One year ago today. . .

. . .I was on a plane headed to Chicago, along with most of my earthly belongings which were packed up in-3 Lg cardboard boxes, 2 Lg suitcases, 1 small suitcase, and 1 Lg carry on bag. I don't pack light people:) I was excited, nervous, homesick (already:), and thrilled at the opportunities that lay ahead of me. You see, I was on my way to fulfilling an almost lifetime dream of working at the headquarters of a Christian ministry my family had been a part of since I was very young. I had no idea what to expect, but knew that I couldn't wait to get there and become a part of whatever plans God had for me in the coming year.

Today, as I was thinking back over the nine months I had there, so many memories came to mind. So many people and places I miss and so many things that happened, could it really have been less than a year ago?

So I decided I would take y'all on a trip down memory lane, and share with you some of my favorite memories, people and places from my time at Hq. Alot of them are little things, things that would seem insignificant to most, but to me they hold a place in my heart that will never be lost.

• Working with the Journey to the Heart Program
• The Fall season in Oakbrook
• Staff Retreat/EIS
• My Office
• Christmas Conference
• Ice-Skating on the Pond, in the dark, through 2-3 inches of fresh powder
• Snow-ball Fights
• The Valentines Banquet
• My birthday dinner at Maggiano's
• Moody Church
• Riding the train to downtown Chicago-my absolute favorite city!
• Grand Lux Cafe
• Cooking in the Northwoods for a Journey group
• Walking to Hinsdale
• Staffing conferences (i.e. Health conf. Counseling sem., and Big Sandy)
• House Dinners
• Traveling in the bus- Quite the experience let me tell you
• Late-night-into-the-morning talks with good friends
• Chocolate milk parties (can't forget those!!! :)
• Running through the pouring rain with Sarah and Amanda
• Ping-pong on Saturday nights
• Starbucks runs
• Lake Michigan
• And last but not least...all of the AMAZING friends I made while there.- On this one I have to elaborate. The friendships I cultivated while there in Oakbrook are probably the most precious things to me about my time there. My two best friends, Sarah and Amanda, I met while there, and then all my other friends (you know who you are) that I was able to work and interact with on a daily basis, you were, and continue to be, such a blessing to me. Thank you for being living examples of Christ to me.

I will never forget the memories we made together!

Nunquam Alieno

~Jessica Shae