WELL...this blog is LONG overdue as the title implies! :) It's just one of those things...I get really good at keeping up with something...and then it just falls to the wayside. That, I guess, is the story of my life! :( I cannot seem to be able to keep all of the plates in my life spinning!
Anyways...a lot has happened since my last post (in January of 2007). A full year and some change has come and gone...and many things have transpired. I'll try to keep some brevity to this post...as a year and 3 months could make for an awfully long blog! :) hahaha....
Since the last post a whole lot has happened. I supposed that is inevitable...considering it's been over a year. Shortly after that last post, I got a call from the Milford Hospital saying that my dad had been admitted to the hospital and that I really needed to get down there because it looked like he wasn't going to make it through the night. A little history...I had only spoken with my father once since I moved out at the age of 21...and that wasn't even a nice conversation. He had a lot of issues....and we'll just leave it at that. SO...needless to say, I wasn't thrilled about that call. However, I felt like I needed to be there, so Pedro & I headed down to the hospital and I saw my dad. He did not look good as they had explained on the phone...and I spent some time trying to calm my sister down - who had been very close to him. He did, however, make it through that evening...and made it for a few weeks...but ended up passing away. I wasn't sad because I didn't really have a relationship with him...but I did feel like I needed to tell him about Jesus because he did not have a relationship with Him. I did not want to have to face the Lord at some point and have Him say, "I gave you this opportunity for you to tell him about Me, but you didn't? Why not???"....so I was able to talk with him a little. Pedro met my dad for the first time that night at the hospital...and ended up wanting to talk with him privately. He led him to the Lord in that hospital room. Knowing that made me at peace with how it was going to end.
Well, I was looking over some of the blogs that I had posted and I noticed in one that I mentioned that I knew I wasn't supposed to be at the day care...but wasn't sure what I wanted to do....just that I wanted more money and less responsibility. WELL...I left the day care at the end of March - and started nannying for a family in Needham at the beginning of April. It started out pretty decently but quickly turned into a very frustrating job. They made me go to Florida with them for two weeks - right at the beginning of my job - which was a bit weird. I spent 24 hrs. in a minivan with a family that I didn't even really know! Needless to say, it was a LONNNNG 2 weeks...and I was thankful to be back! After that trip, I lasted about a month before I really got fed up with the job and how I was being treated. She was a micromanager...which frustrated me to NO end! I ran a day care center of 110 children...so I think I can figure out what to make kids for lunch. Literally EVERY day except for 3, I had her telling me what to make for the kid's lunches. SOOOO frustrating!! Two weeks before the end of July, the family told me that they were going to Canada for a month....and that I had two options. I could go with them and get paid; OR, I could stay home and not get paid. WELL...neither of them really work (first with my social calendar and the latter with my financial planning! ;-) hehe). BUT...I figured that I'd be able to find something. I briefly thought that I'd help out at the day care...but thought better of that when I found something different. I ended up getting a temp job at a place in Holliston. I left the day care on the last day of March...and moved the next day from Whitinsville to Holliston - where I am currently residing. I LOVE it there...it is so cute!! I've been there a full year and 1 day (as of today!). SO...that temp job was about 7 minutes from my house. Much better than the 30 minute commute that I had to Needham. Honestly, the commute didn't bother me all that much...it was actually nice to have that quiet time in the morning. I just didn't like my ride home in the afternoon with all of the traffic. Anyway, long story short...that temp job ended up turning into my permanent job with all of the beni's! :)
My title is Customer Service Specialist for KDScientific, a small division of Harvard Apparatus...which is part of Harvard Bioscience. Our stock name is HBIO if you want to check it out....or you can go to www.kdscientific.com. I sell syringe pumps for research ... typically used on small animals (like mice, etc). I LOVE my job...I've been there since August and I am still loving it in April. Not too bad, right! :) I am busy as all get out...I answer all phone calls, I enter all orders, I do some tech support, I do all repair paperwork (and keeping track of them, etc.)...I am VERY busy. BUT...it makes the days fly by! I can't believe that I've been there for 8 months already! I came up with an idea to make a pump pink - for breast cancer research - and will be headed to San Diego, CA to go to my first trade show to show it off and get the initial press release for my pump. If I see anything in any journals or whatnot, I'll scan them and show them off here. :) I can't wait!! I have a picture....but I have to get it off of my phone and onto my computer first! :) hehe... SO...I head to San Diego on the 12th of this month and return on the 17th. I hope to hit up the zoo while I am out there ~ I've been told by many people that is where it is at! :) heheheh....I'd also like to visit Tiajuana! ;-) Get a little bottle of Tequila?! hehehe....Not that I drink it...I just think it'd be fun to say I went there. All I know about Tiajuana comes from the episode of The OC that I remember watching. SO...all that to say, work is going really great and I'm loving it.
Pedro and I are doing great! We made it to lots of Patriots games this past season. I think we went to 4 or 5...including the AFC Championship game....which was a ton of fun!!! All of that confetti was everywhere! :) He's busy working - as usual - but he loves it...so that's good! He is keeping up with his futebol team, Santos, which because of a new coach - they aren't doing as well as last year. He still loves them....SANTOOOOOOOOOS!!!! :) hahahah....
