Be A Turkey!

Today we're going to talk about Turkey's! :) Yes, you heard that right. :) At Thanksgiving what do we do to the turkey? Yes, we kill them, but after that... we stuff them! Like we do to turkeys, we should be doing that to ourselves with God's Word. But unfortunately we get distracted in our lives and start stuffing ourselves with other things.
What are some things that we "stuff" ourselves with other then God's Word?

Music, friends, phones, family, reading, hobbies, TV, Sleep/lazy, ect....

What are some ways we can be stuffed/Gobble up Gods word?
PS. 119:11~memorize, Time in Gods word, Time with Him (Pray), Worship, Fellowship with other believers, and make sure your heart is to follow God and His plan for your life.

We're like turkeys; so are you being "stuffed" with God's Word or other things? 

Isaiah 45

When I was seeking God about whether or not I was to go to Thailand, God showed me Isaiah 45. I was starting to read a missionary story and God had showed them Isaiah 45 and I had just read it in my time with the Lord that morning! As I read Isaiah 45 over again I knew that if God gave the family a go that I was to go. God also showed me how important it is for me to go and be a help to the family, through my grandparents. 

 Isaiah 45:1-7 (NASB)

Thus says the Lord to Cyrus His anointed,

Whom I have taken by the right hand,

To subdue nations before him

And to loose the loins of kings;

To open doors before him so that gates will not be shut:

“I will go before you and make the rough places smooth;

I will shatter the doors of bronze and cut through their iron bars.

“I will give you the treasures of darkness

And hidden wealth of secret places,

So that you may know that it is I,

The Lord, the God of Israel, who calls you by your name.

“For the sake of Jacob My servant,

And Israel My chosen one,

I have also called you by your name;

I have given you a title of honor

Though you have not known Me.

“I am the Lord, and there is no other;

Besides Me there is no God.

I will gird you, though you have not known Me;

That men may know from the rising to the setting of the sun

That there is no one besides Me.

I am the Lord, and there is no other,

The One forming light and creating darkness,

Causing well-being and creating calamity;

I am the Lord who does all these.

Verse two talks about how God will make the rough places smooth... well that has proven to be true. 

Probably the biggest rough place was my Grandpa dying this last month. We knew he didn't have long (6 months to a year), but he was doing so well and then within a week and a half he went down hill and then went home. I'm so thankful that I got to see him the weekend before he died and that I get to be with my family through this all.

Another rough place was renting a car while in PA. Because I was paying with a debit card and not a credit card, my card got denied and I had to go to a different car rental place. It was a long, exhausting ordeal, but God provided and He got me to were I needed to be. 

These are just some of the rough places that He has made smooth in the last month. God is so faithful and awesome! 

God is my Life!

In my last post I said that God is my Life. Tonight it really hit me that my life is His. I don't deserve anything He has given me. A loving and godly family, wonderful church family, friends that love me, great health, undeserving salvation, and the list could go on. But He has given me these things and He has a wonderful plan for my life. I can't wait to continue on this journey that He has me on!
I need to continue to remind myself that He is my life and that He has given me the things He has for a reason.
I wrote the above a couple weeks ago and never posted it. Tonight it was a good reminder.

Looking back over 2018 I am amazed at all God has done for me and taught me. I'm so Thankful for this last year, even the hard parts. Because it has brought me closer to God and has grown my relationship with Him.
This last week I got to go to the coast to teach for work and afterwards I spent some time on the beach walking. While walking I noticed the fog and how I couldn't see the end and it reminded me of how on this journey of life, I can't see the end so I have to trust God and His plan for me. Am I willing to do that? Yes, yes I am. Are you willing to trust God and His plan for your life?

Jolene's Journey

I renamed my blog for a number of reasons. One because the exciting life of farmer Jo wasn't true anymore, I'm no longer working on a farm or really have anything to do with farming. Secondly, Jolene's Journey is a better title for where I'm at in life and can continue to be the title even when this part of my journey is done.

