A F R I C A P A R T Y- in african time

So haven't been in the blogosphere in a while. this post is mega belated. in one of of my last posts i chronicled how i was fleeing the country to intern/volunteer at a children's home in south africa, for three and a half months, but my besties (who are seriously the best friends a girl could EVER have) threw me a W I L D (get it, africa party, wild, haha) surprise party since they thought they would never see me again, with lots of lies and deceit in the weeks and days prior. I pretty much HATE surprises in any form unless you're surprising me with a latte then I'll like you a lot or having a lot of attention on me, it just not my thing or ever has been. 

timeline of the surprise partaaaayyyy (don't you just enjoy the excess a's and y's)

`about three weeks before the whole ordeal happened my one of my besties texted me to get the date off of work so we could have a girls hang night before i left, totes normal, girls night yessss please- lie #1 

`about a two-ish weeks before the party my mom attempted to sneak into my room at around midnight while i was sleeping but woke me up on the way out she told me i was grinding my teeth and i was so confused how she could hear me down the hallway (funny bad lie #2) but was trying to steal my phone so she could get my boss' number to get the party date off work

`a few days before the party a woman i babysit for her asked me babysit her kids on the day i was planning to hang with my friends (the party), i told her i couldn't and i had plans so she asks again but asks me again a few days later so i obligee but i have to late  at X time- lie #3 my mom set her up to do this so my friends could set up the house for the party

`one of my sweet friends helping to plan the whole sha-bang sort-of gave me (on accident) an idea on that there was a surprise of some sort being planned for me and I totally freaked out because a surprise party is pretty much my worst fear but then i sort-a shook it off

     the day of:

`i woke up with bazillion things to do and was about to go running my new trend at the time but my coworker called me at about 6:30 and BEGGED me to work for her and because i'm crazy i said yes and worked a short shift for her 

`i go back home to get changed and procrastinate a bit mean while my friends we driving through my neighborhood waiting to see my car gone to start setting up

`while i'm babysitting my dear friend starts spazz texting and calling me begging me to help her with "something" but not telling me what that something is and begs me to help her once i finish babysitting 

`i got to help he the second i finish babysitting, i race to her house to help her and i go to find out she needs help frosting cupcakes for a party she is going, i love this friend but i just wanted to go home and get cleaned up to hang with my friends and i thought i was going to hurt her in that moment she says he also needs to buy a ballon for the party she is going to and begged me to come with her so i suggested the place about 3 minutes from my house so to stall me she takes me to the sketchiest dollar tree across town, she buys the darn ballon and a jet outta there

`my other bestie who was planing the party intercepts me and meets me at starbucks to stall me more and we catch up on life and God's goodness to us

`i propt her to have our girls night at my house and we leave once we got the text form the party setters saying everything was set
`i meet her in my driveway and point out my friends car there take note on how odd that is to her, erinn "oh presh's cat broke down last week she didn't tell ya" 
`we get inside to my dark house and there my kitchen table is covered in sweets and my tall friend jumps out at me and shouts "SURPRISE" i didn't know who is was at first i was so shocked and i pretty much thought someone was trying to rob my house and lure me in with sweets
`then i after my blood pressure went down i looked around the room to see pretty much all my favorite people all in one place. im so darn blessed i tell ya. 

they did the most amazing job on the decor and bought most of at a local thrift shop and my mom helped get the most amazing food

cutest table

"taste of an african sunset" punch- so clever!!

my girls made me this cake!! #gotTalentyo

more on my african adventure in a bit

opportunities and africa.

