overjoyed.

as a kid we were always on the road whether it were on our way to gymnastics meets or on vacation our perferred mode of transportation was the car. (especially since i was scared to death of flying!) we even took the train (amtrak) on several trips to new york. i liked being grounded and by that i mean literally on the ground. no airplanes for me ... until about 3 years ago when i took a trip to new york city with some friends where the deal was made that i HAD to fly. with the help of some relaxing pills (HA!) i survived the flight and believe it or not fell in love with flying! maybe "in love" is not the correct term maybe i should use obsessed or addicted ... maybe that's not the words i'm looking for either but you get the point. by conquering my fear of flying a whole new world was opened to me. not only did i enjoy flying but traveling and getting out and seeing/experiencing the world! so i haven't exactly ventured out too far but i'm still a traveling fool. going here or there whenever possible to do this or to do that.

when i started to plan this 3 week summer adventure that i'm currently on i wasn't exactly sure how much i would enjoy being on the road for hours at a time. just me the music and henry the navigator. (my gps!) but this adventure has turned out to be the greatest thing i've experienced and quite some time. it's another chapter in my story. i went to auburn then on to athens (which was a little out of the way but it's a road trip so why not!) and then on to kentucky. (about an hour north of nashville) now that the first week of camp is in the books i have travled to nashville to stay with one of my small group graduates. ashley if you're reading this thanks for opening up your home to me and allowing me to wash my stinky clothes!

i head back to kentucky tomorrow for my last week at camp but would like to update everyone on the first week and on what god is doing in my life.

i tried to write this blog last night but after looking over the 500 plus pictures that were posted on the barefoot republic camp facebook page i just couldn't get my words together. and even today i still find it hard to write exactly how i'm feeling. i was talking to my best friend last night and the word i used to describe my emotion right now was overjoyed: extremely joyful; to be filled with joy.

last week i closed my blog with ephesians 6:19 - 20 when paul is asking for prayer and courage to share the gospel even though he's in jail. this was my prayer request last week and it's funny because this was also the verse that my cabin girls and i studied at camp during bible study time. we were discussing what it looks like or what i means to be an ambassador for christ and we used this verse.

when i arrived at barefoot camp last sunday i was anxious and somewhat intimidated almost to the point of questioning myself ... "why did i do this again?" ... i even text a few friends and told them "not quite sure about this whole camp thing yet." however ... all these thoughts and all my fears went out the window when the campers arrived on monday! some campers arrived with their parents but then a huge school bus pulled up filled with junior high kids who were more the ready for camp! chanting ... "JC be 'bout it ... WHAT! i'm goin' to shout it ... WHAT! it's about to get rowdy! it's about to get rowdy!" ... and rowdy it got! i had the priveledge of serving 14 junior high girls as their camp counselor. our cabin was quickly transformed into the temporary home for these girls and we got down to it. they decided on the name diamond angels and quickly came up with a cheer. i had 4 girls from nepal (they had been in the US for maybe a year to two years!) several african american girls and one girl from mexico and some white middle class girls. i say all this because this is barefoot's mission ... to build christ-centered relationships between individuals of ALL backgrounds and for these individuals to come to understand and know that GOD loves EVERYONE and ACCEPTS everyone ... our race ... culture ... or socioeconmic status does not change the truth that he loves us ALL. it was amazing to see friendships form between these sweet girls throughout the week. one friendship that formed that i found special was between the two girls you see below ... k & t.

such sweet girls! t the one rockin' the shades and shower cap has the ability to do whatever she puts her mind too. she's a natural born leader that's for sure! my prayer is that she will continue to be a reflection of who is god is! she'll just need to keep the attitude in check but i know she can do it! k is from nepal. she has a sweet smile and contagious laugh. i loved getting to talk with her and learn more about her story! she also taught me how to speak some nepali? and gave me a "henna" (using marker) of my name in nepali!

we spent the week cheering and chanting. learning more about who god is and what it means to be a reflection of him. we learned about his love and his acceptance. the kids at camp are also able to choose two specialities that they would like to experience while at camp. their choices included things like football, soccer, basketball, skateboarding, horseback riding, hiking, outdoor adventure, water sports, art, photography, filmmaking, musical production, vocal performance, making the band ... i think i probably missed a few. the kids chose two specialities prior to camp and while their at camp they spend about 3 hours a day practicing these specialities. for the most part it's the first time these students experience these activities. they also have the opportunity to try any of these activities out during their freetime. i helped with art this week during speciality time but then also did volleyball and hiking during freetime. at the end of the week the students put on a huge performance to show what they learned. the dance/stomp group performed and the making the band group (which was awesome!) each speciality has a chance to share their skills with the other campers! the picture below is from the day i accompanied the girls on a hike during freetime. all the girls from nepal came on the hike and they were too cute!

