer Des on, and we won 58-67!!! 

Me, Ashley and Paris cheerin 

on the Flames!!!

My handsome 

boy after the game :)

Friday night I went to the EVS (my old choir, the Evangelistic Singers) alumni get-together as it was our 40th reunion. I saw some of my lovely friends, it was soo great to catch up with everyone after such a long time!

Some of the EVS Alumni

 plus a few new faces...

After the Alumni get together my parents took Des and I out to eat at Carrabba's. It was a really nice time just catching up and letting my parents and Des get to know each other better. 

Saturday morning I had EVS practice then I had roommate pictures to take, then back to the house for a luncheon one of the roomies (Liz) mom and grandma made for us. After that I met up with my parents for the basketball game against Montreat College, who we killed at 92-66!! Then I sang with EVS Saturday night at the homecoming music festival after which my friends and I went to Applebee's...

The lovely ladies of 2250, me Liz, Courtney, Laura, Hannah and Jenny

Leaping!!!

Sepia.

"Walk beside me and be my friend..."

Bonding on the bridge :)

Mom and I at Desmond's game :)

Des and I at Applebee's after singing with EVS.

Sunday morning my parents took Des and I out to breakfast at Cracker Barrell, and then we all hung out for a few hours until I had to go meet up with EVS. Desmond and I went to the EVS concert together which was just like old times...we sang for a good hour and a half, all the old songs that still touch my heart when I sing them. I am soo grateful for the time I had with EVS, many of the things I learned there are still evident in my life today and I am a better person because of the people I met and the experiences I had during my time in EVS...

All in all it was a BLAST of a weekend...a little tiring but very fun and fulfilling!!!

Hope you all are doing well and loving November as I am!

Food for today's thought: 

"Autumn, the year's last, loveliest smile." -William Cullen Bryant

Tired of T's (and dreading the F's) Thirty-Sixth

Hello blogger world! Just thought I would share a little of my Halloween with you...We had quite a party at our house this past weekend with friends and dancing all around! 2 of my friends from Atlanta even came up to hangout! Here are some pics, enjoy!!!

My roomates Courtney (as a man), me (as Dorothy) and Jenny as a sexy ladybug lol!

Another roomie Hannah as a footballer

All the roomies minus Courtney- Me, Hannah, Laura (as her boyfriend), Liz (as a gogo dancer) and Jenny

I love these girls!

I love these girls too! My Atl buddies, Kristin and Ashley- they were cobwebs lol!

My handsome man, he wasn't dressed up yet, he was zorro, it was hilarious!!!

Food for today's thought:

"Double, double toil and trouble; fire burn and cauldron bubble." -Shakespeare "Macbeth"

Truly Thankful Thirty-Fifth

Sharing a kiss :)

In August when I broke up with Jonathan, my plans for the future crumbled. 

I felt lost, unloved, used up and totally clueless as to what God wanted for me.

I decided to just move on, to let God take control even though I could not understand.

God has been working on me ever since...he is healing my heart and my mind. Changing me from the inside out. He also brought Desmond into my life.

Desmond and I literally fell into this relationship, with God as the guide...I seriously thought I wouldn't be dating again for the next several years, and he, after getting out of a rough relationship back in May thought the same thing.

We both PLANNED to stay single, date casually and let our wounds from the past fester. Little did we know that God would plop us into each others lives to heal those wounds and teach us soo much.

The past 2 months have been a whirlwind. Never have I known a guy so willing to put his heart on the line, to go all in, to commit fully and share his life with me completely. I am so honored to be called his girlfriend because of who he is and because of how he is with me...

I can't wait to see where God takes us on this road we've started, but in the meantime, I am just loving every minute I have with him.