Where am I in my journey and  what kind of journey am I talking about?
Glad you asked. :) This journey is my relationship with God and where He has me go and what He has me to do. My journey started 20 years ago and continues to go on. Right now I'm working with Child Evangelism Fellowship teaching Good News Clubs during school. I Love teaching the children about Jesus and the Gospel!
I'm starting a new part in my journey at the end of January. God has given me the opportunity to go be a nanny in Thailand for a year. I'm excited to see all that God has for me as I go and even before I go. I will miss teaching the children here, but I'm praying for new teachers and helpers to step up and take over. Life with God is never boring or easy, but it is worth it! God Is So Good! And I wouldn't want to do life without Him, because He is my life!  

Long Time...

It's been a long time since I even thought about the blog....But I think I'll be posting more this year.

A Lot has changed since the last post.... I'm now working three jobs and on quilt 8!?!? We had a Ton of friends get married last year, which is why I'm on quilt 8.

My #1 job is teaching children about Jesus, through CEF (Child Evangelism Fellowship). I Love my job!!! I love all my kids in my classes. Not only do I get to teach them, but God also teaches me, while he is using me to teach them.
#2 job is taking care of twins, who are 6 months now!! I can't believe they are that old! 😲 I Love them and their family!

#3 job is cleaning/ grocery shopping/laundry/cooking/and watching kids for a family 3× a week. (Oh, and you can't forget taking their dog on walks...)

God has blessed me with all my jobs and I'm So Thankful for all of them!

               God is Good All The Time!!!

Oh, and our family has a girl from Germany staying with us for 6 months. She came in SEP and she leaves in March! I can't believe how fast it has gone! 😲 While she is here, I've been taking her different places... Here are some pictures of our adventures. ☺

CYIA Summer

This Summer was filled with CYIA. :) I was a mentor at the training camp, helped with two Day camps, and did two VBSs at the coast.

Normally at the training camp I'm a team trainer. But this year they had an overabundance of team trainers, so some of us got to be mentors to the young team trainers. It was very stretching not being a team trainer and letting them lead, while II just sat and watched. At times I felt like I didn't do anything, but other times I felt like I was the leader. But all in all it was a Great and growing week. :)

A week after training camp we had 4 exta boys stay with us. Two came to help with a day camp and the other two were just staying with us. So, I was supposed to just help with the day camp not teach, but I ended up teaching. :) I was a great week, even if it was 90+ degrees! It was So hot!

The next week, two girls, my sister Hannah, and I all went to the coast to teach two VBSs. It was a Great week filled with laughter, Nerf gun wars, and games. :) Oh, and you can't forget the beach. :) I've done these VBSs for a couple years and they've been a blast to do. :)

The week before my trip to Canada, was the last day camp. I ended up just helping with crafts. It was Great!!! I loved getting to interact with all the kids. Plus I got to do it with my friends. :)

All in all, this Summer was Fantastic!! :)

March, April, June, July, and Aug Thankful list. ;)

I can't believe how fast this year is going!! I mean the Summer has come and gone. Well.... I really don't have any excuse why I haven't posted. But I'm going to hopefully post more often now. :)

*Birthdays!!!! Dad's, Jenels, Grandpa's, Tina's, Susanna's and mine!! ;)

*Babysitting kids at camp!

*Having a Great time watching the kids with my friend Ashley and Mare.

*Spring break!!! Although I really didn't get it off I didn't have to teach or work one of my jobs. ;)

*Hiking with our friends.

*A Sister hike. :)

*Turning 21! ;) Man, I can't believe how much time has flown!

*Going back to one job!!

*Random coast trip. ;)

*Weddings! (Three friends got married this summer!)

*Going to The Summit! (It's an Awsome conference. Especially when your with awesome people. ;) )

*Tina graduated!!!

*JC and family came to our house!!

*Redoing our couch. (This is when its almost finished)

*Being a mentor at CYIA. (I'll be doing a post about this.)

*Helpping with two day camps!

*Having four exta boys living with us for a week! (Man was that different.)

*Teaching two VBSs at the coast with my sister! (I'll be doing a post about this too.)

*That I didn't drive combines this summer. ( long story... I'll most likely put why in another post.)

*Two family reunions!!!! :) (I'll definitely be doing a post about these!)

*I got a new GOAT! :)

*We got a pool!

*Finished two quilts. (I'll be doing a post about this too! Man, I have a lot of post to do.)

*Trip to see my Best Friend!!! (I'll definitely be doing a post on this too!)

*A new Job!

*Church family camp!

These are just some of the things in the last couple of months that I'm Thankful for. God Is Good All The Time!!