Who Are You???

I am Jennifer Lynn (Dominick) Stephens, born May 26, 19somethingsomething ;o). My parents divorced when I was a baby, both remarried and I can say I have 4 great parents. I have 3 sisters who are my best friends. I am a single mom of the 2 most beautiful girls on the planet. I have the best, most supportive friends anyone could ever ask for. But who am I??? I am a writer. I have to write like I have to breathe. It is in my soul. I am a teacher. I love working with children and helping them to reach goals they didn't believe they could. I am a student, trying out a new scary path in my life. I am a runner. I love pushing my body to its limit, getting faster and stronger day by day. I am a dancer, feeling the rhythm of music and allowing myself to be led in a beautiful movement to it. I am a true country girl. I like to be barefoot and pick tomatoes from my garden. I am a lover of good food and coffee ... thus the passion for being physically active. I have an adventurous spirit and I love to laugh. Laughing to the point of tears is one of my favorite things in the world. Is there a better feeling than that??? I am an encourager. I hope and I dream and I believe and I try my best to share that hope with others. Keep moving on this life journey and I promise I will walk with you the whole way. You'll never be alone. But who am I??? Does all this DEFINE me? All of these are little pieces to the puzzle of who I am. I'm not just one of these alone - I'm not just a daughter or sister or mother or friend - but a beautiful combination of everything I just mentioned and more. When it all comes together, the big finished picture, the answer is clear. Who am I? I am Jennifer Lynn (Dominick) Stephens, daughter of the King of kings, a child of the Most High God, a follower of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. THAT'S who I am! I'm a princess and a servant all rolled into one. *shrug* It's as simple and as complicated as that. But I think it's the most satisfying way to live. It adds purpose and meaning to everything I do, to all those little puzzle pieces that make up this crazy girl. And that is pretty cool! So, now tell me ... who are you???

Compass

Been writing. Been teaching. Been going back to school. Been the best mama I know how to be to the 2 greatest kids on the planet. Been trying to find my way in this new phase in my life. And I had this thought:

The heart truly is a compass. Follow it and it'll lead you to happiness and to where you belong - HOME. Choose not to follow it, to do things your own way, and you will find yourself lost and alone.

Want to know why I believe this is? Because I believe what the Word says that God created us in His image. Because our heart is God's heart, our "compass" is always pointing us to our eternal home and down a path that will lead us there. Any other path will make us lost, confused, and miserable. That's just my simple-minded way of looking at things.

I'm gonna leave you with the lyrics to a song that I love by Lady Antebellum and a promise that next time, I'm going to post my simple-minded way of looking at something else I love - dancing. In the meantime, friends, follow your compass. :o)

 "Yeah it's been a bumpy road

Roller coasters
High and low
Fill the tank and drive the car
Pedal fast, pedal hard
You won't have to go that far

You wanna give up 'cause it's dark
We're really not that far apart

So let your heart, sweetheart,
Be your compass when you're lost
And you should follow it wherever it may go
When it's all said and done
You can walk instead of run
'Cause no matter what you'll never be alone 

Never be alone oh oh oh
Never be alone oh oh oh

Forgot directions on your way
Don't close your eyes don't be afraid
We might be crazy late at night I can't wait til you arrive
Follow stars you'll be alright

You wanna give up 'cause it's dark
We're really not that far apart

So let your heart, sweetheart,
Be your compass when you're lost
And you should follow it wherever it may go
When it's all said and done
You can walk instead of run
'Cause no matter what you'll never be alone 

Never be alone oh oh oh
Never be alone oh oh oh

You wanna give up 'cause it's dark
We're really not that far apart

So let your heart, sweetheart
Be your compass when you're lost
And you should follow it wherever it may go
When it's all said and done
You can walk instead of run
'Cause no matter what you'll never be alone 

Never be alone oh oh oh
Never be alone oh oh oh

When it's all said and done
You can walk instead of run
'Cause no matter what you'll never be alone"