Hi Lo Ha La!

Hi

I took my last final for the semester on Thursday. I'm still waiting on my grade but hoping I pulled of an A. I really enjoy parts of grad school and really disliked other parts. I'm very thankful for a summer break.

Lo

My Nana went into the hospital on Tuesday and had surgery to remove 2 feet of her colon on Thursday. She had this same surgery almost 3 years ago. It has been a week of ups and downs with her health but she is doing really well now. She could still use your prayers though!

Ha

Saturday night I got to see girlfriends from high school and college. We try to get together every few months and we always have a great time catching up and laughing together.

La

I'm looking forward to Life Hurts God Heals graduation next Tuesday night. We have 29 graduates and 7 others who were involved. Graduation is always a great night, students have a great opportunity to share what God has done and is doing in their lives. It's always a bitter-sweet for me. It's nice to have a break and to get refreshed but I miss the atmosphere and the just seeing all of them on a regular basis.

Hi-Lo-Ha-La

Hi
This week I was able to recharge on all different levels. I got some much needed rest and some much needed Jesus time. It's always good to be filled!

Lo
I'm in an Addiction class and my professor is pretty bad. He's never taught before and has very little organization skills. I was really looking forward to the class but feel like I'm wasting 3 1/2 hours of my life every Thursday night. We have our first test this week and I have no idea what to study.

Ha
One of the pastors on staff pulled an April Fools Day prank on his 3 daughter by sending out a newsletter saying that the Jonas Brothers were coming in concert to our church. To make it more real, he told them they needed to RSVP to me. Once his girls figured it out, they sent it on to their friends. Five days later, I still have students (& parents) calling asking if it's possible to get backstage. It has been really funny until I have to let them down.

La
I'm headed to Colorado and am looking forward to spending time with Jess and Erin. I was a little bummed when I realized it was Easter weekend because I love my church services but I'm hoping to experience a sunrise service in the mountains. We'll see!

Hi-Lo-Ha-La!!

Hi

Wednesday night I had the oppourtunity to speak to our middle school students. I talked about being a "Secret Survivor". We all have secrets. Some secrets are funny and some secrets are serious. I shared a few of my own "secrets" and then let them share their own. We have to talk about our secrets and our hurts to truly begin to heal. I love seeing God work in their lives as well as my own. Secret Survivors is a book that Megan Hutchinson (LHGH) and Jen Howver put together. It tells the stories of 7 individuals who found healing in sharing their secrets. It's a great book!

I also went to Cuppies & Joe with Stefanie, Holly and the kids! I love that place. It's such a great atmosphere and I always run into people I know. For those of you who don't know, Cuppies and Joe is a cupcake and coffee spot in an awesome bungalow house. It's about 1/2 a mile from my school so C&J & I will become great friends!
Lo

I'm in my second week of grad school and I'm already behind. Not by a lot....it's only one chapter of reading but I really want to be ahead. Stress is not my friend.

Ha
I think I'm going to have to stick with my previous post about my friend Justin and his girlfriend. I am a dork.

La

I love college football and I could careless about professional football, but I am looking forward to the Superbowl. I really like the commercials and the community of people!

Hi-Lo-Ha-La!

Hi
I spent a lot of time with the Pollock fam and Stef this week. I love my partners in ministry/crime. Good times...good times!


Lo
Friday night I was getting ready to go to bed when I realized I had lost my cell phone. I pulled up the couch cushion and saw it. I went to pick it up and actually knocked it farther into the couch. After nearly breaking all the bones in my hand and flipping the couch several times, I ended up cutting into the couch with scissors and then prying wood apart with a hammer. It took me just over an hour to get the phone out. My hands are all cut up and I now have a broken couch. I didn't cry but by 2 a.m. tears were very near.


Ha
There are several funny things that happened this week but none that I feel can be shared over an open blog! So sorry!


La
I'm excited to see my family for Christmas! 3 days!

Hi-Lo-Ha-La

HiMy friend, Holly, invited me to go see The Nutcracker at the OKC Civic Center. I go there a lot for musicals and Symphony events but I've never ever seen a ballet. We got complimentary tickets because we knew one of the little girls in the program. Our tickets were on the 6th row! It was so wonderful to be so close and actually see faces. I always buy the cheap tickets and sit way at the top. I loved the ballet and can't wait to go again!

