From Our Family to Yours ...

It isn’t a secret that I love hosting Thanksgiving. It is one of those holidays where I get to have people around my table, filling my home with joy – and there are no expectations. It is just people coming together and enjoying the blessings we have.

Some of our friends-who-are-like-family were not there this year, but we had thanksgiving, and laughter, and the warm feeling of knowing we are loved. (A rousing game of Telestrations 12-player Party Pack certainly increases the laughter 100-fold!)

Thanksgiving Day prep is something I look forward to every year ….

And, as the day draws near, I try hard to relish this season of Thanksgiving – thankful for those who work so hard to allow us to have days like today – farmers, our military, our first responders. I am thankful for this wonderful place in time that God has placed us. I am thankful for the blessings of a beautiful family, incredible friends, and neighbors who end up being your rock when you start off on this journey of parenting. I’m thankful for my husband and for his strong faith, and for our children who make this journey as crazy and as amazing as it is.

But, when all the guests have left, when the dishes are put away, when the quiet of the night has fallen upon us, we turn those autumn leaves and pumpkins into the light of Christmas anticipation.

Wishing you peace and blessed anticipation over the next four weeks of Advent, friends,

~Tricia

J -- (Re) Born in a Barn

This weekend, I attended the solo career debut and CD (The Elevate Project) launch of a dear friend – J.

I don’t usually write reviews as much as I share experiences, however, this was a concert, and I should probably share a little about the music and the man…

The smooth, blue-eyed soul that radiates from J, an artist whose conversation is unexpectedly guarded, is remarkably rich in both story and inspiration. It is moving and speaks to the soul. It pulls you into places you might be hesitant to go, but pull you it does, nevertheless.

A gifted songwriter and musician, J’s voice permeates his audience, unifying them in perfect harmony, engaging them in between lyrics, and calling them to see the greater perspective. He asks his listeners to join him in a journey, and he isn’t hesitant to sing about purpose through stirring harmonies and flowing melodies that speak to the soul.

Not one to talk about himself, J tends to allow his music to speak for itself.

But midway through the concert, J stood up and talked about a large rug in front the grand piano.

He deliberately placed his feet on the hand-woven rug his great-grandmother had created while he addressed the audience. As he indulged them in an a capella number, I could envision the story he had told me once about being able to harmonize with his mother and his grandmother and, whether or not the rug was a part of that story, in my head, they were sitting around that rug, smiling, and making sweet music by the hearth.

The rug ....

Aerial-ish view of some family and friends

J's stage was an historic dairy-barn-turned-rustic-home. He played on a Yamaha grand piano in the Wallace H. Woodbeck barn. The post-and-beam structure was built out of virgin white pine timbers by Woodbeck, a Civil War veteran, who, along with his wife Matilda and four children, farmed 60 acres on the original settlement.

Bringing the concert full circle, Waysound owner Justin LeBreck brought in audio equipment, lights and cameras and creatively turned the home into a stage, carefully combining advanced musical technology with the historical to ensure a well-produced concert. J's friend and audio-visual technician Shawn Payton assisted in the production as well.

It was this rustic setting with a modern touch that created the unique ambiance and perfect place to debut J’s solo CD. The inspirational lyrics and soothing rhythms combined with J’s smooth voice and the intimate setting allowed songs like Closer to Heaven and The Water to reach each member of the audience.

 

One of my favorite songs on his new album, The Elevate Project, is Abundant Life because it speaks to me – it speaks to my soul. It calls me to evaluate my life and look at my life as an instrument that God uses to do His work here on Earth. That (as well as the catchy tune) resonates with me.

Enigmatic stage name aside, there is no great mystery. J has used his God-given talents throughout his years to lead worship, create music and help others, among other things. But now, he has taken a leap of faith, returning to his roots, inspiring others to use their God-given talents to inspire others and make a change. And that makes the music believable.

Waysound equipment capturing J.

First Responders, Woodstock Harley-Davidson, September 11 anniversary

As we approached the anniversary of September 11, a friend called me to tell me about a first responders ceremony ahead of the date.

Rolling Thunder Chapter 2 along with Woodstock Harley-Davidson's Frank Duggan planned a ceremony to honor those who run in when the rest of us feel the urge to run away. They honored the men and women who rush to our sides, who hold our hands, who talk us through the darkest of hours, who leave their homes knowing their jobs require them to put us before them -- or their families. They are heroes. They are first responders.

I think this message is especially poignant around September 11, when we remember the heroes who saved so many only to lose their own or lived with the effects of that day forever written on their hearts.  We are reminded of not only the bravery of these first responders, but also the sacrifices that often has far-reaching effects.

I write quite a bit about military veterans and the visible and invisible wounds of war, however first responders live with their own visible and invisible wounds. They see the things many of us never want to think about.

