PIck of the Week: Amani Ya Juu

Amani Ya Ju means "Higher Peace" in Swahili. It is a project to help African women improve and lean skills in sewing, marketing, fashion design, buying and bookkeeping. It is based in Nairobi, Kenya and my friend Lynn Windmeyer was been working for the last year. When I was in Kenya in July, we took a tour of Amani, to see Lynn and the ladies she works with. When we arrived, we were met with singing, and greeted with a hug and a kiss. All of it together, the warm welcome, seeing Lynn in her work, the colors of the fabrics, and the grace and beauty of the Amani women was all but magical. The clothes are beautiful. Lynn has done an amazing job coming up with designs and finding new colors and the Amani ladies bring it all together in the art of excellence. To learn more about Amani Ya Juu and to see the beauty they create go to

http://www.amaniafrica.org/index.htm

Windmeyer Wedding

Our friends, Tim and Lynn got married this weekend. It was beautiful and really fun! Lynn designed and made all the bridesmaid dresses as well has her own wedding dress. Tim was in the wedding so we stayed in the block of rooms reserved for the groomsmen. Most of them were Windmeyer's friends he has made while working for Sameritan's Purse in Africa for the past 4 years. Liz and I made fast friends with the girls who were there from SP. They are such an amazing group of friends.

Jon and Liz shared a hotel room with us. Our room was a wreck the whole time. I love how comfortable the four of us are together in such small living quarters. Brushing our teeth next to each other, Tim and Jon tying each other's ties. Liz and I sharing make up and jewelry. You don't have too many friends like that in your life.

Guests came from all over the world to celebrate Tim and Lynn's life together. The new Mr. and Mrs. Windmeyer have had such a beautiful and generouse impact on us all. On the night of the rehersal dinner people, including me and Tim, stood up and told stories, funny, touching, scary, loving, all of out Windmeyer and Lynn have touched our lives. We laughed a lot, and ate together and cried from being happy and cried a little from being sad. It was hard to say good-bye knowing that this group of people would probably never be gathered in the same place again. It was a great weekend that will not be quickly forgotten. We were loved well, and will in turn know how to love better because we have been a part of these people's lives.

We Live in the Most Beautiful Place On Earth

I never really understood why people got so attached to their neighborhoods or their houses. Now I understand. We live by a beautiful park and in a magical little house that is perfectly suited to us, me and Tim. It is an old neighborhood, and a 95 year old house. The trees are big and the sidewalks are cracked, the houses are brick and gardens and the park are two blocks in either direction. I am overcome with the beauty of it all and sometimes when I'm walking through the park, I feel like I'm in a fairytale where pixies and unicorns exist. Here are some pictures to show you what I mean. Tim and I took King for a walk a few weeks ago, under the tuning of the trees and changing of the air.

Baby Horn

Congrats to our friends Jon and Liz Horn on finding out they are going to have a baby! We love you guys and can't wait to meet the kid who who is going to have the curliest hair in the world! You can see more info about Baby Horn on Liz's blog.

http://hornaction.blogspot.com/

Pick of the Week: Online Reputation Clean Up Firms

Whenever it was that I joined the ranks of the whole online, facebook, myspace, blogging craze, I noticed a lot of embarrassing stuff that people posted to their sites. Not embarrassing maybe to their friends, but definitely content, that they wouldn't want parents or say, future employers to see. So I wrote a blog about it. In more words I basically said that if you wanted a money making idea, come up with a business to clean up all the online images of our future business leaders of America. All the jr. high and high school kids of today putting everything up for public display might find that a hindrance to gaining employment when they start looking for jobs.
Well, those businesses are here. The NPR link below has a great look at these online reputation firms. It gives statistics like, "In a recent survey, one in 10 hiring managers say they rejected candidates because of things they found out about them on the Internet."
It highlights points like, "Even when you delete images from the Web, they sometimes live on search-engine files." These firms aren't making millions today, but from the looks of the sites I've seen lately, in a few years, the image clean up business will be booming.
It makes you think that what you are putting on your profile now, might cost you hundreds of dollars to get rid of in the future.


