New Private Blog Launched

Public or Private? I really appreciate all the comments I recieved on whether to go private or stay public and I came to this conclusion. I will keep my Jacobs blog public because I want to be able to share with all who want to read. But I have created a private blog called Watching for Shooting Stars, where I will occasionally post more personal stuff for just my closest friends to read. Brilliant! If you want to be included in this invite only blog please email me.

And I am public again.

Trip to Dallas

We had a blast in Dallas over the Memorial Day weekend. Lots of play time with the girls. It's the first time we've seen Meagan who is now 14 months and Mattie is now 4. Wow, time flies. But time with family who are far away is SO important, especially ones twin brother and new family. Dallas was hot. Averaged 90 degrees and a little humid. But it made for fun time in the sprinkler and at the pool. I know we both wish we could just walk down the street and pop in on Matt and Christie for a afternoon BBQ every weekend. The distance makes it tough.

Enjoy the photo show on Picasa.
 

Dallas

All of our trip photos with captions are viewable by clicking on the photo above.

LIFE IS OVERWHEMLING FOR WOMEN IN THEIR 20’S!

So, I posted a little quiz, innocently, about “what Jen wants to be when she grows up”. Kinda funny honestly, because ALL of them were right. Well, maybe except the mini race car driver (I’m already that). I don’t know who voted but it was interesting to see what my readers think I want to do. More people thought I wanted to be a career therapist (really what I meant is career coach). A couple thought a mom. By the way, a vintner is a wine maker (my dad just planted an vineyard so this is also true). But that’s been what’s on my mind lately. The balance women look to find between the MANY things that we feel pulled to be.

When I was in my first counseling class (back in 07) I remember a younger gal saying to me during one of the discussions, how she felt that the demands on young women in our culture (in their 20’s) is SO stressful.

In your 20’s you are expected to graduate from college and decide “what you want to do with your life”, get a good job, work hard and work your way up so you aren’t making peanuts as an entry level female (average $30K), then while you’re doing all the WORK things you must find a man. (As some of us know, this is not a small task), especially as Christian women. Because there is the expectation that we will find some “wonderful” Godly man who will lead our home and be committed to us FOREVER. (so we pray for one to show up) Meanwhile, we are participating in church to get exposure to good guys (but they are often to shy to pursue us). We date online, go to parties, and try to host parties to attract outgoing men. Once we find the ONE, we marry and then will struggled to find a common ground in our marriages between, life, love, passion, sex, house work, oh and our JOB that we are still trying to achieve at. Obviously, some of us drop the work notion and start having kids, others continue working, some also do both. I think I also forgotten to mention that we still want to have friends and good relationships with our families; we are buying houses, establishing our finances. Then there's working out and relationship with God! Ahh...

LIFE IS OVERWHEMLING FOR WOMEN IN THEIR 20’S!

Have I said too much? (I laugh :) It might sound like I am overwhelmed with this. I am NOT. I am actually just repeating much of what that 20 something years old girl said in my class. But it has to do with what I am thinking about lately. LIFE is different for all of us. 6 of my closest blogging friends are pregnant right now. It really cool. I am thinking about babies. My close friend just had her 1st. I am in love. My husband is spending $20K this year on his dream. I am excited. I obviously am career driven. But I gave up on school last year because I could not justify a Masters at this point in my life. My job is contract. I struggle with my career (I won’t go into this now for the sake of word count).

A couple of points that I’ve come to.

1) Experience Rules. What do I mean? Well, the experience we get in our 20’s is SO valuable. We should share it. If there are moms who are rockstar moms, they have valuable info to share. Those who are traveling the world have incredible exciting and valuable advice and stories to share. Those who are brazening the career world have advice worth sharing, and they should.

2) There is Power in Community.That’s a main reason why I love blogging, my personal life and thoughts. I feel that I’ve shared. I feel that I’ve been heard. I grow. As I writer, a person and a blogging friend. We need more sharing of hearts, minds, thoughts and feelings.

3) Everyone's Valuable. Me, you and the sister out there who is dealing with something totally different. We can encourage, even when we are not in the same situation. COMMENTS (known as Thoughts on my blog) are HUGE. Leave them, share yourself.

4) There is value in transparency. Life for Christians is not a competition. I’ve found some beautiful posts on some NEW blogs I’ve been reading. I don’t know these people, personally, but I am learning from their authenticity. The brilliant thing is that few of them are actually born again. But, life has brought challenges their way that they are willing to share. When they do, all who read are blessed.

Be challenged. Be blessed.
And stop looking for typos in my posts.
(big smile)

Happy Birthday Mike!

We had another busy weekend, enjoying the hot weather. Mike turned 32 this weekend!! We had several guests stop by, moto rides, delightful meals at home and I also wanted to slip in a picture of our friends new sweet pea, Addie.

