Welcome to my world...

Hi everyone and welcome to my little piece of the world!

It has been evident to me since I was in about seventh grade, that I love writing and it is a talent I have been blessed with . It wasn't until I reached the ripe old age of 28 though, that I realized God had a much bigger plan for the gift he had given me.

Through blogging on MySpace, I was able to reach not only those that I knew in my own life, but also complete strangers and was amazed at how just my "ramblings" had helped so many people to be inspired, encouraged, or just to think about things in a new way.

From there, it grew into an inspirational column in The Charlotte Observer, then a religious news column in The Statesville Record & Landmark, a speaking engagment for a women's church group and now, a gig as a religion news freelance writer for The Charlotte Observer.

The writing that is closest to my heart though is not the news reporting, but the words that come from my soul - the words that I know God puts there not only to help me to understand life better, but also those around me.

I hope you feel encouraged, enlightened and inspired but what you read here and of course, I look forward to hearing back from you too!

Thursday, April 11, 2013

Me

I am many things.  I am a daughter, a sister, a granddaughter, a niece, an aunt and a mother of four-legged children.  I am a Fourth of July baby, a thirtysomething, a Yankee and a fiesty redhead.

I am a child of God.  I am the daughter of a heavenly Father that loves me and speaks to me in a soft whisper.  I am the instrument He uses to reach others and help them through their trials, some that I have faced myself.  I am blessed to have what I do and I am humbled by the blessings He continues to give me.

I am a lover of all animals, most especially dogs.  I would run in front of a car to save a dog and not think twice.  I cover my face when I pass a truck carrying chicken coops.  I stop for injured or lost animals and will spend hours driving around until they get to safety.  I want to save every last animal in this world that is in danger, mistreated, neglected or in a shelter.  I cry inside (and sometimes outside) when I think of how many there are out there.  And then I hug my dogs tighter and tell them how much I love them.

I am a writer of words.  Sad words, happy words, funny words and inspired words.  I am an instrument for God who speaks through me.  I write for people I know and people I will never meet.  I write stories that need to be told, stories that inspire me and stories for those that need to be inspired.  I write about people that overcome adversity, people helping their neighbors and people just having fun.

I am a girly girl who loves make-up, clothes and hair.  I love glitter and my favorite colors are still purple and pink.  I like to dress up but my favorite outfit is still yoga pants and a t-shirt.  I love to shop, watch HGTV and read People magazine.  But I also love comic books, video games and NASCAR.  I'll yell at the TV during a UFC fight and have a heart attack during a football game.  I can recite the lines in Tombstone as easily as in The Princess Bride.  

Sometimes I still feel like a shy and reserved little girl, while other times I'll dance in front of a crowd, fly down a mountain on a zipline or go work in a foreign land.  I am an introvert, not one to be the center of attention.  I am always thinking, thinking, thinking and I have emotions for days.  I am intuitive sometimes more than I want to be and am very aware of what's going on with me, my family and my friends, sometimes before it's even happened.  

I am always trying to get people together because I value quality time.  I like to pick out the perfect gifts for people, making mental notes months ahead of time sometimes.  I like to catch up with friends in person, not text or email.  I love going out and experiencing new things, seeing new places and being active.  But I love a day in bed, wearing pj's and watching television with the blinds closed too.

I am a hopeless romantic and love spoiling my partner with little cards, gifts and surprises.  I love having jokes and stories that only we understand.  I love traveling, going out and celebrating with them.  And I love lazy, cuddle days.  I love with 100% of my being and do not even understand the concept of cheating.  I value honesty, respect, faithfulness and kindness in a partner.  I love with all my heart.

I am anxious and a worrier like my mom and run late and have a temper sometimes like my dad.  But I also can find you a great bargain or name just about any song from the 50's.  I can't make decisions to save my life and my house is maniacally neat.

I am a country girl, a city girl, a beach girl and a mountain girl, all rolled into one.  I am calmed by water and can just sit and stare at the ocean for hours.  I would love to live on a farm with lots of land for animals or in a bungalow on the beach.  I want to see Belgium, England, France, Italy and Australia.  I am still afraid of flying.

I want to help people that are where I have been.  I want to help victims of domestic violence and help bring about an understanding that is still severely lacking.  I want to comfort cancer patients and their families and those in hospice homes.  I want to reassure those that struggle with anxiety and depression.  I want to help people whose struggles I don't know... the homeless on the street, children in Africa and the elderly who feel alone.  

I want the world to slow down.  I want everyone to stop being obsessed with technology, social media and cell phones.  I want teachers and firefighters to be the ones we look up to, not actors and socialites.  I want people to be kinder to one another and take time for each other.  I want millionaires to donate their money to charity and not spend it all on cars and ridiculously expensive parties.  I want kids to be kids again and play with play dough, Lite Brite and My Little Pony, not laptops and TV's.  I want kids to stay kids and not have to think about sex, drugs or violence until they grow up.

I am not perfect but I am perfectly me.  I am as God created me and His life flows through my every strength and flaw.  I am ever-changing and yet still the same.  I am the sum of all of my life experiences, both the good and the bad.  I am the little girl my family called Jenny, the young adult named Jennifer, and the woman my friends call Jenn today.  

I am me.