LoI got sick early last week with allergies and a bad sinus infection. Several people had told me to start sinus rinsing...so I did. It is one of the grossest things I've ever done, but very beneficial. You heat up water put it in this strange squirt bottle...then put medicine in it...then squirt it up one nostril then it comes out the other with a bunch of other grossness. It has really helped although I really hate it.

HaThis is part Hi, part Ha. I got a Wii for Christmas from my awesome bosses! It has been so much fun. I love playing it and have definitely put more than 10 hours on it already. The funny thing is that every so often, after I've been playing for awhile it says, "Why don't you take a break?" and it makes me! I don't want to take a break, I want to play the Wii!!! It's probably good because my hand is usually cramping up but come on!

La

This Thursday I'm going to meet up with 7 of my girlfriends from high school. We all grew up going to different schools but to the same church. I still see them all at different times, but we try to all get together every few months.

Carrie-my Michael W. Smith concert buddy

Stephanie-my water park and amusement park friend

Melissa-my workout partner and counselor :)

Kim-the one who lives far away, who has a super cute 4-year-old and is pregnant with twins!

Ginger-the one I got into a lot of trouble with and mom of 3

Amy-the one I've stayed closest to and mom of sweet baby Abigail

Paige-the one I see most because we both work at the church where we grew up and mom of beautiful Jada

Love you girls! Can't wait to laugh together!

Hi-Lo-Ha's from the last 2 weeks!

Hi

My first 2 1/2 years of college were spent at Southern Nazarene University. A couple weeks ago we had a 5-year reunion during Homecoming. There were only 30 or so people who actually came but it was so great to see each of them and to catch up. We had a fun weekend sharing stories and looking a crazy pictures.

A small group of people from my Sunday School class went out to Chester's Party Barn weekend before last. We met up with another singles group. It was a lot of fun. We went on a hayride, wheelbarrow raced, went down a giant slide, karaoked, etc.! The boys dedicated "I Swear" to the girls and I laughed so hard I cried and peed a little bit too! :)

Last weekend we had a Girly-Girl Sleepover with our high school girls! We made homemade Christmas ornaments which were awesome! They turned out super cute. We used styrofoam, straight pins, beads and sequins! G-L-A-M! Then we had a Q & A, which was awesome. We had a panel of females...a doctor, a therapist, a pastor, a college student, a mom, etc. It was great to hear all the questions they had to ask.

Lo

A guy I dated my senior year of high school was murdered almost 2 weeks ago. His name was Jeremy Moore. We both grew up in Nazarene churches and were friends throughout high school and college. He really was a great guy. He was one of those people who really loved unconditionally. I haven't seen him in 5 years and I know things in his life had changed...but I also know that he loved Jesus and he was Jesus to a lot of people. His fiance had their first child 2 weeks before he was killed. He had taken on another job delivering pizzas to make some extra cash to buy a house. He was delivering $42 worth of pizza when he was shot at an apartment complex. It was a fake call and last I heard the police think it was gang related. They didn't take his wallet or his car...just the pizza.

I went to the funeral last Thursday. It was weird to see so many people from my past that I don't see anymore but also comforting at the same time. I don't understand God's ways but I know that he has a plan and that's what I have to remember. Lives were changed for the good because of Jeremy. I know that Jesus met him at the gate and said, "Well done, my good and faithful servant."

Ha

I watch my favorite 8-year old this weekend. I started nannying for Lauren when she had just turned 2. It's crazy how time flies. Lauren and I spend the whole weekend together because her mom had to visit a sick family member and her dad works crazy hours. We had a lot of fun together. We have a really special relationship and I love that girl like crazy. I can't think of anything specific that she said or did, but I know I laughed a lot. Kids are awesome!

I'm adding a new segment onto every Hi-Lo-Ha....it's the La, which stands for Looking Ahead. In the La portion, I will let everyone know what I'm looking forward to in the week ahead.

La

I'm headed to the National Youth Workers Convention in Nashville this Thursday. There are 7 others who will be joining me. NYWC was seriously the highlight of 2007. I can't wait to get out to Nashville, which happens to be one of my favorite cities! I come home on Monday, so I'm sure you'll get a lot of great blog stories!

Love to you all!

Hi-Lo-Ha #7

Hi
My hi was definitely passing out candy on Halloween. It was fun to see all the kids dressed up. My friends Holly and Chris brought their kids by. Annabelle was a cheerleader and Watson was a football player. So cute! My friend Lindsey also brought her boys over. They were precious...Owen was a mouse (at least i think he was a mouse. his costume had a huge bottom and hips!) and Alec was a skeleton. :) I love little kids!