http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6462504

Pick of the week: Silver Clouds

This weekend, Tim and I went to Saint Louis University’s Museum of Contemporary Religious Art. The display? Andy Worhal's Silver Clouds exhibt. It was magical. A room with floating silver pillows gliding all around us. The "clouds" bushed and swirled past us, making me giggle in delight. We stood and sat, walked and layed under the blanet of shiney, bouncing balloons. We watched the clouds dance while standing on the outside of the silk curtains. it reminded me of being under water with the sunlight slicing through the surface. Soothing, classical music ribboned its way thourgh the whole experience. We thought for sure that this would be an amazing party theme, and speculated on ways to pull it off. I was so sad that I didn't have my camera, and vowed to return several more times. So simple and so beautiful. Everyone should see this exhibit.

http://www.slu.edu/readstory/more/7183

Pick of the Week: LINDBERGH

This week goes to this great band called Lindbergh. I’ve know John Baker for a few years and every song that comes out impresses me more than the last. Currently residing in Chicago, Lindbergh originates from St. Louis. They have come a long way from when I first heard Baker play over 4 years ago. Their sound is edgy and clean, with impressive vocal ranges and intuitive lyrics. You want to put a mix together for your next road trip, party, or dare I say, to dance by yourself with one hand waving free? You can see Lindbergh live at Cicero's on the U City Loop December 21st at 8:00. For a full bio and to sample their sound and style check out their MySpace page.
http://www.myspace.com/lindberghband

Pick of the Week: The Saint Louis Cardinals

So it might be a little sentimental and cheesy, but my pick this week goes to the St. Louis Cardinals for winning the World Series. It was a amazing! Tim and I invited ourselves over the the Warrens to watch the game b/c there was no way we were going to by ourselves if the Cardinals actually won game five! That kind of thing has to be shared. Nerves were high, pacing and deep breaths, screaming and our own rally towels, (from Leah's bathroom) were all part of the evening. We jumped and hugged and took lots of pictures. It was an unforgettable night, even for Todd who would have had a ticket to the game, had his phone not been on silent. We all cried for him on the inside. I did make a lot of calls after the game to share my joy and excitement with all of my friends who are adoring Cards fans. I called Hannah, who said, she could have been at the game, but she sacrificially gave her ticket to her brother. Webel answered the phone, "I'M AT THE GAME!!!" all horse, and a hint of tears??? Lucas texted me, "I'm euphoric and in disbelief. Triumph of hte the underdog. Way to go St. Louis." Oooohhhh! And what was up with all the people saying, "No one thought we would do it, but we won....blah, blah. I always thought they could win. The "they" wasn't the fans, not the good one's anyway, Doug! Okay that's it. Cheers to an unforgettable win, and all your good memories of the 2006 World Series.

With The Girls

Last weekend four of my longesest standing girlfriends came into St. Louis just to catch up. It was amazing thinking that we all went to high school and college together and we still know each other. We don't just know each other, but we talk to each other on a weekly basis. We live in three different cities and work and are in school and are married and single and we all still make the effort to connect, hang out, stay apart of each others' lives. That is a blessing. It is the smile needed in the midst of sarrow, the sunshine that evaporates the gloom and rare safety that comes with people who know you and love you anyway.

Beautiful Mess Photography

Check out my Photography Blog, Beautiful Mess Photography. You can link to it from this site, or go to http://www.beautifulmessphoto.com/

Beautiful Mess Photography has offically kickded off. Details are posted on how to get your own protrait sitting for senior pictures, engagment photos or family or bridal portaits, along with other artistic photographs by me!

Pick of the Week: The Cruch

This guy is amazing! Don't ever tell anyone they "can't" do something, b/c after I saw this I realized that is seems that the people who have less of a chance of achieving great things in life, are the people who actually go out there and become excellent at what they do.

