I'm not sure why I even update this anymore, but just to have "closure" I need to give my latest...

I'm DONE with support-raising!!! woohoo!!! I moved to Cincinnati this week to live with my aunt and uncle for a month until summer project, and then will come back in the fall to move into my own place.

Who knew Cincinnati was such an incredibly cool city? I love the character, and all the little coffee shops and "villages". LOVE it here.

I'm going to Ocean City, NJ for summer project....totally excited about that!

This is going to be a crazy year...lots of transition, lots of "new", lots of learning and training, lots of travelling (LOTS)...but life is good. Definitely ready to settle down some - and buy a couch.

I read everyone else's updates, so it's only fair I update once every blue moon (although, I'm not the biggest fan of xanga anymore...sorry! Facebook is just so much more fun. You can't play Scrabulous on xanga).

What am I doing now? I'm ..... (DRP - drum roll please) .... that's right, support raising! It feels like I've been raising support for an eternity, but I know that's an exaggeration, and some people raise support for two years (how do they stay sane???) so once my mind is thinking truth, I realize that the Lord is good, His timing is perfect, and He's providing abundantly. I'm at 83%, with some good appointments set up in the near future. Expectantly trusting that the Lord will bring in all my support by April so that I can be place on a SUMMER PROJECT!!!

I've actually never even been on a Stateside summer project (some of you are like...what the heck is a summer project? I assume too much that Crusade staff are the only ones reading this blog...sorry!!) So a summer project is where staff take a group of students - either in the States or internationally - and it's usually between 3-8 weeks. An intense time of training (usually in evangelism), FUN, community, discipleship...and usually close to a beach (at least in the States). I like that :) So I'm really asking the Lord to provide my support in time to be assigned to a project for this summer.

In other news...I'm living back with my parents. It's humbling to be 27, and still not be "stable" enough to officially move out. I guess I am transitioning to Cincinnati, but it's still hard to keep moving back in. My parents are amazing, and SO supportive...but it's still hard. It's also just been a really challenging season - not just with support. I want to really "get" what is means to be content and have joy in all circumstances. I've got a long way to go.

Well...there's my life in a nutshell :)

Support update...and it's a wonderful life...

Support update: 75%!!!

Unbelieveable...and some of the support came in while I was in Florida this past weekend visiting my grandparents. Maybe I should go to Florida more often....or maybe I AM...for a MONTH...for my JOB...in JANUARY!!!

I don't particulary love Florida - it's too hot (even in December). But it was great to get down there and see my adorable grandparents. No really, they are the cutest couple ever...married 61 years and they are still best friends and love to be around eachother. Pretty remarkable...and rare.

So, I figured out how many airports/countries I've been in since June of 2006.

Airports: 17 (some of them multiple times)

Countries: 6 (some of them multiple times too!)

US...New Zealand...Fiji...Japan...Thailand...South Korea.

I remember a few years ago (right after I decided to trust Jesus) crying to my dad and telling him (despairingly) that I had given up too many "dreams" and I couldn't imagine anything being great in the future...basically my hope was rooted in feelings and experiences and not Jesus. He just laughed at me and said, "Jody, you have NO idea the adventure the Lord is about to take you on." Now...four years later...I'm totally amazed. It has been an adventure. I'm tired and am SO glad life is slowing down to a "normal" pace (is that even realistic? what is normal anyway?)...but am so thankful for the abundant life the Lord has given me to live. And I'm not just thankful because I've had all these amazing experiences....because they're just experiences. I'm really thankful for the Lord opening my eyes to truth....where true hope and life are found. Jesus.

Experiences minus Jesus equals emptiness and a futile, pointless, unsatisfactory (in the end) life. 

Knowing Jesus equals a full life. Period. The life humans were originally created to live.

And of coures there are amazing experiences as a result of knowing Jesus...but they're just the cherry on top. You don't need the cherry. It's just nice to have :)

life update...

My financial support in going to Cincinnati is at 68% (unofficially)...and tomorrrow I have a HUGE meeting with someone who might significantly increase my percentages. Pretty surreal this has all happened in SUCH a short amount of time.

Still trusting the Lord for: wisdom in transitioning to Cincinnati (timing, etc.), someone to take over my lease at the house I'm currently living in, good closure here in Indianapolis.

Sunday night was interesting for lots of reasons, but basically resulted in my buying a spontaneous plane ticket to visit a friend in Seattle! And I leave in less than 2 weeks! I'd looked at this plane ticket before, hesitated, didn't buy it...next week the price jumped a hundred dollars...checked again sunday night...back down to original price...immediately put it on my credit card. Pretty good deal for a plane ticket. I woke up monday morning thinking, "what did i just do! i don't have money or time to be taking spontaneous trips" and then I talked to my amazing dad...he's so great and just affirmed that it was fine - money is money - we're not always the wisest with it...and sometimes we just need to take spontaneous trips. That officially sent me into excitement. My dad is pretty great...not just for that reason...he's just about the most amazing dad ever for about a million reasons I won't write down. I guess I'll keep him :)

So here's why I'm so excited about Seattle...never been there, seemingly amazing city, COFFEE!!!!, Mars Hill Church with my favorite pastor, Mark Driscoll (and I get to GO sunday night after getting there!!!), and best of all seeing my friend...i'm pretty excited.

I also just got back from a vision trip to Cincinnati and love love LOVE it!!! I'm officially sold on that city - and the ministry there...i absolutely LOVE my staff team. Some pretty amazing men and women who walk closely with God - they are so fun, humble, and we connected immediately. Oh, and I LOOOOOOVE the students! Can't wait to get to be in their lives...if you ever want to visit, just let me know :) My precious little cousins live there, too...and I can't wait to get consistent time with them. Just LOVE them. That's a lot of love going on there...better quit before I get too dramatic.

Life is really good. (hard, but good...my most quoted phrase recently...haha)

people i love...

Here's my Cincinnati family (two little cousins i ADORE! Plus my brother, Jon)

Jon told Jack to spit off the bridge. He did...it missed me by centimeters.

I LOVE this kid!

My two buddies...Alice and Jack.

Jack is not only my little cousin, but also my bodyguard.

And my precious little clone.