I can't believe I've been back in Michigan for three months now. The time has been flying!

My holiday plans are in place. I'll be spending Thanksgiving with my grandma and am looking forward to seeing the Schmidt side of the family. I'm flying into Spokane on Christmas Eve to spend Christmas with my family, and then returning to Michigan on New Year's Eve. If you are in the Coeur d'Alene area on December 27th, you should join us for sledding and chili dinner at my parents' place. Contact me for more info--I'd love to see everyone!

God has placed some wonderful people in my life and blessed me through them. I just spent a very refreshing weekend with some friends about an hour and half northeast of Jackson. It had been about a month since I'd had more than one day off at a time, so having the weekend off was wonderful! The weather was incredible! We grilled shishkabobs and ate outside on Saturday--something I would NEVER dream of doing that in Idaho in November!

In the past week, I have been offered, and accepted, three part-time cleaning jobs. I enjoy the work I do at Jackson Coffee Company, but I haven't been able to work as many hours as I would like. The extra income will be just in time for next semester's tuition. God has been providing for my needs and in unexpected ways too.

Last month I started helping with the Awana program at church. At first I was rather nervous to be around little kids again, but I'm starting to get the hang of it. It breaks my heart to see the effects of a rough family life on children. But as I get to know the kids better, it has been getting easier to work with them and help them focus and learn. This has also been a great opportunity for me to get to know some of the adults in my church better. There are only a few people my age at church, and I think those are married, but I know I can gain a lot from the wisdom of the older generations.

I promise I am not a crazy cat lady. But, I have to write about my adorable little kittens! Mole and Mordecai are growing like crazy. I'm 99% sure Mordecai is developmentally challenged, but it only makes him cuter. :-) He still hasn't learned (after 2 months) not to walk between my feet. I'm so afraid I'm going to step on him and break his back one day. Mordecai likes to ride around on my shoulders which isn't a problem unless he decides to climb my leg and back to get there! Mole just does his own thing most of the time. He's a good cat though and looking more like an adult cat now.

That just about covers everything, I think. Check back soon for an update though. ;-)

I figure it's about time I started a blog... :)

Just over two months ago, I got in my car (loaded completely full with the majority of my earthly possessions) and started the 2,000-mile drive to Michigan. For the first week I felt a little homeless, but within a week of leaving Idaho, I was hired and started my job at Jackson Coffee Company and received the keys to my new home.

I am a barista at Jackson Coffee Company, a locally-owned coffee shop in downtown Jackson. I love my job (and I mean that)! Yes, there are difficult days and many challenges, but I really do enjoy working there. Unfortunately, I am not able to get as many hours as I would like/need, so I am looking for another part-time job.

I have continued volunteering once a week at the Center for Women. I started last January and have been welcomed into the "family" of staff and volunteers. At the Center, most of our clients come for Learn and Earn classes where they watch video lessons on pregnancy, prenatal care, and parenting. I know it sounds crazy since I am not a parent, but I lead some of these classes. By watching the lessons and doing homework, the women earn "dollars" to spend in our "store" where they can buy necessities such as diapers, wipes, formula, clothes, and baby toiletries. This fall I have also been working on organizing a Baby Bottle fundraiser that will rotate churches throughout the year.

Kathy, one of the directors at the Center for Women, knew I would need an affordable place to live if I was going to return to Michigan at the end of the summer. She spoke of my need to some supporters of the Center, and I was offered a house by a wonderful couple who live near Jackson. When I saw the house, I was pretty much speechless. I live in a 3-bedroom, 1.5-bath farmhouse with a beautiful (huge!) lawn and access to a lake! My landlords are generously allowing me to live there for the cost of utilities. I am so very thankful to them and God.

The house was a little lonely though, so I got a little kitten to keep me company. His name is Mole and he is very active. :) But, I am gone a lot and after a month decided I had to get another kitten to keep Mole company! Mordecai is a lot more laid-back and affectionate than Mole. For the first week, Mole ALWAYS wanted to play with Mordecai and frequently attacked him. Mordecai would rather be curled up on my lap, which made Mole try even harder to get him to play! But after a week or two, they became good friends.

This week I finished a class on Job at New Tribes Bible Institute and started one on Ruth, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Songs. I am planning on returning as a full-time student in January, Lord willing. I've also been taking Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University (a financial management class) at a local church.

Between work, school, volunteering and keeping up with my house, I've been staying really busy. I miss my family, friends from home, and the mountains, but I love living here. Michigan really feels like home to me now. I even got a Michigan driver's license last week (it's official!).

As for the future, that's up to God. My short-term plans are to finish my degree at NTBI and take the two classes I need to finish up my A.A. degree. I am definitely open to going overseas as a missionary, but I also love the work I do at the Center for Women. I have been so blessed by God with a great place to live, a job that I enjoy, people who love me. I am content where I am now and simply want to take each day as it comes.

Sorry for the long post... There has been a lot going on in the past couple months. Staying in touch has been challenging for me because I have poor cell phone service at my house and no internet access (not to mention the fact that my computer turned off this summer and won't turn back on!). I'll try to update my blog regularly so ya'll don't think I fell off the face of the earth! :)

Goodbye for now.
Jessie