Happy 100 & The Return.

Happy 100th blog post! 
This calls for some sort of celebration. I'll let you know how it goes.

How fitting that what I was planning to post today was about how absolutely ecstatic I am about this girl returning to Utah this week:

Why is it fitting, you may ask? Well, because Alyse is a complete party at all times. So why not celebrate 100 posts by talking about her?

Guys, she has been in the DC area for the last 8 months. That is such a long time! I have missed her so much. I have seen her once in all of those months and it was not nearly enough. She was there for the Washington Seminar, which is an internship program through BYU, and I'm so happy that she was able to go! Life changing, if you ask me.
It was really difficult for me at first when she left because I wanted to be going with her. You see, we started talking about the Washington Seminar together last fall and we both applied to the program and we were so excited. We talked for hours about how much fun it would be if we were in DC together and how we would party all the time and go clubbing together. It was one of the best ideas we've ever had.
So when she got accepted, and I did not, well that was a rough patch in my life. But after a bit of frustration, I came to the realization that I was right where I needed to be and she was heading to where she needed to be at that point in our lives. I've learned things about myself and grown in ways that I personally could not have if I was anywhere else but in Provo, and I'm pretty sure she has had a similar experience about DC. I'm so happy she got to have that experience! And now I'm SO happy that she is finally coming back!
I love that girl with all of my heart and I just have never met anyone that makes me laugh as much as her or who can make any situation the most fun thing that has ever been done.

Here's the one time we dressed up as lumberjacks (though we do also look like Hurley and Sawyer from Lost):

And here's the one time we wore mustaches at a dance party and then I told Brandon Davies that we were aware that he has a prostate:

And here's the time we were tribal (apparently we dress up a lot together. I'm a fan):

So here's to Alyse and her return! And to growing experiences that take us across the country from each other! And for 100 blog posts!

I'm Jennie and I'm the intern.

I am doing an internship this summer. It is seriously the greatest thing I could have decided to do with my summer.
I am working with the DCFS (Division of Child and Family Services) Drug Court team. I get to meet so many humans who are trying to make their life better. And the caseworkers who honestly truly care about them and want them to get better so they can take care of their children.

Yes, it is hard. There are days that I come home and I am so sad and just can't believe some people. I don't think life is fair to a lot of children in the world. All kids deserve happy, safe, functioning homes with people who love them, and there are too many kids that don't have that opportunity and don't even know what it's like. I see parents doing drugs and neglecting their children. It's all quite sad.
But you know what else I've seen? Parents working harder than they've ever worked in their lives to get clean so they can get their gets back. I've seen goals reached successfully. I've seen children who are finally  in safe environments and are being cared for.

I love working with people. I have realized even more strongly that I want to be a social worker. I want to help people when they are at their lowest and give them the encouragement and inspiration that they need to take steps forward. I want to care for people because they are human beings and they deserve the best in the world. I want to be able to look past a person's flaws and see them for who they can become and help them to get there. I just really think that everyone deserves multiple chances to succeed and access to all the resources possible to help them do so.
That's what an internship is supposed to be, isn't it? Giving me direction in my life and showing me what I do and do not want to do with my career. I'm a big fan.

Job huntress

Looking for a job is probably the worst thing in the world.

It's stressful.

It's time consuming.

It's nerve-wracking.

I am nearly a college graduate

Someone should want to hire me.

I swear there is nothing good about job hunting, except for the actual getting hired part.

But I haven't reached that part yet.

So I'm going to keep complaining.

Someone give me a job.

K, thanks.

Little Green House

Guys. I live in an adorable little green house. We have a washer and dryer, two fridges, a yard, and a porch. And we got a vacuum last month. Come now, this is amazing. What else can you ask for? Maybe a dish washer. Or air conditioning. But that's beside the point:
I love our house!!!
I've lived here for a 3 months now, and I still haven't gotten over the excitement of it. I love where I live. I love my roommates. I love sitting on the couch on my porch, with the twinkle lights on, and just chatting with people. Does life get better than this? I submit that it does not.

There is no moral to this story; I just wanted to share my excitement and love for it all.