Jessi's Random Escapades

I am Second: a review

2012-01-07T10:32:00.000-08:00

I read and reviewed the book, I am Second, a collection of testimonies from some pretty famous people.
This book is excellent, and I would definitely recommend it to anyone!! Some of the people in the book include Brian "Head" Welch, Bethany Hamilton, Jason Castro, many football players and businessman. Pretty good stuff. Also check out the website.

Smitten: A review!

2011-12-17T19:28:00.000-08:00

I'm reading Smitten, a collaboration by Collen Coble, Diann Hunt, Kristen Billerbeck, and Denise Hunter. It's about four young, single women who are trying to save a town, by transforming it into a romantic hotspot for newlyweds.

This book is christian, and you can tell! Although I found it highly predictable at times, it was a good read, and cute. The characters were unique and funny, but right off the bat, you can tell the future lover of each girl, and that kind of ruins it :/

on a scale of 1-10 I would say about a 7!

Surprised by Oxford ; A memoir (a review)

2011-09-20T15:20:00.000-07:00

this blog is now being used for book reviews (books provided by this fantastic site) :)
My first book is called Surpised by Oxford. Unfortunately this book is a little bit older than I am (fifteen) and rather drab. I apologize for this .

Oatmeal chocolate chip cookies!

2011-08-04T10:54:00.000-07:00

Ingredients:

2 cups butter
2 cups sugar
2 cups brown sugar
4 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
4 cups flour
5 cups oatmeal
1 tsp salt
2 tsp baking powder
2 tsp baking soda
24oz chocolate chips (I prefer milk chocolate)
3 cups chopped nuts (optional - I don't use them.)

Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees
Cream the butter and both sugars.
Add eggs and vanilla. Mix together with flour, oatmeal, salt, baking powder and soda.
Add chocolate chips and nuts.
Roll into balls and bake 2" inches apart on a cookie sheet. bake for 10 minutes.

I got this recipe from a friend a few years ago - I was so surprised the first time I made them; there was a TON of dough!!! Depending on the size of your cookies, it makes somewhere around 112 cookies! But to tell you the truth, they make a great breakfast on the go. The oatmeal provides protein and energy, and the chocolate gives it a sweet taste : )

What you do to me......

2011-07-18T18:14:00.000-07:00

I've totally slacked off on musical Monday's, and for that I am sorry. I've been trying to find something good to share with you, that may appeal to you haha. Any way here we are.......I was super obsessed with this song, although the band is like gay. It's super unrealisitc, but cute all the same and causes me to daydream.

If you have any recommendations , please oh please tell me.

Submerge

2011-07-16T10:56:00.000-07:00

Yes, the rumors are true....I did indeed attend Summerfire 2011 :) And needless to say, I enjoyed it haha. It didn't become really enjoyable until about Wednesday, but it's whatev.

Anyway, the theme of this year was "Submerge" , and basically just about getting deeper into a relationship with the Lord and diving further into your faith. The Lord really spoke to me this week, particularly on Wednesday night.

Basically, He told me that even though my world is falling apart, He's got me in His hand, He knows what's going on and in His own perfect time, He will provide. My family is in a reeeeal financial struggle right now, among other things, and there have been times when we don't know what our next meal will be, but somehow by some crazy miracle, we get it - and that has been God providing for us, even though we don't realize it.

He provides for us and cares for us because He loves us more than any one could ever possibly fathom, and that blew my mind this week. The intense love of the Savior just hit me, and it was all I could do to just continue standing on two feet haha. I always knew the Lord loved me, and I'm sure you all know that too, but when it just hits you, and God reassures that love in your life, it's so overwhelming. I think I cried my body weight.

So this is what I have to say : We all go through a darkness. Just like this seemingly never ending cloud of darkness. Sometimes it's thicker than other times, or bigger than other times, and we just don't know if anyone cares, or if it will ever end.

