Day 15 - A picture of something you want to do before you die
I'll be the first to admit that my family isn't perfect--no family is. But family is really important to me. And while I certainly believe that family is in no way limited to blood relation, I want to create a family of my own. I remember back in high school, a teacher (the awesome dude featured in the post below) asked me what I wanted for my future--we talked about teaching, social work, politics, and a few other career aspirations, but I told him that more than any job I want to be a mother. And that's definitely still true. I hope to one day both bear children as well as adopt. Don't worry--I know I'm nowhere near ready for that kind of responsibility but I greatly look forward to the insane and wonderful years of motherhood. :-)
Day 14 - A picture of someone you could never imagine your life without
This wonderful guy is Frank Rocco Scalero. He was my English teacher sophomore year in high school. Quirky doesn't even begin to describe his sense of humor and crazy comes nowhere close to describing the awesome stories he tells of his life adventures. That was the year that I really started to develop my craft as a writer and his guidance and feedback was crucial in that process (no matter how much he denies credit). He always pushed me to be better, to search deeper for a clearer and more resonant truth. I remember once when I got a 28/30 on a paper--I wanted to know how I could make it a better essay, how to be a better writer, so I worked on it some more, got feedback from a few people, and resubmitted it asking him to be especially critical. I got it back with a 27/30--noticing my disappointment, he said: "I did exactly what you asked me to!" And he was right. Another lesson learned. What I especially loved about his class is the way he taught the great literature he assigned (To Kill A Mockingbird, Huck Finn, "Swamp Boy"---to name a few) and the great conversations we struggled through. I also benefited greatly from his direction during Creative Writing Club--as much as I hated the "forced writing" time, it really helped my creativity.
Aside from his inspiration in an academic sense, he's also been a wonderfully compassionate confidant who always has an encouraging word to offer. High school was a really tough time for me but he urged me to use all of my experiences in my writing, saying that with everything I was going through I was going be "the best damn writer out there." I don't know about that but it sure made me smile. :-) He also offered the perspective that I was "blessed with misery" -- that my suffering would not only help me be a better writer but was a unique preparing of my soul to reach and help others. Those high school years weren't pretty but I faired through them as well I did in great part because of Scalero--I don't know what I would have done without him.
I also have Frank Scalero to thank for the last several wonderful years that I've spent at Calvin College. He went there as an undergraduate and was always advertising, telling his students that they should apply there. I never really took that seriously until my last semester of high school. I needed to get away and immerse myself in a new environment. Calvin's location, small size, reputable English dept., and faith based education was enough to get me on board--without even visiting I applied and enrolled. And although these past few years haven't been without their struggles there's no doubt in my mind that Calvin was the perfect place for me. And if it weren't for Scalero going on and on about Calvin all throughout high school I would never have known it existed and my life wouldn't be as richly blessed as it is today because of my time at Calvin.
Scalero goes up to Calvin every other year for the bi-annual Festival of Faith & Writing. Luckily, I got to spend some time with him each time. Here we are, in front of Calvin's infamous "Wandering Cheese" in 2008 :-) http://www.calvin.edu/academic/cas/news/cheese.htm
Can I picture my life without this kooky character? --Not a chance.
Day 13 - A picture of your favorite band or artist
If you've read my other posts in this challenge you know by now that it's nearly impossible for me to pick one favorite when it comes to most things--and that especially applies to music! So here's a handful of some of my top favorite musicians:
Barbra Streisand--most people laugh (or don't take me seriously) when I tell them that I love Barbra Streisand. My mother introduced me to her music in 2001 when we watched a televised concert together. I was a little leery at first, mostly because it was something my mother liked, but by the end of the first song I was in utter awe of Streisand's incredible voice. Within less than two years I collected all 60+ of her albums.
Here's one of my favorites, "Happy Days Are Here Again"
Over the Rhine--I first heard this group at Calvin College during the Festival of Faith & Music in 2009 and instantly fell in love with their music and their beautiful voices. I've been blessed to see them in concert twice since and I love them more each time.
This is definitely one of my top 3 songs of theirs, "Only God Can Save Us Now." If you know anything about my family and the person that I am you'll understand why I love this song so much. And what I love about this particular recording (other than that it was shot @ Calvin concert I was at) is that it includes Karin's introduction explaining the writing of the song.
Eric Bibb--I've talked about my love for Eric Bibb in a previous post so I'll just say that "I Heard the Angels Singing" is one of my favorite songs and he delivers it perfectly.
Lauryn Hill--Her voice is so beautifully soulful and powerful and she has a lot of great things to say through her music. And I love her cover of the classic "A Change Is Gonna Come."
Fernando Ortega--This man has the voice of an angel! Whenever I need to be calm, I play his music. I love the songs he writes as well as the way he reinterprets gospel classics. His song "Give Me Jesus" is one that I listen to and sing along to at least once a week.
Jill Scott--This woman is fabulous in so many ways. She tells it like it is and reminds us that we're all "beautifully human." This is one of my favorite anthems in which she preaches the improtance of valuing and living out self respect & self love no matter what opposition comes your way.
