Friday, December 14, 2007

I hate finals. They stress me out. I can't focus and they seem quiet pointless to me. Every semester I just want to get them over with and get home as fast as I can. It seems like everyone gets all stressed out and turn into walking zombies - which just makes me want to get out of here even faster. Plus we are being hit by snow storms - which makes me nervous about my flights home. But I know I just need to buckle down and get my work done. Lucky for me, I only have 2 more finals and 4 more days here in Boston until Jan. 17th!

Tomorrow/Today/Saturday I have, hopefully, an easy final. From 2-4PM, then a party celebrating at 10PM.

Sunday, I have to work from 4-6PM lifeguarding, hopefully writing my 4th credit, service learning paper on "How organizations, like the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, help assimilate international children to the American culture." Exciting I know. Then I was planning on going to my aunt's house to get a nice dinner, do some free laundry, and pick up the Christmas presents from her family for my family. But its supposed to snow all day - so I'm not sure if this will actually work out. I could always go Monday and just veg there while everyone is at work/school, or go and sleep over.

Monday is my roommates and I's OCD cleaning party. In which, our common room, kitchen, storage room, and bathroom will be cleaned for the break. And hopefully, I will be motivated to clean my actual room (and maybe start packing).

Tuesday is my study/packing day.

Wednesday, I have a final from 10AM-12PM. Then I'm leaving for the airport at 2PM to catch my 5PM flight home! AND I CAN NOT WAIT!

Sunday, December 02, 2007

Thoughts on purity.

Today our pastor at my school's church was ill so I went to Catholic Mass. While everyone else was reciting some memorized quote that I had no idea about what I was bowing my head in prayer and I noticed a line across my right hand ring finger and that is when I had my most recent epiphany.

Friday, I decided to take off my promise ring because the stone is really loose and I don't want to loose it so I'm saving it until I get home for Christmas and can get it reset. I usually don't make a big deal about my own choices. But it seems to be a recent topic these days. I was really surprised that there was still a mark 2 days later. Granted I've had it on that finger for over two years, I guess that make sense. Now there are a whole bunch of metaphors I can make about this like purity is permanent and always there until you loose it. Stuff like that. But there are two recent events that were insightful to me.

One, over Thanksgiving break I attended a sex toy party with one of my friends. Which I wasn't sure how I was going to react. It was very educational and I got a lot of good, tasteful present ideas for my friends that are getting married. On the other hand, it was really uncomfortable and sad being there, there was like 6 other girls there (I was clearly the youngest and the only virgin) only one women was married and all the girls where there looking for ways to spice up their sex lives. These girls were 22-26 years old. I thought it was really sad to be that young and that bored with sex. I'm working on a new life goal of finding more joy in my life and I guess this is one thing I'm really joyful about. That I'm not bored of sex yet (granted you actually have to have sex first to get bored of it - but you get my point).

Second event, this week. A girl that I go to school with, had sex with one guy on Thursday night and another different guy on Friday night. While I'm not going to judge this girl, we do share a lot of friends and have spent most of the weekend being the listener of all of our shared friends comments about her decisions. Another thing I am joyful for, that my decisions not to have sex doesn't lead to public discussions and insights.

That is all for now.

Monday, November 26, 2007

Update! I am going to Key West for Winter Break (Jan. 10-17th) with my friend from school Sam. We are going to live on a boat and swim with dolphins. And anything else we can plan.

My goal is to loose 2 pounds a week (or go to the gym everyday and eat healthy) until then.

I am also going to be working on being more joyful in my life and in God.

Accomplishments?
Things I want to do (if you are interested):
- Christmas Shopping - negative - but planned
- Get a holiday Mani/Pedi - pedi check and I LOVE the color
- Change license to say I'm not a minor anymore - neg.
- Get motorcycle license - neg.
- Hanging out with my kid brother - check
- Visiting him at UofO - check
- Wine Tasting - neg.
- Checking out the local micro-breweries - went to McMinamins (so not really)
- Checking out the "cool" clubs/bars - went to Dixie and Solo (well outside of Solo)
- Thanksgiving - check
- Watching Gilmore Girls - check - more than 1/2 way through the series
- Going to Lavish - neg.
- Before We All Leave Reunion Reunion party - check
- Hanging out with all you cool kiddies - check

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

I just wanted to let everyone know that I am going to be back in the PDX! Next Friday, Nov. 16th until Monday, Nov. 26th. If you guys want to hang out let me know!