so where do i begin. my little secret is out. all the prayers and petition to God the tears the begging to the God who made me and my story and every little detail of my life has a beautiful destiny for me, its far from "normal" or mainstream but i desire and thirst to serve and honor god and the souls he is jealous for, not for man. with that said God is sending me to Malwai for a misssion trip and then when the rest of my team leaves i'm staying and interning at a childrens home in South Africa(!!!!!!). I'll basically be a babysitter and tutor for God's favorites/ orphans and possibly get the opportunity to see them get forever families!! I feel like the least qualified person sometimes but thankfully I serve a God that simply qualifies the called. I really don't know what God has up his sleeve after these 3 months but its BIG, with a capital B. Talk about confirmation I've had everyone from my besties to my residents at my job with dementia talk about how this is God's plan and they don't see me coming back. Like what? I started this post weeks ago and never finished it but I leave tomorrow. If/When I get wifi I'll post pics and details of the boss party my besties threw me my first surprise party. it was kinda my worst fear but once the dance-y tunes got flowing all was well. ta-ta for now!! 

before i graduate high school bucket list recap.

i graduated high school recently. back in december when I was still counting down those days I made a "Before I Graduate High School Bucket List." i got a semi decent amount crossed off and most things just happened organically not on purpose for the list. 

Before I graduate high school
1. Rely on Him like never before!
2. Desire him life never before
3. Need him like never before!
4. Acknowledge He is speaking loudly, so LISTEN!
5. Daily do devotions, Jackie you need this time. --BOOM! This was the best one. Even if I didn't get any of the other things accomplished this is the only one that matters in the grand scheme. 

6. Volunteer in activities at work and city mission. --Let's just say I needed lots and lots of grace for this season. I served alot but I never got a chance to try new places to serve at. 

7. Become a prayer warrior -- made lots of progress!!

8. Practice photography, not just your iPhone

9. Run/ exercise more... possibly a 5k? --el oh el to the 5k. 

Perhaps this list didn't go exactly as planned but whateverz. 

10. Purge and organize craft room
11. Make a scrapbook. -- Made one painstakingly at midnight the night before graduation for my aunt.  
12. Sell and make more jewelry. Never sold any but any spurts of free time of creativity I had I made some!
13. Write thank you notes just because.--oops. 
14. Become more patient and gentle.--getting there. getting there.
15. Educate myself on as many social justice issues at possible
16. Leave the country!!!!!!!
17. Get my license.
18. Read more!!
19. Keep up on journal projects.
20. Pray for the next season. And the people in this season.
21. Keep up on this blog -- C-
22. Start a creative blog. Yes please!--Nope. Ill be rebranding this place soon though :)
23. Practice writing pretty.--Oh gosh. No.
24. Look at the stars, realize the God that loves me, made them
25. Stop in the moment. -- I'm Italian but im always rushing. 
26. Cook a few meals --Salads for dayzzzzzz.
27. Pay for someone's drink... At Starbucks.--I forgot. Better late than never?
28. Go to Boston and visit Kor
29. Go to hartwick and visit erinn
30. Visit Kristen at New Paltz
31. Go to the city
32. Go to the today show-- Got so close but then my phone broke and robbed me from going.
33. Fast (food and anything else that kills contentment)--I quit sugar everyfew weeks because of this lady!!
34. Start a compost
35. Go sledding
36. Make crepes with friends
37. Pray for my nation, community, and church daily
38. Start writing bits of my memoir.
39. Make homemade bread
40. Do something for someone else everyday. 

i graduated.

such a belated post but whateves. so, yes one of the greatest days occurred in my life or the bridge the the greatest days of my life, I GRADUATED!!!!!!

it was the most beautiful day in every way. i started the day off my going to see my niece who is technically my second cousin but i force her to call me Zia JJ. Let the children come. she was kinda scared of me all radiant in my all white and glossy cap and gown. 

I floored it to the prettiest church we were going to be graduating from. i went (love the past tense) to a small christian school for high school with a graduating class of 32 kids (the largest class in the school) which i would never never never never ever recommend to anyone unless I really hated someone but despite all the difficult times this hellhole of a school made me go though it made me soooo much closer to God and made me DO THE HARD THINGS. and i love the joy and the products of DOING THE HARD THINGS!! Sidenote: besides this whole main stream education saga I've loved being a teen ;) ANYWHO got the the church and to see my classmates most of them for probably the last time and get my vuvezela (an african air horn used a soccer games that sounds like and elephant) confiscated from me multiple times. C'mon man just roll with it. One of the mean room moms made us take 43848 posed, chaotic pictures before the ceremony began. 

