Hmmm...

WOW...I was reading and commenting on friends and family blogs this morning and decided that MAYBE just maybe I may be able to tackle this technology for myself! I struggle to journal on a regular basis, and I think that this will only encourage that, as I seek to draw from my life moments worth sharing and reflecting on (excuse my ending a sentence with a preposition). I don't have the time often to update all of you on the phone individually about what might be going on with me so even if only three people read this I will consider it efficient. It will definitely make telling stories a lot easier with less background information necessary.

The title of my blog...I didn't want to think about it for too long for fear of being forced...but stopped on something simple. I feel like getting on here and writing, however often that is, I should always have something to rejoice about. So often I only talk/complain/seek advice about the things in my life that I don't rejoice about, but even in those times of hardship I know that I am called to rejoice because God is strengthening me and developing my Spirit the most then. So, I rejoice...because I have so many things to be thankful for and even the rough stuff will change me for the better.

I think I have been pretty interested in starting something like this for quite a while, but as my graduation from college fast approaches I realize that it will be a pretty neat way to remember this time in my life and the excitement that is to come. I am in the job search now and am finding really called to the South. This could be a little bit selfish, but I honestly believe that the Lord gives us the desires of our heart...this being something I have desired since high school. I am at my best in the warm sun of NC or SC and I want to make that home for a while.

In conjunction with the job search, I am VERY BUSY with school. I am in the midst of writing a rough draft for my senior thesis as a capstone for my English major here at Xavier. This thesis was a topic of our choosing within the confines of "narrative" and I am writing about how narrative theory can be applied adolescent literature, rather than it being deemed too simplistic or optimistic. Anyway, not thrilling, but something that interests me enough to write 12-15 pages. I only have three classes to manage right now so i should not be complaining. I am really enjoying my other two: Shakespeare and Community Building and Urban Change.

I am currently looking for jobs in the non-profit sector. Going South. Going non-profit. Going urban. But keeping my options open. I am excited about the possibility of running an after school program or working with a community organization where I can work directly with people in order to empower them by using their assets rather than deficiencies. So often when people become recipients of services in the non-profit sector, they become dependent on white coats, rather than weaned off of what they provide. I want to change this on an individual level for people. Because I am so relational this is not a big picture thing for me, but a person by person focus. I am currently in the interview process for an organization called Citizen Schools. I have applied for their two-year teaching fellowship. Check it out if you please.

Besides school and job searching I am working at an after-school program funded on a grant through the YMCA in the Cincinnati Public School system. A very urban program and I love my job. i.e. i may want to do it when i graduate. And I am still leading Young Life. This has looked different for me because I am on my way out in the traditional leader sense. I am focusing my ministry mainly on the senior girls that I have known for the past 3.5 years and it has been an amazing blessing! I love this ministry and it WORKS, I have seen it work, but I know God is calling me out of it in this capacity. who knows what will be in store for me when I leave here.

God is preparing my heart to graduate. Senior year has looked a lot different than the three previous years. Mostly with friends and my social life. I have been hanging out with a lot of new people I did not know the past three years as well as sort of moving apart from some friends to whom I may have been closest. This has been hard, but neat because I know that there is purpose in it. College is a season of my life that i am READY, so ready to move on from because I am excited for what is to come. I cannot wait to see what is thrown my way as I become financially independent...(as much as I have to ;) ) but also just the excitement of meeting new people and learning a new place.

Okay...so...plus dabbling in babysitting that is what is going on with me. I will keep the future posts shorter and more specific, which I am excited about!

"Look at the nations and watch - and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told" Habakkuk 1:5

<3 Jaclyn