Ornamental Dandelions

Spring is Springing

2010-03-18T17:15:00.008-04:00

So very rarely does spring break correspond with actual Spring in Indiana. However, this week, while I am on vacation at home from work & school, God has seen fit to give 60' temps & gorgeous, beautiful blue skies & sunshine.

I spent today walking & sunning myself in a local park (Holliday, thank you Kristin & Jeff & Ade for the find ;). So good to just sit & breathe, with nowhere to be, no schedule to keep.

Yesterday was spent at the Indianapolis Museum of Art, where these very springy pics were taken. This is one of my favorite places in Indy, because it holds art, it is free to the general public year-round, and will open a 100-acre woods :), a sculpture park, in June. It has an historic home (Lilly House, whose endowment makes the free entry possible) and beautiful greenhouse & gardens, along the White River, where the trail from downtown comes thru' (so now I can bike to the museum).

I love museums because art & science remind me that I am created. For me, every piece of art is a commentary, a dialogue on God and His work, whether the artist is seeking, rejecting, or in ignorance or apathy of Him - because God first created, every act of the creation's hands is part of that conversation, whether it is acknowledged or not. Perhaps this is why museums feel like sacred spaces to me, and every work is an altar to something, a chance to reflect on a particular aspect of God's story.

Vacation began with yucky weather but a beautiful wedding that was a testament to God's faithfulness to His children, and my friend Miriam's faithfulness to Him (and of course, Steve's :). Friends & de facto family trekked to a tiny church in a tiny town to celebrate, and tho' the rain rained & the wind blew, and none of us had ever been there before, and few of us had met the groom, it felt like family had reassembled for just a few hours in this place. I remain convinced that the honoring of God in that place is what brought the spring.

Sunday Dawn & Katie & I worshipped with Jeff & Ade & Glori at another community of believers in Indy, and it felt good & right to once again seek God together, and then share a meal & rest together before heading out to our individual callings.

I took Katie to my small group in the evening, because I'm the only non-nurse/doctor/med student, and sure 'nuff, she fit right in. To my great delight, this group of followers (in Indy) was able to share their resources to help Katie (from Orlando) find the next step in her vocational journey - an organization of Christ-committed medical centers that can offer support & contacts as she seeks to treat the whole person in underserved communities. In the words of my friend Lori, is God good or what? ;)

Monday I had the chance to show Katie my favorite coffee shop (Henry's on East, where I sit now in the late afternoon sun), visit the IU bookstore, and try on beautiful sparkly bling @ Tiffany's (because sometimes you just need to feel like a princess ;). Followed by a few lazy days of reading in Borders and watching movies and bathing in sunshine, I feel refreshed to head back to work & school craziness. Tonight is laundry & homework night, tomorrow I meet my friend Julia at a legendary Indianapolis blues joint for lunch (The Slippery Noodle), and tomorrow night I head back to work.

Sorry for the ramble, and if you made it thru' to the end, thanks for letting my contentedness ebb over onto your day. Now I'm going to go listen to & give feedback on an Onion posting for a stranger at the next table, because I'm not busy ;).

Course Correction

2010-02-19T11:58:00.005-05:00

Yay, I'm not going to be a double major!! :) I thought the only way I could get the teaching certification & studio experience I wanted/needed was to double major in studio art & art education. I figured I could do it part time, it would just take me longer (hence the 40th birthday finish goal).

Turns out, in the words of my advisor, "no way". More precisely, the art ed program is structured in such a way that the possibility of me doing it at 3 classes a semester is slim to none. What's a budding art teacher/full-time+ tech support rep to do??

Turns out, Indianapolis University offers a 1-year MAE program (Master of Art in Education) for anyone with a bachelors degree. This apparently includes BFAs, so after my undergrad, I take an intense 10-month course in education, and (hopefully) at the end of 5 years, instead of 2 bachelors, I'll have my BFA AND my MAE, and the only grad work I'll need to do is for fun!!

Is God good or what?? That means I can take a General Studio major, which will allow me to take pretty much whatever I want, and get all kinds of experience in all kinds of mediums, which is what I think I need anyway to teach. Coincidentally, it's also what I really, really want to do. :)

So move over Classroom technology & PPST testing & math, here I go with furniture design, printmaking, photography, & metalsmithing :)

Also, the sky is blue and the sun is shining.

Spring is coming (maybe? :)

2010-02-16T12:12:00.003-05:00

Like the rest of the country, we've had unusually heavy snowfall the last few weeks (for Indy anyway). I love the way it softens the sounds of the city, and frosts all the gingerbread houses in my neighborhood. This is the B&B next door to me, the Yellow Rose Inn, and it was glowing this first night of winter wonderland.
But while I love the softness of the snow, I'm pining for spring! I'm tired of turtlenecks & boots & kneesocks - I want shorts & flip flops, my feet are claustrophobic! I bought these tulips on Valentine's Day, because they were so beautiful and they remind me that fresh, green life is not far over the horizon.
If you feel trapped in a literal or figurative winter right now, find some tulips & hang on with me! :)

Eat Food (not food-like substances) & Use Your Body

2010-02-10T19:16:00.006-05:00

So I've decided to quit feeling bad about the way I feel & look, and do something about it. 3 weeks ago I started back on the South Beach Diet (which isn't so much a diet as changing the way you eat permanently), and my cabinets & refrigerator have been purged!

The premise is that all the starch/processed carbs/sugar we eat hits our system as sugar, triggers an insulin response & instant energy, and then drops us when it's over (this is the source of cravings). So white sugar/flour/rice/pasta/starch/corn syrup are out, and healthy food (& fiber) is in!

That means lean meat, veggies, eggs, dairy, nuts, beans, fruit, whole grains, olive & healthy oils/fats, and the occasional dark chocolate - yay! :) Big no-nos are potatoes, corn, white processed (enriched) flour, fruit juice (all sugar, no fiber) processed sugar, high fructose corn syrup (which is in just about everything processed or "low-fat" - including sauces & YOGURT).

The results are convincing - no more sugar/carb cravings, no more reflux/heartburn, more sustained energy, and, um..."normalized" digestion :). Also, 10 lbs: bye-bye.

Some have asked what I CAN eat, so here's a sample Saturday cooking/assembly list:

BREAKFAST - 1 crustless quiche: 4-6 eggs, cup of light cream or milk, cup of grated cheese, 2-3 cups fresh sauteed veggies - bake for 25m in pie plate, quick reheat nutritious breakfast! Also, coffee is in, just w/ Splenda instead of sugar
SNACK - cheese sticks, piece of fruit or nuts
LUNCH - veggies/cheese/mixed greens for salad, homemade dressing - olive oil & balsalmic vinegar w/ basil - OR - rare roast beef wrapped in red lettuce leaves w/ horseradish cream cheese & parsley
SNACK - veggies w/ dill dip (made from Greek yogurt or farm cheese (yay Traders Point! :)
DINNER - homemade soup OR something like grilled pork chops w/ steamed or roasted veggies or salad
DESSERT/BEDTIME TREAT - OK, this sounds weird but if you like cannoli you know where this is going - a couple tablespoons of ricotta cheese w/ a little splenda, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg - tastes almost like tapioca :) and last night, I whipped in some mascarpone cheese (tiramisu) and added sugar-free raspberry jam instead of splenda & flavorings - SO YUMMY!!! especially w/ a square of dark chocolate!!

I'm slowly adding in more fruit & whole grains, like bread/toast, tortillas, oatmeal, brown rice, whole grain pasta, but even w/ the fiber, these are what your body converts to sugar, so I make sure I eat them w/ protein so I don't start the sugar/insulin/energy swing again. Occasionally dropping off the wagon (like a meal w/ friends) isn't the end of the world, I just get strict again for a day or 2 to make sure the cravings/pounds don't come back.

Anyway, I'm also doing interval training in the mornings (even 20m a day makes a difference!), and I'm hoping to be back to my (first :) college size by the end of the year.

Don't worry, I'm not trying to be "skinny", I just want to like me and that includes curves. Also, I still think I'm the girl that can hike/canoe thru' the Algonquin w/ a 50lb pack on her back, and that's probably delusional. So I want to make sure I can do pretty much whatever I want to do, and this will get me there, healthily.

If you're interested, pick up the South Beach Diet (Supercharged) at the library & give it a read. Btw, I got my doctor started on it too :)

Winter Storm

2010-02-10T19:09:00.002-05:00

We only got the tail end of the winter storm that smacked down on the mideast, but we got enough to set up this picture...

