What I Am In To Lately
"Yo, Jenn!" That's what I heard as I walked into the auditorium for the Charleston, West Virginia Fresh Grounded Faith event. If you can imagine hearing those words called out by a deep, resonant voice with a distinctive New York accent, you would have known it was...Kathy Troccoli! KT and I loved being with the fabulous women in West Virginia and I've loved listening to Kathy's new CD she gave me. It's called Hope's Alive. She co-produced it with her longtime piano player, Carl Herrgesell. It includes her signature ballads, as well as fun remakes such as "How Sweet It Is" and "Put a Little Love in Your Heart." All I know is it keeps me moving on my elliptical (when I get on it, that is!)
Fall wouldn't be fall without college football! We went to the Georgia/Arkansas game on the 19th in Fayetteville and it was a blast! Part of the fun was getting to stay on the sidelines for the whole game. My friend Katharyn is married to Coach Mark Richt of the Georgia Bulldogs, and she just happens to be the "water girl" for the team! So, while she served water to the players, I hung out and listened to pads crunching and breathed in mentholated man sweat! She was the best color commentator/cheerleader in that stadium! (And, Georgia won...Go Dogs!)
On the drive home from Arkansas, I listened to The Silver Chair by C.S. Lewis. Of all Lewis' books, his Narnia series has been my least favorite...until now! I love The Silver Chair. It's the fourth in the Narnia series. It's a delightful and captivating tale of talking wise owls, deviant giants who snack on humans (and carefully cooked marsh-wiggles) and a prince who is put under an evil spell. Don't let the fairytale nature of the narrative make you think it's kid's stuff-this had grown-up symbolism and word craft that kept me totally enthralled!
Our last event of September was in Tulsa. The excellent and endearing Michael O'Brien and I were privileged to join those wonderful women of Oklahoma for Fresh Grounded Faith. It was a special event for me...very tender. I got to see some of my favorite people there, like Marcy Priest (a fabulous singer/songwriter) and my dear friend Genia, whom you sweet Java friends have prayed for. She quipped that before she lost her hair to chemo it was dark brown. After chemo, it came back in stark white! She is beautiful and crowned with wisdom.
Prior to arriving for FGF, I spoke at the 22nd Annual Celebration of Hope Salvation Army Women's Auxiliary Luncheon held at Coles Garden. And would you believe this? A woman handed me her book to sign after I spoke, and when I asked her name, she said, "Anita Bryant." Of course, I asked, "The real one?" She said yes, I screamed, she laughed, and I hugged her and told her how much I have admired her over the years! (For my younger Java friends, Anita is a singer and social activist. She had four Top 40 hits in the late '50s and early '60s-including "Paper Roses," which reached #5 on the charts.) After security pulled me away (just kidding), I left the luncheon with a lovely reminder of how the path upon which I walk as a woman with a public ministry was carved by women like Anita Bryant. I am deeply grateful for her steadfastness and the dedication of women like her who have inspired me. It makes me want to be one of those women for those who are coming behind me. Don't you?
In the words of George Bernard Shaw, "Life is no brief candle to me. It is a sort of splendid torch which I have got a hold of for the moment, and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it onto future generations." So girls, let's keep shining!
Give these things a Taste Test:
1. Kathy Troccoli's great new CD, Hope's Alive
2. Check out Mark and Katharyn Richt's inspiring story.
3. The Silver Chair By C.S. Lewis
4. Marcy Priest music--It's inspiring and impressive.
Fall wouldn't be fall without college football! We went to the Georgia/Arkansas game on the 19th in Fayetteville and it was a blast! Part of the fun was getting to stay on the sidelines for the whole game. My friend Katharyn is married to Coach Mark Richt of the Georgia Bulldogs, and she just happens to be the "water girl" for the team! So, while she served water to the players, I hung out and listened to pads crunching and breathed in mentholated man sweat! She was the best color commentator/cheerleader in that stadium! (And, Georgia won...Go Dogs!) On the drive home from Arkansas, I listened to The Silver Chair by C.S. Lewis. Of all Lewis' books, his Narnia series has been my least favorite...until now! I love The Silver Chair. It's the fourth in the Narnia series. It's a delightful and captivating tale of talking wise owls, deviant giants who snack on humans (and carefully cooked marsh-wiggles) and a prince who is put under an evil spell. Don't let the fairytale nature of the narrative make you think it's kid's stuff-this had grown-up symbolism and word craft that kept me totally enthralled!
Our last event of September was in Tulsa. The excellent and endearing Michael O'Brien and I were privileged to join those wonderful women of Oklahoma for Fresh Grounded Faith. It was a special event for me...very tender. I got to see some of my favorite people there, like Marcy Priest (a fabulous singer/songwriter) and my dear friend Genia, whom you sweet Java friends have prayed for. She quipped that before she lost her hair to chemo it was dark brown. After chemo, it came back in stark white! She is beautiful and crowned with wisdom. 
Prior to arriving for FGF, I spoke at the 22nd Annual Celebration of Hope Salvation Army Women's Auxiliary Luncheon held at Coles Garden. And would you believe this? A woman handed me her book to sign after I spoke, and when I asked her name, she said, "Anita Bryant." Of course, I asked, "The real one?" She said yes, I screamed, she laughed, and I hugged her and told her how much I have admired her over the years! (For my younger Java friends, Anita is a singer and social activist. She had four Top 40 hits in the late '50s and early '60s-including "Paper Roses," which reached #5 on the charts.) After security pulled me away (just kidding), I left the luncheon with a lovely reminder of how the path upon which I walk as a woman with a public ministry was carved by women like Anita Bryant. I am deeply grateful for her steadfastness and the dedication of women like her who have inspired me. It makes me want to be one of those women for those who are coming behind me. Don't you? In the words of George Bernard Shaw, "Life is no brief candle to me. It is a sort of splendid torch which I have got a hold of for the moment, and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it onto future generations." So girls, let's keep shining!
Give these things a Taste Test:
1. Kathy Troccoli's great new CD, Hope's Alive
2. Check out Mark and Katharyn Richt's inspiring story.
3. The Silver Chair By C.S. Lewis
4. Marcy Priest music--It's inspiring and impressive.
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