My Name is what...

My name is Jenny, and yes I have heard the song before.  You know the one that goes, “Jenny I’ve got your number…867-5309…” by Tommy Tutone.  And no that is not my phone number so don’t even bother asking.  I must have heard this song a thousand times in my lifetime, and it always, always gets old.  I work in retail and every time I meet a new customer, usually men who do this, but they have to sing this song to me as if I have never heard it.  They think it’s great, but I don’t.  I mean, do you even have a clue what this song is about?  I would never give some random guy my phone number only to have him write on the men’s room wall for other men to see and have them think they could call me for a “good time.”  I think not.  I am not that kind of girl.  So, please if you ever meet me, do not sing this song to me.

Oh, and if you want to make a good impression, don’t quote lines from Forrest Gump.  You have no idea how many people, again usually men, who will say my name in the Forrest Gump accent.  I am not the girl who grew up with a boy named Forrest with broken legs and yells out to him, “Run Forrest, run.”  I can assure you that it was not me.  I am also not the girl who sings half naked on a stage with a guitar covering myself only to have drunken men grab me, and then a boy named Forrest saves me.  It wasn’t me.  I am also not the girl who snorts, most likely cocaine, and then debates jumping from a roof in 4 inch high heels.  I can definitely assure you that it wasn’t me.  I am not the Jenny from the movie.

Story of My Life

I think I am going to write a book.

That's all you're going to get for now. :)

Jennifer Nicole

Happy Happy Joy Joy

I am just so happy!  I just thought I'd share that with you all!  I spent the day with some of my favorite people in the entire world; the Derouin's.  They are so wonderful.  I could tell you that when I left their house I was smiling the whole way home, but it was probably for another reason, a reason that I am not yet going to share on this blog.  Let's just say that I am so happy right now with the way certain things are going in my life.  The Lord is so good! He's so good!  How can I not be happy!  I have a great family, awesome friends, a job that keeps me busy and brings the money!  I pray tomorrow will be just as great, if not better!  I just wanted to share my joy with you all.

Jennifer Nicole

30 Days: Days 21-31

Here it is! I know this has taken me a while to finish, but these past few weeks have been really tough for me.  No worries! I have finished my 30 days! Enjoy!

Day 21: A picture of something you wish you could forget.

This was really hard because I don't have any pictures of stuff I wish I could forget. I guess I wish I could forget this idea in my head that I have to do everything myself, but I know that I just need to trust God and that everything happens for a reason; for the better. Romans 8:28

Day 22: A picture of something you wish you were better at.
Writing. I enjoy writing and was told many times in high school and college that I am good at it, but I have trouble getting the words and thoughts from my head onto paper.

Day 23: A picture of your favorite book.

The B-I-B-L-E. Yes that's the book for me.

Day 24: A picture of something you wish you could change.

Ignore the colors :)
I wish I could change some of my bad habits; like biting my nails. This picture was taken when my nails were the longest. I grew them out as a Christmas gift for an associate who slaps my hands when she sees me biting them. Sadly, I bit them a week after Christmas.

 Day 25: A picture of your day.

I work at the Mart.

Day 26: A picture of something that means a lot to you.

two of my favorite people.

Day 27: A picture of you and a family member.

Well there's two family members in there.

Day 28: A picture of something you're afraid of.

That's right! I am afraid of the dark. I don't like not being able to see where I am, or who's next to me. It's creepy.

Day 29: A picture that can always make you smile.

Grandma!! Knowing she is in Heaven with Jesus makes me happy that I will see her again someday!!

Day 30: A picture of someone you miss.

My second family! Dudley and Kay (not pictured)

Day 31: A picture of yourself (again).

I know this is only 30 days, but there is a day 31 in the instructions so here it is.

 

Jenny Day

Today started out with a blast; a blast of freezing cold water, that is!  I have only taken a cold shower twice in my life before today.  Once because we had to turn off the hot water for repairs in the laundry room, and I needed to take a shower.  I bravely suffered through the cold.  The other time was because we had to turn off the hot water for some reason I cannot remember at the moment, but no body told me!  How do you not tell every one in the household that the hot water is turned off?!  When my parents woke up, my mom just laughed and said, "Oops, we forgot to tell you."  Yeah, that's really funny mom.  It's really funny to turn the shower on and all that comes out is freezing water.  I'll tell you one thing though, I sure woke up in an instant that morning.  Talk about wake up call!  Since then, I have made it a habit to turn the faucet on and check the temperature of the water before I hop into the shower.   I hate cold showers.  It ruins the moisture in my hair, not to mention that the water is so cold that my skin cannot stand it for a second.  This morning was just that case.  I had spent the night at Connie's house in order to avoid driving across town more than I needed to this weekend, but mostly because she's my best friend and I enjoy hanging out with her.  To get the whole effect on my cold shower to top off what a great weekend I had, let's rewind back to Friday night, a night that I will never forget.

Friday, February 18 was our This Is Not Goodbye- Part 2 party at my good friends, Scott and Susie Derouin's house.  In case you didn't notice, I did say Part 2 because we had a Part 1 (obviously) the week before.  And if you haven't read my previous blog, Scott and Susie are beginning their steps into ministry by moving to a new church that is growing in their ministries but lacks the leadership.  Scott and Susie were the leaders of my College and Career Sunday school class at my church,  so as a last hurrah, we had two going away parties, so to speak.  Anyway, Friday night was our Part 2.  It started at 6:30, but I didn't get there til 7:00pm because I was waiting at home for my sister, Megan, as she was coming straight from school, MSU (that's a whole other issue in itself as I am a U of M fan).  To avoid bringing many cars to the Derouin's, I waited for Megan to get to my house and then drive together along with another friend.  We entered the house and Scott tells me that they couldn't start the evening because I wasn't there yet.  Every body waited to eat.  I felt so bad.  They could have started without us, but they said some things weren't ready anyway.  I think they were just saying that to cover up. Regardless of that fact, the food was worth the wait. We ate some yummy lasagna, spaghetti, green beans, bread and butter, and for dessert we had brownies!  And we had coffee!!  I probably shouldn't have had three cups of coffee!  I'll get more into that.

