New Horizons...

WOW! I have so much to tell you! Since my last blog my life has taken some insane turns that I am excited about sharing.

As I began the month of July I was so stressed out with everything going on in my life: graduate school, calligraphy, and AIG certification.... AIG really was the most stressful because I was going to have to teach two groups of elementary students about sea turtles by the third week in July!!! I had so much to make before the camp and I was so overwhelmed by teaching ELEMENTARY kids... yes I knew I could do it, but really... I teach HIGH SCHOOL! As the week began I was on a natural high because things were going wonderful! The students and I were really connecting and diving deeper into how we could protect these amazing creatures. Throughout the week I began to realize what I was missing in my current teaching position.. EXCITEMENT! I was so intrigued with these students want for learning and their excitement for everything that I brought to the table everyday! Though at my school I would find excitement in select classes and students, but everyday it was such a grind to pull that out of my students.

So at the end of AIG camp I was told about an AIG position that was open in Pitt County and I was strongly encouraged to think about it... WOW what a big decision. Everything in my entire life has been planned... to a tee and much thought has gone into every movement, but this was such a BIG and QUICK decision that had to be made. After many phone calls to very trusted family and friends I decided to apply for the position. Long story short... I interviewed on Monday and received the job on Monday. I was amazed at how much courage it took me and very proud of myself, but also sad of what I was leaving behind. I loved my previous school and my coworkers so all of the phone calls were so difficult, but in the end I felt as if they were proud of me for taking this next step into a career that I hopefully will love.

In the end I am very happy about the path that I have set up before me and I so excited about seeing my new classroom on Monday! I will definitely post pictures soon!

Europe Trip!

So yes there were hundreds of pictures taken... (all on Facebook) but I decided to compile my favorite moments into a video... I hope you enjoy it! PS I will get back to blogging soon... Grad school and Twisty Twig are taking up a ton of time right now!

Europe from Jessica Jennings on Vimeo.

Baby Love

When I was growing up and still to this day my mommy has always called me "baby love." I have always found it so sweet and loved the sound of it every time I heard it. In about an hour (it is currently 12:00a) I will turn another year older. (24 to be exact.) Yes, I know that this isn't "old" by any means, but this number has brought so many memories to the surface and has made me have a nostalgic look on my past.

As I was growing up as a little girl I was surrounded by people who loved me. I was the center of the attention most of the time because I was the baby of the family. I still enjoy watching home videos of my cousin John (basically my brother because I was an only child) pull me around in a cardboard box and my head would experience whip lash with each pull. The family still laughs about this memory and we all swear that is why I am slightly out of whack... haha.

Throughout this entire week leading up to my birthday I have thought about different memories and they are always filled with my amazing, fantastic, best in the world parents. Yes, I know most everyone thinks their parents are the best, but in my humble opinion mine have yours beat. ;) Life with them has made me the person I am today and I am so thankful for them ten times over. Tonight as we were sitting on the patio together before dinner I had an overwhelming feeling of how blessed I am and I wouldn't trade it for the world. So to my mommy and daddy, thank you. God blessed me with the best family and I am so happy to call you mine. I love you.

To finish the lovey dovey moments I can never finish this post without talking about my sweet Jonathan. Two years ago I met Jonathan in a bar. Haha, will that not be a great story to tell our kids... it actually goes like this:

My friend Ashton and I were heading up to Raleigh to do some shopping and on our way up we were having the normal girl discussions (boys, feelings, clothes, etc...). Well, when we began the discussion of boys I mentioned how I really wasn't looking for anyone and I was going to basically let the next one fall in my lap because I was done trying... two seconds later Ashton is chiming in about all the guys in her recreation classes and there was this one guy, Jon, who would be "perfect." Hahaha little did I know. A week or so passes and I have completely forgotten about this "perfect" guy and Ashton calls me about how she has talked to him about me and he wouldn't mind meeting up! Wow... didn't expect for that conversation in the car to Raleigh would go this far. So my birthday was coming up and I hate blind dates so I told her to tell him that we were all meeting up at Lucky's downtown and he should just come, that way if it was awkward we both had an escape route and were not stuck at dinner. Well, we ending up talking a little and I spilled water on him... haha. To make my rambling short... he then called me the next day and we had a couple of dates and decided to start a relationship on April 30th. He shortly left for TN, but I still fell head over heels (with every 8 hour drive up there...) and I have never been happier.

So you see my birthday now has so many more added memories and it makes life so much sweeter. I am very thankful for the past 24 years and can not wait for the next. Whoa.. I will be 48 then... wonder where I will be then. (I have a few ideas, but we will let life take me there!) Hopefully someone will have created a miracle drug to get rid of wrinkles and make chocolate the weight-loss food... oh 2035.

