Mountains Beyond Mountains

Well if nothing else people I know I don't want to move back to Pennsylvania because it's never 60 degrees and sunny in the middle of January.. but in CO that's the norm I suppose :)

These past few weeks have been some of the hardest since I've moved to CO. For the first time since June I haven't had any "real" work to do. It's been really difficult for me to wake up knowing I don't have a contract job to go to today. For the first time I even almost regretted not taking the managers position at the television station in PA.. almost regretted is key. Sometimes in life, especially for me, I forget to look at the bigger picture and instead I look at other people's lives. It's silly really. I know I would never be happy in small town PA and that any job I took there would be out of the need of security rather then passion and drive to do the job. I've spent the last week crying and feeling sorry for myself.. what a loser you are Anne!

A few days ago I helped my friend Sarah paint her office. Up until the day I spent with Sarah I was furiously applying for jobs, researching grants and funding for independent filmmakers, and crying myself to sleep. Man.. who would have ever thought I was an emotional girl? :) Sarah is an amazing woman with amazing dreams. She had this dream when she was in school of using nutrition to help people health from illnesses. However, this isn't an easy profession to

bust into, You basically have to start your own practice and acquire your own clients. With this dream in mind Sarah set out meeting nutritionists taking steps to build her career. She had no luck. When she finally hit a wall of serious doubt about her dreams she walked away from them. But, with all things, God works for the good of those who love him. He opened an opportunity for her to meet another nutritionist who was a professional in the exact career Sarah wanted to pursue. Now, after two years, she is starting her own practice and attending grad school. Her journey really opened my heart and mind that my biggest dreams cannot be accomplished over night. And that I really have no reason to be upset that I'm not doing exactly what I think I should be doing. After all.. If you want to make God laugh tell him your plans. It's so true!

I met a producer/author/public speaker the other day who is starting a tv station in 36 states and it will run online. The purpose of the station is showcase work of female producers and highlight non-profit organizations. The station is also a partner with Samsung in releasing this new technology that can turn any youtube.com quality video into HD! Well I sent her my resume for a job.. that of course was already being filled.. but the good news is she contacted me and told me how much she loved my work and wanted to keep in touch with me for future work opportunities. After some chatting I asked her if I could put my Nueva Esperanza documentary on her channel.. and she said yes! For the next six months my production will be shown and she has allowed me to tag contact information at the end. This is free awesome publicity. God is doing something great, I trust so much in his promise. There's gotta be someone out there who believes in funding and supporting social justice documentary productions! I believe.

The other day I saw a bald eagle in my backyard.. holy smokes! I was so thrilled and inspired. I know its just a bird.. but its so rare and beautiful it truly lifted my spirits. It also reminded me of my little brother Christopher Joel because his favorite animal was a bald eagle. It just gave me so much hope to see this bird and know that Christopher is in a better place and that I too will be ok.

So I went and volunteered at World Vision so I could know I was doing something to help those in Haiti. I took my girl Alyssa and we packed a lot of shoes for 8 hours.. and it was good! Poor Haiti. I was also able to hold a donation drive to buy medicine for the country and was thrilled when theMILL pulled through and raised a coupe hundred dollars. I am so pumped when people care. I love my generation because I really see that we want to volunteer and help other people. I get really ticked when I hear older people say we're lazy.. I mean there's a fair share but I believe people my age are looking for causes and reasons to get their hands dirty, work in community, and help make better the lives of those who are poor and hopeless. I read a facebook status tonight that said.. quote.. why should we help Haiti when they didn't come to our rescue during Katrina. Wow.. ignorance at its finest. But I'm glad for everyone else I hear that is praying, donating, and loving on Haiti right now. I hope someday you'll be able to go to that country and realize the beauty of it. The Haitian people are the most genuine loving people I have ever met. They have nothing.. seriously nothing.. and they are SO happy and caring. When I was there I learned so much about living, needing, and serving. I went there to help and instead they changed my life. Haiti has nothing and this restoration of their country won't be easy but this is truly what life is about. Community looking after community. Paul Farmer, founder of Partners in Health, a medical clinic in Port-au-Prince said.. " It should be enough to humbly serve the poor" and dude believe me it truly is! Mountains Beyond Mountains is a fabulous story of Paul Farmer's journey in Haiti and the history of Haiti if you're looking for a good read. Talk about pursuing dreams and believing that life is about using talents to better other's lives. He's a big inspiration to me.