At some point in the evening, I had Scott and Susie open a gift that I had been working on for them.  It was a scrapbook of their time with the coolest people in the world, the HBC College and Career class!  (I think this is when I had finished my first cup of coffee.)  Everyone enjoyed the pictures, mostly because they were in them.  It was nice to go down memory lane for a bit and remember the good times.  I told Scott not to cry and I could see him tearing up before he even opened the book. He's such a cry baby.  After that I went up to Scott with my empty mug and said, "Please sir, may I have some more (coffee)?"  That was my second cup of coffee in less than an hour I think.

Other then that, it was a typical Friday night at the Derouin's.  The Wii was out and in action.  Connie schooled everyone in basketball.  Megan apparently schooled everyone in archery.  I, on the other hand, was in the other room playing a nice quiet game of cards. Yeah right.  I hate playing cards.  It's so boring to just sit there and place cards down on the table.  Where's the fun?  I was playing Bananagrams with some friends.  For those of you who have never heard of Bananagrams and are trying to imagine was that entails, stop thinking right now!  It's a scrabble game where you create your own mini scrabble board, and you can shuffle your words around as you get new letter tiles.  It's a really fun game.  If you've played it enough times like Susie and I have, we play the game really fast so you better keep up.  To finish off the night, we had to play Catchphrase because this game only gets better after 11pm!  Some of us ended up staying til about 12:30 in the morning (even Connie), but we knew it was time to leave.  We can't have Scott and Susie forever, however I am coming over every week to spend time with their family.  Their son, Caleb, and I are calling it Jenny Day (hence the title).

Saturday was a fun day too, mostly because I didn't have to work!  I had plans to meet up with Connie and another friend at a restaurant for dinner, but the other friend bailed out.  Connie and I quickly changed our plans.  I ended up going to her last coaching game for basketball, then went to Patty and Joe's house for dinner.  BTW, Chicken Shack is AMAZING!!  Then, of course, we played Just Dance on the Wii and my new favorite game, Family Feud for the Wii.  This game had us laughing so hard.  For example, one of the questions was "Name a food that is difficult to eat with a fork."  The number two answer was spaghetti.  Spaghetti!! Really?!  How else do you eat spaghetti?

Sunday, February 20, 2011 was a day that I was hoping would never come; Scott and Susie's last Sunday with our church.  I already told you about my cold shower, so we don't need to get into that again.  Connie and I left for church.  I hung my coat up.  I went to the bathroom to check my make-up and my clothes.  I walked down the hall.  I entered my class and immediately started crying.  I have no idea where this emotion came from because I wasn't too sad all morning.  I knew our time with Scott and Susie was coming to an end and I thought I was beginning to accept the fact that I won't be seeing them every Sunday and Wednesday.  And the funny thing is that neither Scott or Susie were in the room yet and here I was crying.  I had to leave the room right away because I didn't want to cry in front of people.  I don't like to be vulnerable.  I pulled myself together and walked back into the room.  I sat down as everyone was making fun of me for crying.

Then Scott walked into the room.  Now I started blubbering and quickly left the room as I was about to fall apart.  I had the waterworks going, the crying noises, even had trouble breathing, and I was shaking.  I could hear everyone in the room tell Scott that I had cried and that I just needed to collect myself.  I came back in the room and told Scott not to look at me.  I was still shaking at this point.  I could see him out of the corner of my eye, but I looked away as I knew I would have to fix my eye makeup once again.  He asked why i was sitting by myself, and someone mentioned to him that I wanted to sit by myself because if I was going to cry again, I wanted to cry by myself.  Well that lasted a whole five minutes when someone I was trying to avoid walks in the room; Susie.  And guess where she sat? That's right, right next to me just to torture me.  I held it together though.  I made it through Sunday School.  I sure am going to miss their faces at church.  For the past two weeks, however, their son Caleb has been asking me when I am coming over for Jenny Day.  He just has to melt my heart.  Caleb is such a sweet kid.  I didn't realize he really wants me to come over as often as I can.  I will definitely make time for Derouin's as they will always be in my heart and prayers.

Sunday night was Flocks night.  This was an incredible distraction of Scott and Susie leaving.  I love my Flocks.  For those of you who don't know what I am talking about, I am not talking about my own personal flock of sheep.  I am not Little Bo Peep.  Flocks is a home Bible study group and we meet every first and third Sundays of every month.  It's so great and such wonderful fellowship with awesome people.  We had a good study and great discussion, even though Joe (the leader of the pack) was picking on my friend Andrew which is why I chose not to say any answers aloud as I would have to explain them.  I'm just kidding.  I did shout out some answers, but whenever Andrew did, Joe would say "what do you mean?"  Poor Andrew.  Joe's wife, Patty, jokingly said that all of  our names were on a dart board and the dart landed on Andrew's name for the night.  After our study, we ate dinner.  Miss Vicki made some delicious pulled pork, and or course we had to have some orange soda!  My brother Mike is in my flocks group too.  He hasn't been feeling well and he had been waiting to get called in to plow snow for the night.  He was going to call his boss to call in sick when he did get the call to be at work at 9pm.  He ended up snow plowing for 20 hours!  Anyways, me and Andrew stayed at Patty and Joe's with Mike till he had to leave for work.  We played Just Dance on the Wii (we love the Wii) and their kids beat Mike in a lot of dances.  It was pretty funny.  I did a few songs myself but it is so tiring and makes you sweat.  We even got Andrew to do a song when we pulled out the Michael Jackson version of Just Dance.  I was not even going to try to the MJ dances because he moves pretty fast I would not be able to keep up.

Despite the fact that I was sad 50 % of the time, I had a really great weekend.  I have such wonderful friends and family in my life; people who would drop what their doing to help me with anything.  Patty even told me to text her when I got home Sunday night because of all the snow.  I can't remember the last time it's taken me over an hour to get home from Warren but I got home in one piece.  I love them so much and you all know who you are.  Thanks for an awesome weekend!

Jennifer Nicole

This Is Not Goodbye

February 6, 2011 was not an ordinary Sunday.  I cried on my way home after watching the entire game of the Super Bowl with a few friends, as well as all the commercials.  And might I add that the Eminem Chrysler commercial was amazing!  May I also note that I was not crying because the Steelers lost.  I just want to make that perfectly clear.  I watched the game, but I did not care who won or lost.  OK.  So, rewind to around 8:30. in the morning.  I was just putting the finishing touches on my outfit while getting ready for church.  The night before I had bought a suit vest to wear with my black trousers and red hot high heels.  I was looking pretty chic, if I do say so myself.  I was feeling good.  Someone at church even said I was looking skinny!  What better news could I get?!  Well earlier that day I got some news, but I wouldn't say it was good news.