Things I want to do (if you are interested):
- Christmas Shopping
- Get a holiday Mani/Pedi
- Change license to say I'm not a minor anymore
- Get motorcycle license
- Hanging out with my kid brother
- Visiting him at UofO
- Wine Tasting
- Checking out the local micro-breweries
- Checking out the "cool" clubs/bars
- Thanksgiving
- Watching Gilmore Girls
- Going to Lavish
- Before We All Leave Reunion Reunion party
- Hanging out with all you cool kiddies

Monday, October 29, 2007


Tired but good day.

Today I woke up earlier than I normally do on Monday mornings to have birthday breakfast with my college pastor and one of my friends. A great way to start off my day.

Now, I am exhausted. After the Red Sox World Series win and celebrating and getting up early I am tired. But booked until 10PM at the earliest, then I have to study for a midterm because I want to go to the parade tomorrow and Salem for Halloween (school is over rated anyways right?)
Side note. My mom sent me this quote yesterday from on of our favorite artists, Brian Andreas.

"I remember when the whales had wings, she said. Whatever happened? I said. It got to be too noisy with all the airplanes & other stuff, so they flew into the ocean & never came back. Some days, she added, I think about going too."

Additional side comment: My dad is an official US Expat as of today. Please pray for my family and this transition. Thank you!

Sunday, October 28, 2007


RED SOX = WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONS!

Saturday, October 27, 2007

So, I found out that I didn't get asked to the second round of interviews for Lincoln Financial. Which was kind of depressing, because it is an all expense paid trip to Philly for a weekend, and I have never been there so I thought that would be cool. No word about the EMC job, but I got asked to interviw at Citizen Bank and Osram Sylvania. So maybe something will come up.

On a more positive note, I got to see a really good friend who I haven't seen since May (minus pre-interview stuff with was like very formal). So that was good. Started talking about planning trips, going to try and go see Little Mermaid on Broadway sometime next semester and a possible Spring Break trip. Right now our ideas are Grand Canyon, Dominican Republic or Jamaica. Crazy huh? I don't think I get enough world travel in - do you?

Another weird note, I was cleaning my room today and talking on the phone with my mom and she was talking about how my dad was going to U of O to go to the baseball game (Ducks won!) and to say good-bye to my brother. For those of you who don't know - my dad is actually moving to China permanently on Monday. That was a crazy though. All of you know my parents don't exactly get along and there have been some issues, a lot of hurt, and a lot of broken promises. But it is crazy to think that when I go home for Thanksgiving that my dad isn't going to be there. Christmas last year was crazy enough with him living in an apartment down the street (Okay daddy, come over early so we can open presents like normal - normal - yeah right). The good news is that he is going to be home for like two weeks over Christmas. The original plan was I wasn't going to see him until May when I graduated from college. Anyways, its just weird to think he is actually leaving. I feel like its all a joke, like he is just going to leave like he always does for a couple of weeks and then come back in a couple of days, and be like "I made a bad choice, I want to be a part of this family."

Okay, more positive things. I'm watching the Red Sox destroy the Rockies. I think I'm going to go into Boston tomorrow and watch THE FINAL game (cause we are gonna destroy them again tomorrow and end the series). Hope there are no made crazy riots. My freshman year some girl from BU or BC died during World Series riots.

Tuesday, October 23, 2007

Caught up on sleep. I skipped two classes yesterday and three meetings. Eek! Today I have service learning, a midterm and am missing my night class to go to a preinterview dinner with Lincoln Financial (yeah free food!). Got my bag and found my laptop charger so that is going well. I need to change my flight to Boston after Winter break and need to post my pictures from my CA weekend. I have also been eyeing some jeans online at Gap.

Monday, October 22, 2007

Back on campus and trying to get my life in order. Oh man, crazy busy weekend sure does take a lot out of you. Once I get myself together, figure out my life, and get some more sleep I'll post pictures up on-line. I also have two interviews this week with Lincoln Financial and EMC. I also lost my charger for my laptop so I won't be on-line as much until I figure out what to do. Hopefully, it is in my bag (which didn't make it on my flight and hasn't made it to Bentley just yet).

Thursday, October 18, 2007

Just wanted to let everyone know I'm going to be in Cali until Monday! Here are the things I am going to be doing there:

* seeing my mommy
* going wine tasting
* going to a wedding
* trying to get a job a Nike
* doing a 1/2 marathon

Crazy busy weekend.

P.S. I have two interviews for two awesome jobs next week!

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

Peace Corp Update!

I had my official interview today and it went so well. I now have a formal recommendation/nomination from my recruiter. And have to choose between three programs by this Thursday! Crazy, huh? So if you have any input or questions that would be awesome! Thank you so much for your prayers, support, and love!

