Trail of guys...

Do you have a trail of guys? Maybe past boyfriends, just extremely close friends, past crushes, etc. Meaning, when you go somewhere do you often see guys that you use to have a “thing” with or that you have kissed before? I knew one girl who had dated or talked to almost every guy she knew. Not exaggerating…. Guys at church, school, old friends, all of them. She seemed to be perfectly happy with it, but I have to ask how awkward it was though. Every where she went she ran into someone who knew her in ways that only her future husband should. What about when she gets older, finds the right one, and returns to her old town or if they stay in town. She will still see those guys from the past. Do you get where I’m going with this? Does it have to be this way? I propose that it doesn’t. Our world says that it is just a part of life, but I believe God has a better plan! Now is the time to decide if you are going to have a past or not….  

Also, think ahead a little… You have found the perfect guy! You love him to death and cant imagine life without him! There is one thing though… He is perfect and all, but he isn’t quite as good of kisser as one of the guys in your past. You feel terrible for even thinking that, but it’s the truth. Of course hopefully it will be a little different since you are truly in love, but still you cannot forget your past no matter how much you move on. I’m not saying all this to be negative, but I tell you this to give you a reality check. NOW is the time to honor your future husband! Innocence is beautiful!!

If you have lost your innocence, take heart! God heals… It will never be as if it didn’t happen, but He can/will restore you! Begin NOW honoring your future husband!

JEN 

Money Monday

Tip- Drink Water. Yes, sounds simple, but do you realize how much money you can save by just not buying a soda? Think about it next time you eat out!

Thinking past what you see!

Most of you girls have purity standards. That is amazing! I am honestly impressed when I read blogs by how strong you girls are. It is really great. I have been really thinking about it though and you hardly ever hear of standards when engaged. I know that people have different of opinions versus dating and therefore engagement would look different. For the typical engagement though should there be any difference in purity standards? Honestly I have no opinion on this one. I’m still thinking it through and what I would tell others. What do you think though? Have you even thought about it? I will encourage you with one thing though… It is just the same as dating in the part that you need to decide before it comes. It is a total different dynamic when all of the sudden you are going to spend the rest of your life with this person and you know this is the person you will one day have sex with. It is more pressure. Now is the time to decide what you stand for! So share some thoughts! J

JEN

Monday Musings...

My hear has been broken all weekend for the families in Connecticut... Here is a post I really encourage you listening to! It has great truth. Worth 3 minutes! :)

http://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?v=10151195531403915

Money Monday

Tip- Don't waste food! It is easier said than done. About this time there is plenty of food floating around. You have left overs from this party, goodies from classes, so on and so on. Dont let that go to waste. i have bought a large thing of to-go boxes that after a meal i will deliberately put the left overs neatly in the box and will have it for lunch the next day. I plan leftovers into my meals! This way first off it saves time. Second off i do not waste. Some people put it in different containers and that is fine if that is what you want to do. I rather go ahead and make the plate so that way it is less to clean up and quicker. Also, then i wont forget about something way back in the refrigerator!

Food for Friday

Psalm 19:14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight O Lord, my rock and my redeemer!

I'm glad I waited!

The big question I am often asked is, "Are you glad you waited for the right guy?". Without a doubt yes! It all seemed so distant for so long, but very quickly it became reality. Everyrhing I had waited for in a man was here. Girls.... know what you want and don't give in! Have you ever heard of writing out a list of what you want in a man? Almost every youth group seems to do this. It is a good idea though. The idea is to write out what you would like in a husband. Be descriptive! This is not a flippant thing. The man you marry will be the man you spend the rest of your life with and the man that your children call daddy. What do you want this man to be like? Here are some of the things on my list!

- Love God
-Want to go into ministry
=Enjoys kids
-Tall and handsome
-Hard Worker
-Loves his family
-Is faithful
-Same theology
- good with money
-sense of humor
-mature
-muscles
-leader


Girls, matt is all I could have ever wanted. This isnt just about who you will marry though. I believe this should also have to do with who you date. Dont give something that belongs to your future husband. This is hard to stick close to. I will be the first to admit i "talked" to many guys, but the thing was it never seemed to really work because i knew what i wanted. Do you know what you want in a man? Tell me! :)

Money Monday

Tip- Use up the giftcards you have laying around! I find it fascinating how many people have unused gift cards in their wallet. Sometimes we get those that we just don't seem to find the time or place to use. Well, here's an idea! Either make a point to use it yourself. Even if it isn't a store you normally go to. Find all of the unused ones you have... you may have to dig through the junk drawr! Have you considered giving it as a gift to someone else? It may be a nice place that you just do not normally go. Consider giving it as a gift! Also, if you still just can't figure out what to do with it then give it to someone in need! You may not have the money to give them something in particular, but you can give them something you already have! Make use of what you have!

Random thought of the day...

Who have you impacted today?

Random acts of love!