I took this on a block near my apartment where the crows congregate - they're usually a neighborhood nuisance, but Friday night, they made a beautiful picture against the night sky & snow. I was having trouble with my camera focus, but I decided to go with it, and I love the mood of this photo.

Mischief

2010-02-05T01:54:00.000-05:00

These photos made me laugh this week, at the joy every species seems to get from messing with each other :)

I took this one yesterday when I left class, in front of the art school...

This one is of one of my classmates' cats - it's better than a story, because aren't you visualizing the next frame right now?? :)

What's the mischief in your mind right now? ;)

Fall '09 - Progress continues

2010-02-05T01:17:00.000-05:00

Here are some of my best pieces from last semester...

This still life is an homage to my love of story & reading, and the art of Chris Van Allsburg.

The portrait is of my classmate Erin & represents some hard-fought-for progress in drawing! (btw, when the model doesn't show up, you draw each other :)

The plaster twisty-sculpture is an abstract form based loosely on fire and the Trinity, and also on how far I could push wet plaster before it cracked & collapsed on me (this was the 2nd effort ;)

This one requires a little explanation... it's a (conceptual) walking stick, a wooden

staff project that was required to have some sort of "magical" function. Didn't really have a problem with magic per se, but I also didn't relate to the whole wizard thing & the associated imagery... so I sold my prof on this spiritual/life journey/reliquary/walking stick. The doors are all based on various stages & experiences in my life, and they hold "relics", scripture, letters from those times.

The stick is crafted from (2) 8' 2x4's, with slot & peg construction (and a heckuva lot of wood glue ;).

God's work of healing & wholeness

2009-10-31T14:02:00.000-04:00

Just discovered this poem in the black history section of the Indiana State Museum, and though it doesn't speak specifically of God, it struck me as being a beautiful expression of what God in His power can do in and for broken people in community...and I love the images and rhythm of her writing.

Celebration

by Mari Evans

I will bring you a whole person

and you will bring me a whole person

and we will have us twice as much

of love and everything...

I be bringing a whole heart

and while it do have nicks and

dents and scars,

that only make me lay it down

more careful-like...

An' you be bringing a whole heart

a little chipped and rusty an'

sometimes skip a beat but

still in all you bringing polish too

and look like you intend

to make it shine

And we be bringing, each of us

the music of our selves to wrap

the other in

forgiving clarities

soft as a choir's last

lingering note, our

personal blend

I will bring you someone whole

and you will bring me someone whole

and we be twice as strong

and we be twice as sure

and we will have twice as much

of love

and everything...

New Life

2009-09-26T23:43:00.000-04:00

Tonight I visited Grace & Peace Presbyterian, a sister PCA church to Redeemer, to see my friend Bess baptized. I love to see children baptized, but it was so moving to see an adult take this step of testimony & faith, knowing her journey and God's faithful pursuit of her. Her life is truly new in Christ, and it is a blessing to be able to share it with her.

Afterwards, dinner with new friends at Buca di Beppo's, a celebratory dinner for Bess & her uncle & aunt, who flew from California to be with her for her baptism. As I was talking with my friend Lauralee, and watching the friendships build between people who otherwise have very little in common each other, other than Christ Himself, I am humbled & awed again at His goodness. Family is God's physical plan for people, but is only an image of spiritual reality. Each of us, as a child of God, has spiritual family that holds us & lifts us up, carries us & rejoices with us, when our physical families can't or won't.

Just feeling blessed today, and thankful for my spiritual families near and far (and my physical one too! :)

Joy & Sadness can coexist

2009-08-06T00:03:00.000-04:00

Not a stunning revelation, I know, but this past weekend was a timely reminder.

I went back to Elkhart/South Bend for the celebration service of my friend Glori's dad, Bill Goheen. He had been fighting lymphoma for 6 months, until July 26th, when he went home to the Father & God he spent his adult life serving.

I remember dinners & game nights in the Goheen's home, talking about what God might be doing, what He could do, what He wanted all of us to do - a financial Bible study, exploring career & school choices, current possibilities in a frustrating vocation. We also laughed a lot, and cheered on Notre Dame (usually unsuccessfully :) He raised money for me to go to Urbana 3 years ago, a missions conference that helped me see some of what God could use me for as an artist, a trip that strengthened my resolve to step out in faith, and that ended up with me in Indy in art school. He offered a different perspective on my questions about who God was & what He wanted, and gave me a safe but challenging place to ask them.

His passion for work as ministry & mission was profound, and he shared his enthusiasm with numerous of his children's friends, including me. I have a list of names in my head who were similarly challenged & helped by his perspective & encouragement.

So when I say I am sad, I am saddened that his particular perspective & enthusiasm are no longer part of my world. Even more, I am saddened this was the end of his physical presence in Glori's, Karen's, Caleb's, & Joshua's lives, and at the loss that came too soon.

But I found joy too. If you could have heard the words of friends & family about Bill - as a husband & father he never gave his family a cause to doubt his faithfulness & commitment; as a child of God he passionately pursued, until the very end and with all of his strength, the vision & calling of his Saviour; as a businessman, his integrity & professionalism were beyond reproach; as a father, he passed all of this & more onto his children.

Like a lot of us, I work in a lost place with lost people, who do not really believe in the hope & promise of change. Listening to Bill's friends & family, and remembering my own experiences of his time & wisdom, I have joy knowing that God has the power to change lives for the better, for joy, for peace, for love & fun, and He fulfills that promise to those ask & seek Him. My expectations, for myself and the one (unknown) who might someday share my life, were raised, not for my glory & satisfaction, but for God's.

A difficult weekend, but one full of hope & promise & grace, of sadness & joy.

3rd semester (spring '09)

2009-06-30T02:32:00.000-04:00

more artwork, for those keeping track :) (and coming up for fall '09: drawing II, 3D design, contemporary art history)

beginning wheelthrowing:

i made my very own covered casserole dish! :) (about 10' dia.)

this design took about 10 hrs to execute, and was worth every minute

metalsmithing II:

"spoon for india", inspired by my own response to my friends' jeff & ade's experience in india, and that of their son Clayton
"for my own protection" - emotional safety glasses, secured by the chain that goes over the ears, held by the counterweights at the end (historic design) - the copper spikes are all manufactured by hand from 6 ga wire...never, ever, ever again :)

mirror project, based on a shell i picked up in galveston w/ my family

2nd semester work (fall '08)

2009-06-29T12:50:00.000-04:00

just a sampling of what a 1st year art student does/experiences. what i experienced during this particular semester was a tremendous urge to chuck the drawing implement across the room and sculpt something with the paper. more than likely that was due to my own limitations, and my definite preference for 3 dimensional mediums - clay, metals, etc. but i learned a lot, especially about perseverence, and the fact that just because i don't enjoy it as much as other things doesn't mean it's not worth doing :) also, composition & execution are 2 completely different skills...

2D design:

a letterform composition & transparency project in adobe creative suite - oooh, to have had this program during my stint in the mayor's office! the glare is because my professor put it up on display @ school (with work by 3 of my classmates) & i took the photo when it was behind glass (btw, my professor saw a chicken in this design - can you find it? :)

in this project, the very edges of the design on the far left & right are excerpts from a famous print called metamorphasis by m.c. escher - our assignment was to reproduce both segments & fill in the middle with our own design, making the transition seamless - in pen & ink, not my most reliable medium...but i learned a lot, especially that clean & precise execution can cover a multitude of design shortcomings :)
my favorite design from this class - an assignment to draw the negative space (everything NOT the object) of a still life, similar to a photo negative. the objects i chose were a milkglass bottle i use as a vase, a stem of silk orchids, and some beach rocks i can never resist picking up. the lesson here is that when you use objects you love, you get better results than if you forgot about the assignment & dumped out your purse to find something to draw :)

drawing I - still lifes, some preliminary figure drawing, some charcoal drawings that drove me crazy but turned out better than i thought at the time:

this is one of the many views on the indy canal walk - if you're ever here, it's one of my favorite places to walk/bike (no canal in this view :)

spring break!

2009-03-25T01:00:00.001-04:00

in march dawn & i flew down to houston to see our folks, and see marshall baptized - what a joy, and what fun besides! here are some (ok, a lot :) of the highlights (in wonky chronology, b/c of the way i loaded them into blogger)...

