What was the best costume you've seen this year??

Mars Hill

Yesterday I had the chance to do something that I've wanted to do for quite some time now-- visit Mars Hill church in Grand Rapids, MI. Rob Bell is the teaching pastor there and someone who has had a great impact on my Christian journey. He is one who makes me think... makes me "grapple" with life and it's mysteries. I maybe don't agree with everything he says all the time, and honestly i don't have anyone I agree with all the time except for Jesus-- but Rob seems to have a way to change my perspectives on things and look at them in a new/fresh way.

I just finished reading his new book Velvet Elvis and it was a pretty interesting read. I found it left me questioning (which I think was one of the main points of the book anyway) and wanting to dig more into exactly what I believe and why... and just who is this God I serve anyway? I seem to have just barely scratched the surface of who my God is, and i yearn to know more. Often I get so apathetic sometimes and it scares me, but this book seemed to give me another kick in the butt to keep searching out God. I was really pumped the other week because after a sunday night session of neveaH (the local 20-somethings group I go to on Sunday evenings) we started having a really good dialog about the book and seriously, it pumped me up. I can't tell you how much I love to talk about those things... debate in an open environment-- where I might not always agree with everything said, but at least people are comfortable and have the freedom to share. I feel so often lately like I "can't" say anything because I am always shut down right away or people think I'm intolerant because I disagree. Ok people, maybe I disagree, but please-- may i speak? Can you listen to my side-- and maybe disagree yourself-- but listen non-the-less? I love putting ideas out on the table... just to mull about-- grapple with. I LOVE ideas... I love hearing what others have to say about an issue... I love using this mind that God has given me! Why though, do we as Christians seem to be AFRAID of ideas? Afraid of thinking? hmmmmm... that question just frustrates me sometime.

*end rant*

So anyway.. where was i? Oh yeah.. Mars Hill. Sweet body of believers. The church itself is actually in an old mall.. and you know what? It STILL looks exactly like a mall on the outside. That was cool to me, because it really struck home how the Church (big "C") isn't about a building... it's about the body of Christ within that building. Their gathering area is "decorated" warehouse basic. The seats are arranged in "the round" with the teacher standing on a stage in the center of the room, constantly walking, turning and moving about to face the people seated at each of the 360°. Talk about a lot of exercise!
I think my favorite part of the service, well besides seeing Rob Bell in person (btw, he is A LOT taller in person than he looks to be on his Nooma videos!) was the fact that they brought in the local high school drum-line to assist in the worship. It was CRAZY cool! And they were soo amazingly good! It was a totally different style of worship but I thourougly enjoyed every minute of it... I hope that is what heaven is like someday... a little bit of everything.. sounding oh so amazing together-- praising our Lord...
Anyway.. and amazing evening... if you are ever around the Grand Rapids area check it out! And check out the Nooma videos.

Last but not least... never stop asking questions... and exploring along the way in this journey we call Life.

Concert Extravaganza

So... over the last few months I have had the chance to go to two "hip" concerts with my brother. Yeah, even though he is in college now, we still have some pretty fun adventures. Last month we went to Olivet University in Illinois. This concert was so ghetto it was sweet. Seriously. Hip-hop and Rap in a pretty ridged Christian college setting always crack me up. Especially when they try to go cool and are flashing on and off the lights... on their LOGO!! haha. The bro and I had a good laugh. It was just a crazy concert over all-- but definitely more fun than I barganed for. And a sweet deal-- $10 get's you in and both of the artists CDs. oh.. I forgot to mention-- artists were 4th Avenue Jones and John Reuben. Yeah.. like I said ... ghetto. To make this concert even more fun was the fact that my brother was leaving for college-- the NEXT day! haha.. yeah... when you are young you do "stupid" things. (well worth it)

The other concert we went to was DJ Maj. Once again this was a small concert at a church in Ft. Wayne, IN. Talk about SWEET youth program! The bro and I even got to play a good game of our favorite Dance Dance Revolution before the concert. um yeah... I need to WORK OUT! *sorry.. rant there* Can I just tell you how wonderful that game is? And a good work out to boot! if you haven't tried it DO IT NOW! :) Anyway, the concert was great. I really like DJ Maj's new CD-- "Boogieroot" let me tell you--it makes this hippie/artsy-chick feel like I should be driving in a car with huge chrome rims and a spoiler. Yeah... it's just that good.. well, I guess if you like that sort of thing. He just has a really good beat and a great message too. I think this is the kind of stuff more teens should get into-- because it DOES have that good beat and clean lyrics. My favorite part.

It's been fun. It makes me happy when I can hang out with my siblings. I can't wait to see what other adventures await us in the months ahead!