The time was 10 a.m.  This was right about the time when I got the news that shook the nation.  OK, so maybe not the nation, but my Sunday School class for sure.  Scott and Susie, our teachers, are going to be leaving our church to help out, and hopefully join full-time, at another church which is growing in their ministry but lacking the leadership.  We have a common bond with this other church because the senior pastor used to be the youth pastor at our church.  This is incredibly bitter sweet for me, because Scott and Susie have been more than just teachers to me, they are my friends.  I cannot imagine Heritage without them, or their two boys.  Susie and I in particular go way back to when our church was Ryan Road Baptist before we moved locations to 14 Mile and Van Dyke.  I didn't really know her then, but I knew of her.  It wasn't until I was in high school and she and Scott became leaders in the youth group that I really got to know Susie.  She has this way about her that just makes you want to be around her and learn from her.  She's very blunt and in your face sometimes, but that is what I love about her.  She gets straight to the point without getting off at any exits.  Example:  A bunch of us college kids were at their house and out of no where she asks my brother when he and his girlfriend are going to get married!  It was really funny and it totally put my brother on the spot!  That is how Susie is, and she's great at it!

I've always enjoyed the times I have spent with Susie; from girl's sleepovers in youth group, to 4th Sundays with the college class, to even spending an entire weekend with her family to help paint her front room.  If you don't know the story of me painting her front room, check out my blog.  It was legendary!  BTW, I apologize if many of my sayings are odd, but I have been watching How I Met Your Mother lately.  Anyways, I digress.  Susie has been an incredible friend to me over the years.  So incredible in fact, that she said I was one of the people she was afraid to tell about her family leaving our church.  I didn't know I meant so much to her.  In fact, while I was painting at her house, she wanted to tell me about her and Scott's plans on going into the ministry but they didn't have all their information and plans all worked out at the time. I kind of thought at the time, which was back in September, that something was going on.  I wanted to ask her if they were planning on moving, but I was not prepared for any answer.  She has encouraged, more like forced, me into speaking at a weekend getaway with the ladies of our church.  And when I say getaway, I mean all of us ladies hanging out at the church for two days.  We didn't sleep over, but we did stay late Friday night, and return early Saturday morning.  We've had some really good times with the ladies from church and I will miss that fellowship.  I feel like Susie has been pushing me to do things so that I might one day take a step forward into the ministry somewhere, maybe organizing ladies activities or one day teach a Bible study.  Who knows what goes on in her mind, but I know that she wouldn't push me if she didn't think I couldn't do it.  That is what I love about Susie.

Scott and I, on the other hand, have an brother/sister friendship.  I have this problem where I must win at the game of wits.  I just have to have the last word, and it has to be awesome.  Scott's age is a really good target for me because I like to remind him that he is ten years older than I am.  He and I go back to my youth group days.  Like Susie, I saw him as just my leader, not really a friend.  Over the past five years, however, Scott and Susie have become really close friends of mine that I know if I just stopped by their house, they would OK with that.  I enjoy their company, and hopefully they enjoy mine; otherwise, they have been lying to me all these years!  I have sincerely enjoyed our friendship and the things I have learned from him.  He knows a lot about the Bible and I can always go to him if have questions or concerns.  We like to joke around and drink lots of coffee.  He knows I have to have his special coffee on Sunday mornings.  Who's going to replace that?  Who am I going to play catchphrase with other than Scott and Susie after 11 p.m.? Who's house are we all going to hang out at on 4th Sundays?  Truth is, no one can replace them.  We'll still have those moments, just maybe not all the time.  They'll have a new church family to get to know and make memories with which is always a good thing.

I know God will do amazing things through Scott and he'll be a great pastor someday.  God's plans are always better than our own, which is why I have kept my feelings to myself.  Actually, I have blatantly protested their leaving, but I hope they know that I am joking.  I hope they know they mean a lot to me, and I will visit them at least once a week.  I love their family so much, and I can't imagine not seeing them every week.  Susie said even if we don't see each other every Sunday, we'll see each other again in Heaven.  I want that day to be soon.


Jennifer Nicole

30 Days: Days 14-20

I am in the middle of a few blogs that just aren't ready, so please enjoy my days 14-20.

Day 14: A picture of someone you can't imagine your life without.

Jamie Pepin. We met in youth group 2002 (correct me if I'm wrong). She's an incredible friend, the greatest friend God has given me.

Day 15: A picture of something you would like to do before you die.

I would like to get married and raise a family.

Day 16: A picture of someone who inspires you.

My dear friend Fay. She is an amazingly godly woman and someone I aspire to be.

Day 17: A picture of something/someone that had a huge impact on your life.

Scott and Susie Derouin.
What can I say about these two. They have been wonderful friends and mentors to me over the past 10+ years. I love them dearly!

Day 18: A picture of your biggest insecurity.

Sometimes I just don't see it.

Day 19: A picture of a letter.

Jamie Pepin wrote this to me at her wedding!

Day 20: A picture of somewhere you would love to travel.

Paris, yes!
But Europe in all it's beauty I would love to see!!

30 Days: Days 5-13

Continuing my 30 Day Photo Challenge...here are days 5-13.

Day 5: A picture of your favorite memory.

My family and I would go to the drive-in theater all the time when I was growing up. There was a playground near the large screen.

 
Day 6: A picture of someone you would love to trade places with for a day.

Carrie Underwood

She's beautiful. Her hair always looks great. She's talented and her husband is good-looking!!

Day 7: A picture of your most treasured item.

I don't really have any treasured items, other than my cross necklace that a dear friend gave me, but I couldn't get a good picture of it.

I took this picture of Cody by the pond behind our house, and I absolutely love it, and Cody too!

Day 8: A picture that makes you laugh!

Best face ever!

Day 9: A picture of the person who has gotten you through the most.

My best friend Connie.

Day 10: A picture of the person you do the most messed up things with.

There are many more pictures just like this!

Day 11: A picture of something you hate.

I feel like it's on me!!

Day 12: A picture of something you love.

Calla Lillies

Day 13: A picture of your favorite band or artist.

Chris Tomlin!

