Life is about the journey...This is mine.

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

SoleMates

I just registered to be a SoleMate at the Gate River Run. I'll be running the 15K on March 10th to raise money for Girls on the Run (GOTR).

GOTR is an awesome organization where girls can train to run a 5K and learn that anything is possible. Supporting my mission, could impact a young girl's future by allowing her an opportunity to be a part of a fantastic program that teaches girls self-respect and healthy living.

If you are interested in donating, please click HERE. If you're interested in being a Sole Sister (or Running Buddy for the Spring 5K), please let me know!

For the girls,

Jen

Monday, January 23, 2012

You Rock

I always say "I don't want to live a destination life. Life is about the journey." I never want to get so caught up in "life" that I miss the moments that really matter. In honor of my 30th birthday I thought I'd post a manifesto that expresses my feelings on the celebration of life in a much more eloquent way than I could.

LovethisLife...
is about celebrating the moment
and that we're not guaranteed or owed another day
and how cool it is that what we hide
can actually be the fuel towards our glory
and that it's not so bad being proven wrong

LovethisLife...
is about welcoming the blind turn
and the possibility
that there's no such thing as coincidence
and that empathy is incredibly sexy
and that it's never too late
to pick up a guitar or a paintbrush
or to make an amend or to make a new friend

LovethisLife...
could be about rekindling a past flame
or igniting a new one
or shapeshifting from a dreamer into a doer
or savouring the caress of a love long gone

LovethisLife...
means whatever it is you want it to mean
because

LovethisLife...
is a celebration of you and your path

LovethisLife...
cuz it could go at any second

you rock.

(Love This Life Manifesto)

Sunday, September 11, 2011

One Nation Under God

September 11th is one of those dates that will forever be etched in memories that seem as though they occurred only yesterday. On this 10th anniversary I can't help but listen to the stories of survival and loss and be brought to tears. I'll never understand why events like this come to pass, but I do know that God can use them for His glory as many of today's stories have shown.

When I think back to that day I am thankful that I was a student at Liberty University.

I remember walking from my 8am class to my 9:25 thinking it was just a normal day and then hearing the towers had been hit. Mrs. Wilmington canceled class and allowed us to come to her office to watch the news unfolding on her small TV. That was when we heard the breaking news that the Pentagon had just been hit. And suddenly this event that had seemed distantly awful, confusing, and heartbreaking hit home. Knowing that many of the members of my family were working at the Pentagon or in Crystal City that day, I was now worried for my dad, uncles, aunt, and everyone that I knew in the government and military in D.C.

When I arrived at my 11:50 class my professor, Dr. Diemer, asked us all to get on our knees. And for the next hour we prayed. We prayed for the victims. We prayed for the families. We prayed for the responders. We prayed for our president. We prayed for answers, understanding, and comfort. And I prayed to hear from my family.

Classes were canceled for the rest of the day. And at 3pm the students of Liberty University convened in the Vines Center to pray for our country. I will always be thankful for that moment. I'll forever be grateful for a university that taught young people how to respond in a moment of crisis. Gather together and look to God.

I will always remember the lives that were lost and the lesson I learned that day.

On the 10th anniversary of such a tragic event...I am thankful to God that my family was protected...I remember those who were not as fortunate...and I pray for those they left behind. May we never forget the events of 9-11-01. And may we always remember the spirit of togetherness that followed.

One Nation Under God.

Sunday, August 28, 2011

Greater Things Are Yet to Come

My church had a ground breaking ceremony this afternoon. After 13 years, Celebration is finally going to have an actual church building! Today's event was for us all to see the plans for the new building and be a part of this exciting season for our church family. Leading up to today, the church has been doing a sermon series on "taking ground". We've talked about how this new building is an opportunity to reach more people, but how we should also be "taking ground" in our own lives. The church passed out wooden stakes for us to write down things that we are believing God for. On one side we wrote down things related to our church, on the other we wrote down prayers for our own life. And together this afternoon, we convened with our stakes to pray for this next season in our own lives and the life of the church.

