I wrote the front page for the Howard-Miami Newsletter for August. You can check it out by clicking the link.
Besides that I had a great weekend!
A few words to sum up the weekend: painting, nap, watched The Sandlot on a baseball diamond, Amish breakfast buffet (delicious donuts), lost hiking, gummy bears :), teaching how to bake cookies, Olympics (I love the Olympics!), Sunday School, homemade Sunday lunch, and lots of laughing!
It is really starting to hit me that I'll be leaving in 3 weeks. I think the youth and congregation are also starting to realize it. I don't know when but I will have to make some visits back to Kokomo to see them all because it's been a great summer!
Peace, love, and blessings,
Jessica
Monday, July 30, 2012
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Not too bad
I made dinner tonight for my family. We had scrambled eggs with veggies (zucchini, yellow squash, tomatoes, and green bell pepper), sausage, fresh pineapple slices, and cinnamon rolls. This is the first time I've made all of this (I've made scrambled eggs before but not with veggies inside). I'm quite surprised it all tasted pretty good, I didn't cut myself, and nothing was under cooked, in fact, the sausage may have been a little over cooked, oops.
But what I am most impressed with are the cinnamon rolls. I found the recipe on line but am going to tweak it a little bit for the next time I make them. They rose incredibly well though! Check out this picture! (Not the best picture quality but you get the point, they rose, are thick, and look like real cinnamon rolls.)
But what I am most impressed with are the cinnamon rolls. I found the recipe on line but am going to tweak it a little bit for the next time I make them. They rose incredibly well though! Check out this picture! (Not the best picture quality but you get the point, they rose, are thick, and look like real cinnamon rolls.)
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Busy week!
I have a busy week, meeting every night, a Sunday school lesson to plan, the front page of the Newsletter needs to be written, and I'm preparing to lead worship on Sunday. Also, a couple visitors will be gracing my presence in the next 1.5 weeks, mom & dad, a college friend, and someone from illinois. Lots to do and lots to prepare for so as a blog entry I'm going to share just a little bit with you.
I have weekly meetings with my mentor, Sarah, as part of the program I am in. We talk about things I'm doing, what is coming up, the church, life, and God. I really enjoy these times and am going to miss them when I'm gone. During these times she has 3 questions she asks every week. They are good questions, just not always my favorite.
One day in talking about these Sarah commented that she might start journaling just to answer these three questions each week. I think that's a good idea which I might try after I'm done this summer (if I can get myself to actually journal!)
I challenge you to think about these questions for yourself, you might be surprised what you come up with.
I'll try to add some more pics next week.
Peace, love, & blessings,
Jessica
I have weekly meetings with my mentor, Sarah, as part of the program I am in. We talk about things I'm doing, what is coming up, the church, life, and God. I really enjoy these times and am going to miss them when I'm gone. During these times she has 3 questions she asks every week. They are good questions, just not always my favorite.
- What has been enjoyable?
- What has been challenging?
- What has God been teaching you?
One day in talking about these Sarah commented that she might start journaling just to answer these three questions each week. I think that's a good idea which I might try after I'm done this summer (if I can get myself to actually journal!)
I challenge you to think about these questions for yourself, you might be surprised what you come up with.
I'll try to add some more pics next week.
Peace, love, & blessings,
Jessica
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Absolute Beauty!
There is beauty in many things.. even in county fairs! Trust me, you will want to finish the end of this post, it will be worth your while. And, while there may not be beauty in county fairs to all, there is to me. (What can I say, it's in my genes!) I promise, even if you don't find beauty in the county fair you will probably find beauty in the end of my post, so keep reading!
Tonight I went to the Howard County 4-H Fair. I took some pictures to illustrate my experience.
Tonight I went to the Howard County 4-H Fair. I took some pictures to illustrate my experience.
I felt right at home. One kid even was showing southdowns!
The pictures that follow are the inside of this round barn. It was pretty cool.
