Doing things that make you happy...

Be strong women!

       I've come to realize that I love what I do.  Everything that I have my hand in, I enjoy.  Except for emptying the dishwasher, I have never really enjoyed or have ever liked doing that task.  
I love helping women becoming strong passionate women by building them up and encouraging.
I love being involved in the theatre and performing on stage.
I love giving hugs, and playing games, and baking with friends staying up till the wee hours of the morning chatting (although the 5 am bedtime this morning was a little rough)

Although no piercings happen at our girls nights, just cupcakes...

My heart has been so overjoyed lately, being able to be in this show, has made my heart so happy, to work with fellow cast members and people I never thought I'd be able to work with again.  To work side by side with such amazing people that are passionate about what they do and believe in pushing for the 'best show on Earth' is such a blessing and a blast.  Not to mention I've lost like 6 pounds in the past two weeks.  

Oh, it feels good to dance again!

We had a girl drop out of the show, and because of that I had to learn most of the entire dance show in 3 days, not to mention back up vocals and a song solo (I wasn't going to be in it because I was in Africa). This was scary at first, but I was welcomed in with open arms, and it's given me a chance to be with those that I love again, and also to be a part of this show that I've been a part of for the past 5 years.  
Pretty soon I'll be helping my mom out at church working with kids again, and I love helping them understand concepts and laughing out loud as we sing the silliest songs.  God works in great and mysterious ways.
I'm in a spot of transition, as many of you know it's a hard place for me to be at.  I don't really know what's coming up, my two plans for the spring fell through (too many people applied and I was too late), and the other had a time overlap, so now I'm living at my parents house with the hubby, and we're making it work as we're all getting used to having each other in the house again. It's really great to be around my family and my parents as after March I will be gone for a long time working at the YMCA Camp this summer (so so excited) and then Jeremy and I will be placed at some Air Force base somewhere in the world.   

Where are my socks?

God always has a plan, but lately although I am crazy nervous about what is or will be happening I feel peace that it will all work out.  I'm thankful for my husband, my friends, and my family.  I think my heart sends out a signal when I'm down, because I've been getting majorly loved on lately, and my heart has been so happy and all this love has just beamed the socks off of me (literally-I can't find any of my socks anywhere).

My dad told me the other day, that if I feel passionate about something, and my heart is in the right spot then I am doing the right thing.  He told me to follow my heart and love God. Thank you dad.  I love my dad so much, so thank you all for accepting the me that I am and am becoming.  
Thanks for giving me wide open hugs though my red glasses, tattoos, shows, and blonde hair.  I've needed the extra love lately, and my heart is overflowing with gratefulness for the love I have received.

Thank you for listening,
Aj

Being a "Good Christian"

What makes a good Christian?  Kelsey asked me this in Africa and I told her I thought it was someone who reached out to others, loved on other people, and loved God. Since then, I have been thinking about what does it mean to be a good Christian, wondering, was my statement correct?  I was reading Galatians today and came across chapter 5, Paul is ticked because a bunch of believers  reverted back to Jewish ways and got circumcised and started obeying Old Testament Laws (which besides the arguments about which laws apply, Jesus's death on the cross covers so that humans don't have to work towards salvation, just accept Jesus).  Paul lectures them, (like only Paul can do) and says:
"For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcised has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love."-Gal. 5: 6

He might need an ice pack...

If you have faith that is expressed through love, then everything works itself out.

I was talking to some people the other day, and thought about what the church would look like if it was just about what Jesus did and said.  How awesome would that be.  Jesus was the core of love, he was holy yes, and fixed what was wrong, but he corrected people out of love, he built up relationships. How much love would just exude out of people? How many people would come to church JUST to feel loved. I get chills just thinking about it.