We wonder if the light will ever come, if it'll ever just vanquish the darkness, like an epic battle scene from a comic book.......it's not always like that but let me say this : In order to to find the light, sometimes you must go through the darkness.

I heard an analogy that went something like this ; A man kept having this nightmare that he was on this island, and he was always at a little hill where he could see the ocean. This just huge wave of dark was headed toward him, and the sun was setting and so he took off for the other side of the island, hoping to outrun the darkness. Anyway, the man continued having this nightmare, almost every single night and he couldn't understand the meaning of his dream and it scared him to pieces. One day he realized, that in order to find the light you have to go through the darkness.

I don't mean go worship demons and practice witchcraft or anything ridiculous, but sometimes we need to go through to darkness, to catch the rising sun.

OW.

2011-07-08T16:27:00.000-07:00

My Independence Day went well, other than the horrible sunburn that I acquired from sitting for two solid hours in the sun. Yeah...I'm a genius.

But seriously!!! IT HURT. The absolute worst pain I have ever had, and may ever will have. I did put sunscreen on, but not much and it was very old (more like ancient). Anyway....it didn't actually start hurting until a while after we got home and I showered. Which was prolly dumb....but I BEG OF YOU to remember this:

Wear sunscreen. Apply it often. And make sure it isn't old.

I definitely learned a lesson out of it which is this :

It really honestly doesn't matter what other people think of you. You don't have to be tall, thin, blonde, tan (!), southern, northern, green, skinny, loud or polka-dotted to be cool. Remember the verse in the bible that says something abt the Lord looks not at the outside, but the heart? Well it's true. God doesn't give a flying rip abt what you look like, He cares abt your heart. If God cares about your heart (not the organ, more like the inner soul), shouldn't we care it?

What you listen to, talk abt, who you hang out with, what you read, what you do....it all makes up the contents of your heart. So - is it honoring to God? That's something to think about, for me personally too.

And now about how you look....... I mean, God does care. He doesn't want you to neglect your body, and just chow down on junk food and be all gross. BUT you don't live up to any standards to Him. We're created in His image, right? So clearly - we're all beautiful, whether others think so or not.

I know what it feels like to be disregarded/avoided just because I don't look right (not tan, not skinny, no makeup.....). And I do understand when you say "I know God loves me just the same, but I still feel bad when I don't look right!!!" I had that problem too and am still struggling with it, major. But, I'm learning that I honestly do not care what those tall and gorgeous girls are thinking when they snub me. I have fabulous friends and an amazing God who love me no flipping matter how I look, makeup or not, tan or not, skinny or not.

Remember this: You are too gorgeous/handsome, because there is always at least one person who thinks so. And He's Jesus. And He's the only one that matters, besides me ;)

SNAP OUT OF IT!

2011-07-02T15:25:00.000-07:00

I'm happy to announce the somehow, probably Jesus, my point of view on a few things today changed and my eyes were quite opened.

My heart is breaking for children and adults in Africa, Asia, Russia and our very own country that are starving and dying each day because they don't get any food.

Why in this world are actors, atheletes and musicians getting paid the way they do, while MILLIONS of people are dying because of their lack of food?!?!?! Why are our taxes sky-rocketing, while BILLIONS of children are starving?!!?

What a selfish, self-centered, self-serving country and people we have become. It's appalling.

Oh, how I would enjoy going up to Tiger Woods (as of September 2010, his net worth is $500 million dollars), Kobe Bryant (net worth - $140 million dollars), the band U2 ($195 mil), Lady GaGa ($90 mil) or any other such famous, overly paid person and slapping them in the face.
***I would like to point out that all celebrities are not selfish jerks, because there are many that do donate and help world hunger and such organizations.
I was on my way home from Hardee's tonight with my family, and was near tears while I thought about the families, and children who are starving and dying each day. Most of them don't eat even once or twice a week, while we're all sitting on our butts in the Land of Luxury!!!!!!!

