June 21st, 2009 kellyschnell
Since I failed to get a card in the mail on time, this post will have to serve as my Father’s Day ode. I have been blessed with a wonderful father – to recount the lessons he’s taught me and the experiences we’ve shared would take days, but I’d like to say a huge thank you to him for all he has done for me. I’m thankful for the daddy-daughter dates we used to share when I was a little girl and he’d take me out for ice cream sundaes or bowling; I’m thanking him for the way that he knew just when to let go of the seat of my pink and green Huffy when I first learned how to ride a bike; I’m thankful for the time that he put into coaching my softball team and taking me to tour colleges during my Junior year of high school; I’m thankful that he was there to walk me down the aisle on my wedding day, for his composure as I felt those pre-wedding jitters and for his tenderness as we cried tears of joy together when the ceremony was over. I’m eternally grateful that I have two parents that have time and again demonstrated the importance of faithfulness to God and commitment to your family. I am blessed. And so, Happy Father’s Day, Dad. I’ve got a huge dark chocolate bar and a tin full of oatmeal raisin cookies with your name on it.
Posted in reflecting | 1 Comment »
June 11th, 2009 kellyschnell
Exactly ten years ago today, Shane drove over to my house in his bright blue Dodge Neon and picked me up for our very first date. We went to the movies and saw Notting Hill, then grabbed milkshakes at a little restaurant down the street from the theater. I remember feeling relieved that conversation flowed so easily between us, thinking that Shane was really cute, wondering if he was going to kiss me goodnight as our evening together came to an end. He did not kiss me, which I appreciated as the sign of a gentleman, but he did call me the next day and ask if I’d like to go out again. Yes, please! We spent much of that summer together, watching movies in my living room while my dad waited up and kept a distant eye on us from the kitchen, wanting to make sure this new guy in my life wasn’t up to no good. We went out and shot pool at the local pool hall, played miniature golf at the little amusement park, and drove out to Turlock Lake to walk along the water and escape the heat. And then, as Summer came to an end, the very first questions about our future together arose. Shane was due to return to Minnesota when his internship was over, so I began to prepare myself for saying good-bye. But when he was offered a full-time job in California, he decided that his days as a Minnesotan were over, much to his family’s surprise. He stayed in town, and we stayed together. Then I began my senior year of high school, and started applying to colleges three or four hours away from home, and more questions about our relationship came to light. Did I really want to get involved with someone, knowing that I would be going away and starting a totally new phase of my life in the Fall? Would I be missing out on some part of my final year of high school by dating someone who had already completed that part of his life, who didn’t know my friends, or care about our school’s football team, or want to go to high school parties or dances? Shane and I did keep seeing each other throughout that year, but I was cautious. I kept my heart under lock and key. When he first told me he loved me, my response was, “No, you can’t.” Ouch, that must have hurt him. But I had never been serious with anyone before, and I found it hard to tread through these unfamiliar waters. Thankfully, patience is one of Shane’s strongest virtues, and he gave me time and space to figure out what I wanted for our relationship. And one year after our first date, I told him that I loved him. I would be leaving for Cal Poly in September, and the thought of having a long-distance boyfriend was scary, but I knew that this guy was just too good to let go. We decided to give it a try. Shane put a lot of miles on his car during those few years, frequently making the 200-mile trip down to San Luis Obispo, and I went through a lot of calling cards as we spent endless hours on the phone. It was hard at times, but we got through the hard times and reveled in the good times. We were making it work, and I was falling deeper in love. But during my fourth year of college, when I was studying in Paris, those pesky questions about our future began to arise again. Shane came to visit me in May of 2004, and I was ecstatic to see him. Being in Paris with the man you love is enough to put anyone on Cloud 9. But then, one afternoon as we were sitting along the Seine, talking and dangling our feet near the river, Shane threw me for a loop when he reached into his pocket, pulled out the most beautiful diamond ring I’d ever seen, and asked me to be his wife. To say that I panicked would be an understatement. Yes, of course I loved this thoughtful, generous, wonderful man, but was I really ready to commit to forever? I had spent the previous eight months living alone in Europe, embracing my independence and freedom. Marriage was not at the forefront of my mind. And so my answer was, “I can’t answer you right now.” Double-ouch. Shane was hurt, and my heart broke as I saw his heart breaking. But I just knew that I wasn’t in a place where I could make that kind of commitment. The next year was a tough one, as we both wrestled with discerning God’s plan for our relationship. I kept waiting for that moment everyone talks about when “you just know”. It didn’t come. And although Shane is patient, that question can only be kept on the table for so long. I had been offered a job up in Seattle and knew that the indecision timer was running out. Finally, after much praying and talking and counseling and growing, I decided to take a leap of faith, and in July of 2005 I asked Shane to please put that pretty little ring on my finger. We got married the following May, and now, a couple of weeks after our third wedding anniversary, here we are. And “here” is a very good place to be. Bit by bit, I have given my heart to this man, and he has treated it unbelievably well. So, cheers to our first of many decades together – can’t wait to see what the next ten years will look like.
