Dustin and Jennie Harrell

GOODBYE, and HELLO!

2009-09-04T15:03:00.001-04:00

This blog (obviously) is no longer an active blog...

Visit my new blog: http://www.jennietalks.blogspot.com

-Jennie

HUGE HAPPENINGS!

2009-01-28T16:50:00.000-05:00

Dear Family and Friends,

I want to let you all know about something huge that is about to happen. As most of you know, I started as a Mary Kay Consultant back in August. I have enjoyed it so much, and business has been great. I have added 8 wonderful women to my team and I'm ready to progress in this business! So I have decided to launch into Mary Kay as a career. I am planning to be a Independent Sales Director! This will allow me to quit my job and just do Mary Kay, which will be awesome as Dustin and I start thinking about having a family :). I am very excited.

What happens next is a DIQ (Director in Qualification) period. I will have to work really hard to make this happen. I will have some huge goals ahead of me (with time limits) on team production and number of team members. I have to say that I'm nervous, but I believe that this is where God wants me to be, and HE is able to make this happen. I will have four months to complete the goals, but I can finish earlier if everything happens quickly.

I am writing to let you know about this so you will know what's going on with us! I am going to be working Mary Kay full-time during DIQ, and I'll still be working my part-time bank job, so things will be a little crazy. Dustin and I have decided that these four months (or less!) will be worth the long-term gain.

I am also writing to ask you all to help me. Here are some ways that you can do that, if you are willing.

1. Please pray for me. This is known in the MK world to be a tiring and stressful time if you don't do it right. I am hoping that I can do it right! But I will need every prayer as I push to meet my goals. Thank you!!

2. Please hold a Skincare Class/Party for me! Even if you have held one before, think of some other girlfriends and let's do it again! The way I'm going to finish DIQ is to meet ALOT of women. Please help me with this. Send me an e-mail or give me a call and let's plan a girlfriend party!! These are so fun, they are FREE, you'll get great hostess credit (free products and gifts), and you'll be doing me an enormous favor. Seriously, second to prayer this is my biggest need. Would any of you be willing to help me [again] with this?

3. Please send me referrals! If you know someone who would be an awesome MK Consultant, give me her name and number. I'll call and give her a free gift and do an interview with her, and if she becomes part of my team YOU will get $100 in free MK products. And if you know someone who needs products, you know where to send her!

4. Please allow me to interview you! I will be doing a large number of interviews during the next four months. They will consist of telling you a little about the business and finding out what you think. There is no obligation, and there are no strings attached. Even if you can never see yourself doing MK, you can still count as an interview for me! AND you'll get a gift from me :)

So what do you think? Would you be willing to help me in at least 3 of these ways?? I will be so grateful!

PS: When I make Directorship, I will also be driving around in my FREE Mary Kay Silver Pontiac G-6. Help me get there! I can't do it without you! YES, I AM BEGGING!!

Thank you so much... Remember, if everyone says "I don't have time," no one will write me back. Think about what you can do and how you can make it happen. I will be forever grateful.

Jennie Harrell
Independent Beauty Consultant
Mary Kay Cosmetics

336.293.3396
http://www.marykay.com/jennieharrell

Some of Dustin's Recent Masterpieces...

2008-12-06T10:16:00.003-05:00

Yes, he has been painting more in recent days- to my delight!! He has so much talent and I love seeing what comes from his paintbrush. He is selling paintings now, so if you are interested, let us know... He will also do custom paintings. More to come!!!

I love this yellow lily... it's my favorite. Dustin painted this one for our bedroom wall. Isn't that amazing?
This is one that he started a few years ago... it was gorgeous in black-and-white, and now it has a neat new look.
This one is just incredible to me!! The camera doesn't do justice to the real thing. It is stunning. I love how Dustin did the reflection at the bottom.
This is a Stargazer Lily... He saw a picture of one and decided to give it a try. It may still be a work in progress. He wants to add to it a little.

DUSTIN IS HOME!!!

2008-10-26T00:52:00.003-04:00

I am so thankful to be able to say that Dustin is safely home! I have realized again how much I take our time for granted. I am so happy that I have him back!!

Thank you all for your prayers. He had an awesome trip! He will be posting pictures and commentary in the future.

Funny Stuff in Ecuador

2008-10-20T02:14:00.003-04:00

Check this out! You can hear Dustin laughing in the background!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4l8dV11ckI

Wow...

2008-10-20T01:35:00.002-04:00

Here is another incredible update fro Ecuador! Amazing...

Let us start from Friday. Friday we were supposed to arrive at the church for the first part of the conference for the church in Quito. Due to the massive storms in the area, Juan and Guillermo were not able to pick us up until around 7:45 P.M. We got to the church after 8:00. By then the majority of the people were leaving even though they knew that we had arrived.

Around eight to ten people remained there after the pastor had invited us into the church. The manual was introduced once more and the lesson on the authority of Scripture was taught. Lessons from the manual were given out to be presented the next day. The morning (Saturday) we arrived at the church before 9:00. Well, only three other people besides the pastor showed up for this session. At about 9:45 the pastor told us to move the chairs into a circle because the group was so small. We were not able to go through the lessons given out the previous night because so few showed up.

During our stay here in Ecuador, in both Quito and Puyo we have been praying for key men to present themselves and help with the purpose of returning "The Church" back to God's Word. The conference turned quickly into a small meeting lead by the Pastor. The Pastor asked Juan to help Him to teach the manual! After this Juan began to take over and go through the goal and key points of the manual. We watched as Juan assumed his role of leadership and with much passion he went through the key points and the ultimate goal of the manual. The pastor inserted his comments in complete accordance with what Juan was saying. (Keep in mind that the church in Acts acted in one accord, with one mind and one Spirit).

Juan and the pastor began discussing on how to work together in unity and with the help of the manual to train up key leaders within the church to reach "The Church" in Ecuador. This was a huge answer to prayer and a great foundation that had been laid on that day. We sat back and watched the Holy Spirit at work in both of these men's lives. This was enough for us I believe but God was not through quite yet. If it had not been for the rain (God's intervention) making us late to the meeting and thus shifting the whole outset of the conference, this most valuable meeting would not have taken place.

Today (Sunday morning), the pastor asked Tim to speak for the service and to teach a section specifically from the manual on our relationship with Christ, our marriage and family, and the church. He even printed out the diagram from the manual as well. The Holy Spirit was at work here as well. The pastor wanted his church to be revitalized by a message specifically from the Word and not from himself but from a fellow brother from the United States. After the message, we enjoyed great fellowship with the people there at the church .

At this point we thought that our mission was through here in Ecuador and we went to eat lunch with our translator Catherine and her mother at Burger King. Afterward, Catherine's mother left and we went to the mall to enjoy some coffee. During this time Catherine mentioned to us that we were to meet Juan, the pastor and another contact of theirs at 3:00 p.m. At three we met and had coffee with these men and this is the finale (as far as I know) of our trip. The meeting begins with the pastor. Fervently he declares that the churches are dying and falling off of the map. He begins to explain the purpose of the manual and though we could understand very little, with great confidence we knew that the Spirit was at work.

We weren't quite sure of the role of their contact except that he was the president of some alliance. We found out that their contact is the president of the alliance of all the independent (meaning non-denominational, non-affiliated) churches in all of Ecuador. How about 2,000+ churches! Juan now takes over and begins to go through the manual with this president going through page by page and summarizing all of the key points. Almost immediately this brother is on board. In the end he agreed to meet with Juan and the pastor and two other key men to complete the manuals. After they complete the manual they are going to lead meeting of their own to train more leaders and so on. The goal being to spread through out all of Ecuador. Two last key points. 1. Their contact has contacts in several other countries in South America that he wants to share the manual with as well. 2. He has agreed to sponsor whatever funds necessary for more Spanish manuals to be produced for "The Church" here in Ecuador! To God be the glory forever and ever. Amen. The Lord is at work and His Gospel will not cease to spread throughout the world!!!!!!! We ended the meeting in prayer and afterward stood in awe as we had the entire meeting. What a wonderful God we serve!

An Update from Ecuador!

2008-10-20T01:18:00.003-04:00

Dustin with a translator

Here is an e-mail that Tim Bunn sent out about the status of the trips. Tim is the one who has written this incredible manual that is solely based on Scripture. Dustin is traveling with him.

"Juan and Laura along with Dustin have a vision to take GPCP to South American.

It is almost 5:00 here in Quito Ecuador. We are preparing to go to the church we visited last year at this same time. We are praying that God will provide a key man here in Quito during these conferences. Our past visit to this church there were a lot of godly women there wanting to learn more of the Scriptures but there were no men to be found except for the pastor and for his assistant. So we pray that there will be someone there who will catch the vision, a person with a passion to see the Gospel go forth not just in Quito but all over Ecuador.

Westernization of the churches as well as legalism and traditionalism plague the churches here but God is working and moving in the hearts of His children around the world. Our trip to Puyo was very profitable. There are several men including other brother and contact Juan, who have a passion for the Gospel. We believe that a foundation was laid, that the people there at the church in Puyo have received a clear description of what needs to take place in their church as well as all of the churches in the area for the Gospel to flourish. We pray for the Holy Spirit to continue His work in their hearts. We also pray that by our next visit that the people in Puyo (particularly Juan) will lead these conferences fully and completely without our help. Thank you for all of your prayers and support."

Things are going great!!

2008-10-16T22:50:00.002-04:00

Here is the latest e-mail from Dustin... Things are going really well!! I'm in Dallas now on a training retreat with Mary Kay, and I'm very thankful to have something keeping my mind off the fact that my husband is on the other side of the world.

Please keep us in your prayers!

"Today was the last day for Puyo. It went very well. The people were so nice and sweet in saying their goodbyes. They gave us gifts as well. Tim gave Juan a challenge that by the next time we come that he is teaching the whole thing. Tim really wants to see this thing take off and he know Juan is capable. He definitly has the heart. I also had a chance to teach today and that went well. It was a difficult topic to discuss bu the Spirit got me through. After the meeting we ate lunch and said our goodbyes to the people that we would see no more. Tommorow we leave for Quito by bus. Oh, this afternoon. We went to go see monkies! We drove out to part of the jungle to a monkey rehab center and their were 6 different species all walking and climbing about, one even got on top of Juan´s head. It was great."

God is working in Ecuador, and in Dustin's heart!

2008-10-15T00:35:00.002-04:00

Here is the note I got from Dustin tonight! Sounds like things are going GREAT!! I'm am thankful for what God is doing in Ecuador...

"It is so encouraging to hear from you and how you are praying for the Lord´s work over here. Well, today went well. We spent 8 hours! in the Word and the manual. It is great and I am learning alot. I don´t know what I am going to do with this when I get home. There is so much to teach and its right here at our fingertips, Amazing! I will have an opportunity to teach tomorrow so pray for that but pray more for the people that this takes with the leaders here and that the churches shape up and that the people get excited for evangelism, church planting and TRUE DISCIPLESHIP. I am very encouraged. We will be here together next year. God´s Word is sufficient even though I am not. His Holy Spirit is the best teacher there is and we get one-on-one lessons! Free of charge just devotion and effort on our part."

Praising God for Safe Travel!

2008-10-13T21:24:00.002-04:00

Here is the e-mail I got this evening... I am so happy that Dustin is safe! When he is gone I really realize how much I take him and his safety for granted. Thank you Lord!!

"we are here in Puyo. We traveled by bus and I wasn´t a fan. It was like a huge rocking ship about to tilt over and you know the road" (note from Jennie: last time on the road to Puyo they nearly flew off a cliff- really, they almost lost their lives.) "After a while I finally just got used to it and trusted God to get us here safely. It reminded me of the disciples on the ship during the storm and they woke up Jesus and He told them they had little faith. It was a massive storm and he told them they had little faith. The same apllies to a bus going as fast as possible around the mountain. God is going to get us where we need to go no matter what the circumstance. It is not until He says its time until our life on Earth is finished. We start our work tommorow. Juan's family welcomed us with hugs and pepsi and we are getting ready to eat."

Safe in Ecuador...

2008-10-13T09:48:00.002-04:00

Here is part of the e-mail I received this morning...

"I am here in Ecuador! The flight was great and I got a lot in the manual done. Juan and Guillermo are excited to see us. We are staying at the "Missionary Inn". I'm not quite sure what the name is but it is where we stayed at the end of our trip last time. We will be headed to Puyo tommorow. I'm sorry I did not get a chance to call. I looked for a phone, but since we were dumped out at the exit there were none to be found. I was so encouraged by all the reading that I did on the way."

YAY!! I'm so glad he is safe! He also said that he would try to call me today... I'll keep you posted!

Dustin is on his way to ECUADOR!

2008-10-12T13:41:00.003-04:00

I can't believe this time has already come again... Last October Dustin took a trip to Ecuador (you can see pictures and details of that trip here: http://theharrellblog.blogspot.com/search/label/Ecuador

Today we are at a very different place in life, and many of the changes that have taken place were results of last year's trip. We always knew that we wanted to be heavily involved in missions. Dustin has been called to be a missionary, and I have been called to follow him and support him. We were not sure how all this would happen until last year. During his trip last year, God really moved in our lives and taught us alot about missions, and how He wants us to be involved.

We made alot of decisions at that time that have changed our life. Last year we lived in Wake Forest, NC. Dustin was contemplating whether or not to continue in Seminary, and I was working full time. We were renting a house and traveling back and forth between Raleigh and Winston-Salem to spend time with our families. After that trip to Ecuador, and in the months that followed, we decided that we should uproot and move to Kernersville, NC. We felt the need to find a home base where we can plant permanent roots so that we can travel overseas increasingly often for week-to-month-long mission trips.

Dustin decided that there was not a need to complete Seminary... He learned so much in college, and one more degree is not necessary to proclaim the name of Jesus! We did not know exactly when the move would happen, but in February of this year Dustin was able to start a job in his Dad's family business. This job was a huge answer to prayer! It will allow him the flexibility to come and go- a benefit that most jobs would not allow. When we found out that the job was available, we made plans to move within one month. I quit my full-time job (which was one of the most difficult things I've ever had to do- I was a nanny for a precious family with a wonderful little boy!). We found a house to rent in Kernersville, and within a month we were living two hours away from Wake Forest.

While we were renting we looked for a house, and now we are homeowners! We feel so grown up! We are thrilled to be living here so close to Dustin's family! And we are happy to be able to see my family for longer periods of time than we did before. Dustin is working full-time at Paul's Cycling and Fitness. I am now a Mary Kay Consultant, which is an amazing job that I am planning to make my "career" and my stay-at-home-mommy "job/hobby." And I also work part-time at RBC Bank.

So life is completely different now. The biggest change is that we now have a clear direction as to where our lives are going, and we have a definite knowledge of our purpose. We are so thankful.

All this to say... the time has come again! Dustin is on a plane RIGHT NOW! He departed at 1:05 PM, and he will land in Miami at 3:10 PM. He will then depart Miami at 6:50 PM and arrive in Quito Ecuador at 9:45 PM. Please pray for his safety!!

I will post his e-mails, as I did last year, so that all who are interested can keep up with how he is doing. I am confident that this trip will be incredible just like last time. It is an awesome thing to be able to dedicate 10 days to serving the Lord. I am thrilled for Dustin, and I can't wait to go with him next time!!!

Please pray for me as well... Last time he went was the worst week of my entire life. I am praying that this time will be easier. I wish I could cry all my tears out at once, but I have found that it's just not possible. When you are married and one of you is away, you feel like a huge chunk of you is just GONE... missing. I have booked myself solid with Mary Kay facials, skincare classes, training, etc. And on Thursday I am flying to Dallas until Sunday to take part in more extensive Mary Kay Training. Now I am closer to family than I was before too, which is wonderful! I am hoping that I can find the time to blog.

Thank you all so much for your prayers!

