update from training!

hey friends,

sorry it has been a bit since my last update. if you are not currently receiving updates from me via email, please leave me a comment and i will get your info to add you to the list.

life is good here at orientation. i have learned so much and am so excited to be here! He is doing a lot of great things and i am grateful to be amongst others that are glad to be sent out. i don't really have a lot of pictures from my time here as many don't need to have their faces all over the Internet.

i have been able to get off campus and it has been fun. this past weekend a couple of friends from Arkadelphia picked me up and we went to lunch and to check out the local Dillard's (way to go for AR-based business). it was nice to get out with them and see what He is doing through them.

i have gotten back into running a bit since being here and it feels great. the food has been really good and it is way nice to be served (we eat cafeteria-style).
i am also looking forward to being back AR for that week before i head out. i am planning a get together in NWA for family and friends, so be looking for more info about that.

i hope this finds you well! much love, mj

update update update!

well, i am finally back on my computer and able to give you a good update on life before heading to training in Virginia. check out the pictures--you may be in one!

my dad, bonnie, barrett, & mande all came south to celebrate Christmas. we went to garvan woodland gardens for their light display!

here i was able to have lunch with my BCM gals one last time!
my friend, Debbie, and i got a pic in before the George Strait concert in Little Rock!
Debbie's husband and my sister also joined us cowgirls

i got to hang with some super heros in Arkadelphia--Ben & Abby Sickler
back in Rogers sharing with the Awanas kids at FBC Rogers--they got a fun geography lesson
telling them all about north Africa--they had a lot of great questions like:
do they have bathrooms?
will you have cartoon network in north Africa?
it was a blast to hang with this fabulous kids!
my mom, sis, and i had a very Merry Christmas!

in downtown Chicago with my Aunt Pam at the Bean
got to share about north Africa with my past co-workers at the USCWM/Perspectives headquarters in Fayetteville

mande and i saying happy 2008 at Navy Pier in Chicago!
i got to use a snowblower for the first time in Denver while i visited my family and friends there

thanks so much for staying in touch. i look forward to keeping you more updated. thanks for your support and for thinking of me.
shukran!

howdy friends!

happy new year, too!

i am travelling right now--having been in Chicago and presently in the Denver area. just wanted to say hello and that i will be updating this when i return to AR next week.

:)

starting the goodbyes

recently some dear friends threw me a suprise going away party.

so, it has officially begun: the goodbyes

check out the footage below:

the room was alive and full of dear friends

i was so excited to have friends surround me with requests

the ladies back together again

so, this is my last week at the BCM and it is pretty surreal. i am heading to NYC with Jessica for a few days next week, then will be hosting my dad and sister for a Christmas in the 'delphia, to then head to Rogers for Christmas Eve and day. yeah!!

thanks for tracking with me. i will post more pix soon.

homecoming 2007

i am so glad to be here for Homecoming at HSU. i really enjoyed my years here as a student and continue being pleased by serving on the campus with the BCM.

so, in an effort to enjoy some lasts for a little while i am heading to an HSU/OBU volleyball match! go reddies!

this weekend will be full of fun and reunions with former classmates.

had the opportunity to carve pumpkins with some of the Intl gals and then carved some with my roommate, Jessica, and friend, Nin.

here are some pix of the pumpkin fest with the Intls:

at the nursery picking out pumpkins

working hard on the carving!

check out the carved creations!