Dear Spring, please stay.

I just want to say, I wish I had the knack of this blog. If anyone knows how to find cute backgrounds and put them on my blog, let me know. I don't even know who my followers are! 


Okay now, update time.
Life has been pretty crazy. (Hence my lack of blog updates). Jake and I are both in school over full time and both have part time jobs as well as callings in the church. Jake was called as the Lufkin 1st ward Seminary Teacher and released as a Primary Worker (no more nursery with me...), and I was called as Achievement Day Leader and I'm pretty sure Nursery President, or something. It's been busy, but we have managed to take hold of everything pretty nicely so far. I love the Achievement Day girls, I swear I do everything with them that I would have loved to do back when I was 8-12 years old. In fact, we'll be holding a Daddy/Daughter Date this month and the theme is a "Cinderella Ball," where my Dad is going to come down and help me teach the girls and their Daddys the Waltz. The best part is, everyone (including me) get to dress up like a princess. Because every girl is a princess. So I've been preparing for that and I'm so excited to see how that turns out. My Dad goes in for back surgery about a week and a half before then, so I hope he has the strength to help. If not, I know he and my Mom will love coming down to visit us.


I'm pretty convinced that this has been the coldest winter Texas has ever seen. It's miserable! Today the sun is out, but it's still pretty chilly. I hope that the cold goes away for the year. It's about time it got warmer. I miss the heat of Texas. 


With financial aid and a pretty decent tax return, we are thinking about looking for a new home here in Lufkin. Also, by the way things are looking, we're probably going to first be looking for a decent used car as well. Both sound so nice right now. A tiny apartment and a car that's trying to hold out on both of us, spending most of our time walking to where we need to get to go is getting rather annoying, especially in this cold. But what can I say, at least we have a car and money to pay for rent each month, and that we can afford to go to school and that we both have steady jobs. But still. Sometimes it's just easier to find something better in a time of need. If you know anyone who is looking to sell their car, please let me know. 


By the end of the summer I should be done with Angelina College and transferring over to SFA to finish a Bachelor's in Early Childhood Education. If it works out the way we plan, I should be teaching in no time. I'm so excited just thinking about it. I hope that everything works out. I hope I can find a job that can help get Jake through nursing school so we can really get down to business. We hope that by finding a home and getting at least another couple semesters out of the way we can finally start our family. That's definitely one thing that I'm super excited about but also pretty nervous. Just about the same feeling I had before I decided to get married. It's a big change but a wonderful one. I just want to be ready, but everyone tells me that you're never really ready. I've also been told to wait like 3 or 5 years to start having kids. Yeah right. I can't wait that long. :)


That's about all I can think of right now. It's been really fun being married. In May it'll be a whole year. We've come pretty far already and we've had a few rough times but so many more good times. I'm so glad I made the right decision in marrying my sweetheart. I love my in-laws (all of them :) and I'm so glad that I get to live close to my parents during this time. I'm super excited for my sister who has found the love of her life and I know he's going to change her life just as much as she has changed mine. I have so many things to be grateful for. The only thing that could make my day any better is if the sun would stay out for me. :)

Tis' the Season

It's almost Christmas! The tree is up, the apartment smells of hot buttered rum and evergreen (my candles!), secret gifts are magically appearing underneath the tree, our first Christmas... and it's 70 degrees and getting warmer! I will never understand Texas.

We recently discovered that Amber has fleas. I've given her 2 baths in 2 days and she's taken it pretty well. I know we've treated her well because she trusts us when it comes to taking care of her and as I speak she is cuddled up next to me (still a bit damp). But the fleas are gone and the house was fogged so that's one less thing to worry about!

I got a more permanent job at a daycare here in town. I'm glad I tried one more time with a job during my semester at school because this one I really love. It's a work study program, so I can't work more than 15 hours a week which is great for school. I'm taking 17 credit hours next semester in order to graduate in August and working 15 hours is just about perfect. I had to leave a job from American Eagle and a Dance Academy because I couldn't work the hours they needed me to so finally, something I can multi task with comfortably.