Lo
Last week was payday, except on payday I had my car insurance, car payment, drivers licensce and car tag due! POO on driving and all the expenses....my change oil light and my low fuel light came on yesterday!

Ha
I had some friends who thought it would be funny to buy me an eharmony 3-month membership for my birthday last year. I did not think it was funny! They used it for entertainment and laughter. I checked it every once in awhile, but was never really interested in it. Last week I got an email from eharmony saying that they are giving me the month of November for free. Not that eharmony is bad, I actually know people who have met on dating websites and actually gotten married but I just don't think it's for me. I have actually gotten matched with people I know from college which is pretty funny and Anyway, here we go again...

Hi-Lo-Ha (last week!)

Hi

Last Thursday I went to the best concert ever. I know I'm bias but I love Michael W. Smith and Steven Curtis Chapman. It was so awesome! I really like both of those guys because they are so family oriented and they really love Jesus. Each of them had one of there sons playing in the band and that was really cool. Steven Curtis Chapman talked about the tradegic death of his little girl, Maria. It's a sad story, but he was so inspirational and honest all at the same time.

After innermission, Michael got up on stage and started singing Friends Forever. Right before he got to the chorus, Steven walked on stage and they sang together and it was the funniest thing ever. They pretended to cried and laughed and had fun together. After that they made fun of each others songs and sang them...so fun!

Lo

My previous Lo was about boarding Bailey while I was out of town. This week is even sadder! She got sick while she was there! I brought her home and 3 days later she started coughing and gagging. I called my vet and they said I couldn't bring her in because she was really contageous but that she had Kennel Cough! Poor baby, she has been on drugs all week! She's starting to feel better, but it's sad.

Ha

Last Friday, High School Musical 3 came out and I went to see it with 12 8-year-olds. It ws the craziest, funniest things ever. A bunch of little girls screaming over Troy...and the funny thing is that, I WAS TOO! Zac Efron is HOT! Enough said!

Hi-Lo-Ha (2 weeks ago!)

HI

I got to go to Corpus Christi to visit my parents for 5 days. It was so nice to get out and just sleep and relax and be. On Saturday my friends Mariko and Jamie came dowm from Austin. We took a coastline boat tour that was pretty relaxing. I also got to play with Buddy, our dog and my parents newcat, Bob Dylan....yes it's name it Bob Dylan. On Sunday, my parents and I went to South Padre Island to see the Annual Sand Sculpting competition. It was incredible stuff. Check out the pics!

LO

I boarded my dog Bailey for the very first time. I dropped her off at 5:30 a.m. and as I left she sat by the vet's door and didn't leave until I was completely gone! I cried like I was leaving my child at school for the very first time...it was ridiculous, but sincere. I love my dog! When I picked her up last night she didn't really care about me, she just wanted to be outside and free! I hate to leave her at the vet, but it really was the best thing. I have to do it again at Christmas time so maybe she'll like it better then. The vet is supposed to have pet cams, like webcams up then. I don't know if that's good or bad though. It would be cool to see her, but sad if she's just laying around in her crate. Poor puppy!

HA

On Friday, my mom and I went shopping. As we were leaving a department store, my mom said, "Oh Jaci, have you smelled these candles before?" I replied with a "no". She tried to open one so that I could smell it but it was sealed. She looked around for a tester candle but couldn't find one, so decided to pop the lid and stuck it up to my nose so I could smell it. I instantly thought it smelled wierd then some of the "candle" splooshed out on my face. It was HONEY MUSTARD! I laughed so hard, my mom is a dork but definitely funny.

Hi-Lo-Ha #4

Hi
I'm a big OU football fan. This season has been a little different because I don't have Jeremy around. He's a fanatic, which can be good or bad. This weekend was OU/Texas, the Red River Rilvary. It's a huge game, one of the biggest rivalries if not the biggest. They have to play at a neutral location and people still fight! It's craziness!

I decided to host an OU/Texas party and get some friends together. There were 12 people that showed up. Mainly OU fans but a few Texas fans as well. Even though OU lost, it was a great game. It was fun to be with fun people. No fights and not a whole lot of taunting either. :)

Lo
I got shot this week. I was walking Bailey and it was getting dark. I heard some guys yelling at each other. I looked over and decided to cross the street to get further away from them. Just as I crossed the street I heard the shot and then felt it. It put a hole in my jeans and barely grazed the side of my calf. One of the guys saw that I had been hit and they all stopped fighting. A couple of them ran over to me and called 911.