BIG NEWS!!

2008-07-24T18:20:00.002-04:00

Check out our NEW HOUSE!!

Click here: http://theharrellhouse.blogspot.com

I Miss Blogging!!

2008-07-17T23:55:00.003-04:00

I haven't given up on blogging!! I have really missed it! We have had so much going on during the past two weeks that I feel like I have been in a whirlwind. I have barely had time to even THINK about blogging. In the next few days I will explain more about all that has been going on in our corner of the world.

Right now it is 11:30, and I have been going non-stop all day (actually all week!). So before I drift off to dreamland, I want to tell ya'll about something crazy that happened last week. Last Wednesday morning I walked out to my car at 8:15 to head to work. When I got near my car I heard a soft but high-pitched sound that I thought was a mockingbird. Then I looked down and saw the most adorable little fluff that I have ever seen! It was a precious little kitten. She hobbled over to me and rubbed around my pants. Of course I could not leave her there!

I ran inside to wake Dustin up (it was his day off, and his day to sleep in... sorry Sweetie!) I brought the kitten inside, put her in our laundry room, and ran off to work. Dustin took her to the vet later in the day and dropped her off to get checked out. When he dropped her off an adoption agency was there, and they donated $100 for us to get her vaccinated, de-wormed, and tested for feline leukemia.

I picked her up when I got off work that evening. The doctor said that she had alot of cuts on her neck area, and that her right shoulder was really sore. He said that she had probably been attacked by another cat. He also said that she was probably about seven weeks old. She was starving for both food and attention. So I took her back home to rest for a few days. She lived in our laundry room, and she slept alot. We really had fun watching her roll around and play. We really wanted to keep her with us, but Dustin and I decided that we don't need to add one more expense to our budget right now.
On Friday I took her to work with me. She played behind the teller line and got some loving from my co-workers and from many of my favorite customers. Finally, that afternoon, one of those favorite customers volunteered to give her a wonderful home. I have talked to the new owner since then, and the kitten is doing great! Her shoulder has gotten stronger so she does not limp anymore, and she seems happy and healthy! I am so glad that we were able to rescue such a sweet little baby!!
Then the story takes an unfortunate plunge. On Thursday morning I suddenly realized that my wallet was not in my purse. I skimmed the house before work, and looked all over my car. All day I wondered where it could be hiding... I figured it must be under some boxes in the house. But on my lunch break I got the sinking feeling that I had sat it on the top of my car when I was putting the kitten back on the car at the vet hospital. I drove home and searched my house just in case, and when I still could not find it I decided to drive over to the hospital. I looked all over the parking lot, and then I started to walk up and down the street.

My heart was sinking lower and lower with every step, especially since my wallet contained my license, social security card, debit and credit cards, and some gift cards that I got for my birthday. I was so excited when I found three of four of my photos lying on the ground beside the street. I thought I was at the start of a little trail that would lead me directly to my wallet. No. After about an hour of walking up and down the street in my business attire (including heels) with tears brimming and sweat dripping, I called Dustin and begged him to come help me on his lunch break. He did, and we found several more pictures, but still no wallet. We looked under bushes, through poison ivy, and in wooded areas near the road, all the while praying that God would make it turn up!

All the pictures we found were damp and torn in places, but each one offered a glimmer of hope. After two hours we gave up. Had my wallet not contained my SS card, I probably would not have put so much effort into finding it. So I drove back to my very understanding co-workers and cancelled all my cards that afternoon. What a terrible feeling...

My new credit and debit cards have been arriving over the last few days, and yesterday another letter came as well. It was from the Kernersville Police Department, and it told me that someone turned my wallet over to them!! I was so excited, relieved and grateful!! So I went to the station on my lunch break and got my wallet. Many many thanks to Keith Oleker who found it and turned it in!! I tried to look him up so that I could thank him, but he is unlisted. There is no record of him at all in the triad area. Makes you wonder about angels on earth...

So there is a tiny snippet of what has been going on with us. Thankfully that part is over, and more exciting things are yet to come!! I'll be posting more about those things over the next few days.

I hope I haven't lost all my readers because of the long periods between posts lately. I promise I will get back on track! I miss blogging!

Two Days and One Night at White Lake

2008-06-28T11:29:00.007-04:00

After our trip to Charleston we got to stop at White Lake, where Dustin's family vacations each year. We had a great time!! We rented jet-skiis!! It was so fun!
Sadie playing on the board walk
The ducks were hanging around all weekend. Look how nice the water is!
I got a surprise birthday dessert!

Grandma Angell and Grandma Sparks
We played Uno- I had lots of yellow!

Dustin- always being silly

Our Romantic 5-Year Anniversary Get-Away!

2008-06-14T13:34:00.026-04:00

For our Five-Year Anniversary, Dustin planned a special trip for us. He started planning back in February, and it all came together this past weekend (June 7th through 10th). We left on my birthday, and I really did not know where we were headed! When I found out that it was Charleston, I was so excited!!! I have wanted to visit the historic town for years, and it was a dream-come-true. Dustin had planned all sorts of activities for us, and he had even made reservations weeks before at restaurants that had vegetarian menus. I was so surprised!!

On The Way

This was Dustin's TOP SECRET envelope. It had been floating around the house for a while, and it was so hard not to peek inside!

We're going to Charleston!!!

Upon Arrival

When we got to our suite we found a gift was waiting for us! Dustin's parents love Charleston, and they had told us so much about it. They called and arranged for a gift bag of Charleston goodies to be in our room. How sweet!!

The fountain in the lobby (picture taken from the top of the stairs)

Tristan

One of the places where we ate was called "Tristan." It was the best meal that we have ever had, and we've had alot of meals! The restaurant itself was beautiful. It was dark, romantic, and very modern inside. It was the kind of restaurant where the waiter puts your napkin in your lap for you- very fancy. I am a very girly girl, so it was really fun for me to get all dressed up and eat in an elegant restaurant.

We both thoroughly enjoyed our meals. Dustin had chicken, and it was so tender that it almost melted in your mouth (yes, I tasted it!). I had a vegetable pastry dish that was so full of flavor and freshness I was sad when I'd eaten the last bite. There is such a difference between your typical chain restaurant, and restaurants that make their dishes an art. The food was beautifully arranged, and carefully prepared. Wow... That was a meal I will never forget.

After such a delicious meal we HAD to see what the dessert would be like. I got a caramelized pear and bread pudding combination, and it was amazing. The restaurant actually has a pastry chef on site who designs and prepares each dessert. When Dustin made the reservation weeks before, he told them that it would be our anniversary. So they wrote a special message on my plate, and gave us the dessert for free! Dustin had handmade apple dumplings with cider. Both dishes were amazing.Someone took a picture of us after dinner, but it was so humid that the camera lens got foggy.
I love these shoes. On the way back up to our room...

The South Carolina Aquarium

It was like an aquarium and a zoo put together. We had a great time!

Outside the aquarium We made a few new friends, and had alot of fun (we also got some strange looks.... haha)

This guy needed help getting back to the water.

Our Walking Tour

Waiting for our tour guide to arrive.
Through a spider web
A neat rooftop on the tour
This was a really neat tree

After the tour we got to go to our tour guide's house in the historic district. She made us iced tea, cucumber sandwiches, and cookies.

A Night on the Town

We had a really delicious dinner at this great Italian restaurant.

After dinner we took a walk to the battery.

This dog was so funny- he looked like he was smiling.

Charleston has so many beautiful buildings! It was a romantic walk.

We got to watch the sun set.
Marriage is wonderful.

We had so much fun!
I love this picture...

I have the sweetest and most handsome husband in the whole world!

All the gas lamps along the streets made it so romantic!

I loved the cobblestone streets!

Dustin asked for an Italian Soda after dinner, and we got a good laugh over how small it was. Here he is showing it off.
Our Suite The living room and dining area

The 1/2 bath downstairs

The kitchen

There were steps leading up to the bedroom!

The bathroom was amazing!

The jacuzzi tubLooking back down the steps
The view of the market from our balcony

Other Charleston Adventures

The Art Gallery

We didn't eat here, but it was funny, so we snapped a picture.

This resturant was delicious. We had brunch here one day, and they put a tropical twist on all their dishes. It was yummy.

We had lunch here one day, and it was also delicious!

Here I got one of the best milkshakes that I've ever had. Charleston is full of good food!

And delicious ice cream!
These bike trolleys were all over the streets. I thought they looked like alot of fun!

We didn't take a carriage ride, but it was fun to see all the beautiful horses!
The courtyard behing our Inn.It was really fun to shop The Market.

Deep in thought... and enjoying a cold coffee drink.
It was a great trip!

Us being silly with a street mirror.

Isn't this gorgeous?
We went into a cigar shop, and I had to get a picture with this guy.
Dustin really likes this picture.

I had not been awake long in this picture.
We saw some gorgeous flowers!

If you've never been to Charleston, you should make a point to go! It is its own little world. Even though it is busy with tourists, it is quaint and romantic. I've never been anywhere quite like it. What made it most fun was enjoying it with my amazing husband. I am so thankful to be married to such a man. He proves his love for me every day, but I can't tell you how special I felt after seeing all that he had planned for me. I can never thank him enough.

I can't believe we have been married for five years. The time has flown by! And I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with Dustin Clay Harrell.

Happy Anniversary Baby... I love you.

A Birthday Celebration!

2008-06-14T13:13:00.005-04:00

We went to my Grandaddy's house a few weeks ago to celebrate some birthdays! Ellie's was on the 4th of June, and me and Emily had ours on the 7th. We had a great time!

My Dad and Ellie
Katie, my 21-year-old sister
My little brother, TJ
Here we are on the front porch. Unfortunately my step-Grandma, Aunt Jamie, was taking the picture, so she's not in the shot. But she did such a wonderful job making the afternoon special for all of us! She is a wonderful hostess, and an important part of our family. I really appreciate all that she does. We all love her very much!
Me and my Grandaddy Dickens
Grandaddy and Katie

A Look at My Parents' Back Yard

2008-06-14T12:12:00.009-04:00

A Voice I Respect on a Subject I Love

2008-05-24T11:53:00.004-04:00

Most of you have heard of Dr. Laura Schlessinger, the radio host who takes questions from callers who have life problems or situations and want her advice. I love listening to her no-nonsense answers. I am a very black-and-white person, and I like to hear someone else say it like it is. I do not always agree with everything she says, but most of it is right on the money, in my opinion. She is fiercely AGAINST "shacking up" (living together before marriage), divorce, daycare, and self-pity. And she is enthusiastically FOR marriage, stay-at-home moms, homeschooling, and much more. What's not to like? It is nice to hear a moral voice on secular radio. Dr. Laura is Jewish, and she has been doing her radio show for over thirty years. She has also written about a dozen best-selling books, including one of my all-time favorites, The Proper Care and Feeding of Husbands.

A few days ago I heard Dr. Laura say that she had written a piece on home-schooling in her blog. If you know me, or if have read this blog, you know that I am a HUGE advocate of home-schooling. I was home-schooled from first grade through high school, and I plan to home-school our children one of these days. I really enjoyed what Dr. Laura had to say on the subject, and I wanted to share it with you. Enjoy!

Home-schooling Does Not Hamper Socialization

One of the criticisms lobbed at the home-schooling community/movement is that home-schooled children are being shielded from diversity and a multitude of challenging influences which will ultimately handicap them in their ability to function in the “real world.” In other words, “How will these children function in our diverse, multicultural society when they are raised in a setting with monolithic views and beliefs?”

Research examining home-schooled students’ academic achievements have consistently found that they score higher than the national norms on standard achievement tests. So the only grenade left to throw at home-schooling parents is that they are hurting their children socially and emotionally. The few studies in these areas have generally found home-schooled children to have equal or better self-esteem than traditionally schooled students. Then the argument becomes one of how to truly know you are measuring self-esteem.

Researchers from the Department of Psychology at Belhaven College in Jackson, Mississippi recently published their findings in Home School Researcher (Vol. 17, No. 4, 2007, pp. 1-7). They decided to study home-schooled students’ ability to successfully adjust to college life as an important criterion for demonstrating a positive outcome (or not) of home-schooling.
They compared Christian college freshmen who had previously been home-schooled with a matched sample of traditionally schooled Christian freshmen on the College Adjustment Scale. The average scores of the two groups were compared across nine scales designed to measure emotional, behavioral, social, and academic problems as typically presented to university counseling centers.

The home-schooled students scored significantly lower on the anxiety subscale, while no difference was found between the two groups on the remaining scales. Additionally, there was a general trend characterized by home-schooled students reporting fewer symptoms of emotional distress and social problems, and achieving higher first semester GPAs.

The results suggest that home-schooled college freshmen successfully adjust to the social and academic environment of a Christian college with a diverse student population. The college does not require that all students attending the college assent to a personal faith in Christ. The previously home-schooled students are also confronted by many peers who make lifestyle choices different from their own. Most of the college peers of the home-schooled students would be considered less conservative in their dress, entertainment interests, moral values and behaviors, than those typically experienced in most Christian home-schooled families.
Therefore, these students are not entering a homogeneous social community that necessarily mirrors their family backgrounds.”

Obviously, home-schooled students have additional adjustments to make when leaving their homes and entering a university or college environment: social relationship, peer pressure, classroom structure, etc. They are being forced to adapt to a social environment decidedly different from their homes or home school support groups.

The results demonstrate that home-schooled students are able to successfully adapt emotionally, interpersonally, and academically to their first, and most challenging, semester in college. That is probably because, having had the consistent teaching and support of a family and a community, they have developed strengths and convictions that provide a bridge over the troubled waters of a multitude of challenges and temptations.

I personally believe that home-schooling helps students who have problems with focus and difficulties with energy control. The traditional school environment required “Stepford Child” control, and the teaching techniques required for a group of thirty do not necessarily assist the learning needs and talents of each individual student. So, instead of drugging kids to be docile, perhaps we should turn to the successes of home-schooling.

Sophie the Fierce

2008-05-22T23:42:00.005-04:00

We like to have our cat shaved in the summer because she has such long hair. She sheds so much when it starts to get warm! So today was the day. I took her to Petsmart and asked them to shave her to look like a lion!

On the way there, Sophie meows the whole time... I have started wearing headphones because it is so sad.

She looks so pitiful!

When we get home she always sneaks around and acts a little embarrassed.

Then she decides that it feels good, so she relaxes a little.

How cute is she?? They didn't leave much of a "mane" on her, but I love the little puff on the end of her tail!

Happy Birthday Daddy!

2008-05-18T11:00:00.001-04:00

Today is my Dad's birthday! I am so thankful that God gave me such a wonderful Dad. I am blessed beyond measure by the parents God gave me. I have learned so much from watching my Dad's example, and from growing up in his home.

Daddy, I hope your day is wonderful! I am sad that we can't be with you today, but I'm looking forward to the weekend of the 31st! I love you so much, and I can't wait to give you a hug!

Love,
Jennie

Yummy!!

2008-05-17T22:09:00.005-04:00

Today Dustin walked in from work with his arms full of containers. Look at what his Mom did today!

My Mother-in-Law is always so thoughtful. She made some delicious foods that are soft enough for me to eat (post-surgery). She is a GREAT cook, and this was definitely a special treat for me!

Thank you Mom Harrell!!
She made Corn Chowder, Banana Pudding, Sweet Potato Casserole, and a chocolatey pie. Wow!! How exciting! It was great to eat some REAL FOOD! I am so grateful for her sweetness.

Precious...

2008-05-17T11:31:00.001-04:00

I saw this video on one of my favorite blogs today, and I had to post it for ya'll to see!