the camp is on some property in fountain run, kentucky and it's absolutely beautiful! one this hike we waded in the creek and learned to skip stones. this sweet girl below was also in my cabin.

she would always ask about the time and also would say "ms. jessica i so tired." in her sweet nepali accent!

throughout the week the different cabins complete different team building exercises on the low ropes courses. it's an amazing time for them to strategize and learn to listen to one another and to help one another to succeed! there are also several team competitions that take place. the diamond angels came in a very respectful second place! one game that's played is called "braveheart" it's basically a giant food fight. every kids dream right? i know i was pumped for this game! i had crouch down while my girls protected me from the food! the point of the game is to keep the counselor as clean as possibly! well two minutes into the game the smell of chicken and rice and tomatos was pretty strong! and when the flour hit i was down for! HA! the girls did a pretty good job of protecting me. the pictures i got don't really do it justice. i had chicken and  rice hanging from my hair and the flour was caked on.

my leg! maybe next week i'll get a better picture!

the picture below is some of my girls post food fight!

we all wore shower caps and googles which is why the faces and the hair is not too bad!

i really enjoyed my time with these girls! it's a time i will never forget! i'm more than thankful to have had the opportunity to meet these girls and spend time with them. from the praise and worship to the games they were amazing! praying with them and over them was a special time for me. and despite the fact that they NEVER went to bed on time i wouldn't have changed a single moment.

my girls ... the diamond angels ... minus 3 who we're probably running around or dancing!

please check out my facebook for more pictures!

like i said earlier i'm in nashville where yesterday i found some random running park on the gps and went for a run for the first time in over a week. i did 3.2 miles and it felt good! woke up a little sore this morning but decided to head to downtown nashville to the parthenon/centennial park where i had another nice run! just doing what i do on my own. this trip has really empowered me and encouraged me. flying (or driving) solo!

my summer adventure has reached the half way point and i could not feel more blessed to have such an opportunity and experience. i'm enjoying just driving down the tennessee/kentucky backroads with my music and gps and can't help but be overjoyed ... humbled ... broken yet alive ... i know my "adventure" is just beginning and i can't help but praise him for all he's done. who knows where this journey might take me but one thing i do know is that i'm never alone and that with christ ... all things are possible and all things work together for the good of those who love him.

" ... faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." hebrews 11: 1

i like to think i'm on a faith journey! trusting. growing. loving. here's to another week at barefoot republic camp! please continue to pray for me and my little campers (who this week will be very little!)

love everyone! 

a list update and the start to my summer adventure

180 days with 60 plus 5TH Graders ... MATH ... happy times ... crazy times ... mad times ... quiet time ... i made it ... to what you ask ... SUMMER! on june 5TH my kids left the nest that was Cherry Street and will move to middle school next year. loved my students and will continue to pray for them as they continue on with their life! i'm so thankful they were part of my journey! by june 6TH i had my room packed up and shut down the MATH champion room. (that unfortunately did not produce as many Math champions as i would have liked.) 



this was my room as i closed up shop for the summer!

now june 6TH was also my last day in panama city before i left on my summer adventure! however before i left town there were many things to do and people to see. one of those people to see was miss raeleigh grace sullivan (& her sweet mommy and daddy!) raeleigh was born on june 5TH and i could not get enough of this precious baby! i absolutely can't wait to see her again when i return home at the end of the month! 

welcome miss raeleigh grace! her daddy (swaddle king) had her snug as a bug in a rug!

such a precious baby! i'll be praying for this little one always!



 now i need to back track just a little because i marked another important thing off my list over memorial day weekend! number 3: learn to water ski! now this was no easy task ... nor was it pain free ... it was very hard and painful and let's just say my body hated me after spending the whole day on the lake! however by the end of the day i was able to say that i had learned to water ski ... even if i only made it 1/4 of the way around the lake! :) we were not able to get good pictures of this however we did capture some pretty amazing video which helped me to cross off another thing on my list. number 25: post a youtube video and get 250 hits!

so please enjoy the link below which will take you to my youtube page where i give you permission to laugh at my attempt to ski!

my skiing adventure!

it seems like i've really been knocking some things off my list lately including ... number 22: go paddleboarding! which should have been more like learn to paddleboard because it was definitely a learning process. in the pictures below you'll see my BFF amber who took part in the day with me! oh and i can't forget the ones who made it happen ... brandon and blake! y'all are awesome! and sorry brandon that you had a "rear" view the entire day! barb (who i run with) and her family even came out for the day to watch and my sweet friend cameron was there to take pictures! thanks to everyone it was a wonderful day on the water! now enjoy the learning process below!

step 1: get on your knees. yes amber is already up and yes brandon is still holding my board. HA!

step 2: one foot up. amber is a pro ... brandon is still there.

step 3: finally up! look a little knee knocked or whatever but i'm up!



brandon was finally able to let go and i was on my own!

and eventually i just decided i perferred to ride on my knees. :)







 i even learned to surf by the end of the day! look at that form! surfing USA!

back to june 6TH and everything i had to do and people i had to see. i spent most of the day packing ... washing clothes ... cleaning house ... packing ... and more packing because on june 7TH i left town for a 23 day summer adventure/journey with stops in auburn and athens and nashville/fountain run and kentucky! packing for 3 weeks was no easy task ... however i think i did pretty good!



