Dear God, thank you for college:

Hi there.

I'm a fortnight away from being done with classes/finals/moving my stuff out of the dorms for the last time, and a fortnight + 2 days away from walking across that stage to receive a pretty nifty piece of paper I've worked my rompus off for. I have a lot of homework. I'm swamped with my to-do list from school and multiple other commitments. I'm a little stressed. And I'm in dire need of a puppy and a few gallons of coffee. 

All of the above are exactly why I'm making the time to reflect, reminisce, and thank God for all the goodness He has shown me and provided me with in my four years at Trinity International University. In doing so, I thought I'd share with you just a smattering of the many people and things that have at times helped me survive college, but more importantly blessed me and taught me in more ways than words can fully express:

• My parents.
• My daddy, even though I've been many miles from home, he has: always been there to look over a paper since I never procrastinated at the last minute, deal with my million over dramatic reactions, prevent me from further freaking out, make me laugh when I most needed it, and never failing to challenge me to glorify God through my life--teaching me that college should be about so much more than the measure of your grades and successes.
  
• My momma, who was there for the aftermath of my first all-nighter. I coped with this by drinking way too much coffee and calling her super early in the morning, wanting to chat about every possible thing you could think of. She never let me live that down ;) My momma always reminded me to not take myself too seriously, sent me care packages, and was always there for me on difficult days. You can read more on what she's meant to me in my letter to my momma. I so wish she could be here to see me walk across that stage, but I know she has the best seat in the house right now.
  
• My girls. As 18-year-old me left for college, I prayed hard & often that I would find girl friends there who I'd want to have stand with me in my wedding someday (little did I know God's plans were for my wedding to happen shortly after graduating), but I did indeed find such friends. In particular, the fabulous four girls (my suities) pictured with me below. We came in as teenagers and are leaving young women...we've been through it all together as we've each become more uniquely rooted in who we are. So incredibly grateful for these godly girls have challenged me in my weaknesses and encouraged me in my strengths. But we've also had crazy amounts of fun.  Thanks for making it a suite bonding activity to help me study and learn the Spanish alphabet song, for all the fro-yo runs, for quality time with Casey at Denny's, for occasionally dressing like goons with me, for rolly chair races, for the countless episodes of Gilmore Girls and Once Upon a Time we've shared, and for building friendships with me that will transcend any amount of trials and miles. I'm so excited for all that God has in store for you!
  
• Mr. Jesse Forney. My fiancé, best friend, and number one fan...I don't think I could've done this past year in particular without you. Thank you first of all for asking me out in Hawkins. For that crazy fun semester we spent together when we first started dating. For supporting and encouraging me this past school-year so well, despite the miles temporarily separating us--listening to my Senior Honors Project more times than you probably cared to over Skype, the care packages, sending me math jokes via text message before tests, and going on creative dates with me over Skype.
  
• Coffee
• My sista...even though I sometimes often forget to respond to her texts until days later in the craziness of the average week, she still loves me. And has been there and rooted for me really well (even at all hours of the night) since momma went home last August. Also she has sent me massive amounts of sugar and chocolate each Valentine's Day...what more does a girl need?
  
  
  
• Families that welcomed me as one of their own and gave me a home-away-from-home. They've all blessed me so much by opening up their homes and giving me the retreats away from campus that I needed. Thanks especially to:
          * The Speckhards
          * The Kowieskis
          * And The Slaughters
• My Mammaw's biweekly cards. Their simple but encouraging truths were always wonderful to find throughout the week in my mailbox (and so were their sometimes included little extra cash to get groceries/sponsor my coffee addiction ;)

• Dance parties. 
• College let to the breakout of 3D and the Babushkas. The discovery of the Orangutan. Birthday "raves" (TIU style). Nerd Dances. Far too many incriminating videos published online like the one below. Enough said.
• Coffee
• Breaks. God made work, and it is good. But God also made rest, which God, through college, has taught me is good and so necessary. These two stand out in particular:
• Spring Break 2012: Cali-Sota 
  
• Spring Break 2013: That one time I got engaged... :)
  

• Encouraging Blogs.


