looking past the computer and desk.

i often forget how incredible my job is. if anyone has asked me how it is going, they probably have heard me say that i do not like sitting at a desk all day while working on a computer. i still do not. but, maybe i forgot to mention this when the question was asked, i also love my job. i am getting paid to tell the media to tell people in the upper midwest about an organization thats mission is giving simple gifts to children all around the world. but wait, it does not stop there. not only do they get a shoe box with school supplies, toys and hygiene items, they also are able to hear the Gospel. at almost every shoe box distribution the Gospel is preached and a 12 week discipleship program is offered. thank you Lord for this awesome opportunity and blessing of a job. i want and pray for more children to know Jesus.

 

if you want to know more about OCC, please ask me or check out the website (had to do some free pr while writing this) www.samaritanspurse.org/occ. national collection week ends on nov. 19 (find drop-off locations on the website), but you can always give your shoe box to me up until dec. 21st. 

one last thing. if you know of a job opening after dec. 21 that has anything to do with pr, coffee, nonprofits, baking, nature, or people....let me know. please and thank you.

dear orange city, iowa.

hello,

i have never written a letter to a city before, but you out of all the cities in the world need one from me. letter writing is a passion of mine so maybe that is another reason i am writing to you. this letter is coming from the many thoughts and emotions i have towards you right now. these feelings towards you are kind of like my thoughts about college. i loved it, was frustrated during it, want it back, and never want to go to it again. can you tell i am a bit confused about you right now?

first, i do love you. some of my closest friends call you home, so how can i not? they love the small town feel you have, the college community, and the people who reside on your streets.

i am not so fond of you though for other reasons. mainly, you are far away from where all my friends originally came from which is where i currently live.

your crooked sidewalks, lack of coffee shops and restaurants with good hours, lack of lakes and trees are not why i will visit you.

your adorable old people (who will be entertained, hugged daily, and loved by my two favorite kids), your buildings, parks, houses, and everything else being within walking distance of one another, your friendly neighbors and homey feel are why i will visit you.

i will visit the old factory again. i will walk florida ave many times. i will sleep on the top bunk bed that is not mine in a school that i did not attend (even though it has the same name as mine). i will go to your new italian restaurant one day. i will have many good memories on your streets and in your buildings.

i will not call you my home, but you will be one of my favorite places.

thank you for taking such good care of my friends and family. they are the reason for my presence in your community. i cherish every conversation i have with each of them, every path i have walked with them, every meal shared with them and every time i can worship the Lord with them.

see you (soon) oc.

much love,
jillian

itching to travel (aka learning to be content).

why is it that whenever we are in one place we typically want to be somewhere else? we are in one season of life, but want to be in the next? i know for college students (at least many of my friends and myself), we want to be in a location on this huge planet that we are not currently in. i would love to be in new zealand, seattle, colorado, india, uganda, or an array of other places right now. i am struggling with being content with where i am at. i love the friendships i have right now and what the Lord is doing at NWC, but traveling and meeting people of other cultures sounds so thrilling and just beautiful right now.

my question for myself (and possibly you) is, how do we find these adventures and meet people who are different from us where we are right now? i can guarantee you that traveling the world will almost always sound much better than writing papers. i think it is good to dream, but i have to be careful of focusing on the future. the Lord knows where we should be and i need to TRUST Him with that.

ironically, i started this blog then went to a women's panel my dorm put on. so i'm now going to finish it. one of the questions at the panel was about contentment. i love how the Lord tells us what we need to hear.

one of my favorite professors, Sue Payne, said, "contentment is being where God wants you to be. there are going to be wonderful things and not so wonderful things wherever you are at." this reminded me that we need to live in the present. that is a goal that i have right now. i am going to find adventure here...this week. if you want to join me, let me know. i like adventures with friends.

lastly, if you are struggling with contentment. talk about it with the Lord. start a continuous dialogue with Him throughout your day. and realize that contentment is being where He wants you to be and it is more about what is happening on the inside (your heart) than on the circumstances going on around you. grace, joy and peace to you...my dear friends and family.