Wednesday, October 10, 2007

Brian Lorrits Second Session on Saturday Morning was about Fulfilling God's Purpose for Our Life and the reading was from Philippians 3:1-16. Lorrits talked about how we are not living up to the original intent of the designer and find out what is God's SPECIFIC purpose for my life. In Philippians 3:12 "lay hold" actually means "pursue/overtake" This means that God wants to lay a hold of our minds, bodies and souls in such a manner that He is constantly pursing us to overtake and consume us.

Lorrits gave us some practice knowledge on how to figure out what God's specific purpose in our life is. First of all, one needs to think of what is in our hands? What are we naturally drawn too. Lorrits gave the example of Moses, how he was a simple shepard, who had a staff and that staff later became the tool in which Moses convince the Pharaoh to let his people go - it became a snake and parted the Red Sea. Some pretty cool stuff. It was interesting because Lorrits talked about how not everyone needs to become a missionary or a pastor and that in a world like today corporations need good moral, Christian people to led by example.

Lorrits also gave three pointers on how to figure out what God's specific purpose in our lives is:

1. From verse 10 - we need to know Him and experience Him.
2. We must have a passion "I press on"
In ancient Greece, speakers would talk in sections of three:
1. logos - content
2. ethos - embody
3. pathos - passion
3. We must always reach forward. Too many Christians get caught up looking in their rear view mirror (caught up in good things or bad) that they can't move forward.

I really enjoyed the part about Moses, how that tied into finding out God's purpose and looking to what you are good at, especially since now I am currently looking for a job and trying to find out what God wants me to be doing with my life. I have a couple ideas but I'm not quite sure. I also liked the part about the rear view mirror, because I know I struggle with that constantly. But I do believe I am getting better about it - God has been testing me lately when it comes to that though - but I believe I am doing a ton better - even from this summer.
Here is some more information from my retreat in NH. Saturday morning we spent some alone time with God and were instructed to do the ACTS method (adoration, confession, thanksgiving, supplication) through Psalm 34. I have been struggling for a really long time to spend one-on-one time with God and half way through my journaling I looked back and what I wrote under confession, and there in my own handwriting was "I don't have enough faith in Him when it comes to my parents/family." That struck me hard. I never realized it - yet in hindsight it's really true. I have given it up to God constantly but more in a "I've had enough of this crap just take it and get it away from me." More of a way to protect myself rather than wanting God to fix it. Maybe I'm scare that God will let me down. But I really need to work on actually believing that He can make radical changes. I don't think my parents will get back together ever - I gave up on that years ago, even before our separation, but I do believe (or at least am trying too - see this is what I need to work on more) that God can make us a better functioning family. I think it will take years. But hopefully someday we can be a happy, Demi Moore, Bruce Willis, Aston Kutcher way (I know horrible example). Another thing that stuck out to me in Psalm 34, was verse 18: "The Lord is close to the broken hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." More to come from my retreat!
I JUST SET MY INTERVIEW DATE WITH THE PEACE CORP! TUE. OCT. 16TH @ 10AM! Any prayer would be great!

Tuesday, October 09, 2007

I have recently (aka yesterday) decided to do a Bible study with Psalm. I am trying to read three chapters a day and spend some time with God and work on our relationship. Two versus in Chapter 4 really spoke to me. Maybe because of this whole Nick/girlfriend thing. But here they are:

Psalm 4:1 "Answer me when I call to you, O my righteous God. Give me relief from my distress; be merciful to me and hear my prayer."

Psalm 4:8 "I will die down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety."
Nick has a new girlfriend. Why does this bother me so much? What is wrong with me? I thought I was over this. Hanging out in the refuge of God now. Anyone want to come visit me?

Monday, October 08, 2007

This weekend was Columbus Day weekend. Thus I have Monday and Tuesday off from school (well actually I have one night class tomorrow at 6:30PM). So what does a girl from Oregon, with car with this extended weekend? Grab another girl, from Hawaii with the same name and road trip it to Niagara Falls, Canada! Since neither of us have seen the falls we thought it would be a good opportunity. Plus, we got back Sunday night so we still have Mon/Tue to relax and catch up on homework. Here is a break down of our weekend:

Friday - Peaced out of campus around 10AM and drove for 8 hours (really 6ish hours - we stopped for gas, stopped for lunch - our first Big Boy hamburgers, got a speeding ticket - my first one, and stopped for bathroom breaks as well). Crossed the border, we got questioned because of our passports being from the West Coast and had to do some explaining - but no real problems. Once we checked into our mad sketchy hotel room. For $50/night (no heart shaped jacuzzi, although all the hotels around us had them), you get a rush stained bathtub, bugs, stuff hanging from the ceiling and dirty sheets. We went and checked out Clifton Hill (aka mini Las Vegas). We checked out the falls all light up at night and got Indian Food (Jenna N's first time).