                                                     {right before marching down the aisle to pomp & circumstance}

The ceremony was long but not boring at all. All the speeches were really well written as well as presented. RIght before the keynote speaker was about to begin they were giving away 4 scholarships. At all these high school award ceremonies i've gone to its always the same 4 kids that get the award and pretty much have the same "bio." The same 3 kids got their scholarships and they started reading the bio of the last person to get one. I really wasn't paying much attention to to anything the principal was saying but when he said my longer, unique bio, I started thinking "who was this, kid?" and the last think he said was "and has gone on two mission trips to africa" a bunch of my classmates turned and looked at me. The speaker said my name and the kid nest to me had to tap me to get up, never in a million years would I think I would have gotten this scholarship. I went up the wrong way and nearly hugged the principal (and I am not a hugger) but I, Jackie Servideo, received the Christian Service Scholarship. I seriously didn't even need my diploma at this point! Anyway when they called my name for my diploma that was pretty much the greatest thing. Hard work pays off, yo!!! ughhh is just felt soooooo good, I'll admit it, I was proud of my self! And I have the greatest friends everrrr they all came despite busy schedules, the boring ceremony, etc. 

{making cool faces}

                                                                            {dad and mom-aunt kate and mom)
                                                                                           {thankful for them}

{my sis & i}

{all my friends are gorge!}

{we went out for pizza afterward and had lovely, deep, meaningful convos (my love language)}

My sister and I stopped at the bookstore too and I picked a new Bible (a super cute ESV that is a one for one company) for this new chapter and I made her pay for it. 

I had to work later too and I showed a few pictures I had on my phone to my residents at the retirement home I work at. Including a blind 97 year old. Good job, Jackie! And told my parents my little surprise once I got home ;) but thats for the next post!! 

"i have fought the good fight, i have finished the race, I have kept the faith."

2 timothy 4:7 

totes could put 53489 more verses that have been my crutch though this season. I love God's word. 

six things

1. I'm DONE with school (HALLLLUUUUJAHHH) but I need to find my creative streak again. I plann on selliing my jewelry at more botiques but I want to paint. Painting sounds wonderful right now, like painting these! They look rad!

2. I also was doing semi well with healthy eating habits and quitting sugar due to the persuasion of one of my faves and need to get back on track ASAP because I felt great and productive but my flesh loves sweets. Sorta a post for another time though. 

3. I have a slight obsession with this blog and all their home and garden projects. I'd love to do beekeeping and a whole coop of chickens like them! 

4. After I get my diploma, my besties and all the peeps whole helped my get that gorgeous paper aka my diploma are going to celebrate at Chipotle with burritos and lime and salt tortilla chips. Because food and friends are my love language. 

5. A few weeks ago at Target I got a mini doughnut maker on clearance for $8!! I'm thinking PB and Chocolate doughnuts. Yes, a few bullets ago I spoke of getting back on to quitting sugar. #thestruggle

6. I've been pressured for wayyyy long into getting a twitter and comedy vlog because I don't think I have great comedic timing when I write most things. But I also want to put more spoken word poems and cooking and crafty stuff on here as well. 

                                                                                                                 {source}

belated catch up

Joke of the day! What did the mama tomato say to the baby tomato? Ketchup!!

Get it?! Cause of the title! El oh el!!!

