Student Soundbytes

Posted: April 4, 2007

Hello all-- so its been awhile since i last wrote... schools been sooo busy lately- especially with it getting down to the last couple of months.... Yay! I cant wait for this summer! Its going to be fun! Its my first summer in all of the gonna be 4 years ive been here that im not taking any summer classes! So this year has been very interesting since the new year! I had a great first couple of months this year and spring break was amazing! I went to Ireland with IPFW's Campus Ministry. This was my 3rd trip with CM- it was by far the best and my favorite! It was sooooo beautiful there- I didnt want to come home! We visited Northern Ireland- and stayed in the Mourne Mountains. We stayed at Mullartown House on the coast of the Irish Sea-- less then 300 yards fromthe coast! With mountains in the background, it was amazing ro wake up and see this everyday!!! We did a lot of really neat things on the trip, we toured a couple castles and ruins, went on a prayer walk, talked to schools and did skits, visited churches, worked on redoing a youth room, and our last day we went sight seeing. We went up the coast and saw the white cliffs and looking out onto the sea i could see Scotland! It was a dark blue gray mass but it was Scotland! We then went to Carrick-a-rede rope bridge which is about 90 feet above the sea and lots of rocks but it is sooooo pretty and kinda scary to go across cause it was soooo windy! Then we went to giants causeway- which has over 40,000 six sided stones- its very neat to see! This semester is a very interesting one- for me- to change subjects from spring break... I started dating a guy and then realized that we were meant to be just friends, and i met another guy on myspace. This is my warning to everyone! I never meet people online- never agree to meet them i should say- let alone talk to them for very long... well i talked to this guy for a month and he seemed really sweet- telling me that i deserved to be treated better than the original guy was treating me... he told me that he was divorced- only 27- which he was-- and he had 4 kids.... he also said that he had a felony record for domestic abuse but that it was false claims-- and i beieved him----- stupid decision on my part. I didnt listen to my friends when they said that they got a weird vibe from him and didnt trust him. I shouldn't have dated him either because its not my normal type- i dont date guys that were married, have kids, especially i dont date ones that prison records as my dad is a seargent for fw police department... but i agreed to see him because he was different and treated me better than anyone else ever had- calling me beautful and everything like that- bringing me flowers and poes for no reason. Well my parents were mad i was seeing him- they didnt even know about the record--- but said i was throwing my life away--- anywho-i had like an intervention from my parents and my friends- found out that he was still married, and had pages on pages of domestic abuse reports.... scary! So i stopped seeing him imediately and i have had to watch my back at work and my apartment ever since.... so my warning to everyone about online dating and myspace---- people can say they are something but it is usually a lie and thats scary. I was stupid and made a stupid decision- i could have put myself and my friends in danger. so everyone really needs to be careful with who they date and talk to = especially online! Well, thats about all I have for now- my crazy messed up semester! lol... take care everyone!

Posted: January 14, 2007

Hey everyone, its been a while. Ive been so busy with school starting and working...Im taking 13 credit hours, not bad--- i like my classes so far - nutrition, stress and wellness management, western world masterpieces (not so fond of), music for education majors, and first aid.... I'm crazy- Im working two jobs while going to school full time and Im gonna try to substitute teach as well.... so much for a social life. but Its ok because I live vicariously through my friends... i think i am attracted to people i feel that I can help or that are troubled... does that make sense? I am freinds with people that have so much drama in their life and I try to help them with it and i end up getting the drama in my life then.... why do people try to hurt others they claim they love? Why do people do dumb things? I dont understand some people... well that's me on my soap box... venting to all who read this.... love ya all! :)

Posted: December 29, 2006

Hello Everyone!!!! I hope you all had a MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!! I know I did! :) I went home to my parents house for about a week- it was great- i love going home. :) I hope you all have a Happy New Year- be safe but have fun! :) Enjoy the rest of the break!!!! Jenny

Posted: December 6, 2006

My family, probably like most other families, have many holiday traditions. Some are ones that have been going on since before I was born and some are ones that were started recently.