I am going to be making my first trip to Brazil in June! I am SOOOO excited! Funny thing is....I'm not actually going with Pedro. My friend Andreia and I had been talking about it for a long time that I'd go with her (I think even before I met Pedro??)...and it finally worked out that we'd get to go together!! :) I can't wait! Even though Pedro won't be there, I'll be visiting his family - b/c oddly enough, they only live about an hour from where she lives! Crazy, huh?! As big as Brazil is, they live that close!! I head out of the states on June 11th and will be leaving Brazil on June 25th - arriving in the States on June 26th. It is about a 22 hr. trip to Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais....and then from Belo Horizonte to Governador Valadares, it is about 6-7 hours by taxi/bus. From Governador Valadares to Campanario, MG (Pedro's hometown), it is about an hour. That is LOOOOT of travelling. I guess his sisters want to take me up north to Bahia - which apparently has some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. I am really excited to see it. LOTS of pictures will be put up following this trip, I'm sure!!
My schedule is pretty crazy this month. I am in Devin & Aline's wedding - on the 5th of April...so we have the rehearsal this Friday night...the wedding on Saturday, the 5th. I leave for San Diego on th 12th...arrive back in Boston on the 17th (at 11:30PM)...I have my friend Jason & Lilia's wedding on the 18th...and then Steve French and his fiancee (Jess) are getting married on the 20th. HOLY SMOKES!!! It's crazy!!! Then...May is pretty calm...and then before I know it, I head to Brazil. I leave on the 11th, come back the 26th...and our 10 yr. high school class reunion is on the 27th! whhoahhhh!! You'd think I'd learn to plan better! :) hahah....Then, we'll get together casually on the 28th...and then I don't think I have any other firm plans...although Leah and I might go to Maine that weekend? We'll see. I may just want to be home for a bit after being away for 2 full weeks!
Well, that's about all that's going on with me. If I think of anything else, I'll definitely let you know! ;-) I hopefully will have some good pictures from the wedding, the SD trip, and the other 2 weddings...so I'll keep you posted - and I promise, will try to do a better job of keeping everyone informed!
~Jen
Wednesday, April 02, 2008
Friday, January 05, 2007
It's Been A Tough Couple of Days....
So...last night was the wake (velorio) for the mother of the day care family that was killed in the car crash that I previously blogged about. It was pretty emotional, as you can imagine...and to my surprise, it was an open casket. You can tell that there was a lot of trauma to her body b/c her face was all swollen and such. Not that bodies ever look real; hers was definitely not like I remembered her. The coloring was definitely off...but I'm sure there was bruising from the impact, and so they must have had to use their heavy duty cover-up to conceal such markings. I honestly thought it would have been closed though....
This morning I went to the funeral. It was held at the grave site in Framingham. I was pretty sure that I had read that it was at ten o' clock; however, as I was driving and getting directions from Kerry over the phone (at work), she was like, "OH, you know it doesn't start until 11, right?" She said this as I was trying to find the street that the cemetary was located...haha.... This brings me to a side note (aka - rabbit trail). Recently, I have been in a complete RUSH for EVERYTHING!!! I cannot seem to get out of the house in time to be ON TIME...and honestly, I am getting SO frustrated with myself. I am constantly stressed out at the idea of being late AGAIN...AND...I have been leaving the house with TONS of stuff. From bags to coats to extra clothes to groceries, etc....I NEVER leave my house without stuff in both hands. It just means that my car will end up looking like a dump...b/c I keep everything in my car..........OK...enough of the rabbit trail.
Well, since I was an hour early for the funeral, I decided to run to Starbucks down the street for a Grande Nonfat White Chocolate Mocha (my drink of choice). It was delicious as usual....and it gave me the opportunity to de-stress and relax from being all wound up of the prospect of being a tad late to a funeral. Two things you cannot be late for: weddings & funerals. Super ignorant...and I didn't want to be lumped in that category. Well, after leaving Starbucks and driving back toward the cemetary, I realized, "Uh-Oh...I may need to pee b/c it is only 10:30 and I am drinking coffee...which is a natural stimulant of the good ole bladder!" Well, I ran to the nearest facility and came back...parked my car for a few minutes waiting for the time to slip by. I read part of Anne Lamotte's book, Traveling Mercies, which had been suggested by a couple of friends. I am really enjoying the book...Thanks ladies!!!
Anyways....the funeral started at 11. I had pulled into the cemetary about ten minutes of eleven...and stood outside of my car waiting for the funeral processional to arrive. The hearse and cars following arrived sharply at 11, and we all made our way to the grave site. The pallbearers carried the casket to the hole in the ground and laid her casket down. I'm not sure who began (perhaps the Pastor??), but someone read a verse out of the Bible and prayed for the service. He choked up during the verse, which obviously made everyone there weepy.