The canalwalk in san antonio - breathtakingly lush!

the houston zoo - this is the same fountain i drank out of when i was a little girl! (my grandpa used to roar just as i bent to take a drink :)

we went crabbing in galveston, another activity from my childhood - this was a canal on the narrow island, and they were biting!
12 hungry crabs, soon to fill our hungry bellies!

after a hot afternoon & evening, to the beach to refresh - chilly for march, but it ain't got nuthin' on lake michigan in may!
the fruits are our labors (the big one was mine ;)
houston's answer to central park - i still love the live oaks that are everywhere in this city

one of my favorite prints from the houston museum of fine arts - a de goya woodcut of the spanish women manning the cannons against the french, after the men have fallen
an albrecht durer engraving, from about 1650 - work i was surprised & pleased to see up close & in person, after studying it in class this semester!

the museum of natural science, where marshall had a ball! he's definitely a science boy :)

amazing gem specimens from the vault - this is where i had a ball!

birthdays! all the spring ones celebrated at once :)

Remington the faithful brother, companion, guarddog, pillowhog

family photos! this is the leaning tower of jacksons - why they put the shortest on top was beyond me...literally, as i'm balancing on my tiptoes on boxes

just making sure he still feels that way about girls kissing him...

the houston livestock show & rodeo, another childhood memory & an absolute must if you go to houston in the spring!

with josh turner - ay yi yiiiii!! ;)

and the reason for the timing of our trip - marshall made the decision to be baptized into Christ, and i'm so thankful we could both be there to witness it. we love you so much squirt, and pray for you faithfully that this would mark every step you take in the future!

dawn left on sunday to return to camp michindoh & her kiddos there - it's a demanding life, and i'm so proud of her for chasing after god's heart in her life & that place!

remember the alamo! if you were a schoolchild in texas or know anything about texas history, this beautiful mission is a monument to folly & the human spirit - funny how often those 2 are linked...

be careful what you wish for...

2009-02-01T12:44:00.000-05:00

ever since i moved to indy, i have been disappointed that the only snow we've received isa "dusting" that melts quickly and leaves behind only cold & ice, and a gloomy gray view out my window. well, i think god got tired of my attitude, and last tuesday, we got what i think was 8-10", but drifted much deeper than that in my neck of town. it was up over the bottom of my car doors, and it took me with my little water bucket for pottery class, my friend Lauralee with my ice scraper, and a kind neighbor with a shovel, an hour to dig out my car on wednesday. i was one of 2 cars that made it out that day, with a little pushing from my friends to get me over the mountain and into the road! alas, i had a LOT of ice packed in my wheel wells, so had to run over to the mechanic's on thursday to get it chipped out (30 minutes & $40 bucks later).

i'm sorry to report i was so worried about what damage i might have done to the car that i did not much enjoy my enforced night off from work wednesday, and it wasn't until thursday afternoon that i really took the time to enjoy the beauty of the new white, contoured landscape. i wonder how much this happens - god drops a blessing i've asked for right in my lap, and i miss it because i didn't foresee & can't control the complications, so the complications (which, let's face it, are pretty minor) are all i see.

anyway, it's beautiful in southern indiana right now, the sun is out, the sky is blue, the snow is gorgeous (tho', predictably, melting) and the temp is in the 30's - heatwave!! and i'm about to head to the grocery store to buy fresh vegetables & garlic. the cats are napping (maggie is recovering from her latest, tho' by no means final, trip to the vet) in a sunbeam, and i feel like i have made progress in my pottery class. jason (my pastor) spoke this morning from hebrews 4 about the "rest" of god, and i am challenged that i always look for rest in my physical & emotional world, not in my spiritual reality. so today i am trying to rest, and pray that you are finding rest as well, in the security & surety of our god.

the things that matter

2009-01-25T01:02:00.000-05:00

i've spent so much time recently with people (at work & school) whose values & experiences & cultures are so completely at odds with mine that i think i have lost my way a little bit.

i spent sunday & monday back home with several of my closest, dearest family-friends, and was reminded that my value and hope are sure and grounded in my God and His gifts, not what those outside of Him value.

sunday afternoon i spent with manda, catching up on old friends & coworkers, and hearing about where god is taking her heart as it relates to social justice in india.

sunday night i spent in the joy, laughter, kindness & honesty of 3 of my dearest friends, some of the godliest, funniest women i know :) what a blast to reconnect and hear each others' experiences and plans, and encourage each other as we chase after 4 very different dreams.

monday afternoon i spent with lori & grandma, and here i find healing & kindness & joy & rock solid certainty in god's goodness & provision, even in the face of hardship & uncertainty. i found myself often thinking of my friends at work and longing for a way to communicate the peace & joy & comfort we share together as friends and family, and hurting that my words are inadequate because they have no frame of reference, or even appreciation, for this kind of gentleness & acceptance. i am humbled & healed by the gift of their love & protection.

monday night was dinner with carl & lori, and the opportunity to share some of the fruits of last semester's challenging 2D work, and to hear of god's work & provision in their lives & at 1st baptist. more love & laughter & news & fellowship, and the undeniable presence of god's spirit in a sheltered place.

for those keeping track, i have now started my 3rd semester of art school @ herron. i have completed 4 classes, hold a 4.0 gpa, and this semester have switched to a straight 2nd shift at work, which allows me to take 3 classes this semester: art history 2, metalsmithing & jewelry design 2, and beginning wheelthrowing (ceramics not discus :).

i love art history, especially thursday's class on the early renaissance, when my prof (not a believer) so clearly explained the christian symbolism in some of the 15th century flemish works, and went into raptures over van eyck's depiction of christ on his throne in the ghent altarpiece. i will be blogging more on this later, because i love the implications of the humanist emphasis in this time period, in contrast to the dichotomy of secular/spiritual in medieval art.

i do not yet love wheelthrowing. please believe me when i say playdough is soft, pottery clay is very, very stiff - it is not a complement when god states he is the potter and we are the clay! it takes muscle, coordination, determination, and no small amount of skill to throw a pot on a wheel, and after 3 classes, i am not happy w/ my progress. i daresay god has similar observations about me, and that thought keeps me working both at my pottery and my life.

i love, love, love metalsmithing...now if only i could find some connection to ministry... this semester i will be producing a piece of flatware, eyeware, and a mirror. my ideas for the flatware are already heavily influenced by the experiences of my friends jeff & ade, who just moved to india with their kids - they eat with their hands a rice & tortilla curry soup, the same thing everyday. if you are not familiar with their journey, please, please, please read ade's blog linked on this page - i hope you will not be the same after glimpsing their world. i also have some ideas for the eyeware, based on the types of "lenses" we view our world thru'. i haven't tho't too far on the mirror, but i hope to continue working out my experience of god & his work in each of these pieces, and will keep you posted on what he is teaching me.

thanks for listening.

it's been a while...

2008-09-27T22:28:00.000-04:00

I just noticed it's been a month since I last posted - so sorry if you're still trying to follow!!

So since then, I'm heading quickly toward the middle of my 2nd semester, the presidential candidates have chosen their running mates, and we are just over a month away from the next election! I have replaced the tires on my car & spent too much money at the vet nursing my sick Maggie back to health. Thankfully she is fully recovered, although Oreo is still pretty bitter about not being an only cat. :)

Some of my favorite moments recently:

-McCain's congrats ad to Obama the night of Obama's acceptance speech at the DNC...for the cynics out there, yes it was probably politically expedient but isn't the spirit of it the kind of behavior we've been longing for in "public servants", ala Aaron Sorkin?? (never mind the quick return to "straight-speaking" rhetoric :)

- an excited email from my friend Myra, who was actually at Obama's speech & whose parents were at the heart of the civil rights movement in South Bend - MLK stayed in her house when she was 12! If I can open the file, I want to post some of her thoughts on watching the 1st African American in our history accept a major party nomination for president. We forget so quickly how far we have come and are blind to how far we have to go.

- a man in my church, after several months of waiting, received a heart transplant last week. He is such a warm, joyful, welcoming person, it was 3 mths before I knew he was ill & dying. He has 2 children in college, and to watch him take communion w/ his wife was to resolve to wait as long as it takes for the one God has chosen for me.

- an entire afternoon spent at the Indianapolis Museum of Art! (I need more - I only got thru' the 1st floor!)

