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.