The husband spoke during the funeral. He spoke in Portuguese and I was pretty pumped that I could understand most of everything that he was saying. It was nice too b/c there was a translator...but he was very soft...so it was a good thing I've been taking those Portuguese lessons! He said (in my words) that he was so happy that everyone was there and he said thank you for all of the support and love that everyone has been pouring out to him and his daughter. He told everyone not to feel bad for him b/c his wife was sitting with Jesus. He said that God has given him a supernatural strength - one that God has been preparing him with for a while. He said that he knew that she was going to die (I couldn't get if he knew exactly at what age he knew that she would die)...but God had spoken to him and said that she was only his for a season...and at the end of that season, He would be taking her home. I'm pretty sure he said that it would be when she was 31 (she will be 32 in the beginning of February). He said that it was hard to live with this knowledge...b/c he couldn't share it with her...b/c she wouldn't understand and it is unfair to tell someone that they are going to be die in a determined amount of time. The strength that God has given him is AMAZING. I couldn't believe how well he was doing...but was thankful that God had answered my prayer for him. He told a story illustrating how he lived each day as if it were his last....He said that he slept with Sarah (his daughter) the previous evening...and was reminded of his wife who used to get slack from people (and by people, I'm assuming some of them would be day care teachers....YIKES) about having Sarah sleep in the same bed as them. Sirlei (husband) would tell Edilene (wife) that it didn't matter as long as Sarah felt loved and wanted. He wanted her to feel like she could be with them whenever...and that they needed to cherish these moments b/c they could be over in a moment.
Anyway...the service finished up with the casket being lowered into the ground, they sang a song in Portuguese, and then Sirlei tossed three roses into the ground. It was a tough time...I definitely lost it during several times...especially when Sirlei spoke about God's faithfulness to him and how he knew about his wife dying at some point.
Well, I hope all is well. Live each day to the fullest....pleasing to the Lord our God.
I love you all....
~Jen
This morning I went to the funeral. It was held at the grave site in Framingham. I was pretty sure that I had read that it was at ten o' clock; however, as I was driving and getting directions from Kerry over the phone (at work), she was like, "OH, you know it doesn't start until 11, right?" She said this as I was trying to find the street that the cemetary was located...haha.... This brings me to a side note (aka - rabbit trail). Recently, I have been in a complete RUSH for EVERYTHING!!! I cannot seem to get out of the house in time to be ON TIME...and honestly, I am getting SO frustrated with myself. I am constantly stressed out at the idea of being late AGAIN...AND...I have been leaving the house with TONS of stuff. From bags to coats to extra clothes to groceries, etc....I NEVER leave my house without stuff in both hands. It just means that my car will end up looking like a dump...b/c I keep everything in my car..........OK...enough of the rabbit trail.
Well, since I was an hour early for the funeral, I decided to run to Starbucks down the street for a Grande Nonfat White Chocolate Mocha (my drink of choice). It was delicious as usual....and it gave me the opportunity to de-stress and relax from being all wound up of the prospect of being a tad late to a funeral. Two things you cannot be late for: weddings & funerals. Super ignorant...and I didn't want to be lumped in that category. Well, after leaving Starbucks and driving back toward the cemetary, I realized, "Uh-Oh...I may need to pee b/c it is only 10:30 and I am drinking coffee...which is a natural stimulant of the good ole bladder!" Well, I ran to the nearest facility and came back...parked my car for a few minutes waiting for the time to slip by. I read part of Anne Lamotte's book, Traveling Mercies, which had been suggested by a couple of friends. I am really enjoying the book...Thanks ladies!!!
Anyways....the funeral started at 11. I had pulled into the cemetary about ten minutes of eleven...and stood outside of my car waiting for the funeral processional to arrive. The hearse and cars following arrived sharply at 11, and we all made our way to the grave site. The pallbearers carried the casket to the hole in the ground and laid her casket down. I'm not sure who began (perhaps the Pastor??), but someone read a verse out of the Bible and prayed for the service. He choked up during the verse, which obviously made everyone there weepy.
The husband spoke during the funeral. He spoke in Portuguese and I was pretty pumped that I could understand most of everything that he was saying. It was nice too b/c there was a translator...but he was very soft...so it was a good thing I've been taking those Portuguese lessons! He said (in my words) that he was so happy that everyone was there and he said thank you for all of the support and love that everyone has been pouring out to him and his daughter. He told everyone not to feel bad for him b/c his wife was sitting with Jesus. He said that God has given him a supernatural strength - one that God has been preparing him with for a while. He said that he knew that she was going to die (I couldn't get if he knew exactly at what age he knew that she would die)...but God had spoken to him and said that she was only his for a season...and at the end of that season, He would be taking her home. I'm pretty sure he said that it would be when she was 31 (she will be 32 in the beginning of February). He said that it was hard to live with this knowledge...b/c he couldn't share it with her...b/c she wouldn't understand and it is unfair to tell someone that they are going to be die in a determined amount of time. The strength that God has given him is AMAZING. I couldn't believe how well he was doing...but was thankful that God had answered my prayer for him. He told a story illustrating how he lived each day as if it were his last....He said that he slept with Sarah (his daughter) the previous evening...and was reminded of his wife who used to get slack from people (and by people, I'm assuming some of them would be day care teachers....YIKES) about having Sarah sleep in the same bed as them. Sirlei (husband) would tell Edilene (wife) that it didn't matter as long as Sarah felt loved and wanted. He wanted her to feel like she could be with them whenever...and that they needed to cherish these moments b/c they could be over in a moment.
Anyway...the service finished up with the casket being lowered into the ground, they sang a song in Portuguese, and then Sirlei tossed three roses into the ground. It was a tough time...I definitely lost it during several times...especially when Sirlei spoke about God's faithfulness to him and how he knew about his wife dying at some point.
Well, I hope all is well. Live each day to the fullest....pleasing to the Lord our God.
I love you all....
~Jen
Tuesday, January 02, 2007
Sad
So, I just got some horrible news. A mother in my day care got into an accident on Saturday some time...she slipped on black ice, her van flipped, and she was killed.