- Marshall's 12th birthday in Ft. Wayne w/ my dad's side of the family - we were just missing my dad :(

- positive feedback on my work from my classmates, even an offer to buy one of my assignments! (haven't got it back w/ a grade tho'... and what is a fair price for a classroom drawing???)

- being found by 2 of my best friends from junior high on Facebook, and one of my best friends from college - Amanda wrote about my finally getting to art school, "I'm sure God has very special plans...for you. Why else would He be so patient with you?" What a timely reminder that I have received more than I deserve, and I need to work a whole lot harder at not trying His patience!

Precious Family Time

2008-08-22T10:13:00.000-04:00

Last week I got to see Becky & Marshall for the first time in about a year, and Dawn again! My grandma Jackson is recovering from heart surgery (and doing well, thanks to God) so Marshall & Becky came down from Minnesota where they were with Becky's family, and Dawn came from Michigan, and we all crammed in my little studio apartment! :)

It was so good to spend time with time with them and watch the Olympics and read late into the evening and laugh a lot. We went to see the latest Pixar film, Wall-E (very sweet & fun & cautionary, but not in a Happy Feet kind of way :) And while I was at work, they discovered our fabulous downtown library and Monument Circle, Indy's Civil War memorial, which is a passion of Becky's. (Did you know Indy is second only to Washington DC in public memorials & monuments per capita?) On Friday I took the day off and we went to the Indiana State Fair, a first for all of us, and worth the $8 admission (& free parking! who does that anymore??) We saw 2 of the 30 white tigers in existence, Indiana raptors (the carnivorous birds, not the dinosaurs), and all kinds of great food and exhibits on pioneer life, farming and conservation. Marshall even got to shoot an air rifle at the DNR's responsible hunting exhibit and never missed the target! And of course we had to look at all the 4H exhibits and animals (Becky, for reasons passing understanding, flipped over the lamas - did you know you can dye their wool with Kool-Aid? :) We ended the day by watching old-fashioned cart & horse showings - forgive me Jazlin, I have no idea what this is called! But the horses & surrey wagons were gorgeous, even though we didn't have much luck picking the winner.

The only thing missing was Dad, working hard in California to get a promotion so they can move closer to the rest of us. Love you Papa, and can't wait until we can do all this stuff for-real together! :)

P.S. I unfortunately don't have photos because my camera is in the shop and Dawn's called in sick :(

Back to School

2008-08-21T11:05:00.000-04:00

I started classes again yesterday, just 2 again for this semester, and it was a wise choice! I have Drawing 1, in which we keep a sketchbook outside of homework & classwork, like writers keep a journal, and 2-Dimensional Design, in which the prof stated being a student is our full-time job & we should try to cut back on work hours. If he can read minds, I've already flunked.

But overall I'm still pleased with the quality of work coming out of the school and excited & nervous about the amount of growth I need to accomplish to keep up. I'm also trying not to hyperventilate about the amount of money I'm putting out in professional supplies when I've made do with craft supplies for so long.

People have asked, and I've wondered, why do I need to go to art school when so much of my progress rests on individual practice & skill development, when I can study in museums & the abundant resources in books & online & in popular culture. The answer was clear today in the 20 people sitting in my classroom. Each of us bring our own perspective, culture, & aesthetic to design and I can't learn from a book the 19 ways they will approach the same problem that will be distinctly different from my own. We students are each others' teachers as much as the professor, because we shed light on a different element of the whole than the others would have seen. It's the same reason we like both versions of Pride & Prejudice or admire the way different teams play the same sport, or whatever - we appreciate & learn from different approaches to the same material. In class, with different instructors, we get to see it up close with people who are pursuing excellence and hopefully grow from that exposure. Also, I'm thinking a lot about teaching and have learned important lessons this week about what not to do :)

P.S. If you're interested in the classroom experience and what to look for in a teacher, read Rafe Esquith's Teach Like Your Hair's On Fire and There Are No Shortcuts - his 5th graders perform Shakespeare around the country and none of them speak English as a first language...and they LIKE science, go figure :)

the shack

2008-07-13T13:02:00.000-04:00

yesterday, i stayed up until about 1:30am to finish reading a book, given me by my dear friend Carl, called "the shack", by william p. young. he stipulated that he would only give it to me if i promised to tell him what i thought; so, as there is much to ponder from its really beautiful depiction of god in relationship, with himself and with humans, here is the first response of several to his request.

"In seminary he had been taught that God had completely stopped any overt communication with moderns, preferring to have them only listen to and follow sacred Scripture, properly interpreted, of course. God's voice had been reduced to paper, and even that paper had to be moderated and deciphered by the proper authorities and intellects." pg 66

i was flipping thru' the flair application on facebook today and found a quote from one of my favorite movies, the princess bride: the Sicilian is being pursued by the dread pirate roberts and the pirate is gaining on him, and as the pirate conquers one challenge after the other, he keeps saying one word, "inconceivable!" until finally his partner says "you keep saying that word. i do not think it means what you think it means." it struck me that maybe we keep saying a lot of "spiritual" theological words, and they do not mean what we think they mean - words like inspiration, infallibility, predestination, among others - what if in scripture god was trying to express from an infinite mind to a finite one what true relationship was meant to be, and we keep trying to boil that expression down into systems so that we can understand it instead of simply trusting what we do not completely grasp and living in it? we seem to give lip service to "lean not on your own understanding" and then spend a great deal of time & energy judging "spirituality" & relationship according to our own understanding.

anyway, i haven't reached any conclusions about the above words one way or the other, except that my own understanding, & others', must always be suspect - we see thru' a glass darkly, and if i know for certain what has been a source of mystery for biblical scholars thru' the ages, what need is there to go back to the source to find the answer? our systems of understanding god and scripture seem to have pushed us further into religion and further from relationship and dependence, which seem to be the point of scripture in the first place?

I love living in the city

2008-07-13T12:49:00.000-04:00

right now, i'm sitting on monument circle, watching & listening to the fountain and also an elderly bucket drummer w/ more enthusiasm than skill :) but great fun to watch, especially as he has his granddaughter with him. i biked down to go to borders for an afternoon of reading - francis chan's crazy love, and andy crouch's culture making: recovering our creative calling. in the background, the bells are ringing from one of the old churches downtown, the sun is shining, skies are blue, harley guys are riding by on really gorgeous bikes, next to us pseudo-urban types on our bicycles. A man in a gorgeous MG convertable just drove by w/ a giant costumed camel head in the passenger seat, waving at everyone. The drummer's wife is sitting at a cafe table drinking coffee as her husband picks up a semi-steady beat and proceeds to yell "we will, we will, ROCK YOU" at random intervals, and i wonder if i will have enough love in me at that point in a marriage to stand proudly by my husband as he does something equally embarrassing, simply because he loves it. i hope so.

old friends & new ones

2008-07-10T10:27:00.000-04:00

Below are pictures from my friends', Aaron & Glori, wedding. It was such a fun, beautiful, sacred day...even without the mighty wind of His breath, God's joy in that day would have been unmistakable. Glo, you got your something blue! :) It rained in the morning, was overcast for photos, and by the time the wedding came around, it was a glorious sunny, "breezy" day!

For the full effect (except the ceremony, which I was in :), here's a link to my album on facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=128793&l=3a67c&id=870245023

School is Out! and other miscellany

2008-05-11T17:31:00.000-04:00

Yay, I'm free! :) 2 classes down, 35 to go... the lovely thing about going back to school after a 12 yr hiatus is that they scrap your old GPA and you get to start again...as of this moment, I have a 4.0 :) - A in art history 101 and A+ in metalsmithing & jewelry design. Below is a photo of my final project, a spoon w/ a list of required components & dimensions, and a packet of materials handed out by my instructor w/ the stipulation that there be no left overs! :( The biggest challenge was coming up with a design that didn't look like it should have been edited, but I like the zen feel of it. I'll post photos of the lite-brite ring when I get it back from my prof...

With classes over, I had last Sunday afternoon free, so my friend Bethany & I walked the Canal downtown - this is one of my favorite places in Indy...

Spring is Here!

