Hey there y'all! Its been so insane! I finally had my last required interview for my internship this summer. It was good for the most part... Regardless of all the stuff I head to do with that, I had to jump also onto school work and reading and homework... oh my! Absolute insanity... however, with the internship stuff all behind me now, I can focus solely on this semester and this final year of school as well! When it comes to me and God... I'm actually in a pretty cool place but at first I didn't really like it all that much. My professor in my senior level spiritual formations class, Dr. Howard, used the analogy of going whitewater rafting and I'm currently at a pool of rest. I am recovering from the rapids of transformation that I went through with being in an internship and letting God use me the ways he needed me to. He is wanting me to rest and recover while learning more about him and about myself during this time. I have felt and can tell that there are some pretty intense rapids to come for me soon so I must be prepared for it. At first, I wasn't too happy because I'm so future, task focused that being told to just rest, relax, and live in the moment you are in now was not at ALL what I wanted to hear. But as time went on, I realized I really did need it. There was a lot I had gone through and how I felt like some serious, life changing was "coming down the pike" (as my professor would say - he's a yank! ;) ), I needed this to understand God more, understand myself more, and really prepare for what was to come. I'm going through everything from God and who he is, to who I am, to my issues of trust, fear of the future, endurance, patience... everything! It really seems like God is going over me with a fine tooth comb and really taking inventory and helping fix some things. During this time I've been meeting with my mentor constantly, continuing to learn and dig deeper in my studies about God and myself in many ways, and I've received a lot of guidance and advise from many people all the way from professors to friends. Its quite something to be learning about myself and God in such deeper and profound ways than I never really thought and looked at before. I'm so excited to see what is to come! :) Now onto one of my favorite parts of the blog! This past weekend my boyfriend, Rich and I, we decided to do something different for a Saturday night outing. So we got all dolled up (Doesn't he look absolutely delicious?! He's so hot! Tehehe...:D ), and we headed some place new - The Original J.Peters Steakhouse and Restaurant in historic downtown Anderson, SC. Now we didn't know what to expect except what our friends told us about the place. We walked in and I would probably think of a place much classier than Taco Mac/Chili's that was built in one of the original buildings built there in Anderson. It has had some adding on to but with as amazing and "hopping" of a place it was, I can see why! It had a long bar with a few flat screens propped up to show the football games that were on but Rich and I decided to sit in one of the nicer, family areas of the restaurant. Our server was a sweet young lady who was very hospitable and very knowledgeable of the selections there and all the great food! And was the food great... more like amazing! The price is about average, maybe a bit on the high side but otherwise, reasonable! It was something close to a five star restaurant quality of food. Rich had the Hickory Smoked Salmon and I had the House Sirloin with loaded mash potatoes. I really don't know how else to describe it except incredible! I had not enjoyed such great food in a long time! Salmon was perfect and flaky, the steak cooked to perfection... so good! They have just about anything and everything you can think of: from fried chicken, to filet minion, to burgers, to sandwiches, to seafood, and even some incredible desserts from what I have heard about (hadn't tried any of them sadly - wish too though next time), and probably the best sweet tea I've had in a long, long time! Seriously though, if that is how they are all the time, I can see why people love going to it so much! The atmosphere is a bit loud at times not because of it being a bar with games on, but more than likely the acoustics because of the building being so wide and having such high ceilings. So really in the end: Guys if you ever get a chance to go to one of the few places where J. Peters is set up in and around Anderson, go to it! Its phenomenal and you won't regret it! Well that's it for me for now! I'll talk to you guys hopefully soon! Take care and later dayz! ~Jeanne :)