A little about this family. They are a Brazilian family. The husband/father is a painter and owns his own business. The mother was in dental school...very close to finishing and starting her practice. Together, they have a beautiful 3 year old named Sarah. She is precious. Very tender and quiet spirit, she enjoys playing with dolls and her friends at school.
I just received a phone call a few minutes ago and since then, all I've been able to do is just think about that poor family. The husband has lost his beloved...and the daughter, her mother. It seriously brings me to tears to think about their pain.
It's kind of weird....on our New Year's Eve service, Pastor Dave talked about the brevity of life - it is only fleeting like a breath. I know we understand that [the fragility of life]...but I totally think we take it forgranted until something sobering like this happens.
I'm trying to figure what would be an appropriate response from the day care. Are flowers sufficient? Or should we get people to make meals for them? Maybe I'll have some other Brazilian families step it up in that department. Any suggestions other than flowers or food?
Lord, I just ask You to be with this family. I don't have all of the questions answered...like why this would happen...but honestly, I don't want to know the answers. I just pray that you blanket this family with Your loving kindness. Be near to them....let them feel how much You love them. Be a salve to their grief and pain....
~Jen
A little about this family. They are a Brazilian family. The husband/father is a painter and owns his own business. The mother was in dental school...very close to finishing and starting her practice. Together, they have a beautiful 3 year old named Sarah. She is precious. Very tender and quiet spirit, she enjoys playing with dolls and her friends at school.
I just received a phone call a few minutes ago and since then, all I've been able to do is just think about that poor family. The husband has lost his beloved...and the daughter, her mother. It seriously brings me to tears to think about their pain.
It's kind of weird....on our New Year's Eve service, Pastor Dave talked about the brevity of life - it is only fleeting like a breath. I know we understand that [the fragility of life]...but I totally think we take it forgranted until something sobering like this happens.
I'm trying to figure what would be an appropriate response from the day care. Are flowers sufficient? Or should we get people to make meals for them? Maybe I'll have some other Brazilian families step it up in that department. Any suggestions other than flowers or food?
Lord, I just ask You to be with this family. I don't have all of the questions answered...like why this would happen...but honestly, I don't want to know the answers. I just pray that you blanket this family with Your loving kindness. Be near to them....let them feel how much You love them. Be a salve to their grief and pain....
~Jen
Thursday, November 09, 2006
Well...I am sitting in the living room of one of my day care parent's house with my friend Natalia...we started babysitting yesterday afternoon and have the two boys until Monday morning. It is kind of nice being able to sit with another person....NOT that I can't handle it by myself, but more because I like the company. I HATE being alone....so it is nice to be able to hang out and just chill with someone. We already got paid...and we definitely made some sweet cash for the work that we have to do. REALLY...it isn't tough stuff. We both work until 6 most nights...and the boys go to bed by 8...and all of the meals are already cooked (they just need to be nuked)...and they are old enough to be pretty self-sufficient. SO...we are both excited for the amount of cash we made. God is SO cool like that...He totally provides in time of need. I was getting gas on Tuesday night, and the owner of the Getty in Ashland came up to my car and looked at my rear tire. In his Lebanese accent, he said, "Oh, you need rear brakes..."...OK!...and then he went to my front tire and was like, "OOOOOOH! You need front brakes too!! And you better get them soon or else you will have to get your rotors replaced!" YIKES!!! So, needless to say, the money came at a perfect time! :-)
Life is going pretty well at the moment. Work is work....not a whole lot to say about that! :-) Definitely frustrating at times, but seems to be going ok. I know that this is not where I am supposed to be forever (although I've been saying this for 8 years! ;-) haha...)...but what I am supposed to do or where I am supposed to do it remains a mystery. Ideally, I would like a job where I can make more money and do less work...I suppose everyone wants that...but I am tired of working in a profession where the pay scale is equivalent to that of a fry cook! It is seriously a messed up thing in the United States...where investing in the lives of young children is looked down upon...and where it is deemed as a job where one goes if they do not have any skills/education. I would challenge anyone who thinks that this job does not take cojones! Today, for example, I had to work in the infant room all afternoon. We are in the process of trying to get an eight month old little girl acclamate to the classroom. She is one of those "difficult" children...which in lay terms means that all she does is SCREAM!!! Good Lord....having to be in a room with a child like that is enough to make you lose your mind! Well, enough of that....but my point in all of this is this: I could get a job answering phones making more than I do at being a director of a daycare and dealing with people's most precious belongings. How twisted is that?? Anywhoo...I think I want something with less responsibility and more pay. That's all...
Hmm...what else? Ok, church is going amazing. It is more exciting than I could ever have possibly imagined...and yet busier than I could ever dream. Sometimes I feel like it is SO hard to connect to new people and follow up with them on a consistent manner outside of Sundays...all the while doing real life and keeping up with EVERYTHING else that needs to happen.......why does it seem more difficult than when I did it for youth? Is life just busier now? I'm not sure....all I can say though is that I can't imagine being Pastor David and Ginelle! Holy Smokes! I don't know he manages all that he does! I pray that soon enough he is able to fully focus on and be able to invest all of his time in LifeSong stuff...and not have to spread his time between two day cares and IT support at MWWC and running a brand new church and everything that comes along with it....
