Amanda Vander Kelen

Thankful for the day to begin anew.  Thankful for the year to follow through.  Thankful for the night that joins the noon.  Thankful for the moments that don't end too soon (& even those that do).  Thankful for the people who make up my life.  Thankful for the hard work and even the strife.  Thankful to breathe in a breath of fresh air.  Thankful to the Earth and Her limitless care.  Wrapped in a blanked in Mother Nature's Alost, She is the home to return to when lost. Take time and take care of those you hold dear.  Cherish the moments, for that's all we can bear.  I am grateful for so many wonderful things that are happening in my career right now. First, the career, then, hopefully there will be someone special again to share this abundance with. I do want it all - I want a life and love that will sustain me in heart and soul. I think, though, as long as I keep staying true to myself, I could perhaps have the life I yearn for. I s...

 She held onto a time when she felt whole. She didn't understand it, she didn't know how.  There were no words adequate enough. Feelings are pure, streaming from heart. A smirk, a glance, nothing more. Could souls really connect on such distant shores? Rattled by an image of what a perfect life, never could she achieve no matter she tried.  Struck by a chord of a life of a dream, why is she here if she can never quite fit? Muddled by society, the subtext of life. Will she be awakened, or charade for eternity? The beast, the enchantress, the crone, and the maid. Will it work out, as she said? Blessed be. ___________________________________ Amanda Vander Kelen, MA is a geographer/GIS Specialist and now blogger. She creates a work/life balance by using her creativity in both making maps and writing blogs. Taking a mindful approach to life, she hopes you can utilize her writing to help create a peaceful space of your own. To show support for this blog, would yo...

 I've been really enjoying getting artistic on YouTube lately. I have always wanted to be able to sing. Growing up listening to Judy Garland, and then Evanescence, the bar was set extremely high in terms of what I thought was "talent". It's funny, because I used to teach dance. I used to perform on stage. I also taught Public Speaking in graduate school. Put me in a costume with learned choreography and I will run onto that stage. But, the thought of singing makes me so nervous. All I hear is my own voice. I am trying my best to be objective about it so I can put myself out there. Making these recent YouTube videos is similar to those dance recitals I used to do every June and December. And since it is not live, I can be as nervous as I need to when I click "publish video". Even if my hands and voice get shaky, it doesn't effect the pre-recorded song.  Here is my cover of the Edith Piaf song, La Vie En Rose .  I have worked hard over the years to learn F...

  Hello, and welcome back to my blog! There are so many good life things I want to talk about, but it's just not quite time yet. I have a very special project in the mix, and I will tell you all about it as soon as things are a little farther along. I'll give you a hint. It has to do with two of my favorite things: maps and cats! Does anyone else feel the urge to break out into Julie Andrews  My Favorite Things  from The Sound of Music?  Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens....  On a musical note, I have a few fun YouTube videos I am putting together - so stay tuned for my musical debut. Hopefully I won't break your eardrums ;) I had heaps of plans of what I was going to post in this blog, but so much is still in such early stages that I want to wait a bit. However, I did want to write  something.  I guess this post is just a big tease! I did want to say how grateful I am to the people in my life who are supportive of all my endeavors. Encouragin...