I debated posting about this because I would never want it to come across as if I was bragging. I just want to share what awesome things God has been doing in my life! I will start out with how Ive really been struggling with what the meaning of life is lately... I'm not sure why, but everything kept making me think about it and life just seemed so empty. I mean money has no purpose... we leave it on earth when we die. We do so much for it and it gets us nothing. Football, school, and so on... in the end do they matter? I just kept pondering it. I would ask Matt and he would say over and over "to please God" and I would say that I knew that, but what did that really mean. Finally he just told me I had to figure it out on my own. So I continued praying about it, but figured it would be one of those things I never really understood. Until the other night I was on pinterest and was just browsing when I came across this pin about random acts of kindness. I was interested BC I've always loved doing sweet things, but the more I looked into it the more excited I got. I thought about it and the next day I decided to do it! On the first day I tried to think what I could do with no money. So I thought... and I came up with some awesome ideas!! First off, I had a large amount of coupons from the coupon books that the schools sold last year that was going bad at the end of the month. A lot were to restaurants that were buy one get one free. So I decided to return them! So I separated them out and went by the places I could. I would just tell them that I wanted them to go to good use and please give them to the next couple of people who came in. It was crazy how shocked people were and how they didn't understand why I would go out of my way to do that. One man just kept asking why I didn't want to use them. I was like because i want to show someone the love of Jesus! Then I came across a coupon for one free cup of coffee (no purchase needed) from krispie kreme. So I ran by and grabbed one and gave it to the next bell ringer I saw! She lit up so much! I think I was happier giving it to her though than she was getting it! I also cleaned out my clothes. I'm pretty organized and clean so I didn't have many clothes to give, but I decided to part with some that I normally would have kept, but didn't really need. The next day was full of fun ones! Then today I was babysitting and so Matt and the girls joined along! it was beyond a blast! Seeing the girls get into it and Matt also. It blessed me with joy more than anything! I had a limit of money which wasn't a ton and decided to see how many people i could bless with just that amount of money! Follow along as i list some of the opportunities I have had!

 

Coffee to bell ringer  

 

Coupons given back

 

Meal at McDonald's

This only cost me $2.50. The lady behind me started honking as I pulled away.

 At first i thought she was mad, but when i looked back she was

waving thanking me with the biggest smile on her face! 

 

Policeman's meal at back yard burger

This is my favorite one! I wasn't planning on buying another meal until

a policeman pulled behind me in the drive thru. I was thrilled! I

wanted to let him know how much I appreciate him!

 

$5.00 to regions teller

When I got my cash i was able to tell her what i was planning on doing

with it and when i was about to walk away I decided to start with her!

 

Candy bar for bell ringer

I asked the older man ringing the bell on the way in what his favorite candy

bar. It was only .48. As i was telling my mom, if i do not have .48

to make someones day better then i am worse off than i should

be. We pass up such easy opportinities!

 

Candy bar for cashier

 

Tea for Matt

I decided I couldnt just show love to strangers, but also to my fiance!

He loves milos sweet tea, but doesnt get it often because it's to

expensive for a college student. I surprised him with a gallon

when i came back!

 

Tea for jen

It's close to finals and I know that my roomie (We are both RA's

now so we no longer share a room, but we are still very close!) loves hot tea from the mall.

So i picked up her favorite kind!

 

Bacon for Sarah

I have a friend at college who loves... and that is an understatement for bacon.

lol I bought a thing of bacon and left it in her refrigerator with an encouraging note!

I cant wait until she gets back

 

Folding clothes for girls

This is another free one and easy! At school we have a community laundry room.

Often if you need the dryer you just sit the ones that were in the dryer on top.

So the other night i made a point to fold all of the clothes. It is no biggie at all,

but around this time of the semester we all need a little help!

 

Clean ladies house

I babysit on a rgular basis. This time the lady had had a rough day and her house

was not as clean as normal. So after the kids went to bed i just picked

up and cleaned the kitchen! 

 

Goodies for girls

Again... It's almost finals and everyone can use a little energy

boost! Left som treats by the door for each girl!  

 

Heart cough drops

One of the girls in the dorms wasnt feeling so great so I taped 

cough drops in a heart shape! 

 

Give goodie's to police and firemen

We made all kinds of cookies and delivered them to a few different fire

and police stations! The girls had a blast today giving them out!

 

Apple cider and crackers to bell ringers

It wasnt so cold today, but they still seemed to enjoy it though!

 

Popcorn taped to redboxes

This was a fun idea for the next person who rented the next

movie they would have free popcorn!

 

Cupcakes to scouts fundraising with Christmas trees

We made cupcakes and gave it out to all the hungry boys trying to raise money!

 

Coffee for girls during late nights

During the week of finals the girls will all be up late so i have it set

up where there will be coffee and snacks set up all night!

 

Thank you cards Made by kids

The girls made cards for the police and firemen! So adorable!

 

Candy cane competition

We each competed to see through out the day who could give

the most candy canes away during the day to random people!  

 

Return grocery carts

Simple, but often not done! Offer to take people's buggies back for

them. This especially helps moms with children!

 

I have a few other ideas that I may share later! For now though I want to make this point... Kindness does not always have to be hard or cost! You can do it by just simply smiling as you walk by people. A lot of times we have things that could help others, but we are just to lazy to do it. If I can remember I would like to buy a candy bar for each cashier as i check out. It is mere change. I cannot express how happy this has made me! I am so blessed. So how can you show love today? Think out of the box! What can you do? Something as simple as a kind gesture can brighten someones whole day. The world is full of darkness... I choose to be someones light! :) What is something you can or have done today to encourage someone? Comment with ideas and what you have done!

JEN

Money Monday

Tip- Coupon! No, I'm not talking the crazy coupon people you see on TV who spends their whole life trying to find a good deal. I'm refering to the spend tops an hour a week just looking over the sale ads (love publix!) and then look through your coupons. My grandmothers give me their coupons out of the paper, but also i keep an eye on www.coupon.com . I only print what i know i will use! This way i dont waste ink. I do have a coupon binder. I only keep/cut what i know i will use. This way i do not have to flip through so much. Remember, walmart does match prices, but you have to have either the sale paper with you or an app on your phone. I have multiple grocery store apps so that I can check for the best price. I will post more later about practical couponing... but for now just keep your eyes open! It doesn't have to be that hard.