Always new

Sometimes you just have to make decisions, step out on a limb to really experience God's goodness. I am currently taking a break from writing a review of literature to reflect on the past few months.

Since my last post I have completed 2 1/2 marathons-- that totally equals a full marathon...right?!, gotten married, bought a house, started graduate school, and figured out what I actually want to do with my life. So basically I have been sitting around doing nothing. Totally. 

So, like I said, sometimes you just have to step out, be scared, and trust God. I totally didn't know what my life was going to look like a year ago. I had no idea what being married was like, what it was like to not be on LSU's campus, or what it was like to live in your own house.. although sometimes I get this ohmygoshi'mabiggirlnow feeling, overall I think I am doing alright! 

My love for caring bridge has not died down, I have found more and more people to follow and pray for. I recently got to experience a few miracles through that site where things looked really bad for 2 kids and then despite what all doctors thought, the kids both survived. The best part? No doctor could explain why the child didn't die. Totally had to be a God thing and while I have no idea who these kids really are, I got to experience these miracles and rejoice with these sweet families! That's what it is really about guys, rejoicing for lives being preserved, for kids getting another chance, for teaching children with autism to do things that they otherwise couldn't do! So amazing!

I have also recently discovered my complete love for teaching groups of children with autism basic preschool skills. It is the most incredible experience to see kids go from not being able to sit down for longer than a minute on the floor to sitting through an entire circle time routine, singing, learning the calendar, doing centers and then listening to an entire book. AMAZING! I could not be more proud of these little ones and it brightens my day each time I get to see them and their incredible progress. With all of that said, I have decided on a BCBA program that focuses on groups. It all kind of fell into place and it is just perfect. 

Sometimes its the little things in life... but sometimes it is the BIG things for these kids that we totally take for granted. We truly don't realize how huge some of these things are for them! So excited!

If you made it this far in the post, you are awesome. Thanks for reading my ramblings. Take time to pray for continuing passion and excitement for such a life changing field! 

Tie dye Yumminess and Inadequate Thankfulness

Alright, so I did it! I made the most tie dyed cake I could possibly make. Finally, I convinced Maddie that she didn't really want fondant because it doesn't make your tongue crazy colors, easy enough :)

This is the batter of one of the layers of cake before it was baked! 

And here is is.. the finished product

I wish I could have gotten a picture of the inside of the cake but I totally forgot when it came to cake cutting time! But, the inside was as colorful as the outside, if you can imagine! 

Note: if the heater is on in your house and you leave the tie dyed fiasco out in a cake container overnight... it will become even gooier and will smear (even more than it already was).... so the fridge would have been my best bet! 

Thanksgiving: SO much to be thankful for! If you know anything about me you know there are 2 things in life that i really really enjoy... CRAFTS (pinterest) and CARING BRIDGE. I just love making ugly things beautiful... or beautiful in my eyes :). So, I spent my weekend, instead of writing a paper, painting our table and chairs that were given to us so after I put the final coat on those this week I will be sure to post pictures! Now, back to being thankful (sorry for the tangent). Caring bridge makes me thankful and aware. I feel like so often we get caught up in our own lives and never take time to think about the lives of others. Caring bridge is my way of peeking into the lives of others and my way to pray for people who are actually strangers but I feel like I know. I am so thankful for the people on this site that are willing to post things that are not easy to post but it really shows vulnerability and allows people to love on them (like me!). So, take some time this week and pray for a stranger, try to experience thanksgiving from the view of someone else (maybe someone not able to sit around the table and eat (or overeat) with family and friends). Enjoy and don't take it for granted! 

My mother was a baker, a baker, a baker

I have gone through baking spurts recently. This week I have to do a practice run on some tie dye cake for my favorite 8, soon to be 9, year old :) I made the mistake of allowing her to google tie dye cakes and to get some ideas so, of course, she picked the most complicated one. After convincing her that 3 tiers is not necessary for a laser tag birthday party, I will now be attempting a round tie dye cake covered in fondant with hand painted tie dye on the outside... we shall see.
My last baking extravaganza included BREAD. I would have never thought that I could get absolutely giddy over keeping yeast alive but I was! Who knew?
Here a is a picture of a new favorite fall treat of mine.. cinnamon pumpkin pull apart bread with praline rum sauce... YUM.

After my extravagant cake attempt, croissants are my next victim! Who doesn't love a flaky, delicious, crescent shaped bread? Better yet, filled with chocolate or other flavorings? I will post pics of the cake soon! 