I don't believe that all these natural disasters that have taken place in the last ten years are just coincidence. I really believe mother nature.. or my LORD Jesus.. [which ever you prefer] is telling us its time to end the B.S. going on in this world and help a brother out. Haiti has been a complete mess for years.. seriously more hopeless then you can imagine.. and it takes a 7.0 earthquake for people and governments to lend a helping hand. Maybe all of these disasters are to show us we really need each other.. we really don't need a lot of money, fancy cars, or material things.. we need only a few things : 1. love 2. community 3. Peace 4. Faith

I don't know about you.. but it seems the world is being rocked and if we don't change we're never going to make it out alive.

With that being said I spent a wonderful weekend in the mountains, loved it. Ran a whole lot. Again.. loved it!

I write novels with these blogs.. well I just want to make sure Karina has enough to read and hopefully she'll enjoy what I have to say more then fuss over my wrong punctuation and grammar. :) So with that being said.. go donate a dollar to Friends of Ft. Liberte or Partners in Health. A dollar goes so much further then you realize.

"We are called to speak for the weak, for the voiceless, for victims of our nation and for those it calls enemy, for no document from human hands can make these humans any less our brothers"-MLK

Joie de Vivre

I really don't write as much as I like .. why did I even start a blog?

I spent Christmas in the mountains with my brother and his girlfriends family. I sat by the fire, drank wine, listened to carols, and read the entire twilight series. I must have been a little dizzy from the high altitude that I actually read Twilight (because silly vampire romance doesn't do i

t for me) well not usually but I have to admit I fell in love with the books. So my apologies for laughing at everyone else I know that has read them... It really was a beautiful story of life, love, and struggle. I really enjoyed spending time with this family for the holidays although I was sad to not see my own family. I can't begin to explain the beauty of the snow covered mountains on Christmas day. I was born to see sights like that.

As for adventure, I'm learning how to snowboard! It has been a wild time and I've already dislocated my shoulder.. my new dear friend Nate has been generous enough to give me all the gear I need to look legit.. now if only I could master my mad skill! However, I am going to give myself the credit that I never thought I'd be able to snowboard down a mountain and actually be ok enough to do it a second or third time. I've even made it down the entire mountain without falling. Joie de Vivre was a term recently introduced to me by a distant cousin I have in Alaska. Its about loving and enjoying life, even the times when you fall face first into the snow. I may not be the best snowboarder and the little four year olds may pass me but I truly enjoy being able to participate in the activity. Besides being on top of a mountain in the snow is so worth the occasional fall.. it's a beautiful sight!

2009 was about healing from my little brother's death, celebrating my college graduation, learning about community and life in Haiti, Relationship building with my friends and my God at Covenant Heights Camp, and exploring this wonderful state of Colorado. I grew up a lot in 2009, learned a lot about myself and learned a lot about life. I realized what I cherished the most and what I truly wanted out of life. I learned how to relax, have fun, explore, love, and have peace of mind. Now in 2010 I really want to know what it is I've been made to do. Although video production is my passion.. helping others and traveling also has my heart and attention. I know I want to combine both and perhaps someday I will.. but for now if I'm going to figure out what it is God has for me. I have some opportunities coming up for job possibilities and I fear if I write about them then they won't happen :) but I am hopeful that God does have a plan and purpose for me.. why else would I ditch all my securities and move across the country? I'm starting to feel more at home in Colorado and at the same time I'm becoming kind of restless here. I often think about moving to Alaska.. I don't know why but I feel that I need some new adventure in my life. I recently read "When God Writes Your Love Story" and have since felt that I need to continue to embrace my singleness and my passions to continue to move around and share life with others. I know I'm not here to stay, at least I don't feel that way and I'm trying not to become attached to anyone so if I do leave it'll be easier. However I do cherish everyone in my life and everyone who has encouraged me to chase my dreams. I know 2010 will be a big year. And I want to glorify Christ for all he has done for me. So Happy New Year and I wish you the best in all that you pursue. And I urge you to chase your dreams and live for the moments that make you feel alive.

When I hear the sound of the Black Bird's Cry.. I know I left in the nick of time

It's a snowy cold day in Colorado. I'm curled up on the couch reading and drinking tea.. all that's missing is a fire place and some violin music playing softly in the background...

Well I went back to PA from November 23-December 3 with my big brother and my bestest gal pal. I have often wondered as I look at my mountain view if Colorado is in the cards for me or if I'm just wishing and hoping its where I'm suppose to be. Now I am more certain then ever that running away from home was the right thing to do.

It was great to see my family and friends again, the familiar faces really warmed my heart and made me feel so blessed for those in my life. I was able to surprise my family on Thanksgiving and then again surprise all my old college friends and professors with a visit to campus a few days after the holiday. So fun! I enjoyed seeing my best friends and realizing that no matter where life takes you, you can always know that real friendships never die. When I hung out with my girls and of course Jeremy it was like I had never left home, it was wonderful! However, I did realize soon why leaving PA was a smart move for me.

