Peace on Earth, Goodwill to men

I've got Plenty to be Thankfull for....

"To look back and think that,
This baby would one day save me,
In the hope that what You did
That you were born so I might live
To look back and think that,
This baby would one day save me

And I, I celebrate the day
That You were born to die

So I could one day pray for You to save my life"
Relient K- I celebrate the day

I can't believe Christmas is in only a week! It came up so fast this year. I am suppose to have dinner for K's side at my house but then there is that issue of spending time with my own family on Christmas and you don't want to upset anyone and I think to myself when did this become so confusing, when did Christmas become a chore rather than what the holiday is truly there to celebrate. Things were so simple when I was little, the parents planned and took care of everything and all you had to worry about was what kinds of things that wrapping paper was hiding! I know I did, I was the kid who could barely wait till church was done so we could head out to have dinner because than after dinner with my dads family it meant PRESENT time! And then of all things I had to try and go to sleep that night while anxiously awaiting more presents in the morning. Four o' clock rolled around and I was out of bed digging in my stocking. But this year more than ever I am realizing what Christmas is really about. It's about a birthday. The birthday of our king and savior. It's about celebrating an amazing God and the life he brought into this world to save us all. That is Jesus Christ. Celebrating Jesus Christ. And so this year I could care less about the presents that I get or the food that I eat or the lights on my house but instead just celebrate a person, the person who saved humanity whom was God. And I think about all hes done for me and I am amazed. So I just wanted to write this because I know the holidays are stressful and I was feeling the best of that today but we must remember what to really celebrate and think about what God has done in our lives the past year. Here are just a few awesome things for me (and Kyle) this year which God has done and blew me out of the water:

-Purchased a home and moved out of the apartment which depressed me
-Payed down debts
-Blessed with Nevin Arthur
-First Year wedding anniversary
-Constantly provided money whenever it appeared there was going to be none- This has been amazing this year, even just today I was a little worried about money for some last minute gifts and stuff and viola a check appeared in the mail for 150 that was part of our damage deposit that our landlord had originally decided to keep.
-Blessed with Jackson George
-Provided car at a reasonable price
-Both have jobs
-Healed some relationships of loved ones
And many more.
And thats what I want to think about this Christmas, how amazing Christ's love is for us and that he did send a baby onto earth to save us all...

Romans 8:35-39 (New Living Translation)

35 "Can anything ever separate us from Christ's love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death?36 (As the Scriptures say, "For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep."*)37 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.
38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God's love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,* neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God's love.39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord."

So I sort of suck at this blogging, not that anyone reads it anyway but I have not written in forever. But as I sat here in the glow of my Christmas tree I got the sudden urge to write a little from the heart. A few things have happened since my last blog, we now have not one but two fur babies. Call us crazy but we got a four month old puppy. His name is Jackson, and he came to us escaping death in Kentucky. Hes a great little guy, spunky and bouncy, yet always looking to cuddle. He hasn't let the horror of his first four months get him down. Still trusting and loving despite what he's been through. and that is something I admire in him. For he could have decided that all people were bad and became and angry dog or he could have chosen that all people are scary and become a scared timid dog, but instead he decided to take a chance and love us. I hope that I can be this kind of person in life. When somebody hurts me or bad things happen I hope I can let it go. I don't want to live in hurt or become bitter because of my circumstances. As the verse says these things that happen does not mean God does not love us. Because he will always prevail. I had a time with this a few weeks ago. Something happened that made me livid mad. Our new car got stolen right out of our driveway. It wasn't a brand new car but new to us, boughten from Kyle's grandparents, and also Kyle's imac computer was in the trunk. I was shouting and hollering and I just felt so hurt that somebody would do that. that they would take what wasn't theres and what they didn't work for. But as I sat there being mad I watched Kyle who's music, pictures, videos, everything had been taken and hes just as calm as a sloth. He never once has complained. he just takes things and lets them be. and I think God showed me through this experience that things are just things and to just let the situation be, to move on and to continue to trust there is good in people. And so the next day albeit still a bit mad, I told God I forgave whomever stole those and to please show them the error of their ways so they may someday ask for forgiveness from their father. Ha! And the next day I found the car. Or I should say God gave me back the car. No computer but we will work something out. Or I should say God will work something out. he sure has shown that the past year, but that would be a whole nother long post.

Life.

Lamentations 3:28 (The Message)

^28-30When life is heavy and hard to take,
go off by yourself. Enter the silence.
Bow in prayer. Don't ask questions:
Wait for hope to appear.
Don't run from trouble. Take it full-face.
The "worst" is never the worst.