It is our first responders who see us in our most desperate times. But are we there for them in theirs? I have so many friends who serve as first responders. As we as a community learn more about the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder in our first responders, I hope and pray that these men and women, men and women who are real-life superheroes, are given the help they need and deserve and are able to seek that help without fear. We need to take care of those who take care of us.

Firefighters, police officers, paramedics, ER doctors and nurses, dispatchers -- they are the men and women we call on when we need help. And they are so often so very unappreciated.

Thank you, first responders, for everything you do. You are seen. You are respected. You are appreciated. Thank you.

Retired U.S. Army Col. Wayne Kirkpatrick and part of Rolling Thunder Illinois Chapter 2 addressed the crowd on Sunday morning.

Part-owner Doug Jackson, Woodstock Harley-Davidson, thanks those who serve as first responders.

Woodstock Fire Rescue Department Bell Silencer Lt. Matt Hedges and Firefighter/Paramedic Ryan Mains rings the bell in memory of those lives lost in service and as a result of their service.

An unofficial ride from WHD to another first responder ceremony.

Woodstock Fire/Rescue Department leading the unofficial ride.

I loved the flags on David Blair's bike.

Owner Doug Jackson is always there to support a multitude of causes. And he was going to ride in support of first responders despite the rain.

The Wall That Heals -- West Dundee, True Patriots Care Foundation, Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund

The Wall That Heals – a ¾ replica of the original Wall designed by Maya Lin and envisioned by Jan Scruggs located in Washington, D.C. – is in our area again.

The magnitude is just so difficult to take in. The 58,320 names on this traveling Wall gave their lives in service to our country. They did not have a choice. They answered the call, and they never returned.

Death is a part of all wars, but, for the Vietnam veteran in particular, there was no opportunity to mourn, no opportunity to grieve, no opportunity to heal.

I’ve interviewed many Vietnam veterans over the years. Some are willing to share their stories; some, bitter and cautious, hold tight to the hurt and anger, and choose not to share. What has so often resonated with me, however, is that those memories are seared into their mind, and, too often, they had held on to them, keeping them hidden from even those who meant the most to them.

Post-traumatic stress disorder is real and so prevalent in our Vietnam Veterans. I’ve seen it, and it hurts me in the deepest parts of my heart. For those who have put their lives in peril, for those who have saved the lives of others, for those who did the unthinkable, to experience the effects of PTSD for years and years and years… my heart aches. It isn’t pity. I know they are the strongest people I know. But there is deep sorrow … because they do not deserve this.

The Healing Wall brings, hopefully, peace to those who came home but who cannot get to Washington, D.C.  The 375 feet of names etched in the synthetic granite that reflects just like the original running up to 7.5 feet tall is a tangible remembrance of those many who paid the ultimate sacrifice.

I was asked to photograph the Wall as it comes to West Dundee. In my many years writing and photographing, I never tire of photographing the Wall – the poignant memories left, the hands touching the names of those whose loss is felt in their hearts, the stories behind each name, the quiet, the stillness, the power.

I took one of my dear Vietnam veteran friends to the Wall at night. The stillness is both eerie and comforting. I never want to leave it at night. The illumination draws you in, and there is a perfect calm that strikes deep into your soul. I will probably never know if that experience was a healing one for him, but I hope and pray that there was something in that experience that helped to close part of that open wound.

We brought our girls to the Wall as well. I found resources online to prepare them. They each researched two of the names on the Wall – one male name and one female name. I watched as they looked up photos and printed them out, and carefully wrote down the panels and line numbers on which they would find the names of those whose stories they’d read. I’ve also been reading about Fr. Vincent Capodanno, whose cause for canonization is being looked into, and the girls took the rubbings of his name as well. The women who travel with the Wall are absolutely incredible. Nikki and Julianna are the most caring and selfless women. They make you feel like you have been friends forever.

The Village of West Dundee is graciously hosting this traveling Wall – maintained and created by Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund. The American Legion Post 679, Dundee-Carpentersville, Illinois and True PatriotsCare Foundation worked tirelessly to get bring this Wall here. Jerry Christopherson, founder of True Patriots Care reached out to me to photograph for them, but, throughout this process and seeing him at the Wall, I have seen the kindness that exudes out of this man. He believes in the power of this Healing Wall. And, I’ve seen the healing as I watch people visiting, touching the names, speaking the names, talking to the men and women who will never be forgotten.

Thank you to everyone who brought this to fruition, to Medal of Honor recipient Allen Lynch who inspired those attending the Opening Ceremonies, to the DMZ Veterans – Janesville who recreated the Three Soldiers Statue, to BraveHearts Mounted Color Guard who came to provide healing through horses, and Frank Duggan and Woodstock Harley-Davidson who hosted a beautiful ceremony before the educational semi carrying the Wall, hauled by Hoekstra Transportation out of Kankakee, left for Randall Oaks Park.

 

The candlelight service is tonight, and you can visit my photography Facebook page to see images from the event.

Welcome home to all of the Vietnam Veterans. We appreciate you.