I'll be honest with you; my family is quite dirt poor right now. Yet I'm willing to give my money to organizations that help feed and clothe people in third world countries.

How much would it hurt an athelete, or actoress, or business-men or you to donate just a little? just a smidgen of what you make to Convoy of Hope or the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team?

Wake up, America, and flipping do something about it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Convoy of Hope
World Vision
Drive to End Hunger
World Food Programme (United Nations)
Bread for the World

Just thinking....

2011-06-18T17:55:00.000-07:00

"Closeness only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades." Found this quote on a blog post of a lovely blog I happened upon, called Vividry - link here you should check it out!! Anyway, I thought it was funny and is relevant, in a weird sort of way haha. Happy trails :)

New look

2011-06-17T18:15:00.000-07:00

Hopefully this new and beautiful look will inspire me to continue writing. I have a few summer goals, and of them is to faithfully write in my blog. Would you care to see some summer goals?

To use every experience, sorrow, and joy for the glory of the Lord (I reeeeeally want God to use my summer to change me and use me)
To attend a summer camp, preferably Summerfire : )
To faithfully write in my blog, at least one paragraph twice a week.
To ride another horse, ANY horse!!!
To get a tan :D

I may make up a few more later on, but that's the gist of it right now. Looking back, none of my summers that I can remember have been, well, memorable. I'm ready for an exciting & action filled summer to just grab the reins and take off!!! So here's to summer; may you be exciting & action filled!!

Oops...

2011-06-01T15:19:00.000-07:00

I missed musical monday, so think up your own good music :)

My brother is graduating from high school on Saturday. And just warning you, it could be interesting. And if you want, after Saturday, ask to read his diploma.

Some thing's just make you think...

2011-05-28T11:19:00.001-07:00

And sometimes I don't like thinking...

musical mondays (despite the fact it's not monday)

2011-05-17T15:30:00.000-07:00

I have fell in love.

With Tyler Ward. (here's his youtube channel) He does a lot of covers but he also has many original songs; Falling, The Rescue, and more. He's got a fantastic voice and he's extremely good looking. I shall admit it. He also has another channel, Tyler Ward TV, which is like, behind the scenes stuff. And most if it is flipping hilarious.

Here's a video just in case you don't want to follow links haha:

Good stuff. But this video doesn't do his face justice. So go find another video hahaha.

Also I found on youtube are Christina Grimmie, Alex Goot and Eppic (somebody who does a toonnn with Tyler Ward). Check them outtt.

So there you go.

hey there :)

2011-04-19T15:02:00.000-07:00

I'M BACK!!!

For a little while at least xD my stu -, er, dumb computer flipping blocks Blogger so I have to get on mom's account to make posts and oh, goodness gracious it's ridiculous.

Either way. Here I am. Alive and Well. I guess.

I finallyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy went to the barn today!!! I was so excited. Only we got there and for 40 minutes we were a l o n e. Thanks, guys. We didn't exactly do much, just played with ponies basically. But it doesn't matter what we do, I love the barn and the ponies. No matter how people may treat us.

Even HUGER news is that after service on Easter Sunday, we are leaving for the Outer-Flipping-Banks!!!! :D :D :D :D finally. back home <3 We stay there for EIGHT nights, NINE days! so happy.

So Sorry!

2011-04-03T06:34:00.003-07:00

My computer has been weird lately, and it blocks blogger, so when we get that fixed, a real post will be in order! :)

no subject.

2011-03-13T14:13:00.000-07:00

There's just some times when I can't think of a title for my post. Just explaining. Anyway.

Just a quick post to let you know that I hope this week is better. It probably will be because I'm going to the barn Monday. But without Jan because she left us :(.

Well, when one chapter ends, another begins! Let's remember that this week...

"Everlasting Your light will shine when all else fails, never-ending Your glory goes behind all fame. And the cry of my heart is to give You praise, from the inside out, Lord my soul cries out..."

