My Incredible Summer!

It's been quite a few months since I have been able to write anything.  My summer was incredibly busy - but so awesome!  Here is a update on my life.  :]

My Loves:
-Jadelynn turned 10 this year!  I seriously cannot believe how much she has grown since I first met her at 2 years old.  As most of you know, after my divorce, I am so blessed by her mom that she has allowed me to continue to love on Jadelynn and be such a huge part of her life.  This year she started gymnastics - and is doing a fabulous job!  She is doing great in school, and is just a sweet little lady whom we are all incredibly proud of. We had adventures this summer too:  One Direction!  Of course I had to take her to see them again.  :]
-Cobie is still just as awesome as ever.  He is 1.5 years old now and has started to calm down a little bit - which is actually pretty nice.  Haha.
-My boy.  We had all of the adventures!  He surprised me with fancy dinners, trips to the ocean, birds, the Seymour Marine Discovery Center, dolphins, whales - and overall has been the sweetest and most incredible man I have ever met.  I thank God every single day for the blessing I have received through our relationship.  Thank you for who you are, for praying with me, praying for me, leading us, providing way more than you need to, for making me laugh, for respecting me and being patient, and for the love and adventure of a lifetime.  9 months down into forever. <3
-The Dungeon:  Still working it out with team Dungeon!  It was hard to mix my gym life with my summer work life, but eventually I was able to figure it out and go in as often as I could - even using online sessions and hotel gyms when I was working out of town.  At this point - I have finally dipped below the weight I have been at for months! I know the numbers on the scale don't matter...but we all know it's nice to see them drop.

Family and Friends:

-My older sister moved back!  I don't have any photos with her - which I lame and I will have to fix when I see her later. :]  I have been able to spend a ton of time with her and her kids - getting to know her even better.  I love her so much! I went to Disneyland with my oldest sister, which was way fun too!

-I also went to Disneyland with my giiiiiiirrl - and watched my other "giiirrl" Zach graduate from the Sheriff Academy!

-My friend Nikki wrote her second book - which I was so blessed to be part of!

-Christina introduced me to ArtMix and got to by my hero at work.. :]
-The birth of Mini Mimi, dancing (killing it at the wobble), camping, wedding planning, pumpkin patches, and adventure happened with my new family and some of the best friends a girl could ever ask for.

Adventures with K-LOVE and Air1:  

My job probably kept me the most busy this summer.  Going into promotions, I was prepared to have weird hours, minimal weekends off, and the time of my life - and that is exactly what I got!  My summer was full of prep for event, going to some of the most amazing worship nights and concerts, community events, wonderful volunteers, listener stories, and travel!  One of my favorite things was being able to travel to Colorado for our team Summit and to serve with my amazing coworkers from Denver, Arizona, and So Cal, Texas, and Kansas at HeavenFest (2 days) and Harvest SoCal (3 nights) - which are weekend festivals full of music and fun.  Here I had the opportunity to set up our HUGE K-LOVE and Air1 tents and experience for the first time what it's like working a festival with K-LOVE and Air1.  It was busy and so exhausting, but every now and again, we would hear these amazing stories from our listeners, which quickly lifted my spirits as I remembered why I am part of this ministry.  I've said it a thousand times: I love my job!

Next up - I'm going to Italy!  Jessica and I will be on a 2-week adventure in less than 1 month!

Life is beautiful.

In other news:  The first motion picture theater opened in Los Angeles on April 2, 1902.
Find out more cool California facts here!

-jennilea

"Congratulations! Your degree has been conferred..."

It's official, friends!  I have graduated from Sac State with a Bachelor's Degree in Communication Studies - focusing on Public Relations!

Leading up to my graduation date, God began doing some really awesome things in my life.  A few weeks before graduation, a position opened up at work for a Promotions Manager.  This is the vary job I began working at K-LOVE and Air1 for and it opened up right as I was in a spot where I would actually qualify for it.  I was definitely more than thrilled that this opportunity had presented itself to me.

I went ahead and applied and, after 6 interviews, I finally got it!

I still haven't quite grasped that fact that I won't be going back to school when everyone else is - or that I am finally going to be in my career.  It's so unreal.  I am blessed.

The really cool thing is that I can see how God has worked in my life over the last few years to bring me here.  In 2010, I was working towards being a delivery nurse, while also working concerts on the side - which I loved!  God gave me this idea for a program called Fuel the Fire - and it really took off!  I was able to get tons of experience in events.  Finally, at the end of the program, during altar call, I stood in the back of the church - watching how God was moving.  I was just in awe of how God had used this program; of how He had used me.  In that moment, everything changed.  I suddenly didn't want to be a delivery nurse - I had to do more of these programs.  I changed my major - changed my priorities - and was fully ready to do another event juts like this, when God totally shut me down simply saying, "not now."  I was devastated, and couldn't understand why I wouldn't be able to do another one of these events the following year as I had planned. The answer is simple:  God's plans are always better than our own.