These are the tracks from the old tractor above the ferris wheel.
Old tractor...
New tractor.
I got back to the sheep barn just in time to watch showmanship, my favorite classes!
This barn housed ALL of the animals. Pretty different from what I'm used to.
So then I was driving home and saw the gorgeous sky which I had to take pictures of!
I just couldn't stop being amazed and continued to take more photos of the sky.
What beauty God gives us in all forms!
"He has made everything beautiful in its time." Ecclesiastes 3:11a
~Peace, love, & blessings.
Monday, July 9, 2012
I'm famous! ;)
I was doing some perusing through Bluffton's website which I like to do from time to time and look what I found: http://www.bluffton.edu/about/news/newsreleases.asp?show=062912_01
That's me! Haha, I release this isn't a big deal but I had no idea they would write a press release about my summer. Pretty crazy.
Anyways, today is my day off so I have spent it as any day off should be spent.. doing nothing relating to work. I have lazed around quite a bit today soaking up all the rest I have been lacking from the past week. I think this evening is going to be spent outside reading and enjoying my beautiful scenery.
I wasn't planning on posting today but after I found my exciting news I just had to share it.
Peace, love, and blessings.
That's me! Haha, I release this isn't a big deal but I had no idea they would write a press release about my summer. Pretty crazy.
Anyways, today is my day off so I have spent it as any day off should be spent.. doing nothing relating to work. I have lazed around quite a bit today soaking up all the rest I have been lacking from the past week. I think this evening is going to be spent outside reading and enjoying my beautiful scenery.
I wasn't planning on posting today but after I found my exciting news I just had to share it.
Peace, love, and blessings.
Saturday, July 7, 2012
A long post for a long, yet quick week.
So it's been a week since I last posted but it has felt like 2 weeks with the holiday on Wednesday. Sunday, July 1 was a pretty neat day. It was my first time teaching Sunday School (ever) and first time leading youth group as the main coordinator/planner. Big day. I learned that I really enjoy teaching Sunday School. Granted it was only the first day but it went well and I liked have the pre-planned lesson time with the youth (high school aged). It was nice to have a theme and scripture ready to go with activities, some of which I did and some which I altered at least a little.
Later that night, after a yummy lunch, a goodbye, and a storm, I took 9 youth bowling. Howard-Miami's usual youth group size is 4, aka the core four. But with friends and community youth we had 9 go bowling then swimming at the house of one of the girls. Add in 2 sponsors, a daughter of one sponsor, a family of one of the youth who went (but on separate lanes), and me to equal 16! I was pretty excited at the turn out considering at the beginning of the week I only expected 2 youth (the others were supposed to go camping). I've heard that they had a lot of fun and I feel like I know them a little better. What a great day it was.
My time Tuesday in the office was focused on preparing for Thursday so I'll leave that for a couple paragraphs later.
Tuesday afternoon I made a drive to Illinois for a 4th of July celebration. Too bad I'm a terrible navigator (even with a GPS and directions) and I got lost adding 1 hour onto my travel time. Oh well, I made it there safe and sound. Although, I don't know if I will travel again in a car with no air conditioner in 100+ degree heat. Especially when I've never traveled there before.. not a good time.
Wednesday: what more can be said than, early morning walk, parade, cookout lunch, nap, air conditioning, baseball on tv, tilt-a-whirl & scrambler, bbq chicken, and fireworks. No other way that I would like to spend a day off.
Thursday morning I got up very early and drove back to Indiana (this time only making one teeny tiny wrong turn which I easily corrected within 2 minutes). I got to the church at 10:50, 10 minutes before the Mennonite Women Sewing meeting was to begin during which I was going to speak. At 11:30 I spoke for 20 minutes about stories. I shared my story and that telling stories can be a service to others and can teach us so much, even Jesus did it. I shared 2 stories from Colombia which deeply affected me. I know I did the families of these stories a service by sharing their stories with the ladies here. I was very happy to hear their comments afterwords that they enjoyed what I had to say and agreed, they really appreciated hearing about Colombia and my experiences there.