Saturday - We got up early and headed to Marineland, where we got to see killer whales (my favorite animal), feed and pet beluga whales (my highlight of the trip), check out other cool animals, go on a couple of rides, including the Sky Screamer which launches you up 175 feet and then drops you. But you get an AMAZING view of the falls for like 7 seconds, where you are suspended up in the air with building fear of being dropped. I bailed out the first time, got all harnessed in and then asked to be unharnessed. But I made up for it and did it to more times. We got caught in a thunderstorm so was drenched but warm (82 degrees). After Marineland, we did the Maid of the Mist - which is a boat that takes you into the mist from Niagara Falls, it was pretty intense. I had "How Great is Our God" singing in my head the whole time. We headed back to our hotel room changed into clean clothes, grabbed some dinner, and then took a nap. We headed back to Clifton Hill to do the Sky Wheel (mini London Eye) which was beautiful and went gambling for the first time. We had no idea what we were doing and ended up loosing $5. Big spenda I know.

Sunday: We checked out of our hotel, crossed the border. The US side isn't nearly as nice as the Canadian side, "who's overpriced, Swedish car is this?" Is that really necessary for homeland security? I don't think so. (I have my parent's/brother's Volvo this year at college!) And went to church with a school friend who lives in Buffalo, NY. Then headed back to school.

All in all an amazing road trip!

Wednesday, October 03, 2007

Jenna is not supposed to be working in "Corporate America!" Today was our school's annual career fair. So there I am, the 5'2'' wonder (they tell girls not to wear heels over 2 inches tall - seriously I don't think anyone would notice if I did - which I didn't cause I can't walk in heels). With an very androgynous face like a 12 year old (even with makeup). With short, curly - Shirley Temple-esque hair - why does everyone in the business world have long, straight, brown hair? Walking around in a suit, running into everyone I know at my school, who at first walked passed me, since they don't recognize me at first, then turned around and went OMG Jenna! You're all dressed up! What do you expect? It's a career fair, they tell you exactly what to wear (which makes my life very easy since I'm fashionably special - I tried on all three of my suits for my roommates to finally get the right outfit). I felt like I was at prom again (where my friends saw me in a dress for like the first time). Not to mention they also tell girls not to wear a low cut shirt, but that really doesn't apply to me, even with my water bra on I don't have any cleavage. My only joy was knowing that I was wearing a thong under my amazingly professional suit that says "I party like a rockstar." This all happens before I actually start talking to potential employers.

So then I start looking for people to talk too. 140 companies, 2/3 are finance/accounting, that limits me down to about 45 companies, 20 of those are IT companies, so that gives me 25 companies in either marketing or management (two passions of mine). But who wants to hire a girl who wants to save the world? No one. But I did hand out a million copies of my resume to those 25 companies. Hopefully, someone will get back to me about corporate social responsibility.

Tuesday, October 02, 2007

I finally have some free time to update my blog about my AMAZING weekend at Lake Winnipesauske, NH with Real Life Boston's Fall Retreat. Not only did I get to wake board!!! But I got to hear an amazing speaker, Brian Loritts, who is the pastor at Fellowship Memphis. He really gave amazing insight to the character of God. This was the first retreat that I had been too where it was evangelical, instead it was for college students, who are actively involved on their campus in the greater Boston area, in leadership positions involving Christianity. Anyways, I'm going to try and post summaries of Brian's talks up here so people can reflect as well.

Session 1: Had to do with Romans 12:1: "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship." Brian talked about the word "therefore" which means you have to understand what has happened in the first 11 chapters of Romans to really understand this concept of offering your body as a living sacrifice. Which has to do with the view that faith leads to actions - not the other way around. Too many people get caught up in good deeds, it should be the other way around. Brian talked about in Genesis that first Abraham puts his faith in God (chapter 10), THEN/THEREFORE gets circumsized (chapter 17).

Another thing Brian talked about was the idea of having a "hands off" lifestyle. He gave a detailed description of how in the old days people gave sacrifices to God. They would pick their best/purest sheep. Then wash it. Then get it inspected by the priests. And finally present it to be offered to the Lord. It is isn't until after people take their hands off the animal can it be a pleasing sacrifice to the Lord. This still applies to us in the present day. God still cause us to offer up our body's no strings (or hands attached).

