A Decade of Anna!

I would like to dedicate this post to my FAVORITE "Anna" in the entire world:

My little sister!

Anna Kathryn Wojak was born 10 years ago on July 24th. She was the most beautiful baby we had ever seen, and it seems like we blinked...and then she was practically grown-up! Anna's favorite things to do are: play soccer, play w/ her new Barbie dolls (b-day presents), and have her family read C.S. Lewis' The Chronicles of Narnia series to her OUTLOUD (w/ all the voices).

This past Saturday, we Wojaks celebrated the birthday of our youngest family member with an afternoon of pizza, cake...and lazer tag! Is there a better way to celebrate turning 10 years old?
























It was most definitely a party to remember (not to mention Big Sis was introduced to the thrilling reality of "air hockey"). As a matter of fact, the entire weekend was filled with good memories, quality family time, and - of course - lots of pictures!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ANNA!!!

WE LOVE YOU!!!

The Great Outdoors

There has always been something about the outdoors that has never failed to entice and romance my soul. Ever since being a young girl, I could never get enough of playing outside: having the entire neighborhood at my fingertips; rummaging around the "hidden wood" (the one my mother always warned me not to go into); and catching fireflies after dark. If there's one thing the summer air never fails to accomplish...it's draw me - captivated - out into the awaiting wilderness.

So! What did Jennifer get to do this past Monday?

Hike her tail off!

After much anticipation, my fellow comrades (Emily, Nick, Ruthann, and Tony) and I journeyed southward to the great "unknown" referred to as: Cumberland Gap National Forrest. Accompanied only by a stuffed cooler, a bag of KFC Original Recipe, Delirious' Mission Bell, and T's infamous camera; our crew launched this long-awaited adventure at 8 am...until 4:30 am the next day (I told you we were "hard-core"...or maybe just really slow). Here are some of my favorite moments from the memorable jaunt:
















































The longest trek of the day proved a grueling 8-mile quest through dense and steep wood, darkly named: Dog Slaughter Falls (don't ask me, I won't know). Sight-seeing and cataloguing rare wildlife might have slowed us up a smidge, but after what seemed like hours of trudging through abandoned rainforest...our perseverance was WELL rewarded.













However, I must confess: the highlight of the evening would have to have been our evening of reflection perched on a hidden boulder past the Cumberland Falls. With gallons of water rushing in the background, and a shroud of stars - like I have never experienced - cloaking the night sky, the only thought that would come to mind was:

God.

How can there be room for anything else?

I hope these pictures inspire you all to "run outside and play." To my fellow "pirates": I love you all and have cherished this experience more than one blog can express. We will be doing this again.

Grand Canyon, anyone?

Coffee?

As of next Friday, I am pleased (and proud) to report that I will begin training for working at one of my FAVORITE places in the world...

STARBUCKS COFFEE!

(Sigh) This job seems like it was a long time in coming, but with all the new stores opening up around our lovely Louisville, I am so grateful to the Lord that He has made a place for me! Since my cafeteria job at Southern ended at the close of May, God has been SO good and faithful to allow me time to "rest and recover" from a busy semester, and be able to spend quality time with friends and family.

And now I'm TRULY ready for my training to be a barrista!

So that rather got me to thinking about coffee and all coffee-related things: where are some of YOUR favorite coffee "hot spots," and what is it about them that attracts you so much? Do you have a favorite coffee drink? A treasured coffee memory? Do tell!

And I'm sure I'll be seeing you around...

"Will that be 'Tall,' 'Grande,' or 'Venti'?"

Life Lessons from a Deposit Box

Do you ever have that experience when you decide to memorize a new verse of Scripture, then - almost immediately - the Lord graces you with opportunities to put His Truth into practice? Well...I sure did yesterday:

"Know therefore today, and take it to your heart, that the Lord; He is God in heaven above and on the earth below: there is no other." ~ Deuteronomy 4:39 ~

This verse (which I committed to memory just late last week) the Lord has been employing to make SUCH an impression upon my life lately. He is teaching me to fear Him above all else, and truly live out the reality that Man can do nothing to me. The ONLY person that God gives us permission to fear is Himself...PERIOD. Anything else is just sin.