• Today's Letters
• My youth pastor's blog: the adorable, fun-loving Hough family
• Coffee.
• My favorite ridiculous YouTube videos that provide welcome distractions from homework
• Boys will be Girls
• Vintage 21 Jesus Vids
• Jessica's Daily Affirmation
• Facebook. This may sound trivial since people normally hate on social networking, but I believe Facebook/social media can be a great resource for building community. Whether reading debates about homosexual chicken/guns/presidents/etc., stalking perusing your photos, reading encouraging statuses/learning lessons alongside you, or creating/viewing witty memes, you people never cease to be entertaining.
• Coffee.
• Studying Abroad. That was a whole lotta wonderful adventure. 
  
• My job as a Trinity Ambassador.
• I'm grateful for the 3.5 years I've had the privilege of giving tours, hosting, and sharing meals with many prospective students and their families. When I accepted the job my freshman year, I knew it would be fun, but I had no idea how much the next few years working there would be formational in strengthening my interpersonal skills and teach me a lot about myself at the same time. I'm sad to be leaving my team and wonderful co-workers, but grateful for the lessons and many great/crazy stories I now have to tell :) 
  
• Quality devotional books
• Charles Spurgeon: Morning & Evening
• Various Author Compilation: How Great is Our God
• John Piper: A Godward Life
• Epic music to study to:
• Sherlock Holmes soundtrack 
• The Piano Guys
• Jenny & Tyler
• Mumford & Sons
• Caffeine in other forms (hot tea, cold tea, energy drinks when desperate, etc.)

I'm so excited for the next chapter of my life, and though my four years of college are wrapping up, the blessings I've been given, memories I've made, and lessons I've been taught will continue to remain with me and shape who I am for a lifetime. 

College, it's been real. It's been fun. And despite the saying, it has indeed been really fun.

Letter to my Momma:

This letter was read at my mom's Celebration of Life service on 08/25/12. She called me her little mighty writer, but this was the hardest thing I've ever had to put words to:

My sweet Momma Dearest,

You have always been one of my all-time favorite people to make memories with. I felt like I could be my goofy self with you--you always reminded me not to take myself too seriously and to relax. I'm also forever grateful that you and dad worked so hard to create a comfortable environment for me to grow up in.

Finding the right college was a very confusing time for me, but I'm so thankful you were there, because it created some of our best memories. We went to Chicago, and you had to figure out how to drive in Chicago traffic. We rented a car - that was a poor choice. I wasn't sure if Chicago was the place for me or not, but together we kept finding things with the word "joy" on them, like Joy Cafe and LoveJoy Rd. You told me that Chicago had my name all over it, like a letter signed from God. And you were right. I've been surrounded by some of the most wonderful people on this planet, and you saw me achieve some of my dreams.

I will hold onto the last thing you wrote on my Facebook wall 2 weeks ago: "I love you Joy, and am going to miss your energy and zest for life and love. We made memories this summer and I am so proud of you!!"

I know you were hurting so badly for a lot of your life, but you fought and you taught me how to fight. You always knew the truth in your heart, and you really let God carry you. I'll never understand what you were going through or why you had to go now, but I wouldn't trade the 21 years I had with you, standing by you and fighting, for anything.

Last week, I got you a card that I found at the Trinity bookstore, and it has a picture that you always loved of Snoopy holding on to a tree, almost being blown away but not letting go, and it says "Faith is..." above it. I was going to send that card to you this week, and on the inside I had written "God's got you--don't let go." But now I know that's definitely true, and I am so glad you're not sick anymore.