4 bags ... a snack bag ... and lexi (who departed the journey early at grandma's house!)

after a slight delay (left my phone charger and computer at the house) in which i had to turn around i made it to chipley where i had lunch with my grandma shirley and then continued on to my first stop: AUBURN!!

i seriously love this town ... it's the promise land ... the loveliest village on the plains ... there's literally no place like auburn. i was able to spend time with my sweet friend lauren and her husband daniel. i was blessed to be part of their special wedding day a year ago and their friendship means so much to me. can't even put it into words. back in college lauren and i would regularly walk campus and enjoy a LONG dinner at momma g's. (these dinners would typically last anywhere from 2 to 3 hours!) ever since college when i come back to auburn we keep up the routine ... walk campus and dinner which is exactly what we did on my quick stay.

this was taken on our walk. absolutely beautiful!



the next day we enjoyed a morning of chatting and lunch at amsterdam cafe! i was also happy to see that the toomer's trees seem to still be kickin. :) loved my time with lauren and i don't know when i might see her or daniel again but i do know that as they leave on their own journey soon i pray that god protects them ... and works through them ... and loves on them ... and that he would be glorified in all that they do! love to the arthurs!

toomer's oaks!



before i knew it day 1 & 2 of my summer journey were in the book and i was back on the road to my second stop: ATHENS, GA! to see my sweet cousin and her husband!

this is my road trip happy face! just my tunes and me crusin' down the highway!

on my first night in athens we went to dinner at this amazing place called farm 255 i believe. everything's FRESH ... REAL ... and yummy! the weather was amazing ... the company was great ... and the food was in my belly quickly! after dinner we went to this bar called little kings where they had cornhole on the patio! after an intense cornhole game we just spent time catching up until the drag show started and that was our cue to leave. HA! we hit up a couple other places before calling it a night. the atmosphere here is really chill and i think it's safe to say i'll be back visiting athens soon!

today we started with a delicious breakfast at mama's boys followed by a nice afternoon walk through downtown and UGA's campus!



of course we had to stop for a quick picture at the stadium and yes i bought a shirt. WAR EAGLE but i'm truly a college junkie.

before i left on thursday i was slowly packing the car and finishing up things in the house but when it came time to leave i noticed a little surprise in my passenger seat! pretty much every morning i run with some friends and i've recently learned that some refer to us at the 20 something ... the 30 something ... and the 40 something. i've spent the past year running with them ... talking ... sharing highs/lows ... and i don't know if they will even know just how much they mean to me! they encourage ... give advice ... laugh at/with me ... and listen ... they are the best cheerleaders a girl could have on her side! goodness i could just go on and on but basically ... barb and leigh ... if y'all ready this i love y'all! 

so back to the surprise in my seat! barb and leigh have encouraged me to get out ... see the world ... go on crazy adventures and well that's kind of what i'm doing so in my seat i found the book "born to run" and the magazines you see below! reading 5 books is also on my list and leigh recommended this one to me a couple weeks ago. it wasn't until i made it to auburn and was getting ready for bed that i realized that there was a sweet note written inside!





this note was just the encouragement i needed to get me super pumped about the rest of my trip! tomorrow i leave for fountain run, kentucky (an hour north of nashville) where i will spend the next two weeks at a camp called barefoot republic. please check them out at www.barefootrepublic.org or you can "like" them on facebook. they update pictures daily on facebook so next week you can see what i'm up to everyday ... for those of you who would like to know what i'm up to. :)

while at the camp i will lead junior high and 3RD - 5TH Grade girls. and aside from all the FUN i know we will have my prayer is that god moves in an awesome way ... not just in the girls lives or all the campers lives ... but in my life also.

"and don't forget to pray for me. Pray that I'll know what to say and have the courage to say it at the right time, telling the mystery to one and all, the Message that I, jailbird preacher that I am, am responsible for getting out." ephesians 6:19 - 20

paul's request is my request! love to all and hopefully i'll be able to update next weekend after week one of camp! my heart is happy and excited and full to the rim!