first post

I've been sending out update emails for almost two years. The time for update emails has come to end and the joining of the blog world will begin. I'm sure many of you will be glad to not have me fill up your inbox anymore. The others of you that aren't, just check in here when you can. I'll update when I can and hope to add pitures more often than not. To start the blog I thought it'd have my first post be a list of 25 things about me.

25 things:
1. I'm a follower of Jesus Christ
2. I am 24 years old
3. My name is Jessi, not Jessica
4. I am a teacher in inner city Detroit, Michigan at City Mission Academy (city-mission.org)
5. I am also a home owner in inner city Detroit, Michigan
6. In two weeks I will no longer be a teacher but a program director at the same school/ministry in Detroit, Michigan
7. I planted a garden in my backyard. My first gardening experience
8. I'm from South Dakota, born and raised until college in Iowa of course
9. I adore my family. (near and far!)
10. I have worked as a fudge seller, mower, landscaper, coffee shop cook, babysitter, reading teacher, concessions seller, banquet server, and daycare worker all through high school and college. I never got bored
11. My very best friend peed her pants in her car outside of my house when we were freshmen in college and waited a few years to tell me
12. I consider Hillcrest Church in Sioux Falls, SD home.
13. I drive a '98 Bonneville and am pretty obsessed with it
14. I'm going out of the country in August for the first time to visit Joy in Australia!!!
15. I want to visit Alaska, and at least see or race in the Iditarod
16. I hate pickles
17. I love donuts
18. My life is all about children. But, I'm grateful that most nights they still go to their own homes :)
19. Some may describe me as crafty, in an arts and crafts manner.
20. Neighborhood kids play at my house almost all hours of the day (home or not) and I often make pancakes and eggs for them. Or our other favorite mac n cheese and hot dogs. Our favorite thing to play is Connect 4.
21. I am incredibly blessed and see and realize it more each day. My friends from all seasons of life are just incredible and continually support me in all I do. Millions of great memories.
22. My favorite thing in my kitchen is my red kitchen aid mixer from my former boss, Louanne. Which I use to whip up all kinds of yummy treats (too often according to Khalid)
23. I do almost everything fast. ...walk, talk, think, talk, move, talk, eat, talk, work, etc.
24. I enjoy watching reality tv shows. Survivor and Amazing Race are among my favorites. I'm still waiting for Tim Swart to get on Survivor.
25. I LOVE reading blogs. Therefore, I thought it was my turn to start my own.

Hopefully furthur posts will give 25+ more things you don't know about me in this crazy life I'm living in Brightmo' (in Detroit).

Love to you-
Jessi