That was session one. I'll add more later, but now I need to run to the Boys and Girls Club in Watertown for service learning.

Thursday, September 27, 2007


So, thought I should do an update. Since my last post was such a bummer. Oddly enough. I am doing great. I'm sitting at work, getting paid to watch the season premier of Grey's Anatomy. I am really tempted to post what happens in the episode so everyone back home will know what will happen before it actually does. Yeah time zone changes. I am looking forward to my weekend getaway. I am going up the NH with some kids from my Bible study to spend some time in fellowship. Then when I get home on Sunday, I am going to see Wicked with my friend Wei.

Sunday, September 23, 2007

I love my friends. I love the fact that I can call people when I'm upset and know that someone will be there to give me a hug and let me cry on their shoulder. I love that I can go for a walk off campus and end up at my friend's apartment and be immediately be given a hug, handed a beer and be laughing in less than 5 minutes.

How did I end up this way? Well, today I got a phone call my ex-boyfriend Nick. Whom I dated for a very long time, and still love. After being told he received a text message from me yesterday he decided to call me. I haven't called him since after Houseboat camp in June and it is his 22nd birthday. This conversation turned bad and he attempted to tear me down, limb from limb. I can't wait to find out why God lets certain people in our lives. When I first met Nick, I thought God put me in my life to teach me that I can actually love people and I can love them back. Then I believed that God put him in my life because he was "the one". Now, I have no idea why God put him in my life at all. Maybe more reflection will come later.
Tonight was a very interesting night for two separate reasons. The first was I had a friend come over and we watched "Conversations with God", which was basically the story of how the author who wrote the books came to write the books. Very interesting. The one thing I loved about the movie was it totally showed these "God moments" which I totally love and believe in. And there was one moment where the author explains that our entire lives are conversations with God. Like how our life should be a constant prayer. Which I always thought would be very boring, and yet when you think about it. It really isn't. I guess it just confirmed my belief that I do actually hear the Voice of God, especially my senior year of high school and freshman year of college. Something I knew that some people accepted and I completely shocked others. Long side note I know. I actually started reading one of the books but never got into it because my boyfriend at the time bought it for me and wanted me to read it more in a controlling way then an experiencing type of way. After watching this movie we started talking about religion and it turned out my friend shared some very personal information.

The second reason for an interesting night was a series of conversations with friends back home about events that took place this weekend. Is it horrible that I really want to cut certain people out of my life? I feel like sometimes my friends don't act their age - or they make horrible choices and I really don't feel close to these people for awhile. I mean I love them to death and they will always be a huge part of my life. But for now, my life is going in one direction and I don't think these people are going in that same direction. I don't know why stuff back home bothers me so much. Maybe a bit more reflection will help. Ask me about that later.

Friday, September 21, 2007



So today, I saw "Across the Universe" the movie. Which was AMAZING! I would encourage everyone to go see it. I bought the soundtrack though - so don't buy that. But it was really good to get off campus and see a GREAT movie. Favorite movie this year (second was Hair Spray). I really wish I could sing. And I believe I should have been born in the 60's or 70's I believe my lifestyle would be more accepted then maybe. Or maybe I would fit in more with those types of kiddies. Anyways. That is all I have to say for now.

Thursday, September 20, 2007

I am officially starting a blog. I don't know how successful it will be. Being that when I was younger I would continually start diaries and prayer journals, only to discard them less than a month later. But I'm going to make an attempt. Since I know millions of people want to know what exactly Jenna is doing. Where she is going to be come May, when she graduates. Stuff like that.

Anyways, here are the play by play events for today. I woke up at 11AM, I actually set my alarm for 10AM, but I have a bit of a sinus issue so I thought an hour won't kill anybody. I had class at 12:45PM-2PM. Marketing research, I actually love this class. The professor is very real and exciting. We spent a majoring of the class period talking about lesbians and Subaru's. See - very interesting stuff. After class, I went to my aunt's house to drop some stuff off and regain possession of my old blue chair. Did I mention I now have a car at school. Which makes my life that much more fun and exciting. Planning lots of road trips. I'll keep you all updated. I can back to campus, to go to my 5PM class, but it was canceled due to my professor having the flu. ( I better not get that.) So I took a nap and now am setting at work. I'm a work study student (no taxes) working at a Supervisor (yeah pay raise) at the on-campus pub - the 1917 Tavern. Very fun. Tonight is a business co-fraternity is having an info. session and music. Should be good. Anyways, that is all for me.