Pick of the Week: Super Size Me

If you needed a kick in the butt to start eating less junk and start working out more, this film will do it. It made me sick to my stomach, swear off fast food and then went out and then I went out and bought 7 different kinds of fresh fruits and vegitables. I don't know how anyone could do this to themselves, but this guy was dedicated to make a point. We all know fast food is bad for us, but did we know exactly how much damage it can do to us? Not just by gaining weight, but damage to our organs, damage to our mentality, causing adictions, and depression. I started watching this movie thinking, "I'll never give up my McDonald's fries!" Now I don't think I can bring myself to do it. There are some extreme cases in this movie, but you can't ignore the abolute betrayal to your body it is to eat fast food.

Balloon Race

Last weekend, Tim and I went with some freinds to the Great Froest Park Balloon Race. It was a beautiful day, with a lot of wind and we got some great shots of the balloon glow the night before the race and the balloons taking off on Saturday.

Pick of the Week: BJ Jones Art Gallery

BJ Jones, Mizzou graduate and friend, now lives in California where he bringing remarkable vison to the art community. His light/dark contrast is striking and never gets boring. There is new detail and intrigue with every sketch or painting. He is a brilliant artist, who's perspective on the human form is unique, enlightened and speaks to the "Beauty in the Mess" theme that I am so big on. Look out for my favorite pieces, "Community", "Blues", "A New Birth", and "Splitting Heads".

http://www.bjjonesart.com/

Pick of the week: Post Secret

I learned about this website in the class that I took last semester. I'm sure that it is old news to some of you, but I was intrigued, especially when I learned that the All American Reject song, "Dirty Little Secret was about this blog site. It is called Post Secret.

People from all over the country, maybe the world, send this guy, Frank, post cards with their "dirty little secrets" on them. Some of them are painful, some funny, some scary, some just artistic, but still it is this beautiful collage of all these people's art. It is all anonymous, and the site might not be for everyone's eyes, but there is something to be learned from this site.

It had 25 million hits last year. People come to the "alter", so to speak, and pour themselves out. All kinds of people with all kinds of things to confess. Frank changes the post cards every Sunday for an all new hodgepodge of art and feeling and realizations. He has also set up a Hope Suicide Hotline for people to call in and have someone to talk to about their pain.

This site brings to light not only the problems that the American people are dealing with, but forum, where people can come as they are and share their deepest hurts and longings and receive help for whatever they are struggling with. A place where they can feel save and not judged. Obviously, there is a need for this in our society since so many people have responded to the Post Secret site.
You can link from my home page or here is the link.
http://postsecret.blogspot.com/

Pick of the Week: Firefly

So I haven't been keeping up with my pick of the week, but I'm so into the show firefly, that I have to get give you a chance to know that it exists. My first reaction was the same as yours. "You think that I would have any interest in a Sci-Fi, meets western, written by Joss Wheaten?" Well, I gave it a chance, and it is brilliant. The TV series Firefly was a FOX television show that was canceled mid-season and recently released to DVD. There are only 13 episodes, and I watched them, completely devastated that there were no more. But then, Serenity, the movie, which is also kind of the show's finale was released in theaters. I know, who makes a movie out of a cancelled TV show? (Okay, yes, Star Trek, but this is way better!) Firefly has all the humor that most Sci-Fi's miss, the intelligence that most drama lacks, and the mystery and intrigue that has me almost feeling guilty trying to get you all to watch it, b/c I know that 13 episodes and one movie later, there will be no more. You will be left with the same questions as the rest of the firefly watching world. There are websites and polls and petitions trying to get the show released straight to DVD, or some other station to pick it up. There are charity events that raise thousands of dollars for wellness organizatoins based around the comminatory that Firefly brings.

Am I Happy?

I wrote this in response to one of my friend's blogs that posted the question, "Are you happy?"

I am stupidly, ridiculously, shamelessly happy. I usually don't even know why. I start by thinking I have everything and more, and more. I love the street that I have to drive down on my way home from work. It is the most beautifully street in the world. I have my perfect dream house, with wood floors, built in bookcases, and it is painted in colors that I got to pick out. I have the perfect dog, who knows tons of tricks and just looking at him makes me happy. I have a beautiful husband, who loves me and takes care of me and we celebrated our third anniversary in June. God has blessed me at being good at visual production and photography. I have a love for hanging out with jr. high and high school kids, that most people would classify as crazy, but being around them just makes me understand why we are alive. I love my church and the people who I'm in leadership with and I have great friends and I have freedom to worship.

