Headaches, first day of school, roommates and other things joyful...

Hey All,

I cannot tell you the difference I feel going into my third year of teaching, there is a peace...a weight lifted. I would love to tell you it's because I have everything down and it's all easy breezy from here and in some ways there is truth to that...but I know that this lightness comes from the joy of Jesus and nowhere else. This summer God did a work in my heart that brought a freedom and a joy like never before... I cannot stop smiling! Along the way there have been glimpses of this freedom, but He really put His finger on some areas of bondage this summer and by His Word and His Spirit... set me free of those things. I have known what is to be saved, I have known what it is to be loved by my Creator but this is so different. I knew there was a heaviness the last few years, but I didn't understand it and certainly didn't know how to be free of it. It is so hard to look at our weaknesses, we want to perfectly love our Jesus as He has loved us...but in my weakness He is made strong and allowing Him into those deep places has only deepened the love I have for my Savior.

As you may have previously read my new roommates moved in....oh my goodness! Whenever Melissa and Gwen come home I hear "where's Jen? where's Jen?" oh how happy! I am so excited to have a family at home and so thankful that we are going to get to be a part of each other's lives for this season.

Headaches....hmmmm....what to say really? I think my longest stretch migraine free has been 5 days...5 glorious days....here's to hoping for six! I am really thankful for even the short stretches and amazed at how God takes care of everything regardless. He has displayed His love for me so richly in this mild area of suffering, I rejoice because it brings me even a fraction of a step closer to Him.

What a sweet, sweet time... I find God drawing me in deeper, stripping the distractions and calling me to learn more of Him, trust Him more, rest in Him. I know it's sounds silly, especially compared to the great saints who lived so modestly and gave so much... but I am trying to not take my computer home, so I have more time for Jesus and the precious ones He has blessed my life with. I deleted my facebook for now, I am so "all or nothing" and would find myself consumed in it and just wasting time away. I would have a conversation with someone and there was no need to catch up because we had read each other's facebook....ok, big deal but I think it hinders our vulnerability in a sense, we feel no need to go deeper when we've had a "status update" we can just leave it at that, knowing "enough". I am really praying that cutting out some distractions will take me deeper with my Jesus and deeper with others.

I love being back at school, I love watching my kids grow up and connecting with them. They are so funny and always keep me on my toes. I love seeing my first, now second graders as they come out of school while I faithfully do my "door duty", their silly ways and gentle hugs fill my heart. I love doing math "magic", discussing creation and evolution, rejoicing with my students when things suddenly "click". I LOVE that our third day of school is "beach day"!


I love that this blog has no organization and is just a bunch of random wonderfulness :)
Thanks for reading! If you want to leave a prayer request....I'd love to pray for you or you can email me.

Here is the scripture our summer Bible study was based on, God gave me this scripture about 4 years ago during what is probably the most difficult time of my life to date...I had no idea what it would mean to me today but I have seen it fulfilled in my life and in the lives of others and I am filled with praise...."The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn, to console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified. And they shall rebuild the old ruins, They shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the ruined cities, the desolations of many generations." Isaiah 61:1-4