Taylor Swift=Good Music

Taylor Swift is probably my favorite pop/country artist.
I can listen to her whole album and connect with almost every song.
How does she do it?

Taylor,
Are you reading my past journal entries? Have you followed my previous love life? Seriously, you hit the nail on the head almost every time.
I can't sing like you, but I sure can imagine myself singing those songs and the music video of my life playing out. (which by the way would be a really good one).
I mean whether it's homework or driving in the car, the songs get me every time. Your classy, yet honest. Good touch.

And now these romantic coffee dates with jake. Listen whether you guys make it or break it, the next album is going to probably be one of your best.

So all I have to say is, good job, Taylor Swift. You make me proud to be a listener of pop music.

love,
jocelyn elizabeth

Sisterhood

Growing up, I had one person who was my biggest enemy and my best friend.
She was the one who bossed me around.
She was also the one who was my only friend my freshmen year of highschool.
Sometimes, family can be one of the most difficult relationships in the world.
Yet they can be the sweetest.

I always wanted an older brother growing up. Yet, I have an older sister.
Yes the sister who would punch and shred the man that hurts her little sister.
The sister who doesn't hide the remains of trying on and borrowing your shoes from your room.
Or the familiar new purse or headband, she is sporting which came from the mall of my closet.

Yet she is the one who knows the good and bad from my past.
She is the one who is refining to be with.
She is the worldchanger and heart of the family.
She is the woman who inspires and desires for humanity to be whole.
She is the one who inhabits all laughter and joy from the sweet and embarrassing memories of family road trips.

Sisters are the best.
Who else can you talk with about issues with your parents?
Who else can you laugh with about the crazy matching outfits when you were four and six?
Or the embarrassing modeling poses on the beach when you were 8 years old?

I am amazingly blessed.

I love you, Rachel Ann. 

I wouldn't want anyone else as my sister.
There is no one else who is more hipster, passionate about Africa, incense loving, goodwill shopping, and committed to free trade.
You are the perfect balance to the berry girls.

love,
jocelyn elizabeth

A Thankful Thanksgiving

This has been one of the best Thanksgivings. 

I slept in until noon, which has not been done more than thrice this semester. 

After I woke up, I laid on the couch looking through Black Friday advertisements. 

Then my left eye swelled up, because of my allergic reaction to our cat. So I looked a little rough. I was thankful this was going to be a day with no public outings. Then my parents insisted on having me take benadryll, because I needed to just be a little more lazy. However, the benadryl expired in 2008. So it thankfully had no effect on me. Sadly, it had no effect on the puffed up eye.

Then I moved from the couch to my bed and watched the snow fall down and pondered about life. Finally I jumped in the shower and got ready for dinner time. 

After dinner, my family and I sat down and watched CNN's Heroes. It is a special on CNN every Thanksgiving. It shows ten different people, who are average day people yet are doing heroic things. If you want to be inspired, watch it. 

INSPIRATION

I want to be a hero. I want to find the need and do something. Maybe that is why I have recently become really passionate about being a teacher.

I want to be an instrument. 
I want to bring change. 
I want to do something eternally impacting.

I always thought that being married would bring my life to full circle. Yet every day, I am coming to the realization that there is more to be done. There is something beyond the fairytale I dreamed. There is a world outside of mine. It's a broken world. One that needs the message of redemption and salvation. A world that needs someone to bend down and be willing to get dirty. To dig in deep and not give up. To not turn when things get messy.

Maybe my heroic impact will be:
teaching
discipleship
missions
taking care of orphans
loving my neighbor
praying for my enemy

I want to do something great.


Here's to another year of thankfulness. Here's to change.

love,
jocelyn elizabeth

Really?

Last night, I was working on a power point presentation for school.
I was on this photo website looking for stock photos and needed a picture that represented compassion.
I needed maybe a picture of Mother Theresa or a woman holding a hurting or dying child.
Maybe even a picture of a heart breaking in two, you know those photos that bring tears to your heart.
And I was completely shocked at the results.


















And these were the results:

Does this look like a face of compassion?

Remotely close?

Compassion, definitely not, but maybe some passion behind those paws to play the keys.

I just had to share my shock and confusion when it pulled up.....


love,
jocelyn elizabeth

Do You Know the Real Me?

Sometimes I wonder what would happen if my friends knew the real me?

You know the raw, me.

The one who gets frustruated when people chew their food too loud.
 Or the person who gets annoyed when someone interrupts me.