I've talked to some of the strongest Christians in my life lately, and I love them to death, but it seems that I have a different view on how to react to non-Christians.  I was a  theatre major (I'm done with college, strange), and probably about 60% of the people who I worked with day in and day out used to be Christians, but because they were hurt by Christians, or the Church, they stopped believing.  They are amazing people, who felt rejected. They went to find love elsewhere.  I feel like the main key in Christianity is NOT hating, blaming, or chastising, as Rick Perry is currently very apt at.

 Rick....Oh Rick...
what are we going to do with you?

I know people who have been kicked out of churches for being gay, or who were rejected for slipping up over something, or who was lost for a bit.  We all slip up.  Sometimes some slip-ups are bigger than others.  Shouldn't we have a 1 sheep to the 99 philosophy?  What would happen if we welcomed people first and loved on them instead of instantly judging them? How often do we judge, or chastise someone without realizing that they just need some Jesus love?  Lord forgive me, because I've done this many times, and feel horrible just thinking about it.
Jesus's love is amazing and so fulfilling and wondrous, and splendid.  If we shared a 1/10 of that love, how many people would realize that Christians are only people, who just want to share the light and love of God. We sin.  I sin all the time, gosh I ask God to forgive me for one thing, and then realize I'm doing something else.

We've been a society of finger pointers:
Christian and Non-Christian alike.

Our country is in crisis. Yes I realize this.  But all anyone seems to do, politicians and otherwise is to point fingers.  Instead, let's be Christlike, there was a prayer at church the other day, and they just went to pray for the nation, no judgement, just coming to God for help and for the ability to reach out and love.  So I ask you, as Christians, as non-Christians, as friends, family, and ones I hold dear, and ones I don't know.  Show a little extra love today, smile at people in the streets, see if people don't smile back, and your heart grins a bit more.  God works through people, so let his love shine through you, and look at the magic that will happen.


Our God is holy, but it's not our place to judge, it's his. It is our place to:
1. Love the Lord with all our heart
2. Love others with a passion that we usually reserve for ourselves.

This is my view on Christianity.  I am not saying I am an authority on any of this, I'm always learning and growing.  I mess up, but I try to love on everyone I can.  If you disagree with my thoughts, that's fine, but I just felt I needed to share it, and to perhaps inspire someone to love a little more.
Share the Love,
Amber Jane

Welcome home

Wow, I'm home.
Surprisingly I feel like it's been go go go.  I haven't even written in my journal for three days.
To make a long story short on our multiple flight trip to America Jeremy and I missed our flight to America from Jo-Burg.  If you know me, I cry pretty easily, and so the tears were streaming down my face.  Not to mention that I was crazy tired.  Thanks to God because South African Airlines ended up covering our hotel and our airfare to get home to America the next day.  Many people were praying for us, and what could have been a nightmare ended up being a really great time at a sweet hotel, and a good nights sleep (which is sometimes just needed).
The first thing I ate when I landed in America?  A Cinnamon Roll from Cinnabon. O my word.  Waited for months for a real cinnamon roll. Amazing. Loved it.

Kelsey and I

We got into Sioux Falls and I was able to see the in-laws, and that was fantastic.  So nice being back up at the farm, and my jet lag wasn't that bad.  It's so nice to be home.  I loved Africa, but Iowa is fantastic.  Went to Cedar Falls yesterday and took my brother out to lunch, and it was nice.
 My brother is a freshman at UNI, and is doing really great, he has a really busy week, so I'm happy he could take a break for Jeremy and I, but he's grown ALOT in the last 5 months, and it's actually kind of crazy, but it's exciting to see the type of man he's becoming.  After that, I went to hang out with my American Kelsey, and Laura, and was able to hang out with the cast from the show.  Sometimes in Africa I wondered if people actually remembered that I was gone, and I know life goes on as usual, but it was the best feeling in the world when I came back home to see two of my best friends (I have a lot, I figure why discriminate), squealing with excitement.

The beautiful Ellen

ps. Did I mention I get to see Ellen today?  Love it!

It's good to be home.