My Sweet Nana

Mildred Bourne, a natural beauty, raised on a Maryland tobacco farm with 6 sisters and a brother.  She met Vince Cervera in Tennessee at Bob Jones College, as she studied to be a teacher.  Vince and Millie married in 1950, which led to 62 years together.  They have three daughters, Susan, Sandy, and Sally.  I'm one of Vince and Millie's ten grandchildren.  Saturday we'll all gather together to celebrate the life of Millie Cervera...my sweet Nana.

Nana & Daddy Vince - May 2011

I am blessed.  Growing up in such a large, close knit family was and still is great.  We hiked up and down mountains to picnic at the foot of waterfalls.  Daddy Vince and Nana traveled to Colorado once a year to ski the Rockies, I got to join them in 8th grade.  We sipped coffee on Saturday mornings and fed the ducks at Furman.  They invested in a lake house on Keowee to provide a central hub for family activities.  I'm so thankful for the positive outlook Nana had about life.  Her first battle with cancer was 30 years ago, she could have gotten discouraged, but continued to dream and live!

At Lake Keowee

Blue Ridge High Class of '07

Nana was always supportive of my activities in school and supported my creativity.  This past summer when I was between jobs, away from home, and a newlywed she wrote me a letter of encouragement.  Nana always had something nice to say.

Daddy Vince & Nana in Charleston - Summer 2011

The original Cervera Family, donned "The Fab Five."  This crew should win a Best Care Givers award.  Each daughter has stuck close, organized/attended doctors' visits, stayed on the road, and spent nights.  While their strengths are different, each one was equally important in taking care of our Nana.  Thank you Daddy Vince, Mom(Susan), Sandy, and Sally for being prime examples of selfless caregivers.

Enjoy a day at Furman's lake

The most I remember about Nana will be from my older years.  I'm so thankful to have gotten to experience her gracefulness and mercy.  No matter the news she received from the doctors she was always stoic.  Nana took care of herself from the inside out.  Her beauty radiated each day of her life.  Her exceptional qualities are also seen through her daughters, grand kids and great grand kids.  Personally I think I got the "document everything" gene.  Nana always recorded details, I do the same, with pictures.

Christmas 2009

When Jeff and I got engaged in April 2010 we didn't know if we'd get to share our wedding day with Nana.  Only the Lord knew that He was going to bless us with two more years.  Also in that time Katie and Tony were married and Vincent Cole was born!  The past few years have been precious to get to spend time with Nana and Daddy Vince.

Farnham-Williams wedding - May 2009

This embrace has inspired each person in our family to love in the tough times and in the good times.  Each of us has truly been blessed to witness such sweet hearts in love.  This picture tells me that the best is yet to come in my marriage with Jeff.  Love Lasts.

True Love

They say you see someone's true character when that person becomes ill.  This is enlightening, Nana showed to be gracious, witty, grateful, and kind.  One of the many updates I received from Mom during this last month was that Nana quoted Psalm 23 to Sandy.  This only confirms what we already knew, Nana was a strong and Godly woman.

Riding off in the Benz

This may be one of my many favorites pictures.  Daddy Vince and Nana enjoying a day on Lake Keowee.  They did a great job of surrounding themselves with family.  At each family gathering Nana always made an effort to speak one-on-one with each person there.  She would ask specific things about their career or schooling and give them her undivided attention.

The last time I got to visit with Nana, while in discomfort, she still had high spirits.  Instead of focusing on herself she asked about Sunnie, Jeff, weddings I had coming up, and working at Robot Candy.  She said, "I'm so proud of all my grandchildren". . . one of the last things she said to me.

Nana as "Queen For A Day" enjoying her visitors

Daddy Vince, we love you and look forward to enjoying more time with you.  You have always been a strong example to each of your family members.  Thank you for being so involved in our lives.  You are such a blessing to Jeff and I!

Lake Keowee - Summer 2010

My Sweet Nana
February 13, 1929 - April 18, 2012

Life As A Wife : Part 1

You know you are married to a Physical Therapy student when this conversation happens...

Jeff:  Honey, can I rub your shoulders?
Jenny:  Yes, that'd be great!
Jeff:  Ok, I'd really like to try some of the upper back manipulations we learned in lab today.

This happens a lot, but I sure do NOT mind!

This weekend Jeff participated in the SCAPTA conference.  SCAPTA is the South Carolina chapter of the APTA(American Physical Therapy Association).  Jeff got to meet many influential therapists and learn great techniques for his future patients.  Check out his personal training website for more info and pictures he took!  This is a very exciting time in our lives as we look forward to the future GOD has in store for us with our career paths and where we will live.

Matt Redman At Seacoast Church

Last week(I know, this is old news) Jeff and I, along with a few friends, went to Seacoast's Long Point campus to worship.  With Matt Redman!  ha!

Here's a list of songs you may know that Matt wrote and sings.  I had no idea he did all of these!