2008-04-19T12:27:00.000-04:00

2 weeks ago, I went with a friend to the Eli Lilly House greenhouses at the IMA to enjoy the first sunny 70 degree day of spring (we have had several since then!). We brought our cameras b/c we both desperately needed the practice, and here are some of the results:

Favorite Day

2008-04-13T12:30:00.000-04:00

I got one of those Q&A email quizzes last week from a friend - you know, the ones that want to know your favorite CD, what's under your bed, vanilla or chocolate, what color underwear you're wearing (gosh, was that embarrassing :)... One of the questions was what's your favorite day of the week, and tho' I would have expected it to be Saturday or Friday, for obvious reasons, to my surprise, I found in thinking about it that I actually look forward to Sunday the most. Nathan's worship that always surprises me and lifts me up, the community of our church - the confession & response together as a body, Jason's teaching that never takes for granted that we're all in the same place of understanding, the acknowledgement of each one's place in the body, from the children to the artists :).

This morning it was the personal nature of communion, which we take every Sunday - the challenge of it not becoming a commonplace ritual placed on me as an act of consciousness & grace, rather than a convenience of scarcity & timing. Several communion servers stand at the front and we approach them row by row to receive the bread and wine/grape juice. This morning I received the bread from our pastor, Jason, who miraculously always seems to know everyone's name, including mine. This morning he looked at me, as I'm sure he did with each participant, and said, "Jennifer, you are justified by the finished work of Christ."

I don't know why it was so profoundly moving & suddenly real to me this morning, since it is a phrase I have grown up with in church. I think maybe because it was spoken to me personally, physically, specifically, an aspect that seems lacking in my faith & that I continue to wrestle with; maybe because I have been on several levels testing my freedom in Christ, and have recently found myself looking over the edge of temptation's precipice - to be affirmed that my acceptance and standing is not based on my choice in those times draws me further from the edge, not closer to it, and brings profound comfort, maybe what I've been looking for in the first place. I think my response was also grounded in Nathan's song he offered as we came forward:

The gospel is all I have.

No well-kept presentable life to display.

The gospel is all I have.

No courage. No virtuous bold use of faith.

The gospel is all I have.

Well, the Lord God Almighty leapt down from the sky,

and he made himself nothing and served till he died,

so that I, just a beggar, at the Judgement might cry,

"The gospel is all I have!"

The gospel is all I have.

No merit to offer. No excuses to make.

The gospel is all I have.

No clever persuasive words I could say.

No debt I could work off. No bribe I could pay.

No goodness. No promise of love that won't fade.

The gospel is all I have.

In the midst of several weeks of desperately wanting something beyond what I have right now, today I understand, at least for this moment, that Jesus is the satisfaction of all that I am longing for - my justifier, my defender, the knower of my heart, the lover of my soul.

Family

2008-03-30T00:03:00.000-04:00

I was just catching up on reading family/friends' blogs and got "homesick" reading my stepmom's blog (www.jacksonwanderings.blogspot.com). I didn't realize how much I missed them, and how much I can't wait to see them in May! (& Jeff & Ade :) God is good isn't he? I'm so thankful tonight for the love & fun of friends & family, and the added sweetness of sharing truth & reality in Him. Thursday I get to spend some time with Lori, my "adopted mom", as she flies out of Indy to Cali to see Jeff & Ade & the kids. I'd normally work during the time she will be here, but by the blessing of God, I have 3 1/2 hrs for an early lunch to catch up and be blessed by her sweet fellowship! I miss my friends & family so far away, but that makes the time together that much sweeter...5 weeks to California & Dad & Becky & Marshall!!!

My only birthday on Easter, ever...

2008-03-25T10:34:00.000-04:00

Carl & Lori sent me a very sweet card for my birthday, along with an explanation of why we will never in our lifetimes see another Easter this early, and therefore, I will never have another birthday on Easter!

My 34th was very special, not only because of Easter, but also because I went to Michigan to see Dawn at Camp Michindoh! It was very fun getting her out of the camp and to Battle Creek for some shopping for her new apartment in the health center (she is now officially the camp's health officer - if you need your blood pressure checked, she's your girl :). Also for dinner Saturday night at Rosalie's, a local public house that reminded me strongly of Yesterday's in Granger in decor, if not in food.

Mostly very good bar food, but we had sandwiches & wings & enjoyed ourselves thoroughly :). Then to church on Sunday, one that Dawn had never been to that turned out to be charismatic! :) But still a very special time to celebrate Resurrection Sunday. Then back to camp to fix dinner (pork chops, fresh asparagus, gemstone potatoes, deviled eggs, birthday cake & strawberries), and to wander around camp...Michindoh is beautiful, with stone & timber buildings, rocky streams & hillsides, and the lake - especially with 8" of snow on the ground & blue skies & sunshine. Plus they have the largest water slide I have ever seen outside of an amusement park! (for use in summer of course :)

Then goodbye and back home to do homework and start another week of work & school - tomorrow, a "field trip" to my metalsmithing prof's studio to check out the fun tools :). It's a beautiful week here, tho' chilly, with blue skies & sunshine, a welcome change from the dull winter grays - spring is on the way!

Hope you have a blessed week, and continue to live in the awareness of Resurrection Day.

First project...

2008-03-25T10:29:00.000-04:00

This is a photo of my first official project for metalsmithing...a copper necklace for my chain project - individual leaf forms riveted together, with varied size rivets and soldered wire on the surface for texture. I think I got a B on it - kind of bit off more than I could chew in the time I had, so there are some things I wish I had spent more time on. But overall, I like it! :)

Soon to come...the LiteBrite ring! (for my toy-inspired project...)

Happy St. Patrick's Day! (Belated...)

2008-03-17T23:06:00.000-04:00

I tried to post this last week and had trouble w/ my internet...

Right now I'm wishing I were with my friends at Fiddler's Hearth in South Bend, crammed wall to wall, listening to one of the best Irish bands I've heard, Millish! And eating fish & chips from yesterday's SB Tribune, having a Woodchuck or Irish coffee... :)

But as a close second, I'm thankful to be home, listening to the rain and thunderstorm outside, one of my favorite things, and contemplating my next project for metalsmithing class, a wearable toy or toy-inspired adornment.

So far my favorites are a Lite-Brite ring (from one of my sister's favorite toys), a pick-up stix bracelet (kind of dangerous, but oh so useful in a dark alley), or the one I think I'm going to go with...you remember those little square plastic looms that you used stretchy cloth bands to make potholders with?? I think I want to do a smaller, curved version of that in silver, as a hinged bracelet, that uses rubber bands, with the hook as the closure - that way you can actually play with it :) I'll keep you posted, and hopefully soon, post photos of my first completed, original project, due Wednesday - yipes! :)

It's been fun to go back & remember some of my favorite toys in researching this project - Etch-A-Sketch, Operation, Mr. Potato Head (I'd LOVE to do this one, but I don't think I have enough time...), Tinker Toys, Scrabble, Hungry Hungry Hippo, Dominoes, Slinky, a ducky pull toy, Cranium, Sorry, Chutes & Ladders, Springbok puzzles, that bouncy ball thing we used for transportation, also my Big Wheel! :)

What was your favorite childhood toy?

My Amazing Sister

2008-03-01T01:45:00.000-05:00

Sorry to leave everyone hanging earlier this week :) Dawn just finished her EMT training and while on ride-a-long in the ambulance (I think I have this right) they ended up in the emergency room and the nurse/doctor on duty had Dawn perform chest compressions on a man who had had a heart attack. I think she said they worked on him for 15 minutes, but got him back and he is recovering! I hope she doesn't have to use this training at camp, but I feel safer knowing she can (except I'm not sure how I feel about my sister being able to break my ribs if necessary :)

Progress!

2008-02-26T10:54:00.000-05:00

Yay!!! I got an "A" on my first college paper in nearly 15 years! :) And I'm pretty sure I got an "A" on my midterm this morning too! All of this while having an emergency tooth extraction yesterday morning - turns out dentists' waiting rooms are good places to study :) I can't wait to have insurance again!

I had a really great time at my Discovering Redeemer class last weekend, led by our pastor, Jason. Turns out euker is a popular game here (I knew I liked these people) and there's an annual church-wide trip to Lake Michigan in May (there's only about 2-300 people at Redeemer, so it's not like they take over the entire lake like FBC would :) I got to meet several new people, tho' most of us were in our late 20's, early 30's, mostly singles, a few couples - not complaining :) It was good to meet people from such different backgrounds, and even a few from Goshen and South Bend! It seems that Fiddler's Hearth is known far & wide :) I'm praying about whether to join in time for the Easter membership class, or wait for a while. I love the mission and vision of Redeemer - to be an urban city church among many downtown fellowships that work for the spiritual, social, and artistic redemption of the city - but still have a few questions. In the meantime, I think I've found a couple community groups I can plug into on Sundays, since I work evenings during the week - I really miss my small group and those relationships!