Have I ever mentioned that I was offered my own TV station in Connellsville PA? Well I was offered this job.. in August.. and I turned it down immediately without hesitation because I was playing the mountains and of course nothing fazes me when I'm 9000 ft above elevation. Then a few days later I realized what the offer entailed.. a career (good pay, benefits, security, status, etc.) And I have often wondered if I turned out something good. While I was home however I just didn't feel like myself.. I was tense, anxious, participated in activities I gave up a long time ago, had no interest in making time for God. And as I hung out Pittsburgh and Butler I realized something.. if I was to take this job in PA I would never get to where I want to be.. a voice for those who suffer. Although this station job would give me authority, money, and security.. it would also give me a 9-5 office job, in small town PA, and I would not be as free or as alive as I am out in Colorado. I knew then and there I had made the right decisions.

As for the rest of my trip there was some great times and some not so great times. Seeing old familiar faces brought both joy and pain but such is life.. The one great thing was that my family and I were able to have a burial and memorial service for my little brother. We went on a small walk to one of his favorite hunting spots and buried him under a beautiful tree in the woods. It was a beautiful time to spend together and a time of reflection of not only Christopher but of ourselves as well. I also spent wayy to much time at Ricks.. and looking back I'm thoroughly embarrassed that I let old crazy anne out of the box.

But now I'm back in Colorado and so happy to see my mountains again! Its freezing cold and the snow is accumulating more and more everyday.. yay!! Its so beautiful ! I am also in the process of my first producing job.. a producer of non-profit commercials for a series entitled "Go Serve" I am so excited and nervous about this opportunity. God really does provide when you trust in him. No its not a full time TV station, but its what I love to do.. that is so much more important then money and job security. The hardest part of this job so far has been deciding my budget.. I really love what I do so much that I honestly could care less about the money. I know practically that is nonsense but I really do love working for free as long as I'm shooting and editing video!

I also just finished reading a book, Volunteer Revolution by Bill Hybels. Awesome! It was about why people volunteer, what it means to volunteer, and how communities need each other for our own abilities to contribute. I highly recommend it if you are a passionate community volunteer but especially if you aren't and you are curious about what it means to volunteer. It just has made me want to go out and spread the love! :)

I'm also just starting a new book, "When God Writes Your Love Story." So I hear a lot that I'm somewhat of a tease.. or heartbreaker.. mainly my big brother likes to point it out. This book was recommended to me and I decided to invest in someone's expert opinion of relationships with the opposite sex. While I was home I actually had a little crush on someone but I think they keep turning me down.. not sure. But really I am so content being single I don't want to think about dating. However, I often wonder if I am being called to singleness or not.. but I'm anxious to indulge in this book and perhaps it'll open my eyes to my heartbreak ways ;)

So this was long, and probably pointless but I thought I'd update it for the two people who may sometimes read this. Remember.. "Think of all the beauty still left around you and be happy." Anne Frank

Good Night & Good Luck

What's the difference between a police officer & a bank robber?

Ok so follow along with me because I have a feeling my big idealistic heart is just going to start rambling on about the way the world should be. But this is just in my head and i need to write it down.

The other night I was taking home a friend after a production and he begins to tell me that there was a robbery near the town I live in in Colorado. He told me two robbers, a man and a woman, were robbing the bank when the police showed up and shot both of them. Well I replied with "I hate that they feel they can just kill someone" and this boy very seriously looks at me and says "who would you rather have died, the police.. or a robber.." implying that the police officer responsible for the death is somehow a much more worthy human being to live. Hear me out on this one..

So what's the difference between a police officer and a bank robber. All we know about all three of them is one enforces the law and the other two broke the law. But aren't they all three human beings, and don't you think all three of them come from families and have friends. Do bank robbers not have needs or emotions, or are they just the trash of our society? I mean let's examine the officer.. all we know is that he saved the day at this event, but what does he do with the rest of his time? With the sick world we live in now he may be more of a hazard to our lives then they were.

The next day reports came out about this couple who was shot while robbing the bank. They were described as great contributors to our community, always giving back, always very warm and friendly. But some people came forward and said that they were loosing hope because of financial problems. So again, yes they did a not-so-note-worthy thing but they were desperate, struggling, hopeless. Have you ever been put in a situation of desperation, starvation, homelessness? That's what I want to turn to this boy and ask as I drop him off at his lovely home and I want him to think about as he falls asleep in his warm bed. I can't say I've ever faced those situations either but I've learned through my life its time we start looking at things through other's eyes.