Well it has been a while again! Sorry about that! But just to catch you up on things: my internship went great, finished it up, and have been debriefing about it ever since with alot of people. Definitely helped me learn some things about myself as well as ministry but it really did solidify some things in me but more on that later! Now... Its official: I'm in my last year of college! The beginning of the end, the finish line, the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow... I can't wait to finish! It's been such a long journey and I have to admit quite an incredible one too! This semester I'm taking nothing but Senior level courses, all required, and more hours than I've ever taken yet (yeah, yeah testing my "thresh hold" as some might say). And yes it has been a bit overwhelming; however, it has been good! I've learned alot out of these classes already so I'm actually quite excited for what's to come! :) Lately, God has been dropping some phrases here and there for me to listen to and learn about. Such words like "endurance", "Seek Me", "Know Who I Am", and "Living In The Moment" have all been said to me in some fashion or form in the past couple of weeks. As I beginning digging deeper with him, I hope and pray that I truly begin a spiritual journey like never before with him: getting to know him, learning to live in the moment and enjoy it, and in the end addressing some insecurities of my own. Now for the fun part! As you guys remember me telling you some posts back that I wanted to start doing my own little fun food blog about checking out local restaurants in the area and telling you about them and how awesome their food is. Well... It's Toccoa's turn now! As my last year of school, I want to help the local restaurants and eateries of Toccoa and the surrounding areas by checking them out, seeing how they've been significant to their area, and of course how awesome the food is! So here we go y'all its a double doozie with Toccoa's local landmark and favorite, Bell's Hamburgers and GA Fried Chicken, and Lavonia's favorite little hidden Bar-B-Que treasure, Gumlog's Bar-B-Que & Fish Lodge! Bell's has been a classic staple of the Toccoa community for at least 50 years. With a country rustic feel inside, extremely hospitable staff, and some awesome Southern cooking, this is one place you can't miss when you visit up here at the Appalachian Foothills. Now I've been here twice and I've loved both times! With everything from steaks to hamburgers, fried chicken to fish, french fries to Cesar salads, and milkshakes to cobblers this place has it all! My first time there was with my roommate Chelsea, I had their Chicken fried steak, mashed potatoes and cole slaw and it just about put me over the moon! My second time there I was with my dad, little brother and sister, and my boyfriend and it was pretty good! I had the basic chicken tender basket, fries, and some steam veggies (hey now, a girl's got to keep her figure). I really liked the breading they use for the fried chicken: very simple with a bit of spice to it! I promise you - There is no one that isn't going to find any thing on the menu they won't love! My dad absolutely devoured the fried chicken (as did my little brother and sister)and my boyfriend really enjoyed their bar-b-que! So again, you'll find at least one thing you're gonna love here! Be sure to check them out soon! :) Now on to Gumlog! I first found out about Gumlog completely unintentionally. Last Sunday I went to church with some of my best friends, Megan and Nate (and soon to be Zoe) Brown! Since it was the first time there for me at their church, I was told to fill out a welcome card and turn it in at the back of the church and I would get a little gift to thank me for my visit there. Well I did so and I expected like a candy bar or a water bottle but instead I got a 50% off coupon for Gumlog's Bar-B-Que & Fish Lodge! I had never heard of the place and so the Browns were kind enough to take me and share this lovely little unknown treasure of Lavonia. Literally the place is on back roads and it seems to be set up either in an old barn, work shed, or moonshinery place. Either way, we get there and it completely jam packed full of people! That's when you know, people, you've found something good... Started in 1974 by an old moonshiner (as it says on its menu), Gumlog's has provided some of the best country home cooking you would have never known existed. Anything and everything you can think of with fried chicken, Bar-B-Que pork and beef, catfish and other marine delicacies, and all with a pitcher full of sweet tea left at your table during your visit for you to fill up your glass and enjoy! The atmosphere is warm, friendly, cabin country style with red and white checker cloth tables, wooden booths and tables, and deer's heads handing from the walls. It can also be easily seen that this place has had to expand due to its popularity with at least 2 or 3 big sections of the restaurant not matching the original design and structure of the building. Regardless, you're gonna love what they got to serve there so be sure to check it out!! :) Also, if you know of some great places here and around the Toccoa area (including but not limited to Lavonia, Hartwell, Commerce, Cornelia, Clarksville, Royston, Elberton, or even Westminister, Seneca, or Anderson, SC) let me know and I'll try getting out there to see them! Well that's it for me! I'll see y'all around! Later days! :)