Other than that, nothing much new...except my sister is nearly a certified EMT and got to save someone's life last week! I'm so impressed with her passion for her work, and so proud of her for the commitment it took to do an entire EMT training course in 2 weeks! And also really glad she did it close to me so I could take her out to celebrate (note: if you like Italian food, you MUST try Buca de Beppo's! You'll never look at Olive Garden the same way... :)

Sleepy Snowy Day

2008-02-22T14:52:00.001-05:00

I don't have work or class today, so this is my view from the kitchen table as I study for my art history midterm on Tuesday, and catch up on my blogging :). The cats are warming themselves on or near the radiators, and the snow looks beautiful when viewed from indoors :) The weather is actually very different in Indy from South Bend - less snow, more ice and sleet, but I love my adopted home.

Tonight & tomorrow morning I am attending a membership/exploration seminar for my church, more studying tomorrow, and then my sister Dawn comes! She is completing her

EMT training in Bloomington and will get to spend Saturday & Sunday with me before heading back to her camp in Michigan - precious sis time :). Next Friday I get to go with my friend Amanda to the Art Institute in Chicago - I've never been, and it has been free admission for the month of February - we will get to take advantage of the last day!

Last week I turned in my first paper for Art History, and have started on my first (mostly) self-designed project for my metalsmithing class - I've found that in studio classes, unless you get lucky, you are often working more with the instructor's aesthetic than your own :). So I am working mostly in copper for now and hope to work in sterling more on my own and as my skills progress. Still, it's my favorite class and I love getting up and going to play with fire and metal in the mornings! :)

My knowledge of heating, cooling, and ventilation progresses, as does my familiarity with the computerized energy management systems that control them - but I still feel like the not-very-smart kid in 8th grade science :) I have to work really hard at understanding this stuff, but I enjoy the people I work with and I can't argue with the pay. How completely random is my job history?? :)

God is very good to me and I'm still in awe that I get a "do-over" in life that is this much fun - I am blessed beyond measure!

My Church

2008-02-03T13:55:00.000-05:00

I have been wrestling for the last several months (truthfully, the last year) with what it looks & feels like to be a single woman who belongs to Christ but longs for the trifecta - a physical, spiritual, & emotional relationship. It seems to get more difficult, not less, the longer I live in this reality. I don't know what to expect or how to respond when God seems to delay or deny a desire He wired into me, yet I can truthfully say my life is very good and full, and I am hourly grateful for His gifts.

Our pastor, Jason, has been teaching through the Sermon on the Mount, and 2 weeks ago addressed lust/sexual sin. I don't know quite how to phrase this, but the atmosphere among the congregation as he taught didn't have the "heaviness", almost grief, that it has sometimes carried when I have heard it addressed in other churches, perhaps because in this place, it seemed to simply be a part of our battle for sanctification, and so naturally something that we discuss, both from the pulpit and together - there didn't seem to be the embarrassment in talking about it that I have observed in other settings. Does that make sense?

Anyway, as is fairly usual, Jason primarily addressed the men as he taught, and the following week announced that he appreciates the feedback on his teaching that he usually gets, and that he had received a high volume of response letting him know that he had really blown it - he had failed to address the women and acknowledge that this is a major battle/sin issue for us as well. He heard this from the women, and as he confessed this to us from the pulpit, there was much laughter acknowledging that he had indeed "blown it" and tacit agreement that this was indeed an issue for us. There was humility and grace in the discussion, and free of drama and pretension, I find freedom from fear to come before God and confess my failings and fears and my honest desires and disappointment.

Later that week, I spent some time with a friend from Redeemer - she is 28 and will celebrate her first "birthday" as a child of God this year. She is an artist and single, and her personal history is typical of someone of that age and environment. She speaks very easily and honestly of what she has been redeemed from, describing herself as a born-again virgin, and it is very easy for me to be honest about my struggles as a physical, but sometimes reluctant, virgin. She's also pretty clear about her disappointment and regrets and what she looks forward to in a relationship with a man who loves God and respects & loves her. In these conversations, I find correction and encouragement without lecturing, and God channels His strength to me through this other daughter of His.

Job Update

2008-01-30T11:35:00.000-05:00

OK, in case my job description seemed kind of fuzzy, I will actually be a technical service rep for automated HVAC/R systems! Kind of crazy & random I know, but that's what the company has decided to do w/ me :) So I will have 4-6 weeks of training (wiring diagrams, testing parts, learning about electronics, heating/cooling, etc.) and then I go live helping techs troubleshoot the system...as if I needed another career... :) But it will certainly be interesting, should be job security, and the pay's pretty good. Also, my hours will now be noon-9 p.m. after I finish training, so a little more manageable than I previously thought.

And, next metals class I learn how to rivet!, while creeping up on the end of archaic Greek art in H101...

AND...Glori & Aaron got engaged!!!! :)

AT LAST!!!... Full-Time Employment!!

2008-01-23T20:55:00.000-05:00

Yay, I am once again gainfully employed! I will be working 2nd shift at a call center for a company that runs automated building management systems...security, hvac, sprinklers, etc. It pays well enough and they said they could be flexible w/ my schedule if I needed. So I train from noon-8 for several weeks, and then will work 4:30-12:30 if I can't wangle a slightly earlier shift... :) I will still try to work weekends at the bookstore for a while, to keep my discount (35% on textbooks!) and maybe see if I can't get a similarly paying full-time position in a month or two. The call center thing is temp to perm through the employment agency, so I'm not married to it if the schedule is too much...

Anyway, thanks so much for your prayers & encouragement!

Fun Photos

2008-01-23T17:49:00.001-05:00

I haven't updated my blog for a while, so here's what I've been up to socially:

Christmas @ Lori's with Grandma Eiswald - yummy food & precious company!

My friend Amanda came for the long weekend and we went shopping, to a movie, out for dinner, and explored the Indianapolis Museum of Art...

Then we went w/ Sarah and Bethany to the Children's Museum, which was free for MLKing Day...

1st Class Piece

2008-01-16T12:23:00.000-05:00

Today I made this copper bracelet in metal-smithing - not too difficult, but I learned several new techniques, including annealing - heating the metal to make it softer for shaping. I get to work with fire! :) I've also learned how to sweat solder (using the blowtorch to attach one piece of metal on top of another) and make small balls at the end of metal wire for headpins & decoration...Tiffany, watch out :)

Haircut :)

2008-01-16T12:21:00.001-05:00

Found the Aveda Training Institute in Castleton - students do it so it's much cheaper! So now I'm blonde again too :)

1st Day of School

2008-01-07T22:43:00.001-05:00

This is my school!

Today I had metalsmithing & jewelry design @ 9:00, then walked downtown to Borders (it was a balmy 60 degrees!) until I went to work @ B&N at 1:00. A very busy day, found out that pre-dentistry majors take jewelry design to improve their dexterity (there are 3 in my class), and that there is one other nonstandard (old :) student in that class. Tomorrow is History of Art 101 @ 9:00, then back to work at 1:00, rinse, repeat...

UNEMPLOYMENT ENDS!

2008-01-05T22:49:00.000-05:00

I am officially not unemployed! I stopped into the IU bookstore today, which is run by Barnes & Noble, and after getting my books for classes on Monday, asked the manager about a job - long story short, I am once again a B&N employee, albeit part-time. Hopefully I will be able to get full-time hours once the cafe opens in a few weeks, if I don't have something else already. The best part is that it's on campus, so a very short commute for me! God is very, very good, and my landlord should be very, very happy. AND the B&N discount stays in the family...

Interesting Week

2008-01-04T20:30:00.000-05:00

Well, still no real job yet, but the folks here have been great! This week the curator of the art center paid me to organize his (massive!) cd collection and attempt some organizing in his art studio. What a blast! :) Probably 5-600 cd's and maybe a 1/4 of them were out of their cases, some of which were in separate components...some really great titles too, all across the spectrum, every genre you can think of and some I'd never heard of. He even let me take some of the duplicates, so I'm expanding my horizons as I type this. Jennie & Amanda would have known more than I did and I expect will be jealous. I feel I could make a very entertaining and comfortable living cleaning artist's studios...