Wow I haven't been keeping up with my blog. Maybe its because I feel life has been one crazy thing lately. Where do I start?! So we bought a house, got a dog, my brother moved in, trying to find a new job, school, and the stress of trying to make it all work... See I tend to worry too much about stuff, like I freak out over maybe not having enough money or not making my sales at work, or a random assortment of other things like not knowing my dog couldn't eat the nylabone after I let him chew it up into little pieces, yea a piece could get caught in his intestines and sever them about six months down the road, so I am sort of letting go and letting God on that one. I know he spit most of the pieces out, I just am praying to goodness he's ok. Because let me tell you amidst all the stress of life that little dog is a gift from God. Not to be bragging or anything but the little guy adores me and it's totally a wonderful feeling. He follows me around and sits on my lap, and even trys to lay on my computer when i'm on it to get my attention... I think God knew I needed a little pal to love and take care of. He is pretty much mine and Kyle's kid... Such sweetness. But anyways back to my worry problems, it is pretty much the biggest lesson God has been teaching me lately. That God is in control. Like sometimes I feel when I worry hes yelling at me saying "JENNI! JENNI! Am I not the God of the entire universe? Do I not solve huger problems than yours? I promise you no matter what happens to your silly little material things, I LOVE YOU, and you have amazing other people that love you, this is all that matters in this universe so quit worrying!" It's like sometimes that I forget how huge God is and what he can do when we trust in him. I like these words from a third day song Call My Name: "
Call my name, say it now
I want you to never doubt
The love I have for you is so alive!"
God is not just sitting around up there, his love is always alive and working. So yea...
And no matter what happens God must be my focus.
So I have a job interview tomorrow. Its for a position for TCF in corporate dowtown Minneapolis. I really hope I get it. I could take the train when it starts in the fall and get to work like in a half hour, and take the bus for now. fun fun..
In other exciting news I have been having fun decorating the house, still a ton to do but we did get the spare bedroom painted... DARK PINK!!!!!!! Woot woot! I will post pictures soon.. Its so pretty.. But anyways that is enough raving for tonight.
Luv,

Jenni

New Furniture

On another note, My mom and I also went shopping at Buffalo on Saturday. It was a successfull day! I found old table and chairs, french county mirror for in the living room and a hutch that matches the table! good deals and sweet looking stuff. The occasional sales in Buffalo are once a month the second weekend. The stores are sort of antiquey stuff but a more french country kind of style than just assorted old stuff. I also got some old glass pop bottles to use as vases as a store called sweet salvage. It was a cool store full of old junk, that you never know where you might find it usefull. I want to go back next month and see if I can't find some end tables. My next mission. I also want to find an old cupboard door to turn into a chalkboard. They have this chalkboard paint that is pretty cool, so I could just paint the door. I want to use it as a memo board in the kitchen. It will go on my list of projects. But anyways I have not been feeling well so I need to go now to bed. such a busy week, new dog and now new house on friday. Later.

I became a parent...

Me and Kyle got a dog!! So I knew this shelter was going to be at Petco on Sunday, and I just wanted to go and see the dogs they had. Well I walked in and fell in love... Like o my goodness the little guys stole my heart... They had four little dogs there, 3 chihuahua's, and a little jack russel/italian greyhound mix. So I really like the little chihuahua's and they jumped up in the pen just asking to be loved. Before we knew it one of them got adopted (our dogs brother), so I asked to take the other one out. (two of them were 10 month old brothers and the other one was a three year old) We held him (my mom came with me) until Kyle could get there and I begged him to get the dog. We decided to do it, I guess you could say it was love at first sight... hes a hyper little dude, but very loving and cuddly. Hes staying at my parents until Kyle and I make the big move. He is just like a kid, watching him and letting him out... He is half house trained, a few accidents but that is expected.. Anyways he stole my heart, and I am officially in love... Here are some pics.

Inspiration Pics

Here are some pictures from a blog called Life in the Fun Lane, where she does her whole house in a lot of white. I don't plan to do my whole house in white but just the kitchen, dining and living room. It is so pretty. The cabinets will probably have to be painted. Heres an awesome before and after:

Some pics from the new townhome

Today...

Ahh... It is getting so close to the big move.. Two more weeks in the Dungeon! And although I seem to lough the place, I am getting sort of sad packing up and moving out of here. I mean it is the first place that Kyle and I started our life together. The first place where we made dinner together, even though we had to sit at the kitchen counter to eat, where we first were hosts to company, even though it was just the Gaffney children, and where a lot of the first year of memories came from. And the Dungeon was always such easy living. If anything broke we could just call the landlord to fix it. Now we are going into a new adventure and I admit it's a little scary! A town home is still easier living than a free standing house but now we will be calling ourselves if anything goes wrong with the furnace or if the washing machine breaks, instead of having someone else to turn to. I guess that's how life is though. You start out totally dependant on others and gradually ease off of them growing up. But I know the change will be worth it. O to see sunlight again through windows...

I started a blog...

I started this blog in hopes to chronicle a little bit about life, love, and everything in between. Kyle and I are buying a townhome in a couple of weeks which will be a huge life change, although I think it will be great fun! Its way more space than we have right now and we will be able to have a dog! A Dog! Some people who are not into animals may not just understand but it has killed me this past year not being able to have pets. We are in the basement of a house right aka The Dungeon now and our landlord says no pets... : ( My parents have always had dogs and the current one they have, Cosette, I have gotten kind of attachted to. Although she has her issues of running around constantly in circles and such, she also has the amazing gift of unconditional outragous love. I mean I would go home and she jumps on you and gives you kisses and is like the best welcome party ever. And if I am having a bad day and a few tears she is right there slopping them up. There is just something about having that that can make a person feel better. But anyways, I will blog more later about my search for the dog for us....

So the title Clean in Heart.... As many know Kyle and I are maybe the messiest people. Ever. I mean right now in the apartment the dishes are piled up and there are clothes everywhere. And I don't think we have ever dusted here. But I really really want to become domesticated and keep the new house clean. We'll see how that goes. Everytime I tell Kyle that he just starts laughing. At me. So anyways I may have a messy physical life, but at least I know my heart can be made clean by God. I know Jesus is my savior, and really him, his word, and loving other people are the only things that really matter in life, and even when I mess up God makes my heart clean again. "Happy are the clean in heart: for they will see God." Matthew 5:8 So when the house may be a mess and maybe life turns messy too, I can have a clean heart knowing I am alive in God. This is my prayer: "Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me." Psalm 51:10

So here we go...