Familiar Realizations

2008-05-16T12:33:00.003-04:00

Here are some foods that I may never eat again after all this is over:
It has been really hard for me to stay positive this week. When I scheduled the appointment to have surgery several months ago, I thought I would be back at work the next day. On Monday I will have completed two weeks of recovery. The process has included a trip to the emergency room, and an emergency trip back to my dentist in Greensboro, both because of uncontrollable bleeding from the roof of my mouth. The result of those trips included more shots in my palate, more stitches, and having my palate cauterized (seared closed with extreme heat). So after working Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of this week, I have spent yesterday and today back at home. I am hoping that if I stay still and don't talk much the wound will finally heal.

I must admit that I have been really discouraged. I am tired of liquids and mushes. I am tired of laying around the house. I am tired of not being able to talk like an adult. And I am very tired of being constantly hungry.

Today I was thinking about all the things I love to do, and I came to some familiar realizations. They are realizations that I think about every time I get sick, but somehow they never completely sink in. Here they are, and I hope you will be as encouraged as I was when they were brought to my mind.

THIS TOO SHALL PASS! I suddenly realized that this will eventually be over! I won't be laying in bed starving with gauze in my mouth forever! Yay! Hopefully it will be over sooner rather than later, but it WILL eventually be over! That is definitely an encouraging thought!

I AM A SPOILED LITTLE BRAT! Now, this might not sound encouraging, and I guess it's not if you leave it like that. But it did make me realize how much I have for which to be thankful. Overall I am a very healthy human. I don't have many problems with my health, and I am so grateful for that! As I looked in my fridge today (for the eighth time) to find something that I can eat, I realized that many people have to live this way permanently, or at least for longer than two weeks. People with cancer feel nauseous all the time, people with food allergies have to say goodbye to many foods that they would love to eat, and people who are poor or homeless don't have food at all much of the time. I also have a wonderful husband who takes care of me, and some people are all alone through their trials. Wow... When you take time to count your blessings, the trials don't seems so terrible.

I TAKE MY HEALTH FOR GRANTED! This realization is linked to the previous one, but it deserves its own paragraph. It is probably the most familiar to me. Every time I get sick I think to myself "I am going to be so much more grateful for my good health once this is finally over!" But usually after the sickness is gone I go right back to taking my health for granted. This time I am starting in advance, and I am going to regularly thank my gracious God for blessing me with good health. It is something that I do not deserve!

GOD IS IN CONTROL! This is definitely the most encouraging realization. God knows my pain, my hunger, and my frustrations, and He has a purpose in allowing me to feel all these things. I don't know what His purposes are, but I don't have to know. He loves me, He knows the number of hairs on my head, and He provided a way for my sins to be forgiven. How can I question His perfect plan? Maybe His purpose is to make me realize these things and develop a spirit of gratefulness in me. I don't know, but I pray that I will be obedient to Him, and that He will accomplish His purposes in my life.

I Want to Eat the Grocery Store.

2008-05-13T17:43:00.008-04:00

Since having my surgery last Monday I have been on a liquid diet. I can't eat anything that requires chewing, or anything that could get stuck to the roof of my mouth. I have been drinking, drinking drinking all liquids, which has caused me to lose some weight that I have worked very hard to gain and maintain.

Those who know me know that I eat ALOT. People are sometimes surprised that I can easily handle four or five slices of pizza... no problem. I LOVE eating and trying lots of different kinds of foods (except meat of course). So obviously this "no eating" thing has been a little tough. I am constantly hungry and wishing I had some REAL FOOD! To keep myself from getting depressed about it, I have been making lists of foods I want to eat, recipes I want to try, and restaurants I want to visit. I thought I would share a few with you... And please, eat something yummy for me tonight!

I love Vegetable Lasagna

I love Homemade Macaroni and Cheese I love Pizza, especially the healthy kind
I love Salad
I love Veggie Burgers

I love Grilled Vegetable Sandwhiches

I love burritoes
I love Cheesecake
I love Chocolate Cake
I love Peanut Butter Cookies

Every time Dustin has something yummy to eat I look at it longingly and say "yum!" He is always quick to ask "Do you want me to put it in the blender for you?" As much as I appreciate the thought, blended grilled cheese sandwhiches don't quite tempt me.

Hopefully this won't cause anyone to go cheat on their diets, but I just thought I would share what's on my mind!

Thank You Pops and Mom Harrell!

2008-05-10T14:55:00.003-04:00

Look at this beautiful vase of flowers that Dustin's parents sent me!

I have been in the house the whole week with my pain meds and ice packs because of the oral surgery I had on Monday. It was definitely a bright spot in my day to put these flowers on the dining room table and see the sunshine light them up! What a thoughtful gift!

Thank you so much!

My Sweet Friend Brings a Sweet Treat!

2008-05-08T17:10:00.008-04:00

I had some oral surgery on Monday. The procedure is called a "gingival graft," and it is where a Periodontist takes gum from the roof of your mouth and stitches it around teeth where the gum is receding. It was supposed to be a routine surgery, and I was planning to be back at work the next day. Well, that didn't happen. They surgery was terribly traumatic, I had to be "shot" 11 times with Novocaine (those needles are HUGE!!), and I cried through the majority of the procedure. I have not been back to work since Monday, and tomorrow is Friday. The recovery has been really painful and frustrating (bleeding, swelling, throwing up, swelling, bruising, swelling, pain, swelling, discomfort, swelling, etc.). Dustin has been so great... He has cleaned the house, driven to Wal-Mart numerous times, and he even brought me "get well" flowers! I am so thankful for such a sweet husband!

Earlier today my good friend Ashleigh called. Ashleigh and I went to church together in high school, and we were bridesmaids in each others' weddings. She is one of those friends that you can talk to after not chatting for months, and it feels like you just spoke yesterday. I was so happy when I found out that we would be moving to Kernersville because Ashleigh only lives five minutes away, and now I get to see her every week! Anyway, she called today to check on me, and to ask if there was anything she could do for me. What a great friend! I told her that I was doing fine, and that I was getting a little better each day.

I have not been able to eath anything this week except pudding, broth, jello, and yogurt. A few moments ago, just as I was day-dreaming about eating foods like cake, lasagna, nachos, pancakes (pretty much anything with more consistency than mud), I got another call from Ashleigh. She told me to go and look on my back porch. On the porch was a grocery bag with a box inside, and inside the box was DELICIOUSNESS ITSELF!

My sweet friend knows how much I love cookies, and she dropped off a mack-daddy of a cookie. I called her back and told her "thank you," and she said that she hoped I would be able to enjoy it. I told her that I WILL FIND A WAY!

I can only take tiny little bites (as you can see in the picture), I have to chew very slowly, and it may take me four hours to eat half of it, but I will enjoy it. What a great surprise, and a fun break from a lonely day.

Thank you Ashleigh!! You are a wonderful friend!

We Have CrAzY Date-Nights

2008-05-06T21:04:00.008-04:00

We just thought you should have a glimpse of a typical date night for us. They are always so much fun!

This particular night started with a look at the cheapest gas price in town. Sad, isn't it?

Then we went to the dollar store to see what we could find.

Hmmm... How many of these to we need?I like the pink unicorn!!
We caught someone spying on us in the canned food section. I wonder how he got there DUSTIN?!
Seriously, who wants a baby that looks like this?
Peanut butter and chocolate... an amazing combination.
Obviously, Dustin was not fond of this puppy.Can you tell that I LOVE Reese's Cups?
An interesting find worthy of a picture.
We finished off the night with a delicious dinner at Denny's.
Yay for Date Nights!!

Wow...

2008-04-29T10:12:00.003-04:00

Last night we went to see the new movie by Ben Stein. It's called "Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed," and it was a GREAT film. It was a documentary about how those who even mention Intelligent Design as a viable possibility have been treated in recent days. It shows how these people have had drastic measures taken against them as "discipline" for talking about this issue in public colleges and universities. I will stop there in my description of the film in hopes that you will go see it and support it yourself. However, I will tell you how I was affected by what I saw in the movie.

When we left the theatre last night, I felt alot of emotions stirring around inside. I relayed them to Dustin on the way home, and I found that he was having many of the same thoughts that I was having. Listed below are some of those emotions, and some thoughts that we were left thinking, in no particular order.

Shock: I could not believe that we have dropped so low as a nation. I don't know why I was so shocked by this realization, but I was. It is really amazing that people have such disdain for God, and that they can be so ignorant of the signs that are right in front of them!

Fear: This could also go under "Shock," but it was really scary to see how our freedoms are being limited in the world today. College professors are free to discuss evolution, and even the religious opinions of other religions, but if their comments take any tendencies toward the idea that there could have been a designer, they are disciplined, fired, or warned at the very least. There are limitations on where we can pray, on where we can post the Ten Commandments, and now on what scientific possibilities we can discuss in reference to the origin of the world. I wonder what this world will be like during my children's generation... a scary thought.

Sadness: I am sad that so many people are living without a relationship with God. It was heart-wrenching to hear these people speak with such assurance of a ridiculous and unproven idea like evolution. It was terrible to see the anger in their eyes and hear the hatred in their voices when they spoke about God or the idea of Intelligent Design. It was interesting, though, that the evolutionists were to ones who got really angry, but the Creationists all spoke calmly and confidently.

Anger: I really had control my anger in a few parts of the movie. I was squirming in my chair when Richard Dawkins (an atheist and evolutionist) read a quote from his book about his opinion of God. God gave him life, breath, health, family, and so much more, yet Dawkins denies God's existence and curses even the idea of Him.

Thankfulness: During those angry moments I was feeling thankful for the justice of God. I was happy that one day Richard Dawkins and the other atheists will KNOW that God exists, and that judgement day will not be a happy day for them. But then I realized that my sin is just as ugly as theirs. I am just as guilty of disobedience to God in many areas of my life, and I only have hope because Jesus Christ covered my sin with His blood. So my thankfulness for justice changed to thankfulness for forgiveness and redemption.

Conviction: I am so glad that Ben Stein is making such a bold move. This message is desperately needed in our world. It inspired me to do my part in raising awareness of this issue, but my platform is so small compared to Mr. Stein's. But then I was convicted of how little I take opportunities to share what Jesus has done for me. I may not be able to reach millions, or even hundreds, but I have no excuse for keeping my joy to myself.

In conclusion, I hope that all of you will go and give this movie your support. It is worth watching several times, and I'm looking forward to seeing it again!

We're Still Alive!!

2008-04-24T11:09:00.003-04:00

I got an e-mail from my Mom the other day saying "you must be really exhausted; you haven't updated you blog in over a week!" She is right. I love posting on the blog, so when I go so long without a post, you know that something is going on.

The reason for the lack of updates is that I have been working full-time at RBC. Since I finished my training in Raleigh, I have worked my normal schedule for one week, and the rest of the time I have been helping out by working full-time while we look for one more teller. I am hoping that next week will be my last full-time week!

Now most of you work full-time every week, and you know how tiring it is! But for those who do not, IT'S TIRING!!! Not only does it take alot of time out of every week that could be spent on other chores, but for me (right now) it is also very stressful! I have had so much to learn about banking, laws and regulations, procedures, program requirements, etc. It has been really overwhelming to try and remember everything each day. I find myself having to really concentrate all day every day, and it is mentally exhausting. And right now I feel alot of pressure, because I am so new to this, to get things perfect in each transaction- after all, I'm dealing with people's money!

In addition to the above, I have also been having problems with my eyes. I really need to have them checked! For one thing, I am not used to staring at a computer for forty hours each week. I am squinting alot to focus, and the strain is causing terrible headaches in the afternoons. I have also had a twitch in my left eye for the last few days. It is a little embarassing! Even some of my customers noticed it yesterday and asked if my eye was alright. Thankfully my eye appointment is coming up soon. And Dustin's mom gave me a great tip- if you put cool cloths on your eyes and lie down for a while, your eyes really do stop twitching and start relaxing! Yay!!!

Dustin has been really busy with work and projects too. He has been doing alot of yard work on his days off, and he has been getting into bike-riding again, for exercise and for transportation to and from work! Hopefully that will save us some gas money! We have had things to do almost every night, it seems, which does not leave much time for resting. I don't think I have felt this tired since college. We finally did get to have a date night last Friday, which was wonderful!!

Anyway, this is not meant to be a sob story, just an explaination of what's been going on with us! I am actually updating right now from my computer at work while we are having a slow moment. The last thing I want to do when I get home is stare at another computer!

Hopefully we'll have some more interesting posts coming up in the future!

A Restful Weekend

2008-04-11T21:12:00.000-04:00

After a very hectic week, and with another busy week ahead, we are planning to enjoy a very restful weekend.

This is what the weekend will look like:

Sophie is enjoying a nice nap. Can you believe how big she is? She is the length of half our couch, and our couch is BIG!

A Disgusting Dinner

2008-04-09T15:14:00.004-04:00

Last night we had an absolutely disgusting experience at dinner. I had prepared the meal and put it on the table in the dining room. Before we sat down we noticed that a huge fly was buzzing around the house. I'm serious, this was not your average-weight flying insect. We got the fly-swatter and ran around trying to kill it. Sophie, our delicate, prissy, girly-girl cat, also jumped around trying to help us catch the fly. Dustin and I laughed at how high she jumped, each time coming nowhere near the racing insect. We talked about how funny it was that she was trying so hard because "it's not like she could ever catch him." She would not give up. Each time the fly passed her she jumped into mid-air and then sprinted after him.

After a while, Dustin and I gave up on the fly and sat down to eat before the food got cold. When we sat down I noticed a spider on the floor near the window. Dustin, my resident spider expert (he knows what alot of spiders are supposed to look like), bent to check him out. Well, this spider was not just an ugly little house spider. He was a Black Widow. Yes, I repeat, he was a Black Widow. Just as I was about to call 911, Dustin got his shoe so we could kill the intruder. We stood there for a while and stared, first at the spider, and then at each other. We debated what would be the best weapon with which to kill him. I didn't want spider guts on Dustin's shoe, but he didn't want spider guts to squirt on him through the holes in the fly-swatter (which was already handy because of the fly that was still buzzing around us, with Sophie still in hot pursuit).

We finally decided to use the shoe method, but then we had to decide how to make the kill. Dustin absolutely hates spiders because of a bad spider-bite that he got as a child. So he kills the camel-crickets if we see one (I feel nauseous every time I see a camel cricket because of a bad splattering-death that I inflicted on one a few years ago), and I kill the spiders.

Just as I was about to end the life of the unwelcome dinner guest, Sophie came running over, still chasing the fly. We watched in amazement as she trapped him in one corner of the dining room, right next to the black widow. Our mouths dropped as she stopped the fly in mid-wing-flap with her fluffy little paws. Then we heard it. Apparently our cat is not as delicate and girly as we thought. The fly CRUNCHED between her teeth, and she chewed him up with great satisfaction. Meanwhile, Dustin and I ran from the room, covering our faces and shrieking in disgust. Our stomachs were feeling a little weak because of the gross event, but now they were hurting because we were laughing so hard. We really had not given Sophie much credit, but we now know that she is a priss AND a huntress.

Now that the fly was gone, it was time to get rid of the onlooking spider. I grabbed Dustin's shoe and made a bank-shot off the air vent. Dustin was kind enough to get rid of the corpse while I went outside to rub his shoe on the grass. After studying the victim as he floated around in the toilet, we both washed our hands and sat back down to a cold dinner. Then Dustin said exactly what I was thinking: "It's amazing how quickly you can completely lose your appetite."

I'm glad we were just having leftovers.

A Beautiful Surprise!

2008-04-01T17:49:00.006-04:00

I am staying at my parents' house this week while I train in Raleigh for my new job. Today when I got back to the house I found something wonderful on the kitchen table!! My husband is so incredible. I am very blessed (and a little spoiled...)!

Thank you so much, Baby!! You amaze me every single day. I love you, and I miss you so much.

Jennie

What a Week!!

2008-03-27T22:33:00.002-04:00

This week has been crazy! Monday was my first day at my new job (see a previous post to learn more), and I love it. I realize that this week has not been typical of how most weeks will be, but I already love Kernersville's RBC Centura.

