Post One Week

What a whirlwind of a week! So much has happened this past week, it's hard to believe that yesterday marked the one week mark of my time in Denver!

I'll do my best to get you up to speed! My dad and I left Bend early Saturday morning for our long journey across the country. 97% of my life was packed in my car (which we hauled behind his truck) and we had enough peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to feed a small country...we were set! Whatever was unknown was in front of us, ready to be discovered, and what questions lingered behind us were left to worry about themselves. We were a little apprehensive of some rumors about a big storm coming through but we left nonetheless. Thankfully, the weather was extremely favorable! Not a cloud was seen until hit Wyoming (15 hours into the trip). For those of you who dont know anything about Wyoming, they are known for closing the roads down at the drop of a dime for 40 plus mile an hour winds. We were on our final stretch for the night and we started seeing warning signs for high winds. All of a sudden, we started to see the snow blow across the road like sand in a desert storm. Thankfully, the storm only lasted for about 10 miles and just as quickly as it came, it was gone. It was such a weird thing! We pulled over at a truck stop in Lairamie to try and get some shut before we made our final journey into Denver. It's not easy sleeping in the cab of a truck with sub zero degree weather. Needless to say, we tried to sleep for about 5 hours and decided we should just push through the rest of the way. We arrived in Denver Sunday morning at around 7:30 am without loosing anything...except of course my front license plate and part of our sanity :) It was a great trip! I loved the time I got to spend with my dad and it's a memory i will never forget.

My dad hung out for a few days to help me get my barrings (which was fabulous!) and left to make his trek back to Bend on Wednesday. Thursday I was hitting the job hunt! I am really looking forward to getting a job! I am excited to get plugged into the community and to begin to move with purpose here. I have to say, though, God has already enabled me to serve here with my new church and in new and old friends' lives. I am so thankful for the opportunities He has given me and for the way He has shown His care for me through His people...i'm undone, honestly! I have an interview tomorrow at a coffee shop called Ink!Coffee (check it out online if your interested in seeing what they are about). I am thrilled to have an interview and am praying i have the opportunity to work for them.

I will be meeting with team from Rugged next week. We will be sitting down and talking about strategy and being prayerful about God's heart for Rugged at this juncture. I am so grateful for my team, you guys included! I could not and would not be here if it werent for all of your support and cheerleading in my life. Thank you, thank you, thank you! I will keep you updated shortly!

Blessed Beyond Measure,

Shayla


Here are some pictures of our trip and the few days we were able to spend together in Denver. We even got to celebrate my dad's birthday, he was sang to and everything!

Counting Down

The holidays have come and gone without a whole lot of warning and I sit here shaking my head in wonder at the fact that March is a few days away...spring is on the horizon and with it brings not only a new season in the weather but a new season in life. I am hopeful for the future but I also sense the mourning of letting go of something so familiar and equally close to my heart. I feel so blessed to be experiencing this paradoxical "bitter/sweet" emotion right now. It's so amazing how God has put incredible people in my life here that I am deeply sad to leave but that He has also strategically put equally amazing people in my life that I am anxious to be near and journey with. Sometimes when I'm thinking about it, that silly child hood song comes into my head and I find myself resonating with the lyrics, "make new friends but keep the old, one is silver and the other gold." I'm incredibly grateful that the people in my life here will continue to be in my life and I have the privilege to gain more friends as I step out into this unknown journey.

Believe it or not, my estimated time of departure is a short 3 weeks away...yes, weeks! I can remember 5, 3, even 2 months ago thinking that the time was so far off but now I look and it is right around corner. Though (as many of you know) I have had many opportunities to travel and serve the Lord in various capacities, I have never made a move like this before. It is all very new to me which makes it a bit scary, a little overwhelming, but incredibly exciting! If we had hours I would sit down with each of you and tell you all the amazing ways God has moved, led, and provided thus far. My confidence and hope is truly in Him and apart from Him I'm not sure what I would do.

I am thrilled to get back to Colorado and join my team (Rugged Ministries) and see the ways God wants to lead us.

Of course with a move like this there a lot of things to take care before I take off. Please pray for me as I seek to be wise with my time so that all the logistics that need to be done will get done. Please also pray that I will be able to be fully present with the people I hold dear here that I want to spend time with (especially my parents). I would also absolutely LOVE to pray for any of you individually. Please feel free to shoot me an email (sdjacquot@hotmail.com) with anything that is going on in YOUR lives. All of you that are reading this are part of those people I hold dear so please keep me up to date with YOU as well!

Thank you all for your care and investment in my life...I am rich with gratitude!

Blessed Beyond Measure,

Shayla

I also had a really special Christmas with my family. Here a couple fun family photos I wanted to share! Even Mr. Potato Head came along for the festivities!

WELCOME!

Thank you so much for visiting my new blog! Keep checking in as I will be updating it as often as possible with prayer requests, prayer points, and sometimes just some random thoughts. Feel free to comment, it's always fun to hear from you! Let's journey, shall we....??