Pozo

Chris took me out for a picnic, 4wheeling, and sight-seeing on Tuesday ... SO much fun! Here's just a little vid of some of the happenings. Been awhile since I've made a video... bear with me here :) enjoy! xo

Jes Me...

I've been reminiscing lately about modeling: the glitz, glam, and fabulousness of it all... the hours spent beautifying me, sometimes it was good enough and sometimes nothing ever could be. In reality, this is what I look like in the morning: No makeup, no hair-spray, no photo-shop, no touch-ups, no amazing lighting set or "impossible to take a bad shot" camera. Take me or leave me, this is "Jes Me" this morning.

Loves to you alls!

Kodak Moments

Hello lovelies!

Do you remember me? I bet ya'll think I've forgotten about you ... not true! Don't believe the rumors =) I have been so busy blessed by life lately! First off, I have a job now in the 805 area code. I'm working at a historic inn as their restaurants' Hostess/Barista. I'm really enjoying the morning shifts: 6:15am to 2pm ... I know! A I must be a lil crazy to actually enjoy waking up a quarter to 5 in the morning. So be it. Today I just finished my week of training so I have tomorrow off and then begin my very own shift on Friday eve. Exciting :) It's nice to have a schedule and a biweekly paycheck to count on. Below is a pic of 1 of 3 trainers, this is Sammy (Samantha) who I am replacing because she decided to become a busser at the restaurant. So we still get to work together often - yay! This was taken in the "801" coffee shack ... I don't know why it's called the "801" I'll get back to ya on that!
Okay, you've been so patient with me ... let's see ... CHRIS! lol Wow I am so beyond blessed. After nearly 3 years of single life ... the Lord has truly proven Himself faithful despite my imperfect patience, pity parties, and doubt. Chris and I met on a blind date. So funny really. A mutual friend who I met through another mutual friend, via facebook, long distance, while I was still in New York and they were in Chicago. Once we moved back to the Central Coast (literally within the same week of each other!) They set Chris and I up on a double blind date matchmaking thing and whatdya know ... about a month later Chris asked my father for permission to court me. I am so blessed beyond measure by this man. Of course, Matt and Melody are SO excited that they made such a good match between Chris and I! I've also become fast friends with them both. Melody and I are two lady-souls, kindred spirits, sisters of the heart, crazy whatchya macallits :) She and her husband, Matt, are such a blessing! Not to mention beyond bunches of fun. Never a lack for laughter when we're all together =) Such good good solid Christian fellowship! Thank you Lord Jesus for Your provision.^“The real test of friendship.^

Can you enjoy those moments of life that are utterly simple?”
- Eugene Kennedy

^This is Matt and Melody's English Pointer/Rottweiler mix pup, Norman! ^
He's almost 3 months old and is such a love!

In Loving Memory

After 12 happy years with him, our sweet Cody boy was diagnosed with Lymphatic cancer barely two weeks ago today. He was euthanized this past Friday morning (5-22-09) so as not to prolong his pain. He went peacefully and comfortably in mamas loving arms. We have a big rottweiler sized hole in our home and hearts for him. Below are just some words and tunes that helped me through the weekend.



My edit of Guns n' Roses "Don't Cry"

Talk to me
There's something in your eyes
Don't hang your head in sorrow
And please don't cry
I know you feel
I understand your pain
Something's changing inside you
And don't you know

Don't you cry
I still love you baby girl
Don't you cry
Don't you cry
There's a heaven above us baby girl
so please don't you cry for me

You whisper "I love you" one last time
Give me a kiss before you tell me goodbye
Don't you take it so hard now
And please don't take it so bad
I'll still be thinking of you
And the years we had together

Don't you cry
I still love you baby girl
Don't you cry
Don't you cry
There's a heaven above us baby girl
so please don't you cry for me

And please remember that I've never cried
And please remember my happiness in this life
You got to make it your own way
But you'll be alright now sweetheart
You'll feel better tomorrow
Come the morning light now

Don't you cry
Ill always love you baby girl
Don't you cry
Don't you cry
There's a heaven above us baby girl
so please don't you cry for me

RIP Cody
1997-2009

Tatoo or not tooTat...