OK...so I have been seeing someone. For about 10 weeks I have been spending lots of time with a Brasiliero named Pedro. Yeah, as in "Vote for Pedro"....haha....I met him through a friend of mine at the day care. He is younger...22...but definitely doesn't seem that young. We get along famously...and he treats me like a queen. Basically anything that I want to do we've done... We've done dinner in Boston at some of the best Brazilian restaurants (Zagat rated....NO...not Fagats! ;-) hahahah....have you seen that episode of Will & Grace?? OH, gosh...it's hilarious!!), gone to a Red Sox game, gone to the Revolution play off game against Chicago Fire, and most recently went to the Patriots game against the Colts (yeah, they played like crap and lost...but it was still my first game ever, so it was pretty memorable!). Oh...and there have been the normal dates like bowling and movies and such...which have all been very fun. Well...that's all I'll say about that...but we are having fun.
Alrighty, Lee...I hope this post suffices! :-) I really should update on a weekly basis.....they wouldn't have to be SO long if I wrote more often! hahaha.....
Hope all is well with you all!!!
Love ya!
~Jen
Life is going pretty well at the moment. Work is work....not a whole lot to say about that! :-) Definitely frustrating at times, but seems to be going ok. I know that this is not where I am supposed to be forever (although I've been saying this for 8 years! ;-) haha...)...but what I am supposed to do or where I am supposed to do it remains a mystery. Ideally, I would like a job where I can make more money and do less work...I suppose everyone wants that...but I am tired of working in a profession where the pay scale is equivalent to that of a fry cook! It is seriously a messed up thing in the United States...where investing in the lives of young children is looked down upon...and where it is deemed as a job where one goes if they do not have any skills/education. I would challenge anyone who thinks that this job does not take cojones! Today, for example, I had to work in the infant room all afternoon. We are in the process of trying to get an eight month old little girl acclamate to the classroom. She is one of those "difficult" children...which in lay terms means that all she does is SCREAM!!! Good Lord....having to be in a room with a child like that is enough to make you lose your mind! Well, enough of that....but my point in all of this is this: I could get a job answering phones making more than I do at being a director of a daycare and dealing with people's most precious belongings. How twisted is that?? Anywhoo...I think I want something with less responsibility and more pay. That's all...
Hmm...what else? Ok, church is going amazing. It is more exciting than I could ever have possibly imagined...and yet busier than I could ever dream. Sometimes I feel like it is SO hard to connect to new people and follow up with them on a consistent manner outside of Sundays...all the while doing real life and keeping up with EVERYTHING else that needs to happen.......why does it seem more difficult than when I did it for youth? Is life just busier now? I'm not sure....all I can say though is that I can't imagine being Pastor David and Ginelle! Holy Smokes! I don't know he manages all that he does! I pray that soon enough he is able to fully focus on and be able to invest all of his time in LifeSong stuff...and not have to spread his time between two day cares and IT support at MWWC and running a brand new church and everything that comes along with it....
OK...so I have been seeing someone. For about 10 weeks I have been spending lots of time with a Brasiliero named Pedro. Yeah, as in "Vote for Pedro"....haha....I met him through a friend of mine at the day care. He is younger...22...but definitely doesn't seem that young. We get along famously...and he treats me like a queen. Basically anything that I want to do we've done... We've done dinner in Boston at some of the best Brazilian restaurants (Zagat rated....NO...not Fagats! ;-) hahahah....have you seen that episode of Will & Grace?? OH, gosh...it's hilarious!!), gone to a Red Sox game, gone to the Revolution play off game against Chicago Fire, and most recently went to the Patriots game against the Colts (yeah, they played like crap and lost...but it was still my first game ever, so it was pretty memorable!). Oh...and there have been the normal dates like bowling and movies and such...which have all been very fun. Well...that's all I'll say about that...but we are having fun.
Alrighty, Lee...I hope this post suffices! :-) I really should update on a weekly basis.....they wouldn't have to be SO long if I wrote more often! hahaha.....
Hope all is well with you all!!!
Love ya!
~Jen
Monday, October 02, 2006
Correction
OK...so my friend Maria so graciously told me that I spelled "fawhaw" wrong! hahahah....I totally knew that I wasn't anywhere close to spelling it correctly...but for you nerds who enjoy learning new things, the correct spelling is "forro". HMM....wouldn't have guessed that in a MILLION years!...but whatever!
Love you...
~Jen
Love you...
~Jen
A Follow-Up on the Cocktail....
Hi Dear Readers (or Nate! haha)....
I hear many of you (or maybe just Nate! ) were waiting with bated breath about how the Brazilian cocktail went...and what I ended up wearing...Well, I decided to follow my dear friend Nathan's advice to go snappy casual (I believe those were the words that he used??)...and I ended up wearing a cute cream sweater with blueish colored pants. I dressed it up with a bit of bling-bling....and straightened my hair and wore it down.... "Hey everybody! Look how good I look!!!" hahaha....
Well, we ended up going to this place for the cocktail and we entered and he didn't know ANYONE! Of course, I didn't know anyone...but also, I was the only white person in the entire room! A bit awkward, considering he didn't know anyone....so everyone looked at me like, "Who is this white girl with the Brasiliero??" We ended up leaving that "cocktail" and headed out to Ashland to meet another one of his friends from the class who skipped that party to go to another party. We followed her and her husband, as well as a few other friends, to Peabody. This was the first time I've ever been to Peabody. We passed a place called "Bunghole Liquors" and I just about lost it! I was laughing so hard and the Brasiliero had NO IDEA why I thought that was so funny!! Why would you ever name your store "Bunghole" anything?? Who was the smarty who came up with that name???