Hey y'all! Finally have a brief moment to catch you up on some stuff that has been happening! First of all, my internship is crazy busy but crazy fun! I'm enjoying myself while at the same time I'm stressing some about making sure I finish stuff and fulfill my requirements for school. Slowly but surely I'm doing it but I've still got a few more vital stuff to do before I'm done officially here. I mean I've done alot already! Revamping communications, providing a summer program for the kids on Wednesday nights, mentoring a child (sorry I haven't told you guys much about them, kinda confidential), planning, organization and completing a VBS program for them, going to meetings, meeting families and their kids, leading a small group, planning and leading the devotional time of a family retreat... and more! So I'm grateful of what I have accomplished and experienced so far in this internship! Another thing I realized this week... I'm 3 weeks from being finished with my internship! This internship has truly flown by, its been so much fun, and I've enjoyed it so much! In about 4 weeks I'll be starting my final year of school!! :D I can't wait!! There is so much about to happen to me... I can just feel it! Alot of things are about to come to completion for me! I can't wait to see what happens because of it! Okay so since its been a while since I've told you of a couple of places, I should catch you up! One of the places I'd like to tell you about is a restaurant called the Cook Out! Now this place is kinda of all over the place on the east coast but it was the first time I had heard of it. So I checked it out with some people from my church one Sunday afternoon after church! It is really, really good! This restaurant, located on the main strip of Anderson (Clemson Blvd), makes all their food fresh, from scratch, and is priced a pretty decent price (You can get a Cook Out Special in which you choose a main entree, two sides, and a large drink for like 4.39). Now I have had their chicken tenders there which aren't terrible but they ain't nothing to wrote home to mom about. The burgers are really, really good and really fresh! Another specialty they have - 38 different milkshake flavors which are pretty awesome too! Their atmosphere is very much a fun, family/hang out with friends place with mostly wooden booths to sit at and music playing consistently. (did I mention its a Christian owned place? Just want to make sure). The place and people are very friendly and hospitable. So if you're ever in Anderson and want some really good food at a really great price, check out the Cook Out! :) Now another place I enjoyed was actually outside of Anderson in a little town called Hartwell, Ga! That's where my wonderful boyfriend lives and one weekend I got the chance to stay there to help out with an event his church was doing. While there I got to eat at this place not once but twice and I must say it was really, really good! Its called the Downtown Cafe of Hartwell. They specialize in a lot of good dishes, some American, some Greek, and some Italian and all of which I've tried and I've enjoyed very much so! I had their Philly Cheese steak Sandwich one day while another day I have their Cantonella which was so cheesy, meaty, and so good! Their atmosphere is very much a mix of the three cultures with a bar and TVs showing the latest sports games. The place is kinda dark with low lit lights so it can have a bit of a romantic feeling if you are closer to the back of the restaurant. The people are very kind and very friendly. So if you are ever in Hartwell, be sure to check it out! Well that's it for me now! I'll be back later and tell you more of what is to come with me and my internship and what other great places I find in this area! Later dayz! ~Jeanne ;)

Hey y'all! Hope all has been going well for you... Well as you can see I've got such a nice office and trust me, all this past week that was the only scenery I had. Don't get me wrong; I love my internship but its kinda hard to sit at a desk for such long extended periods of time in order to create and write curriculum and design family ministry programs. I guess it just something I have to get use to, I guess. However come next week, I'll have a week off from my internship to rest and relax! So excited for that; To Do List: Sleep in, Do a little more exploring around Anderson, Spend some time with my man, spending time with my host family, Maybe get some reading done and school assignments for my internship. Yeah, it'll be good... :) Speaking of family ministry programs, I officially started a couple of them this week! One of which is called "Summer Sizzle", our Wednesday night children's program for the children's ministry. We are using some of the material from Lifeway's "Amazing Wonders Aviation" and are having a blast with it! This isn't just something to keep kids entertained while mom and dad go to Wednesday night service or small group; we play game, sing, dance, and learn about God's incredible power in all aspects of life! Also during this time I've been putting together and putting the word out about the small group I'm starting at the church the first week of July - for engaged and married couples! I'm so excited about it and can't wait to start it next week! We are going to go in-depth and look at what God's original design is for marriage and how to keep God in the center of one's relationship while hitting on topics like holistic intimacy, communication, conflict, headship and submission, learning to love and respect one another, and so much more! Its been cool to prepare for it and to break it down to help make it more prominent to couples. I just can't wait to start it and see how God will take this passion of mine and what he's placed on my heart and see what he'll do with them! Now to tell of my newest food find here in Anderson! If you go down to the historic downtown area of Anderson, you'll probably see some quaint businesses and restaurants. Now when I got there, I was told by many people that I met there to try one of four places: Summa Joes (I went on Monday and apparently its not open on Mondays), Sullivan's (I couldn't find it until I was leaving), Peter's (really nice and expensive from what I heard) or Trio (which is where I ended up). Now I didn't know what to expect since there were no doors or anything to indicate its entrance; it was just a huge gaping hole in between some storefronts! But when I walked in, it felt very cool and comforting! Decked out in some really modernized, Italian influenced decor I was excited to try it out! Now when I sat down, my waitress told me that the Lobster Bisque was their specialty there (and I believe her very much so); however, I tried a modernized take on the philly cheese steak sandwich - it was a philly cheese steak wrap but it was cooked a little bit differently! They had all the regular fixings on it (onions, peppers, and mushrooms) but they cooked it with some black pepper and spices that just put it over the top! It was so gooey and spicy all at once! Makes my mouth water thinking about it again! You get a choice of a side item like salad, soup, or fries (and you know I can't turn down fries) and a drink! One of the other things about this place is their house bread - hot fresh bread with olive oil and fresh Parmesan cheese dowsed on top! It was so simple and so amazing! And with all this great food, it only cost me about $10! I really can't wait to go back there again; the people there are so friendly, the atmosphere warm, and the food so good you'll find any excuse to stay just a bit longer. Well that's it for me this week! Check back next week to hear about my internship adventures and my food discoveries! Until next time, take care and later dayz! ~Jeanne ;)

