A mosquito bit my face!

Hello all! I hope your Sunday was a beautiful one :)

Mac picked me up for church this morning (car is still dunzo), and we worked Echo Sunday School before third service. I got back-sassed a bit this morning by some middle schoolers, but by the time the morning was said and done they were close to silent. Why they choose to be silent during group discussion, I don't know. But what can you do? Anyways, Micah spoke this morning, and that is always a treat :) He talked about the fruits of the Spirit, and challenged us to consider if we were indeed bearing fruit, if our fruit was flourishing in abundance, and if our fruit was of good quality. Twas a thought-provoking call for self-analysis!

After service, I had lunch with Mac, Jim, and Christian at good ole Regency :) We enjoyed some nom noms before going to work on a little project Jim orchestrated as a means to help and surprise some dear friends :)

What's gonna work? TEEEEAM Work!

I won't go into more detail or post a completed picture, in the off chance they should stumble upon this post!

Upon coming home, I finished the project I mentioned last night! (I will post a picture of that completed task later this week.) Then, it was off to padre's for dinner and hangout. However, I could only procrastinate packing for so long.... Yes, tomorrow I leave for Roanoke for work. I will be there until Thursday, and I needed to assemble both casual and business attire. I was finally able to assemble outfits that got the "Jennifer seal of approval" (which I always trust), and now I am ready to rock and roll come morning!

I'm not sure if I'll be able to blog while I'm gone. If not, see you all Thursday or Friday!

Friday to Saturday

Well, yesterday at work I found out the my car's transmission is having issues :/ So, instead of driving myself to Roanoke for the Bar Exam this week, I will hitching a ride with one of my co-workers. Really, I don't mind that part at all! However, I am super afraid of what's going to happen while my car's in the shop during that time. Namely, the price tag of that repair scares me... But alas, we shall see. Anywho, I spent my evening cooking myself dinner, watching The Dark Knight, and falling asleep on the sofa before getting myself actually into my bed.

As for today, Kelly and I went to see a few of our friends in a production of Fiddler on the Roof :) Our friends did splendidly! They are such a talented bunch, it really is kind of amazing. That, and even dressed in 1905 tradition Jewish attire, they're still completely gorgeous and can totally pull it off. After our departure from the show, Kelly and I went to Bobalicious and treated ourselves to some Thai tea boba drinks :) YUMMM! It's been a while since I had boba, and to enjoy it with a friend as dear as Kelly just made it all better :)

My return home meant getting dinner for Jenn and I, watching Batman Begins (and later the Dark Knight, again), and working on a little something-something for a lovely someone!

I had to recruit Jenn to help me :)

Teehee :) I cannot elaborate in case she stumbles across from this, but I will later!

Goodnight my loves!

Thank you, madre!

Today, my mom really spoiled me.

First, I came home to hot dogs for dinner. I know to most that doesn't sound too great, but I came home yesterday craving them. So, since I wasn't having dinner with her last night, my mom made them tonight for me :) It may be a small gesture, but it made me feel loved.

After dinner, madre took me out shopping for business attire (namely blazers and pants). Well, in the short time we were at Goodwill, we found the equivalent of six suits for just $87! Not only did I get to spend some quality time with momma, but I am now officially ready to distribute the Bar Exam! I could not have done all of that without her! Her opinion and assistance was BEYOND appreciated!

Thirdly, my mom remembered the craft endeavors I wished to fulfill this summer, and she brought me home this:

Yes, I now have a window to turn into a large picture frame! YAY! It;s going to look great in my room this year :)

I may be 20, but my mom still loves to help me out :) I'm thankful for that (and SO much more), even if I don't express it enough.

Goodnight loves!

Hmm...

Let me start by saying that youth group was wonderful tonight :) I got to lead prayer time tonight, and aside from my voice embarrassingly cracking under nerves, I think I did alright. One of my girls came up to me and said, "Thank you for the prayer! I'm not used to seeing you so serious and spiritual like that! You're always goofing off!" Hey now! Hahaha. I do goof off a lot, it's true. But hey, any that weren't sure can officially verify that I can be serious too :) I just couldn't help but laugh at that. Also, Shane's talk was good! It was about being thankful for friends:

"Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. ² Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. ³ If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. ⁴ Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, ⁵ for each one should carry their own load. ⁶ Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor."
{Galatians 6:1-6}

"One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin,
    but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother."
{Proverbs 18:24}

So, considering that Joni, Nikki, and John were not there to run the show, I'd say we did pretty darn well! Huzzah! A group of us went to Don pedro's afterwards, and boy did it ever remind me of our El Chap's days! I miss those.... Tonight was quite fun though :) Talking, laughing, throwing around sarcasm; I love it! Yay for youth leader bonding :)