So they were described as people who were always willing to lend a hand.. hmm.. I wonder if anyone ever lent them one? What if we got together in our communities, spoke with our neighbors, visited with friends or people who aren't friends and found out what people are struggling with in life and are in need of.. and we give it to them. Such an idealistic thought huh? NO! Come on people we are ALL HUMAN BEINGS. People deserve to live and to be happy no matter what they've done in their life or where they come from. If this couple was surrounded by a community who looked at the needs of others and gave selflessly their actions and ultimate death I guarantee would have never happened. Its just so frustrating for me to see people spending hundreds of dollars this time of year because tis the season for giving.. but the thought of giving a dollar to a Salvation worker outside the walmart is so repulsive because we're all struggling financially right? Man, we do not need all this crap we buy. If you want to buy clothes for your friends or family for Christmas then go through your closets and find things that are in good shape that you don't wear.. walk down town, and give it to someone or donate it to a homeless shelter. Or go out into your neighborhood, walk around, and talk to people. When you make attempts to connect with someone it can change everything for them, especially someone who is feeling lost and hopeless. Its not cliche its the honest truth!

I am just so sad for my friend who really thinks that people who are hungry, desperate, and hopeless deserve to die because they did something when they had nothing to loose. I still don't get the argument.. is the cop free from sin because he has a badge? please!

Voltaire once said, Human beings are created EQUAL. It is not birth.. but virtue that makes the difference. Are you following me? I guess to wrap this up I'm saying this.

Care for those who have no one to care for them. Look around your community and extend a hand of hope to those in need. Not just because its the Holiday season but because its our purpose and sole responsibility as humans. We've got to learn how to live in community, where we NEED everyone else in our lives actively to survive. And we need to stop building hierarchies amongst ourselves as if one of us is better then the other. Who decided that? Does a badge make you superior? No. Don't get me wrong I appreciate what police officers do and the risk they take with their job, but don't put them on a pedestal because underneath that uniform they are human too and they have made their own sets of mistakes.

I'll leave you with this. Tonight at theMILL a bunch of college students got together and decided they were going to buy a car for this guy who was in need of one. A bunch of broke college students scrapped up money and support and were able to buy this kid a car so he could get to work and keep his job. Isn't it odd that students who honestly don't have hundreds of dollars in petty cash laying around were able to buy a really nice newish car for this kid and they did it because they felt it was their responsibility to help him out.. did I mention this kid they bought the car for was a complete stranger to them until they actually gave him the car? So please pray for those in need who are struggling and are hopeless and then think of what you can do for those in your communities. And stop judging the lost, because I'm pretty sure you reading this now have committed a bunch of crimes and have been lost and hopeless in your life at least a 100 times. You're not an exception to the rule.

theMILL

My cousins attend this church, Northern Hills, that holds a ministry on Friday Nights for college students && people in their twenties. About two months ago my cousin Theresa told me this ministry was looking for video volunteers and so being a big fan of God, volunteering, and video production I called up the pastor and offered my expertise.

theMILL is a pretty hip ministry and I've made a lot of great new friends through it. The video production is also very legit and I'm excited about the possibilities this opportunity will open up for God's work and my own. The Ministry was originally created in CO Springs and attracted a thousand college students and young adults every Friday night. Northern Hills church adopted the program and every Friday night young adults from Denver, Boulder, and all the areas in between gather together to have fun, celebrate life, and grow together. We had an activity going where people could post a need they had on a white board and other people in theMILL could pick up the white card if they felt they could meet the need. This week theMILL is giving away a car.. a super saweet car.. to a kid who was in need of one!! I love being apart of a community that believes it takes all of us living and working together to truly live. We were made to love and live with each other and I love the example theMILL is putting forth.

For the production team I produce the Friday Night Show as well as sermon videos and any promotional videos. It's saweeet. Stay tuned and I'll start a youtube.com account to show the videos. I love my job!!

Not All Who Wander Are Lost

The hardest part for me when deciding to start a blog was the title. What am I trying to share? Since I've graduated college I've spent my time meeting new people, creating relationships, and building bridges between communities. I'm on this journey to discover how all these relationships I'm building and lessons I'm learning will eventually weave themselves together. That's really how I want to spend my life.. opening up pathways for others who live worlds apart to come together. I don't know exactly what that looks like but I feel that between my trip to haiti, my summer in the rocky mountains, and my current affairs of networking, freelancing, and volunteering I've already started to connect pieces to the bigger picture.

So although I'm still technically unemployed, I truly believe God has a plan for me here in Colorado and the pieces I'm building are slowly leading up to my life's purpose. Not all who wander are lost. I know my time is coming, I'm hopeful.

"Seize everyday as an adventure and your spirit will soar when you discover all the wonderful surprises life has to offer "