tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88540693787047105002024-02-06T20:36:28.864-08:00Jennifer HopkinsJenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01718681915774940553noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8854069378704710500.post-56925729688933703382010-07-27T13:15:00.000-07:002010-07-27T15:03:32.089-07:00The start of a better story begins in Portland...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4_s7YkrZLWNoa0EYE-BjI8LkHzLlYTK1Q6iN2ieo4ZoiwqlKnHpxd6PxMzkKp5jDQnDMF4jP34ub6a4YBq2dz4HCu6rDIl7JDGk54uH6f9lBV9-Yu8QzBRO4MA4yADPJpzJ4VLPczvVU/s1600/032.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 152px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4_s7YkrZLWNoa0EYE-BjI8LkHzLlYTK1Q6iN2ieo4ZoiwqlKnHpxd6PxMzkKp5jDQnDMF4jP34ub6a4YBq2dz4HCu6rDIl7JDGk54uH6f9lBV9-Yu8QzBRO4MA4yADPJpzJ4VLPczvVU/s200/032.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498710052831760402" /></a><br />I began living my life through a story someone else had written for me. My first ambitions were not my own, but those of my late father. He was advanced in age when I was born, and he feared that he would not be around to share his heart with me when I would be old enough to remember. As a result, he wrote to me through several journals beginning entries before I was born. He passed when I was six, and those words became all I really knew of him, and his love for me. Much of what he had to say became cloudy between readings, but I remembered clearly that he wanted me to be a doctor. Perhaps even a surgeon, like him… but if not, at least a nurse, like my sister.<br /><br />I entered into a relationship with Jesus when I was sixteen. I attended youth group where you learn to “pursue God’s will”, and ask Him what He wants you to do with your life; something I had never before considered. Very sincerely I began to I want whatever story Jesus had for me. I was open to a change in my plans (my father’s plans) for life. The circle of faith that my church was a part of encouraged a short list of options for the female thinking Jesus wanted more from her story. After high school she would go to a good Bible college and find a suitable mate, preferably someone going into a full time ministry. Her area of study is relatively inconsequential, because after she marries, she has children and would likely stay home from her profession in order to raise them.<br /><br />After high school I met a wonderful man who had graduated from Bible college and was pursuing a youth ministry position. I attended a university for a year, during which we dated and then were married the following year. I had a baby boy, our first, on June 16th of this year, and he brings me more joy than I thought possible. We have been in full time youth ministry for six years.<br /><br />Meanwhile, I have continued my education. I was a rebel of sorts and went to nursing school; something for which I received negative reviews from my husband’s then current employer (because of the time it required of me). I am currently employed full time at a hospital here in Kansas City as an R.N.<br /><br />My father’s plan B for my vocation was nursing.<br /><br />A wife and mother was all of what I thought God had for me.<br /><br />I now have lived both… but there’s more. I feel it as much as I can feel the warmth of the sun on my face in this 100 degree heat. In no way do I degrade the privilege of being a wife and mother; or pretend that the effect we have in ministry is minute. I am proud to call myself a nurse; but that is not all there is. My story so far has been the product of someone else’s writing. I am learning that God is waiting for me to begin writing with Him.<br />This spring I was home in Ohio for a baby shower. While my mother made preparations for the party I sat with my 89 year-old grandmother watching television. Finding something that the both of us would tolerate was a challenge, especially at the volumes necessary for her to hear. Flipping through the channels I found a special about Jimmy Carter; particularly the impact he has made in Africa combating the devastating effects of the guinea worm. Because of him the disease is next to eradication. I know little about how he was as president, but after this program I had an enormous respect for him. Respect that stemmed from the fact that he decided to champion this cause after the age of 60. Most people I know begin to slow down at that age. Great story.<br />Part of the story I would like to live includes the adoption of a child from the Philippines. Because this is financially restrictive to us at the moment I have plans to continue my education to become a nurse practitioner. Once working this would allow me to finance the adoption. This would be only a small part of the rest of my story. I would love to write and teach, but only when I have a life and wisdom worth sharing.<br />I am certain that I want a better ending than beginning. I am certain that I will make my son proud to tell my story. I just need help learning how to begin a better one. A seminar in Portland might help.<br /><br />www.donmilleris.com/conference<br /><br /><object width="400" height="300"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=12011394&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" /><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=12011394&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="400" height="300"></embed></object><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/12011394">Living a Better Story Seminar</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/atcpodcast">All Things Converge Podcast</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01718681915774940553noreply@blogger.com1