New kitchen cabinets!

I got new kitchen cabinets this past weekend! Well, not entirely new. Enough to make me excited, though!


When I moved in 17 months ago, there was a broken ice maker in the kitchen. I finally had it pulled out and a cabinet installed in the spot a few months ago. This past weekend, the project was completed when I had vertical dividers installed in one cabinet so that I can store large things (cutting boards, cookie sheets, etc) easier.

And the items that were originally in the newly repurposed cabinet got moved down to the new cabinet! It's great!!

Weekend recap

This was another busy busy weekend.....drove to Abilene on Friday afternoon and met with a good friend from college who is now a financial planner. It's a great relationship because I trust him....and he'll do the things that I don't want to do! I do a pretty good job of managing the day-to-day, it's the long term planning and investment decisions that I don't enjoy doing. So, now I have someone to help guide me in that!



Saturday I got my hair cut again....friends here in the big city give me grief for going home to get my hair cut, but Estella has been cutting my hair for almost 20 years -- and it is really hard to give up that confidence (plus it's cheap!!).



Finally found a side table that will work next to my tall red chair....it's an antique oak plant stand that my parents found at a fun shop.




























Then went to a fancy dinner and was able to spend some sweet time visiting and catching up with my friends Mollie and Dava Lynn.




















Celebrated my birthday (two weeks early!) with my family at lunch on Sunday. Got two fun books from my parents and a handy thermometer for the kitchen that I was wanting from Heather & Phillip.

Now it is back to reality for a few more days.....then I'm off to a scrapbook retreat this weekend! Can't wait.

February Dinner Party

Last Saturday I had my February dinner party.....and it was a success again!

I never remember to take photos once the food gets on the table, but here is a photo of the table pre-dinner.





















The menu was as follows:
Kitchen Brisket
Disgustingly Rich Potatoes
Sweet Onion Casserole
Salad
Rolls
Upside Down Chocolate Pudding


The brisket recipe was a new one for me.....I figure, why not let my guests be guinea pigs? It turned out very well -- except that I shouldn't have left all the juices in the pan. I managed to spill a good bit on the floor on the way to the table. Thankfully, I didn't fall, though I did slip a bit.

Guests for this dinner were Farland and Julie (our children's minister and his wife) and Briggs and Paula....who showed up with this really fun new platter as a hostess gift! I love it and can't wait to find a reason to use it! Perhaps at my March dinner party.

10 Year College Reunion

I can't hardly even believe it.....this year is my 10 year college reunion.

For our 5 year reunion, I headed up our fundraising campaign and we raised a good amount of money for our alma mater. As is often the case with 5 year reunions, participation was lighter than we would have liked because everyone was just starting out in jobs, paying back loans, etc.

We have raised a good amount in the 5 years since our last reunion and are hoping to meet a pretty lofty goal for our 10 year campaign. Those of you that were in the class of 1998 -- we need you! Please start thinking and praying about how you can support the mission of ACU through your donation and be ready when you get a call asking for your pledge.

We are the first class reunion (we think) to create a blog dedicated to our class. For the next few months, this blog will be dedicated to our upcoming reunion at Homecoming in October. Then, who knows?

So, click on over to the Class of 1998 Blog -- sign up on the right to add your link, check back often for updates on plans for the reunion and results of the campaign and enjoy reconnecting with college friends!

Waiting.....

Some song lyrics have been running through my head off and on today.....

Everlasting God Chris Tomlin

Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord
We will wait upon the Lord
We will wait upon the Lord

Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord
We will wait upon the Lord
We will wait upon the Lord

Our God, You reign forever
Our hope, our Strong Deliverer

You are the everlasting God
The everlasting God
You do not faint
You won't grow weary
You're the defender of the weak
You comfort those in need
You lift us up on wings like eagles

Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord
We will wait upon the Lord
We will wait upon the Lord

Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord
We will wait upon the Lord
We will wait upon the Lord

Our God, You reign forever
Our hope, our Strong Deliverer

You are the everlasting God
The everlasting God
You do not faint
You won't grow weary
You're the defender of the weak
You comfort those in need
You lift us up on wings like eagles

Our God, You reign forever
Our hope, our Strong Deliverer

You are the everlasting God
The everlasting God
You do not faint
You won't grow weary
You're the defender of the weak
You comfort those in need
You lift us up on wings like eagles

If you know me at all....or have been reading my blog for a while....you can probably tell that I've been not quite myself for a while. I can't quite pinpoint when I turned that dark corner, but it feels as if I have been slipping away into another person for several months now. I'm taking steps to reclaim myself, but it will probably take a little while.

One really large component of this shift - and I know I've blogged about this before, but it is some kind of vicious cycle - is that at nearly 32 years of age my life is no where near where I thought it would be or wanted it to be. A couple of years ago, I was asked to speak at a ladies retreat at my church. The speech I gave is here. Reading back over that, I almost can't even believe that I wrote it. I wouldn't write the same speech today. I just feel that I've lost a bit of that hope and calm assurance.

I don't want to lose hope. But, it feels like these demons of loneliness, fear, temptation, despair, unworthiness, anger, spite, bitterness, regret and so many others just have their talons sunk deep into my heart and soul right now. Sometimes I do wonder - and it seems almost heretical to say - "God, are you really there? Do you really love me? Are you really leading my life and working out Your plan?"

I've never been patient. I want what I want....and I want it now! Lately, this waiting game is getting harder and harder. A large part is because I just can't see where God is leading me .... and so, I begin to question if He is actually leading. I play the comparison game - though I know I shouldn't. Looking at people who are my age (or younger) who are married, with kids, etc....wondering why I am still bearing this burden and struggling under this enormous weight.

I've had a few meltdowns lately -- seems they are coming more and more often. I think, though, in a strange way, that it is good for me. A little bit of humility with my friends and church family - chipping away a bit at the prideful me that goes to church with my "everything is fine" happy face on so much of the time. A reminder that there are folks there that love me -- for me who I am right now. Not the me that is perfect or that is doing something for them, but just plain Jenni, scars, warts and all. It is also a reminder to me that these people love me because they love God. And they are trying hard as they can to show me His love. I just need to work on receiving it more graciously as I wait on God to reveal more of His plan for my life.

I continue to pray for that strength that will come.....