Ok sorry that's a joke, I couldn't think of a lo this week. I thought getting shot would really stink and be a good lo. Hopefully that never happens.

Ha
My Nana called last week to inform me that she had stopped by the Church of the Nazarene district office and got a list of all the Nazarene churches in Corpus Christi. Now you have to know my Nana. When she has a thought, she goes with it and nothing will stop her. She found out that one of the pastors actually lives down the street from my parents. So she decided to call him at his house. She told him about our family and asked him to call my parents and invite them to church. Then she got on their website to see what they had to offer and found that they have a single youth pastor. THEN SHE GOT EXCITED. You see my Nana has a goal to get me married. If I actually married a Nazarene pastor...she would probably pee her pants.

The pastor actually pulled up on a Harley to my dad's office. My dad is a Harley guy as well, so they talked for a bit and the pastor invited my parents to church. They went (which is another Hi of the week) and enjoyed it. I would love for my parents to get connected with some good Christian friends.

I called my Nana last night to tell her that my parents visited the church. She was very excited too. Then she proceeded to tell me that I should go visit next week while I'm in Corpus. She reminded me of the single youth pastor and told me to invite him to the beach! OH MY GOODNESS! I had to hold my breath for fear of laughing outloud at her. Can you imagine? "Um hi my name is Jaci and my Nana wants me to marry a Nazarene pastor. Would you like to go to the beach with me?"

Hi-Lo-Ha #3

Hi
My Hi this week was not to exciting, but it was really great! On Saturday, I slept until 11 a.m. then just sat in my pajamas until 2 p.m. It was wonderful. I love lazy days of watching movies and just relaxing. It was much needed!

Lo
My Lo this week would probably have to be going to the doctor on Friday. I wasn't sick, I just had a spot on my arm I wanted to get checked out. Skin cancer has made itself at home on many of my family members, so I thought I'd be safe and have it looked at. After waiting over an hour to actually see the doctor, she looked at it, pushed on it then proceeded to tell me that it was indeed, "just a spot". But that was not the end, oh no. She looked at my chart and reminded it me it was time for my last Gardasil shot ("I'm gonna be ONE LESS, ONE LESS!"). Then she walked back in and said, "Have you had your flu shot yet?" I replied, "No, I've never had one and I don't really think I need one." Her response, "Do you want to see someone with the flu? It's awful!" So I reluctantly gave in. I went in with a spot and I got 2 shots!

Ha
I'm not a professional match maker but I did decide to try it out. I got my friends, Bethany and Lee together this weekend. Over the past few weeks we have all hung out in groups, but Friday night was the big night. Bethany asked me to come over and help her get ready. She didn't want Lee to know that I was there, so I had to park my car in her garage. When the doorbell rang, Brittany and I had to hide in a closet that was not built for 2 people to hide in. We crammed in and had to hold our breath for fear of laughing. It was probably one of those moments where you had to be there, but it was definitely my Ha of the week.

Hi-Lo-Ha #2

Hi

Saturday night I went with Jimmy, Bethany and Lee to Weatherford, OK (about an hour away from OKC) to visit to Corn Maze! It was Bethany's 23rd birthday!

We were the only group there and we had a blast. We played in the corn for a good hour and a half before finding our way out!

My second "hi" of the week happened last night. We started our Senior High small groups. I've led a middle school girls group the last two years, but this was my first small group time with our high school girls. We had a blast together! After eating dinner at our host home, we sat out on the trampoline and got to know each other a little bit better. We talked about the hi-lo-ha's of our week and shared prayer requests. I'm really looking forward to next week when we make our "talking stick"!

Lo

Friday afternoon I called a good friend from high school, college, and now! We were supposed to get together that night. She told me she wouldn't be able to get together and then shared with me how she had just found out she had a miscarriage in her 11th week. My heart immediately began to hurt for her and her husband. I began to cry for them. There were no words except for, "I am so sorry and I love you." I understand a lot of why God does what he does, but not that. Maybe I'll understand someday...but not today. God, May my friends' tears express what words cannot. Be with them, comfort them, give them peace and understanding that can only come from you.