About a year and a half ago I was writing 3 different missionaries. One was my brother Nathan in Germany, one was a good friend named Adam who served in the Honduras, and one named Matt in Las Vegas that actually ended up kind of a sticky situation. As of today, all three of them are done with their missions and I am so proud of all of them. Each of them has changed so much and Adam is already close to an engagement. Crazy. Looking back though, I changed a lot too. The years between 18 and about 21 are incredibly life-changing for most. Especially those who serve missions or decide to marry. I always had a great relationship with each of the people I wrote to, and I hope that with time, we'll be able to rekindle an old friendship. But when it comes down to it, I've learned that some friendships can't just be won back. Some friendships never come back, no matter how tight the knot was. I've had a hard time with a couple of friendships and all I can do is hope it all works out. I am so proud of each of these missionaries and I know they served with all of their heart. They deserve the world and I hope with all of my heart that they find what the Lord has in store for them.

I'm grateful for friendships, whether old, lost, or new. I'm grateful for families, and music that warms the heart. I'm grateful for joy in the home, for hope, and for the feeling of finishing something that was really difficult. One of Andy William's Christmas songs, "We Need a Little Christmas" says these lyrics: For I've grown a little lean, grown a little colder, grown a little sadder, grown a little older and I need a little angel, sitting on my shoulder; I need a little Christmas. I'm grateful for this Christmas season, for the tender feelings of my heart during this time. I hope that I can give more than I receive, and that these feelings can spread to others this Christmas season.

Autumn

My family are definitely Christmas folk (especially Nathan). Now I love Christmas also, don't get me wrong, but I have chosen to respect and love the Thanksgiving holiday. I haven't put up any Christmas lights or bought any Christmas gifts because this month, to me, should be dedicated to the welcoming beauty of Autumn.

I believe that Thanksgiving begins the Christmas season.

I'm thankful for a roof over my head, food in my fridge, money in my pocket, three loving families, and a husband who loves me deeply. I'm thankful for the Gospel in my life and the blessings it has brought into my life. I'm thankful for a Savior who knows me more than I know myself, for safety, security, and a close enough temple that only takes a day trip and not a week or a month. I'm thankful for the blessings of the temple. People would go more if they realized how much the temple can heal their hearts.

I will be posting more the next couple of weeks as I take time to realize just how blessed I am to be alive, well, and loved. I encourage you to do the same. This is the most beautiful time of the year; a time of growth, indulgence, peace, and giving. I hope that in spite of a busy to-do list, not to mention final exams and crazy work schedules, you and I can open our hearts and give thanks to our family, loved ones, and our Savior this month. Let's set the stage for a memorable rest of the year.

I, Too, Am Christian

I, too, am Christian
Yes, I am my husband’s only wife
No, I don’t worship Joseph Smith
Yes, I read and believe in the Book of Mormon
No, I don’t plan on having twelve children

Yes, I will tell you I’m not perfect
No, my religion is not a cult
Yes, I study and love the Bible
No, I don’t drink or smoke

I am human, just like you
I pray, worship, grow, just like you
I am a follower of my Savior, Jesus Christ
I, too, am Christian.

And so we begin

After a month of interviews, Jake has finally started his work at Sprint!

He isn't doing much right now, just observing mostly and taking training tests. He goes into training soon so things should start picking up soon with him.

Status: Bored!

Before I started school I decided that it would be better for me to only concentrate on my 13 hours and not work this semester. When I was at BYU and working 20-30 hours a week I often felt overwhelmed with the little amount of time I had (or didn't have) to study. But I've come to the realization that that was probably just BYU, my job was very demanding, or I just didn't make the time to study. Because since I've started school, I've found that I have TONS of time on my hands. Especially with Jake being at work all day and me not having school on the weekends... I can't believe it but I'm bored a lot. So, I applied and was hired to a Dance Academy for young ballet, tap, and gymnastics dancers. It also has jazz and drill. I start this week, and I'm looking forward to becoming busier.

I also realized today how little I will be seeing my husband this year.

In Provo I was spoiled with the privilege of working with him. We haven't spent much time apart since, well, since we met. I hope I can cope with this change. There's a lot of change right now. With moving, new school, new jobs, new place, new people. A whole new life. How did we get here? Why here, why now? I feel the blind pull that the Lord is leading us in a certain direction, though I don't know where this direction will take us. I never fathomed how much you change when changes are acted upon you. I feel like it's about time for changes like this.