4th Avenue Jones & John Reuben Concert
Meet the Jones'. The 4th Avenue Jones that is ;-) This pic shows the logo I mentioned above (the one that they felt they needed to obsessively flash lights on)
I didn't know Napoleon Dynomite knew how to play the base for John Reuben!?Two hot studs. *wink* Ok.. so I have to point out that John Reuben's shirt says "Black to the Future." That just totally cracked me up... because this boy is soooo white.. but it so fits him.
The whole Jones Crew.
Awe... I just love babies... especially ones with "fro"-hawks

DJ Maj Concert
This is the stage where DJ Maj rocked the house. It was at a Missionary church. Let me just tell you this was one cool youth group set up. Before the concert we got our groove on with a little Dance Dance Revolution. yeah.. it was that sweet.
Gettin the mix on.
DJ Maj and crew. They were so down to earth. Actually, this shot might show up on DJ Maj website... I guess we will just have to wait and see.

Orange Colored Frustration

so. i have a confession to make. the last few days i have been having some really hateful feelings. becoming angry and impatient. thinking distructive thoughts. sinful thoughts.

about.

orange trucks.

yes, it's true. they make me want to drive off the bridge that is on my way to work. seriously. i don't think they know there is a speed limit, and if they do know, they like to drive 15 under-- even if they have a huge line of cars behind them. the crazy thing is there is not just one of them-NOOOOO-- there are like 7. no joke. and to make matters worse- i swear they know my work schedule. they are there when i go to work, and then again when i leave work. just when you think it is "safe" watchout. they are there. waiting to pounce.

hmm. i think God is teaching me a thing or two about patience.

i just hope i learn my lesson soon.
really soon.
a girl can only take so much.
;-)

Widgets

May I please tell you one reason(among many) I love Macs? Widgets. What are widgets you ask? Well.. they are small applications that sit in their own translucent layer on screen. Fun applications like a mini Google Maps, a colorful calculator, a Translator and even a Hula Girl! A new one that I just downloaded today will take anything you type in and "translate" it into Yoda-talk. Talk about SWEET! I even found one that will look up what the cheapest local gas price is at the moment... um, well.. THAT price doesn't look cheap to me-- I think this thing is broken! lol -*tear*

I guess I'm all excited about this because I just got upgraded to the new OS X-- Tiger this week and just think it is so nifty. I wish I could afford one of these babies at home-- especially with all the problems i have been having with my PC as of late (yeah, I would call having to reformat at least 7 times a PROBLEM!) I guess I will just have to save up my pennies and put this on the list of stuff I would one day like to own-- along with a Digital Rebel Camera... and a new VW Bug to replace the flower-power Honda :) Hey... sometimes you just gotta dream high.

Somethings you just will never understand

So... I'm reading this interesting book right now that a lot of the ladies in my church have been reading. Well... mostly married woman.. but I figured I could always use a head-start on the game. haha. The book is called "For Women Only" and is basically a tiny pin-hold glimpse into the mind of a guy. Very interesting... confusing... exasperating... because honestly sometimes I just DON'T get the male psyche! But the thing I've come to realize is that... I don't HAVE to get it. Gals will never truly understand guys and vice versa. And honestly, that fact is kinda nice. AND kinda relieving.
*sigh*

So... feedback time. What is one thing you wish you really did understand about the opposite sex? (I only said one... because like I said... it's impossible to get it all) ;-) ok.. discuss! (please?)

Bosom Buddies

Did a cancer walk today with gals (and one guy) from work. It was really fun.. really early in the morning....and REALLY cold. I think we had the cutest shirts there. Yeah.. we were team "Bosom Buddy" and one of the gals made us shirts. We walked 3.5 miles. Man.. all I can say after that is that I am in BAD shape :-p

Me... and some co-workers. Yeah.. I look cheezy as always-- even when I'm cold and only half awake.

A little Bite of Happiness

Happiness.
A temporary state of being.
Caused by many a thing-- all green lights on the way to work, a childs laughter, finding five bucks in your pocket, spending time with a friend... the list could go on and on... and would be different for everyone.
My happiness today was found in a little box that arrived in the mail.
Can I just tell you how happy homestarrunner.com makes me? And now I have all the little "toys" to make me smile daily. O the joys.

Oh.. while I'm at it.. here is a little "virtual tour" of my cubie... yeah.. this is where I spend 40+ hours of my life a week. Gotta say it is one of the most colorful cubes on the block and I am proud of it!

EHM Alert!

WOOHOO! So the episode I got to see taped in Colorado is going to be on this week. Who know's if I will actually be able to see myelf in it (crowd shots are usually really brief and super quick) but it will be awesome to actually see the INSIDE of the house we saw unvailed. It's crazy to think that I was actually THERE... and now I am here. Sometimes two worlds collide and it is a SWEET thing.