30 Days: Days 1-4

Facebook has this page called "The 30 Day Photo Challenge."  I wasn't sure if I wanted to do this because I already have so many pictures uploaded into their own personal albums.  Why would I want to create a photo album with pictures that I currently have?  My mom said I have so many pictures and that I would have no problem uploading more! Thanks, mom.  As I began searching through others' albums, and when I say "others'" I mean my cousin's album, I started to get drawn in.  It turns out that this particular album is not just pictures that already exist, but pictures that bring back some memories, showcase your favorites, and it's just pure fun!  Of course I started a 30 Days album myself.  I just had to.  I am so addicted to anything facebook that is is actually sickening.  I've taken the necessary precautions and have started uploading one photo for each day.  I did cheat and upload 3 photos in one day.  It's insane for me to only upload one photo! That's absurd! But I will follow the rules, and continue to do one a day.  Take a look at the first 4 days...

Day 1: A picture of yourself with 10 facts.

1. I really love black olives.
2. I am currently watching The Office.
3. My favorite author is Nicholas Sparks.
4. I enjoy taking pictures of the outdoors.
5. My eyes may appear to be green, but they are actually hazel.
6. I bite my nails (trying to stop).
7. I have a crazy obsession with string cheese.
8. I always wake up at least 30 minutes before my alarm and it drives me mad!
9. My hands get really dry in the winter.
10. I used to be a teeny-bopper.

Day 2: A picture of you and the person you have been closest with the longest.

We have our moments of disgust toward one another, but we're still pretty close.

Day 3: A picture of the cast from your favorite show.

Day 4: A picture of a typical night for you.

Dad sleeping, and Mike imitating dad.

Lady in Waiting

When I was 17, I had a crush on my friend, who shall remain nameless.  He was one of my very best guy friends.  I remember each boy that I had a crush on as a matter of fact, and not just when I was 17.  It's quite a long list.  I would need more fingers and toes to count all my boy-crazed crushes of my youth.  For all you women out there, you remember how nerve wrecking it was to like a guy that didn't even notice you.  You lingered around his locker in hopes that he would look at you this time.  You even found out his favorite hang out spots and started showing up hoping that he would notice you.  You did your hair just right and did not leave the house without make-up because heaven forbid he see you with a bare face.  Or, now that Facebook has arrived, you look at his profile at least a dozen times a day.  And you know he's only "friends" with you because you go to the same school or you have mutual friends.  At least he knows who are you, right?  That's all that matters!  These are just a few symptoms of a crush.

Merriam-Webster defines "crush" in this sense as " an intense and usually passing infatuation."  Notice the words "usually passing."  This is what I was talking about when I said I have a long list of crushes.  Crushes usually only concern one thing: physical attraction.  For the most part, the guys that I had crushes on, I did not know.  They were cute, athletic, popular, etc...  Did you hear me mention anything about their personalities?  Their beliefs?  No.  That didn't matter to me.  Each guy was the Mr. Right Now.  We were meant to be, I just knew it.  Me and all those guys (not all at once because that would creepy).  Each crush, at separate times was the one for me, until he got a girlfriend and then I moved onto another crush.  That is the unsettling cycle of having a crush.  You like a guy.  He doesn't know you exist.  You try to get his attention.  He gets a girlfriend.  You hate him.  You hate her for stealing him.  You like a new guy.  And the cycles goes on, and on.  The guy I liked when I was 17 was different.  He was already my friend.  I developed feelings for him, but I was afraid of what might happen to our friendship.

The other word in the definition that I would like to make point on is "intense" or in other words, obsessive.  Having a little crush is really not that bad.  Maybe you think the guy is cute; fine, whatever.  But let me tell you, you are not in love with the guy.  You are not meant to be (unless it is in God's plan for you, in which case you need to pray that God prepares you and him for each other).  I have never been in love, but I know enough about it that Love comes from the Lord.  True love and happiness only come from the Lord.  If you truly are in love with someone, chances are you are already in a serious relationship and God has blessed you with each other.  You cannot love someone that 1) you have never spoken a word to in your life, 2) doesn't know you exist, or 3) you've never even met (like a celebrity).  I can remember writing guys' names in my notebook and drawing hearts around them.  I would write Mrs. So-and-So, whatever his last name was, as if we were going to get married and live happily ever after.  When I was in 6th grade, my class went to camp and all of us girls played with the Ouija board and asked if any of the guys in our class had crushes on us.  There was a boy that lived down the street from me and he was in my class.  He was the reason my friends pulled out that silly Ouija board.  At the end of the school year, they all wrote in my yearbook, "Work it, girl." or "Work it for James."  What does that even mean?  I had to glam myself up in order to get his attention?  I did not actually believe in the Ouija board, but for a slight moment I hoped that they were true.  It was, and is false hope.  It makes me sick now to think about how I was in middle school and high school.

You can ask any of my family members or my friends, and they would tell you that I certainly was boy crazy.  I had all the boy bands and movie heart throbs plastered on my walls.  I spent hours on the phone talking to my friends about boys or just talking to boys.  However, while all my friends had boyfriends, I wished I had a boyfriend.  I prayed to God that a boy would ask me out on a date.  No one ever did.  To this date, no one ever has.  Don't feel sorry for me, because I'm not.  I had two brief "relationships" in middle school, if you can even call them that.  They each lasted a week.  Basically we said we like each other, sat next to each other at church, and then it was over the next week.  They were the typical break-ups in middle school; pass them a note through one of your friends.  I can look back at that time and laugh because each "relationship" was just puppy love.  They weren't serious.  We didn't go anywhere alone.  Where were we going to go at 13???  At least I don't talk on the phone for hours and hours anymore, which I am sure made my parents happy that I wasn't racking up the phone bill.

As for my crush when I was 17;  I wrote him an e-mail telling him that I wanted to be more than friends.  I remember the exact moment when he wrote me back.  I was in photography class checking my e-mail and there it was.  In my Inbox was a "RE:" from him.  He told me that he didn't feel the same way and that he didn't want to ruin our friendship either or his friendship with my brother.  Did I mention that he was my brother's best friend?  Those are the worst!  I read the email and I remember a tear falling from my eye.  At that moment I knew I was kidding myself and our friendship changed after that.  I couldn't even look at him let alone talk to him.  It was incredibly awkward from that moment on.  I was crushed, no pun intended.  But maybe that is why they are called crushes because someone ends up getting hurt.

