A Journey.

For anyone that has ever chosen a college, you know it's not the easiest decision. 

For me, it's been such an up and down thing. A long time, I just pushed it away thinking oh I'll get to it. Sooner or later I didn't know where to go. One day I remembered that my dad had picked up a packet of college info from Baptist Bible College. When he gave it to me, I ended up just stuffing it away thinking "Oh I won't need that. I'm not gonna go there." For awhile I had my mind set on other colleges. But when I picked up that brochure again, I started looking into it, and it seemed like a pretty cool college. I started talking to my parents about it more, and decided hey we should make a trip out there. So, we ended up driving there a few months later to Pennsylvania. 

If any of you don't know, I grew up in Pennsylvania. That's another reason why I felt God leading me to this college. "Yeah He's leading me back to my home state!" When we got there, it felt so right. The campus was beautiful, the people were so friendly, and the best part...Rita's was just a few minutes away.. :) Well, we were there for a couple days checking it out, and I loved it. After the visit my parents would ask me, "So Jess, what do you think?" I would tell them I need more time to decide. I didn't think it would be the best idea to go ahead and just decide without really thinking and praying about it. 

A few times my mom had mentioned that she wasn't totally sold on it. She didn't know if it was the right college for me. I just thought ok whatever that's just your thinking. I mean I am the youngest so that makes it a little difficult:) Anywho, she and my brother kept mentioning Liberty University. I thought, oh that's too big for me and stuff like that. As I started praying more and things come up I felt "Ok maybe God is really having them feel this way for a reason." After praying about it for awhile and asking God for a sign, I finally decided to go for it. Maybe this is God's way of showing me that I need to go here. I ended up applying and wondering where God would take me.

So I waited for awhile to get answers back about being accepted or not. I kept praying and praying wondering if this is really what I'm supposed to be doing. But the weird thing is, I had a big peace about it. I was getting excited thinking about going there. So, they finally contacted me and I was able to make an account and start working on paperwork. 

As I'm working on LU stuff, I wonder,"Why did God allow us to go through all this stuff and lead us out to the college with high hopes thinking it was the college for me, just to end up not even going?" I know He had some reason for it. Maybe it was to open my eyes up to something different. My mom thinks it was for my Jr./Sr. dress(long story). Whatever it was, I'm happy that He led me where I'm at now. 

Then the email came.....CONGRATULATIONS JESSICA!! I literally screamed when I read it. I was super duper excited. I couldn't believe that God had answered my prayers! So, after that I thought ok I just need to get some paperwork done for them and I'm all set. 

NOPE.

I did paperwork, yes, but not as easy as I thought. I would send something in then get an email saying I had something else to do too. Oh man. When will this end?? I kept being patient, and I finally got all my stuff sent in. So, now was the hard part. I had to wait.

And wait...

And wait........

And wait.............

Finally, everything went through. I was overjoyed[again]!! I got all checked in, and finished registering for my classes. Now another trial: paying for it. UGH! I literally hate money. I know God will provide I have to keep that in mind. It gets discouraging when you don't have a job, and have no idea how you're going to pay for college. Everyone keeps telling me it will work out it always does. I have to keep that in mind. At youth group, we talked about leaving everything to God and having Him take care of it because we literally can't do anything on our own. We need God, PERIOD. One thing I've learned is that God is really testing my patience and how I will learn to trust Him completely and not worry about it. Let me tell ya, it's not always easy. But in the end I know God's plan will unfold and I'll see why He allowed me/us to go through all this.

In the end, I'm so excited to be attending Liberty University in the Fall. I know God has great plans for me there, and I can't wait to see what they are.

Happiness In A Little Package.

My mom has the privilege of taking care of a little 3 1/2 year old girl. She is the sweetest thing. Ya, she's 3 so of course she's gonna have her 'moments'. 

It was a rainy day, so we were stuck inside pretty much most of the day. I had gotten a paint set from my best friend a few years ago, and I knew I wanted to save it for the perfect day. Like today. Well, I brought it out and painted my first painting. (wow that sounds really dumb :P) As I'm painting of course Carra wants to too. So here we are on our kitchen table, painting together. It was quite fun.

Once we got done we decided to have some "tea". aka.water. I got out the camera and she asks,

"Jess what are you taking a picture of?"

So, we ended up taking some pretty quirky pictures together. All of them her idea of course:)

She is just so much fun to be with. I would get home from school, and she'd always run saying my name and giving me a big hug..and sometimes a kiss:)  Whenever you may have a bad day or whatever, she is always the one to go to to cheer you up. It may sound corny, but it's true. She would always cheer me up. 