I don't travel as much as I wish I did but of all the places I've been, New Mexico has won my heart. More specifically, I love, love, LOVE the magical place that is Taos, New Mexico! :-) I first went there in January of 2009 with a class from college studying the art & literature of the southwest. Within the first day I fell in love with the overwhleming beauty of Taos--the physical landscape, the breathtaking sunsets & starry skies, the incredible art, the wonderful people, the eclectic mashup of cultures, la comida!, the history--it's all so amazing. I loved it so much that when I had the chance to go back this past January I took it in a heartbeat, and somehow, it was even more fabulous than the first time--it didn't hurt that I convinced a handful of friends to come along as well. :-)
Here's a sampling of some of what I saw:
these are the wonderful ladies I went with in January of 2009
Camel Rock!
beautiful crosses are everywhere
perfect Sunday evening activity? --catching the sunset @ the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge with some good friends and some wine :-)
the amazing 2011 crew (minus silly Matthew)--these people are fantastic :-)
I love the adobe homes!
if you're up for adventure, the hiking is really amazing!
there are many treasures to be found in this land of enchantment
along with the wondrous nature we got to experience we even spotted an eagle!
more adventuresome hiking with the fellas
so many great memories full of awestruck beauty and fellowship :-)
after a long blissful day head out to any Taos eatery and you will be blown away!
Orlando's is definitely one of my favorites!
a good morning, indeed :-)
the sunrises are almost as beautiful as the sunsets
I absolutely love this place and can't wait to revisit :-)
I'm not at all what one would call a "city gal" -- I enjoy the slower pace of the suburbs as opposed to the hectic hustle & bustle and crowded madness of crazy busy cities like Chicago. Sure, they're nice to visit now and then but really, I don't enjoy it for too long. What I particularly hate about cities is the horrible driving and parking situation. I like to think that I'm a pretty decent driver but I will freely admit that my parallel parking skills aren't so great--my depth perception is just awful and the size of my car doesn't help that any. And obviously, no one enjoys sitting in traffic (at least not sane people) but I really, truly hate traffic getting into and then through Chicago. For the most part, I'm a pretty level headed person but the kind of gridlock traffic that Chicago has on a daily basis (even outside of rush hour, which really lasts from 3-6:30ish) absolutely drives me nuts. Occassionally, if I have a good idea of where I'm headed I can manage the "L" but if it gets too complicated with a bunch of transfers and such I'll get lost and frustrated (yes, yes, I should probably learn better navigation skills--maybe sometime). And so it's rare that I willingly drive into the city and it has to be for something very special--namely, visiting one of my favorite people, the wonderful Kim Randle. :-)
Day 10 - A picture of the person you do the most messed up things with
Hmmm...."messed up things" ...I wouldn't say that I do a lot of messed up things, maybe just that I dabble in shenanigans and a lot of silliness. And while I do lots of fun, silly things with my best buds I inevitably do the most "messed up" silly things with my brothers.
And with siblings like these, how could you not engage in shenanigans? Whether it's fishing at the lake & looking for dead fish to blow up with fireworks (I'll chalk up the latter to youthful indiscretion)...
or creating our own watersports and engaging in some intense battles out on the lake
my brothers and I tend to make our own crazy adventures--most are fun (and slightly scary), until someone gets hurt or something gets broken--then it's time to duck and run!
Now, one might think that with age we've matured a bit....
Perhaps only slightly...
very slightly....
We certainly still have our intense battles at the lake (as our bodies struggle to keep up with our 10 year old sensibilities) and maintain our affinity for fireworks (and the occasional roman candle fight)
When I decided to start this blog, I was struggling to come up with a title. But I'd been listening to a particular record over and over and one of the song titles seemed to fit nicely. One of my favorite bands, Over the Rhine, recently released a brilliant new album entitled "The Long Surrender."
Here are the lyrics to one of my favorites, "Days Like This" (by Kim Taylor)--it nicely captures where I'm at right now.
Days like this
You look up at the sky above you
Days like this
You think about the ones that love you
All I wanna do is live my life honestlyI just wanna wake up and see your face next to me
Every regret I have I will go set it free
And it will be good for me
Days like this
You think about the ones that went before you
Days like this
Have you ever seen the sky at such a clear blue
And all I wanna do is live my life honestly
I just wanna wake up and see your face next to me
Every regret I have I will go set it free
And it will be good for me
It will be good for me
All I wanna do is live my life honestly
I just wanna wake up and see your face next to me
Every regret I have I will go set it free
And it will be good for me
It will be good for
Days like this
You think about the ones that love you
Days like this
Have you ever seen the sky at such a clear blue
Day 9 - A picture of the person who has gotten you through the most
I've been incredibly blessed to have so many wonderful people placed in my life--great friends, mentors, and family members who help me to see how beautiful life is. In college, especially, I really lucked out in being able to surround myself with an amazing support network of friends, professors, counselors, and mentors.
some of the "friends of Jen" at a little celebration in May 2008 to say thank you to all of these incredible people for getting me through one of my toughest years yet
A card, baked goods, flowers, a speech, etc. could never express to these amazing people just how grateful I am to have had them in my life. I find myself grateful to know them on a daily basis. Each of them, in their own special way, has brought tremendous grace to my life with acts of kindness simple and profound. They are encouraging, inspiring, generous, kind, forgiving, and loving people who meet me where I am and challenge me to push myself to be the best that I can. They've listened to me, offered advice, let me make my mistakes, helped me to deal with the consequences of poor decisions, cried with me, laughed with me, celebrated with me, and dreamed with me--they have walked alongside me these past several years and without their support, friendship, and sometimes "tough love" I don't know how I would have made it through. These past few years have thrown a lot at me and at times I didn't know how I would get through the darkness but here I am today, with more hope and confidence in my abilities than I've ever felt before. And there's only one certain reason why I have come as far as I have: all the love and support of the communities that have uplifted me. Through them, I have a strengthened confidence in human ability to comfort one another, in God's ability to protect & provide for us in our times of need, and in our abilities to arise to any occasion.
A shout out to those pictured as well as those who aren't: Renee, Caity, Christian, Linda, Stacia, Jen, Michelle, Nalini, Carolina, Kim, Lindsay, Jacque, Fondse, Cindy, Sarah, Kay, Ling, Debbie, Matt, & Bethany ~ I love you all and am more grateful than you can know. ♥
