simply me

     On the Friday before Christmas last year I was excitedly and slightly anxiously awaiting Roby’s arrival at Philadelphia Airport w here we would meet again for the first time in nearly two and a half years. Last Friday I s a t awaiting my parents arrival at Melbourne airport where I collected them about 4 months after moving to Victoria .    When my parents arrived at my home in Victoria      In the time between those two events I have become engaged , applied for a visa, finished my first school year as a full time teacher , turned another year older, become an aunt, k ayaked on the Mississippi River, f ished for salmon on Lake Ontario , moved to Australia, celebrated 2 years with Roby , visited New Zealand, planned a wedding, and so many more big and little things in amongst those! Looking back on this list , knowing the complexity o f many of these things, it’s easy to wonder, “ H ow on earth was all this accomplished?” I’ve...

Teary and drawn-out goodbyes have sprinkled my last 3-4 months; excitement and sadness melded together in my heart. I'm finally headed back to Australia!   Am I just dreaming... or is this real life? The last time I was in that beloved country was 2019. I had made up my mind to return in less than 2 years and was busy plotting my course of action when covid-19 arrived on shore. You know what happens next... the world shut down. What a surreal time it has been. You know it. I know it. We don't really need to keep harping on those facts, right?  What I find intriguing about this process of living in a pandemic-stricken world is that, though many plans have been cancelled and postponed, my plans were never guaranteed to come to pass in the first place! It was a stark reminder that I really have control over nothing  yet God does and his ways are mysterious ! In their hearts humans plan their course,      but the  Lord  establishes their steps - ...

        What a year it has been.      I am confident none of us anticipated the woes and joys this year brought us. As I reflect upon the past 12 months it is evident that I have failed to rejoice always, pray continually, and give thanks in all circumstances. It has also been evident that by his grace the Lord is ever faithful to care and provide for his people. I am thankful that it is "by grace you have been saved, through faith, and- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God- not by works, so that no one can boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9). If it were up to me and my performance there would be no place for me at the table.     Many times this year I have needed to be reminded that, while I can have a hard time seeing past my hardships, God’s grace is sufficient for me, and his power is made perfect in my weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). In his letter, James encourages the church saying, “consider it pure joy, brothers and ...

Every week through the month of May , I will share one thing I am thankful for and how this time of COVID-19 has illuminated that in my life. This week I’m the divine preparation God has done in my life. Today I’m giving a [mostly] unedited peek at Jacqueline’s Journal. A prayer from 20 May 2020: Lord,         Thank you for your sovereign hand over my life. This time of COVID has shown so many ways which you watch over me. Here are a few which I’ve noticed particularly in this time… Providing a job which computers are constantly being used for various tasks and communications. This made the shift to online education much easier for me. It cut down on the difficulty of looking at a screen all day because I had grown accustomed to that.    Through close friendships lived at a distance and maintained through digital connection, I had also become more comfortable connecting with friends via video, phone, text, email. This really benefited my abilit...

All scripture is God breathed and is useful for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 Every week through the month of May , I will share one thing I am thankful for and how this time of COVID-19 has illuminated that in my life. This week I’m highlighting teachers, mentors and leaders. Have you ever wondered where you learned to do things like making a schedule, organizing paperwork, cooking food, leading a Bible study? I wonder about these things sometimes, especially as I study the art of teaching.  For some there are vivid memories of learning these tasks. You recall the who, what, when, where, how, and why. For others, these things may seem to be skills you simply have. Still another grouping might have vague memories of certain methods being taught. No matter which grouping you fall into, there has been instruction (formal or informal, explicit or implicit) ...

Every week through the month of May , I will share one thing I am thankful for and how this time of COVID-19 has illuminated that in my life. This week I’m highlighting my family. When the virus got serious I was still living at my apartment and working at the office over spring break. At work we discussed my schedule for the following weeks as my university switched to online learning and my availability would be different. Not 8 hours later, our plans changed completely and the whole office was preparing to work from home. My job is specific to being physically at the office and therefore was put on hold. That evening, I found myself considering the option of returning to my parent’s for the foreseeable future. Two days later I packed up some things and drove north to be with my family. For the next two weeks I had many phone calls with friends in which we expressed the things that we are thankful for in this time. My two big things were the opportunity to rest from my regular...

Every week through the month of May, I will share one thing I am thankful for and how this time of COVID-19 has illuminated that in my life. This week I’m highlighting my athletics community. A few weeks ago life seemed to stop, normal activities and work came to a screeching halt. In all this I've moved temporarily back to my parents house where I could be supported and surrounded by family while the nation and state are in "lockdown." For our sanity we attempt to get out for a walk each day, but just that doesn’t cut it sometimes. So one day I took to the workout archives and headed to the park with a throwback to my high school track and field days.  2016 high school graduation celebration with a few of the many people who made high school track so rewarding. (also to this day one of my favorite pictures)  It was this day at the park when I realized how unique it is to have the skills and knowledge I have about exercise and body mechanics. There are a ...