Things I Learned...

... This weekend.

1. I really love Christmas tree stands in parking lots. I don't know what it is about them but I think they are so beauitful. Maybe it's knowing that all of those trees (hopefully) will end up in someones home and lots of memories will happen around them or be hung on the branches. 
2. Just showing up means more than any gift. On Saturday evening JJ finally premiered his documentary "The Dust on our Feet" to donors, close family and friends. People traveled from Portland, LA, Philadelphia, Indianapolis, New Jersey, and Michigan to be there to celebrate this accomplishment. It wasn't even my project and I felt so loved that evening. The entire evening was such a blessing and I've never been more proud of JJ. Hopefully everyone will be seeing it many film festivals in the future.  
3. A clean closet is a happy closet. Every season I always get an itch to purge clothes I've been keeping for no real reason besides the thought that I might wear it "someday." Not only did I get rid of a lot of clothes, but I organized my closet by color. Let's see how long it lasts...
4. Everyone should take a Sunday afternoon nap. This past weekend it felt like everyone in my house was on the go, running from one place to another. On Sunday there was a window of time for about 2 hours that none of us had to do anything so we all sat down on the couch to watch some TV. Quickly our TV time turned into all four of us napping. I wish someone could have taken our picture. 
5. Watching people with their friends helps you know someone better. For JJ's premier a  close friend of his Alec flew in from Portland. Alec went to school with JJ and helped him film parts of the documentary in Honduras. When Alec arrived the three of us went out to lunch in the city. It was so fun for me to simply sit at a table with them as they reminisced about college, discussed film, talked future plans and just laughed. I feel so lucky when I get to experience those moments.   

Amor Fe Esperanza

I've mentioned the documentary that JJ has been working on since the beginning of my blog. And after a lot of hard work and sleepless nights, the documentary is finished!! 

This coming Saturday is the premier. He will be showing the film to donors, family, and close friends. I feel really blessed that I've had a front row seat at the story that JJ is telling and the creative process which he has poured over these last two years. One small part of the premier this weekend will be selling some artwork. 100% of the proceeds will go to the school AFE (Amor Fe Esperenza.) 

In the last couple months I've started to dabble a bit with photography and am actually going to sell some stationary of the pictures that I took while I spent a week with JJ in Honduras this fall. It has been really fun to create and actually very therapeutic. 

Above is a little taste of my creations. Excited for what's in store. 

Photographs & Memories

I've officially been home from Honduras for five days. 
I'm still in the process of unpacking and reflecting my time there but thought I'd share some pictures. 
I think they probably captured my experience better than any words ever could.

JJ handing out photographs to students at AFE.

Students in class at AFE.

AFE.

Playground time.

Tegucigalpa, Honduras.

This is mommy Lucci, who JJ lived with for three months, and her daughter Marielle.

Buen Samaritan neighborhood.

Honduran kids are beautiful.

Cutest cat I've ever seen.

Sweet sweet Angie.

This is my favorite picture of the whole trip.
Sweet Angie and JJ, two people I love a lot.

Things I Learned...

... Last week in Honduras!

1. Honduran children have my heart. When JJ returned from Honduras last year with a ton of footage and pictures I didn't really notice anything specific about the children but my goodness, when you are with them in person they are just magnetic. They've got so much to offer.
2. Being in a country where you don't speak the language is difficult. Really difficult. Silly me took French until my junior year of college. I thought that could potentially be helpful with my Spanish but gosh was I wrong. Example: with in Spanish is con, with in French is avec. That's a little bit how my mind felt last week. Every time someone would speak to me in Spanish my mind went from English to French. Here's a promise that next time I go, I'll know a little bit more than gracias and adios. 
3. It's good to be out of your comfort zone. Not only was not speaking the language a barrier but I just didn't know very much about Honduran culture. I journaled a lot while I was there and noticed that I kept on writing the word lost. And I don't think that was a bad place for me to be this week. It made me realize my own humanity and my need for Jesus even more. Grateful to be pushed to places that challenge me. 
4. I remembered how much I love to read. When you don't have phone or internet really for a week, there's so much time to read! While I was in Honduras I was able to read 4 books. C.S. Lewis' "A Grief Observed," Lauren Winner's "Mudhouse Sabbath" and "Real Sex," and "Half the Sky" by Nicolas D. Kristof and Sheryl Wudunn. I recommend all of them. They all are so different but all have something rich to offer.
5. People are doing incredible things with not very much. The school that JJ filmed has an incredible story. AFE (Amor, Fe, Esperzana) started because a Honduran man saw that education was the only way to get kids out of the cycle of poverty and working in the local trash dump. This vision has now turned into a full blown school with about 130 students. 130 kids that would be working in a trash dump that are now able to graduate from high school. You cannot help but be moved when you're standing at AFE.
6. I am incredibly blessed. It was a strange feeling going to bed last night after a hot shower with my cell phone plugged and my cat curled up next to me. I'm really lucky and have so much to be thankful for. I hope and pray that my time in Honduras wasn't something that I can look back on fondly but that it's a time that changes how I view my life. How often I am unappreciative of the fact that I'm able to type on this very computer. How embarrassing. I'm really really blessed. 

Perks

Shirt: F21. Skirt: Francesca's. Shoes: Nine West (Nordstrom Rack)
Necklace: Lia Sophia. Earrings: H&M. Ring: Lia Sophia. Bracelets: F21. 
Purse: TJ Maxx. Nail Polish: OPI (kiss me on my tulips)
Dog: FLASH 

There are a lot of wonderful things about dating JJ. Two of those perks are his phenomenal photography skills/willingness to take my blog pictures and his adorable terrier puppy Flash. 

JJ went to Honduras for 3 months last fall to film a documentary of an incredible story about kids who have grown up on a local trash dump graduating high school (don't worry way more to come about that.) During his time there the house mom's dog had puppies. So of course JJ thought, why not bring home two Honduran puppies! He brought home Radley for his parents and he's a proud papa to Flash. 

Although I'm not ready to commit to my own puppy, it is a delight having a little guy to take on walks and cuddle with. As I was editing these pictures I also realized he is quite the model and made all of these pictures better.