Now that I am 25, I can honestly say that I am content with being single.  When I was in college, I did a Bible study called Lady in Waiting: Developing Your Love Relationships.  It's basically about how God is preparing someone for you; for marriage.  It made me realize that I don't have to worry about my hair, or my make-up.  Just being myself should be enough and trusting God with my heart.  I would recommend this book to any girl who has doubts about why God is keeping them single and I would love to do this study with you.  My dear friend Emily recently said something about being single and it spoke directly to my heart.  She said, "The season of singleness is such a gift from God!! A time to prepare to be the person God has meant u to be for ur future husband/wife. A time to reflect and allow God to change things in u that u did not see. A time to return to ur first true love, Jesus, and allow Him to change ur heart. Never be sad about singleness...! Instead, praise God for the time to become the very best YOU for HIM and for your future spouse!!"  This is pretty mush the entire Lady in Waiting theme.  I will admit, I have been sad about being single, but now I know that God is preparing me and no matter what I will never cease to give Him the glory in everything that I do!  God's timing is different from my own.  His is for the better because He knows my heart much better than I do.  Not to break out into a Snow White song, but someday my prince will come.


Jennifer Nicole

To Play With and Enjoy

OK, this song makes me laugh every year.  Who, in their right mind, really wants a hippopotamus for Christmas?  I mean, REALLY!?  Come on; a hippopotamus???  I can tell you right now, that I do not, nor will I ever want a hippopotamus!!  Do you know how many people die from hippos each year? Me neither; I thought you might.  All I know is that hippos are mean and they do kill, especially mama hippos.  They are crazy protective over their babies much like mama bears.  Have you ever tried to approach a bear cub, and then have the mama chase you down? Me neither, and I do not want to know what that feels like.  But I digress.  Let's get back to the song.

So, of course a little girl is supposedly asking for a hippopotamus for Christmas!  Why wouldn't she?  It's every little girls' dream.  If I remember correctly from my childhood *let me reach deep into the back of my brain* I wanted dolls, or barbies, or stuffed animals.  This girl does not want those things.  She makes this clear when she says, "Don't want a doll, no dinky Tinker Toy..."  Come on now.  What does this song even mean.  It makes no sense.  I just keep coming back to the question, who really wants a hippopotamus ever?  You already know that I do not, and for many reasons.

First of all, hippos are not even cool.  I would justify wanting a cute puppy dog or maybe even a snake for you extremists, but a hippo; not cool.  I would never get a snake either because they are slimy and they bite, but if you need a wild animal then get a snake.  I would even justify wanting a kangaroo because they always come with a baby so it's a BOGO deal; Buy One Get One.  But then again, kangaroos are pretty dangerous because apparently they kick really really hard.  I'd prefer not to be kicked by my pets.  Let's see, what is a cool animal that is not dangerous?  Pigs are really smart, but then you'd have to deal with the mud.  Pigs always come with mud.  And they smell really bad.  I've never been to a farm where the animals smelled like roses.  Horses are pretty cool, but if you don't know how to ride them or take care of them, then they just stand in their barn eating grass.  Actually, let's just stick with the normal pets; cats, dogs, birds, maybe a snake.  Not hippos!!

Second of all, hippos ARE dangerous!!  Do not be fooled by Gloria in Madagascar.  They are not friendly, and they don't talk.  I'm pretty sure the mom is right in the song, a hippo would eat you alive.  They may be vegetarians but they are huge.  What if it sits on you?  You'd be crushed, literally.  A hippo is not an appropriate gift for a child, or anyone for that matter.  This girl wants to put the hippo in the garage.  What about your parents' cars, little girl?  Did you ask your mom and dad if you could keep the hippo in the garage?  No, you did not.  Of course they wouldn't let you keep a hippo in the house.  Hippos need water and fresh greens.  Is your garage a pool or large field of grass?  I didn't think so.  You didn't think about the responsibility of taking care of a hippo.  They need more than just food, bathing and a massage; gee, a massage sounds really good right about now..oh sorry, I digress again.  Animals like hippos need to be free in the wild to roam where ever they feel like.  So ask your mom for a doll or toy, or something that be easily disposed of once you're bored with it.

I guess I don't have any more reasons.


Jennifer Nicole

Jewelry

It's no surprise that I love jewelry.  I can honestly say that any piece of jewelry can dress up any outfit, even jeans and a t-shirt.  If I had more storage, I would own a lot more earring, bracelets (I'm really into bracelets right not), and necklaces.  Right now I would say that I have a small collection compared to the fashion gurus out there.  I also have a unique taste for jewelry.  Although the traditional pearls, small stone earrings are fine, they can be quite boring at times.  I want a little pizazz, not a lot like some people I know who need to have everything sparkly and wear them all at once, but just a little to catch the eye of admirers.  I really like owls.  I have been searching for the right size pair of owl earrings at a decent price and I found them today at a store called Love Culture!  My friend Connie and I went to Partridge Creek Mall this afternoon, and I have never even heard of this Love Culture before, but it's pretty similar to Forever 21 which I absolutely love!!  I didn't buy the owl earrings today, but at least I know where to find them.

We were actually looking at Forever 21's jewelry making mental notes of the things we like, when Connie said, "I can't believe you don't actually make your own jewelry."  That gave me an idea, and I will need your input.  I want to do this.  I don't just want to make jewelry for myself, but I want to be able to sell jewelry too.  Finding the beads, gems, jewelry pieces and everything else I will need to make the jewelry won't be hard, but how do I go about actually selling it?  I think I could do a really great job at this.  This is just a start, where the idea has been put in my head.  I am going to pray about it, but I would like your input and prayers as well.

Thanks,

Jennifer Nicole

A Background Has Been Chosen

I have FINALLY chosen a background that I am satisfied with.  It took a lot of thought and time, but I think it looks pretty great actually!  I have trouble committing to just one background because there are so many to choose from.  I found this great website that has many, many different backgrounds just for blogs.  I wanted to find one that didn't have just white in the middle because that was getting borrrring!  This website includes backgrounds that have some color and pizazz in the middle.  I need the pizazz!  Plus, this site has banners, accessories, and you know how I feel about accessories (the more the merrier), and lots of extras.  I hope you enjoy the new background, but I can pretty much guarentee that it will change next month, much like my purse changes every month!

Jennifer Nicole

Countdown of the Scariest Movies Ever!

Continuing my countdown with my top two scariest movies...