So yesterday, I called my local bank to make sure that they had received the deposit I had made to them the evening before. Well, it came as a bit of a surprise when they informed me that they had no record of it in their computer. So I phone the branch at which I dropped off my only check for the next few weeks (I'm down to only one job, right now), to see if - perhaps - the envelope (covered w/ all my info: social security number, checking account number, etc.) was lying around somewhere. The cordial gentleman on the other end of the line informed me that it was not, and then proceeded to ask me if I placed my money in the correct "drop box."

This caused a momentary lump in my throat. What do you MEAN the correct box?

The box I put my check in was NOT the appropriate box for making deposits. It was, in fact, intended for other bank usage, specifically of the kind that is responsible for transferring money to other locations (not necessarily in Louisville).

I began to run through the list of transactions I had already made that day, with a waning amount of money in my checking, and soon it seemed as if all the potential disasters of what might have happened to my deposit began to crash in around my consciousness. Not only that, but what about identity theft? I had practically INVITED someone into my financial resources with the amount of personal info listed on the front of that envelope (something I will NEVER do again...).



BUT...it was at this point that the Lord extended His Hand of mercy and comfort, and reminded me of His Words: "Know therefore today (Jen), and take it to your heart (Jen), that the Lord; He is God in heaven above and on the earth below: there is no other" (inserts added by me). This was the place at which the Scriptures got PERSONAL, and became my reality...not just recitation. :)

Ultimately (as w/ all things), this circumstance - too - is under God's divine influence. I may not have control, I may have made a simple mistake...BUT God. The Truth of the matter is that it is in He and He alone that we find real security and peace. The test: do we choose to believe Him, and live what we tells us with all our mind and heart.

Thus, after praying in faith with my precious roommate, Lisa, our God filled me with a confident rest; knowing that He was overseeing all things, and no matter what happened: this incident is small, because He is SO BIG.

Not one hour later, I received a phone call from a kind lady from the bank. Apparently, the box in which I placed my money had not been collected from by the serviceman because it had been jammed shut. An employee had accidentally dropped the box's key in the box itself - jamming it tightly shut. A specialist had to be called to pry open the dysfuntional collection box: they found the offending key...and my pitiful envelope covered in identification. :)

Do we serve an AWESOME God or what?



Moral of the story: "There's nothing to fear but God Himself."

Blessings, friends!

The Happy Couple!

I can't believe it: it finally happened. This past Saturday - June 24th - at 5pm, under the loving and watchful eye of their glorious Lord, Jason Shaw and Donna Millard joined their lives together in holy matrimony. Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you:

Mr. and Mrs. Jason Shaw!

The wedding day could NOT have been better... The weather was perfect; the ceremony was grounded in the Truth; everyone was rejoicing in the Lord; the reception was a BLAST; and the bride and groom could not have been more in love. :)



To so many of their friends and family, the festivities this past Saturday were so much more than "just another marriage": the union of Jason and Donna is an incredible testimony of God's faithfulness, sovereignty, and love towards His children. And I know that they both would be the first to witness to His goodness and mercy.

Over the past months, our Lord has cultivated Jason Shaw into the outstanding, humble, and compassionate leader he is; and our Father has blossomed Donna into the noble Proverbs woman who continues to teach me what real love, service, and faith looks like.

The newlywed Shaws have so much to look forward to in the months and years to come; and some fantastic memories to keep them company along the way:





Jason and Donna, you are a blessing to us all! And we are so thankful to be able to sojourn with you both down this new and thrilling path. And to Donna especially: you will always be our "cuddly, little snuggle-bunny," and words cannot express how much Lisa and I cherish you...

ZzZzZzZzZzZzZzZz

Ah...NAPPING! If there's one thing to be happy about the summertime...it's that NAPTIME becomes a more frequent indulgence (seeing as how I'm not taking any summer classes right now, so I have a bit of free time on my hands).

Almost two weeks ago, Lisa's little sister, Virginia, came and stayed w/ us for a while. We had a GRAND time: staying up late, watching movies, sewing, laughing... It's no WONDER the two of us "pooped out" right around mid-day.


Ever since I was young, I have always been a napper... My body just tends to "shut down" at certain points of the day; and even if it's only for 20 minutes, I have to be allowed to "recharge" my battery if I'm gonna make it through to the evening hours.





Of course, there are also those people who can't stand to "miss a beat" as the day marches onward, but it seems that Virginia and I were perfectly content to snuggle-up and snooze the afternoon away. Well...sort of. :)






Anyway... If you, too, are a "napper": seize these hot and humid days by the barometer, and SIESTA ON, MY LOVELIES!