Details
What: ABC's Extreme Makeover Home Edition
When: THIS Sunday! (October 2nd!)
Where: your TV
Time: 8/7 pm.. depending on what timezone you are in... yeah...
Why: Because... I was there... and you MIGHT just see me (during the rodeo I am wearing a pink/red striped shirt and a red bandana-- and we are sitting to the right of the designers in the stands-- that is, if the camera is facing them) If you need a reminder, or just haven't see the pics from the rodeo go here.

It's gonna be fun folks!

The crazy Ty Pennington

Bone Thugs

So.... big sister/little sister outing today. Definitely an adventure to say the least! Went to Studio B (local Christian radio station around here also does some tv stuff... most of which i'm sad to say is a lot of that extremely cheezy spread that gives you a bad taste in your mouth and makes Christians look fake... but they have a half hour "concert" spot each week that features some artist-sometimes local, other times big name) Anyway, this time they featured T-Bone. I'm not usually into all that Rap stuff, but let me tell you, this guy is GOOD.... and really reaching into the darkness where few brave people dare to tread. I guess you could say that he is a "roaring lamb". He's coming out with a new album at the end of this month called Bone-A-Fide. If you know anyone that is into Rap... but not the clean stuff... this would be an excellent album to slip into their cd player--without telling them-- and just see if they can tell the difference ;-) I think i'm already planning to do that myself with a few people. wahahaha! Have a great week people.

The Studio B girls ;-)

Yeah, you've GOTTA love the medallion. And that shirt... it's the cover of his new upcoming album. How ghetto is that?!
Yeah... my lil sis is cool.

TGIF!

Ok, so I think my car is AWESOME... but here are some close "runner ups"
YEah.. it's a friday.. you need a little fun.

• Bubble gum car
• What color do you put down on your registration for THIS baby?
  

Blueberry Stomp

So.. my mom has been gone on an Europe extravaganza the past two weeks... she comes home this sunday. Dad, my lil' sis and I have been "roughin" it, and doing it quite well I'd like to say. Anyway. We went to the local festival today. Its called the "Blueberry" festival. Lil sis got her roasted almonds, dad got his mop(long story there, but it was funny, he was just sooo excited about this mop)... and me... I got a sweet new purse from the "hippie" booth. Well, it's more like an indian booth, but it looks really hippie-ish to me! I LOVE it! Anywho... just mostly wanted to show you this great pic. Hope you all had a wonderful labor day!

Off into the wild blue yonder

Today my brother left for the big wide world of college. I miss him already... but am really excited for the adventure he is about to embark on. We had an awesome week gearing up to send him off... last night we were even "wrekless" and went to a concert two hours away in Illinois!! LOL! It was great! We also said goodbye to his dear phantom mullet... so alas it is no more.... (maybe I will post pictures of the great cutoff later!) Anyway. It's kinda a bittersweet day... I love that kid dearly... and am SO glad he got a cell phone. *grin*

Another hard days work..... ;-)

So... working at a tire place DOES have it's advantages! Yokohama had a special promo and brought in some off road race driver... I probably SHOULD know who he is, but I don't... uh... I was just thrilled at the chance to ride in his car... during a workday... it was like a Cedar Point ride... and I LOVE Cedar Point!! :-D So yeah... just another hard days work... This grown up thing DOES have it's advantages sometimes.................

A twinge of a smile

Never fear my fine friends... I am doing much better. Survived through the stress of this week and after banging it around with God the other night I have a much better outlook on life. Life is so much more than just what HAPPENS to YOU. Sometimes I just get so me focused I forget about everything else... I guess we all are that way sometimes, but often it irks me.... just because I know that I am a broken person and can't do anything about it on my own strength... again.. maybe that is narcissistic in itself. Woah.. getting way to philosophical for a friday so I'm gonna quit, but just so you all know... I will survive. :-D God's grace is so amazing. Going to see my dear college roommate this weekend.... good times ahead. Have a great weekend!

Oh.. great pics to post later.. so check back!

The picture speaks for itself...

Yeah... I've been a little stressed out this week. Over a lot of stupid stuff I will admit, but I still don't like it. I feel like I'm a mouse running and running on a wheel and I'm just about ready to jump out- geronimo! I seriously despise this rat race that I feel I'm running.... and you know what the hardest part of it is right now? The lame fact that I don't have anyone here really to lament to. :-( My brother leaves for school soon, my high-school gal is gone back to school, my college roommate is busy with her life(can I just say that she has got to be one of the BEST darn teachers in Indiana!), other friends have moved or gone back to school as well..... I just feel pathetic sometime... but I still haven't found out how to balance this CRAZY life out of school... and it's been over a YEAR! what is my deal?! hmmmmmmmmm. I just need a nap. At least a dear friend is coming back into the area for the school year. I can't wait to chill... and just BE me around another soul. I miss that desperately.

