My first week in DC.

Alright, here is a phlog of my first week in Washington D.C.

I got here on Saturday the 31st, but that was not super interesting. I mostly got unpacked and tried to find a place to watch the Boise State football game, which was harder than I'd have thought. ANd suddenly I don't want to remember that Saturday any more.

Anyways, I live in an apartment with 5 other guys. I share a room with two. Here is my part of it:

I keep clothing on my bed.

Dressers are cool, but washed out photos are cooler.

There is more!

:)

Well, it certainly has been quite a while since I last blogged...Life just keeps going and doesn't really leave much time... at least that has how it has been for me :)

After I graduated last May I spent the summer working with JEMfriends and I was the banquet coordinator for JEM's 2012 Fundraising Banquet. Before school started up again, I was able to take a kind of "Senior Trip" with my Aunt. We went over to New England for a week and then spent a few days in Seattle and Portland. (To read about those adventures visit my other blog http://a-world-traveler.blogspot.com/) As School started up again, I started teaching again. The first semester I taught 5 hrs a week but here in the 2nd Semester I am teaching 11 hrs a week. I teach Reading, Writing, Math, Science and History to the K-2 group at our school...it has been fun... most of the time :) ;) I  was the Assistant Varsity Coach for Volleyball at Covenant Academy and the Assistant Junior Varsity Coach during the Basketball Season. I have also been playing volleyball with a group of friends via City League. We just finished our Winter Season tournament (finishing 4th :)) and then Spring games start next week :) Besides all this I have been keeping busy with family activities and other general life fun :)

Today as I was thinking about this past year and all the changes that happened. I realized that I am right were God wants me. My life right now is not really how I thought it was going to be, but now that I am living it I realize that I am content and I am content because God is in control. Over the past few weeks I had begun to feel more and more overwhelmed but as I looked to God instead of myself I just felt continual peace and contentment. This is one of the Basic lessons of life... it is not super hard to learn, we just need to be reminded of it from time to time as the things in life start to crowd in on us :)

Hope you enjoyed this little update :)

I would love to hear what is going  on in your life....

In Christ,
Mercy

Christmas Brunch Wrap-up

Hey...I was thinking that I would take a few min to wrap up about our Christmas Brunch. I took a few pictures, mostly to make you want to come next year :) 

My sister Mercy started the brunch 3 years ago, mostly because she loves to entertain and she has a HUGE heart. The rest of us have really learned to love it and try to use our talents where we can. 

This year we made less verity on of food, mostly because there was so much food leftover in the past and also cause Mercy almost kills herself making all the sweets. 

Mercy is the organizer, food shopper, decorator, makes all the sweets, takes care of drinks (Which included homemade hot chocolate), and serves your food will a smile, she is pretty much the rock star!
Justin did a ton of the decorations, and kept the orders coming in and going out!
Joel and I did the cooking! Joel the french toast and helping if I got behind on orders! We kept 3 griddles going 100% of the time and not an order was forgotten. 
Dad was the key though as he washed all the dishes so that we never got behind and Mom just kept chopping anything we need!
and not forgetting Jacob....I just don't remember what he did! :)

Here is an idea of what our menu was this year:

Pesto on Eggs (Scrambles eggs with pesto served on toast)

Cinnamon French toast

Sourdough French toast

Ultimate Skillet w/ eggs

Others choices:

            Fried Garlic Mashed Potatoes

 Pumpkin Roll

 Fruit salad

Berry Pie

 And here are some pictures:

First order of the day about to go out!

 Joel and his amazing French Toast.

 Serving!

 And the Best part is the friends that we get to see!

 

As you know I am not a huge Blogger but I really felt like I should blog because I just felt so blessed this Christmas season and I really wanted to let everyone know just how blessed I felt this season. 

I was so blessed to do this with my family as a family, no one looking for the credit, just wanting so much to bless others. Thank you Mercy for letting me do the cooking, I really loved it this year! 