 

 

We enjoyed the company of good old and new friends at our Asian inspired Dinner Party on Saturday. The food was fabulous, including simple culinary delights by Mike and the delicious and carefully prepared sushi and Kim Pap made by our students Sun and Yoshiko.

Highlights of the night included:
* The prayer and toast with all our special friends celebrating Christ in our home and our student’s cultures.
* Yoshiko wore a beautiful kimono that was admired by all.
* We had 4 new international students who joined us for the festivities and food.
* Jason wore his Karate Uniform and showed us his moves.
* We ate over 150 wontons between the 15 of us.
* Ozzy and Nathan’s red wines were both delightfully drank by Jen and company.
* Mike showed off his new moto with all the guys.
* Our last guests did not leave until midnight so we felt like young kids with no curfew.

Career Advice Blog

I really enjoyed being introduced to this blog. It is unlike any other blog I’ve read. All about “Brazening the Corporate World” and it gives advice on the interceptions between work and life. Love it! And as a career coach myself I really enjoyed getting some brillant advise on how to be a young women in the world of crazy career punders.
Please check it out blog.penelopetrunk.com

Here are my notes about a brillant talk Penelope did recently.

10 things about Generation Y'ers (18-30) in the workplace and why it drives Baby Boomers crazy:
Don't know what generation you are? Take the test

1) Gen Yers are conservatives; they live with their parents even after graduating from college. This allows them more financial flexibility to find the right job including fit, pay, location etc.

2) Gen Yers are job hoppers. On average every 18 months they change jobs, companies etc. They do this because they outgrow their jobs quickly and they want new, bigger challenges. They expect a higher learning curve then previous generations. Because of this they progress fast, out learn baby boomers by age 35. And if you think that job hopping will hurt their resume and chances of getting their next job, think again. You can’t pass on everyone if everyone is doing it.

3) They have NO loyalty to the company. But they are loyal to a good boss or a great project.

4) They ignore the importance of education, getting a 4.0. They know it doesn’t matter. Experience matters. So students are focusing on internships and real work experience over high grades. Also female students work considerably harder in school than male. And with little benefit. The 4.0 doesn’t matter. Guys are getting the same jobs as long as they have the people skills and problem solving skills. So girls, stop working so hard. It is making it harder for you to get into top schools because you are so competitive and are setting the bar higher than it’s ever been.

5) Gen Yers are entrepreneurs and they know that they can fall back on this if the job doesn’t work out. Back to mom and dad’s free basement. They think they have great ideas and can turn to pursuing them if the job goes bunk. Start up, internet company, whatever. And they are successful. Look at Mr. Zuckerberg who started facebook, a billionaire — at the age of 23.

6) They are NOT willing to pay their dues or take entry level jobs. No more $12/hr job, fetching coffee for their boss for 2 years before they can get a promotion into a real job. They won’t do it. They have options. So hire someone who wants to be a secretary if you need your dry cleaning picked up. Not an entry level marketing kid.

7) They demand a team structure and they don’t believe in a hierarchy. This means if you think you are the boss and they are the peon, think differently. They don’t respect you any more or less because you are the Director of the department. And if they don’t buy into the hierarchical system then I guess it doesn’t exist. The peons have to cower to the boss in order for the boss to have power. They won’t.

8) They like to leave work early. They believe family and friends are more important than work. It might drive you crazy but they will come up with all kinds of excuses. My great uncle is dying; my college buddy is in town, whatever. So compromise and set a standard of work/life balance.

9) They demand constant feedback. Accolades, recognition. Their parents were the ones that had stickers on their SUV’s that said “my sons an honor student”. They need to be recognized. They consider it your job as their manager to manage them. If you don’t they won’t respect you.

10) If you don’t take them seriously (including all 10 of these things listed) THEY WILL LEAVE. And they have options. I know it’s hard to hear but they will push you beyond the limits you think you can go. But you will be a better manager, business owner, director, because of it.

* The best advice for bosses: Be honest. Put it on the table with your younger staff.


When you check out penelope's blog be sure to read the following posts. They were my favorites!

*Research that reveals new paths to productivity
*Advice from the top: Marry a stay-at-home spouse or buy the equivalent.
*How to get a job that’s way beyond your experience
*Writing without typos is totally outdated
*Don't wait for retirement to live the good life. Do it now


I'd love to hear your thoughts on this NEW blog.

Mike's New Moto

 

So, I gave in and Mike got another motorcycle this past weekend. It is a 1000. For those not into street bikes (like me) that's big. It has a little seat on the back for me. I am jonesn for a ride but I don't think I'll be riding often. Not the most comfortable position when you're riding on the back but great on gas mileage. It is Mike's commuter bike for the Summer so he doesn't have to waste an hour each way on the train. If you can't see them, the bike has red flames that go across the bottom and a section 8 ball with flames on the front. Yikes!