In other random news. I had a dream last night that I went back to the Insitute for another semester, but it wasn't really the institute...or it was in a different location. Lots of the same people... like my dear mt. climbing buddy. It was just weird. I was like-- uh, why am I here again? Yeah... it was interesting. Gotta love dreams. They like to mess with your mind.

Ok... back to the rat race... at least for awhile.

TrueU.org--CHECK IT OUT!!

So.. it's finally here...Drum-roll please!


*shameless plug*

If you are in college... or just have lots of questions about what is truth, or how do you even survive in this world.. or just want to read some really awesome articles about life check this site out. I helped test it this summer, and it's pretty sweet. The people that work on the site are also pretty sweet (I know many of them personally).

.... quesitons are good. (click on above pic to go to the site!)

A stitch in time...

The boy is LEAVING ME!!! waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah! ok.. there.. enough of that. Really, I SHOULD be excited because this means I might actually get to use the computer when I'm at home-- unless the "youngin" takes over. hmmm. This might require some serious strategizing.
Anyway, where was I??! Oh, yes.. so.. my one and only brother is leaving for school in a few weeks. Actually, tomorrow my sister goes back herself, but that is normal considering she has been in school a few years now. She has to leave early because she is going to be an RA. Quite a good one at that I'm sure! (you go girl!) But, I decided that for my brothers graduation present I was going to make him a Tshrit quilt. Now, have I ever sewn a quilt before? uh-no. Do I even really like to sew- uh.. sometimes. Iron all those sqares?-- are you kidding me?! So... thus begins another adventure of a Jen... trying to be "domesticated" for once. THIS should be interesting....

Jolly Green Giant?

Can I tell you a secret? I really like mowing the grass. Like, really. The hum of the mower... the swaying of the breeze throught the trees... the dizziness you get as you mow around those trees... the smell of freshly cut grass... the hour or so that you just get to mindlessly do something and rest your brain for awhile if you please, or think through stuff or pray... the exercise you get--err, or don't get if you are doing the riding mower-- and if that is the case, the fun you have riding that thing around like a go-cart gone wild. Ah, one of the joys of summer.

Artist Alley Extravaganza

This weekend I had the amazing experience of working at Wizard World's Chicago comic convention. Let me tell you... it was just plain cool. In order to get in for free (yes, I think that is my favorite word) I had to work for 4-5 hours in the morning, but I got to wear an "attractive" orange volunteer shirt (yes, I looked like I just got out of prison), and I also got to manage an autograph line for Michael Turner (um, for those of you who don't know who he is, don't worry... I didn't either! haha. But for your information, he is an illustrator or whatever they call it for comics like Superman, Supergirl, Tomb Raider, Fathom and others) It wasn't half bad.
After I put my time in, I broke free and just wandered around to my hearts content. Made a few stops at the big names-- Marvel, DC and some of the other biggies in the comic industry... then I headed off to the merchandise section (lots of vintage comics and figurines found here) and then the majority of the rest of my day was spent lingering in the "Artist Alley." This totally is my favorite part of the whole convention. People wonder why I'M I like working these things, and besides the kick I get out of seeing all the costumes, this would be it. You see, artist alley is all about the "starving" artists trying to make it into the "big time." You can find everything... from people drawing stick figures, to some REALLY amazing artwork. People are selling and creating right there at your fingertips. I even found some guys trying to sell a comic book about a roll of toilet paper! lol. Yeah.. you get the best of the bunch here. Anyway. It was one fab time. Can't wait to do it again next year. And hopefully I can get someone to go with me.. you know, share the fun time-- AND the parking cost! haha. :-) Steph's already made a bid. woohoo! ok.. now what I know you've all been waiting for... pictures of the fun!

A view of the convention
Drawing is fun--especially if you are a pirate!

No, I WON'T give you my plushie! ARG!
Ok, so I'm not this huge Pokemon freak or anything, but this is the ONLY pic I have of me from the con. What?! It's hard to take pics of yourself if you are just BY yourself! haha. Yeah.. check out that fanny pack. It's hot, I know. ;-)

These guys think they are manly, or something. And awe...Super-girls... yeah, I just love girls that can kick some butt.

Ok, I'm not sure why Vash is here, but I still thought the guy had a great smile. As for the other guy, I guess he was "comic boy", um, yeah.

There were a TON of Star Wars characters randomly running around. It was happiness.

Ok, so you always gotta love a guy in a mask (I'm referring to the hot guy in the blue) woohoo! And watch out for those storm troopers. They can be meanies!

If you want a better view of the smaller above pics, just click to enlarge.