On Monday I arrived and found out that one teller was out sick, another was almost brand new, and the poor supervisor was the only fully capable person behind the counter. I spent most of the day observing, amazed at how well everyone adjusted to this stressful situation. She rest of the week has been very similar to Monday. The sick teller came back, but the almost brand new teller caught the flu. Sharon and Susan, the Branch Manager and Teller Supervisor, are so sweet and humble, and they are focused on meeting the needs of their customers and their employees. They handles these busy days with such professionalism and compassion.

I have also been surprised at how great most of the customers have been to me. I have been unable to help them since I have not been fully trained, but they have still introduced themselves to me and have welcomed me to the branch. Many of them are in and out of our branch several days a week, so they have relationships with the branch employees. I love that!

Yesterday I started my computer-based training, and it is very interesting and informative. I cannot wait until I am a proficient teller so I can assist the great team of which I am a part, and so I can give the best service to my customers!

This week I have worked full-time, and next week I will be training full-time in Raleigh.

Another WOW Video

2008-03-27T20:07:00.002-04:00

Here is another video for you to watch. Kayla showed me this one too! Watch it through to the end to get the full effect. You will say "wow" at the end.

Charlie bit me.

2008-03-22T10:20:00.003-04:00

Here is a funny video for you to watch. I originally saw it on a friend's blog (thanks Nicole!). Yesterday the people for whom I used to nanny came by with little Caden, and we talked about how funny the video is. I thought I would post it here so you can enjoy it too.

The accent is so funny coming from such a little person!

Jennie Got a Job!!

2008-03-21T17:14:00.004-04:00

I am really excited that I will be joining the Kernersville team at:

After I decided against tutoring, I started looking for local banks who may be hiring. I found RBC Centura! They have a Kernersville branch that was looking for a part-time teller. I took my resume over right away, and they scheduled an interview for the following Tuesday.

The interview was WONDERFUL! The whole branch works like a family. I could tell that all of the employees were good friends, and that all of them worked together really well. I am really happy that it is such a small branch. The two women that interviewed me (the branch manager and the teller officer) were so sweet and professional. When they asked me why I was interested in becoming a teller, I told them the truth:

1. I want to have a job that provides flexibility so that I can focus on being a wife. This is my top priority. I was not sure what kind of reaction I would get to that. I kinda expected to get the typical "feminist response" that would question my reason for "lowering my possibilities." I did not get that at all! They told me that they were impressed, and they thought that was wonderful! I was thrilled.

2. I love people. I love getting to know them and remembering things about them. This was something that I really loved about Starbucks. I would remember customers' names and their drink orders, and try to remember things about them so I could start conversations with them. The RBC people loved that.

3. I like meeting people's needs, and making sure they get excellent service. This was one thing that I loved about being a supervisor at Target's Guest Service department. I loved to make sure that people were satisfied, and that their problems were resolved when they left the store. The RBC people also loved that!

They asked me alot of other questions, and God gave me the confidence and the words that I needed. I had one question for them. I needed to know if it would be okay for me to take time off to go on mission trips with my husband. They said that it would not be a problem, and that I should always know that at that branch "family comes first." They said that they are all married with children, and that if I ever had to make a decision regarding work and family, family should come first. I was blown away by their dedication to family! That is not something that most would expect from women who have climbed the corporate ladder. I felt really good about how the interview progressed, and when I left they told me that they would get back to me.

I got a call an hour later, and they wanted me to take the next step and fill out a background check. They said that they would be in touch to make an offer.

Yesterday (Thursday) I got the offer! They even gave me the salary that I requested! I am very excited. I will start on Monday, and I will be observing the branch and doing computer training for a week. The following week I will have to go to Raleigh for teller training. I am excited about staying with my parents for the week, but I will not enjoy being away from Dustin. The great thing is that I will be able to talk to him every day, and we will probably meet somewhere halfway in the middle of the week and have dinner. So this separation will not be nearly as difficult as was the time Dustin was in Ecuador. I only spoke to him once over the course of ten days, and he was halfway across the world!

There are alot of benefits to working at a bank. I will have a steady weekly schedule (Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 1 PM), and I will be off on the weekends. I will have excellent insurance, paid holidays off, and paid vacation time. One of the things I am really looking forward to is dressing up for work every day. I love to "dress professionally" and wear high heels. I always thought it would be really neat to dress up and go to work.

So thank you so much to those who prayed that God would provide a perfect job for me. I am really excited!

A Picture of Salvation

2008-03-20T22:19:00.005-04:00

Kayla, my sweet sister-in-law, showed me this video on Wednesday night. If you watch it you will see why it blew me away. It shows how Jesus loves us, and how, even when we make wrong choices and betray Him, He still loves us. That is mercy that we do not deserve.

Happy Anniversary!!

2008-03-14T14:38:00.003-04:00

Today is my parents' Wedding Anniversary!

In a world where everything is so self-focused and so temporal, it has become unusual for couples to stay married longer than six or seven years. The divorce rate in America (among Christians and non-Christians) is huge. So I want to take time to thank my parents for the commitment that they have made to God, and to each other.

I decided to post this letter because I want anyone who will read it to know what God has done.

Dear Daddy and Mom,

Thank you. I am already crying as I type this. The gratitude in my heart is overwhelming, and I have no real hope of truly expressing it to you. The two of you have influenced my life more than any other people on the face of this earth. I have thought so many times about the parents to whom I could have been born, and I shudder at the thought of any but you. God blessed me in a way that I do not deserve.

The greatest gift that you ever gave me was the presentation of the Gospel over and over again. I know that I am a Christian today because of your obedience to Christ in teaching your children about Him. God used you as instruments to draw me to Himself, and for that I am ETERNALLY grateful.

The second greatest gift that you ever gave me was the example that you set as husband and wife. Thank you for putting Christ first in your marriage. I entered my marriage with pre-conceived ideas of how things should be, how I should act, and what should be important, and many of those ideas were based on the relationship that I saw my parents portray. I watched you, and I saw things that I will never forget. Daddy, I will never forget how you loved Mom. I remember how you would look at her from across the table at family dinners and say, "Isn't Mom pretty?" Your three girls would giggle and say "Yes!" I remember how I would come downstairs sometime to find you hugging her in the kitchen. Of course I would yell "family hug!" and all of us would run to join in. I remember how you would tease her and make her laugh harder than anyone else ever could. I remember how you would tell her how good her dinners were, and how she would smile. I remember how you would stand up for her. When we were disrespectful to her you would say, "Hey! Don't talk to Mom that way." We knew that we should never mess with your woman. I remember how you would respect her by never calling her names, making rude comments, or threatening her in any way. You honored her as your wife. Most of all I remember how you would be her spiritual leader by setting the example of having time with God EVERY day, and by leading us in family devotions and prayers. Your example of how a godly husband should act is something I will never forget. Mom, I will never forget how you loved Daddy. I remember how you would stare back at him from across the table and say "I love you" with your smile. I remember how you always welcomed him home from work by saying "Hey Honey!" I remember how you would always thank him for how hard he worked so that you could stay home with us. I remember how you would make his favorite meals and desserts, especially on his birthdays or on Father's Day. I remember how you would say to him "You look so handsome." You taught us about respect by always saying "What Daddy says goes," and by always consulting him before you made a big decision. I remember how you would sit back and admire his teachings, both at home and in church. I remember how you showed him your love by bringing dinner and iced tea to his chair when we didn't eat at the table. Most of all, I remember your submissiveness, and how you would say "okay" and quietly yield so that he could lead our family. Your example of how a godly wife should act is also something I will never forget.

I will never forget how the two of you loved all of us. You provided security for us. We knew that our parents loved each other deeply, and that they would never ever ever get divorced. That fear was never present in my thoughts as it was in some of my friends. You taught us the importance of having a relationship with Jesus by daily telling us about Him. You made sure that we always knew how much you loved us. Daddy, you would rub my back at night and say, "Are you still my Sweetie Pie?" Mom, you would hug me and tell me you were proud of me.

Daddy, you worked so hard so that Mom could stay home with us. And Mom, you worked so hard in the home. You made the even bigger sacrifice to homeschool us, which was a decision that greatly shaped my life and determined who I would become. You taught us a great work ethic by letting us save money to buy horses, build a barn, and run businesses. You taught us to work hard, to stay busy, and to always be grateful. You taught us how to be strong by setting Biblical standards for us, and by teaching us to hold to those standards, even if it meant "standing alone." You showed us what it meant to always obey God's calling on your life, even when it meant alot of changes, and even two more children for you! You taught me responsibility by letting me graduate early and go on to college. And you taught me how to choose a good husband, and how to be a good wife, by setting before me an example of a godly and happy marriage.

So thank you. Thank you for trying so hard, and thank you for succeeding. I am so honored to have been a "Dickens Girl." I am still watching you, only now from a distance, and I am still amazed. I love both of you so much.

Happy Anniversary...

Jennie

A Birthday Wish...

2008-03-14T10:39:00.004-04:00

Today is Jessica's birthday!

Jessica is Dustin's sister, and my sister-in-law. She is 23 today, so we are the same age now (until June)!

Jessica goes to Liberty University, and she is an incredible Christian woman. She is also hilarious, and I consider her as my sister and one of my closest friends.

Happy Birthday Jessica!!

We love you!!!

I Love KERNERSVILLE!

2008-03-13T16:48:00.004-04:00

One of the things I love about living in our new town is how close everything is to our home! We have a ton of stores, restaurants, and shops that are less than five minutes away!

Here are some of my favorites:

There is no better coffee:

My Favorite "go-to" store:
And a new favorite that I have just discovered. This place has name-brand clothes at dirt-cheap prices!And here is an example. Most who know me well know that I LOVE LOVE LOVE shoes, especially high heels. I found this pair of GREEN heels for $6.00!! What a steal!
Yay for Kernersville!!

The Good Kind of Busy... An update

2008-03-12T11:27:00.007-04:00

It seems like it has been months since my last post. The reason I have not posted as often is certainly not because nothing is going on around here. We have been so busy since we moved! Here is an update for you.

Dustin's Job
Dustin is enjoying his new job, especially since he gets to hang out with his dad alot (they even get to eat lunch together). He likes being around all the bike and fitness stuff, and it has really inspired him to get in even better shape. He works from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM on weekdays, and 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM on Saturdays. It has been hard to get used to him being gone on Saturdays, but it is fun for him to have a day off during the week (which he gets every week). I am so grateful to Dustin for working so hard for us.

Jennie's Job
I still do not have a job, but it is not for lack of looking for one! I have given up on the tutoring idea after realizing how unpredictable and time-consuming it could be. I started advertising on websites, in bookstores, and in schools in the area four weeks ago, and I have not gotten any response. It has been a little discouraging, but I know that God has a purpose in not allowing it to happen. You may remember reading in a previous post that my goal in this new phase of our life is to be a better wife. Therefore I want my main "job" to be fulfilling that goal. There are alot of people who would see that as a lowly position, but I do not understand that mindset!

When I was a teenager, I prayed that God would show me His will for my life in terms of a career or purpose. After praying fervently and seeking God about it for months, I remember feeling as though it hit me like an eighteen-wheeler. I always wanted to get married and be a mom, but I had never really seen that as a "calling." But one day I realized that God wanted me to focus on that, and to dedicate my life to serving Him in that way.

Some of you may be asking "well why did you bother getting a four-year college degree?" Well, I did that for many reasons. I chose a wonderful Christian college because I wanted to take time to mature and learn more about Christ. Also, I want to homeschool our children when they come along, and I knew that a college degree would be helpful to me at that time. I also wanted to be equipped just in case it becomes law some day that one has to have a degree to homeschool (this law's arrival may be closer than I thought; see my last post). I was also hoping that God would show me my future husband, and He brought Dustin to me during our first semester at Southeastern. It is also helpful to have a degree when you're applying for jobs, as most of you know.

Over the past few years I have realized how much time it takes to be a good wife. Dustin and I do not want to be so busy that we don't remember where the days have gone. To prevent this common state, we have decided that my main goal should be "wife-ing." I am so thankful that Dustin is "bringing home the bacon" by working full-time, and I do not want him help me cook and clean on his days off. I want him to relax when he gets home from a long day, and I want us to have the freedom to have fun and just be together when he is home (although he does still help me around the house sometimes). Therefore, my job is to make sure that the house stays clean, that a healthy lunch is packed, that a healthy dinner is ready when Dustin gets home, that the groceries purchased, that the errands are done, and that I still have energy at the end of the day (which was almost impossible when I was trying to do all of that AND work full-time). I LOVE this job! I feel fulfilled as a feminine woman, and as a wife. What a great feeling.

Make no mistake, I am still looking for a part-time job, but now I know that tutoring is not it. I would spend so much time looking for students (I already found that out), planning lessons, worrying about what to do during the summer when people take their breaks, etc. Ideally, if I have to work, I would like to go to work and come home, and not have to worry about being on the phone or internet at night when Dustin is home. So since I do have to work, I am going to try and find something a little more simple. We knew when we moved here that we did not want me to just "settle" for a job. We are looking for the right one, and we are confident that God will provide it, and that He will provide for us in the meantime. I'll keep you posted on that!

House Stuff
It has been really nice to have so much time while I have been looking for a job. I have gotten alot done in the house (as you can see from some of the posts below). I have been able to clean everything, unpack, organize, decorate, paint, and much more! Right now I am painting all the doors in our long hallway. The walls are a pretty grayish color with white trim, but the doors were brown. So I am painting them white, and it looks so much better! Here is a picture of our dining room right now. I need to move all of this into our guest room until we get the bed set up, and I plan to do that today.
Paint, Paint, Paint.
Fun Stuff
We have had so much fun since we have moved here! We have had more time to have fun together (just the two of us) because of what I have already written in the post, but we have also had so much fun with family and friends. It is great to move to an area where you know so many people! We are very close to Dustin's family, and they are GREAT! We have had alot of fun eating dinners with them, seeing them at Church, watching American Idol with them once a week, etc. I am so thankful for wonderful in-laws and great sisters-in-law. Some people really struggle with these relationships, and I praise God that Dustin's family is now mine too. His parents are like second parents to me, and Kayla and Jessica are truly sisters to me.

I do have to say that I have missed my family LIKE CRAZY. It is definitely hard to be so far from them. We are excited about being with them for Easter. I am glad that my Mom has been here twice to see me, and I am really glad that we have free long distance and I can talk to them whenever I want!

We have also had so much fun with friends! One of my best friends, Ashleigh, lives about 5 minutes away. We were bridesmaids for each other, and she is one of those friends that you can call after not talking for months, and it feels like you just had a conversation yesterday! That had been the extent of our relationship over the past few years, so we are so excited to be close. Dustin and Jon (Ashleigh's husband) get along famously, and Ashleigh and I are constantly laughing at them. We have had a blast getting together with them every Monday night for dinner and games (and one of these days Ashleigh and I WILL win at Spades). They just had a precious little girl about a month ago. Her name is Carleigh Elizabeth, and I call her my niece. I have loved holding her and smelling her. Babies smell so good.

We have also been able to get together with Dustin's cousin Meredith, and her husband Nathaniel. They have two precious children, Eli and Indy, and one on the way! They are a sweet (and funny!) family, and we love them! We are looking forward to seeing them again on Friday night!

We have also met a number of wonderful people at Church! This place is packed with incredible couples and families, and we cannot wait to get to know all of them more!

Church
We have found a Church. Grace Baptist Temple is on Peter's Creek Parkway in Winston-Salem. It takes about 15-20 minutes to get there from our house, and we LOVE this place! Dustin's parents have been going there for about two years (I think??), so we visited there alot when we would come to see them. Whenever we visited we would say "I wish there was a Grace in Wake Forest." So when we moved here, it was pretty easy to decide where to start visiting. Now we are not interested in visiting anywhere else!