MAN LOOKS AT THE OUTSIDE. GOD LOOKS AT THE HEART: Getting a tattoo is all the rage these days, and many Christians are trying to decide if they should get a tattoo or not. To tattoo or not to tattoo? THAT is the question. I have been designing mine for awhile now - as I did so, I researched what our Lord had to say on the issue, and this is what I found.

What does the Bible say? Many Christians will quote Leviticus 19:28 as support to their claim that Christians should never get a tattoo: "Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the LORD." - Leviticus 19:28. Can one believe that Jesus is Lord and that He came to save the world through grace and love and still accept this verse as applicable to us today? It sounds harsh, but it's true. Why? The answer is simple. Christ gave us a New Law, one that supersedes Old Testament Laws like this one in Leviticus.

Oddly, proponents of this verse neglect to consider some other verses in that same book, Chapter 19. There's verse 9, that says: "When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest." Verse 19 reads: "Do not plant your field with two kinds of seed. Do not wear clothing woven of two kinds of material." Verse 26: "Do not eat any meat with the blood still in it." Verse 27: "Do not cut the hair at the sides of your head or clip off the edges of your beard." Verse 28: "Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the Lord."

As you can see, many of the other rules laid out in Leviticus are not followed today. This does not mean that the whole book of Leviticus, or even the Bible itself, should not be followed. It just means that we need to carefully analyze what the theme of the Bible is, and realize what its application is for us today.

The book of Leviticus contains laws intended to keep the children of Israel healthy and holy for God. Tattoos were extremely dangerous and could result in injury, disease, or death. The verse also refers to a pagan ritual of putting tattoo marks on oneself for the dead, in order to protect oneself from the spirit world and the wrath of other gods.

Many Christians do not fully understand the saving grace that was given to us through the humanity and death of our Lord, Jesus Christ. We are under a new covenant where His sacrifice covers our sins in a different way than the old Levitical laws did, which is seen in the letter to Hebrews which states: "But the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, and it is founded on better promises. For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another," Hebrews 8:6-7.

Now, this does not give us license to sin (we don't need one for we will all sin anyway; it's what we do). We are still responsible for our behavior and how it affects our spiritual lives and the lives of others. For example, the letter to the Romans states: "Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a man to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother to fall." -Romans 14:20-21.

From this we can see that it is important to think carefully through all of the effects that getting a tattoo can have on oneself, on our relationships, and on one's future. For some this may mean that getting a tattoo will increase their ability to witness to others, while in other communities having a tattoo would greatly diminish this ability.

SHOULD A CHRISTIAN GET A TATTOO? The conclusion then is that there may not be an answer to "Should Christians get tattoos?" Each of us may have to answer this question for ourselves after taking time to think and pray about it. But, let's be careful not to shun those who have or display tattoos, or make the blanket statement that they can't be a Christian because they have a tattoo. To do this would be to "destroy the work of God" instead of taking time to reach the lost. It is a naive closed-mindedness, as some of the most spiritually challenging and encouraging friends I have, have tattoos proclaiming their faith unabashedly. The burden lies with those Christians who choose to get a tattoo. They need to prove to their critics that their faith is based on more than just tattoos; it is supported by Truth as well. And they must pray as often as possible that divisive but trivial issues (such as body art) are cast aside in favor of unity as one body of Christ!

My Tattoos are only waiting for the right artist. I've decided on what I want, and the placement, I just am waiting for the best execution for them. They will be with me forever, so I aint in no hurry =). "Faith." in black script will be written inside my left foot beneath my ankle bone. Below is the rough layout of the verse referenced vertically on my left Achilles tendon. I am choosing between two verse references now (Proverbs 16:9 and 2 Corinthians 5:7) so this part of the duo is still under construction and in prayer.