#2 A Nightmare on Elm Street
This has got to be the goriest, bloodiest, most frightening movie I have ever seen!  Now how many of you want to see this after hearing me describe it?!  I cannot even tell you how much this movie freaked me out.  Some guy with a burnt face and a blue and red striped shirt (which should have been vertical because horizontal stripes are not flattering) kills kids in their dreams. Freaky! I mean what kind of a psycho kills in dreams? Freddy Kruger, that's who!  The scene where Johnny Depp's character dies is so gross I can't watch it ever again.  He gets sucked into a bed and then a geyser of blood shoots out of a bed.  It's so disturbing.  I think a girl gets sucked into the wall in another scene and there was a lot of blood in that scene too.  My sides cringe whenever I see blood or skin being ripped open.  And those fingers!  He has knives for a hand; kind of like Edward Scissorhands, which starred Johnny Depp (ironic) only Freddy uses his to kill and not for cutting hair.

OK....now for my number one scariest movie ever!

#1 JAWS
Bum..Bum. Bum..Bum.  Who knew that two notes could scare the pants off of so many people.  I dislike this movie with a passion.  A freaking shark eats people! He eats people!!!  This is one of the movies that I would only watch on TV and change the channel when the shark is going to attack.  He attacks and slashes around that naked girl in the beginning, which is actually quite stupid.  I mean, who goes swimming in the ocean naked and in the middle of the night??  Not me.  I won't even go in the ocean with my clothes on in the daylight!  He bites the leg off of a guy in a canoe and the leg sinks to the bottom of the ocean. He eats a little boy playing on a balloon thing, and that part was actually sad because I'm sure that has happened before.  And finally, the the worst part of the film; the captain of the boat slides down the sinking boat into the mouth of the shark.  The shark bites down on the guy which of course burst blood out, and the guy starts throwing up blood.  It's soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo gross!!!  I don't do bloody movies. I just don't.

That's all!

Jennifer Nicole.

Countdown of the Scariest Movies Ever!

Continuing with my countdown...

#6 When A Stranger Calls (1979)
I think this movie is very freaky because this could actually happen.  When I was in high school, my church youth group had girl's nights.  We had a sleep over one night and for some reason we watched When A Stranger Calls, the original.  And let me tell you, it was scary!  It's about a babysitter who is stalked by some guy, that calls from within the house, and ends up killing the kids she is babysitting.  Well, we were all laying on the floor, watching the movie, and at some point there was a scene that made you jump, and the girl next to be grabbed my arm.  What is it about my arm that people grab during scary movies!? Do I want you to grab my arm? No.  I'd watch scary movies alone for that reason but I just can't.  I need someone's arm to grab if I get scared.

#5 Halloween
For some reason I did watch this movie alone, but it was on TV so I could change the channel if I knew something was about to happen.  I don't know why I do that.  My friend Sarah would just cover her ears if something was about to happen, but I wouldn't want to watch it either. I'd be covering my ears and my eyes!  Anyways, I was watching Halloween on TV because I heard it was a really great movie.  Well it wasn't.  There was killing, and blood, and stalking.  Creepy!  It's not revealed until Halloween II, but Michael Myers is Laurie Strode's brother and that is why he stalked her.  The theme song to Halloween is pretty scary too.  That's how you know when Michael is around, the music starts to play.  And why does he have to wear a mask.  We all know his name and where he used to live.  So why does he cover his face with a freaky mask? I'm just saying, it's weird.

#4 Pet Sematary
I absolutely did not like this movie!  A cemetery that brings things back to life but not in a good way....CRAZY!  It's kind of like Chucky only it's a real kid that comes back to life and kills his family.  The part where he is hiding under the bed and cuts the old man's ankles grosses me out.  Again with the ankles!!  I just can't take it anymore! 

# 3 Friday the 13th
The name says it all.  It has bad luck written all over it.  I told you that the killer wasn't Jason, right?  Yes, yes I did.  It was his mother in the first film because she wanted revenge on all counselors because her son drowned while no one was looking.  So she shows up at the camp where her son died because some counselors are trying to get it up and running again.  Well, she kills all but one girl, mainly because she didn't get naked, have sex, and she wasn't a jerk.  You're pretty much going to end up dead if you do one of those three things.  It's a given.  Or if you're Kevin Bacon.  He gets a knife of some kind shoved in him from underneath the bed.  That was gross.  But the stupidest part was when the girl was in the shower and all she does is stand there as the killer is approaching her.  Run you fool!! Why would just stand there and scream? At least try to run for your life.

Countdown of the Scariest Movies Ever!

In 2004, Bravo aired a mini series titled The 100 Scariest Movie Moments and to tell you the truth I have only seen a handful of these.  Oddly enough my top 10 is pretty close to Bravo's top ten.  Shocking.  You can find the complete list here.

Here are my top ten scariest movies ever!!

 #10 Signs
Signs was directed by the brilliant M. Night Shyamalan in 2002.  This movie still gives me the chills.  It's so suspenseful with the music and the way the aliens appear on the screen.  When they are in the basement and the arm of an alien grabs the boy; or when Graham cuts the finger off of one of them; and certainly the ending makes me jump out of my seat every time!  When the alien gets into Graham's house and Graham pulls the TV out into the living room you see the alien's reflection in the TV!! Creepy!  The funny part of the movie is when the boy and his uncle are wearing the aluminum foil hats!

#9 Texas Chainsaw Massacre
A lot of screaming.  A lot of people being chased, hit in the head, killed.  No blood ever shown on screen.  And yet this movie is considered one of the scariest movies of all time.  It may not have had the best acting, and the story of a killing family was a little unimaginative (I mean come on, it was the 70s), but this film did the trick; it scared the crap out of me!  I'm so glad I never saw this movie in theaters because I might have run right out of there.  I went to a haunted forest one time and one of the characters had a chainsaw, granted the chain was not on the machine and it just made the noise of a chainsaw, but it still creeped me out.  The scariest part of this movie is when Kirk enters the house and Leatherface hits him over the head and Kirk's body falls to the ground and starts shaking *Shivers in her skin*.  I've only seen this movie once and that is enough for me!  I don't like movies where some guy wearing the skin of another human on his face as a mask chases people with a chainsaw. No thanks. I'll pass.

#8 The Others
I can remember seeing this movie when it came out in theaters.  I went with a group of friends.  We sat near the top and I sat next to my friend Kristin.  I didn't catch on to the fact that Nicole Kidman's character and her kids were actually the ones that dead.  I'm slow like that.  But the scariest part of this movie was near the end of film.  The two children were hiding in a closet and the screen was black which meant the theater was pitch black.  You couldn't see anything.  Suddenly you hear the voice of an old woman.  Kristin nearly tore my skin off.  I mean I jumped too, don't get me wrong, it did scare the pee out of me.  But what really scared me is Kristin grabbed my arm and dug her nails into my skin.  I wasn't expecting her to freak out like that.  So not only is the theater dark and a suddenly a woman speaks out of no where, but my friend grabs my arm at the same time!!!  We had a good laugh afterward.