One of the things we love the most is the reverence and honor that this Church gives Jesus Christ. They preach from the Bible (not just on random topics), they are more of a "learning and worshipping center" than a social gathering place, they sing both hymns and praise choruses, they give a large percentage of tithes to missions, they send out missionaries and go on short-term mission trips, and the list goes on. Pastor Ed Sears is sold out to Christ, and you can see it on his face during the worship time. He is full of wisdom, humility, and humor, and we cannot wait to get to know him and Mrs. Sears better. The Minister of Music, Jeff, is also both humble and talented. He has a wonderful way of keeping the congregation focused, and he also does a wonderful job of directing the orchestra and the choir.

We have felt so welcome by the people at this Church. They are all so sweet, and so enthusiastic about Christ. People who have met you one time will come up and hug you, and we love that! The last two Sundays we visited a Sunday School class for couples without children, and we really learned alot and enjoyed the fellowship. Last weekend I went to a women's conference at Grace, and I learned so much and met so many incredible women. I will write more on that later. We cannot wait to see what comes of being a part of Grace Baptist Temple. It has been such a blessing so far.

We'll Keep You Updated!
Like I said, we have been really busy! But it has been the "good kind" of busy. We can actually remember our days, and we have already made so many worthwhile memories since the move. God is so good.

I'm off to put another coat of paint on the doors.

A Tragedy in Our Nation- PLEASE READ AND TAKE ACTION!

2008-03-07T13:38:00.006-05:00

Most of you know that I was homeschooled, and that I am a huge advocate of homeschooling. Dustin and I plan to homeschool our children some day. Some of you may not know that there is a serious tragedy taking place in California today.

Today it may be illegal for homeschoolers in California to continue their home education. Last week a court ruled that only parents who have state credentials can homeschool their children. Penalties will be enforced that will range from fines to the removal of children from homes. Parents will be charged with "Educational Neglect," which is grounds for the removal of children from their parents. This means that those who continue to homeschool will be guilty of a criminal offense.

The court decision was based on an individual circumstance involving one homeschool family charged with abuse (I do not know the details of that situation). For some reason the courts have decided to apply the penalty for this family to the entire state.

Homeschoolers have tested higher on standardized test scores than have public or private school students across the nation, including in California. Their accomplishments have been completely ignored by this ruling. This decision by the courts is an absolute assault of parental rights, and my fear is that California is only the beginning. Historically, rulings that begin in California often spread across the nation.

Today there are around 200,000 children in California whose parents will have to go against their convictions and place their children in schools. I am utterly outraged by this decision, and I want to do whatever I can to raise awareness about this issue. If this ruling is not overturned, or at least limited to the individual case that started it all, there will be serious repercussions for homeschoolers across California, and potentially across the nation.

The Homeschool Legal Defense Association has organized a petition where we can voice our concerns on this issue. They will be responsible for bringing this petition before the California Supreme Court. WOULD YOU PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT AND SIGN THE PETITION? You do not have to be a member of the Association, or even be a homeschooler, to sign your name.

Please click on this link, and you will very quickly be able to make a difference.

http://hslda.org

You can find more details at this link: http://www.citizenlink.org/CLtopstories/A000006717.cfm

And you can listen to Dr. James Dobson speak with a number of relevant individuals concerning this topic by clicking on this link: http://www.oneplace.com/Ministries/Focus_on_the_Family/Default.asp

I believe that this is a scary time for homeschoolers and for Christians. Whether or not you are a supporter of the homeschool movement, I would encourage you to think seriously about what this ruling says about the rights of parents in general.

Please sign the petition, and please e-mail everyone you know with this information. You are welcome to provide the link to this blog, or just to the Home School Legal Defense Association.

Many Thanks!!

2008-03-04T17:44:00.005-05:00

Dustin has some wonderful family here in the Winston-Salem/Kernersville area. We have really enjoyed being able to spend time with many of them. His Aunt and Uncle, Donna and Wayne, live only about a mile from our house! They know alot about home repairs (everything from weather-stripping to which type of paint roller to buy), and they have been so helpful to us since we moved here! We have bombarded them with questions, borrowed several tools from them, accepted in-home repairs from them, and we even got them to lead us around Lowes one night. We are so grateful for their knowledge and their help!

Donna and Wayne recently got the cutest little puppy! Her name is Sadie, and she is a Chihuahua/Feist mix with a TON of energy. Here are a few pictures of her, courtesy of Dustin's Mom and her camera.

Homeschooling Toward College

2008-02-28T23:07:00.004-05:00

I am a member of a Yahoo Group for homeschoolers. My reason for joining the group was to let homeschoolers in the area know that I am available as a tutor. Tonight I got an e-mail from another member asking my advice. I was homeschooled from First Grade through High School, and it was an incredible experience for me. I thought I would post her request and my response for those homeschooling, for those considering homeschool, and as a tribute to my loving and sacrificial parents. Please note that this letter is concerning homeschool in relation to college, and does not cover many of the other valuable aspects. I may post more at another time with my thoughts on those.

Dear Jennie,
I am seriously praying about homeschooling my 3 children in the fall. My oldest daughter will be in the fourth grade. She attends a public school and is an overall good child...well- behaved (at school) :) and has straight A's. She has expressed concern about being homeschooled because she is fearful she will then not get into a good college. Do you have any advice for her and me?
Thank You in advance,
Betty

Hi Betty!

I am so thrilled to hear that you are praying about homeschooling your children. I am excited whenever I hear that someone is thinking about taking that step. Homeschooling was absolutely wonderful for me. My Mom was an incredible teacher, and I learned so much more from the one-on-one teaching than I could have ever learned in a school system.

When I was 15, my standardized test scores were high, and I sat with my Mom to look at the plan for the next several years of high school. We realized the the NC requirements for a high school graduate were easily attainable for me. We made a schedule together, and I was able to graduate at 16 years old.

I wanted to find a college nearby since I was so young, so I chose Southeastern College (a branch of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, NC). It was the only school to which I applied, and I was accepted immediately BECAUSE I came from a homeschooling background. I started college just after turning 17 (my birthday is in June), and it was a wonderful experience.

Homeschoolers are well-known to most Christian and secular educators for their exceptional abilities. It is no secret to them that most of the winners of the National Spelling Bee are homeschoolers. We score higher on state standardized tests than do those in public or private schools, and we generally have more confidence and respect for authority as well. When I was looking into colleges I found that most were actually RECRUITING homeschoolers because of their outstanding scholastic abilities (Liberty University is one example of that).

Also, most colleges require SAT scores for entrance, and homeschoolers should certainly take the SAT. If you and your daughter work hard as a team, her scores will be all the proof that any college would need of her readiness, even for those colleges that may not be recruiting homeschoolers.

The only complaint that I have ever heard about homeschoolers is that they are "socially inadequate." In most cases this idea is ridiculous. I have seen some homeschoolers that do not make any attempt to be social or to build people skills, and that results in the obvious: no people skills. But if you make sure that your daughter is involved with church and community, including adults and friends her own age, she will develop the skills needed to gain respect in the world. When she goes in for her college interviews, she will be more confident, respectful, and well-spoken than most of her public school peers.

If you have any further questions or concerns, I would be more than happy to help you! I am a strong advocate of homeschooling, and I am excited for anyone who would do such an incredible service for their children!

Sincerely,
Jennie Harrell

Winner of the "Most Improved" Award!

2008-02-28T10:54:00.006-05:00

You may think it strange that we are posting pictures of our bathroom, but it has won a very special award in our "new house!" When we looked at the house the first time, we were sad that the bathroom was in such terrible shape. The shower tiles and grout had black mildew, the walls were paint-over-wallpaper with rip marks and stains, the ceiling was leaking, the bathroom fan was clogged with hanging dust, the toilet was chipped and dirty, the linoleum was dirty and uneven, and the sink/vanity was rotten at the bottom.

About two weeks before the move, Dustin's parents were sweet enough to arrange for a good friend to renovate the bathroom! We were so relieved! They tiled the floor, replaced the vanity, fixed the ceiling and the bathroom fan, re-tiled the shower, and replaced the toilet. What a difference!! This week I have been painting the walls and replacing the fixtures. I have to say that I am QUITE relieved to have a nice clean bathroom now! Many Many Many Thank-You's to Dustin's incredible parents for helping us with this HUGE project!!

BEFORE

AFTER!!!! What a difference!! I still plan to paint the doors white too.
I love the floor!
The walls were so uneven and damaged that we could not just paint over them. I found a really neat texture paint at Lowes, and I created my own method of texturizing (beating the wall with the paintbrush!). It covers everything really nicely. It's a little hard to tell from the pictures, but the color is light blue.

"After Photos" of the Kitchen

2008-02-27T17:45:00.003-05:00

Here are some photos of our kitchen. It is definitely still a work in progress. The goal is for it to be rustic; we are using red, yellow, and blue. We are looking for a valance for the windows, and mats for the floor. But here is is for now!

I love the built-in hutch!

"After Photos" of the Foyer

2008-02-26T14:32:00.005-05:00

Okay, I'm going back to house pictures! I took a little break over the last few days, but I still have more pictures of the house for those who have asked to see them. Today I will show you the foyer, and tomorrow the kitchen.

I like the windows in the front door.

Looking from the living room through the french door into the foyer.

A Reunion!!

2008-02-25T21:36:00.002-05:00

One of the great things about moving to Kernersville is that I am so close to my great friend from high school, Asheigh. I love her, and she is the picture of a true friend! She had a baby a little over two weeks ago, which inspired a visit from another wonderful friend, Meghan. All three of us went to the same church in high school, and we were all bridesmaids in each other's weddings. Meghan also has a little girl now! It was so fun for the three of us to be together again, and it was especially fun to get to know the sweet little girls.

Ashleigh escaped the picture! I am holding her sweet baby, Carleigh, and Meghan is holding her adorable Ella.

New Phone Number!

2008-02-25T12:17:00.002-05:00

We finally have internet AND PHONE! We are happy to finally have a local number after all the hassle from the phone company. Please write down our new number:

336-602-2278

Our cell phone will also be changing to a 336 area code in the next few days.

"After Photos" of the Office Area

2008-02-23T09:19:00.002-05:00

This is our office area. If you come in the back door you will enter this room to get to the kitchen. I really like the location of the room. It is right next to the kitchen, and it is nice to be able to get some work done as I make dinner, etc. I also like all the light coming from the windows. I am still planning to put some valances above the windows, so I'll take more pictures when I do that! Normally our laptop is on the desk.

"After Photos" of the Dining Room

2008-02-22T08:49:00.003-05:00

I am adding pictures of one room each day for those who have asked to see our "new" house. This is the dining room. It is one of my favorite rooms because it is so bright and airy! We have never had a real dining room, so it has been fun to set the table and have a romantic dinner in a special room!

"After Photos" of the Bedroom

2008-02-21T09:41:00.003-05:00

For those who did not read our last post, I am putting up pictures of one room each day. We have a lot of family and friends who may not be able to make the drive to Kernersville to be company in our home, so we are doing this for them!

Here are some pictures of our bedroom in the "new" house. We are still trying to decide what should go on the wall behind the bed.
I love all the light from the windows!
One of my favorite parts of our bedroom (in each house we've had) is the "dried flower garden." They are some of the flowers that Dustin has given to me over the years that have been dried and displayed. I love them!

"After Photos" of The Living Room

2008-02-20T20:24:00.006-05:00

Okay! We are all moved in, organized, and (for the most part) decorated! It has been so fun for me, and I am so grateful to my Mom for making the trip here twice to help me decorate. She has GREAT taste, and I love having her help me out. I am going to post pictures of one room each day for those of you interested in seeing what our new house is looking like. Enjoy the living room today!
I love the french door leading to the foyer and front door!
The walls look more pink in these pictures than they really look in person.

Settling in...

2008-02-15T12:10:00.003-05:00

Well, we got everything packed, cleaned, moved, and unloaded last weekend. A huge "thank you" to Dustin's Dad for the use of his truck! This week Dustin has started working, and I have been working on unpacking and organizing!! It has been really fun! I love decorating, putting up curtains, and especially organizing. I have pictures and details of the move and the house, but unfortunately we are still waiting for our phone and internet to be set up (Rachel, I know you understand what that is like!!). There has been alot of confusion on the part of our new phone company, but we are hoping that they will have it all resolved by Monday. Right now I'm at Panera Bread using free Wi-Fi, so I'll have to post more when I have more time...
We hope all of you are doing well!!

TOMORROW!!

2008-02-08T13:41:00.000-05:00

We are so excited that the day is finally drawing near!! Tomorrow is moving day. We will still have our cell phone number, so if you need to contact us that will be the best way. I probably will not be able to blog until at least Wednesday. That will be the day that we get phone service at our new place. We hope that all of you have a wonderful weekend!

What God has Done...

2008-02-05T15:14:00.000-05:00

The heavens are telling of the glory of God; and their expanse is declaring the work of His hands. -Psalm 19:1
Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD from the heavens; Praise Him in the heights! -Psalm 148:1
Then God said, "Let the waters teem with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth in the open expanse of the heavens." -Genesis 1:20
Dustin and I were outside one afternoon last week, and we had to get our camera to capture some of the beauties of God's creation. What a mighty God we serve!

Brothers

2008-02-04T13:56:00.000-05:00

I have an eight-year-old brother (and three sisters, and yes, we are all from the same parents!). TJ and my Dad are a little out-numbered, so they were pretty happy when Dustin joined the family! My Mom recently told me a sweet story about TJ.

Dustin sometimes calls TJ on the phone, talks in a high-pitched voice, and says that his name is "Popcorn Shrimp" (I wish I knew where Dustin gets some of this stuff). For the longest time all of us wondered if TJ knew that it was Dustin, or if he thought there was really a strange person named "Popcorn Shrimp" in existence. On TJ's birthday this past year Dustin called and left a message for him as "Popcorn Shrimp." Mom told me later that TJ had friends over when the messaged was played and they all laughed and laughed! When his friends asked him who in the world was "Popcorn Shrimp," TJ laughed and said, "Oh that's my brother, he's so funny!"

I thought it was precious that TJ sees Dustin as his brother. You can see from the pictures that they have a blast together!
These pictures were taken at my parents' house over the weekend. We had a great time spending time together and being silly!
Too fun!
These guys are crazy.

Before and After

2008-02-02T23:33:00.000-05:00

Alot has been happening in our house the past few weeks. I thought I would share a few snapshots with you! The goal is to get everything packed and moved into the living room so that all the other rooms can be cleaned before the move-out date. Then when we get everything loaded on the truck, we will just have to vacuum/mop the floor and go!

Before

After

Jobs...

2008-02-01T14:12:00.000-05:00

A big item on our "To Do List" for our upcoming move is to find a job for me (Jennie). As you know, Dustin will have a job upon arrival! One of the main reasons that we are able to move to Winston-Salem is because Dustin will get to work with his Dad in the family business. However, I am not totally sure of what I will be doing. We have decided that I will not work full-time again so that I can do a better job of "wifing." I want to have more time to take care of the house, cook healthfully, and take care of errands so that Dustin will not always have to help me do that kind of stuff after a full week of work. This is something that the two of us have wanted for me for quite some time, so I am very excited!

I know that when we move I would like to use my four-year English degree, so I am looking in the direction of tutoring students in the area. I have just been hired by a tutoring agency called Academics Plus, Inc. I will be going to two schools and tutoring students after school. This will only be four days a week, and only two hours each day, but the pay is double what a typical job would pay. At least I will have a start when we arrive in Kernersville, and I will also be able to build a reputation for myself.

I am also posting ads in bookstores and online, and I have already had two people write me and ask about tutoring for their children! My goal is to have students come to my home for tutoring in English, Grammar, and/or Creative Writing. And eventually I hope to do some group workshops once I build my business a little. I am thrilled at the possibilities, and the interest that I have already seen! It will be great to teach a subject that I love, help children, make my own schedule, and have more time at home.