Ha

Yesterday my Sunday School class had lunch together and then played the game, Battle of the Sexes. I do not recommend it, the guys questions are SO much easier than the girls. Although the guys won twice we had a lot of fun laughing at each other. The girls got a question that read something like this, "Tonto is to The Lone Ranger as Obi-Wan Kenobi is to _____________." First of all, I don't know anything about The Lone Ranger much less Star Wars (it took about 5 minutes on Wikipedia for me to figure out how to even spell Obi-Wan Kenobi). My response to this question was, "well I bet Tonto is The Long Rangers' horse..." then I pretended to ride a horse. So I had the whole girls team trying to figure out which Star Wars character "rode" Obi-Wan Kenobi. The guys were dying laughing and I honestly had no idea why. I am an idiot. It was pretty funny afterwards when the boys told us that Tonto was actually The Lone Rangers' assistant.

Hi-Lo-Ha of my Week

I don't remember when I started asking people their Ha of the day. I think it started at camp with my very first caribou cabin. It's the perfect thing to start anybody talking about their life. You just ask, "What's your Hi-Lo-Ha of the Day?" In case you haven't figured it out yet: Hi-best part of your day, L0-worst part of your day, Ha-funniest thing that happened to you today. Now the best part of Hi-Lo-Ha is that the word 'day' is interchangeable with 'week', 'month', or whatever you choose.

My goal is to start sharing my Hi-Lo-Ha of the week every Monday. My week will include the previous Monday to Sunday (yesterday).

Hi
Monday night I went to dinner with a friend from college, Sarah, who just moved back this summer. It was so great to catch up, hang out and eat some good Mexican food. I'm looking forward to spending a lot more time with her!

Friday night I went to the Oklahoma State Fair. It was probably the best time I have ever had at the fair. I went with my friends Brittany and Bethany and we were there from 5:30 to 11:30! We went and sat in all the new cars and trucks and then ate yummy fair food, then saw Hanson perform (yes, I did see Hanson and they were actually really good!)

After the concert, we walked through a bunch on new model homes and then watched some karaoke. The thing about karaoke is that there always seems to be a lot of intoxicated people around. There was a older man sitting in front of us who was completely drunk. He kept leaning back in his chair and then falling forward out of the chair. After his third fall forward, we decided to peace-out before he fell backwards onto us. We ended our night with a batch of fried-Oreos and some footsie-wootsie foot massages.


Church was fabulous yesterday. My Sunday school class is going through an 8-week study of the New Testament. It's only in week 2 and I feel so much smarter already. Yesterday, my table discussed Matthew 1-4 and the identity of Jesus and the response of the people. Good, good stuff! Then I went to church and it was great! We have been going through the book of Philippians, which is my favorite! Pastor David talked about partnership and that Paul never traveled alone because there is power in community. In my notes, I also wrote about the fact that God initiates and we respond. He always goes before us and He will always finish what he starts.

Lo
I was sick earlier in the week with allergies and a sinus infection. I went to the doctor on Monday and got some antibiotics and shot in my hinny. My pills are ginormous and yucky tasting, but only 5 more days of them. I'm definitely feeling better than I was but still not 100%.

Ha
Last night, after a lengthy conversation with Erin about life, love and other mysteries I got off my cell phone and started cleaning my house. I got all of my trash ready to go the to garbage can outside. I had a ton of trash! One bag was full of just the general kitchen trash, another had plastic and paper, and the nastiest bag had old food (curdled milk, spaghetti, old fish, etc.). After I took my trash out to the curb, I went in and got ready for bed. I crawled into my bed when I realized that I didn't have my cell phone which also doubles as my alarm. So I got out of my bed and walked around my house a few times before the thought hit me, "surely I did not throw my phone in the trash". I don't have a home phone so I decided to sign onto Facebook and IM someone who was online to call my cell phone so I could find it. I signed on and Facebook IM was down. So then I signed on to Skype. Jimmy was on! So I call him and explained my situation. He called my phone a couple times as I walked around my house and listened for it. No luck, so at 11:30 at night I take my laptop and my web cam out to the curb and sure enough, John Mayer is singing "I'm just waitin', waitin' for the world to change..." is coming from my trashcan. So I put my laptop and web cam on my car and tell Jimmy that if I get attacked I'll shine my web cam on my attacker so that they can catch him or her. Jimmy reminds me that it's dark outside and he can't even see me. So I open my trashcan and as I gag, I begin to dig through nastiness and finally find my phone. Thankfully, it wasn't covered in much gunk!

One problem with the Hi-Lo-Ha is that sometimes you get thinking about the stuff that has happened to you that week and you can't choose just one. So because I live in a world of indecisiveness, you get more than one Hi this week!