One of our traditions, that starts off the Christmas Season is on the day before Thanksgiving. My family and I, and my mom's side of the family, all go to downtown Fort Wayne. We stand outside in the cold and sometimes snow and wind to see a 25 foot (or so- dont remember exact dimensions) Santa Clause and Reindeer display get lit up. This display is on the side of a building downtown and has over 63,700 lights on it. This display used to be on the side of an old department store until it was closed and torn down. Now, the display is next to Coney Island- another part of our night tradition. After seeing the Santa Clause lit up, hundreds of people make their way down to see the giant Christmas Tree on top of the skywalk get lit up as well, and then move further down to see the giant Wreath get lit up. This year, there were new ice sculptures that were very intricate and very neat, a new window display at the Embassy, and as always, at the Botanical Conservatory, there are real reindeer and huge poinsetta trees and activites for kids. This year, my newphews- a 1 year old and a 4 year old came with their mom, my brother and sister in law were there, my mom, Dara, and my Dad- who was working on duty at the time all got together to see these displays. I think it is so awesome to see the awe and excitment in my nephews eyes, and I try to think back to when I was that age and so excited to see the lights. I still am excited when I go every year, and I do the countdown with everyone else. After watching the displays light up, we go and eat at Coney Island. This is just about the only time I eat there- only once a year. But it is so much fun- that night is their busiest night- selling thousands of hotdogs and hamburgers and bowls of chili. I remember growing up, I thought it was so cool because they serve bottles of coke- usually with a holiday printed label on them. Also going on downtown, are carriage rides. These rides are so much fun, a little costly, but very wintry and could be romantic :)- its how my brother proposed to his now wife! :)

Another tradition my family has is making Christmas cookies together. My mom and brother and I did this as we grew up every year. Making my famous Chocolate Chip Cookies- Ive made them so much I have the recipe memmorized-- we make sugar cookies and the peanut buter cookies with the hershey kiss in the middle and many others. One year, we did a cookie exchange with people my mom worked with, so everyone could make 1 or 2 different kinds of cookies, and everyone would leave with about 8 different kinds of cookies. Its so much fun... Starting last year, We started a new tradition. I taught my nephew- who was 3 at the time- how to make sugar cookies- he helped roll out the dough and place the cutters in the dough and get the shapes out... then after they baked, I showed him how to ice the cokkies. After making the icing, you have to lick the beaters, and if the cookie breaks- darn- you have to eat it! LOL I showed him how to put sprinkles on and make them fun... and this year at Halloween he started asking his mom when it would be time to make cookies with aunt jenny... i thought this was amazing, because it showed that he had fun spending time with me continuing a family tradition.

One of my favorite traditions, is on Christmas Eve. My family and I would go to my Dad's side of the family for Christmas, we would open gifts and eat, and then my dad would pull all of us kids over and tell us he saw Santa outside in the sky- we all look and look telling each other we saw it- even though we only saw stars or planes.... then the whole family would go to church for midnight candlelight service. this is my favorite part! I love the service at midnight- just the whole sereness of everything and the beauty all round. We don't go with my Dad's side anymore due to everyone's crazy schedules.... but my immediate family and now my mom's side of the family, all come together for midnight service at our church. This is one of the services that I now sing at for Christmas and its such a wonderful feeling to have my family with me when we ring in the Christ Child's birth....

Then on Christmas Day, my brother and I when we were younger, would get up really early and go and wake up each other and then mom and dad to open presents. We would eat Christmas cookies and egg nog before breakfast while we opned them and then Dad would make scrambled eggs and sausage and toast and we would all eat together. It is my favorite time of the year when we all get together... Now as we have gotten older, and my brother has married and moved out- our parents wake us up! LOL We don't seem to like getting up as early anymore and mom and dad don't want to wait as long anymore- its like the roles have reversed. :)

These are some of my family's holiday traditions that I wanted to share with you this season. I hope that you all make your own memmories and continue to see what the season is all about. Its not about the gift giving or getting, or about Santa or the TV specials-- it is about His birth, and how God gave his son to us on that day - No one could have asked for a better Christmas Gift than that of His son... Merry Christmas to everyone - go and make your own traditions.

