For lack of a better alliteration term, today is “Meet the Author Monday”. If anyone has a better title, please feel free to share. I know that many of you have heard my story and with that already know many details about my life…But on days like today, I feel I need a break from my emotional, personal muses to just give you some basic info. Maybe I am just too tired to put into words how I feel today, maybe I just don’t have the emotional capacity to write, maybe I’m just being plain lazy. Whatever the reason, I felt the need to post but could not find the words to describe how I am feeling today.
So here it is, ten (random) things about me:
- I have lived in Indiana my entire life of 25 years.
- My middle name is Ann.
- Nate’s and my “dating anniversary” is November 20th (2010), our “engagement anniversary” is June 23rd (2012), and our wedding anniversary is May 11th (2013).
- Nate and I were exactly 2 months apart, my birthday is March 17, 1989 and his is May 17, 1989. I always told him I was such a cradle robber being 2 months older than him.
- I once took a high school pottery class with a broken arm, my pottery pieces were interesting to say the least.
- I played soccer from when I was 4 until I was 22.
- I have a beagle named Ginger who was my 13th birthday present.
- I am the oldest sibling of two, I have a younger brother and sister who are my best friends.
- I am a huge chocoholic.
- I don’t believe that life is fair, but that doesn’t necessarily make it bad either.
My hope is that on future Mondays I can answer some “audience” questions, if anyone has any questions they would like to send me? If you hate it, let me know, but please be charitable in your comments. I’ll be the first to admit I’m still a little fragile and very emotional these days. I do know this is a different style of my writing than I usually tend to do.
Jennifer Trapuzzano
Lisa
October 6, 2014 10:32 pmI LOVE this! It’s so nice to get to know you better! And I think it’s great you’re getting to know yourself again in some ways, too! I’d love to know how you and Nate picked the name Cecilia for your beautiful daughter, what your favorite hobby is, and more about how you and Nate met (and how you knew he was the one).
I just had to tell you, I’ve lived in Indiana pretty much since I was 6 and I’m 29 now (I did live in Illinois for one year), I’m the oldest child (I have one sister, who is one of my best friends), I could compete with you on who is the bigger chocoholic, and pottery was my worst subject in high school.
I was stunned and moved by what you said here “I don’t believe life is fair, but that doesn’t necessarily make it bad either.” Every time you see the beauty in life despite your pain, you inspire every person who has ever had the honor of knowing you.
Jen, you are one of the most amazing women I have ever met.
Tracy Bua Smith
October 6, 2014 11:41 pmI loved getting to know you a little better with these fun facts! My middle name is Anne (with an “e”) 🙂 Although I dropped my middle name and took my maiden name for the middle when I got married. I love some chocolate too and too much! 🙂 Yeah, life is not fair (I tell my kids that all the time and myself), but you are right, life is good, even when the unfairness seems to hide the goodness at times. Our family continues to pray for you and Cecelia (love her name, by the way!). Your journey has touched me in more ways than you can know!
I would love to know what you enjoy most about being Catholic? 🙂
God bless!
Tracy Bua Smith
Karen Carlson
October 7, 2014 5:34 amDear Jennifer, you are in my prayers. Thank you for sharing your life stories with all of us. Your Life is that of sacrificial love. God chose you to carry this cross because he knew you would out of Love for him! The example you set by carring this cross has showed all of us what we are capable of doing in our everyday lives. May God Bless you and your little one always. Jesus I Trust in You! Karen Carlson
Kim C.
October 7, 2014 8:07 amIt was nice reading the “fun facts” about you! My burning question is, how are Nate’s parents doing? Losing a husband is something I just cannot even imagine, but losing a child is something I hope I never live to tell about. I think of you and Cecilia often, but I also wonder about Nate’s mom and dad. If you get a chance, please let us know how they are coping with their grief. Also, do they get to see Cecilia regularly? I am sure having that connection with her grandparents will be vitally important for her in the future when she starts to learn more about her Daddy. Love and Prayers, Kim Cardwell
ifyoukeeponbelieving
October 7, 2014 1:18 pmYour healing process is admirable; I pray that your faith, writing, and support system continue to give you a newer strength everyday as you manage the sadness that comes from the physical absence of your husband. I have seen your story and have prayed and cried for you; I have imagined myself in your shoes and found I am simply unable. You are a strong daughter of God – your faith is outstanding. God has gifted you with a grace I am unable to describe but only honored to witness. With a pain I am simply unable to imagine, and a grace I am incapable of describing, my curiosity leads me to your grieving process – or perhaps – how you have grown so strong in such a short time from something so inconceivable. As an outsider, I have seen you only well composed and, again, graceful. As someone who does not deal well with loss, I am selfishly curious – How did you manage your new-found reality and what were your notions with grieving?
Karlee Leavell
October 10, 2014 10:21 pmI love your blog, you’re a great writer! Im a young single Catholic mother of twin girls. Im from Greenwood, IN and my family still lives down there (:
Patty
October 18, 2014 11:02 pmFrom one chocoholic to another, I love this idea. I choked a bit when I saw your birth date. I graduated in ’87…you are wise beyond your years. Your parents have done a remarkable job raising you! And you will follow suit with your precious daughter, who shares the same name as my littlest 😉
(and I have a Maria as well 😉
Patty
October 18, 2014 11:03 pmI should say, our Cecelia has the middle name Anne as well.