Blessed Be Your Name, You Never Let Go, Undignified, Nothing But The Blood, Heart of Worship.  I've grown up singing these songs and now I know who wrote them! 

These songs have become my new favorites:  Our God(written with Chris Tomlin) and 10,000 Reasons!  Check out the videos below!

Matt was a delight to listen to as he sang, and between songs as he spoke. . . with a British accent! 

It was also an eventful night because I've been going to Seacoast for a year or so and had never seen our lead pastor in real life.  That may sound weird, but he's REAL enough for me on screen at the West Ashley campus each Sunday.  I got to see Pastor Gregg(pictured on the left) and hear him speak in person.  What a blessing!

 Of course, I took time to worship and time to document!

You must listen to this song, "10,000 Reasons"

I couldn't resist sharing this one!  "Our God,"  I first heard this song when Jeff started singing it.  My favorite lyrics are "And if our God is for us, then who could ever stop us.  And if our God is with us, then what can stand against"  WOW!  Please listen.

Your turn: What songs have impacted your life?

Counting Down

We have less than a month till we board the plane to South Africa!! God has truly blessed us by giving us this opportunity. He has also surrounded us with prayers and generous hearts! Thank you to everyone who has been involved in our journey to South Africa.

Last minute to do list:
Jenny: Get those vaccines!
Sign up for Frequent Flyer Miles :)
Find out how to pack all camera equipment and personal items in limited space.
Jeff: Find bat repellent
Get sunscreen, malaria vaccine can make a red head sensitive to the sun.
Who knows maybe Jeff's hours of surfing in the sun will keep him from harm.

Please, please, please keep us in your prayers!
Check out our South Africa website for daily updates.  I'll be sure to keep a daily journal, then post experiences and share photographs.  Let's see if we can convince Jeff to make a post about his time in Africa!!!

**27 days to go**

Wonderfully Mysterious

    My track record with Bible studies has never been an admirable one.  If you look at any of my book studies or work books you’ll quickly notice a disappointing pattern.  Start strong, read all the chapters, answer all the questions.   Towards the middle you’ll notice less writing and then moving further you’ll notice abandoned sections, questions unanswered and neglected chapters.  I made this sad realization last night while talking with my mom over the phone.  When I was young I had a knack for reading, but in the last few years I can count on a single hand the books I’ve actually finished.
(pauses, eats rest of Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream)
    Today I had an unexpected yet welcomed “day off,”  I work a weekday job at Robot Candy Co. Downtown so that I can work my dream job as a Photographer on the weekends and “off work” hours.  After working on all of my left behind To-Dos this morning I took a break at the beach.  The clouds and drizzles brought me home only to find the sun shining.  Perseverance to get my vitamin D sent me to the roof.  As I was climbing out the window, I grabbed my book study that I was officially three weeks behind in.  I decided to scan over the forgotten chapters of Lioness Arising By Lisa Bevere before reading the current assignment.  And I’ll have you know, I learned a lot.

Lesson One:  “There are people who need you to close your eyes and see them when you pray.” -Lioness Arising
The Seacoast Church family is experiencing the tragic loss of Josh Miller.  He was taken in an automobile accident this past Sunday.  He leaves behind a loving church campus(James Island), wife Liz, and two sweet children Hannah and George.  At The Vine tonight(young adult small group) we listened to Seacoast's Pastor Gregg’s message to his staff.  I don’t know this family personally, but I do feel like this quote was put in front of me two weeks late as part of God’s perfect timing to pray for this family.  After losing Dad in 2007, I’ve been able to pray more specifically for families who are grieving.  In this time of Nana’s sickness I can only hope fellow believers will see her and my family when they pray.  There’s so much oppression and strife in the world, as believers we must take advantage of being able to communicate to God.  We cannot be passive, we must pray.

Lesson Two: “I don’t know or do everything, but what I know, I choose to do well...duplicating the talents of another serves no one well, least of all you.  Individuality is not born through comparison, copying, or competition.” -Lioness Arising
God has created us in His image and has breathed His Holy Spirit into us, not to compare and conform, but to be a marvelous functioning part of the body of Christ.  He’s given you gifts and talents that are magnified by the Holy Spirit.  Do something.  Use His gifts.  Share His love.  Do not hesitate.  Dream.  Be what you were made to be.

    I’ve been very encouraged through this book study of Lioness Arising.  My time with the young adult group at church(The Vine) has been an immense time of growth.  Seacoast messages and worship have also be inspiring and vital to my walk with God.  I look forward to sharing more of my journey with you.  Being real with you may be difficult at times, but I want to deliver what God is teaching me.  He is doing some wonderfully, mysterious stuff!

It's your turn(comment below):  Have you ever noticed how God uses weather to change your plans or get you right where he wants you?  Like today, and my rainy beach trip.  He really just wanted me to go home and pick up my book.