But this is all fleeting.... So why am I happy? I then think because this world is not my home, because there is a angry, worrier God who is fighting for justice and redemption in darkest most hellish corners of the world. Because I have more than today, more than all these earthly blessings to go Home to.

I usually forget about how good I have it, I take for granted that I get to eat 3 meals a day and breathe on my own, and STILL God is faithful to keep pouring on all the earthly blessings, even though they aren't the point. I am happy because I have a God who delights in me and desires my happiness. I am happy because I have a purpose, a home, and a Good Father, who opens my eyes to how good I really do have it. To say that happiness cannot measure a life well lived, is kind of stupid. If you are truly happy it is because you are living life in praise and thanks for life God is letting you live well. To not be happy with all the blessings you have earthly or not, is not giving God his due.

So if you read this, tell me what makes you happy on my comment page.

Our Need To Remain Infinite

In the search to make my story known, keep up with far away friends, and comply with all the technology available to me in the 21st century, I have officially become a cyber child.
Not only do I have this MySpace account, I decided to open another one for my photography. To do that I had to open another email account. I have a work email too. I'm trying to do some photography on the side, so Tim bought me an iBook while I was in Africa, I have a few computers at work and I just found out that you can up load pictures to blogspot....
So that comes to a grand total of....

4 email accounts, 2 MySpace accounts, 1 Blogspot, 5 computers at my disposal, (2 Mac, 3 PC), only 1 cell phone though, 1 home phone, 1 direct line to my desk, 2 digital cameras, one MP3 player, a digital recorder, and a dog named King. (that is just assuming that you all know we have the usual TV, DVD, VCR, stereo setup at home) And since I sit at at least 2 of those computers almost all day long, with my cell phone at my side, I have a constant line to the outside.

Am I really connected, or just absolutely overboard?

Pick of the week: Jack's Mannequin

Andrew McMahon took a break from Something Corporate, to form this weeks pick; a band called Jack's Mannequin. I bought the first album, "Everything In Transit" about 4 months ago and it is stays in my CD player about 50% of the time. You might have heard their first single, "Mixed Tape" on the radio or popular TV shows. They have an addicting sound somewhere between Ben Folds (because of the piano) and.... the Beach Boys??? (on cancer) McMahon was diagnosed with acute lymphatic leukemia in May of 2005 which adds a little something extra to the mix. Throw in some punk guitar and summertime hook, that makes you want to move to California, and you have this weeks favorite, (and I learned how to spell "mannequin")

Read about the success of using adult stem cells to help Andrew into remission
http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1511627/20051017/something_corporate.jhtml?headlines=true
You can check out a Bio on the VH1 site:
http://www.vh1.com/artists/az/jacks_mannequin/bio.jhtml
Or check out the Jack's Mannequin site
http://www.jacksmannequin.com/

For those who are content conscience, there is some adult language and content to the music.

Imaginary Line

While in Kenya, we traveled from Nairobi to Kitale, This is me and my friend Hannah. Hannah is standing in the southern hemisphere and I am standing in the northern hemisphere of our great planet, Earth.

The equator, is just an imaginary line that divides the northern from the southern hemisphere, but when I was there with my left foot in winter and my right foot in summer, all those days of grade school science seemed worthwhile. Real life application makes all the difference.

Back from Kenya

Hi everyone!

