the roller coaster that has been 2007 so far...

Current mood: thankful
Category: Life

well happy new year everyone... i think.

so far, 2007 has been quite interesting for my family and me. a good thing ... i am employed full-time again. i finished working at the mall and was fearing the unemployment drought again when i got a wonderful call! i interviewed for the job on jan. 3, received the job offer on jan. 5 and my first day at the buffalo reflex was jan. 9! you are reading the works of the newest news reporter at the reflex. i will also be contributing to the design of the paper. that is i will be when the town has power again...

life in southwest missouri has been put on a hault thanks to the ice storm of 2007. the weather started friday night. we lost our power and it just came on today. my mom and i ended up staying at a hotel with my grandparents and eating out almost every meal. the once beautiful trees were covered in 3-4 inches of ice and have lost large limbs or uprooted. power lines were down everywhere, in spfld alone as many as 75,000 people were without power. i want to cry because my beautiful city looks like a war zone or something.  but again the power is on again at our house, praise the Lord!

so besides the ice storm, i'm looking forward to this year. i'm starting my career and my grown-up life is just beginning. i've joined a gym and when things are a little more stable, i'm hoping to work myself into a much healthier person. i love God, my family and friends and can't wait to see what the future holds! happy 2007 everyone... and stay warm!

Cherish time with your loved ones this Christmas season

My emotions are running a muck today. Sadness encompasses the day as six months ago my Daddy passed away. Also, I am nervous and excited because I am now employed again. But nevertheless, my Daddy is the most thing that wonders my mind today.

In 10 days. my mother and I will celebrate Christmas, like most of America. Yet this year will be different as it is the first without Dad. As we have prepared our house for the relatives to come, we have brought out nearly every Christmas decoration we have collected since my birth. It has been fun to remember all of the joyous times related to the decor but the hardest is seeing the stuff from last year.

For most of my life, my Father was the living Scrooge. He did not buy too many gifts, did not want any gifts or made much of them and did not want us to buy for friends and family. My Dad did not have much as a kid so I guess that was the excuse but it always made it hard on my Mom and I who relished in the joy of giving to others during the season. Do not get me wrong, my Father was a very generous man. He was always there to help someone in need. And he started a tradition of reading the Christmas story before we opened presents but he did not like all the hoopla.

But last year, my Dad surprised my Mom and me by bringing home Christmas decorations. He bought standing, speaking snowmen and a singing reindeer from Avon. Also, there is a larger reindeer with bells named Shivers because of his hilarious actions. And beyond the decor, I remember the special trip my Father and I made to Justice Jewelers to buy my Mom a new wedding ring.

He did not have much money but he wanted to buy her a new ring to fit her finger. Since she had become ill, Mom could not wear her wedding set. We found a darling ring with double hearts and a diamond. I had to hide the receipt in my purse until it was sized. Then, we purchased a teddy bear to benefit St. Jude's Children's Hospital to hold the ring. Mom wore the ring occasionally last year but when my Dad passed away she has to wear it every day.

For the first time my Father was actually enjoying Christmas, almost as if he knew it was his last. I think that is what makes it the hardest for my Mom and me. Last Christmas was so special and one we will never forget. And although we cannot see my Dad this Christmas, we know he is with us, watching over us, in spirit and our memories. We devoted one of our trees especially to his memory. It is decorated in his favorite things: a sports enthusiast Santa (my Dad for sure), Dale Earnhardt and Earnhardt Jr. ornaments (he was a huge fan), a Taz ornament (he picked out our cat and named him Taz because Earnhardt was driving a Taz car) and much more.

I know we are always told to cherish the times we have with our loved ones because we never know when it is the last. But I think it is especially important during the holidays. In many families, one of the few times they see another is at Christmas. And essentially a family is the reason of the season as Jesus; the Son of God was born. So enjoy every moment with your family this Christmas. Take tons of pictures and relish in every moment.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Love, Jennifer

I hope this Christmas season finds you all doing well. I thought I should update you all on my status or I suppose lack of status before the New Year comes.

Yes, I am still unemployed but I'm not worried. I know my Heavenly Father has great plans for me. I'm just continuing to trust Him. So right now I am doing a little freelancing for the Community Free Press, I've applied at Assembly of God headquarters and I might be going back to retail for a while. I miss working with my dear friends at LB so I'm kinda looking forward to spending more time with them.

However, as much as I am looking for work I am also keeping myself busy in getting ready our house ready for Christmas! We are having my mom's side of the family here on the 23rd and it's quickly approaching! So we have a lot of Christmas decorations and totes in the living room right now. We put up our big tree tonight! It's beautiful! The tree is lite by clear lights with gold and white garland. My Adora Belle (Marie Osmond doll) Angel topper graces the tree. Nativity, first Christmases and toy ornaments make it kind of a nostalgic tree. It is the first of our three trees to be complete. The others are going to be my Daddy's tree and a tree with my Mom's lighthouse and angel ornaments. The house is so big, we need multiple trees and we wanted to have a tree in memory of Dad. It's tough being the first Christmas without him but we have wonderful friends and family surrounding us.

I hope you all have a safe and wonderful holiday season. In case I am not able to write again, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Love and God bless,

Jenn

Job applications: round I
Current mood: excited
Category: tired Jobs, Work, Careers

In my first week without work I have taken time to relax and be productive. I've already sent out around 12 applications/ resumes for journalism positions. I also inquired about doing seasonal work at LB again.

I am excited because I sent one resume to a local paper for a features position. I love features!

So that's the news for now. Thanks for all your continued prayers and support. God is in control!

Love and God Bless!

jenn

pullin up my boot straps
Category: Life

well it's about 3:30 in the afternoon on tuesday and i'm laying around watching home shopping and takikng brief naps. the sad thing is i'm not on vacation.

i was asked to give an update on what's going on; so here it is a not-so-happy update.

mom and i got moved into our new house. we do not have everything set up yet, the house is huge and there are only two of us. plus, we have a ton of stuff.

i guess a good thing is that the house might be getting put together more while i'm at home. you see, the sad news is on friday, i was released from my job. i was in a probationary term and things just didn't work out. i don't want to get into everything because it's still tough to talk about but i know it's for the best. i know God is still in control and He has a great plan.

although it hurts, i'm okay or becoming okay with the decision. things are changing beyond my control and i can see that i would not feel comfortable in the new mold. so again i know that God is in control.

please continue to pray for my mom and me. it seems as if we start to get our new life started and then the rug is pulled out from under us. i know we're not the first to go through this but it sure doesn't make it easier.

but anyways, i'm starting to look for another job. i've been checking out places to send my resume and making contacts. i've had a couple days of rest and tomorrow i'll start getting more into the job search.

thanks for all your prayers and encouragement. they are greatly appreciated.

love and God bless,

jenn