Jenna Lynn

"Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God." Philippians 1:3

This is my best friend Jenna. Isn't she beautiful?

We have "known" each other for many, many years now but didn't become super close until high school. People always assume that's how we met but truth be told, we've never gone to the same school. Ever. I think we technically met at church randomly and after that we would occasionally see one another due having a lot of mutual friends. Little did we know, that was just the beginning.

I guess it was sometime in the middle of high school, when she got more involved in our youth group, that we really began to click. Our friendship grew strong and it grew quickly. We were suddenly inseparable! We developed a bond unlike any other I've ever had before. We have the uncanny ability to finish each other's thoughts and can always make the other person laugh. Sometimes people get to see the unique little world we live in together and while we think we're absolutely hilarious, I'm sure others think we're crazy. Jenna likes to say that we're REALLY funny (because we are) but some people just don't know it... yet. Flash forward a couple years and we graduated high school. So when it came time to go off to college, we both left St. Louis and headed for two very different cities in two very different states. Jenna goes to Vanderbilt (Nashville, TN) and is studying to be a nurse. She is way smart and has a passion for helping people that humbles me daily. I'm currently trying to talk her into going to Baylor Nursing School ;)

Some assumed our friendship would fizzle, as most high school friendships do, but we were determined to prove them wrong. Amazingly, over the last two years we've grown even closer. With skype, facebook, emails, tweets, and texts we communicate multiple times a day. We're in constant contact and always filling each other in on life, asking for advice, praying for and celebrating one another.

This July, Jenna left the good ole' US of A and headed across the world to Cape Town, South Africa to study abroad for 5 months. As hard as it was to have her gone for the second half of my summer and as complicated as opposite time zones can be, I could not be more full of joy for the work my best friend is doing over there. She's taking challenging courses, meeting incredible people, and seeing some of the most beautiful places on this entire planet. Her blog (check it out!!!) brings me peace and reminds me of the greatness God has planned for her. She inspires me to laugh and live my life to the utmost degree.

This silly blog can't possibly describe what this girl has done for my life. She's given me some of the happiest and funniest memories while being with me in some of my lowest times as well. She's thrown me surprise parties, baked me millions of cookies and slept over too many times to possibly count. We've been through relationships and breakups, dealing with friends and frenemies, temptations, questions of faith, family and things I won't even get into. She encourages me daily, prays for me often, and challenges me always. Long story short(ish), we have been through it all. Well, maybe not ALL, but we've been through a lot. And it brings me so much joy to think about how much more life we'll get to experience together. Falling in love, being in each other's weddings, having jobs, being grown ups, sharing our faith, traveling together, etc.

Jenna Lynn Kinsinger. You mean the world to me. You are without question the best friend I've ever had and will ever have. My parents love you like another daughter. Tori looks up to you like another sister. And I aspire to have just a fraction of the love and strength you possess. My words can't possibly express the gratitude I have for our friendship. I am beyond blessed to call you my best friend. I miss you tons but am so proud of who you are and what you're doing. Can't wait to have you back in America with me, I love you.

I'd Rather Have Jesus

My freshman year at Baylor, a group of students started a ministry called Vertical that brings college students here in Waco together on a weekly basis to worship and talk openly about the Christian faith. Their mission was to encourage students to 'actively pursue an authentic and "vertical" relationship with Jesus.'

Vertical is now entering its third year here at Baylor and the ministry continues to grow and flourish. We're blessed to have Jeff Johnson Band leading us in worship and the incredible Afshin Ziafat as our speaker. Afshin has one of the neatest testimonies I've ever heard - coming from an Islamic background, disowned by his own father after becoming a Christian, and now being a lead pastor of a church in Frisco as well as leading us at Vertical every week. He has such charisma and passion behind his messages, it's hard not to love him immediately. I have so enjoyed having him around the last couple years and feel really lucky to hear from such an authentic speaker.