Well, we ended up crashing someone's wedding reception b/c we went to the wrong place. We drove around for a few minutes until we finally arrived at the right place. It looked like a big hall...there was a bar on one side (in a different room) and the room that we were in had a big stage with a dance floor in the front. This time there were like 200-300 Brazilians...and again, I was the only caucasian! hahaha....I'm pretty white, so I stick out like a sore thumb WHEREVER I go! haha....I definitely felt underdressed there...I probably should have gone with my original outfit of the wine colored tank with the black flowy knee length skirt...but whatever! It was fine...Next time I'll know better! Although...if we hadn't left the original "cocktail", I would have been overdressed, for sure! UGH....SO confusing!!!! hahaha....
All of the Brazilians are CRAZY dancers!! They dance something called the "fawhaw". I'm sure I spelled it incorrectly....but that is how it is pronounced! hahahah......They are all up on each other and they shake what their momma gave them! YIKES!!! I definitely didn't attempt it...b/c I already felt enough out of place to not make a fool out of myself trying!! hahaha.....Well, that's enough for now! Nate, I hope this sufficed!! hehehe....
Have a wonderful day!!
~Jen
I hear many of you (or maybe just Nate! ) were waiting with bated breath about how the Brazilian cocktail went...and what I ended up wearing...Well, I decided to follow my dear friend Nathan's advice to go snappy casual (I believe those were the words that he used??)...and I ended up wearing a cute cream sweater with blueish colored pants. I dressed it up with a bit of bling-bling....and straightened my hair and wore it down.... "Hey everybody! Look how good I look!!!" hahaha....
Well, we ended up going to this place for the cocktail and we entered and he didn't know ANYONE! Of course, I didn't know anyone...but also, I was the only white person in the entire room! A bit awkward, considering he didn't know anyone....so everyone looked at me like, "Who is this white girl with the Brasiliero??" We ended up leaving that "cocktail" and headed out to Ashland to meet another one of his friends from the class who skipped that party to go to another party. We followed her and her husband, as well as a few other friends, to Peabody. This was the first time I've ever been to Peabody. We passed a place called "Bunghole Liquors" and I just about lost it! I was laughing so hard and the Brasiliero had NO IDEA why I thought that was so funny!! Why would you ever name your store "Bunghole" anything?? Who was the smarty who came up with that name???
Well, we ended up crashing someone's wedding reception b/c we went to the wrong place. We drove around for a few minutes until we finally arrived at the right place. It looked like a big hall...there was a bar on one side (in a different room) and the room that we were in had a big stage with a dance floor in the front. This time there were like 200-300 Brazilians...and again, I was the only caucasian! hahaha....I'm pretty white, so I stick out like a sore thumb WHEREVER I go! haha....I definitely felt underdressed there...I probably should have gone with my original outfit of the wine colored tank with the black flowy knee length skirt...but whatever! It was fine...Next time I'll know better! Although...if we hadn't left the original "cocktail", I would have been overdressed, for sure! UGH....SO confusing!!!! hahaha....
All of the Brazilians are CRAZY dancers!! They dance something called the "fawhaw". I'm sure I spelled it incorrectly....but that is how it is pronounced! hahahah......They are all up on each other and they shake what their momma gave them! YIKES!!! I definitely didn't attempt it...b/c I already felt enough out of place to not make a fool out of myself trying!! hahaha.....Well, that's enough for now! Nate, I hope this sufficed!! hehehe....
Have a wonderful day!!
~Jen
I HEART Fall!
Is there anything better than a fall day (well, today isn't a BEAUTIFUL fall day)...but it is technically fall! ?? I don't think so!! hehe...
I have been busy this morning...partially b/c I was trying to finish up some last minute details on the picnic that Lifesong was going to have tomorrow...but because of the icky forecast was cancelled. I was really looking forward to that community aspect, but I was a little relieved, just b/c I was going to be running all over creation for last minute things that I needed to get or find. SO...that kind of alleviated that for me....
A bunch of us went apple picking last Sunday at the Nashoba Valley Winery in Bolton. It is a really pretty place...but I'm not a HUGE fan of that place. I really like North Brookfield orchards...it's got a whole lot more variety...and the place is fun. BUT...it's ok...we had fun!! We always do!!
Well, I had picked (err...actually, I didn't pick the apples...my flip-flop broke and I couldn't walk around...so I had Tami and Dakota do the picking for me). They did a wonderful job and I ended up with a bag of apples that either needed to be eaten or baked into something delicious!
I ate my fill of apples this week...but I still had a mess of them left, so I decided today was the day to peel and cut them and make them into an apple crisp. What a good afternnoon!! I made tomato soup (a delicious recipe that I have for any of you who enjoy tomato soup....I never thought I would like tomato soup until I had this recipe...so I can't tell you if it tastes like "everyone else's" tomato soup. It has more of a spaghetti sauce taste...). Anywhoo...I made that this afternoon...and then I made the apple crisp. My house smells of absolute yumminess!! Yeah, I can make up my own words!
Right now, I am just checking my email and sending out a few overdue emails...and in the background Coach Carter is playing. I haven't seen it...but it looks pretty good...but I'm just not into the movie watching mode right now. I guess I'll have to put it on my Netflix Queue....