Posted in reflecting | 1 Comment »
June 7th, 2009 kellyschnell
We spent most of this weekend down in Portland, enjoying some much-needed time with my brother, sister-in-law, and niece. It had been over 3 months since my last visit, and I was itching to see how Elise had grown and changed. She is crawling all over the place now, attempting to take her first steps, although the spill that she took a couple of weeks ago, and the subsequent broken ankle and cumbersome cast, have set her back a little bit walking-wise. She is incredibly good-natured and has many sorts of smiles – after waking up from a nap she will tuck in her chin and look up at you with a bashful little grin; when you lift her up into the air or tickle her stomach she will squeal with unrestrained laughter. She is also eating all kinds of new things – veggies are clearly not her favorite, but she has recently discovered the joy of spaghetti, in all its glorious messiness:
Such a darling, loving, fun little girl… And once again, I am left wondering, “When can I see her again?!”
Posted in reflecting, seeing | No Comments »
May 25th, 2009 kellyschnell
This weekend was proof that summertime is just around the corner, as I enjoyed: slicing into a perfectly juicy watermelon; taking in a Sunday afternoon baseball game; seeing our little front yard garden grow by the hour; drinking several glasses of chilled white wine; jogging along sparkling Lake Washington; barbecuing in the backyard with neighbors; waking up each morning and opening all the windows in the house; wearing tank tops and flip flops; reveling in the feel of sunshine on my shoulders. ‘Tis the season for all these warm weather pleasures.
Unfortunately, ’tis also the season for busy-ness, with long hours at work and weekends spent preparing for my next licensing exam. But I will certainly be taking time to stop and smell the spider mums… (Flowers courtesy of Shane.)
Posted in doing, reflecting | No Comments »
April 25th, 2009 kellyschnell
Every year, our church gives each community group a certain amount of money and a simple urging to “bless your neighbors”. Our group threw lots of ideas around during our Tuesday night get-togethers, and when somebody mentioned the struggle of Nickelsville, a large Seattle homeless camp, in their mission for a land grant, I think several of us felt our heart strings being tugged. No, we didn’t have the funds to provide them with the property or the shelter they need, but we could certainly stretch our dollars and give of our time to provide them with a hot breakfast and a few hours of company. And so we were up at the crack of dawn this morning, elbow deep in pancake batter, to begin preparations for a breakfast to feed 75+ people. And at 8:30, we all rolled up to the South Seattle church which has allowed Nickelsville to temporarily set up camp in their adjacent empty lot. Our trunks were laden with 300 pancakes and slices of bacon, a couple hundred sausage links, bags of fresh fruit, and 2 large jugs of coffee. I will admit that I was anxious as I got out of the car, not knowing what to expect. Would they be receptive to outsiders such as ourselves? What could I possibly talk to them about? Shame on me for my fear and anxiety. These people are not so different from us. They are men and women that have lost jobs and been unable to pay mortgages, people that haven’t been able to find work or have faced illnesses or injuries that have knocked them off their feet, and they don’t want to be a burden to family members or friends. Particularly in economic times such as these, circumstances like these aren’t so hard to imagine. And the openness, gratefulness, and graciousness of this community far exceeded anything I could have expected. We showed up at Nickelsville this morning with the intention to bless these people that have faced struggles beyond what we can understand. But as is often the case, as I strove to bless them, I found blessings being lavished upon me in return. Each story, each smile, each “thank you” struck at my core, and reminded me of the importance of sharing God’s love and provision. As we were getting ready to leave, one man tapped me on the shoulder and asked me to pray for him. He has been seven months clean from a heroin addiction, but still struggles with temptation and “could use all the prayers he could get”. As I laid my hand on his arm and prayed that he would find God’s strength and protection, I was struck by the power of the human spirit as common ground. Yes, this man and I have had very different life experiences, but at our cores, we are both humans, we are both sinners in desperate need of God’s grace.