Tonight I volunteered at First Friday, the monthly show at HCA, which was themed "Backyard", a fun and warm theme for a 20 degree January evening. My 2nd favorite pieces were a series of really lovely b&w line drawings of individual squirrels, each performing different squirrel actions, each wearing a full-color painted WWF character mask closely fitted to their squirrel faces. It sounds absurd, but you get the feeling looking at the drawings that this is exactly the mindset squirrels have, especially if you've ever seen one mount a full-scale assault on a bird feeder.

But my very favorites were a series of photographs entitled Escape Strategies. 3 were of a man in mid-air above a trampoline in cookie cutter upper middle class suburbia, poised to fly off the picture plane; my favorite was a bird's eye view of a ditto backyard with views over the numerous fences of several other identical backyards, with a turf "lid" set slightly askew off a black whole in the ground, which one could only assume was an escape hatch. A fifth photo showed a folding lounge chair in flight dangling a rope ladder above same yard with same man running and reaching. The irony of that series was that there was no where to escape to - middle class suburbia as far as the camera could reach. One wonders if it was a commentary on American culture or a metaphor for apparently inescapable realities, or perhaps both. Anyway, I love art.

Update: Yesterday I received my financial aid distribution so tonight I write this on my new Macbook Pro! Which it turns out I will need b/c my History of Art professor expects us to check the class website before & after each lecture for outlines, updates and messages. At the risk of sounding like a parent, school has surely changed since I went last.

The Sun giveth and the Sun taketh away

2007-12-31T15:15:00.000-05:00

We FINALLY have some sunshine here, for a couple of hours anyway, before more rain & snow comes tonight and the temp drops 40 degrees... :(

For those who were asking, here some photos of my little place all "decked out" for Christmas...please ignore the trash by the door. Sorry these aren't very good, I'll make some adjustments when I get a photo editor...

Question of the Day

2007-12-28T12:21:00.000-05:00

I was just remembering some of my favorite books as a kid, the Something Queer is Going On mysteries by Elizabeth Levy, about two friends named Jill & Gwen, and Jill's basset hound, Fletcher, who had markings in the shape of Africa. My very favorite was Something Queer is Going On at the Lemonade Stand.

What were your favorite childhood books?

Life is just a bowl of kitties

2007-12-14T18:14:00.001-05:00

The sink bowl is Oreo's favorite spot when I'm getting ready in the morning...and yes, I have turned the water on her :)

Photos

2007-12-12T10:43:00.000-05:00

1st snow in Indy

Over the Rhine at the Goshen Theater - if you ever get a chance to see these guys, do not pass it up! Their recordings are outstanding, but they are indescribable live - everyone says Karen sounds like Norah Jones until they hear her live and find out just how much more range she has. And Linford (her husband on the left) is a hoot - I love it when he starts wandering on in his drawly bass voice. Also, the drummer is one of the finest I've ever heard and the bass guy's no slouch either...check them out at http://www.overtherhine.com/ - the contrary-minded and music lovers among you will want to listen to If A Song Could Be President from the Trumpet Child album.

No Photos

2007-12-11T13:31:00.001-05:00

I'm currently on a mac & can't figure out how to save my photos from my email to my jump drive (no right click) so my apologies... I'll get new photos up (1st snow & Over the Rhine concert) as soon as I get it figured out.

Well, no job yet, and I confess that I'm really nervous yet perfectly at peace at the same time - not sure how that works, except that the specter of January rent & December bills is looming concurrently with the knowledge that this move was the right decision and in line with God's will for my future. Don't worry, I'm ruling nothing out and at the moment, am willing to try anything legal.

On that note, I substitute taught at Herron High School (no connection to the art school) on Friday (ceramics & drawing) - somewhat intimidating initially, but very fun! I didn't know how much I missed talking to students. It was a great experience since I'm considering teaching art someday. Anyway, nothing occured to make me reconsider...

After school, I got to help set up for a gallery opening at Harrison Art Center (down the street from my apartment) - my first collaboration with a professional artist! I contributed a gate to a winter scene for a dance performance, constructed out of found junk in the gym - rusty mattress springs, clear plastic sheeting, lights, a coat tree, and clear plastic exercise balls - I wish I had gotten a picture of it, but alas, it was kind of a hectic evening! However, the artist in question, who was billed on the performance, was pleased with my work! I then attended the opening as a patron, and thoroughly enjoyed myself.

Moved In

2007-12-04T19:36:00.000-05:00

It was a long weekend, but we made it! We looked like the Clampetts with Aaron's truck loaded to oblivion, but it was worth the laughs to get almost everything in one trip (thanks Jed & Paul - you are supermen! Thanks to Carl, too, for letting us drive your truck, but it didn't look like this)

This behemoth was at the gas station just south of Grissom Air Force Base - sorry Aaron, this guy got it first :)

The superwomen were Norma who helped load, and Dawn, Miriam, & Amanda who loaded, drove 3 hours, unloaded & carried all my junk up 3 flights of stairs! Also, special thanks to Austin & his friend (whose name I am unable to remember :( who carried the big stuff! This is my neighborhood, tho' gray & rainy - it started sleeting as we started unloading.

So now I'm nearly unpacked and here is the tour so far - note all the boxes of books I don't have shelves for :)Check out that closet, now dubbed my dressing room - I love my place!! 10' ceilings, hardwood floors, crown moldings - why did I ever think I needed anything bigger than this?? I've disposed of everything (well, almost) that isn't absolutely necessary, and I love it! This place has so much character, I just need the time, creativity & IKEA to make it really amazing - ya'll have to come down & visit :)

Still no job - the hunt picks up afresh tomorrow. Please keep praying and I will keep you posted! Special love and thanks for all of your prayers, cards, gifts and kind wishes - I reread them everyday!

Decorating for Christmas

2007-11-28T09:29:00.000-05:00

My stuff is (nearly) all packed, so the only thing I could decorate was my blog :) Hope you enjoy the new look...

New Contact Info

2007-11-27T12:32:00.000-05:00

Tomorrow is my last day at work and Saturday is moving day!

Here is my new address & email:

1445 N. Delaware, Apt. 303
Indianapolis, IN 46202
jlj5@iupui.edu

my cell stays the same...

1st Snow in Indiana

2007-11-24T14:12:00.001-05:00

Thanksgiving brought the first snow of the year and it was beautiful! After a fun mini-Thanksgiving at my place, Dawn & I went to see the movie Enchanted with Amanda - I took this photo in the parking lot at about 6:45pm...

p.s. If you're looking for an anti-fairy tale like we were, do not see this movie! Well done enough for what it was (spot-on Disney casting), but definitely a sweetness & light happily-ever-after ending...a perfect movie for moms, grandmas, & granddaughters :)

Studio Living

2007-11-24T14:04:00.000-05:00

For those of you keeping tabs (& since moving day is a week from today) I found an apartment in Indy! Pretty small studio (467 sf.), but oak hardwood floors & crown molding in a gorgeous historic neighborhood, 1 block south of Redeemer Pres. Unfortunately for the great friends who are helping me move, it's a 3rd floor walkup :( But really, the sofa bed isn't that heavy...

Pictures below...

I love the funky aqua tile in the bathroom! (everything in this place except the refrigerator is orginal to the ca. 1920's construction...)

Blessings

2007-11-14T09:00:00.000-05:00

Starting to panic a little this week - only 2.5 weeks left before the big day (6 more days of work!) and so much that's yet to be determined! I too easily focus on what I think I don't have, but if I stop for even a little bit, I'm overwhelmed by the abundance of my life (especially as I start to pack it! :)

Especially notable this week are friends - godly women with whom to share music, books, sushi & life :); my family, including many who aren't even related to me except by love & choice; my churches - 1. FBC which lifted my family up & carried us for so many years, 2. Vineyard which continues to be a respite of honesty, humility & joy, & 3. Redeemer which promises to teach me not only as a Christ-follower but as a creative steward as well. All this on top of food, clothing, a warm place to sleep, a job to do, & oodles of stuff which I am now trying to weed through & load into boxes that won't overwhelm the generous people who are helping me to move.

My reflexive views of my own poverty or abundance are radically out of whack. I know this to be true in theory, but lose sight of it when unexpected expenses pop up (like a traffic ticket for plates I ought to have known were expired :P) or plans don't come together in my time frame, or I simply haven't been the steward I ought to have been. Maybe one of the most significant consequences of mis-stewardship is the attention it takes from the blessings poured out on me. I just finished the Treasure Principle and am trying reconcile those truths with the truth of Heaven Is A Place On Earth, which I've been in the middle of for while. How do you balance storing up treasures in heaven with celebrating all that God has created & given us here (not in terms of possessions but experiences & people)?