#7 Misery
"I'm your number one fan."  Kathy Bates has got to be the creepiest stalker of all time portrayed in this film.  I can't watch this movie without cringing or reaching for my ankles.  You all know what I am talking about.  If you haven't seen this movie, DON'T; unless you really do like misery.  Get it, cuz the movie is called Misery.  Nevermind.  Well, the scariest and most bone crunching scene in this movie is when Kathy Bates' character puts a block of wood between Paul's feet.  She then pulls out a sledge hammer and slams it into each foot breaking at the ankle.  All so he wouldn't try to escape her craziness.  Even talking about it makes my ankles hurt.  And not only is the thought of it gross, but they actually showed his ankles dangle over the side of the wood!! I'm getting creeped out now.

Stay tuned for my countdown to the scariest movies ever!!

Jennifer Nicole

The Horror Of It All

Remember when the lawyer gets eaten by the T-Rex on the toilet, after Jeff Goldblum says, "When you gotta go, you gotta go?" Or when "Bruce" eats the captain of the boat? Or when Johnny Depp gets sucked into the bed and then a geyser of blood explodes out of the bed? Or when Michael Myers (not to be confused with Mike Myers, the voice of Shrek) stalks Jamie Lee Curtis?  Or when Kirk is hit in the head by Leatherface and although it seems he is killed, his body shakes on the ground?  Or when you found out at the end of the movie that it wasn't Jason killing everyone, it was in fact his mother?  Or when Drew Barrymore is credited as one of the stars of Scream when really she is killed within the first ten minutes of the film?  Or when you hear "One, two, Freddy's coming for you," the hairs on the back of your neck stick up?

Well I would like to wipe those images from my brain as they haunt me every Halloween. I do not like horror movies.  They creep me out (as every horror movie director jumps for joy because that is the purpose of horror movies).  I can remember when I was maybe 13 or 14, I stayed the night at a friend's house.  We ended up watching Scream, during the day I might add, in her basement.  I have to admit that Scream is really not all that scary now that I look back.  It's actually comical.  But, at the time it totally freaked me out.  Not only did we watch the movie in her basement, my friend wanted to sleep in basement; the dark, cold, can't see if someone wearing that mask is there, basement.  I got scared.  I left my friend, went all the way upstairs to the second floor, and slept in her bed.  I was not going to sleep in a dark basement.  I still can't watch Scream today because the blood is quite gross and the fact that people do go around killing people kind of freaks me out.  If I watch the movie on TV, then I can just change the channel when I know someone is going to die.  That's usually what I do when I watch Jaws too.

I think that is why some of these horror movies are scary; they could actually happen.  Now I know dinosaurs aren't roaming the earth eating people off of toilets, and I know that Freddy isn't in my dreams wanting to kill me.  However, sharks have been known to eat people which is why I will never set foot in any ocean.  What's funny though is I love Shark Week on the discovery channel.  The documentary Planet Earth caught some really good footage of some sharks off of seal island.  Sharks are magnificent creatures, but I do not want to go near them.

I also know that people don't come back from the dead after drowning in a lake, but people do kill just for the thrill of it.  I went to Summer camp one year and a girl was almost kidnapped.  The rest of the week, we had to walk in groups of three or more.  It's pretty scary what people will do especially when kids are around.  My dad doesn't believe me, but in the original 1980 slasher Friday the 13th, Jason is not the killer.  It's his mother!  If you don't believe me, then watch the movie yourself.  Jason does not become the killer until Friday the 13th Part 2.  When Alice, in the first movie, is the lone survivor she hears a car rolling up and it's Mrs. Voorhees, Jason's mom, but she doesn't reveal it until she suddenly attacks Alice.  But when the boy Jason grabs Alice under the water at the end of the movie, I jump every time.

I am not always afraid of horror movies.  I remember sleeping over at my friend Ashley's house and our friend Jessica was there too.  We decided to watch House on Haunted Hill.  Sounds creepy, right?  Well it was, but I was too tired to notice.  There was blood, and killing, and some creepy dark shadow following people.  Well, the movie ended and we decided to keep the light on.  Jessica slept on the couch, while Ashley and I slept on the floor.  I kid you not, all of a sudden the lamp flickered and then turned off.  I heard a soft shriek from the couch and the voices of my friends saying, "No, you turn it back on."  I got up from the floor, walked over to the lamp, touched it lightly and then it came back on.  I then looked over to find my friend Jessica now on the floor with Ashley.  I remember saying, "You guys are a bunch of wussies."  Then I went back to bed.  That is the only time I wasn't scared of a horror movie.

I could talk forever about horror movies, so I am going to have to same some for other blogs.  Be sure to look for my list of the top 10 scariest movies.

Jennifer Nicole

Spiders, Bees and Plain Donuts.

OK, just because I do not like spiders and bees does not make me a pessimistic.  I do not like when bees fly around my head and land on my food. It is gross and they have stingers that sting you.  Now, I haven't actually been stung by a bee in a very long time (which is long ago according to my friend Andrew who called me a dinosaur on a count that I am old. hardy har har.) but that doesn't mean I want them all over me.  I also do not like spiders. They are hairy, and creepy and crawly.

I went to Miller's Big Red Apple Orchard Greenhouses and Cider Mill.  That is a very long name for a cider mill now that I read it. Wow. *Long pause as I think how the name could be shortened*

We carpooled to 32 Mile and Mound to a cute little town, Romeo, MI.  Well, Melissa and I thought it was cute. I'd live there.  It just dawned on me that we drove thirty minutes to pick apples when there is a Wal-Mart across the street from our church. Hmm....I guess it was the fun and experience we were looking for.  So we're at the cider mill, a family oriented cider mill, and the 9 of us twenty-somethings picked apples.  We got in line to pay for our $5 1/4lb bag, and the lady says, "You're gonna need a picker."  I replied, "I am the picker. I'll pick my own apples."  She says, "No, the apples are at the top of the trees, you're gonna need a picker. You won't be able to reach them."  I pointed to the tall guys in our group and said they would help.  She rudely replies with, "NO, you're gonna be a picker."  And she pulls out this long stick with a catching net at the end.  I was like...oooohhh. She could have just shown that to me in the first place.  We had to put down a $10 deposit, which we got back when we returned the picker.  Can I just say that even Connie, who is about 5 feet tall, picked her own apples without the picker.  It was a little ridiculous.