Anywho, the past two mouths of my life have been CRAZYTOWN, USA!! So sooooo so much change, excitement and disappointment and a chapter ending in TWO DAYS!?!? ** (I wrote this May 29, then two days before school ended, its June 4^th now, oops)**I end government-instituted education on Friday (DID IT!!). I’m sooo happy and excited and waiting for God to open more doors for this next chapter. I know that’s sort of crazy and irresponsible but God’s changing and thawing me out to the woman he wants me to be. It’s hard and there’s been a lot of tears shed about this unknown future of mine and what God wants me to do first but I know His timing is perfect. I’m pretty sure His timing is more confusing than the trinity to understand but I just ask like I understand it. And God is a million, trillion times more creative than me so I just go with what he wants for me. I want out with a bunch of my older girlfriend the other night and one of  them was having the same struggles as me with not knowing where God wants her to be and things like that. The devils top prioiorty is making you feel alone. Although I didn’t want this friend to go though the same struggles as me but it felt good knowing I am not along in the journey. This friend was saying how she fasted until she heard God speak. I thought that was so selfless and brave and I felt encouraged to do the same, with instagram, pintrest, and sweets. I’m going fab on the instagram and pintrest one and well ugh is it hard to give up sweets but that’s for another post. But holy freaking cow did God start speaking and moving! So stop reading fellow lurkers and start fasting!! Go brave ones!!!

**as said before, this was written on may 29 and its June 4^th now. my life is crazybusyville, ny, usa.**

*i celebrate and break fasts with iced coffee*

Sweet Bits- April

here goes my super late belated sweet bits journal post for april!!

april 1: mama took the day off of work, we crafted. started my sugar fast. 
april 2:  another lazy craft day, spring break=no school, went to chipotle (fave ever) with mama. 
april 3: went out for pizza with my life group. happy happy happy. #idontwatchDD
april 4: blogged. got a few more projects done. 
april 5: sooo grateful for my free driving lessons. love my life groups. #ThingsChristianGirlsSay
april 6: supposed to help a friend move, but woke up with a massive headache. soooo thankful i rarely get     
            migraines anymore!
april 7: while baby-sitting i help a cute kiddo complete her recycling project for school, made her parents day                                 
             by having it done when they came home. 
april 8: got to work in the nursing home-ish part of my job today (things only i get excited for)!! my coworker         
             brought back shot glasses from England for everyone and a tourist keychain for me!! #mylife i laughed
             for a good few hours about it. 
april 9: forgot to eat dinner and got super hungry before bed, i went to the dreezer and found a carton of TCBY 
            with a halo illuminating around it and a choir of angels singing. i inhaled it. i one of the above 
            statements is a lie. 
april 10: had my last free driving lesson today! feel super confident about my test tomorrow!
april 11: AHHHHHH!!! PASSED MY ROAD TEST!!!!!!!!! 
april 12: young adult life group=legit. went to bombers (local burrito joint and bar) afterward with a few of 
              my girlfriends, chatted in the car until midnight with a few of them in the church parking lot. 
april 13: made south african candy cupcakes for my youth leaders birthday. 
april 14: finally got to see my bestie after months of separation because of higher education. 
april 15: first day off of work in forever!!!
april 16: made my coworkers laugh with my nonsense. i really really like making people laugh. 
april 17: got an $8 donut maker at target. EIGHT DOLLARS, PEOPLE!!
april 18: gave mom her birthday gift and she loved it!
april 19: life group=legit, survived driving home in the downpour. it was like oceans dripping from the sky. 
april 20: mom's 50th birthday!! finished the catching fire! sleepover with a friend!!
april 21: saw one of my besties for bit at church when her nursing major duties were not entangling her. called 
              and texted my friend Presh back and forth. so thankful for a friendship where he can laugh and cry 
              all in the same conversation.  
april 22: read. blogged. crafted. all in an afternoons work. miracle. 
april 23: i last my sugar fast battle to TCBY today :(( do i dare say it was worth it?! 
april 24: i love my encouraging english teacher. 
april 25: overslept, so i did my jesus time in the my car during my break at school. 
april 26: the moon was big and yellow and fracking gorgeous! good work, God!!!
april 27: diy-ed a bench i got at a yard sale for five bucks!! pics to come!!
april 28: children's church volunteer meeting today was a wicked good spread of food. #foodieexcitment
april 29: thankful for my english teacher who always asks how our weekend was on monday's.
april 30: got out of govement mandated agony school extra early, ate chipotle for the 90th time this month. 

P.S.- SORRY ABOUT THE SMALL FONT!! ;)