Thursday evening we had Jeremy Kempf visit the church and grace us with his worship leading. Some of you don't know who this is, he has led youth worship at Mennonite Convention for the past 3 years. He makes great music with his band. He visited Bluffton once before so I had seen him then and was excited to see him again and purchase his CD. As pastor Ben put it, 'He's kind of a Mennonite rock star.' (haha, that statement just makes me smile)
Nothing particularly special occurred for me on Friday other than really focusing on planning my Sunday School lesson and staying out of the heat.
Today, Saturday, I got up at 6:45 for a meeting at 7:30 am. That makes 3 mornings this week that I've gotten up before 7, yay. This is what the sun, sky and field looks like at 7:25.
After the meeting I enjoyed a yummy breakfast with my hosts, their sons, and another family from church. All the kids grew up together and they were all home so they had a great time laughing and reminiscing and catching up on the latest developments in each others lives. After a hot trip in town for supplies this evening I'm making cookies for Sunday School class (it relates to the lesson). Been a good weekend so far.
Peace & blessings. Stay cool in the heat!
 |
| This is before the storm hit Sunday afternoon. |
Later that night, after a yummy lunch, a goodbye, and a storm, I took 9 youth bowling. Howard-Miami's usual youth group size is 4, aka the core four. But with friends and community youth we had 9 go bowling then swimming at the house of one of the girls. Add in 2 sponsors, a daughter of one sponsor, a family of one of the youth who went (but on separate lanes), and me to equal 16! I was pretty excited at the turn out considering at the beginning of the week I only expected 2 youth (the others were supposed to go camping). I've heard that they had a lot of fun and I feel like I know them a little better. What a great day it was.
My time Tuesday in the office was focused on preparing for Thursday so I'll leave that for a couple paragraphs later.
Tuesday afternoon I made a drive to Illinois for a 4th of July celebration. Too bad I'm a terrible navigator (even with a GPS and directions) and I got lost adding 1 hour onto my travel time. Oh well, I made it there safe and sound. Although, I don't know if I will travel again in a car with no air conditioner in 100+ degree heat. Especially when I've never traveled there before.. not a good time.
 |
| The 4th of July Parade |
Thursday morning I got up very early and drove back to Indiana (this time only making one teeny tiny wrong turn which I easily corrected within 2 minutes). I got to the church at 10:50, 10 minutes before the Mennonite Women Sewing meeting was to begin during which I was going to speak. At 11:30 I spoke for 20 minutes about stories. I shared my story and that telling stories can be a service to others and can teach us so much, even Jesus did it. I shared 2 stories from Colombia which deeply affected me. I know I did the families of these stories a service by sharing their stories with the ladies here. I was very happy to hear their comments afterwords that they enjoyed what I had to say and agreed, they really appreciated hearing about Colombia and my experiences there.
Thursday evening we had Jeremy Kempf visit the church and grace us with his worship leading. Some of you don't know who this is, he has led youth worship at Mennonite Convention for the past 3 years. He makes great music with his band. He visited Bluffton once before so I had seen him then and was excited to see him again and purchase his CD. As pastor Ben put it, 'He's kind of a Mennonite rock star.' (haha, that statement just makes me smile)
Nothing particularly special occurred for me on Friday other than really focusing on planning my Sunday School lesson and staying out of the heat.
 |
| 7:25 am, outside the church. |
After the meeting I enjoyed a yummy breakfast with my hosts, their sons, and another family from church. All the kids grew up together and they were all home so they had a great time laughing and reminiscing and catching up on the latest developments in each others lives. After a hot trip in town for supplies this evening I'm making cookies for Sunday School class (it relates to the lesson). Been a good weekend so far.
Peace & blessings. Stay cool in the heat!
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