That's the reason behind the title of this blog. Because it says it all. The best things in life really do come in small packages, and they make you very happy. Kids are the best example of that. They are always so full of joy, and it's so much fun being around them because you're able to be and act like a little kid again and it doesn't matter. You can be as silly and crazy as you want, and no one will judge you.

So, step back and really enjoy the precious little miracles from God.                             

Week of Encouragement.

    Do you ever have those times where you feel so discouraged? Like nothing is going right? Well I've felt like that a few times lately. 

   You see I'm going away to college in the fall. And well everyone knows that in order to go to college you kind of need money. I've been praying and praying lately for God to provide me a job, but still nothing. Yes it gets very discouraging, but I know God has something planned. I just have to wait. That's the hard part. I've applied at who knows how many places, but still nothing. 

   Ok, I don't want this whole post to sound depressing almost. Yes, it's been hard, but good encouragement came out of this week. For starters, on Monday I was having a really tough day about the whole job and money situation. So, I ended up going with my mom to Milwaukee to get some things done, and we decided to shop around some while we were down there. It was so nice to be able to just get my mind off of the whole thing. Because as pretty much anyone who has ever tried applying for places the first time, it's tough. Well, we shopped then decided to go to this AMAZING burger and frozen custard place called KOPP'S. oh my goodness. SOOO good. Well, as we're out I get a text from my best friend saying he got a surprise waiting for me at home. I'm like okay cool! So, I get home (not knowing what to expect) and I find half a dozen of red roses sitting on my dresser. It was so sweet.It TOTALLY made my day!!:) He just always knows how to brighten up my day:)

here's the flowers and our jr.year fall formal picture together:)

   Tuesday was another nice relaxing day. You know those rainy days that you just wanna stay on the couch and watch movies all day??? Well, ya I didn't do that haha:) It was a rainy kind of day though. My sister, mom, and I went out and did some shopping so it's always fun being able to do that together. Especially since my sister, Jamie, left for China in a couple days. We went to Plato's Closet, aka amazing store!! If you have never been there, I encourage you to go. It's mainly for teens and young adults, but you get nice name brand stuff for like half the price. So nice!! ANYWAYS, it's always good being able to hang out together just us girls. And you know when you get that 'I-wanna-bake-like-everything-I-see-on-Pinterest' times? Ya well I've had those lately. So I made this really good lemon loaf. Scrumptious:)

Wednesday, eh not too much going on. Oh, besides the fact that my family and I spent who knows how many hours inside the car driving to Ohio. Ya it's only about a 6-7 hr drive....it felt like 12!! Not even kidding! So, we spent the night at a hotel in Columbus, and was able to swim and work out. So relaxing! Also, another thing to get my mind off of that terrible 'M' word...[money}...

  Thursday,we had to drop off Jamie at the airport for China. She'll be there for a month. Sad day! But she's where God wants her to be so I can never argue with that. The rest of the day I got to spend with my parents exploring downtown Columbus. Well sorta downtown...more like Germantown, OH. :) It was so cool though with the cobblestone roads. Ate at the famous Shmitz...or somethin like that...which is a German restaurant out there. Of course we had to do the usual: drive around forever trying to find a Caribou. Ya, GPS's are nice...when they tell u the right place to go. 

   Friday and Saturday were so much fun. I got to help out with my best friend and his family's yard sale. I also got to make friends with a little baby boy. So cute:) Saturday was a little discouraging. Went to go see a lady about a perfect job opportunity. Well it ended up being a bust. But God does have something planned, so I have to keep reminding myself that. Went out to dinner with his family to Asian Buffet. WOW! Another 'must' place to eat. Their food is super duper delicious.

   All that to say, God has a special plan for each one of us. It may be hard to see it, but He knows. Yes, He brings little trials and ups and downs in our life for a reason. Then you surround yourself with people that will just encourage you along the way. Yes, not being able to have a job yet has been real difficult. Very discouraging where I've cried over it wondering how come nothing has come up. I gotta just reminding myself and praying to God knowing that He will work everything out. I don't need to worry about a thing. We all have to do that. Lately, I've been finding myself  a lot just sitting somewhere and just praying to Him. I may be just walking my dog and the whole time I'm just talking with God asking Him for guidance in my life. He is an all-knowing God that works everything out for His good and glory. No matter what make sure to bring your requests to God first. Ya sure you can go on google or somethin for answers. But you won't get the best answers that you need to live day by day. He is the one that gives you the best and most important encouragement and love. Learning more and more each day to bring everything to Him and leave it all in His hands. 

   So, surround yourself with people who will love and encourage you and bring you closer to God. Yes, at the present moment things may look real tough. But they will get better.