Ready... Set... Geaux!

I figured I should update this since it has been a while. I have been up to my ears in life... wedding planning, school, work, and half-marathon training.
How about my life in pictures?

engagement session with the lovely Erin Guedry :) 

Barathon run in New Orleans

4th of July at the levee 

Blueberry picking 

I caught my first fish! 

We are learning about stress in one of my classes... how convenient! I have realized the long term effects of stress on your/my body and brain. Check out this link about what stress does to your brain. Take care of yourself, I am trying to do the same! 

Living the life..

Well,  a lot has happened in the past few months... some wedding planning, some working, lots of school, and an abundance of day dreaming. So many things have passed through my head (probably when i should have been paying attention to something or someone) that I have never thought about before... insurance, jobs, houses, ceremony songs (WHAT?!), centerpieces, etc. If someone took a glimpse into my brain currently they would find facts about homeless youth combined with wedding budget numbers running about 100 mph. phew!


Since February, I have taken up a new hobby of running. My friend Kakie and I started with a few 5k's and then we moved up to a 10k! Woot woot! Here we are before the Crescent City Classic...

6.2 miles through the streets of New Orleans in the hot and humidness.. but we still had a good time! 

Next endeavor? 1/2 marathon!!! 

One things that running forces you to do is to become a goal setter, to get to the next light post, to get to the next water fountain, or to get to the finish line. I have noticed this practice drifting over into other parts of my life and I like it! I have recently made a quick list of goals both short term and long term and I hope to check them off one by one! 

Here is a quick glimpse at my list:

1. learn to drive a standard 

2. run a marathon

3. save at least $100 per month

4. do a 1/2 ironman (iron woman)

5. graduate college-- getting close!

6. focus on being a blessing! 

and there is a lot more but I won't bore you with those for now. I will keep you updated on my progress! 

The Future Mrs. Jenkins!

Hello friends!

Last night was the most exciting night of my life! Joel PROPOSED! I know that many people want the whole story and such so I decided to blog about it so you can read it for yourself. 

It all began because he had told me that we were going out to eat at Stroubes downtown. I was excited because I had never been there but had heard wonderful things about it. So, I got dressed, he picked me up, we went downtown, (finally) found a parking spot and began the hike in the FREEZING weather to Stroubes. When we walk in the door, the ladies at the hostess stand have the biggest smiles on their faces but I didn't think anything of it, I just thought they were happy to see me! (haha). So, Joel walks in and tells them table for 2 and they said, "ohhh actually we have some really big tables coming in, it is going to be an hour wait!" I had asked Joel earlier in the day if we needed reservations and he had told me that they said he didn't because of the weather. SO, you can imagine how "tiffed" I was that they were going to make us wait for an hour when clearly they were plenty of empty tables. So, Joel decides that we should walk on the levee while we decide where to eat... and of course I whined again because I was freezing and even though the levee is my favorite spot in Baton Rouge, nothing is fun in 34 degree weather! I gave in and we walked to the levee, after a few minutes he stopped and said, " okay we can go now." Right when I was going to turn around he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him! I squealed out of shock and excitement and so he said, "so will you?"OBVIOUSLY I said yes and we walked back towards the car. We then drove to yet another surprise at the Melting Pot where my friends and family were waiting (for a long time) for us to arrive! I was so overwhelmed but really excited that they all were able to share that moment (and the good food) with us! 

I am SO blessed, words cannot even begin to explain. I am sure there will be many more posts to update everyone on the planning process! Pray for peace and for our future marriage! God has a beautiful plan!

A glimpse into the past with a future focus

So, I finally did it, I decided to give in and join the blogosphere... mainly so I can use the word "blogosphere".  The past few months have all about growing up. I realized that I am an official senior in college, moved into an apartment alone, and have started the dreaded grad school search. Talk about the "future" has found its way into every conversation I have had recently. As scary as all of it is, I am completely excited! It has been awesome to see how God has planned certain things to be orchestrated so perfectly and guess what?! He knows what He is doing, thank goodness because I sure don't!

Now that my first paragraph of blogging is complete I will add pictures of my trip to England this summer.

During my trip to England I...

saw this

smelled these

Played with them

Rode in this

and ministered with these amazing people

This trip completely changed my life. The religious culture over there is so different from anything I had ever experienced. Just getting a chance to spend time with these kids and teens, really opened my eyes. We had such an awesome group and wonderful host homes.. I can't wait to go back!