If you have any thoughts I'd love to hear them! For now I'm starting, but not ending, with shifting my focus back to His gifts, material & not. So in addition to the list of blessings above, I'm adding God's patience & mercy, & His delight in me.

Sushi & Fun

2007-11-09T15:48:00.001-05:00

Believe it or not, Elkhart actually has a wonderful little sushi & martini bar called Stirred (next door to, & run by, the Daily Grind). So last Friday, Amanda, Jennie & I decided it was time to get foxy & head out for some fun! :)

This was actually my first experience with sushi, and I have to say I'm hooked, even though this was kind of American fusion. Our veggie roll appetizer was outstanding, as was the martini sampler - black cherry, red velvet, tiramisu, creme brulee - fabulous! The apple saki, not so much - kind of a watered down apple jolly rancher - interesting, but next time I'm going for straight saki. For the uninitiated, the green dots are wasabi (& you thought peppers were hot) and the pink shavings are candied ginger. I had the Stirred rolls (shrimp, avacado, cilantro, red pepper)

Amanda had himachi sushimi (not sure what fish this was, but it was raw - the flavor was nice, but not my favorite texture :)

& Jennie had crab rolls.

The dessert, oh my heavens! Caramel apple bread pudding, by far the best thing - chef-made caramel sauce; tiramisu w/ chef-made kahlua, also a revelation; and pumpkin pecan cheesecake, big enough for 3.

So much fun, I love to try new things! The only thing that would have made it better was 3 more girls and an Over the Rhine concert as a nightcap :)

Indy Trip

2007-11-09T08:59:00.000-05:00

Had a great interview yesterday w/ Kindra & Dawn @ the IU Foundation (fundraising arm of the university). It's a part-time job assisting them w/ promoting the library to students & the community - a lot of what I do at the City without the stress, but unfortunately no benefits. I really liked the girls and the sounds of the job, and will probably have a follow-up phone interview next week. In the meantime, I'm still looking! I also checked out 2 apartments that are definite no's - safety & all that - but have more to do there as well. So the hunt continues! Thanks for your prayers!

On another note, while SB retained my mayor, Indy lost theirs in a HUGE upset & there is major concern in the arts & philanthropic community about what it will mean for neighborhood & arts funding - apparently the mayor-elect has very different views about the role of the arts in neighborhood development and the city budget. So that election may have a material effect on what has been described as a very public-accessible, grass-roots arts community. I'll keep you posted!

Luecke Wins!

2007-11-07T08:56:00.000-05:00

Yay, my mayor earned 62% of the vote yesterday! The future of South Bend is secure for the next 4 years :) You get a pretty good sense of someone's character when you work 20 yards from his office door, and Mayor Steve is quiet, gracious, humble and honorable, quick to share praise with his team and expecting the same high level of integrity from his staff that expects from himself. In addition, I believe he is a man who seeks to serve God and conducts himself in a manner consistent with his beliefs. There is a lot that needs to be accomplished yet in South Bend, but I think he's the one to do it.

It's really been a blessing to work here these 2.5 years and better understand how gov't works and see up close the commitment and sacrifices of the people who serve in public office. I leave with the firm belief that every resident should be required to job-shadow a gov't employee for 6 months before being allowed to complain (or vote!), to see up close the challenges and daily guff they face! :) Unless you're actually involved and investigating the issues firsthand, I'm convinced you're just armchair quarterbacking. I wasn't really politically aware before I came here, but I have a greater sense now of the blessing we enjoy in this system of gov't and the privilege of having a voice. It's far from perfect, but you can't help it or anyone else until you get educated (about both sides!) and then get involved.

One last thought... generally speaking, I have found both sides of any given argument to be comprised of well-intentioned, dedicated, intelligent people who are doing their best to act on what they believe to be right and true. I have also observed that the exceptions lie (figuratively and literally :) on both sides of the aisle.

OK, I'm done politicking...

Registered!

2007-11-06T10:56:00.000-05:00

I'm officially a college student! Drawing I on M,W & 2D Design on T,Th - classes start Jan. 7! Spring Break is Mar. 10-14 so Dawn & I are planning to fly out to San Francisco to see our folks - we wanted to go for Christmas, but ticket prices are nuts :( So Christmas is in Indy this year, come one, come all :)

Job Interview

2007-11-06T10:46:00.001-05:00

I'm going back to Indy on Thursday to interview at the IUPUI library - Admin. Asst. for Community Events (fundraising wing of the library). It's only part-time but pays decently for an on-campus job & if I can get a tuition break, it will be worth it! I had a call from FedEx too, but it wouldn't work w/ my class schedule :( I'm still scouting other opportunities too, so if you know someone... :)

This was my Halloween...

I went to Amanda & Glori's to help hand out candy - we fixed dinner, carved pumpkins, and didn't watch Corpse Bride twice :) Mine is on the left...

Indy Trip

2007-10-26T11:47:00.000-04:00

(This is the view from my office window in South Bend - I will really miss some things about this place, especially watching fall creep up right behind my back :)

I had a good trip to Indy on Monday & Tuesday - all of my gen ed requirements are satisified except for 2 science classes :(~ and I had several interviews at employment agencies that went very well. The consensus is that I should have no trouble finding a job, even if I have to take 2 part-time jobs to work around classes...but what to do about insurance...

The biggest blessing was stopping by Redeemer Presbyterian, a church I was referred to by the local Intervarsity guy & have been checking out online. Long story short, the pastor introduced me to the director of the community art center they run and they practically adopted me on the spot - they are passing my resume around, offered me work-study (which I can't afford to take :( ) and are checking to see if anyone has an apartment to rent or needs a roommate. Joanna's (the director) comment was "there's no need to start from scratch when you have a community ready to support & help you." Isn't God good? He's good regardless, but isn't He GOOD?! :)

Camera Photos

2007-10-19T13:54:00.000-04:00

Finally got my photos from this summer emailed from my camera phone to my computer! Here are some of my favorites:

Rodin's "Thinker", Meijer Gardens, Grand Rapids

White Tiger at Zoofari, Potawatomi Zoo, South Bend - I went with my friend Amanda to catch some great Irish music from Kennedy's Kitchen and got this beautiful girl as a bonus! This is the exact same pose my cat Oreo assumes when she's hot - here kitty, kitty, kitty! :)

Sibling Day at the Beach - my sister Dawn & I took our little brother Marshall to Tunnel Beach in Michigan, and he conned Dawn into burying him in the sand - this is his "dead" face :)

Girls' Night Out - one last hurrah for the girlfriends before Megan & Ryan left for Argentina - dinner at NoMA (fabulous!) and dessert at Indulgence. We look pretty hot, don't you think?

Notre Dame vs. Michigan St. - my 1st ND game but I hope not my last. Even though they lost, we had a blast, and it was so fun to go with my sister - we sat next to cute friendly guys & got to see the 1st, tho' thankfully not the last, offensive touchdown of the season :)

Ornamental Dandelions

2007-10-15T13:12:00.000-04:00

I don't know if this phrase is new or just new to me, but it popped fully formed into my head one day when I saw a lovely little yard, nicely mowed (mown?), with a lone dandelion at the base of a wooden fencepost - tall and waving its sunshine head in the breeze, much as if it had been purposely planted there.

Normally one sees tulips or other such "proper" flowers arranged this way, and I wondered if it had been missed by the mower or if someone had seen beauty and asymmetry in the weed and left it as a paean to the overlooked wonder & grace of common objects that we take for granted.

Anyway, somethimes I feel like that dandelion - terribly common and not very exceptional - and I was reminded that I was created and am seen by a Father who knows my unique beauties and flaws, even in the midst of a sea of dandelions, and I am never overlooked, even when I feel mown down. (Genesis 16 tells the story of Hagar's banishment because of Sarah's jealousy, and as she has given up hope for her life and her son's, Jehovah comes to her with water and a promise. She declares that "Truly here I have seen him who looks after me" and calls that desert place Beer-lahai-roi, "The well of the Living One who sees me.")

My little corner of the world is full of blessings & beauty that remind me of the care of the Living One, if I have the eyes and mind to see them.