If anyone has advice on how I can build this idea, please let me know! I would appreciate your prayers as we start this new phase of life!

Moments of Insanity

2008-01-30T13:08:00.000-05:00

Sophie has no claws. One of the reasons we took her home was because she had already been de-clawed. It is great because we never have to worry about her tearing up our furniture. And Dustin thinks it is great because he can annoy her and not worry about getting scratched.

Have you ever seen cats sharpen their claws? They stretch up and dig their claws into something over and over again. Well, Sophie does this every now and then, even though she has nothing to sharpen.

Sometimes Dustin and I will be sitting on the couch and Sophie will walk in slyly, look up at us with disdain, and attack the ottoman. You can see her doing this in the picture above. She puts her ears back against her head and looks really angry! Once she is satisfied with the sharpness of her non-existent claws, she abruptly jerks away and takes off running at full speed into another room. Sometimes it is so abrupt that it startles me.

It is hilarious! Apparently Sophie is either taking her cat-anger out on the ottoman, or she is having "a moment of insanity."

A Tour of The "New" House

2008-01-28T13:44:00.001-05:00

Some of you have asked to see pictures of our "new" house. We will be moving in on February 9-10. Dustin's Grandaddy has been sweet enough to make the house available to us for a great rent rate! We will be here until we can save up and find a house to buy.

The house has a lot of character! It is old, and it has alot of really unique features that I love. It does need alot of loving' though. There is some work that needs to be done, but that is to be expected with an old house. We are looking forward to the big move! Enjoy the tour!

This shot was taken from the living room toward the front door. This is one of the unique parts of the home that I really like! The foyer area has a great storage closet, and it is seperated from the rest of the house by a french door. Love it!
This is the living room. The couch is not ours, hopefully it will be moved out this week. This is a dining room that we might use as our library/office. It is bright and airy! There is a door on the left that exits to a side porch.
This will be the guest room. Come and stay with us!
This is the master bedroom. I'm glad there are great windows to lighten that wood panelling!
Here is the kitchen, and you can see the dining room straight ahead.
There is a built-in hutch in the kitchen, another unigue part of the house.
This little area is next to the kitchen and exits to the back yard. We may use this as a table area.
This is Dustin walking from the back door through the fenced-in back yard to the car.
Thanks for stopping by! We'll post more pictures once we get settled in.

Boxes and Tape

2008-01-25T13:43:00.000-05:00

I love packing!! Don't bother telling me that it's weird; I already know. There is just something great about a big empty box just waiting to be filled up. I love to try and fill each box with as much as I can, positioning everything perfectly so more will fit. It is like a puzzle to me. Then when I am satisfied that the box has fulfilled its potential, I fold down the flaps and tape it up, happy that I have made a perfect package. Then I get to find another empty box!! One of the parts I like most about packing (and unpacking) is that I get to organize everything! I think I would call organizing one of my hobbies. It's just fun to "make a place for everything and put everything in its place."

In honor of my love for packing, I have asked Dustin if I can do all of it. He was very willing to let me have my way on this one! However, I did tell him that he could load all of it up on the truck (and I'll help too, of course).

The problem with my packing is that I'm a little over-zealous. This past weekend was great because I got to pack the whole time, but now we feel like we're camping. We still have two weeks before the actual move, and we've already missed a few things that I figured we would not need before that time (besides, I had the perfect space for it in one of my boxes!).

Sophie has been very helpful in this whole process. You can see below that without her the couch would surely start to drift toward the ceiling.

Nothing Like a Bowl of Soup!

2008-01-24T14:41:00.000-05:00

I have wonderful memories of being a little girl in cold weather! My parents had a working fireplace, and my Daddy would build a big fire and all of us would gather around. My Mom would spread out a big blanket and make hot chocolate for me and my two sisters (this was before my two youngest siblings were around). Daddy would sit nearby and read his Bible, a book, or the newspaper, and Mom would read aloud to us. It was a magical time for me. Everything was so cozy, and I loved having everone around me while I enjoyed hearing a great story (by the way, my Mom is the best ever at reading aloud!).

Another thing I remember about those cold days is Mom's soup. Whenever it was snowy outside, our house always smelled like delicious soup! Daddy would take us out to sled, build snowmen, and have snowball fights, and we would come back in to the yummy smells of the house! I am thankful to have grown up in a house so full of love. My parents are incredible, and they knew how to make every day special to me.

I have followed in the tradition of making soup when it is really cold, and I wanted to share one of my favorite recipes with you. It is so easy to make too!!

Potato, Brocolli, and Cheese Soup

INGREDIENTS
2 cups chopped onion
2 tablespoons margarine
2 1/2 pounds peeled and cubed potatoes
5 cups boiling water
4 cubes chicken bouillon
3 cups fresh broccoli, cooked and drained
salt and pepper to taste
3 cups shredded Cheddar cheese

DIRECTIONS
In a large stock pot saute onion in butter. Add potatoes, water and bouillon cubes. Cover, bring to boil and then reduce heat to medium and cook until potatoes are tender, about 15 minutes.
Remove tough outer skin of broccoli stems and cook broccoli. Once cooked add to soup.
In a blender or food processor puree half of the soup and return to stock pot. Season with salt and pepper.
Add cheese and heat soup through until cheese is melted. Serve warm.

Not Quite a Foot...

2008-01-23T15:09:00.000-05:00

Last Thursday night Dustin and I were watching the weather on our local station. We had heard that we would get some snow over the weekend, but Greg Fishel (our favorite meteorologist), was saying that we would get more than everyone originally thought! Our section of the map was forecast to get SIX to TWELVE INCHES of snow!!! Dustin and I LOVE snow and cold weather, so we were beaming when we heard the forecast! I was praying inwardly that God would give us a whole foot of snow.

So on Friday night we went out and bought the regular staples: milk, bread, and candy. We stopped and got some movies from Blockbuster, and then we came home and got our warm clothing ready, hoping to wake up to a foot of snow! Well, Saturday came, but the snow did not. We waited and waited, and looked out the windows every few minutes. Finally, just as the sun started to go down the snow began to fall. We were as happy as two pigs in the mud (I love that expression!). But unfortunately the forecasts were wrong. We got some snow, and you will see the extent of it below. It wasn't quite a foot, but it was still beautiful!

When the snow started falling
Dustin's car at dusk
It's snowing! It's snowing!
Icy branches... I love it!

My car the next morning
Look at that sky! Proof that there is a Designer!
When we woke up on Sunday morning, Sophie was snuggled up on the couch looking out the window. She must love snow too!

The post below shows a picture of my handsome husband enjoying the snow.

My Incredible Man

2008-01-22T08:56:00.000-05:00

I just have to announce that I have a wonderful husband!

He means so much to me, and he is special is so many ways. Two things have happened lately that have made me realize (again) my appreciation to God for Dustin. The first thing happened on Sunday night. We were getting ready for bed, and Dustin asked me a question. He said, "Is there anything that I could do better as a husband?" He has asked this question before, but this time it was totally out of nowhere, and I could tell he had really been thinking about it. That meant so much to me! It is wonderful to know that the man God gave me is dedicated to being a good husband. Wow!

The second thing happened just today. I checked my voicemail at lunchtime, and Dustin had called to tell me to be careful driving home from work. It has been frigid outside the last few days, and we had a little rain this morning. He said that there had been reports of black ice and a few accidents, and he just wanted me to be safe. I felt so loved, protected, and warm inside when I heard his concerned voice. I am so thankful that he loves me so much.

These may seem like little things to some of you, but I don't want to take anything for granted. I am incredibly blessed, and I praise the Lord for His gifts me!

Dustin has been working really hard lately. He was able to go back to work for the school part-time, and he has also been putting up fence posts part-time for our Landlord. It is really hard work! He has to dig a big hole with post-diggers, make sure the post is perfectly straight and even, and then make sure it stays that way as he covers the hole. The posts are really big and heavy. He is hoping to get alot done before we take off in a few weeks!

Look at that straight line of posts!

Just in Case...

2008-01-17T15:07:00.000-05:00

Just in case you do not already know, our blog consists of many pages. If you would like to view previous blog entries, all you need to do is scroll all the way to the bottom of this page and click "Older Posts." Do that on each page until you reach the end. Enjoy!

Some BIG News!

2008-01-14T16:21:00.001-05:00

No, we are not having a baby... yet. The big news is

We're MOVING!!!

To Winston-Salem!!

It is still a little hard for us to believe because it has all happened so fast. Last Monday Dustin started a new job, and we were thrilled about the pay increase and the weekends off. However, on Tuesday night we sat down with the benefits package for the new job and tried to work out a budget. It turned out that Dustin would only be making a little more than his previous job paid him. And it was not an amount worthy of driving 30-45 minutes to work (and back) each day.

It has been very difficult to find the "right" job for Dustin because we have so many criteria. We have been hoping for a job that he would enjoy, that pays well, that provides inexpensive benefits, that allows him to be off on Sundays, and that allows flexibility for time off so we can go on mission trips in the future.

So we weighed our options and thought and thought and thought. Dustin talked to his Dad about the situation, and a solution arose. There is a position open at the store that is managed by Dustin's Dad and two of his uncles. It is a bike and fitness store that has been the family business for many years. Dustin worked there before we were married, and he has always said that it was the job he enjoyed most. And this job meets ALL of our criteria!

At the same time we found out that Dustin's Grandaddy has a house that we can rent at a great price! We will live there until we can afford to buy a house of our own.

All of this happened so fast! We found out about the job and the house and we decided to move all within 24 hours. It has been amazing. I never thought at the beginning of last week that we would be planning to move at the end of the week.

We are so excited about this move for a number of reasons. We are thrilled that we now know where our home base will be located. For those of you who don't know, our plan as future missionaries is to follow the example of Paul in the Bible. Dustin learned about this way to do missions when he went to Ecuador with Mr. Tim Bunn (author of God's Plan for Church Planting, a workbook that is solely Biblical with no personal commentary). We hope to go to different South and Latin American countries (week- or month-long trips) to teach people how to plant churches. Then we will go back regularly to support and encourage those churches. We have often wondered about the location of our home base, and now we know!

Another reason that we are excited is that we will be near Dustin's family. Most of them live in that area, and it will be great to be able to see all of them regularly without having to drive two hours! We are also happy because we will get to see my family more! Yes, we will be further away from them, but now we will be able to go and spend a whole weekend, rather than just going for an afternoon. AND I am thrilled that I will be close to my sweet sister, Katie. She is at UNCG, and only 25 minutes from where we'll be living!

There are some sad parts of this decision. I have had a great job as a nanny for a sweet little boy since he was three months old. Now he is 2 years old, and it will be very hard to say goodbye to him. It has been such a fun two years, and I am so thankful to God for allowing me to be a part of this little guy's life. Telling his parents that I would be leaving in a month was one of the hardest things I have had to do.

We are also very sad to be leaving our sweet little house. We have enjoyed living here so much. It has been great to live out in the peaceful country, surrounded by fields, trees, and fresh air! We will miss feeling like we live in a mountain cabin. We will miss hiking in the back woods, the bike rides, the big back porch, and our sweet neighbors.

We will also miss the friends that we have made in Wake Forest over the last five years. Thankfully we will only be two hours away, and we hope we will still see many of them regularly.

Anyway, we will be moving out of our house on February 8-10, and Dustin will start working on February 11. Once we get there I will start looking for a job, hopefully one that will allow me to use my English degree.

Please pray for us as we embark on this new journey. It will be a big change for us, but we are ready to jump in with all four feet!

Dustin's Birthday

2008-01-08T14:06:00.000-05:00

Dustin's parents took all of us out for a wonderful Birthday dinner for Dustin. We went to a great (and very fancy!) restaurant in downtown Winston-Salem. It was delicious!!

Dustin playing Kayla's Nintendo Wii before we left for dinner The happy parents at the restaurantUs girls (Jessica, Kayla, and me)
The birthday boy!
Our dinners were delicious!! Yes, I took pictures.

When we got back to the house, Jessica and I had a boxing match on the Wii. I lost. How sad.

Christmas Evening with the Harrells

2008-01-08T13:45:00.000-05:00

After hanging out at Grandma Angell's house, we went back to Dustin's family's home where we exchanged gifts and had a great time.

Opening gifts

Dustin's amazing parents
We both got GREAT shoes!
What causes this?
Kayla and Jessica with their owl bandannas... haha!Keep the cameras rolling!

Christmas Day with the Harrells and Angells

2008-01-07T17:20:00.001-05:00

This year we arrived at the Harrell gathering on Christmas evening. Before we arrived we changed into our "tacky Christmas sweaters." We and Dustin's sisters planned a few weeks in advance to wear them to this event and see what people had to say. It was pretty funny. We had a great time!

Aunt Donna and Wayne
Dustin and his sister, Kayla, karate chopping each other.
Me and Dustin's sister Jessica. Complete with tacky Christmas sweaters and bows.
Jessica is whispering a sound that Dustin's Mom hates into her ear. Look at that expression!
Make silly faces!
Us with our tacky sweaters.

Dustin and his cousin, Jonathan.
Grandma Angell- she is so sweet!
Uncle Tommy

Christmas Day with the Dickens

2008-01-07T16:39:00.000-05:00

On Christmas Eve my family comes over. On Christmas morning Dustin and I wake up and have "our Christmas." After we have exchanged our gifts we get ready and go to my parents' house. We eat brunch there and exchange gifts with my parents. Throughout the day people float in and out of my parents house. We get to see my Mom's Mom and her husband, my Mom's Dad and his wife, and My Dad's Dad and his wife. It is a busy and extremely fun day. In the late afternoon we leave and go to Dustin's Grandma's house to exchange gifts with the Angell family. And finally we go to Dustin parents house where we exchange gifts with Dustin's parents and sisters, and we stay in Winston with his family for a few days after Christmas. It sounds really stressful, but it is very relaxed and fun! Here are some snaps from the Dickens portion of the day.

Always taking pictures...
My wonderful Mom. Christmas Day is also her BIRTHDAY!!
TJ checking out Emily's exciting gift!
Dustin BIG present!
The big box contained a much smaller wrapped box, which contained an iPod. Dustin was thrilled!
Dustin and my Dad mastering the Rubiks Cube.Then the craziness begins!

Ellie got a baby that talks, moves, and sucks a bottle! She was happy.

I love my Daddy.
Present time for Katie!
I love stockings.
Every year I get a HUGE bag of my favorite candy.

My Dad and his brother, Uncle Tony. They didn't plan to dress alike...

My Dad's side of the family.

Somehow we did not get any pictures of my Mom's parents stopping by... That is sad. We had lots of fun with them too!

Christmas with The Dickens Family

2008-01-07T16:19:00.000-05:00

It is so fun to hang out with family and make new memories every year. Here are some snaps of our gathering with the Dickens side of the family. This was at my Grandaddy Dickens' house.

Ellie taking pictures with Nana's camera!
Woah TJ!
Dustin tormenting the kids- they love it!
My Daddy- in deep conversation.
Present time! My Mom and Ellie.

Ellie got a puppy.
My Grandaddy Dickens. He is so sweet.
Present time for me!
Talking with the family...

A Few of My Favorite Things

2008-01-07T15:34:00.001-05:00

You know the song "These Are A Few of MY Favorite Things"? That song of NOT one of my favorites, but I like the idea. Here are a few snaps of things I love about Christmas.

Special Christmas goodies- This is my Mom's delicious Coffee Punch!!