Posted: December 5, 2006

Hey everyone! I bet you are all just as busy and stressed with finals week and dead week! I don't know about you all, but I think that dead week should be dead- no more classes- give us the time to study and finish projects, and it would make everyone's lives easier! But thats just my oppinion... :) So I cant wait for the semester to end - and winter break to start! This semester's classes have been very hard,but sometimes fun... and now, Im going to start working again at Build-A-Bear Workshop - just for seasonal help. I worked there for three years before and now I'm coming back to help them... fun times... Im hoping that I make some good money because I have another Ireland Trip payment due - By the way --- I'm going to Ireland on a mission trip with IPFW's Campus Ministry!!!!!! I'm sooooo excited!!!!!!! So, I have a lot going on with school, working two jobs, and buying all those Christmas presents! Happy Holidays to everyone!!!!!! Jenny :)

Posted: November 17, 2006

Hey everyone! Its been a long time since Ive last wrote.... im a slacker I know... So I don't know about the rest of you, but I can't wait until this semester is over! I'm in some easy classes, and some hard classes. Im definitley feeling a little burnt out with school and everything - could be due to the fact that I took summer classes - 1 each semester.... and I kinda messed up - I waited too long and again procrasitnated - Im so good at that- to take the PPST. Now I'm ready to go into block 1 and I can't until I pass the math portion of the PPST - again... Ive taken it twice now and I've missed it by 4 and then 3 points! I hate math! So, now I had to sign up for classes I don't neccessarily need right now - wasting my money... Granted they are some Im somewhat interested in... but that's besides the point.

So new subject - Campus Ministry started a dance team this year and its a lot of fun - we are doing our first dance december 6 at the campus ministry wednesday meeting... Im really excited! There are 7 of us - 5 of which were all in colorguard! So we are using flags, and dance and all kinds of fun stuff! I'm excited!

I am so ready for the holidays! I am already playing Christmas music! LOL - I know Im a weird one, but I love the holidays! Christmas officially starts for me and my family the day before Thanksgiving. We all go downtown to see the Santa Clause get lit up - it's a tradition my family has done since before my brother and I were born. We watch the santa, the Christmas Tree, and the Wreath all get lit up and then we go to Coney Island for coney dogs and chili. It is so much fun I love Holiday Traditions! Well thats about all for now...

Posted: May 12, 2006

Sad day- my dear friend Liz (who is from Montanna) is now leaving tomorrow to
go back to her home and family. I am truly sad as I have gotten to know her so
well and she is such a great beautiful person. I am also kinda sad because
summer classes start on monday.... definitley not a long enough break.... but I
am only taking one class and I will be a junior after the first summer
session.... yay= that sounds so weird to say that Im going to be a junior. We
had the Campus Ministry end of the year banquet tonight. It was alot of fun. I
sang a solo and 3 songs with a two of my other friends. Ben showed slideshows
of pictures and the movie from Wales.. Fun times and even funnier pictures!
Well thats about all the new news from me for now. ttfn!

Posted: April 24, 2006

YAY for Dead week. AKA the week where there are no tests, or quizes.... also the last week before finals! Which means theses classes are almost done!!! YAY! I cant wait for summer. Although I am taking 2 classes. One each summer session-but it helps in the long run... I cant believe by summer session 2 - I'll be a junior- scary! :) So working at Lonestar is pretty awesome- I make good money and I work with awesome people- including my best friend! yay! so... I guess thats about it for now.... ttfn! jenn