Hey there y'all! So... I just finished up week 2 of my internship where I got to help facilitate Chick-Fil-A's week-long Winshape Camp at our church for 1st graders to 6th graders. Y'all I have to say I have never been so exhausted and yet so extremely overjoyed and in love by an incredible event like this before! We had over a 175 kids show up to the camp during the week where they learned how to not just be ordinary people, but extraordinary people for God! The kids learned about repentance, courage, surrender, missions, and worship while they participated in awesome activities like cooking, archery, flag football, digital photography, gymnastics, dance, drama, and ever so much more! We had the amazing green team from Winshape Camps, consisting of 23 gifted and incredibly altruistic 20 somethings, come in and lead 30 volunteers from our church. So many lives, children and adult alike, were impacted in some way, shape, or form. By the end of the week, we had 15 kids accept Christ as their Lord and Savior! Praise the Lord!! I can't tell how incredible of an experience this was and how much I can't wait to use this event myself once I become a Children's minister! If you want to learn more about it check out their website http://winshapecamps.org. In other news, I got introduced to another one of the local restaurants here in Anderson: Arnold's Famous Homemade Burgers! This one and only restaurant has been a part of the Anderson community since 1981 and has been one of the main staples of Anderson ever since! The restaurant is set in a 50s/60s diner with the black and white tile floors, bright silver lunch counters and chairs, and tons of photos from that era forward; definitely a very easy going, friendly, and enjoyable place and atmosphere. But its their food that really gets the customers coming back! Ranging from their famous homemade burgers to chicken fingers to salads to just about anything, Arnold's really has some of the freshest, best tasting food around. I was joined on my first visit there with my host family as we sat to enjoy our some time together (which is rare) and some awesome burgers and hot dogs. I had a great bacon cheeseburger; the patty's texture may remind you of a Wendy's burger but I guarantee you its so much more fresher than Wendy's is! So whenever you're in the area and are craving a good burger, check out Arnold's! To contact them or get directions, check out their website at http://www.arnoldshamburgers.com. Well that's it for me! Hope all is going well for you and hope to hear from you soon! Later dayz! ~Jeanne ;)

Hey there y'all!! Sorry for the very, VERY long time off from the blog but now I'm back! And... I've got a couple things happening that I just had to share with y'all!! One of the first things that I want to let y'all know about is that ever since Thanksgiving last year, I've been looking for an internship for me to do as a requirement for my degree in Family and Children's Ministry. About a month before summer began, I locked down and confirmed an internship! Right now, I am literally typing this from my host home in Anderson, SC where I am living for the summer while I fulfill my summer internship at Covenant Baptist Church. I work under some of the best pastors ever and the kids are so much fun! I'm enjoying it so, so, SO very much! Right now I'm in my 2nd week of internship as the church is hosting Chick-Fil-A's Winshape Camp and we have between 150-200 kids this week! So excited and so much fun! When it comes to the rest of the internship, I have so much more to do and so much more to plan and to execute but I really can't wait! Now another thing I've been wanting to announce for quite sometime! I've been wanting to get to see and get to know the cities that I've been living in while also helping to invest back into the community! So what better way to do that than to not only check out the local restaurants but to also promote them and advertise for them! So you could say I've become somewhat of a local food critic and advertiser... ;) Now while I'm here in Anderson, SC I'll be sure to let you know what I find and how it goes! And since I'm already here... ;) Let me tell you about one of the most popular hot spots for eating and enjoying one of America's favorite classics: Hot Dogs! Check out Skin's! Skin's Hot Dogs has gotten such a awesome response and following that it even made it on to Food Network's popular TV show "Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives" with Guy Fieri! Having been around for about 66 years, its become a real staple in the community here in Anderson! As it tells us on their website: "Skins was established in Anderson, SC in 1946 by Loyd “Skin” Thrasher. In a humble, “pool hall” type atmosphere Skin sold anything he could, including short-order meals such as sandwiches, hamburgers, & the same hotdogs we enjoy today. As time passed, the hotdogs became the item of choice for Skin’s patrons. To meet the local milltown folks’ demand for a quick & quality meal, Skin decided to get rid of the pool tables & concentrate on hotdogs. Today the legend lives on just the same."~skinshotdogs.com Seriously, when I first got here and started asking around, this was one of a few names that kept popping up! Now I will say that unfortunately I didn't get to try this at one of their four restaurants but it was an awesome experience none the less! Classically cooked with a great blend of pork and beef meats, either naked or covered with their chili, its a great place to come to enjoy good food at good quality! Well that's it for now! I'm gonna chill out for a while before heading to bed and finishing the rest of this week with Winshape camp! I'll let y'all know how it goes as well as some more killer restaurants in the areas! Later dayz! ~Jeanne ;)

