Queen Jen's Gems

 I made it to see another year through! I'm so grateful to God for that 💖! I've had ups, downs, challenges, moments I wanted to give up, wins, and wonderful opportunities to experience life to the fullest. In all the seasons I experienced, lessons were learned. I attended family and friend gatherings, a paint party, a musical, wedding, baby shower, gender reveal, art classes, sporting events, and community events 😊. I visited new places and had new experiences and adventures. I saw places I had visited before from a whole new perspective. I kept taking care of me and getting regular checkups. I did have surgery that was successful. I read a variety of fiction and nonfiction books. I made new connections with some as well as reconnecting with others I hadn't talked to for a while. I saw one school year end and another school year begin. I continued to teach English and lead the Bible Club at the middle school I'm at 😊. I continued to serve in my church and community. ...

 As a teacher, I know I say this to my students many times throughout the day. I say this in regard to reminding them to put their name on their paper (the struggle in 6th grade is real!) and in completing an assignment fully. I have had students not complete the back of sheets because they didn't listen to the directions, they were rushing, or they didn't think to double check the back of the sheet. When it comes to their writing, I remind them to double check their sentences for punctuation, capitalization, subject, verb, and clarity. Checking something becomes second nature after doing it for a while 😊. Double checking doesn't just apply to school assignments. It could apply to paper work, supplies and items you need to use, bags of purchased items, physical appearance, making sure you left nothing behind, closing up a house or business while you're away, and so much more! We should also double check text messages and emails for errors before hitting send 😊. I'...

 When we look around at our families and communities, we see uniqueness and diversity. We see people of all ages with different personalities and backgrounds. Each person has something to offer. Each person can help someone else along the way. Each person can accomplish goals and dreams that once seemed beyond their reach.  Each of us are precious in God's eyes and loved the same. We should embrace how God made us. There can never be another you, and there can never be another me 💖. We all have likes, dislikes, and favorite things we like. We all have things we're really good at and things we need to continue to improve and make progress on. We all have different gifts and talents. We all speak with a different voice. Our clothing styles and hairstyles vary. Each person is unique, and that's okay 😊! Today, I want to encourage you to embrace your voice, your personality, and your style. I want you to own your likes and dislikes. I want you to keep being you 💖!! I have l...

 This time of year, many people are rushing to the stores to shop for the latest sales. People are rushing to get the decorations and Christmas tree put up. People are rushing to see family and friends far and near. People are rushing to make sure everything is perfect for the gatherings that will take place this season. This season can be a lot! It can be a beautiful season, but it can also leave one exhausted and with different feelings. It is a time set aside where we especially remember Jesus' birth for us and how He came to be our Savior (Luke 2:10-12). I'm so grateful 💖!! Since December is also the last month of the year, we also tend to use this month as a time of reflection over the past year. We look at all the things that happened- good and bad- and take the lessons and wins. We look at the goals accomplished and those not yet accomplished. We look at the new adventures and new experiences that happened with family and friends - I'm so grateful for mine💖. It can...

 As we're in this holiday season. we tend to see family and friends more 💖. This season also causes us to reflect on the past memories of holidays and the people we shared them with. Many of our people are still here. However, many of us are also missing loved ones who are not here anymore 🙏. There's still that longing and hope that they could still be here. I miss my Mom, Dad, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins who are no longer here. I'm grateful for the time I got to spend with them. I'm grateful for the conversations, laughs, visits, trips, and celebrations I shared with them 💖. Many of those memories are in photo albums. I love pictures as I have shared in previous blog posts 😊. There are some memories that didn't get captured with a picture, but they are in my heart. Here, I want to take some time and share memories that are near and dear to my heart. As I share my memories, I hope that you will be thinking about memories with your loved ones and frie...

 As we're approaching the holiday season, we tend to hear more songs and conversations related to joy. Now, I do love Christmas songs 💖!! One of my favorite Christmas songs, "Joy to the World, " has joy in its title. Songs, such "O Come All Ye Faithful" and "Hark the Herald Angels Sing (another favorite of mine)" includes being joyful in the lyrics of their songs. When we look at the word joy, it's about having pleasure and delight in something. Joy is not just something we can have during the Christmas season. Joy is something we can have all year round 😊. Not only can we have it all year round, but we can show it all year round. Joy is one of the fruit of the Spirit that should be seen in our lives in all seasons (Galatians 5:22-23). It doesn't mean every moment of the year is a good one, but it's in those moments we can still find joy in God. One Wednesday afternoon in October, I had the wonderful opportunity to visit local nursing hom...

 When we look at the world around us, we hear a lot of news. We hear news about sports, politics, entertainment, the arts, schools, colleges, churches, and community on a daily basis. In reading a newspaper of a particular organization or community, we will find out the events happening in that area. We will read and hear about news that is good and news that is bad. When we hear news, there are all sorts of different reactions. News can make us happy, confused, upset, surprised, anxious, or concerned. In our own lives, we can share good news that is going on with those around us. We should definitely rejoice with others when they share good news with us (Romans 12:15) 💖.  Then, there are moments that we don't always hear good news, and that's when we should be there for others and help others.  When we can't find good news anywhere else, we can always know there is good news found in God's Word. God's Word gives us hope 🙏. Today, I want to share with you good new...