The happiest ever,

Jill

Food for today's thought:

"Love isn't something you find. Love is something that finds you." -Loretta Young

Tenacious Thirty-Fourth

OK, so I had a nannying interview 2 Sunday's ago, and then last Friday the mom called back and said that they were having a hard time deciding between me and one other girl, so they asked me to come this week for a trial week...so I have been keeping their precious 4 month old, 5 and 9 year old boys the past 3 days... Last night the dad talked to me and said that they had a great feeling from me from my interview and that the past 3 days with me have run so smoothly, that as long as the rest of the week goes well they will be offering me the full-time position! So I will work Tues-Thur 7:15-6 and either Mon or Fri I'll work a half day. I may work some weekends, but I will be paid overtime for that and it will be planned in advance. So I will be making 300+ a week! PRAISE GOD!!!!!! I have been SO stressed about money and this is just what I need! Also, they are going on a vacation to Disney World, and I will be going with them the 18th-23rd. We are flying down, and staying at the luxury resort villas at The Wilderness Lodge!!! All of that and I'll be getting paid for it! I also get paid holiday's! This is the most amazing job ever! O AND the mom is a Physician's Assistant and so if I get sick she can see me for free!!!

YAY!!!!

"A Nanny's job is priceless, such precious minds to reach...
A job done out of compassion and love for the ones they teach." -Unkown

Tearful Thirty-Third :)

The Program.

The first kiss!!!

Walking out as husband and wife!!!

The bridal party!

Me and my super handsome date! 

The Bridesmaids with our friend Jessica

Chilling with Liz and Jessie at the Reception

Drinking some sparkling cider 

My contribution to the getaway car-Wes' g-mother's face was priceless when she read this lol!

This past weekend my two precious friends got married!!! Sussy and Wes tied the knot! If you know these two you know that their relationship has been such a long crazy story...it all started in 2003 when they met in a choir called The Evangelistic Singers, or EVS as we former members call it :) Wes and Sussy became great friends through ministering together and traveling all over the US as well as Jamaica and the Bahamas...Sussy started to fall in love with Wes way back then, but Wes just wanted to keep things at a friendship level...fast forward to December 2006...Wes tells me and a few others that literally OUT OF THE BLUE he has developed feelings for Sussy. We all are totally taken aback because he has never really had feelings for her like that. So January rolls around and Wes just tells her, I have feelings for you and they start dating! Roll forward to October 2007, with the help of me, and 3 others, Wes proposes to Sussy on a mountaintop here in TN! And now, as of Saturday they are married! This is such a short, uninvolved description of how God plans things out perfectly. He totally knows what he's doing and he does give us the desires of our hearts!!!

Food for today's thought: 

"Why is it that people get married? Because we need a witness to our lives. There’s a billion people on the planet. What does any one life really mean? But in a marriage, you’re promising to care about everything…The good things, the bad things, the terrible things, the mundane things, All of it… all the time, every day. You’re saying “Your life will not go unnoticed because I will notice it. Your life will not go unwitnessed - because I will be your witness.” 

-Wife in the movie, "Shall We Dance?"

Tremendous Thirty-Second

WOW! So much to talk about...Last weekend my 20 year old cousin got married! I cannot believe it! I will never forget living together as kids, playing, swimming, laughing, talking and all of the perks of cousinhood... She was a beautiful

 bride and I am soo happy for her and her new hubby! 

This past weekend I gave my practice talk for VN and it was a little too short but I got a lot of great responses that really made me feel more confident in the whole thing... I am really excited about the weekend, I know that God is teaching me something already and its such a blessing.

Also this past weekend, my dear friend Sussy had her 

bachelorette party! She and I have been friends for about 4 years and we were roommates for 1. She is marrying one of my best friends, Wes, and I am sooo excited for both of them! I can't believe that they are getting married this weekend! I am heading out to North Carolina on Friday for the rehearsal dinner Friday night and the wedding Saturday! I am a bridesmaid so I have to get all ready for these things this week, gotta give myself a mani-pedi and figure out the shoes, jewelry and hair situation, you know, all the girly things :) I can't wait! 

Sussy and her cherry stem "v-card" haha!Me and Nikki

Sussy lookin gorgeous!!!

Some of the girls chillin at Mellow Mushroom 

Sussy takin one of several shots lol!

Desmond went home with me not this weekend but last and we had a blast! My family really liked him and he really liked them! It was just soo much fun! He and I have been having a wonderful time together and I am so thankful that I have him in my life!

Thats about all for now, love to you all!

Jill

Food for today's thought:

"What you are as a single person, you will be as a married person, only to a greater degree. Any negative character trait will be intensified in a marriage relationship, because you will feel free to let your guard down -- that person has committed himself to you and you no longer have to worry about scaring him off." -Josh McDowell