And so I am infinitely grateful for what took place this morning. I am thankful for our church, who cares deeply about the homeless community and continually encourages us to stop averting our eyes. I am thankful for our c-group, which is full of people that are constantly amazing me with their talents, their faith, and their generosity. These people really have become our Seattle family. And I am thankful for the warmth and the grace of the people of Nickelsville, as they opened my eyes to their “realness” and struggles. Please keep this amazing group of people in your prayers.
Posted in doing, reflecting | 2 Comments »
March 27th, 2009 kellyschnell
Our bags are packed, our reservations are confirmed, our batteries are charged, and tomorrow we leave for Paris. I’ve looked forward to this trip for the last 4 years, and so the thought that we are actually going still makes my head spin and my heart flutter. Is it really possible that in less than 48 hours, I will be roaming the streets of the most beautiful city in the world? This city is home to some of my fondest memories – it is where I fell in love with art, it is where I acquired a taste for espresso, it is where huge seeds of confidence and independence were planted in my soul. I’ve been reading through some of the old journals I kept while I was in Paris 5 years ago, picking out names of my favorite cafes and art galleries, and tonight I came across this entry, written on July 4, 2004, my last day abroad:
“45 minutes before I leave for the airport. Am wandering around in a bit of daze, not wanting to come to terms with the fact that my year in Paris is about to become a memory. Am sipping a cafe creme, looking out over Place de la Bastille, trying to muster up some excitement about returning to the familiarity of home. I’ve had to say good-bye to people I love before, but never really to a place. Not sure how to do it. Can’t very well give Paris a big hug, wave, and say, “I’ll call you when I get home”. Can say, “see you later”, though. Alors, a bientot et merci. Tu vas me manquer…”
And so “later” has arrived! The best part about it? This time Shane comes with me. As much as I cherished my time in Paris, the fact that we were apart often kept me from fully embracing my experiences abroad. I can definitely be a bit of a loner, but I really do believe it’s so much better to share a place so beautiful with someone you love. So cheers to a much-anticipated, well-deserved, totally romantic get-away. Ciao.
Posted in feeling, reflecting | 1 Comment »
March 21st, 2009 kellyschnell
Below are a few more food paintings, done for my art class which ended on Thursday. It’s fun being “outside the box”. My mind is still brimming with all kinds of new possibilities.
This one was done on rice paper, with curry powder sprinkled over tea and a small seaweed accent (can you tell I went a little crazy at the Asian food store?).
Pod outlined in tea on soy paper (I totally scored when I found these brightly colored wrappers) and sprinkled with cinnamon.
Flower shape cut with an X-acto knife out of dried seaweed. Smells fishy, but looks pretty.
Seed shape painted with red wine and dashed with cinnamon, for good measure.
Seed outlined in pencil (I cheated a little), filled in with olive oil, and dotted with soy sauce. Simple, but the color of oil-soaked paper is beautiful.
Rice paper soaked in water, dribbled with soy sauce, and laid out to dry. I love the translucency of the paper and the way it wrinkled and cracked.
Lemon slices soaked in wine and used as a stamp.
I’m ready to switch back to regular paints for awhile now, but I expect I’ll revisit edible art-ing again someday. It’s good when art-making feels like playing.
