Get excitedddd

Frankfurt, Germany

Munich, Germany

Tirana, Albania

and Tirana again...

Soon I'll be off to see the world!  A small little part of it anyhow.  I can't express how excited I am for what God is going to do in the lives of His people in Albania.  I leave in exactly 2 weeks, 3 days and some odd hours.  Yaaaay!

I'd like to make your day too.

Pumpkin bagels and shmears are here again. It's fall, my friends.

I have so much to say but don't know how to say it, so I'll just give you a quote that made my day.

"Whenever you go out-of-doors, draw the chin in, carry the crown of the head high, and fill the lungs to the utmost; drink in the sunshine; greet your friends with a smile, and put soul into every handclasp. Do not fear being misunderstood and do not waste time thinking about your enemies. Try to fix firmly in your mind what you would like to do; and then, without veering off direction, you will move straight to your goal." -Elbert Hubbard

Did she really post some outfit pictures?!

God is amazing.  Let me tell  you why.

July 31: I got a [rather mild] concussion.  The weeks following were filled with no work, lots of sleep, and getting a virus.  No fun.

2 weeks later: I was almost 100% better and was back to working 35 hours a week.  (Thank goodness I didn't have school too!)

2 weeks ago:  I started getting pressure headaches, fatigue, and anxiousness, especially while I was working.  I thought I was relapsing from the concussion and was concerned that I hadn't fully recovered before I started going back to normal life...which could mean long lasting effects like chronic headaches and memory loss, which could hinder me from going to Albania and Germany in November.

I was kind of freaking out.

But God works all things together for good to those who love Him.

I quit one of my jobs, the one that was most stressful.  It was a huge step of faith, but He helped me do it.

Then I saw my chiropractor today for the headaches and she said it's most likely that they were from the stress not the concussion.

Can you say "WOOOOO!!!!!"

Bye bye, stress.  Hello, joy.

Oh, and I took some fashion shots today...I know, shocking right?

I was experimenting with the bright red lipstick...I think it kind of clashed with the new reddish hair.

I liked this better than the black.  And I ditched the lipstick for a nuder shade.

...and I'm glowing...

Can I tell you a secret?  The purple outfit was the only one from today.  The other ones were from yesterday.

When's it going to change?

There's so many hurting people out there. I see them all the time, everywhere I go. And what am I doing about it? What can I do about it?

I pulled up to my dad's office this morning and there at a picnic table across the street was a young woman with a baby carrier. The girl was dressed all in black and had a beanie pulled down to her eyes. My heart ached for her...yet what would I say of I went up to her? So I didn't.

I was eating pizza with my mom on Friday. A girl clearing tables caught my eye. Her hair was long with blue streaks under the ball cap she wore and she walked with a limp. When she came to clear our table, her voice was timid and her face sad, almost visibly searching for hope. I wanted to tell her how beautiful she was...but I'm ashamed to say that I didn't.

At Panera bread the day before is where this whole thing started. An elderly woman walked by my table and all I saw was her frail stoop, her gapped teeth and a few wisps of gray hair. When I got up to leave, I saw her sitting with some younger women and a child and I desperately wanted to tell her she was beautiful...but I didn't.

Today I am determined to leave behind my ego and tell someone they're worth something. Their salvation might have my name attached to it. I can't ignore the hurting people again.

Hi I'm Jesseca. I'm new round these here parts.

Goodness gracious, I feel like it's been forever since I posted!

Maybe that's because it has been...

This summer went by at breakneck speed, I'd say.  Work and summer camp and more work and a concussion and work and ummm what else went on this summer?

But besides all that, I've grown closer to my Maker this summer.  I've seen His love pursue me when all I could  do was squinch my eyes and try to breathe.  I've felt His hand directing me through difficult decisions and apprehensions.  And you know what?  I'm closer to Him because of it.

I've been reading an amazing book called "God's Smuggler" by Brother Andrew.  (Read it.  Did I mention it's amazing?)  One of the things that's grabbed my attention about this book is the level of trust Brother Andrew has in God.  His faith is so solid in Him that he will go ahead and do what God's called him to do, whether or not he has the money or means to do so.  And guess what?  The money or people or means always come at the most perfectly unsuspecting moments.

I want to be like Brother Andrew.  I want to trust God enough to jump off the ledge and know He'll jump with me.  I want to learn through every experience and enjoy His presence every step of the way.

And on a different note...

I know it's about a month too early for these...but...

Don't these just make you take a deep reminiscing breath?  I think of potpourri...apple cider...chili...costumes...soccer...boots and sweaters...longer nights...yeah, the list could go on and on.  Oh, and I also (for some reason) think of the first Molly book from the American Girl series.

I'm so excited for fall.

Thought I'd pop in...

I'm so sorry it's been so long!  Internet shut-downs aren't fun.  But soon soon soon I will get back with y'all.  Promise.

That was kind of crazy.

Can you believe that I didn't post for almost a month?!  A lot can happen in a month, and a lot did.

First of all, the internet at my housey is down.  So there has been quite a bit of borrowing my dad and brother's smartphones for email-checking and general staying in touch with the world at large.

Second, I was in bed all week last week.  Concussions, infections, viruses and canker sores don't make a fun, pretty, or painless combination.  But it sure gave God a chance to speak to me more than He has in a long time.  Or more acurately, it gave me a chance to listen to Him more than I have in a long time.

Thirdly, I hate posting without having pictures, like fashion pictures or whatnot, to go along with it!  I personally like reading blogs that are simply bursting with lovely pictures of the blogger because I feel like I get to know them better.  And then I feel like my writing is boring without being spiced up with a picture or two.

But then I got to thinking...you know, it's not about me.  My life is not my own--it's God's.  And since it's His, my opinions and desires should be secondary to His.

So from now on, I'm going to try posting pictures of other people, people I meet or see, or maybe just people I find on the internet.  Along with their pictures, I'll comment on their beauty, no matter who they are.

Maybe that came out of the blue, but something else that God's been teaching me is how beautiful every single person is.  We get caught up on a stereotype, and yet without our differences, we would not be beautiful.  I try to see something beautiful in everyone I meet now.  Maybe it's their sparkling eyes, their ever-present smile.  Maybe it's their laugh or the deep laughter creases set in their face.  Perhaps it's the strength of their hands or the way they hold their head high.

Everyone is just so perfect the way they are.

P.S. You should read God's Smuggler.  Good book.

P.P.S.  If you want to see some of those lovely pictures I was telling you about, do pay these ladies a visit:
Sydney at The Daybook
Ramsey of Love, Ramsey
Sam from Young People in Love