I'll never forget the way you chased after the little things in life. How you laughed every time you watched Snoopy's Thanksgiving special when he couldn't open all the chairs at the table. Thanks for all the milkshakes, laughs, Royals games, road trips, Facebook encouragement, countdowns, all our dance parties--even though you only had one dance move, for loving me and laughing at me when I called you from college after having too much coffee and pulling an all-nighter, for teaching me perseverance by living it out yourself, for teaching me what my name truly means--Jesus first Yourself last and Others In between, and for all the adventures. I mourn today because you are no longer here with me, but I rejoice knowing you are in the arms of the Great Shepherd now. Thanks for being a wonderful mom.

Ich Liebe Dich,

Joy Joy

Thankful {08-01-2012} for...

August & all that this fabulous new month will hold: spending time with my dear Mr. Forney (t-minus 6 days!), the beginning of my final year of college (insert plethora of emotions here), and reunions with wonderful friends.

Insightful words. I started reading "One Thousand Gifts" by Ann Voskamp today. It's an honest collection of stream of conscious ponderings from a woman who has long felt the pangs of sin and sorrow. One concept stood out in particular, when she was contemplating the beautiful simplicity of Luke 22:19 ("And Jesus took bread, gave thanks, and broke it, and gave it to them...") The thing Jesus counts as most important in some of his final hours on Earth is thanksgiving. Ann also recognizes ingratitude as one of the primary causes of the fall, and notes:

"As long as thanks is possible, then joy is always possible" (33).

The more I contemplated these words, the more I realized how much of a attainable, fuller life they beckon. Not a painless life, nor one lived in ignorance. But instead, one that views sorrow in the light of Christ's own sorrow and wonderful Act of redemption, making my true joy and thanksgiving ever so possible.

On a far less serious note, my Santa mug. For providing me a wintery oasis (is that juxtaposition allowed?) away from the 104+ degree weather Kansas has been rockin the past few months. Dakota (this guy) and I danced (because that's one of our favorite things to do) to "Walkin in a Winter Wonderland" together, after I sipped coffee from Mr. Santa's jolly brim.

Samples & pretend weddings! The place Graceanna is getting married at in October had a special wedding showcase tonight, so I went with her and my mommy. There were lots of vendors and food samples (I'm convinced food instantly becomes 10X better when it's free and in precious sample-size). Also, my strawberry was wearing a tuxedo. Seriously, it can't get much better than that. It was fun to explore the place some more and imagine how beautiful GA's wedding will be. The reception hall was even all decked out in pretty wedding things, but GA made me refrain from clinking my knife on my glass to have all the couples in the room kiss--it really felt like I was at a wedding!

Thankful {07-31-2012} for...

Quality bonding time during a multi-generational lunch--My Mammaw, Mommy, and Me

My hilarious Mammaw--quote of the day: "I may be 72, but I'm not going to age as fast as others." Me: "Why not?" Her: "I don't drink, I don't smoke, and I don't hang out with geezers who do!"

The Cantina menu at Taco Bell. The Chicken Cantina Bowl is muy deliciouso, muy healthy-o, and easier on my tum tum than other sketch TB meats (seriously, am I getting old?). Bonus: in my opinion, it's as good as Chipotle (am I allowed to say that?...cue the gaaaaasps)

The nice grocery store customer who took pity on me. My mission: pick a good cantaloupe to eat for din din tonight; The Challenge: cantaloupes in their natural state all look heeedious! I was pretty much making this face in my confused state, and just when I felt crazed enough to ask if there was someway to sample them when an angel in the form of a soccer mom gave me Cantaloupe Picking 101.

Bed Bath & Beyond. My mommy & I were perusing the fancy schmancy china section when I went on a "this is pretty stuff, but holy frijoles these prices make me want to write a letter profusely thanking to the man who invented paper plates" rant. She gave me a humbling look for my sassiness, however; and I did decide when I get married someday, the one piece of fancy china that will definitely be on my registry is this guy. Who knew drinking coffee could get any better?!?

Cinnabon Coffee Creamer. I may or may not have justified making coffee at 9:30 in order to try it. Totally. worth. the. imminent. late. night.

Praise be to God, for all the little things that make this girl smile.