**Abrupt shift in mood!**

Now, on a wayyyy different note with a not-so-cheery tone.... I saw this article pop up on my news feed when I got home, and it was in response to this article from a site called Skinny Gossip. In regards to the first linked article, I thank the author for their response. The ridiculousness of the hate article needed to be addressed. As for the Skinny Gossip post itself.... Let me just say, I have not been so appalled in a very long time; and I pray to God that my youth group girls never have to lay their eyes on this slander. As if it isn't hard enough to love the way you are in our society, we have forums like Skinny Girl that tear women down if they don't fit the site's definition of "thin." It's outrageous. And all I could think about when I saw it was that these girls agreeing with the e-bashing need a dose of Jesus     a dose of Truth. God made each of us, calling us a beautiful creation. In His eyes we are beautiful, and we are to see each other as such. That is the Truth, and all girls should know that.

"Stop judging by mere appearances, and make a right judgment."
{John 7:24}

"So God created man in his own image,
    in the image of God he created him;
    male and female he created them."
{Genesis 1:27}

All beautiful you are, my darling;
    there is no flaw in you."
{Song of Solomon 4:7}


"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
    your works are wonderful,
    I know that full well."
{Psalm 139:14}

Honesty and black shoes.

Happy new shoes day to me! My TOMS came in...

...and Candice finally had a chance to take me out to find my birthday present :)

Yay for new shoes! I'm going to get plenty of use out of them, that's for sure.

In other news, let's look at the "Christian girl meme."

Now, I know it's funny, and the "modest is hottest" phrase has always been a bit cheesy in my opinion. However, I put this image on here because I think that phrase really does hold true for me (as it pertains to my own self-confidence). I feel significantly more attractive and confident if I am fully clothed and I know that everything that needs to be covered, is. I don't jump up and down at the opportunity to wear a bathing suite, and I'm becoming less and less of a fan of tight-fitting clothing. Put my in jeans and a nice v-neck t-shirt for the rest of my life, and I think I'd be okay; that, or a nice dress that is a length suitable for someone of my height and stature. My point is, I feel the best about myself when I am being modest. In that, I don't need to worry about the nooks and crannies and can instead just enjoy what I'm doing and focus on that. So thank you, Christian girl meme. I hope that there are guys out there that genuinely agree with Mr. Gosling up there. It sure would be a comfort, huh?!

Goodnight loves!

Nefarious.

Learn more about what you can do to help abolish Human Trafficking.

 (Source: Prevention Project)

(Photo cred: Heather via Instagram)

I am so glad that RVA was blessed with a screening of this film tonight. Hundreds came out, and so many were undoubtedly touched     a righteous fire being kindled inside of them. We are called to be abolitionists, to stand for the broken and defenseless. Jesus can and will save our enslaved brothers and sisters, but we must be His hands and feet! Therefore, go forth and raise awareness. Advocacy is key; it brings an end to the silence.

"Give justice to the poor and the orphan;
    uphold the rights of the oppressed and the destitute."
{Psalm 82:3}

Wedding weekend :)

Well, since my last post, here is what I've been up to:

Hannah came in Thursday evening, and her, Stephanie, Heather, and myself all got together for a sushi and sweet frog date :) Twas wonderful to be with three such lovely individuals for the evening! And I also love how fond my sorority sisters are of Heather and vise versa; that makes me exceptionally happy :)

Friday morning, before hitting the road, Hannah and I partook in Chick-fil-a's Cow Appreciation Day!

 First we got breakfast :)

Than we got free sweet tea!

We quickly changed out of our cow ensembles and got our hair and make-up in order before driving down to the Outer Banks. Why the trip to OBX? Well, my beautiful Big had her wedding :) Yes, as of July 13, 2012, my darling Big is Mrs. Wells :)

 Kari, Nicole, Hannah, and I :)

 It's official!

Big/Little photo!

It was a beautiful beach wedding, and it was fun having three of my other sisters there to experience it with :) We stayed in the reception house for the night, had breakfast together Saturday morning, and Hannah and I went to the beach for a bit before coming back to RVA. Since we were starving my that time, we enjoyed a hefty Red Robin dinner before watching Step Up and calling it a night!

This morning, Hannah and I had a Panera breakfast, after which she headed home and I drove to church. The youth choir led worship, and it definitely made my morning! Those kids (who really aren't kids at all) are some of my favorite people in the entire world. Their presence in our church and in my life is one of THE biggest blessings I have ever been graced with. Truly, their passion and charisma radiate!

Follow up church with a group lunch at Panera, a little bit of  social networking, dinner with padre and Jenn (who is home as of Friday evening!), and some baking at Kelly's, and you have my Sunday :) It was a lovely day indeed! I am going to bed a happy girl :) Goodnight all!