Keep in mind that Vertical is not a substitute for church by any means but instead provides a platform for students to come together and praise Jesus under the same roof. We all go to different churches, are members of different Greek clubs, have different friends, and come from all over the country... but there's one thing we all agree on and that is that Jesus Christ is Lord. I can't even begin to tell you how humbling it is to sing alongside hundreds of fellow Baylor students that have the same beliefs as I do every Monday night. I go to a very unique school and Vertical is just one thing that makes Baylor a special place in this world.

This next part is specifically for those of you reading my blog from places other than Waco, TX:
I would love to ask for your prayers and encouragement with this ministry. We have been so blessed these last couple of years and each semester kids continue to find Jesus and get plugged in at churches all over our community. All I'm asking is for you to keep Afshin, his wife Meredith, Jeff Johnson and his band, and all of the incredible student leaders of Vertical on your heart and in your prayers. These people continually make sacrifices and are trusting God in some huge ways to make Vertical happen every week. This ministry has been incredible to me and so many others at Baylor so I just want to encourage anyone (and everyone) to keep praying for all the amazing things that are yet to come with Vertical Ministries. There is so much to be thankful for! Love you all.

Blessed.

Important People

I do not wish to treat friendships daintily, but with the roughest courage. When they are real, they are not glass threads or frost-work, but the solidest thing we know. Ralph Waldo Emerson

I believe that it's kind of a given that loved ones are essential for the well-being of any individual. There are so many times when I've called on people in my life, both in the highs and lows, because I knew I could count on them. Good friends can laugh with (and at) you, cry with you, encourage you, and call you out on your crap when need be. Without my family and friends there's no telling who I'd be today. The people that I surround myself with are people that are full of life and love and faith beyond measure. I have been so blessed to have a family that is uniquely close and friends that are stronger and more beautiful than I'll ever be. 

My life without any of these people would simply be incomplete. 

This is my family on a snowy TGiving.
Most amazing people in the world!!

Pretty little sister. Glad we're besties. We're lucky.

2nd generation Baylor Bears! Sic'em!

DuBrocs -  Jon & Karen are two of the most influential people in my life.
Words cannot possibly describe how lucky I feel to have them around me. 

Best fraaaand - Jenna Lynn

I love her. So much.

Met this lady, Sarah, when I was 13.
The most incredible mentor ever.
She's the big sister I never had.

And now she has a baby!!! 

Alex and Megan.

These girls were some of my very first friends at Baylor
and remain some of my best friends today.

My Pi Phi family. PCX. So grateful.

Catherine-Clare. By far one of my best friends at Baylor.
Love this girl more than words can say.

My big, Amber.
Prettiest person I know, inside AND out.

[Kardashian] Sisters.

Two besties in one picture!!
- Jordyn and Jenna -
Couldn't do life without them.

Trio.

My pretty roomies!!
(Gabby, Landen, Jorie, Alex, Alli, Me)

More roomie love.

Lake is from Hawaii.
I got to visit her there.
It was amazing.

Randall was my youth pastor growing up.
And this summer we went to India together!
He never fails to encourage me and make me laugh. 

Eric. Been friends for a lonnggg time.
Way too many good memories together...
including (but not limited to) this awkward photo.

Rob. Another absolutely incredible youth pastor I had.
One of the nicest and most real people I know.

Jared is one of the most loving people I know.
So glad we've been friends this long.

Jake and I have been friends since 8th grade.
Now we're conquering Baylor together.

Hef is definitely my best guy friend at Baylor.
Always makes me laugh. He's the best.

Aaron Krause.
Musical Genius. Witty Critic. Deep Thinker.
Best Friend.

Just a fraction of my incredible [extended] family.
So much fun, so much love.

A very recent picture of my pretty fam!
Agra, India in front of the Taj Mahal. We are SO blessed!

Thank you for being beautiful, raw, complicated, understanding, exciting, laid-back, faithful friends.
I am beyond grateful for the people I get to do life with. No words.