The Questioning of Sanity

Do any of you have the proverbial “bucket list”? I do, and one of the things at the top of the list was…skydiving. I actually got to mark that one off the list this last weekend, AND I even got credit through my university for it! Crazy? Yes. Crazy awesome. It was a wonderful experience, and I definitely plan on doing it again! I’ll show you some picture documentation.

Walking to the plane with my wonderful instructor. He had my life in his hands. Ha It made me happy that they gave me a pink jumpsuit.

I’m not sure if you can read it or not, but the sign on the plane says “Please No Farting”. Ba ha ha I’m pretty sure the instructors really take that seriously, since we’re connected to them and all.  

This is my nervous face.

Making our way out of the plane. I asked my instructor to pretty please flip us out. It was awesome!

Free falling at a slow 120 mph.

The goggles coming off.

The landing. The hair doesn’t stay intact while flying through the air. I was looking Einstein.

I was all smiles for a pretty long while.

Since I have been back the main question is, “What was it like?”. That is a hard question to answer, because it is not comparable to anything we know. It’s NOT like a roller coaster drop as most people assume, because you’re not jumping from a stationary object. You already have the forward momentum of the plane. Also, the air kind of picks you up as you fall if that makes any sense.

 

Another question is whether or not I was scared. I was not. I’m sort of a dare devil with “little woman syndrome”. I was nothing but excited…UNTIL I got on the plane. It was a 14 minute ride to our 14,000 foot altitude, and the whole way up I was thinking to myself, “Oh my goodness, am I REALLY about to do this?!?”. I didn’t know I said it aloud until my instructor said, “Yes, you are. You used to be normal, but now you’re joining us.” Ha ha Then, it got even worse when I got to the door about to jump out. It was then that I REALLY questioned my sanity. My instructor had to pry my hands from the bar above the door. Then…we went, and it was absolutely amazing!!! I loved it, and I’m pretty convinced that every one in the world should jump out of a plane. Add it to the list.  

Shaped by Grace,

Jessica Nicole

Cinderella

So…as I previously mentioned, I am going through Beth Moore’s Psalms of Ascent Bible study, and I absolutely love it! The particular week I am going to talk about we were in Psalm 123, and let me tell you, working through these Psalms with Beth is wonderful. I never knew you could go so deep with the Psalms, but you can. My book is MARKED up!!!

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Anyways, this particular week  had a teensy portion that contained a story of a weary prostitute who came and accidentally set in on the Breaking Free Bible study in Cape Town, South Africa. She was simply looking for a place to sit down, but she ended up staying through the whole study, and at the end she came to the facilitator of the study and told her, “I can never go back to my old life”.

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I don’t know if you have ever seen any of my notes or books that I own, but I am a slightly crazy note taker. I mean, if someone else were to read the book after me there would be no question in their mind as to what I was thinking as I was reading. My roomie, Amber Marie, makes fun of me often for the sounds and facials I make as I read. I’m an animated reader. Who knew that was even possible?!? Anyways, I say that to say that out beside this portion I drew a heart with a smiley face in the middle. Mine wasn’t as cute as the one below though.

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Her next statement got a little personal. This is what she said, “ Jesus Christ is the ultimate Prince Charming to every woman, especially the one who forgot she was Cinderella.” It got personal because I all too often forget that God looks at me and you and He ADORES us!!! I believe it for someone else, but sometimes it’s hard to believe it for me. It almost seems unfair, because I know I don’t deserve it. I’m pretty sure that’s the whole point of grace though. I KNOW that I forgot and sometimes still do forget that I am Cinderella. If you haven’t been there, ladies, you will be!!! We females are the most insecure, fragile, CrAzY creatures in this whole universe!!!

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Did you also know that we are also called in Scripture His “beloved”? I just love that language, and that idea just makes me bubbly. I write “one worders” from my quiet time on my hand, so I can be reminded throughout the day. For that day beloved was written on my hand. It was a good day.

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I am going through this Bible study with DeAnna Beckwith, the youth minister’s wife. They have become precious friends. I shared my excitement about all of this with her when we met, and her response was, “It’s gonna have to be a special man to get you.” Ha ha

Appropriate truth, rebuke lies. It makes life more enjoyable!!!

Shaped by Grace,

Jessica Nicole

It’s Love

 

Yes…it is that time again. It is definitely time for what I'm loving Wednesday!!! Ignore the fact that I was too busy to do it last week. Time to link up with Jamie!!!

I am loving that I met the classroom of precious babies I will be teaching my 317 unit with. We are teaching at Grenada Elementary and I am loving how UH-mazing that school is and that I get to experience it. There is a MUSEUM within the school!!! Awesome…very much. This school offers multi-age, looping, and traditional classrooms. I’m loving that I  was placed in a multi-age K-1 classroom. I am thankful for this experience and challenge it will be to develop lessons in this class, but also that these two grades are my desired grades, if I can be completely honest. Our theme is pumpkins, and I’m loving all the cute ideas that are already running through my head with some pumpkins!!!

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I’m loving the sweet reconnection that can take place with old friends. Isn’t that just wonderful?!? I thought so. Who doesn’t like good conversation and coffee?!?