On to the actual events of today...

The morning message was great, fellowship at lunch with the deaf ministry was fun, but then we arrived at the site. We sat in traffic for forever, only to be directed to the farthest possible parking lot across several dirt fields. We started on the long trek knowing we were already late. As we walked in the Florida August heat, it crossed my mind that this really was not the best time of year to be having such an event. When we finally arrived at the tents we couldn't even hear or see the speakers. And did I mention it was hot!? I was just going through the motions, and if I'm being honest I was really only thinking of myself and my "to do" list for the rest of the day. I did my best to interpret and the service was over in less time than it took to walk there. So I set out to put my stake in the ground and get out of there so we could go get some water.

But as we walked around the site to see where our church will be built, I saw the children's pastor telling passersby about the new building's children's area which will include a separate area for the special needs students. I saw youth gathered around the area that will be for middle and high school students. And I saw families praying around stakes they had placed in the ground. But as I knelt to place my stake in the ground, another stake caught my eye. The end sticking out of the ground said:

"Daddy stop drinking."

And I stopped. With tears in my eyes, I prayed for the child who penned these words. I thanked God for a church that had the opportunity to reach him or her. And I prayed for the father who needs to know how much God loves him. I apologized for being so focused on my own life, and I thanked God for the distraction and for reminding me what it means to live a God-first life. I prayed for the families, the children, and the young people that our church has the potential to reach. And I thanked God for a pastor and church who have followed God's calling to reach the city of Jacksonville.

"For greater things have yet to come, And greater things are still to be done in this city" ~Chris Tomlin

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

April Inspires the Poet in Me

April is National Poetry Month. Last year, I posted this poem on my blog in honor of the occasion. This year I thought I'd post another poem. This one was actually an activity for my students, but I decided to participate.

We've been trying to do different activities each afternoon with our students during FCATs. (What are FCATs you ask...Florida.Comprehensive.Assessment.Tests--the state standardized tests our students spend 6 days taking each spring.) The tests tend to tire out both the students and teachers, so teaching in the "normal classes" in the afternoon is difficult. But we don't want to waste instructional time watching movies or playing games...so we came up with FUN instructional activities for each afternoon. Which brings me to this poetry activity.

Monday afternoon I did a brief introduction to imagery and descriptive language with all of our 8th graders. Then I split them into 5 groups and sent them off with a teacher to different areas of our huge campus. (Then we met back in the middle school and had volunteers read their poems and students -not in the same group- guessed where on campus the author had been.) My group walked back to a gazebo on the intracoastal. The scenery inspired the following poem.

Soaking in My Surroundings

by Miss Kilpatrick

My hair dances freely in the cool breeze.
Sparkling water meanders slowly by,
while ropes clang rhythmically against the flagpole.

A bird strolls about on nearby grass, pecking for food.
Finding none, he flies away.
My eyes follow him.

Past the marsh he calls home are trees,
red rooftops peaking over their leaves.
What is beyond them I cannot see.

The salty stench is almost sweet.
It sends me back
…
to times gone by:
family visits to the beach,
but once a year.

For just a moment I am a child again,
carefree,
soaking in my surroundings.

(I almost forget this is work.)

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Karen Wants to Kill Me

Apparently, my friend, Karen, decided that doing a 100 Pushup Challenge wasn't enough. So I've now joined her on the 200 Pushup Challenge. For the record, both challenges are kickin' my tail.

After 2 weeks I can barely do 10 pushups and 35 situps. Oh where, oh where have my muscles gone!?!

I'm repeating Week 2 of the pushups, and continuing with week 3 of the situps.

Wonder how many weeks it'll take before I can actually do it...

As a side note: I swam a mile this morning. Also kicking my butt!

I'm thinking I should just go back to running!