My New Home < 3

A 500 square ft. studio apartment is my new home!  Yep - I took that step to get my first place all on my own.  I moved in almost a week ago (taking me 1 day to fully unpack), and I love it more than I ever thought I would.

With the help of my older sister, Nicoleon, I was able to decorate it so nicely!  She also gave me the brilliant idea to remove the doors from my huge closet so I could put a bed in and BOOM: I've got a bedroom.  As you enter the studio, I have a pretty nicely sized living area where there is a very clear dining section just next to the kitchen - which is also perfectly sized!  I have a fire place, which is way fancy.  Puppy loves it too; He is also becoming a bit of a guard dog.  Not vicious by any sense of the word, but when people even pass the door, he runs up to it - occasionally barking too.  I thought this would be something I hate, but it really gives me an even greater sense of safety.

My boyfriend is actually pretty close by too.  In fact, he lives just two buildings down!  Talk about saving gas money!  Haha.  I am also much closer to work - cutting my commute down by 10-15 minutes.

Overall, I really love my new home.  It's clean all the time - and I am able to meal prep without my tupperware going missing.  I also only purchased meal plan appropriate items, to guarantee I have no other options.  I am doing super well with this whole fitness thing these days.

Other fun things - Cobie turned 1 on April 25th.  He was freshly groomed and enjoyed a piece of puppy birthday "cake" to celebrate!  Every day I love this pup even more.  He is a super genius and just amazes me with how quickly he picks things up.  His latest trick being "roll over."

Last update has to do with running!  I got super into running a few years ago - and I'm back at it again!  Brian and I have started the Couch to 5k running program.  We are in week 2 and nailing it!  Today, I am going to begin tracking our distance.  I am so excited to see the progress we make - and to get back up to running 7+ miles!

Lots of fun new things to look forward to in life.  :]

In other news: May 29th is National Put Your Pillow On Your Refrigerator Day!  I trust you will all be celebrating accordingly on this day.
(For other fun holidays, click here.)

-jennilea

This Is Where My Life Is: A Pictorial

My wonderful - amazing - incredible boyfriend, Brian.  To wake up each morning to a prayer by text is indescribable.  Praying together. Growing in God together.  These are the things in my relationship I value the most. There are times we can't stop talking to one another - and other times we sit in silence and just enjoy the company of one another.  My heart sure does enjoy him. <3

My sweet girl. My princess. I am so blessed beyond measure to be able to continue a relationship with this love. Each moment I get with her is incredible and I cherish far beyond measure. She is so smart and getting so big. I can hardly believe she was just nearly 2 when I met her. She will be 10 this year. Time sure does fly. 

The puppy - Oh man do I love my pup.  Cobie is absolutely incredible.  So smart - and definitely keeps me entertained.  

Then there is my giiiirrrrl.  My PIC.  She has been a constant encouragement in my life and always points me back to God when I need it - Plus we go on a ton of adventures so that's neat.  I love her so much. :]

My Juanita - whom I have grown incredibly close with so fast. She loves monopoly and will wait 2.5 hours with me to get a cup of free coffee from Dutch Brothers.  She loves Jesus, helps me stay sane when I feel like I'm freaking out over dumb things, and is just an overall amazing person.  Through Brian, I've gained another sister - whom I cherish so deeply.









My friends who have become my family. Brian's family is the kind of family I have always prayed for - huge and super close. Along with him, I've gained them.  Bri, Toni, and Sarah have become the girls I spend most of my time with.  They each have their amazing points:

Bri was the first person in Brian's family I really connected with.  She is hilarious - and also helps me feel better when I freak out over dumb things.  lol.  She's incredible, and I can't wait to spoil mini mimi in a few months. 
:]

Toni was the first person I met in Brian's family and it was an instant welcome.  She was kind, excited, and I absolutely love having her has a friend, family member, and cardio buddy.  She da best..

Sarah's bangs are bangin' and her eyebrows are always on point.  She is blunt - to the point - and I love it.  One of the strongest personalities I know, and just a ton of fun. Plus we both love Marilyn.  I love getting to know her - and just being around her.

Nikki has been through it all with me - enough to build an incredibly strong friendship.  I've seen her grow a ton in the last few months - and she's seen the same from me.  She is incredible, strong, and I am so proud of who she has become and all of the wonderful things she is doing.

Christina - I don't get to see her nearly enough, but she is that friend who stays solid throughout time.  I can pick up the phone at any moment, and things continue where they left off.  She keeps my head straight and makes sure I don't jump into things - while also encouraging that I jump into adventure!  It's because of her that I have such a great passion for going anywhere and doing as much as I can in life.  In short, she is awesome. 

My older seesters.  I love them.  Tara is one of the smartest people I know.  She is hilarious - and I want to be like her when I grow up.
Nicoleon sends me bear jokes and makes me laugh.  I admire her strength.  She tight.  
My two older sisters are probably my role models.  I look up to them in pretty much all areas of life.












Panda.  :]  This is one of those long distance friendships that manages to still connect like family.  I love her - and am so proud to see what she is making of her life.  She has truly risen from the lowest points to be successful and an amazing mother to her two little ones.








The rest of my life consists of games, lifting, church, and my wonderful job.  I love where life is right now.  I feel blessed to have such incredible, amazing people around me.  

I get to work full time in a ministry where God uses me each day to be the hands and feet of K-LOVE and Air1 - in a way I am so passionate about!