Tonight I am going to a Brazilian cocktail??!! Tudo bem! What exactly is a cocktail?? I am imagining that it is like a cocktail party...but I'm not sure of the casualness or uncasualness (err??? haha) of this whole affair! What the heck do you wear to a cocktail?? Will my Brasiliero and Brasiliera friends help me out on this one?? Hmm??
Tomorrow will be our third week of church. It's amazing how excited I am for church. I feel like for a while, I wasn't excited about going to church. Not that I didn't like my church or my pastor or anything like that...it's not that my relationship with God was suffering...I don't know exactly what it was?? It became more of a chore or duty, I guess would be a better word. Now I am excited to be at church for 7:30 to help set up...and can't believe at 11:30 when I am leaving for the afternoon. It's awesome....
Alrighty...well, I'm going to finish up a few more things...and then I'm headed out....
Hope you all have a wonderful rest of your weekend!!!
~Jen
I have been busy this morning...partially b/c I was trying to finish up some last minute details on the picnic that Lifesong was going to have tomorrow...but because of the icky forecast was cancelled. I was really looking forward to that community aspect, but I was a little relieved, just b/c I was going to be running all over creation for last minute things that I needed to get or find. SO...that kind of alleviated that for me....
A bunch of us went apple picking last Sunday at the Nashoba Valley Winery in Bolton. It is a really pretty place...but I'm not a HUGE fan of that place. I really like North Brookfield orchards...it's got a whole lot more variety...and the place is fun. BUT...it's ok...we had fun!! We always do!!
Well, I had picked (err...actually, I didn't pick the apples...my flip-flop broke and I couldn't walk around...so I had Tami and Dakota do the picking for me). They did a wonderful job and I ended up with a bag of apples that either needed to be eaten or baked into something delicious!
I ate my fill of apples this week...but I still had a mess of them left, so I decided today was the day to peel and cut them and make them into an apple crisp. What a good afternnoon!! I made tomato soup (a delicious recipe that I have for any of you who enjoy tomato soup....I never thought I would like tomato soup until I had this recipe...so I can't tell you if it tastes like "everyone else's" tomato soup. It has more of a spaghetti sauce taste...). Anywhoo...I made that this afternoon...and then I made the apple crisp. My house smells of absolute yumminess!! Yeah, I can make up my own words!
Right now, I am just checking my email and sending out a few overdue emails...and in the background Coach Carter is playing. I haven't seen it...but it looks pretty good...but I'm just not into the movie watching mode right now. I guess I'll have to put it on my Netflix Queue....
Tonight I am going to a Brazilian cocktail??!! Tudo bem! What exactly is a cocktail?? I am imagining that it is like a cocktail party...but I'm not sure of the casualness or uncasualness (err??? haha) of this whole affair! What the heck do you wear to a cocktail?? Will my Brasiliero and Brasiliera friends help me out on this one?? Hmm??
Tomorrow will be our third week of church. It's amazing how excited I am for church. I feel like for a while, I wasn't excited about going to church. Not that I didn't like my church or my pastor or anything like that...it's not that my relationship with God was suffering...I don't know exactly what it was?? It became more of a chore or duty, I guess would be a better word. Now I am excited to be at church for 7:30 to help set up...and can't believe at 11:30 when I am leaving for the afternoon. It's awesome....
Alrighty...well, I'm going to finish up a few more things...and then I'm headed out....
Hope you all have a wonderful rest of your weekend!!!
~Jen
Monday, September 18, 2006
AHHHHHHHHHHH....Rob Bell says "Trackin'"!! :-(
Haha....OK, seriously...I am listening to a Mars Hill Church (Grand Rapids, MI) podcast right now...and Rob Bell says "Trackin'"!!! I HATE that word!!!! It totally irritates me! "Are you trackin'??" UGHHHHHH..... Whenever Pastor Dave used to (and yes, I said used to...) say it, I would tweak out!! It is just such an irritating "catch phrase"...and I can't stand it!!! Why can't people come up with something other than that! haha...
OK...some updates since I haven't blogged in over a month! Well, we officially launched Lifesong Church in Millbury, MA (at the Blackstone Valley Cinema DeLux - theater #7) on September 10th! God delivered more than we prayed for...and delivered more than we could have imagined! We prayed for 350...and we had 375-400 people there (plus 12 kids in 0-2's, 20 kids in 3-5's, and 16 kids in 6-10's). It was AMAZING!! God was incredibly present throughout the entire service!! It was AWESOME!!!! The worship was great! Joy totally ROCKED on Amazing Grace...it totally brought tears to my eyes!! The message was awesome...Pastor Dave is doing a series on Pronouns. Last week (the 10th), the pronoun of the day was "They". He talked about how we put a lot of stock in what "they" say...whatever "they" that may be. Everyone ALWAYS talks about "they". "They" did this..."they" did that..."They" made me do this..."They" made me do that....But really, the only person that we should listen to is the HE in "They".
This past Sunday, we had around 275 people...the worship rocked AGAIN...the message was GREAT again! :-) PD talked about "You" this time.
I am SO pumped up about the turnout that we've been having...I mean, for the past two weeks...and I can't wait to start connecting to the new people that will be coming in. I mean, I know I have about 5-8 people that haven't been able to make it yet...