Posted in making, reflecting | No Comments »
March 20th, 2009 kellyschnell
Schizophrenic weather today – a cool drizzly morning, a quick but intense afternoon wind/rainstorm, followed by a glorious sunbreak, and now we’re back to a cold, rainy night. I guess I’ll keep that wool coat at the front of the closet for awhile longer… But I’m taking solace in the fact that Spring is just around corner, as proven by my quickly-sprouting daffodils. I had forgotten that I’d popped these bulbs in the ground last fall, so it was a nice surprise to see these nice little chutes of green growing out front – can’t wait to see what color the flowers end up being! I expect that when we get back from our trip in mid-April we’ll be greeted by a Seattle full of budding leaves and blooming floors. I love the changing of seasons – although I wouldn’t dare to complain about the year-round sunshine that I often enjoyed down on California’s central coast, there was monotony in the perpetual warmth. And so I’ll endure the rain for a couple more months and look forward to another one of those Seattle summers that makes it all worth it.
Posted in reflecting, seeing | No Comments »
March 11th, 2009 kellyschnell
Departure in T minus 16 days, and the major stops on our European itinerary are set – plane tickets and hotels have been booked for the following:
Saturday to Saturday: PARIS. We’ve rented an apartment near the Marais for the week, just a few blocks from the Place des Vosges, which is about as Parisian as a place can get. Can’t wait to spend an afternoon or two there sitting on the grass, munching on a baguette, sharing a bottle of wine, listening to the sounds of all the French-speaking passers-by. We’re keeping our Paris itinerary pretty loose, just looking forward to waking up each morning and saying to each other, “What amazing thing do you want to go do today?”
Saturday to Wednesday: Porto, Portugal. Our good friends from Seattle, J and L, will be flying in on Sunday and we’ll be spending a few days with them as they begin their two-week tour of Portugal and Spain. I still don’t know too much about Porto, other than: 1) It’s extremely old and unbelievably beautiful, and 2) There’s a lot of good Port wine there, ready for the drinking. Really, what else do you need to know? We might rent a car for a day and drive out into the wine country – a day in the Portuguese vineyards definitely sounds like something I could do. Also really looking forward to seeing the Casa da Musica in Porto. This is an iconic piece of contemporary architecture, designed by OMA/Rem Koolhaas (who also did the Seattle Public Library).
Wednesday to Friday: Madrid, Spain. We found super-cheap tickets via RyanAir, and J and L were already going, so we said, why not? Madrid sounds cool. Not sure yet what we’re going to do there (except that Shane just discovered there is going to be an awesome Francis Bacon exhibit at the Prado while we’re there – that’s definitely on the list). And maybe a quick bus trip to Toledo? Spain is our oyster (for 3 days, at least…).
Friday to Sunday: Back in Paris, to drink a couple more glasses of wine, to savor a little more beauty, to eat one last pain au chocolat, and to make any last memories that will have to tide us over until our next trip back.
Clearly, we’re still working out the details, though trying not to go overboard with our planning (any good vacation has room for relaxation and spontaneity). All I know is, in a little over two weeks, I could be walking along the Seine, one hand holding Shane’s hand, the other hand holding a crepe filled with Nutella. A glorious thought…
Posted in doing, reflecting | 1 Comment »
February 15th, 2009 kellyschnell
I spent last weekend down in Portland and realized that my blog was due for an Elise update. My precious little baby niece is becoming more and more of a little girl each time I see her. Smiling more, laughing more, babbling more, and taking more of an interest in whatever it is that’s going on around her. She loves to look at books (future book club member-in-training!) and is so content to sit on her blanket and flip through one of her stories. She is a snuggler, too, which I am quick to take advantage of. On Sunday morning before I left, I spent a good thirty minutes on the couch with her in my lap, while she studied my face and played with my hair. The silver charm bracelet I was wearing was a big hit with her as well, so I shamelessly used that as a distraction to hold on to her for just a little bit longer. The minute we left town, I was immediately wondering when I will see her again – a single weekend every couple of months feels far too infrequent during this period when she’s growing and changing so rapidly, but I’m thankful, nonetheless, for whatever time I do get to spend with her. I’m becoming more and more attached to this little person who is developing and demonstrating her own personality and likes and dislikes. And it’s exciting to know that in the not-too-distant future, she’ll truly know me as “Auntie Kelly” and will begin to recognize me when I walk in the door. Can’t wait to see what lies around the corner with this little girl…
Posted in feeling, reflecting | No Comments »