Another Prayer Request

After receiving the e-mail from the President's Office this morning concerning Dr. Mohler's health, my heart was also burdened to share another prayer request with you all:

The mother of my roommate, Lisa McGary, has been battling a rare form of cancer, now, for quite some time. Providentially, the Lord has provided a way for her type of illness to be treated free of charge; yet the treatment is highly experimental, and tends to cause Lynn (Lisa's mom) much discomfort.

Lynn McGary is one of the "saltiest" saints I have ever met. This blessed woman has probably served and ministered to more people in one day of her sweet life than I have throughout my entire existence! She is a blessing to so many people, and a constant source of encouragement and challenge. This past weekend, as a matter of fact, in Nashville, TN at Judson Baptist Church, a group of 250 people arrived to join in prayer on Lynn McGary's behalf. Not only were there close family friends attending, but most had been personally served by the "Stone Soup" ministry which Mrs. McGary oversees (even in the midst of her health situation).

I would like to humbly request that anyone who reads this post to please keep Lynn McGary and her precious family in your thoughts and prayers. This woman has been a pillar of strength and Christian love, not only to her family, but EVERYONE she encounters, and it is because the Lord God is her joy, her salvation, and her hope. These past months have been particularly physically difficult, so please intercede on her behalf as the Spirit leads.

Thank you, and God bless!

Hail the Conquering Graduate!

This summer has already started off with SUCH a bang...


I am proud to announce that my baby brother, Eric Douglas Wojak, has completed his requirements to graduate from one of the most prestigious engineering schools in the nation: Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology. (Loud round of applause!)


At the end of this summer, "Wuj" will be beginning his position at a respectable firm in Indianapolis, which TOTALLY floats my boat because he'll be closer to ME here in Louisville. HOORAY!!!


We had such a blast getting to attend the ceremonies as a family, and I KNOW my Dad was bursting with pride from his "front-row seat" in Heaven. :) The Lord definitely worked through Eric's time at college to completely change his heart and life-course, and I know that was something Daddy had been praying about for SUCH a long time.


Eric, I LOVE YOU!!! I'm so thankful that you're my brother: you encourage, challenge, and inspire me so much with your passion for the Lord, and your desire for Him to grow you in every way. Your big sister looks up to you, and you CRACK ME UP as well...

OUCH!!!

OK, I need to post... It's been shamefully too long. And school's out for practically three glorious months, so I have no excuse.

What's the latest drama in Jen's life? That would be my unwelcomed wisdom teeth surfacing.



About one week ago, I started noticing this distracting and EXCRUCIATING pain in my mouth: thought maybe I had brushed my teeth a little too hard...maybe cut a gum or something. Oh, no! That would be my top MOLARS tearing thru the tender tissue of my mouth flesh...and right during FINALS!

After going through bottles of Aleve and Listerine (as if they were Krispe Kremes and Starbucks), I've finally scheduled an appointment to initiate the removal of these offensive dental invaders. Then, that got me to thinking:

Any of you all have any great "wisdom tooth" stories?

(In the spirit of Brian Regan's latest DVD, I request that you all indulge me on this one). :)

In Loving Remembrance...

On June 6th of 2005, my father - Walter Louis Wojak - passed from this world and into the next. The Lord is, indeed, sovereign over all circumstances...and his passing was quite unexpected, none the less.

Today, April 15th, would have been his 49th birthday.



My Dad was truly unlike any man I have ever met. Growing up in a severely dysfunctional home, the Lord drew my father away from his life of drugs and alcohol (by amazingly providential circumstances), and - over the years - dramatically transformed his life into one of the most unique testimonies and commited Christians I will ever know.

Looking back, I am utterly amazed at the impact that our Lord God had on his memorable life.

My Dad loved the Lord. More than anything, he longed to know and experience the intense love of Christ that had been so absent from his unfortunate youth. Some of my fondest remembrances of him are when I sleepily walked into the living room in the early morning hours, and found Pop in his favorite chair, Bible open, journal open, and his strong hands clasped in humble and earnest prayer. Dad clung to the Truth of God in desperation, because he had experienced what it was like to be without Him.