When nothing goes right...go left.

2011-03-11T12:19:00.000-08:00

So this week has been only a smidge crazy. Ha. Just kidding; it was ridiculous.

My pastor's old church's youth group (Lift Uth = that's supposed to be like youth, but meaning you. get it?) came up from Venice, Florida for a missions trip up here. People from our church helped house the teenagers, so my house got four boys. Not entirely a bad thing (considering they use Axe and Old Spice...happy jessi.) but the other aspects of the week were pretty much gross.

BUT I want to remind everyone God is good, and He'll bring each one of us through.

The sorrow may last through the night, but joy comes in the morning. Huzzah!

In Fear & Faith

2011-03-01T11:18:00.000-08:00

Nope, I'm not talking about the popular rock band. I'm talking about the phrase in general.

"In fear and faith...what?" you may be asking. Well I'm going to answer you from my perspective =)

Are you fearful of anything? I am. I have a pathological phobia of clowns. That means that I have an irreversible, ever-present fear of clowns. It started when I was about two or three. We were at a picnic of sorts, and this huge clown just jumped in front of me and freaked the daylights out of me. I've learned to make my fear invisible, but I'm still definitely terrified of clowns. I'm also scared of the dark (not really like in my room at night, more like the woods and outdoors at night) and of the future.

A lot of people are afraid of different things; the ocean, guns, the past, the future, spiders, small spaces...the list goes on!!

Even though these things are mighty scary, and sometimes we just give up and say that nothing will ever change, we've got to let go of our fears and give them to God. "Of course I have given it to God! I'm SCARED of it, dude!" you may say. But sometimes, we don't really give it to God. We still allow this fear to scare us, to worry us, to determine our attitudes. This FEAR is a tool that the devil can use to destroy us.

You know the saying (that is quite cliche...) let go and let God? Well. It's true. Let GO of this fear, and let God destroy it!

Now on to the second part of this phrase. Faith. "Uhm. Hello? Is it possible to be faithful, with out God?" you may be asking. Well the truth is...yeah. It is VERY possible to be faithful in something OTHER than God. We can place our faith in things like money, relationships, success, hobbies, etc.

With EVERYTHING in our lives including our fear and our faith, it has to go to God.
Fear - everything that remotely scares us, worries us, gives us doubts about anything, has to go to the Lord. You need to verbally tell Him that you no longer want control of "it", you no longer want "it" to control your life. He replaces "it" with love, peace, joy, comfort and...a feeling of content that we can't even describe.

Faith - It seems pretty elementary, but we occasional lose our faith in the Lord. The devil plants lies in our minds, and we begin to doubt Him, we begin to stop trusting in Him for the good outcome. We can't ever let the devil's lies get to us!! On the same note, we can't put out faith in anything other then the Lord. He is our Rock, our Fortress, our Joy, our Safe Haven, and in Him we should put our lives.

So to wrap this up: In our fear and in our faith, we are with Him =)

New blogs = New...beginnings?

2011-02-24T17:00:00.000-08:00

I don't really know how to explain that title haha but I'm bored. I have an idea for a really long post, but I don't have time yet. Maybe Saturday!

But I want to post this:

Why can't I do this?!?!

Quick little reminder: if you're reading this, click the button to the left that says follow XD

Make yourself at home.

2011-02-21T13:41:00.000-08:00

Hello my dear and devoted followers!!

You all remember my blog, Southern Hospitality? Well that blog is no more.
The reason being, I have two email address', the one I use regularly, and one only used for Facebook notifications.

Well my old blog was on the FB email, and having to log in and out and around just got confusing, so here be my new blog: Jessi's Random Escapades (so just totally forget about the Southern Hospitality one)!!

Merriam-Webster dictionary has this definition for 'escapade': A mischievous adventure. Quite frankly, I think my blog name is perfect =)

More posts soon, I promise, this one is just to clear the air =)

p.s. please remember to click follow =)