I really had no idea what He was doing until this job came up - suddenly, everything made sense.  As I was in the interview process for the new position, the part of my resume that stood out the most was that event!  The one I had worked on just over 4 years ago had prepared me with the tools and experience I needed for this position.  In obedience, I left my cozy state job of 7 years to work at the radio station simply because it felt like God said it was time.  I had support from amazing coworkers I wouldn't even realize I needed until I faced my divorce.  I've been able to speak to listeners and hear of what God is doing in their lives.  He's ministered to me through their stories too.  There have been times I've cried right along with them - as we've healed through the same hurts, and expressed joy with them as we celebrated God's love and blessings in our lives.  I've come to know our listeners, the people behind the scenes - who work countless nights to keep this place running, and I've come to know this culture - and I cannot wait to share it with all the people I will be encountering through this new position.

I've really been able to see God's hand in my life throughout the last few years - and how He has developed even the greatest hurts into something beautiful.  Of all things, I do know this:  He is faithful - and knows what's up, even when I can sometimes be horribly confused about where I'm being taken.  :]

Other awesome things - I really don't like reading.  I wish I did, but I have a hard time being patient as I read.  I decided to go ahead and change that - so I joined a book club!  I have finished 2 books this year, and have moved onto a third, written by Nicole De La Cruz, "Hidden Secrets."  I've known Nikki for something like 7 years now - and I have never seen her so incredibly passionate about anything as much as she is about books.  She was finally given the opportunity to be in a place where she can write - and writing she has been doing!  Within just a few short months, she has written this book, which will hopefully be out soon.  It follows the life of Scarlett, who is just learning how to live on her own after ending a terrible relationship.  Things changed a bit when she encounters, Kyle - an adorably sweet British bartender.  I'm about 3 chapters in and love it!  When this book comes out, I definitely encourage you guys to check it out!

In other news:  "Researchers found that couples connected to monitors measuring heart rates and respiration get their heart rate in sync, and they breathe in and out at the same intervals."
Oh, love.  <3  You can read more about this on Science Daily. 

-jennilea

A Lot to Say and Lifetime Movie Monday

It is amazing what all has happened in the last week!  Here we go.

Last week, I fell behind on my running.  This week, I picked up on running and hit 2.5 miles.  I have been extremely discouraged though, as I am about 5 minutes behind on the time I would like to have.  It has been a real struggle to keep on going with how far behind I feel.  Then I realize how far I have come.  7 weeks ago, it would have been impossible to run this much at this speed.  My ultimate goal is 3 miles in 30 minutes. I am currently at 2.5 miles in 31 minutes, and have 2 weeks to speed that up!  I am confident I can get there.

Zombie run is just 3 weeks away!

Also, I have come to realize that the things I eat really dictate how I feel during my run.  For dinner tonight, I had pizza.  I have never felt more disgusted after a run.  I can feel the pizza in my stomach.  My runs seem more successful when I fill myself with fruit, veggies, and chicken. I also need to drink more water throughout the day. 

Next, school.  I have been contemplating a lot lately.  Is Sac State still my next move?  Should I attend a Christian College?  An online school?  Change my major?  What is it I really want?
I am almost done at American River College, and will be graduating with degrees in Liberal Arts and Commercial Music.  My next step was to go to Sac State and work towards a Bachelor degree in Music Business.  A career in music business is no easy to reach - if even possible while living in Sacramento.

The most excited I have been about a possible job is when I heard there was an opening at Air1 as a promotions manager (it is no longer available).  I spoke with Chelsea, the lead promotions manager, and asked what her major was:  Communications.  It hit me about two days ago, maybe a Communications degree would be best for me.  There is definitely a lot more that I can do, in this area, with a degree in Communications.  So, there we have it,  At Sac State, I will be a Communications major with an emphasis on Public Relations.  I am very excited, and hopefully, one day, I will be able to get on board with Air1.

Finally, social media.  I notice I am spending way too much time on Facebook.  As a result, this week, I will be accomplishing one of the goals on my list:  "Avoid Facebook for 1 week."  Not just Facebook though, I will be avoiding all forms of social media.  So, if you need to get in touch - text me or give me a call. :]

Now, it's time for...
Lifetime Movie Challenge Monday!

A friend and I began a game we like to call the Lifetime Movie Challenge.  Most people know that all Lifetime movies have outrageous plots that involve drugs, sex, murder, adultery, a douche bag guy, pregnant teen, etc.  While discussing this, we decided to look up some movie names.  After hearing the names, we decided to guess what the movies might be about.  I will now demonstrate this genius!

Lifetime Movie:  "Baby Monitor: Sound of Fear"

My guess:  A couple finally has a baby.  A jealous friend, who is unable to have children, decides she wants the child for herself.  As a result, she breaks in, locks up the couple, and takes the baby.  The entire thing - heard over the baby monitor...the couple tracks the woman down.  She somehow ends up dead.  Baby is returned.  Happy ending.

What do you think the story is about?  

Answer:  "A neglectful mother overhears her husband on the telephone at their workplace talking with their babysitter. She discovers they are having an affair and are going to have a baby. She concocts an evil plan to win back her husband and remove the girl and baby. Two men are hired to kill the girl and hold the son hostage in order for her to play the hero and reclaim her husband. The plan hits a snag when the criminals enter the wrong apartment."


In other news, "Ancient Egyptians would mourn the death of cats by shaving off their eyebrows."
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-jennilea