The second blessing I felt Christmas morning was from everyone that came... you may have just come for some great food :) , but you blessed us by coming, spending a little bit of your day with our family and allowing us to show you a little bit of hospitality and love. On a day that is such a big reminder of the amazing love of a savior, WOW what a blessing to show a small amount of love to others with the amazing blessing that Christ daily gives us!!

 

Christmas!!

Christmas time is here which most of you know is my most favorite time of the year. One of the things I look forward to on Christmas is the Christmas brunch which my family hosts. This year we have decided (by unanimous vote I might add ;)) to name it after our Uncle Larry who passed away earlier this year. he also loved Christmas and the Christmas brunch. My Uncle Larry loved his family and friends. He was always happy to spend time with them, visiting with them and deepening those relationships. But most importantly he loved his Savior Jesus Christ. He made HIM the most important person in his life and that is what we want to remember each Christmas. We want to be thankful for Jesus in our own lives and in the hearts of our family and friends.

Because I have not blogged in such a long time I thought I would give an update on my life:
This year leading up to Christmas has been so different than the 12 previous. Mostly because I am not in high-school anymore. Even though I am not having to meet due dates on papers and give in-class presentations I have been filling my time with other kinds of activities. I have been teaching 1st and 2nd grade Math, Writing, and Science 2 days a week at Covenant as well helping Mrs. Nielsen with the Choir and Piano Students (one more reason to enjoy Christmas time: Christmas Carols is all we sing :)) I also helped Liberty coach our Varsity Volleyball team this fall... which was a blast :) Now I am playing City League Volleyball with some of the coolest people in the world :) I have also been helping Liberty with JEMfriends and hanging out with my family, especially Josiah, Elysse, and Lucas.

Hope this gives you a taste of what is going on right now... hopefully I will be blogging again soon :)

Mercy Faith

P.S. Jacob gets home in 10 days.... YAY!!!!! ... Please pray for him as he goes into finals week :)

New Address

I am back at college for my Junior year. This year, I think I am the most nervous and excited I have ever been.

Importantly for you all, I have moved off-campus this year, and my old address is now obsolete.

Please send all packages and letters to my new address:
344 N. West St.
Hillsdale, MI 49242

Feel free to share this new address with anyone that might need it.

Jacob

You know you are a coach when....

So Volleyball has been going on for about 2 1/2 weeks.... This is my first year coaching and I am pretty excited. We have enough girls to have 3 teams, which is kinda challenging on the coaching side as the range is from 4th year players to absolute beginners.

I am still learning what coaching is all about but I thought I would share a few things.

You know you are a coach when...
   ... your whistle is perpetually hanging around your neck
   ... you no longer wear knee pads to practice
   ... you seem to be always looking at a notebook (i.e. practice schedule)
   ... you have written out 3 different serve orders and you are still not sure you have it the way you want it
   ... played coach-on-2, except now you are the one spiking the balls
   ... you can officially add "Volleyball Coaches meeting" to your schedule... which actually means another trip to Starbucks ;)
  

Hope this made you smile :)

Mercy

Today was the Graveside Service for my mom's uncle, Larry. One of the songs that was sung was so descriptive of my Uncle and very convicting for me so I thought I would put the words up here...

I then shall live as one who's been forgiven;
I'll walk with joy to know my debts are paid.
I know my name is clear before my Father;
I am His child, and I am not afraid.
So greatly pardoned, I'll forgive my brother;
The law of love I gladly will obey.

I then shall live as one who's learned compassion;
I've been so loved that I'll risk loving, too.
I know how fear builds walls instead of bridges;
I dare to see another's point of view.
And when relationships demand commitment,
Then I'll be there to care and follow through

Your kingdom come around and through and in me,
Your pow'r and glory, let them shine through me;
Your hallowed Name, O may I bear with honor,
And may Your living Kingdom come in me.
The Bread of Life, O may I share with honor,
And may You feed a hungry world through me.

The second and third verses really spoke to me about how I need to live my life and do as Christ would do.

Mercy Faith