Yes this is the real me. The girl who sees her flaws very clearly everyday.

I have a hard time loving the socially awkward.
I am impatient at times.
Too judgemental.
Too assuming of the worst.
Too human.

And then I realize.
Jesus Christ knows the real me.
He knows the ins and outs of my heart.
And He's not taken back or surprised. He just pursues more. He gently reminds me of who I am destined to be.

I genuinely enjoy having a deep relationship with God. He brings this satisfaction to the longing of my heart. I don't necessarily understand Him all the time or how He works. But I know His character. I know I can trust Him, because He reveals His character to me through the Bible.

How can I not love Him? He heals the lame, forgives the harlot, and selflessly dies for my imperfections, my sins, so that I may have eternal life.

Psalm 73:26
"My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; He is mine forever."

Thank you, God. Thank you.

love,
jocelyn elizabeth

My Friend Procrastination

I am here with my friend, Procrastination.
He always shows up at the perfect time, right when I need to get that important thing done.
He likes to keep me entertained with facebook and funny youtube videos.


Anyways, I am very good at procrastinating. If I have changed my facebook profile picture ten times in a day, its the sign of procrastination. If i comment on all 1,000 of my friends pictures, its because I am procrastinating.

Here is a perfect picture of procrastination. A photo shoot with my webcam at 11pm at night.

love,
jocelyn elizabeth

5 Things I have Learned from being a Bridesmaid

Currently, I have been in 5 weddings.
Every time someone has asked me to be one of their bridesmaids, I have felt overwhelmingly honored.
It is such a big deal to be in someone's wedding party.
Each wedding, I have been in, has been some of my dearest friends.
To be able to share in this monumental moment with them, from getting ready to hearing their excitement after coming down the aisle, as the new "Mr. and Mrs.," is one of the best things ever.

However, by being a bridesmaid five times, I have learned some very good tips.

1. Make sure you get around the bride when she is putting her dress on. Even if you don't know how to help her out, get in there. You are guaranteed a spot in the professional pictures. Make note, I did not know how to put April's dress together in the back. However, I am looking inquisitively which equaled spot in memorable moment.

inquisitive look

2. Practice some model poses. A good bouquet of flowers and a church makes some great model photographs. They are given facebook profile pics. Where was the bride? Don't know, but got some good profile pics.

3. Smile big when walking down the runway, I mean aisle. This is your moment. Be the shining star, for 2 seconds. You never know when you will be the one in white walking down the aisle, so live your aisle of fame up.

  

4. Be the designated driver. Step up to the plate. Be the person who is the go to person. They want to know where the lady in white is, well you got her safe in sound in a seat belt next to you. She's not going anywhere.

 

5. Learn those dance moves now. This is your practice ground for when you decide to try out for "So You think you can dance." People won't think your weird if you look like a fool, trying to get all those quirks out of your robot. They think you are wedding dancing. 

Now I am going to go back to my homework and stop having ADD.

love,

jocelyn elizabeth

One Year Ago

I have recently realized the wonderful effects of change. It is such a beautiful thing to experience.

I was laying on my bed the other day realizing how different I am than I was a year ago. two years ago. three years ago.

So many stages of life, I have gone through. So many trials, I have endured. So many victories, I have tasted.

I wouldn't trade to go back. Not one year ago. Not two years ago. Not three years ago.

I am stronger. I am wiser. I am quick to forgive and slow to be bitter.

I am a different woman. And I completely embrace it. May I become more of the solid, confident woman I am destined to be.

I am so blessed to be where I am.

So here is a little flashback:

four years ago- little 19 year old intern

 

Three years ago- 20 years old and discipling the best 12 girls ever...

 

 And I also made some of my best friends that year. 20 was a great year.

And now two years ago, I was 21. And I traveled the world. 

Israel

And I grew up and left the world of Teen Mania Ministries.

Now last year was one of the most intense.

I got my first job.

I had my first real heartbreak.

I went away to college.

And I was in three weddings.

It was a bittersweet year.

And along the way, I have made some of the most amazing friends, again.

 And now I am 23 years old. 

Embracing every moment.

I wouldn't change a thing.

I am a completely crazy college girl who stays up until 4 am, dresses up in crazy halloween costumes, and is loving Jesus fully.

I love the fact I am not getting any younger.
I am becoming more of the wife, mother, and godly woman I am destined to be.

Here's to you, 23. cheers.

love,
jocelyn elizabeth