We need to grow up sometime.

Waiting

Yep, still trying to figure this out. I can't seem to figure out how to change the font on "About Me" and "Blog Archive." Suggestions are appreciated.

Status: Impatient.

Jake had his second interview, which went great. They need someone who can speak Spanish, and Jake knows Portuguese which is ridiculously close to Spanish, which he confidently informed those who are taking that into account. We've been expecting a phone call for about a week now; the man who is supposed to call him is on vacation this week and hopefully will be back tomorrow to make the call. Our fingers are tightly crossed, but we've been pretty antsy due to the fact that school doesn't start for another two weeks and we are running out of things to do with just the two of us in one little apartment. Luckily, we have a pool just outside our building, I like to call it our silver lining during this immense sauna-type weather we've been having down here. We love being busy and can't wait for everything to kick back into shape, but it's still kind of nice to relax a little now that we have the chance. It's been a crazy move and a lot of adjustments but we have each other. And that's all that counts.

Sometimes people walk into your life for a reason, whether you are asking for it or avoiding it at all costs. Jake has been an enormous blessing in my life that will last forever, no strings attached. He came at the perfect time for my heart to accept well before my mind ever would. He is my best friend, my eternal companion, the light and love of my life.

I guess that's what you get when you read a newlywed's blog. :)

Pictures.

This is Amber.

She is sweet but also, lately, a bit mischievous. You see, recently she has actually discovered that she has claws. And claws to a new curtain, an arm of a couch, or use to climb up the side of a bed, are now newly established "no-no's" in our house. She quite literally tries to jump from the couch to the top of our kitchen table during a (well prepared, I must say) dinner. No success yet, but I have a feeling there will be one soon. Our favorite place to put her at night and when we run errands is in a closet we like to call a laundry room, which has her bed, food, water, and litter box. It's the smelliest room in the house... Surprise!

I've also found that she is, in fact, a kitten. And that's what kittens do. Jake says you can't train a cat but my stubbornness and determination is telling me otherwise. I've never had a cat so it's new to me to always have cat hair on my clothes and small scratches on my arms and face.As of today, we've glued rubber caps to her claws.

She's much nicer now.

We definitely miss friends in Provo, though. Many people we worked with at the Brick Oven, aunts, uncles, grandparents and cousins have torn at our heartstrings this weekend. We have made a few friends at church, one that I actually knew back from Girl's Camp. I love the southern hospitality and I know we'll make genuine friends here as we did in Utah.

It's funny how some of the closest people of your life seem to slip through your fingers. I left a friend back in Provo that has changed my life for the better but she has gained so much distance from me, and everyone else. I'm worried about her, miss her, and wish the best for her. Whatever happens. If she's reading this, she knows who it is I'm speaking of. I truly miss you.

"The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart." - Helen Keller

More later,

Jen

Well, this is new.

Actually, this isn't that new come to think of it. I used to have a xanga back in 8th and 9th grade, but everyone had a xanga then and all it did was cause drama. Now that things have settled down a bit, I thought I'd give this a go and see how it works out.

Status: Hopeful.

We've trekked the 26 hour drive from Provo, Utah to Longview, Texas. We move into our apartment in Lufkin tomorrow and we're stoked. We've added a new member to our family but before you freak out, it's a cat! She's about 10 weeks old and she's our new baby. We've named her Amber and she's orange and white and absolutely wonderful. She'll love our new home.

Jake had an interview with Sprint today which went very well. He applied for the Lead Retail Consultant and has been called back for a second interview. We hope very much to get this job.

I start school down at Angelina College on the 30th. I'm thinking about finishing up my associate's in Psychology with Kilgore College and then finish my Bachelor's in Early Childhood Education at Angelina and SFA. But it's still in the making.

That's about where we're at right now. I'm not sure how often I'll have some time to update this, or who will read it but it's a shot. If you read this, go ahead and comment if you want. I'll put some pictures up of the cat soon, too.

More later,

Jen