Well, I am going to end this short...but I hope you all have a wonderful Monday! :-)
~Jen
OK...some updates since I haven't blogged in over a month! Well, we officially launched Lifesong Church in Millbury, MA (at the Blackstone Valley Cinema DeLux - theater #7) on September 10th! God delivered more than we prayed for...and delivered more than we could have imagined! We prayed for 350...and we had 375-400 people there (plus 12 kids in 0-2's, 20 kids in 3-5's, and 16 kids in 6-10's). It was AMAZING!! God was incredibly present throughout the entire service!! It was AWESOME!!!! The worship was great! Joy totally ROCKED on Amazing Grace...it totally brought tears to my eyes!! The message was awesome...Pastor Dave is doing a series on Pronouns. Last week (the 10th), the pronoun of the day was "They". He talked about how we put a lot of stock in what "they" say...whatever "they" that may be. Everyone ALWAYS talks about "they". "They" did this..."they" did that..."They" made me do this..."They" made me do that....But really, the only person that we should listen to is the HE in "They".
This past Sunday, we had around 275 people...the worship rocked AGAIN...the message was GREAT again! :-) PD talked about "You" this time.
I am SO pumped up about the turnout that we've been having...I mean, for the past two weeks...and I can't wait to start connecting to the new people that will be coming in. I mean, I know I have about 5-8 people that haven't been able to make it yet...
Well, I am going to end this short...but I hope you all have a wonderful Monday! :-)
~Jen
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Nothing of any importance...
To my fellow readers! ;-) hehe...
I honestly have nothing of any importance to write here...no pressing matters, or irritants, that I need to get off of my chest...or things that are going on that are actually blog-worthy. However, it's been quite a while since my last blog, and I feel like something needs to be written!
Well, what has been going on with me? Well, since the last blog, I've been working my booty off at the day care, as well as doing Event Planning for Lifesong.
We did our second Gas Outreach...this one was located at the All-Pro Getty on Greenwood Street in Worcester. It was another amazing experience where lots of people were blessed. If you haven't been up to date with my last blog, we did a gas outreach where we gave away $15 to 100 cars.
There were lots of stories from this whole thing...some people had sobering stories, some people had sad stories...I, of course, had a very funny story. Here's my story: An Asian man (early 20's) pulled up to the pump and was all full of goofy smiles. He was so excited that he was getting free gas...he couldn't believe it!! He asked me how much did it cost to go to church? I told him that our church didn't cost anything...you just show up and attend. He was like, "OOOOhhhhhh...excellent!" Then he asked me if girls went to our church...I told him yes, we do have girls at our church. I knew exactly where he was going with that one...He was like, "OOOOhhhh...I come and meet girls!"...hahahah....and then he drove off! :-)
After our second gas outreach, we had our third BBQ. It was a great place where we could connect people. We had lots of visitors...and I feel will prove invaluable when we begin our church. The BBQ was held at the Partridge's house in Whitinsville...we had a couple inflatables, the canoes, volleyball nets, bocci, basketball, and a bunch of other activities. People definitely had fun...and most importantly, felt like they connected to people.
I can't even express how excited I am to begin this new adventure in less than a month. Some may say, "Well, technically, you aren't starting it...you've been working on it for almost a year"...but it just gets more and more exciting the closer and closer it comes. I can't wait to actually have church...IN A THEATER! I can't even tell you how surreal having worship in a movie theater is!! It is pretty amazing!!!
Alrighty...I am going to end this short. I hope all is doing well!!
~Jen
To my fellow readers! ;-) hehe...
I honestly have nothing of any importance to write here...no pressing matters, or irritants, that I need to get off of my chest...or things that are going on that are actually blog-worthy. However, it's been quite a while since my last blog, and I feel like something needs to be written!
Well, what has been going on with me? Well, since the last blog, I've been working my booty off at the day care, as well as doing Event Planning for Lifesong.
We did our second Gas Outreach...this one was located at the All-Pro Getty on Greenwood Street in Worcester. It was another amazing experience where lots of people were blessed. If you haven't been up to date with my last blog, we did a gas outreach where we gave away $15 to 100 cars.
There were lots of stories from this whole thing...some people had sobering stories, some people had sad stories...I, of course, had a very funny story. Here's my story: An Asian man (early 20's) pulled up to the pump and was all full of goofy smiles. He was so excited that he was getting free gas...he couldn't believe it!! He asked me how much did it cost to go to church? I told him that our church didn't cost anything...you just show up and attend. He was like, "OOOOhhhhhh...excellent!" Then he asked me if girls went to our church...I told him yes, we do have girls at our church. I knew exactly where he was going with that one...He was like, "OOOOhhhh...I come and meet girls!"...hahahah....and then he drove off! :-)
After our second gas outreach, we had our third BBQ. It was a great place where we could connect people. We had lots of visitors...and I feel will prove invaluable when we begin our church. The BBQ was held at the Partridge's house in Whitinsville...we had a couple inflatables, the canoes, volleyball nets, bocci, basketball, and a bunch of other activities. People definitely had fun...and most importantly, felt like they connected to people.
I can't even express how excited I am to begin this new adventure in less than a month. Some may say, "Well, technically, you aren't starting it...you've been working on it for almost a year"...but it just gets more and more exciting the closer and closer it comes. I can't wait to actually have church...IN A THEATER! I can't even tell you how surreal having worship in a movie theater is!! It is pretty amazing!!!
Alrighty...I am going to end this short. I hope all is doing well!!
~Jen
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