And this is Layered Pumpkin Loaf- yummy!
Christmas Wreaths- This is our cheap little cranberry wreath, but I still love it!
Twinkle Lights- They are all over our house
Here is a much prettier wreath- my Mom started with a plain grapevine wreath and decorated it for me. Isn't it beautiful?!
My Mother-in-Law has a beautiful Christmas arrangement on her kitchen table. It is a glass bowl of cranberries with a floating star candle. I love seeing it there every year!Everybody taking pictures!! This is my sister, Katie.

And video-taping (this is Dustin's Dad).
REAL Christmas trees! The smell is amazing. And Sophie likes it too. Seeing all the different houses and their unique decorations. This was at my Grandaddy Dickens' house.
Fancy Christmas dishes- These belong to my Step-Grandma, Jamie
Lots and lots of candles everywhere!
Cracking and eating pecans (pronounced pee-cans).

Christmas Eve at Our House

2008-01-07T15:34:00.000-05:00

Ever since I was a little girl, my sisters and I have exchanged our gifts for each other on Christmas Eve. We would listen to my Dad read the Christmas Story from Luke 2, then we would hang up our stockings and carefully place our homemade Christmas goodies (and some of Mom's famous Pound Cake) on a plate for Santa. And then the three of us would sit in a little circle on the floor and open the gifts that we had picked out for each other. Now that I have three sisters and a brother, and now that I'm married, we still carry on the tradition. Except now everyone comes to my house! I get to make a big dinner, turn on some Christmas music, and welcome my family. It is a very special night and we have so much fun exchanging sibling gifts.

Buddies and Brothers
Ellie loves her Daddy
Me and my 21-year-old sister, Katie
Katie and little Ellie

Emily loves the Carolina Panthers... so she got some Panthers earrings. She was excited!
Katie got two umbrellas- necessities for walking to class in the rain!
Dustin and Katie constantly aggravate each other.
Dustin and Katie have a tradition of picking on each other (not just at Christmas, but at every gathering). But at Christmas they take it up a notch by giving each other some ridiculous gift(s). Last year Dustin gave Katie a $1 DVD from Target called "The White Gorilla," (with a subliminal message that that's what she is). When Katie opened it she had a shocked look on her face and told him to quickly open his gift. She had purchased the SAME DVD for him! It was pretty crazy. This year Dustin gave Katie a goody bag full of stuff like corn cushions, laxatives, a book about getting out of debt, a $1 DVD about "The Legend of Bigfoot," and a lot more. Katie gave Dustin some incense, telling him he needed it to cover his terrible smell... wow. All of us laughed until we cried (especially watching Katie take each terrible item out of her bag) . It is a weird tradition, but funny too.

I Just Love Dial-Up Internet!

2007-12-31T22:19:00.000-05:00

You probably already know (if you have ever used dial-up) that the title of this post is utter sarcasm. When I want to use the internet at home I make sure that the laptop is connected to the phone line, I click on AOL, and I wait impatiently as the numbers dial and the connection squeels and shrieks. Most of the time while I wait for the connection I think to myself, "why don't we have high-speed?" Then I remember that it is expensive, we do not need cable TV, and dial-up is only $9 a month. "Oh yeah..."

Usually I use the internet when I'm at work while the little boy I keep is napping, or when we are at our parents' homes. But lately we've been home a little and I have been aching to post our Christmas pictures on the blog! As you can imagine, it takes about 45 minutes to upload one picture, so I will have to wait until next week to add the Christmas pictures.

So the point of this post is to let those of you who read our blog regularly (if you exist!) know that there is more to come! I usually try to post every few days and I will be getting back to that schedule next week.

In the meantime, we hope that all of you had a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! We certainly did! Our time spent with our families was absolutely wonderful. We had so much being with all of them. If only it could have lasted longer! And every year we are blown away by the generosity of our parents, families, and employers. They are all FAR too good to us. We cannot even express our degree of gratefulness to each of them.

We are even more blown away by the gift that God so graciously offers us. The gift that we celebrate at Christmas time is the birth of Jesus Christ. The baby who became a man who became a sacrifice, all the while the Savior of our souls. If you have not already, it is not too late to read the Christmas story from Luke 2. There you will discover the real meaning of Christmas.

Go Wolfpack!!

2007-12-23T17:09:00.000-05:00

We got to go to a NC State Basketball game the day before Christmas Eve. Dustin's sister (Jessica) has a friend who wanted to give up his tickets, and Jessica asked us to go! We had a great time cheering for the Wolfpack! Thanks again Jess!

The Final Score! Yay for the Wolfpack!!

Once Upon a Time...

2007-12-19T14:30:00.000-05:00

We had the pleasure of going to a fairy-tale wedding over the weekend. On December 15th, 2007, Dustin's sweet cousin Kirby married Evan Shockley. The wedding was beautiful and whimsical. Check out the pictures.

The Groom as his bride appears.

The Bridesmaids (Dustin's sister, Jessica, is in the middle with black hair)

A family picture after sending the couple off in the rain!

A Thanksgiving & Christmas Celebration

2007-12-18T14:44:00.001-05:00

My sweet Grandma (Me-Me) combined her Thanksgiving and Christmas get-togethers this year. It was really fun to hang out with family, talk, and play with all the kids- not to mention the food!! My Grandma is one of the BEST cooks in the world, and that's a fact. It was a fun afternoon.

Everybody loves Dustin. This is my cousin, Carlie.

Me and my Daddy

My wonderful parents
The whole family! There are alot of us, huh?

Ellie

The "Big Girls"
T.J.

Trying to take a good picture is almost impossible. Dustin is being silly, I'm laughing, and there is always someone silly in the background!

The Golden Compass

2007-12-12T14:53:00.000-05:00

If you have seen the previews for the new movie, The Golden Compass, you have probably thought that it looked like a movie worth seeing. There are several major actors in it, it looks very well-made and interesting, and it seems like it would include a wonderful story. Well, think again. This movie has the potential to make a TON of money, but I hope that people will learn the danger in it before that can happen. Please read this article, pass it along to your friends, and DO NOT support this film in any way. The article is a little long, but it is stunning.

-Jennie

The Golden Compass: Briefing Your Concerned Congregation By Albert Mohler

The release of The Golden Compass as a major motion picture represents a new challenge for Christians -- especially parents. The release of a popular film with major actors that presents a message directly subversive of Christianity is something new. It is not likely to be the last.
Having seen the movie at an advance viewing and having read all three books of His Dark Materials, I can assure Christians that we face a real challenge -- one that will require careful thinking and intellectual engagement.

Why is this movie such a challenge?
First of all, The Golden Compass is an extremely attractive movie. Like the book on which it is based, the movie is a very sophisticated story that is very well told. The casting was excellent. Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig (the latest James Bond actor) are joined by others including Sam Elliott and newcomer Dakota Blue Richards, who plays the central role of 11-year-old Lyra Belacqua. Kidman is chilling as the beautiful but evil Marisa Coulter and Craig is perfect as Lord Asriel. Actor Ian McKellen (Gandalf in the Lord of the Rings trilogy) is the voice of Iorek Byrnison, the armoured bear.

The movie is very well done and will be very attractive to audiences of all ages. The special effects are superior to any previous movie of the type, including the Lord of the Rings trilogy (also released by New Line Cinema). Everything is in place for this to be a blockbuster at the box office. Second, the movie is based in a story that is captivating, sophisticated, and truly interesting. Philip Pullman is a skilled writer and teller of tales. His invented worlds of The Golden Compass and the entire His Dark Materials trilogy are about as good as the fantasy genre can offer. His characters are believable and the dialogue is constant -- largely due to Pullman's brilliant invention of a companion for each character -- a "daemon."
The bottom line is that these books and this movie will attract a lot of attention and will captivate many readers and viewers.

So, what's the problem?
This is not just any fantasy trilogy or film project. Philip Pullman has an agenda -- an agenda about as subtle as an army tank. His agenda is nothing less than to expose what he believes is the tyranny of the Christian faith and the Christian church. His hatred of the biblical storyline is clear. He is an atheist whose most important literary project is intended to offer a moral narrative that will reverse the biblical account of the fall and provide a liberating mythology for a new secular age.

The great enemy of humanity in the three books, The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife, and The Amber Spyglass (together known as His Dark Materials) is the Christian church, identified as the evil Magisterium. The Magisterium, representing church authority, is afraid of human freedom and seeks to repress human sexuality.
The Magisterium uses the biblical narrative of the Fall and the doctrine of original sin to repress humanity. It is both violent and vile and it will stop at nothing to protect its own interests and to preserve its power.

Pullman's attack on biblical Christianity is direct and undeniable. He once questioned why his books attracted little controversy even as the Harry Potter books attracted so much. He told an Australian newspaper that what he is "saying things that are far more subversive than anything poor old Harry has said. My books are about killing God."

Will viewers of the movie see all this?
The direct attack on Christianity and God is toned down in the movie. But any informed person will recognize the Magisterium as representing the Church and Christianity. Of course, in our world the Magisterium is the authoritative leadership of the Roman Catholic Church. In Pullman's world it represents Christianity as a whole.

Indeed, Pullman's tale tells of John Calvin assuming the papacy and moving the headquarters to Geneva, thus combining the Catholic and Reformation traditions into one. In the movie, the Magisterium appears to be located in London. In any event, the point is not subtle.
The most direct attacks upon Christianity and God do not appear until the last book, The Amber Spyglass, in which Lyra and Will (a boy her age who first appears in the second book) eventually kill God, who turns out to be a decrepit and feeble old imposter who was hardly worth the killing.

Is Pullman's attack on Christianity exaggerated by his critics?
No -- his attack is neither hidden nor subtle. The entire premise of the trilogy is that Lyra is the child foretold by prophecy who will reverse the curse of the Fall and free humanity from the lie of original sin. Whereas in Christian theology it is Jesus Christ who reverses the curse through His work of atonement on the Cross, Pullman presents his own theology of sorts in which the Fall is reversed through the defiance of these children. As Pullman insists, Eve and Adam were right to eat the forbidden fruit and God was a tyrant to forbid them the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.

The supernatural element of Pullman's story is "Dust," which is seen by the Magisterium as original sin but is presented by Pullman as the essence of life itself. In The Golden Compass, Lyra is given an "alethiometer" or "golden compass" which is filled with Dust and tells the truth to one qualified to operate it. Readers are told that a great battle is coming in which forces fighting for human freedom and happiness will confront (and destroy) the Magisterium and God.
In the last volume of the trilogy, a character known as Dr. Mary Malone explains her discovery to Lyra and Will: "I used to be a nun, you see. I thought physics could be done to the glory of God, till I saw there wasn't any God at all and that physics was more interesting anyway. The Christian religion is a very powerful and convincing mistake, that's all."

Is there more to the larger story?
Yes, and it has to do with sex. Surprisingly graphic and explicit sex. Pullman believes that the Christian church is horribly repressive about sex and that this is rooted in the idea of the Fall. As he told Hanna Rosin of the Atlantic Monthly, "Why the Christian Church has spent 2,000 years condemning this glorious moment, well, that's a mystery. I want to confront that, I suppose, by telling a story that the so-called original sin is anything but. It's the thing that makes us fully human."

Puberty is a big part of Pullman's concern. Coming-of-age stories are one of the most common forms of fiction, but Pullman's packs a punch that readers cannot miss. He wants to celebrate the adolescent's arrival at sexual awareness. Remember that the child's daemon can change forms until puberty. At that point it is fixed as a single creature that reflects the personality and character of the young adult.

Puberty means the coming of sexual feelings. The Magisterium would prefer that children grow up without experiencing sexual temptation, so it is conducting an experiment in order to separate children from their daemons before puberty, when their daemon can no longer change. This procedure, known as "intercision" makes the child a "severed child" who has no daemon -- and thus no soul. The Magisterium has assigned Mrs. Coulter the job of abducting the children and taking them to the North for this experiment.

As Mrs. Coulter explains to Lyra (who is revealed to be her own daughter) in the first book: "All that happens is a little cut, and then everything's peaceful. Forever! You see, your daemon's a wonderful friend and companion when you are young, but at the age we call puberty, the age you're coming to very soon, darling, daemons bring all sorts of troublesome thoughts and feelings, and that's what lets Dust in. A quick little operation before that, and you're never troubled again."

In The Golden Compass, Lyra and her companions free the children held at this experimental station in the North and destroy it. In The Amber Spyglass, Lyra and Will reverse the story of the Edenic Fall by consummating a sexual act in the garden.

Again, Pullman is not subtle. Keep in mind that this is a series of books marketed to children and adolescents. Lyra puts a red fruit to Will's lips and Will "knew at once what she meant, and that he was too joyful to speak." Within moments, the 13-year olds are involved in some kind of unspecified sexual act.

"The word love set his nerves ablaze," Pullman writes of Will. "All his body thrilled with it, and he answered her in the same words, kissing her hot face over and over again, drinking in with adoration the scent of her body and her warm, honey-fragrant hair and her sweet, moist mouth that tasted of the little red fruit."

Just a few pages later, Will and Lyra will dare to touch each other's daemon. That passage is even more sexually charged and explicit than the first. The adolescents now know "that neither daemon would change now, having felt a lover's hands on them. These were their shapes for life: they would want no other."

What is it about Pullman and C. S. Lewis?
Put simply, Pullman hates C. S. Lewis's work The Chronicles of Narnia. He told Hannah Rosin that Lewis's famous work is "morally loathsome" and "one of the most ugly and poisonous things I ever read." Narnia, he said, "is the Christian one . . . . And mine is the non-Christian."
When the first Narnia film was released in 2005, Pullman described the books as "a peevish blend of racist, misogynistic and reactionary prejudice."
Indeed, Pullman's His Dark Materials is intended as an answer to Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia. What Lewis (and J. R. R. Tolkein) did for Christianity, Pullman wants to do for atheism.

So, what should Christians do?
A good first step would be to take a deep breath. The Christian faith is not about to be toppled by a film, nor by a series of fantasy books. Pullman has an agenda that is clear, and Christians need to inform themselves of what this agenda is and what it means. At the same time, nothing would serve his agenda better than to have Christians speaking recklessly or unintelligently about the film or the books.

This is about the battle of ideas and worldviews. While Christians will not celebrate the release of this film, we should recognize the mixture of challenge and opportunity that comes with millions of persons watching this film and talking about the issues it raises. When the movie is mentioned in the workplace, in school, on the playground, or in the college campus, this is a great opportunity to show that Christians are not afraid of the battle of ideas.
We should recognize that the Christian Church has some very embarrassing moments in its history - moments when it has failed to represent the truth of the Gospel and the love of Christ.

Authors like Philip Pullman take advantage of these failures in order to paint the entire Christian Church as a conspiracy against human happiness and freedom. Of course, that charge will not stand close scrutiny, and we can face it head-on with a thoughtful response.
Some Christians have also held very unhelpful views of human sexuality. These, we must admit, would include figures as great and influential as Augustine and, alas, C. S. Lewis. But these figures, rightly influential in other areas of the faith, are not representative in this case of biblical sexuality. We can set the record straight.

Should we be concerned that people, young and old, will be confused by this movie? Of course. But I do not believe that a boycott will dissuade the general public from seeing the film. I am very concerned when I think of so many people being entertained by such a subversive message delivered by such a seductive medium. We are responsible to show them, in so far as we are able, that the Magisterium of The Golden Compass is not a fair or accurate representation of the Christian Church.

I can only wonder how many parents and grandparents will allow children and young people to see the movie and then buy them the books -- blissfully unaware of what is coming in books two and three.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ has enemies; this we know. Christian parents must be informed about His Dark Materials and inform others. We must take the responsibility to use interest in this film to teach our own children to think biblically and to be discerning in their engagement with the media in all forms. We should arm our children to be able to talk about this project with their classmates without fear or rancor.

