we build strong kids, strong families, strong communities...

Photo found here.

You may be wondering why I have featured a photo of four statue kids doing the "YMCA".

Well, I will tell you why...

It is because I, Jenna Lupo, have decided not to be cheap, not to be lazy, and not to stay trapped in the familiar and comfortable routines that I have established for myself over the past 2 years I have spent in Huntsville.

(emphasis on that last part)

That's right.

I have joined the Y!

Here's to getting off the couch, branching out, and being brave (because I went by myself)!

a little letter to life..

dear life,

today i crave adventure.

perhaps in far away lands.

perhaps with someone i love.

who loves me too.

oh wait.

i think i am imagining fairy tales.

or at least a lovely piece of fiction.

but wouldn't it be nice.

to escape into a storybook land.

i'd probably have on a flowy, floral dress.

and my hair would be longer.

and i would be thinner.

and more exciting.

maybe i'd be exploring a castle.

or resting in a field of daffodils.

reading.

or singing.

or playing with woodland creatures.

oh silly me.

trying to escape reality.

but can't my reality be adventure?

maybe instead of closing my eyes to dream,

i should be opening my eyes to truly see,

all the love

and friends

and fun

and moments that have a special magic of their own.

maybe then the cravings would cease

and i could live

satisfied

exactly where i am.

and maybe that's the key

to the secret garden

of abundant living.

seeing what is Real.

seeing the beauty of it all.

and being a part of it...

hmm..

you have definitely given me

something

to think about

meditative chewing...

Not too long ago, one of my dear friends, Annie, asked me to join her and 2 other girls in an exciting little adventure that we call chew*.

4 girls.

From 4 different places.

With 4 different stories.

Coming together once a month (via internet) to experience community with one other through discussion.

Searching for truth.

Eager to be stretched.

Open to what we might discover.

*chew: to meditate on; consider deliberately.

You can join us in our discussion by going to our blog, listening to our discussion (it's similar to a podcast), and leaving comments with your input. Check it out!

We'd love for you to be a part of our community!

the power of the spoken word...

This past weekend at Gulf Coast Getaway, I was introduced to Amena Brown.

She is a beat poet.

She is incredible.

She shared a few of her poems with us on Saturday evening, and it was so powerful.

I can't begin to explain how moved I was by her words.

The spoken word.

There is so much power in the spoken word.

Check her out:

(p.s. - You can purchase her recorded poems on iTunes. I just did.)

oh yeah! i forgot... it's 2010...

The past several weeks have been jam-packed.

(Hence my lack of blogging...)

Interested in knowing what all has been going on?

Here. Let me give you an overview.

I spent the week of Christmas at home with the family. It was such a great week! I really was not ready to leave at the week's end. You know that's a good sign!!

It was a big week for the Lupo family. Especially for Karissa! You may have already heard, but she is engaged!!!!

Here is a picture of the precious couple when they returned home from the proposal. Seriously, this picture captures these two perfectly! Love it!

Here are the sisters and the future bro-in-law at Christmas Dinner at Grandma's. He fits right in!

Oh, and this year, it was our turn to host the big traditional Christmas Eve party for Mom's side of the family. We had 41 people crammed in our house! It was madness, but oh so wonderful!!

Christmas morning was exciting with a new addition to the family there. (It was also nice to have someone who could take a picture of the 5 of us together!)

Sunday the 27th, I headed back to Huntsville. Went to church, ran home, unloaded my car, and met up with some teens at the movies to see Sherlock Holmes. Great movie! Except for the fact that I severely sprained my ankle. I know.. how do you do that at the movies? Weak ankles + foot asleep + TOMS shoes + stairs = disaster. Here's an ugly picture of the horror that was my foot. And you can't even see all the bruising!

I had to go to the doctor the following morning, and then get packed and ready for Youth in Action (YIA)! Some wonderful people (Donna & Chloe Moore) were SUCH a help that day! I can't thank them enough!

I still went to YIA at Lipscomb, but getting around campus was miserable. So check me out with some of my girls in my WHEELCHAIR. Yes, that's right. I have never felt like such an inconvenience. But my teens were so great! I think they must love me or something, because they never complained about having to help me in and out of the van, carry my stuff, wheel me around... I love them.

After YIA, I headed to Montgomery to celebrate the New Year. I really enjoyed spending quality time with Laurel and some other good friends. Praise God for the wonderful things He blessed me with in 2009 and on into 2010! I love when He reminds me of His faithfulness.

I got back from Montgomery, did some laundry, enjoyed my first Sunday of the new year with my Mayfair family, and then packed my backs for NCYM (National Conference for Youth Ministers) in St. Louis! All of last week I was enjoying snowy St. Louis with some incredible friends and partners in ministry! I loved the long car rides with Cody, Jenn & Caroline, rooming with my girls (Abbey, Beth & Ayesha), spending time with my long-time friends (Will & Brittany!!!), getting to know new friends, hearing great speakers & going to great classes (Chris Seidman, Patrick Mean, Rich Little, Gary Spear), and simply enjoying community.

Now I am back in Huntsville, playing catch-up in the office, enjoying my community here, and going on new adventures that God seems to have set in motion.

Here's to a new year! Can't wait to see what all God has in store!