Finally, tomorrow is Easter! I hope that each of you remember what great gifts your Savior has given you.

When they did not find His body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said He was alive.
Luke 24:23

Savannah Project Complete

This past summer my cousin, Tracy and I traveled from Harker's Island, NC to Savannah, GA with a small pit stop in Charleston, SC and I must say that it was absolutely one of the best southern road-trips ever! Once arriving in Savannah we had the idea of having a scavenger hunt to find the letters of our name in the city signs! It was so much fun!

Well... here I am almost a year since the trip finally completing my name project from Savannah. I surprised Tracy with her name this Christmas (it was so easy to find a five picture frame, but seven was such an adventure)! I finally ran across this picture frame while in TJ Max this past weekend and I was SO excited!

I must say that my favorite letter is the "J" which was the arm of a park bench turn sideways. The "I" is also very cute too and was found in a park in Savannah! I must say that everyone should try this on their future trip to a city because it brings back so many memories!

Hope everyone has a wonderful Easter!

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?"

John 11: 25-26

PS... Easter is my 24th birthday!! So super excited about the wonderful holiday and being with my family!

Let's Go Canes!

One feature of my relationship with Jonathan that is very special to me is hockey. Yes, I know this sounds silly and random for a girly, girl like me, but I never in my entire life found it any bit interesting. I never understood it and I didn't know anyone who actually really liked it... that is until I met Jonathan. After about a month of dating Jonathan asked me to go with him to a Hurricane's hockey game (Jonathan wanted me to add in this tidbit... "it was a playoff game by the way..." haha) and I was really not interested, but I wanted to go to be with him... with that being said I now love a hockey game (especially the CANES!) and the craziness that comes along with it! I still do not know where these players get all that aggression from!

Connie keeps us laughing! She always comes up with the best sayings! Hurricanes vs. Buffalo = "Let's Cook Buffalo!" and previous sayings... East Carolina vs. Arkansas = "H1N1!" hahaha!

Connie and I!

Jonathan and his dad!

Our "buffalo wings!"

Hockey = Super Aggressive People! Haha, but it makes great entertainment!

Who I Am

(found this on Dream Book Designs Blog... which is awesome by the way)

I am... slightly nervous about what the future holds,

but I can't wait to see what it is.

I want... for the sun to shine and lay out on the pier

at Harker's Island (of course today is a rainy cold day).

I have... a wonderful family and boyfriend that

I love dearly and I am so thankful for.

I wish... that high school students would not take

anything for granted; they are so blessed!

I hate... when my neighbors are loud...

haha which is very often!

I fear... that my life will not be everything I wish it to be.

I hear... a kitties purr. :)

I search... for what I am passionate for daily.

I haven't quite found my calling yet.

I wonder... if Jesus ever looks down on us and laughs.

(He really has to have a sense of humor!)

I regret... past relationships that had negative effects on who I really was.

I love... so many things... Springtime, Family, Jesus,

Flowers, and Anything Vintage! (There is much more!)

I ache... when I see others not having passion for people in need.

I always... enjoy a good book!

I usually... hit the snooze button 3 times every morning.. haha!

I am not... interested in jeggings... haha!

I dance... full out when I am alone and bored.

I sing... in the car when I am in a good mood! I am sure the

people next to my car are worried about me.

I never... understood Calculus 3 because my

teacher was Russian... ahh so random.

I sometimes... wonder why some people stress

out so much over little things.

I cry... atleast every other week... I am slightly

emotional (ask Jonathan... haha)

I am not always... focused (doodling helps me while in meetings)

I lose... my car keys all the time.

I am confused... with our state budget and our Governor...

I need... a real house where I can paint the walls and call it mine.

I should... enjoy the present, but still dream of the future ;-)

Twisty Twig...

Twisty Twig was busy today since it was rainy! I know someone out there needs something addressed for an event... I need a practice event for free... Will you be the one?!

I think this was my favorite from today's playing... of course there is more so head to Twisty Twig!

Two Little Birds

Meredith (my friend and fellow carpooler!) and I were on the way home on Friday and normally we would be heading to River Park North for a run which we are trying to make a habit... but with my hurt ankle we were mourning our non-running afternoon.. haha! ;) We then sparked a conversation about painting and decided we wanted to paint since running was not an option... darn!

So here is what I came up with:

I was so excited about how the piece turned out and how it fit in with my picture wall perfectly! I absolutely love painting and being creative and I wish my teaching career could sometimes lend itself more to both of those. Math is very difficult when pressed with EOCs and others who look down on you when your students are actually "having fun" in math class. I am hoping that upon completing my AIG licensure I can begin my career in something I am very passionate about and use my creativity there... ohh one day!

So I have a tip for the day... go be creative and if you have kids offer them every creative possibility that you can!