I got back into St. Louis last night at about 5:30. It was a long ride home, but I was ready to be back and see Tim and my puppy! Kenya was amazing! Everything was a contrast. In Nairobi everything is in English. The menus, posters, shop signs, the billboards, (all advertising for cell phones and internet service), most of the people seemed to speak English there too. But then you have a skyscraper right next to a guy leading a donkey and a woman selling carrots on the side of the road. Their a bike taxis that will take you to the mall, and roadside stands full of flowers, vegetables and nick-knacks right by a shoe store that has a cardboard cut out of Christina Aguilera advertising for Sketchers. Street children who haven’t eaten in days or bathed in months, standing outside the Mercedes dealership. Our hosts, the Kindergor family made sure we had awesome places to stay, and

The colors? Totally amazing! The transportation? Completely crazy. The people? Extremely welcoming. Promptness? Nonexistent.

We had one day in Karaokot, helping some nurses on a medical mission. It took us 5 hours to drive 60km up into the mountains to see the home of one of our dear friends who had made it her mission to take in all the orphans of the village. Right now they have 6 of their own children and 10 orphans. We were driving on what they call roads which are more like dried up river beds, and bushwhacked animal paths. The dirt is unbelievable. After 5 hours there and back you could shake your hair out and get a hand full of dirt. Occasionally, some guy in all his tribal gear would step out of the wilderness on either side of the road. We were a million miles from no where, and there would be a random guy there with his goats. Karapokot is like going back in time 1000 years. No electricity, no running water, but it is there home. The boys all wear miniskirts and hoop earrings and hold staves and their own little sitting stool, that they have carved themselves. They all manage, and the children seemed to be as happy as any kid Ive met in the States. There is a school there now, but many of the children choose not to attend. Samson gave Pat and Gabe, two of the kids that were in our group lambs. They named them and next year they are supposed to go back and eat them. Everyone was welcoming and all the kids love the video camera! Becca and I managed to teach the kids stupid American dances and they taught us some of their dance, which consisted mostly of jumping up and down in rhythm to a beat. We spoke no Pocot and they spoke no English, but they learned the Macarena in no time. Becca and I got laughed at a lot. We were there well after dark and you could see the whole universe in the sky.

Broken struts, flat tires 14 people in one Land Curser, some how we made it back to Kitale at about 2:30 in the morning. We had to leave our Kenyan friends who were with us with the broken car. They fixed it and made it back to Kapenguria around 8:30 A.M, ready to take on the peace rally with no sleep. On the way home they hit a dear, by accident. They threw it in the back of their van, (with the 10 people) and skinned it, cooked it and ate it for breakfast. I cant believe I missed that!

Tuesday we went to Turkwel for the first peace rally and we went to Tot for the second peace rally. (By the way, these places aren’t on very many maps of Kenya, but they are all near Lodwar. At one point on the way to Karapokot, we were 4 Km from the Ugandan border.) You couldn’t pay to go to the random, furthest corners of the earth places they took us. It was like everything you see on National Geographic, right in front of your face, but you cant believe it. There was always lots of singing and dancing. Some of the guys that were jumping up and down had a 24 inch vertical.

We handed out Bibles to the pastors of the churches there and Andrew spoke to the people about if they cant have peace in their own homes, if they are beating their wives and continuing to have forced marriage, how can they expect to have peace among their neighboring tribes. We were well received everywhere we went. People were constantly surrounding us to claustrophobic degrees. Between the 10 of us that were on the U.S. group we probably went through 18 bottles of hand sanitizer. Showers have never felt so good. My comfort addiction has never been so evident and yet every time I started to get tired or thought about complaining I was filled by the smiles of all the kids who wanted to walk with you hand in hand or touch our hair or skin. Babies often started screaming if we were within 10 feet of their mothers who were holding them. I was told they feared our skin. It makes sense. Wazoongo, White people, are just as common to them as three-headed aliens would be to us. ..

The last couple of days in Kenya we took it easy. We went to Nakuru to go on Safari, and spent some last precious moments with the Kindergor family. There were a lot of tearful good-byes. After all the mess that we saw and after all the poverty that we witnessed, what will stand out is their beauty. We were welcomed into every home, We were made part of every village.. We were ushered into a family that loves without bounds. I will be forever changed, forever grateful and always believe in the redemption story for Kenya.

To see pictures you can link to my photograrphy blog, or just goto:
http://www.beautifulmessphotography.blogspot.com/