Posted: April 20, 2006

Spring is here! And with it has come the IPFW Spring Fling week! I love this time- free food and free stuff all week long!!! Gotta love it! I have gotten t-shirts, and keychains- so far and its only the second day! Also today was the obstacle course between the faculty and students. There were 5 of us on each team. I had to race Linda S. from the student life office- we had to spin around with a bat on our forhead 3 times then run down and break open a pinata! IT WAS SO MUCH FUN....then people had to do a 3 legged race, break open another pinata, run with a marble on chopsticks, and then break open another pinata and then finally it was a tricycle race to the finish! Students won!!!! It was soo much fun!!! It was put on by the Honors Program. They had good prizes too! I won a to-go coffee cup from the IPFW bookstore, a $10 gift certificate to Mitchell's books, a free carwash, IPFW pencils, 2 white chocolate covered pretzels from Debrands fine chocolates, and I had to wear a yellow spinning that.... which i got to keep..... it was fun! Yay for more spring fling..... i STILL cant believe how fast this semester has gone by... but I am glad to be getting rid of some of my classes! well thats about all for now! Jenn

Posted: April 8, 2006

Hey there! It has been a while since I last wrote and a lot has happened. This has been a great weekend. So this weekend was the Campus Ministry Weekend Retreat. A group of 28 students and 3 adults all went up to Grand Junction Michigan to ski, tube, and learn about God. It was so much fun! This year we actually got to stay the entire time! (Last year we were unable to due to a big snowstorm). We started off the weekend with a devotional time, followed by games and more games and staying up till 3-4... the next day we split up and some of us went skiing and some (like me) went tubing which was sooooo much fun! The group that went tubing kept trying to get tons of people onto a few amount of tubes. At one point we had 14 people on 4 tubes! yeah- we are all a little bit crazy! :) Heres a little lesson for you all though- never put 3 people on 1 tube- bad idea. 2 of my friends and I did this and hardly made it down the hill, we flew off- one friend cutting up her face,I landed on my neck and started rolling down the hill... craziness! We suffered some minor injuries, but all in all it was tons of fun. On Sunday, I went to a concert that only cost me 6 dollars! I went to Huntington North High School and saw KJ-52, Superchic[k], Eleventyseven, and SevenDaySlumber! All of these are great Christian bands that are punk or rock music- such a great concert! Iwas at the front towards the stage the entire time! Afterwards, I was able to meet the members of all of the bands and get my picture taken with all of them. IT WAS AWESOME! So that was my great weekend= now Im back for another fun week of school... who's excited??? :)

Posted: February 15, 2006

So it has been one long and crazy week!!!

Starting off on Friday we had the retreat for Campus Ministry which was amazing!!! I totally needed the break! And then on Sunday I got my ears pierced again, and saw 4 amazing bands! Did I mention I got to meet them as well???!!! I got to see SeventhDaySlumber, Eleventyseven, KJ-52, and Superchic [k]!!! Plus I got to hang out with my amazing friends and sisters!

Monday I was having fun. Mike (my neighbor) and Brittany and I decided to make supper together... then we all kept inviting people and so it grew to 10 people that I would be cooking for. We decided to make breakfast food- and called it brupper (breakfast + supper)... it was fun! I cooked for 2 hours non stop- i made scrambled eggs, bacon, and my specialty pancakes.... i went through 2 sozen eggs, 5 cups of pancake mix, and 3 packages of bacon, and 1 loaf of bread!

Tuesday was Valentine's Day - or as I call it "Single's Awareness day"... it was nice actually. Mike got me a carnation and a stuffed puppy- sprayed with his cologne and a card; and some dude named Sam- who scares me - i met him the night before - and he got me carnations... it was funny - it was like the two of them were competeing....ha ha ha ha- makes me feel special...later that night at our stupid staff meeting - i ended up getting into a huge fught with Fidel- my boss- almost getting myself fired - over a stupid bulletin board! He yelled at me and I yelled back and it was kinda fun! Although I was so upset that i cried for 3hours, went home and was seriously gonna quit the next morning. But i didn't - mom calmed me down...i was called in for a meeting with both of my bosses today- thursday to discuss my behavior and what not.... i told them that I was planning on staying throughout the semester but now i think im going to get an apartment with Candace- if we can convince the parents.

So then there is the guy i like. I can't tell if he likes me or not... i feel like i'm getting mixed signals and i want to say something to him- but what if im wrong- what if he doesnt like me? What if I read into things too much? I do tend to do that a lot... Well this is really long... so im gonna go! Bye!!!