Dad's laugh could lighten anyone's hard heart: loud, strong, and genuine. He was such a remarkable mind: the man could remember the most random, remotest, and complex topics. I remember how eager I used to be to inform him of something "new and intelligent" that I had learned - so confident that it would be something he had never studied; only to be foiled again as Dad rattled off his extensive knowledge of my "mystery subject." Dad was not without his faults (who is?), but it was the grace he demonstrated to everyone - regardless of circumstance - that was one of the strongest fingerprints of Christ in His life.

Remembering him on this day, what touches me the most was his profound tenderness and servant-heart. I could always run to my Daddy whenever I was scared, confused, troubled, or just in need of a good hug. He was always looking for opportunities to love and serve those around him: from his humble practice of a chiropractor/acuptuncturist, to ministering to his hurting/needful family.

My father taught me what a man of God should be. Sometimes I cringe because I didn't appreciate him enough. I wish that I had taken advantage of more opportunities to tell him how much I loved him, how much I respected him, and how much I learned from him. My Dad was the one who led me to Christ... I am so grateful to be his daughter. The Lord could not have given me a greater Christian example of a father and husband.

Last year, Dad's "birthday gift" was a fishing trip to Kohler, WI, in which he caught a gorgeous trout (the only fish on the trip, to be exact) at the exact time of day that he was delivered into this world. This year, my beloved father basks in the everlasting glow of the One who loves Him most.

I love you, Daddy! See you in Heaven...

Who Do I Think I Am?!

Today, I am able to say that I am thankful for the humbling reminders that God grants to us: of how unworthy we are, of how much we need Him, and of the extent of His grace and compassion. How is it that, unfortunately, we always seem to appreciate these reminders only after we recently endure some difficult trial or circumstance?

Such times always give me a deeper understanding of the question I ask myself SO many times: Who do I think I am!?

Since coming here to Louisville, I think that my experiences these past two years have proved my mother a relatively wise and insightful woman: There are things that I will experience in life that are meant to not only fashion me into a more devoted believer, but also to prove a useful counselor for the Lord (my field of study). And if He wills for various circumstances to occur, the purpose they accomplish should be considered as gracious gifts from God's Hands - even though I may not realize it at the time.

Now, as a fleshly sinner, that makes me wonder: What exactly is the Lord going to will for me to endure?!

And then it strikes me what an absolutely selfish question this is: as if my submissiveness and service to God is wholly based upon "what He may or may not do for me in this life." It is God's RIGHT and sovereign choice for me to persevere in whatever He may will, and to walk faithfully by His side - through thick and thin, whether in times of blessing or times of despair and/or destruction. It is I who must persevere, and remain willing and obedient to whatever He may deem appropriate. I am starting to value and appreciate that I must consistently choose to immerse my conciousness in the reality that "God is love"; and thus He is the only One of any of us that might be completely and rightfully trusted. Who am I to question? Who am I to doubt? Who am I to dictate and lay blame when all I ever produce is sin and rebellion, and He redemption and progress?



Absolute submission to God results in complete freedom from myself: that which constantly has proven to hold me back, confuse me, discourage/disillusion me, get in my way, and shove me down. Why do we fear total abandonment from Self when it leads to utmost joy and freedom?

Once again, Lord, you bring something that should be so simple and foundational for us into the sweet light of understanding. Continue to teach us, Lord, the value of truly fearing You, instead of fearing what may happen to us throughout our lives; and for enlightening Your Word to us, as in Hebrews 12:1-2 (NLT):

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Beause of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God's throne."

LET'S BE FREE!

Have Fun!

I like this game!

Add a caption to the fun pictures:

1)



2)


3)



Stretch those imaginative muscles, friends... Have fun!

Jen Meets "Facebook"

Guess what I did for TWO HOURS today!

Last weekend, my friends Lin-z Jennings (not really how you spell her name) and Catherine Huffman spent the evening helping me sign up for a Facebook account while watching Grey's Anatomy on TV (great episode, by the way...).

I have this funny tendency of not really being interested in the technological/computer stuff that everyone else is into...but I'm getting better! For example, it wasn't until this past Fall that my sweet roomie, Donna, finally got me to sign up for a blog account (and after much prodding and pleading, I might add). Now I'm hooked!

Well, I think the lightning bolt has struck again.

For two hours this afternoon, I sat in front of a computer screen updating info, downloading pics, and browsing/searching for long-lost companions I've not spoken to in literally decades! I'm gonna have to be careful, or this could become yet another ugly sap of my precious time and energy.

I pray the Lord help me to prove a good steward with Facebook!