My First Milestone

I'm official!  Among other, crazier things that happened during these last few weeks, I got my first business cards!  They're not the artsy-est by any means but it sort of feels like a right of passage.

Welp...

Believe it or not, I've attempted blogging before.  When we went to Uganda, they told us that we needed to blog- that our blogs were going to be the main way people at home kept up with us.  Not kidding, I don't think I blogged, not even once, our entire time there.

You see, I don't think I'm a bad blogger (for heaven's sake correct me if I'm wrong) I'm just an inconsistent blogger... as you may have noticed.  Therefore, please ignore my previous posts touting long life histories of the troubled youth I work with, because, if I'm being honest, the only way I can picture myself consistently blogging is if I allow myself to not be a long-winded blogger.  Because really, how many long-winded bloggers out there also live with 9 teenagers?  I just don't have the time and, I'm guessing, you don't have the time either.

SO because neither you nor I have the time and because we both live in such a fast express yourself completely in 140 characters or less kind of world I am dubbing this the (probably not) first ever MINI-BLOG!  And you get to be a part of it!  Now isn't that something special?  :)

~J

I Survived Week 1!

Did anybody else have a crazy week?  Maybe it was just me between the moving and the new job and packing and unpacking and 10 new teenagers in my life, but this week was a whirlwind.

But, I made it!

I got to spend a bunch of time getting familiar with the girls, their histories, our schedule, the town (turns out our Zumba instructor is also the pharmacist), and of course filled out more paperwork than anyone ever should.  I've felt all your prayers this week and wouldn't have made it through without them.  Thank you!!

In the coming weeks I'll be featuring one of our girls each post to give a little bit of insight into the work that the Lord is doing in these girls' lives!  (For confidentiality all names will be changed.)

This last week my boss asked me if I'd be willing to put my art degree to work.  I'm excited to start crafting and art-ing with these girls- I've been really interested in art therapy lately now I get some first on experience without all the extra student loans :)

I'm collecting craft ideas to do with our girls if anybody's got some to share!

Let me know how I can be praying for you

Love,

J

(New) Home Sweet Home

That ^ is my new home!  Well, not exactly... actually that looks like a train station.  Anyway, I'm moving to Kingman!  There's a semi-long story here but the gist is, the Lord dropped an opportunity in my lap that was so good, He knew I couldn't say no.

Six months ago I moved home to Wichita from my heart's home in Tulsa, OK.  The months that have followed that move have been some of the hardest I can remember, but they've also been filled with new community, old support groups, and dear friends.  During them I was nothing but frustrated, but looking back, it was a good time of wrestling.  20/20 right?

2 1/2 weeks ago I was, once again, looking at job postings and the first listing was from Main Place Youth.  A quick Google search quickly told me this was the job I'd been waiting for.  I called the next morning for more information, had an interview the next day and was hired that night.  If that series of events doesn't point to a God who's intimately involved in our lives, I don't know what does.

This job opening up was such a cool reminder of who God is and how concerned with us He is.  I'm sad to be leaving some really great community in Wichita, but luckily I'll only be an hour away.

While in Kingman, I'll be working as a house parent in a girls' home for girls ages 12-18.  Some of these girls are former prostitutes, addicts, cutters, trafficking victims, etc.  Jesus is the only answer to the pain they've had to shoulder in their short lives.  I can't wait to be His hands and feet.  I can only imagine what I'm in for as I do life with these girls, prayers are always appreciated!

Love,
J