We got on the tracker, and rode to the apple trees.  I suppose since Halloween is just around the corner, the  farm had all these creepy (but i had to take a picture) things.

 

There was a "Death Row" stage

a random house that was locked and had a beat up electric organ on the porch

A fire truck and van that crashed I suppose.

A scene that looked like it came out of Harry Potter, but not really :)

Mike and Connie climbed a stack of branches.

Let's just say it was a fun Sunday afternoon.  We picked our apples.  We drank cider and ate donuts.  And to the request of my sister-in-law, here is the story behind the plain donut.  We waited in line inside the main barn where they serve all the food for donuts and cider, that were way over priced might I add, and when we walked outside this delicious aroma of different smells filled my nose and that was hard to do because I have a cold and I had to breathe through my mouth all day.  I don't recommend breathing through your mouth because then your mouth gets dry which makes you want more cider and then you have to pee the rest of the night.  Anyway, we found a table and just dove into conversations and laughs and all around good times!  I did buy my own donut, but my brother Mike bought a dozen.  Before I finished my donut, we were talking about spiders and that stupid bee was flying around me and landing on the jug of cider.  I stated, "I hate bees," and "I hate spiders," somewhere in between all the talking.  At this time I had finished my donut, which was cinnamon.  I asked Mike if I could have one of his.  He pulled out a plain donut to which I replied, "No, I want a cinnamon."  Andrew then said I was a pessimistic.  First I hate bees and spiders, and now plain donut.  For the record, I do not hate plain donuts.  I just wanted a cinnamon.

And you would think the farm could spell Raspberries correctly, but no.

Jennifer Nicole

Hannah's Prayer

I was working on my first lesson in "Life Principles from the Prophets of the Old Testament" and was reading in 1 Samuel chapter 2.  For those of you who don't know, Hannah was barren for many years and prayed to the Lord to give her a male child and in return would give that child back to the Lord.  This is her prayer after her son, Samuel, was born. It's amazing!

¹ And Hannah prayed and said:

      “My heart rejoices in the LORD;
      My horn^[a] is exalted in the LORD.
      I smile at my enemies,
      Because I rejoice in Your salvation.

 ² “No one is holy like the LORD,
      For there is none besides You,
      Nor is there any rock like our God.

 ³ “Talk no more so very proudly;
      Let no arrogance come from your mouth,
      For the LORD is the God of knowledge;
      And by Him actions are weighed.

 ⁴ “The bows of the mighty men are broken,
      And those who stumbled are girded with strength.

 ⁵ Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread,
      And the hungry have ceased to hunger.
      Even the barren has borne seven,
      And she who has many children has become feeble.

 ⁶ “The LORD kills and makes alive;
      He brings down to the grave and brings up.

 ⁷ The LORD makes poor and makes rich;
      He brings low and lifts up.

 ⁸ He raises the poor from the dust
      And lifts the beggar from the ash heap,
      To set them among princes
      And make them inherit the throne of glory.

      “For the pillars of the earth are the LORD’s,
      And He has set the world upon them.

 ⁹ He will guard the feet of His saints,
      But the wicked shall be silent in darkness.

      “For by strength no man shall prevail.

 ¹⁰ The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken in pieces;
      From heaven He will thunder against them.
      The LORD will judge the ends of the earth.

      “He will give strength to His king,
      And exalt the horn of His anointed.”

Jaw Dropping

I cannot even begin to describe what I am about to tell you! It's so crazy! If I was telling you this in person, I bet your jaw would drop like mine did.  I cannot believe this woman did what she did!

So, I was helping a lady customer pick out a chain for herself.  She said she wanted a yellow gold, box chain.  I showed her the only two that I have in stock.  They were too thin.  I showed her the white gold, box chain.  It was too thick.  She then asked me, "Are these the only two you have in yellow gold?"  She asked this after me saying "these are the only two yellow gold box chains that I have." I hate when people ask me stupid questions after I have just explained to them the answer beforehand.  Well, she didn't think they were thick enough for the pendant she wanted to put on it.  So then she wanted to look at the rope chains.  She picked one out, so I took it out of the showcase to show to her.  It was (notice the emphasis there) a 10 karat yellow gold rope chain.  It was a really nice looking chain.  It was $88.  I explained to her that rope chains are actually supposed to be just as durable as box chains because of the way they are made.

Now just to point out that gold in any shape or form is a soft medal.  If the chain is 10 karats, that means there is 10 parts gold and 14 parts other metals to make the chain (or any piece of jewelry for that matter) hold together, to equal 24 karats.  I don't care what country you come from, or what jewelry store you shop at, you cannot make anything out of pure, and only 24 karat gold.  It's just not possible!  It's way too soft and would literally fall apart in your hands.  If something says 24 karat gold, then it is either plated with 24 karat gold, or has other metals mixed in with the 24 karat gold.

Ok, back to my story.  This is where my jaw hit the floor.  Just as I finished telling her that rope chains are just as durable as box chains, this woman...and I still can't believe she did this....This woman grasped the chain with both hands (like if you were to make 2 fists and put them next to each other where the thumbs and index fingers meet) and pulls on it and breaks it and says "Nope, they're not!" 

SHE BROKE THE CHAIN RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME!!!!!!!!!!

And then she had the nerve to say, "Oh I'm sorry. I didn't actually mean to break it."  Well what did you expect when you pull so hard on a necklace!?  I didn't know what to say.  My jaw fell down and there were no words.  If she asked to see another chain I would have said, "Ok, but I'm gonna have to ask that you not break this one!"  Too bad we don't have a You Break It, You Buy It policy.  I mean, who comes into a store and purposefully pulls on something like she did, with force I might add, to see if it will break!?  I didn't say that it wouldn't break, but with the ropes and box chains there a chance that they can take some abuse if they are pulled.  But she pulled so hard like it was a tug-o-war contest.  Who does that??

So now I have to claim out an $88 piece of jewelry because a customer broke it, and I lost a potential sale.  I mean, since I am claiming it out, my warehouse will send me a replacement, but still!  This whole thing could have been avoided if I had just called in sick. LOL. Just kidding.

Jennifer Nicole