cup o' sunshine...

(found here)

I am tired of the cold & glummy days of winter!

I am so ready for springtime..

God,

is it almost time

to fill my cup with

some rays of sunshine?

Por favor?

Sincerely,

jenna

first day of lent...

So yesterday was Fat Tuesday. Marci, Ashley, & I celebrated with pizza & gelato at Sam & Greg's in downtown Huntsville. It was so good. It was just another reminder that I am so blessed with the friendships that God has provided for me since I moved to Huntsville (almost 2 years ago).

(borrowed this image from here)

While at dinner, we talked a little about Lent. We didn't really go into great depth in our conversation.. We mostly talked about what we were going to give up for the Lent season. (I've decided on Diet Coke. But really, I am just going to do sodas in general.)

After this conversation and reading this blog post yesterday, this whole concept of Lent has been on my mind. If I am going to participate in Lent this year, I want it to be more than just giving up Diet Coke. The real intention of Lent is for the believer to prepare himself for Easter, which is the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus.

So for the next 40 days (technically 46, but this explains that), I want to focus on Jesus.

I want to focus on:

Why He came to live amongst us.

The way He lived while He was on this earth.

The ways I can model His life... to make His life my own.

The sacrifice He made.

The powerful gift that His grace is.

What that requires of me.

I will fast from sodas, recognizing that it is only a metaphor for the greater sacrifices I want to embrace and exercise in my life.

So these are my thoughts on Lent as of now.

Anyone else participating on Lent?

What are you fasting from?

What are you focusing on?

Your thoughts?

a few random thoughts...

image found here

I want a reason to own and wear a dress like this.

And I want it to be warm enough to wear it.

I am tired of being cold.

I am really enjoying going to the Y.

I've been able to spend some quality time with family recently, so that's a big blessing.

Life is going well.

That's all my random thoughts for now...

Wishing you all a very wonderful week!

my snowy weekend recap (a few days later)..

So last weekend I went to Boone, NC with some of the Young Pros at church for a weekend of skiing. And let me tell you, I was not confident that I would master the art of this snow sport. I was so nervous when I woke up the first morning. But as I have been learning (and making an effort to practice), God's peace can guard your heart in all things. Even something as silly as a fear of falling down a snow covered mountain.

Now I am definitely no pro. I would still consider myself a beginner, but I did really well! By the end of the trip I was going down those greens like they were nothing! (Keep in mind, the green slopes really are practically nothing, but for me, it was huge!)

I seem to be doing this a lot recently.

Facing little fears.

Fears of all kinds.

And setting goals.

And following through.

(Ex - this was a successful 2nd week of 5:30am classes at the YMCA. And I love it.)

I am in a place where I am growing a lot right now. I feel it. And in some things, it has been a little painful. In other things, it has been so liberating. I am excited to see what God is preparing me for... Please be praying about that for me.

Now for some pictures of the trip!

Ready for a day of skiing! Just look at all of that snow!

(pictured: Marci, me, Ashley, Christy, & Allison)

Me & Christy on the van. We look so hardcore.

Meet Sugar.

The most incredible snow-woman I have ever helped build.

Seriously.

Just look at that face...

So much emotion in those eyes...

The group responsible for this beautiful creation.

(pictured: Matt, Ashley, Marci, Jamie, & myself)

And finally, a roommate picture with Sugar.

(We pretty much consider Ashley a roommate. She lives in the same apt complex.)

It really was such a great weekend,

and it's been a really good week.

Growing pains and all...

God is good.

i would love to find this somewhere...

Saw this on this fun blog, along with this lovely little story...

I want this journal.

I wonder if they have it at Barnes & Noble?

Just thought I would share.

finding peace...

Peace,

His peace,

pushes out fears;

replaces them.

Peace,

God's peace,

provides strength

without understanding.

Peace,

from the faithful Father,

knows things entrusted

with Him are

safe.

for all of you who might be wondering..

I met my goal this week!

I got up every morning this week at 4:50 so that I could get to my 5:30 classes at the YMCA.

I actually did it!!

Let's see what I decide to do next week...

(I actually really like this routine)

Now I am off to the slopes of North Carolina to learn how to ski.

(We'll see how that goes. Pray I don't die.)

on belief & pilates...

First of all:

Pilates are a lot harder than you'd think!

I guess it didn't help that I,

a beginner,

was in an intermediate class this morning.

Oh well.

I may be a little tired today,

but I met some sweet ladies in the class,

so I plan to go back on Thursday!

-------------------

On another, more important note:

The girls of my SH Girls Bible Study and I are going through Beth Moore's book, Praying God's Word, this semester. We talked about chapter two last night, "Overcoming Unbelief".

I can't begin to tell you just how encouraged I was by the Scriptures we looked at.

Recently I've been having some doubts. Maybe doubt isn't the right word.... I guess my heart/faith has been a little moody... a little discouraged...

I don't doubt that God exists. I most definitely believe in our Father.

But I've been frustrated...

Maybe it's because I don't understand Him sometimes...

Maybe it's because I've been disappointed...

It seems to be a lot of things.

I think my faith is being tested.

And I don't like it.

I have not enjoyed these feelings...

My fear of disappointment,

lack of excitement,

and lack of trust in God.

But then we talked about Overcoming Unbelief...

And my eyes were opened to see a more complete picture of what is going on here.

It is okay that I have questions.

It is okay that I have been feeling a little weak.

Faith is not believing in my own unshakable belief. Faith is believing an unshakable God when everything in me trembles and quakes. (from the book)

And I believe in this unshakable God.

Even when the legs I stand with feel a little wobbly.

Father, You have told me that the testing of my faith develops perseverance. (James 1:3) Please help me to not refuse to be faithful in tests granted for my gain.

My wise and trustworthy God, according to Your Word, trials come to me so that my faith-- of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire-- may be proved genuine.. (1Peter 1:7)

(these quotes also from the book)

God really is good.

And I am thankful that He reminded me of that.

it's early & i've been up for hours...

Well, maybe not hours, but for about 2.

And at 6:45am, thats a lot!

What was I doing?

This:

Spin Class.

Friday morning I tried it out for the first time,

and I really enjoyed the class!

But that was at 8:30am.

Friday's I can do that.

I don't have to work.

Yesterday, I decided that this week, on Monday & Wednesday, I am going to do the 5:30am Spin Class. And on Tuesday & Thursday I am going to try out Pilates at 5:30am.

I know.

I must be crazy.

But you know, it really wasn't that bad.

It was actually really good!

(Honestly, I am a little surprised that I followed through this morning!)

I don't know if these early mornings will become my routine, but this is the plan for this week. And I will map out another plan for next week. Taking it a week at a time... a day at a time...

The way I figure it, life is made up of choices.

And if I want certain things to be different, I can't just complain about it. I have to make different choices.

Choosing not to stay in bed until the last possible second.

Choosing not to remain limited to my current experiences.

Choosing to change my habits.

Choosing to add to my hobbies.

Choosing to be a little healthier. (gasp!)

Anyways, enough blogging.

I've got to start getting ready.

There are a couple other things I am planning to change about my mornings.

I followed through today's goal to exercise.

Next thing to follow through with: quiet time.