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I’m loving that the Beth Moore simulcast is going down this Saturday. I love that woman, and I am so inspired by her. I am doing a Bible study of hers right now (Psalms of Ascent), which I would strongly encourage. I’m loving the application that I am gaining from the study and the blessing it has been in my life.

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I’m loving that on September 17th I will be jumping out of a plane with the all new DSU skydiving class. I don’t think I could be more exciting. I’m an adrenaline junkie!!!

Isn’t that cute?!? I’m loving that I get a t-shirt with that design on it.

 

I’m loving that I actually had time to share what I’m loving!!! Till next time reader friends.

Shaped by Grace,

Jessica Nicole

Eek I’m scared!!!

So…tomorrow I will start my senior year of college. This is my last real semester of college. I have counted down the days literally until the day I could leave this little delta town, and now that it is time to leave I have thought of reasons to stay. I am growing nostalgic and have found myself in random crying spurts.

                       

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I want to enjoy this semester. I want to do all the things I haven’t done during my time here due to busyness and such. I want to focus more on the people around me, rather than being so caught up in the task. I want this to be an UH-mazing semester. I’m gonna go out with a bang!!!

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There is one little problem. I am an elementary education major at Delta State University entering Block Two. In short, that means my life will be taken from me by all of the requirements that come along with this semester. I have been warned by many that this is going to be a TOUGH semester…and I am scared. I don’t want the obligation of this semester to take its toll on my attitude. It definitely did last semester. Stress took over, and I allowed my joy to be drained. Hold me accountable guys!!! I want to stay positive and make the most of this semester. Can’t wait to tell you what I’m loving on Wednesday!!!

Shaped by Grace,

Jessica Nicole

Blessed Beyond Words!!!

Okay, so this is the main reason I wanted to start a blog in the first place:  

Who doesn’t like to talk about what they love?!?

Well, it’s a link up with Jamie every Wednesday. I’m pretty sure it will be one of the highlights of my week.

Well…for starters I am loving that one of my beautiful besties, Amber Marie, has toted me around and allowed me to take her car while my poor Sarafina has been broken. Not many people would do that, but she’s a pretty generous gal. I kinda love her a little bit. If you want to check out her blog you can. Just click here. She’s a wonderful writer, and I think you would thoroughly enjoy her blog.

Yes, we’re close. Ha

I’m also loving that a precious couple at FBC Cleveland heard about my need, and handed me the keys to an extra car they have. They told me to keep it as long as I needed it, and if my car could not get fixed then I have a really good deal on a set of wheels. Can ya say answered prayer?!?    
   

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I’m loving that I got to go running tonight. I did not think that I was going to get to, but I got to go a lovely two miles. I’m also loving that I did not squash any of the froggies that plagued the track as I was running. I was able to successfully avoid them finding their fate under my running shoes. One did get kicked, but he is still alive. Hey, he should know better than to hop on a running track!!!  

  

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Lastly, but NOT least, I am LOVING that some of the students I have the blessing of working with at FBC have come and asked me how they can be involved in missions this summer. They have come and asked for applications and how to get to applications, and it REALLY makes my heart smile...BIG!!! Can I get a “hallelujah, praise the Lord, AMEN”?!?

It’s been a wonderful Wednesday, and I’m loving a lot!!! I am truly blessed beyond words. Can’t wait to tell you all about it next week!!!

Shaped by Grace,

Jessica Nicole

What's the meaning of this?!?

So, one of my besties, as you probably already know,  loves to blog. She has talked me into it. I kind of like the idea. :) I thought an awful lot about what I should title this whole blog thing. I kinda overthink everything. I did finally decide on a title, and I thought it would only be appropriate to explain this title. Anything I write is signed with "shaped by Grace". A dear friend I met in India signed an email with this signature, and I loved it so much that I adopted it. The reason I fell in love with this phrase it because of the truth that these three words hold in my life. My life has been turned upside down and beautifully wrecked by the grace of my Abba!!! I have been a follower of Christ for five years, and if you knew me five years ago you would most likely be floored by the difference. I even look back myself and shake my head. The grace of God is completely and amazingly transformational. His grace has been shown to me in ways that we all enjoy: encouragement, growth, unconditional love, friendships, redemption, etc. His grace has also been shown to me through the things we don't enjoy so much: conviction, correction, heartbreak, breaking down of walls, redirection, pruning, His plan overtaking what I thought would be, etc. You can't have one without the other, and looking back the things I didn't and don't enjoy so much at the time are some of the biggest blessings I could have ever experienced. All of these things combined have molded me into the woman I am today. I am thankful that He will continue to shape me by His grace. I have been made new by His grace. I have given the following titles: beautiful, relentlessly and unconditionally loved, adored, adopted, ransomed, restored, pure, healed!!! He doesn't extend this to us though for us to hold on to. He does it so that we will also extend this grace. I want my life to be an extension of this grace. :) I look forward to smiling, laughing, maybe even sometimes crying with you in this blog experience!!!

Shaped by Grace,
Jessica Nicole