I am surrounded by amazing women (and men) who train incredibly hard at The Dungeon and see such extreme results!  I am inspired by Katie Felix who has made the most incredible changes in her body.  I am encouraged by Jamie, who pushes me to the vary breaking point during all of my workouts.

1 year ago - I didn't realize life could ever be this cool.

Long Overdue

This post is long overdue!  By now, you might know that I've finished my Day Zero Project.  In my final days on the project, I went through a whirlwind of experiences to finish my list.  This included the following:

Reading the Bible
Finish books suggested by friends
Visit Manda in Oaklahoma
Complete a 3D Puzzle

Oklahoma was OK!  I went with Brian to see his brother graduate from basic training - Good job, Steven!  After, we went to visit Manda!  All flights and drive time were full of reading or listening to the Bible on CD.  I underestimated how long that task really would take.  It was actually one I was working on right up to the final minutes of the project!  Completing it felt amazing.

We were also able to complete a 3D puzzle of a bird.  I've come to really love puzzles...since I've completed one of the three thousand piece puzzles I worked on.

I learned so much over the last few years, but the most valuable lesson I learned was that things sometimes need to change - and you have to be okay with that.  There were so many other things on my list I would have loved to complete, but was unable to for lack of accounting for proper time to get them done.  I was disappointed the first time I had to change something on the list - but then I realized that this is exactly how life is.  We often make plans for our lives - our future - we have this idea of how we will live, what traditions we will follow, what we will be when we grow up, etc...The reality is that these things sometimes change, and we have to be able to change right along with them.
When I had to make my first change to the list, I felt like everything was pointless then, but it wasn't.  I simply needed to add something else that would bring me to completing another goal!  While I still tried to limit the amount of things I made changes too, when the time came that I had to trade in a goal, I was able to do it - not feeling defeated, but knowing I did my best and other opportunity will arise in the future.

Another thing I've taken from this is that if I want to do something - I should go do it!  This is within reason of course.  Ha!

For example, I really wanted to go on a hot air balloon ride.  I didn't need a list to get it done - I had the ability to just go out and do it, and luckily enough, I had a wonderful friend who treated me for my birthday. :]

We had an all day adventure of hot air balloon riding, travel, and the ocean.  It was a complete blast and I would most definitely do it again.

Also, during the lift, I realized I am definitely not afraid of heights anymore.  I rocked it, completely fearless.  I definitely have my list to thank for that as well. My fear of heights was one thing that held me back from doing a lot - and I am so happy to be done with that.

So, now that my list is over, I plan to make new goals - and conquer them!

Another recent goal I've hit is graduating from Sac State!  I completed my schooling in 3 semesters, as planned, and will be graduating on Friday!  I also plan to update this blog more frequently. :]

In other news, my puppy is adorable:

This gorgeous pup is 20 pounds of awesome.  Cobie is probably one of the best decisions I could have made.  He's just amazing.

Finally, with Christmas coming up soon - I wish you all a Merry Christmas - I sure am excited to be giving a ton of gifts this year - especially knowing that these are gifts my friends and family will definitely enjoy.

I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and a safe and super fun New Year.

-jennilea

Experiencing Happiness!

90 things done - 73 days remaining:  http://dayzeroproject.com/user/jennileam/list/43740.

Recently, I've lit fireworks (thanks to Bri and Jimmy for that), rode the Indiana Jones ride at Disneyland, and got my pup!  

This is Cobie - and he is absolutely perfect.  People told me that having a puppy would be a hard thing, but it really is not as bad as they made it sound - which is wonderful.  

I've learned pretty quickly that a puppy is as good as you train it to be.  He needs to be set up for success.  It's like having a child.  You don't leave your kids around things they can destroy or hurt themselves with, and when you do see them get into the wrong things, you correct it.  I take Cobie with me everywhere!  He loves people, and does really well around the animals he has met, so far.

We play a lot!  He is extremely active, and that keeps me active.  He loves cuddles, and since my life is now lacking that, I do not mind cuddling him.  HA!  We have training sessions each day and he is excelling in "stay" and "sit."  As he begins puppy classes, I hope he learns more just as quickly as he has picked up the first two commands.  We have a mini grooming session each day too, which consists of cleaning his ears, brushing his teeth, brushing his fur, and touching his eyes, paws, and gums so he gets used to that sort of thing for his vet and future groomer.  Yep...definitely like having a kid.  He is perfect.

I've got 11 more things to complete - including the need to add 1 more item to my list - so bring on the ideas!

Next topic:  Happiness.

I was hanging out with a friend, when a guy came up smelling completely of alcohol.  I am positive the man is an alcoholic (confirmed by the same friend).  The smell is sickening and all too familiar.  That smell, the craziness of that lifestyle - it's no longer part of my life.  I'm free.  I found that I don't need to place my worth in people, and instead find it in God.  The fact that, to Him, I am worth dying for.

I no longer have to search hard to find something to make me smile.  Happy things are all around.  I can breathe without fear.  I no longer feel sadness over my situation, but instead hope for what is coming.  My heart is healing and God is helping me rebuild and giving me perfect peace.  I am rediscovering things I am passionate about and working hard to achieve my goals.  I have the love and support of tons of amazing friends and family members.

In short, I am experiencing happiness.  Not fake, smile just to get through the day, happiness - but real honest excitement for life and for my future.

Life is beautiful.

In other news:  "You breathe on average about 5 million times a year."

(Read more cool facts here.)

-jennilea