Hey guys! Hope all is going well for ya! Just needed to vent a bit and really in all honesty just ask you guys to be in prayer for me right now...

Well first of all, Summer... during this time it should be restful and relaxing time for me (since I'm not taking any classes) but unfortunately its not. I'm one of those people for some reason that, when left in seclusion long enough, I begin to start thinking about the future and start worrying about it. I know I shouldn't and I wish I could just stop worrying but that's the problem: I've never learned how to make myself do that. Trust me I wish I could but for whatever reason... I can't. Trying to take my mind off of it for time does help some but I know I can't do that forever; plus, it always comes back and hits me like a tsunami wave. Why? I don't know... issues with trusting God, uncertainty of the future, second guessing the choices I've made in life thus far, etc. Trust me though, there are some things I know for certain that I don't regret or second guess myself for doing: my missions trip to Mexico, starting school, dating my best friend whom I love, respect and adore, all the friends I've made here at TFC and at ACC (or Point University as they call themselves now). There is so much stuff (and people) I would have missed out on if I hadn't done what I have done. I just wish for peace right now in my troubled mind...



Of course because of this, my first and overwhelming reaction is to run for it! Run away and move on to something else and just start wondering on through life again. For whatever reason, I still have this reaction after all this time of me trying to trust in God and move in the direction that it seems God wants me to go in. But I know that the things I truly want and desire in life I'm never gonna get if I keep having that mentality and behavior in me. However the longer I stay put, the more worries, the more fear, the more uncertainty builds in me... WHY?! WHY CAN'T I JUST BE NORMAL?!?! Even through all this I seek God and try to better understand why I'm like this, searching my own heart and soul and trying to understand why I'm like this. Is it because of distrust having a hold of my heart for so long? Is it because of the constant moving about all my life and just learning to be emotionally detached for so long? Never having friends, never allowing myself to be known, never seeking and pursuing to love someone more than myself? Or a combination of a couple of these or all of them? I just don't know...
I do however know this: my God loves me, he has put people in my life who love me too and that no matter how much I worry whatever it may be I always make it through. Yes, it has always cost me something but isn't that the point of being a Christian? Yes we have the freedom and right to choose (so really I do have the freedom to run if I wanted to) but I know that if I do I would be turning my back on God, his will for me and those that I love most in life. I'm scared... I'm uncertain... I'm doubtful... but I choose to still try and walk on (even though at times it feels like I'm crawling on my hands and knees just to move forward). Why? Because in the end - no matter how eloquently I put it - it's seems to be the right thing to do and I know what I do the right thing that pleases God, my heavenly Father.
Also during this time, I finished Emerson Eggerichs' book "Love and Respect" and this quote that I read has pretty much haunted me for the past couple of days: "James 4:2 [You do not have because you do not ask] does not refer to asking God for health and wealth. It is talking about asking for power to cope with life's real problems. If anything is heard in heaven, it is the unselfish prayer, based on the heart of God. Too many people pray, 'God, here is what is on my heart. Please fulfill my desires for me.' What we should be praying is, 'God, here is what is on your heart. Please fulfill your desires in me.'" I guess right now I'm trying to figure that out too...

Well that's it for now! I'm heading home to see my family for the first time in a while! Gonna try and enjoy the rest of this summer as much as I can and not think too much about the future... hope to hear/see some of y'all soon! Later days!

~Jeanne :)