Jennifer's 5 things....

AUNT SUSAN:

1. Overcoming trials- Wow... I really don't know what to say about this one...If I had planned my life when I was younger, I would have certainly given myself some different "situations" to deal with in my life than the ones the Lord has blessed me with. I am now at that point in my life that I do consider my past trials "blessings." Over the past 10 years, I have had a couple of major growing and learning experiences that I would never wish on anyone. At the same time, I have been forced to do a lot of soul searching, revamping of my priorities, learned to genuinely listen for an answer to my prayers and to take one day at a time and live it to the very fullest. Many times, those days have been broken down to "if I can just get through the next 30 minutes" type days. I am a much stronger person in my personal goals, my spirituality and also am in a unique position as a teacher to teach my students from my lessons of my trials and to truly empathize with my colleagues/church family members upon the death of their spouse (Pat Davis comes immediately to mind) and to have truly felt the power of Satan intrude right into my home... Without the support system of the church/family/friends and especially my children, I would have collapsed years ago...But I was taught early in life by Mom and Dad to do my very best in whatever I wanted to accomplish. I am not perfect by any means, but I consider myself at a point in my life to where I think I can survive just about anything---because I already have...
Thank you Heavenly Father for loving me enough to send me through the refiner's fire and protect me as I came out the other side...
2. Girls Camp- This was not one I would have expected!! It seems like a lifetime ago, but I must admit that although I had no clue as to what I was doing, the Lord, once again, proved that He takes care of Fools and Children...! I remember every aspect of the planning and the miracle of watching something from my imagination come to life... Would I want to repeat the experience...I take the 5th on that one!!!
3. Calligraphy- Oh, how neglected this particular skill is in my life. Funny, though, I do have a project I am working even as we speak for a special friend and it is the first serious calligraphy project I have worked on in several years! I have felt a real reawakening of interest in refining this talent(?) I would love to know why you chose this one, Jen....
4. History- If I have one passion in life, it is this topic. Believe it or not, there are some parts of history and some country's history that I could care less about. But those other ones....WOW... Why I feel so alive when I am learning about things, people, events of times past, I have no idea, but I cannot seem to get enough knowledge of this topic to quench my thirst...so on I go.. I also have been blessed to see the effects my passion have had on my students when they start to hunger to know more of this subject they had always hated!! Yep... that is one reason I teach!
5. Pizza Hut- Until I start back to school in one week, Pizza Hut was the one job I held the longest. I worked in 3 stores in two states. It has changed so much now that I hardly recognize the products I worked with or helped introduce. Man, the hours, the lessons learned, the skills honed, the free left overs that helped me feed Travis and Sarah when I had no other way, the love of waiting on the customers--this job truly had an impact on my life and that of my children....

Thanks, Jen for this topic...