Philip Pullman has an agenda, but so do we. Our agenda is the Gospel of Christ -- a message infinitely more powerful than that of The Golden Compass. Pullman's worldview of unrestricted human autonomy would be nightmarish if ever achieved. His story promises liberation but would enslave human beings to themselves and destroy all transcendent value.
The biblical story of the Fall is true, after all, and our only rescue is through the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The curse of sin was not reversed by adolescents playing at sex in a garden, but by the Son of God shedding His blood on a cross.

So let's get our bearings straight as we think and talk about The Golden Compass. This movie does represent a great challenge, but a challenge that Christians should always be ready to meet.

In addition to being one of Salem's nationally syndicated radio talk show hosts, R. Albert Mohler, Jr. is the president of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky and recognized as one of America's leading theologians and cultural commentators. Contact Dr. Mohler at mail@albertmohler.com.

*Special thanks to my Mother-in-Law, Pam Harrell, for bringing this to my attention! -Jennie

A Wonderful Christmas Program

2007-12-10T15:45:00.000-05:00

Over the weekend we went to Winston-Salem to watch the Christmas play at Grace Baptist Temple. Dustin's family attends church there, and every year they have a fabulous Christmas production. Last year Dustin's Mom had a big solo, and this year his Dad had a big solo. They are both incredible singers, and it is so great to hear them belt it out! Kayla was also part of a song. Everyone did a wonderful job and truly kept the focus on the true meaning of Christmas: the birth of Christ.

The play was based on a story similar to Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Story." A young man was caught up in the temporal aspect of Christmas (money, etc.). An angel came and took him through scenes from history, hence the many styles of costumes you will see below. At the end he gets to witness the shepherds and wise men visiting Jesus after His birth, and he realizes that there is a much deeper meaning to Christmas. Here are a few snapshots.

The costumes were amazing!
Dustin's mom is on the far right. His dad is on the back row, middle-right, wearing brown. A dear friend, Nancy Clay, is on the bottom row on the left.
At the end of the show. Dustin mom is near the back with the silver shirt. "Pops" doing a great job!
Dustin's Mom... Doesn't she look sweet?

Dustin's Dad mastering his solo

One of Dustin's sisters, Kayla, is on the second row in the middle. I wish I had a brighter picture, but I didn't want to use the flash!
Dustin's mom was supposed to be a snooty aristocrat during this scene.

I realize each time we visit how thankful I am for wonderful, godly in-laws. They mean so much to Dustin and to me.

An Experience You Will Not Soon Forget

2007-12-06T14:17:00.000-05:00

I was recently asked to name my favorite fiction book. I did not even have to think about it. I read Redeeming Love, by Francine Rivers, a few years ago and I will never forget the impact it had on my life. It takes the story of Hosea (from the book of Hosea in the Bible) and develops it fictionally. For those who do not know, the original story is about a man whom God has called to marry a prostitute. This woman is about as close to unlovable as a person can get. Even when she is treated wonderfully by Hosea she leaves him numerous times and betrays him in a number of ways. Francine Rivers sets the same story in a different era and adds her unique touch, making you feel as though you are a PART of the story.

When I read this book the first time I was amazed at the experience of it. It is not just an enjoyable read-- it will change the way you see your life. It will make you realize anew the depth and intensity of God's love for His children, even though we are also unlovable. As I read it I found myself laughing, crying, sweating, aching inside, and rejoicing. You may be saying "well, Jennie is just a little emotional." That may be true (ahem...), but it truly does take alot for a book to bring those emotions to the surface. When I finally read the last chapter I felt completely drained... exhausted, guilty, thoughtful, but also ecstatic and thankful. I have never felt that way after just reading a book.

I would love for you to read this book and let me know what you think and how it affects you! Whether you are a man or a woman, Christian or not, you will find the story compelling, heart-wrenching, and exciting!

***WARNING*** Because of the basis of the story line described above (which, as I said, is completely Biblical), there are alot of very intense and stomach-turning parts in this book. I would not recommend it for children or teens unless a parent has read it first.

It's About the Cross

2007-12-03T11:19:00.001-05:00

Click to watch this incredible music video. I heard about it on Way Of The Master Radio.

I Never Thought I Would be Thankful for This...

2007-11-30T20:21:00.000-05:00

The most difficult week of my life was when Dustin was in Ecuador for ten days and I was home alone. I'm sure that sounds really silly to some of you, but it is absolutely true. I felt so lonely even when I was in a group of friends. Every day seemed so long because I couldn't look forward to seeing Dustin when I got home from work. I think I was pretty pitiful, and I'm sure my parents and Dustin's parents can attest to that.

One night when I got home from work I walked in the door and realized that everything looked exactly the same as it did when I left that morning. The dishes were done, the table was wiped clean, the floor was spotless. Doesn't sound too bad, but it was very depressing for me. Suddenly I realized that there was no evidence that Dustin had been home that day. I was alone. I had no one to nurture. I found myself wishing that I could just have SOMETHING to clean or pick up or cook or fold.

At that moment I realized how much I had complained. Dustin has a million incredible qualities... he is a wonderful singer, guitar-player, listener, chef, artist, and much more. However, his personality is very different from mine in the organizing and picking-up-after-yourself department. I don't know if I could count how many times I have huffed, puffed, whined, or rolled my eyes while picking up socks, towels, shoes, plates, cups, candy wrappers, etc. I know that Dustin does not leave his stuff around the house to make me angry; he just does not have the pick-it-up reflex.

That night was a wake-up call for me. I decided that I will never again whine about wet towels on the bed or dirty socks on the floor or any other messes needing to be cleaned. I finally understood more clearly how much I should be thankful. Those things that I would have complained about before have taken on a new meaning. They are evidences that I have a husband who loves to be home with me. Wow...

I have not gotten over my relief that Dustin is safe at home with me. Tonight we took a drive, took nutty pictures of ourselves in the car, and laughed like crazy. When we came home I saw some socks on the floor. I smiled, picked them up, and hugged my precious husband. I am praying that God will maintain this attitude in me; I know I cannot do it on my own.

Something New

2007-11-27T15:06:00.000-05:00

I was tagged by Adrienne (http://ourlivesasvesselsofmercy.blogspot.com/). It is a "7 Random/Weird things" meme... What's a meme? I just found out that it's something that's passed from blog to blog.

Rules:
1. Link to the person that tagged you and post the rules on your blog.
2. Share seven random or weird things about yourself.
3. Tag seven random people at the end of your post and include links to their blogs.
4. Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

7 Random/Weird things about me:

1. I love to fill out forwarded surveys and doctors office forms, etc. If Dustin has any forms that need to be filled he brings them to me. What is so exciting about name/address/phone? I have no idea.

2. I have been a vegetarian for half my life because my Mom read something to me about how chickens are processed that grossed me out. I lost my appetite for all meat and haven't gotten it back for 12 years.

3. I am very particular about bedsheets. When I put new sheets on the bed the flat sheet has to be folded down a little at the top. And the comforter and the sheet HAVE to stay together. If they separate I get a little stressed out. And if there is a stray sock in the bed I will wake up and I cannot go back to sleep until it is out. I usually wake Dustin up saying "there's a foreigner in the bed!"

4. I have an aversion to Monopoly. Some of you know about this. I will never play it again because it takes too long and it is stupid.

5. I have a favorite nightshirt that I absolutely love. When I see that it is clean in my PJ drawer I smile and hug it. Dustin laughs.

6. I am allergic to citrus- strawberries, oranges, kiwi, lemons, etc.

7. I laugh hysterically at stupid corny jokes, but it usually takes a few tries for me to get the really good ones.

Yay, that was fun. I am tagging Joy, Nicole, Rachel, Caitlin, Cheryl, and Elise.

Annual Gingerbread House-Making

2007-11-26T13:52:00.000-05:00

Every year my family has a Gingerbread House Party. Usually on the weekend after Thanksgiving we will all gather at my parents' house where my Mom will mix, shape, and bake homemade gingerbread houses. Then she makes the icing and we all set up the dining room table with every kind of candy for decorating. When we were little we would all help with one family house to share, but now Mom makes several. Katie and Josh decorate one (which Mom will keep at home and use for decoration), Dustin and I get one to take home, and Emily, TJ and Ellie each get one for their bedroom decoration. Dustin usually comes up with the design for our house, and he repeatedly tells Katie and Josh that their house looks like dirt compared to ours. It has become a competition that involves a lot of competitive banter throughout the process (which is hilarious). Then we stay up late talking and playing games. We look forward to it every year!

Mom and "the big girls"
Making the icing
A "before" shot
I love the gumdrops!
Daddy helping Ellie with her house
We are all hard at work
This is how things looks when we're finished. Cleaning it all up is no easy task.
The back of our finished house

TJ and his house

The finished products. Left to right: Katie and Josh's house, Ellie's house, Emily's house, TJ's house, our house.

Emily cracking up at Dustin

The girls

TJ's birthday was the 20th, so Mom had some cake and candles for him.

Josh aggrevating Katie, heehee!

We are watching the elf dance (to see it click http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=9566097144

Thanksgiving with the Harrells and Angells

2007-11-26T12:45:00.000-05:00

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving celebration with Dustin's side of the family. We went to one house for Thanksgiving lunch, and then to another house for Thanksgiving Dinner. We had a great time being thankful with that side of the family. We spent the night with Dustin's parents that night and travelled home on Friday. Then Saturday we went to celebrate with my side of the family... pictures to come.

Grandma Angell playing on the Nintendo Wii!

Making more elves!

Aunt Donna and Grandma Angell

Me and Uncle Tommy

Kayla waiting her turn on the Wii

Dustin's Mom and Dad

Dustin and his Dad beating Uncle Johnny and Uncle Dale

Dustin's Mom and Indy (Meredith and Nathaniel's little girl)

Dustin and Nathaniel had fun with a pilgrim salt-shaker and some depth perception camera tricks... Dustin is holding the salt-shaker and Nathaniel is several feet away.

Nathaniel, Meredith, and the kids departing

Beware: Side-Splitting Laughter May Follow

2007-11-21T11:19:00.000-05:00

As humiliating as this is, I had to post it! My friend Adrienne told me about this site where you can "Elf Yourself!" Her elf was so funny I had to try it for myself and for Dustin. Click on the link and watch us dance like crazy elves!

The funny thing (which is also a little humiliating) is that Dustin tells me all the time that I look like an elf. Since we've been married he's called me "The Little Elf." He says it's a compliment, which I still find hard to believe, and that I just have "cute elfish features." He's going to die when he sees this tonight!

The other funny thing about it is that the pictures are completely accurate- If we were really dancing like crazy elves, Dustin would be completely in character and I would be laughing the whole time. See for yourself!

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=9566097144

Interesting Song for your Consideration...

2007-11-19T14:34:00.001-05:00

I heard one of my favorite Christian radio hosts talking about this song by Point of Grace... Thought ya'll might be interested in hearing some of his comments and some of mine (the comments are in capital letters).

I am so disappointed in most of the "Contemporary Christian Music" on the radio today. It seems that it is getting more and more shallow. Check this out... if you can bear it. This is secular humanism at its best. You wouldn't even be able to tell that it's a Christian song!
(Read through the lyrics first and then go back through and read the comments).

(By Point of Grace)
Verse 1:
Wake up to the sunlight
With your windows open
Don't hold in your anger or leave things unspoken
Wear your red dress
Use your good dishes
Make a big mess
and make lots of wishes (MAKE LOTS OF WISHES? HOW ABOUT PHIL. 4:6)
Have what you want (WHAT ABOUT BEING CONTENT? PHIL. 4:12)
But want what you have (THERE'S A LITTLE CONTENTMENT)
And don't spend your life lookin' back (NO, DON'T SPEND YOUR WHOLE LIFE ON IT, BUT DO GRIEVE OVER YOUR SIN. 2 COR. 7:9-11)

Chorus:
Turn up the music
Turn it up loud
Take a few chances
Let it all out
You won't regret it (WHAT IF YOU TAKE A FEW CHANCES THAT SHOULD BE REGRETTED?)
Lookin' back from where you have been
Cuz it's not who you knew (WHAT IF YOU DIDN'T KNOW JESUS? THEN IT MATTERS!)
And it's not what you did
It's how you live (SO ALL THAT MATTERS IS THAT YOU'VE LIVED A FUN LIFE FULL OF TAKING CHANCES, WEARING A RED DRESS, MAKING MESSES, AND USING YOUR BEST DISHES? THAT SOUNDS REALLY FUN, BUT IS THAT REALLY WHAT MATTERS?)

Verse 2:
So go to the ballgames
And go to the ballet (THEY ARE MAKING A LIST HERE OF THINGS YOU SHOULD DO TO LIVE WELL, AND THERE IS NO MENTION OF BEING DEVOTED TO CHRIST. BUT THEY DO MENTION GOING TO BALLGAMES AND BALLETS. HMMM.)
And go see your folks more than just on the holidays
Kiss all your children
Dance with your wife
Tell your husband you love him every night
Don't run from the truth
'Cause you can't get away
Just face it and you'll be okay (WHAT ABOUT THE NEED FOR FORGIVENESS? "JUST FACE IT AND YOU'LL BE OKAY?")

Chorus:
Turn up the music
Turn it up loud
Take a few chances
Let it all out
You won't regret it
Lookin' back from where you have been
'Cause it's not who you knew
And it's not what you did
It's how you live (IT IS ABOUT WHAT YOU DID, THOUGH. IF YOU ARE A CHRISTIAN, PEOPLE SHOULD BE ABLE TO SEE IT. THERE SHOULD BE A CHANGE IN YOU. I DON'T THINK PEOPLE WILL KNOW THAT YOU'RE A CHRISTIAN JUST BY SEEING YOU LIVING IT UP. MATT. 5:13,14)

Bridge:
Oh wherever you are
and wherever you've been
Now is the time to begin

Verse 3:
So give to the needy
And pray for the grieving (THE ONLY REFERENCE TO ANYTHING HOLY)
E'en when you don't think that you can
'Cause all that you do is bound to come back to you (A LITTLE KARMA MESSAGE? WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND?)
So think of your fellow man
Make peace with God and make peace with yourself (MAKE PEACE WITH YOURSELF? THIS SOUNDS LIKE THE "LOOK AFTER #1" MESSAGE OF TODAY.)
'Cause in the end there's nobody else (WHAT ABOUT THOSE YOU'VE WRONGED? 2 COR. 7:11)

Chorus:
Turn up the music
Turn it up loud
Take a few chances
Let it all out
'Cause you won't regret it
Lookin' back from where you have been
'Cause it's not who you knew (ACTUALLY IT DOES MATTER. MAYBE THEY COULD MENTION THE IMPORTANCE OF KNOWING CHRIST SOMEWHERE IN THE SONG!)
And it's not what you did
It's how you live

'Cause it's not who you knew
And it's not what you did
It's how you live

That's the end of the song. What do you think? I'm not saying that every Christian song has to have a sermon in it, but I am always disappointed when Christian writers confuse what is truly important. I do love some mushy-gushy romantic country/secular songs, but not on Christian radio. I would love to hear your thoughts...
Jennie

*The show I mentioned is called "Way of the Master Radio" with Todd Friel. You can download free podcasts at http://www.wayofthemasterradio.com/

Yay for Fall!!

2007-11-12T16:31:00.000-05:00

We are so excited that our favorite season has finally arrived!! After all the heat of the long summer, it is exciting that we now have to throw on a jacket before we walk outside. Both of us share a love for fall colors and temperature, especially because it reminds us of when we first got together.

We met in August 2001, and on the following November 9th Dustin told me that he wanted to pursue a relationship with me. It was such a special day! I was working at an art gallery at that time, and he drove all the way to Cary (a 45 minute drive for him), interrupted my work (a welcome interruption!), and took me aside to tell me he couldn't wait any longer to tell me. Then we had our first hug!

So the fall season brings back memories of long walks, holding hands, nerve butterflies, anticipation, and excitement!! We also love to get out in nature with our bikes and our cameras. Check out some of beautiful sights.