2017 in Review: Part 2

If you haven't already seen it, check out 2017 in Review: Part 1. I have a very, very condensed list (which really means a very, very long list) of things that happened during 2017 which were of importance to me. The year is marked by change, but there are so many other ways to mark the year.

I challenged myself to share #KTsPlaybills to share a program from each show - professional or amateur - that I attended. I only bought clothes when absolutely necessary and when needing specific items, and hand-me-downs from friends were added to my closet. I began writing more regularly, and I listened to more podcasts and audiobooks than ever before.

In the past, my annual recaps have been about my word of the year, pop culture things such as movies and music, musicals I have seen, and some book reviews. We have a lot to cover, so grab your notebooks and pencils and settle in. (Can you tell that I'm back in academia on the side of the student?)

I knew going into 2017 that I was going to need courage for all of the change that would come, and #2017courage was absolutely perfect. I'm not sure that I have had a word fit so perfectly other than the year of #2014creativity. When I had my frequent times of doubt and wanting to regress, I remembered that God goes before me and is the utmost courageous guide. And, now, I am choosing #2018persist to keep going through the challenges of life.

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Travel

I certainly had my fill of travel throughout 2017. In February, I visited NYC to do touristy things and also visit the campuses of two theological schools. In March, I attended the annual Illinois Senior Beta Club Convention with my (now former) students in Springfield which was always the most exhausting and the most fun 36 hours of my life. In April, I took Drama Club students to St. Louis, and we stopped at the Science Center, Forest Park, and the Fabulous Fox theatre to see The Lion King.

In June, I went to Chicago with my best friend, Bree, where we hung out with friends from Thailand, Pim and Ploy. Later that month, I traveled to Austin with #bookbesties for the Of Mess and Moxie friendship reunion party. In July, Bree and I went to Destin with my family and her little dude. In August, I moved to NJ. In October, I drove to CT (my first time!) with friends to hear a speaker, and I accidentally drove on Broadway through Manhattan on a Saturday night (It's a long story; you can ask me later). In December, I returned to Chicago with my family for a short trip.

Moving to NJ included driving through Illinois, Indiana, Ohio (my first time!), West Virginia (the most strange 11 miles I have ever driven), Pennsylvania (so much $$ in tolls), and New Jersey. In driving back and forth a few times, I determined a route that is a bit shorter: New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland (my first time!), West Virginia, Kentucky, and Illinois. 

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Theatre

Living less than 30 miles from my favorite city = SEEING ALL OF THE BROADWAY SHOWS!!! Ok, not all of them (which is what I would like), but I did see more professional shows this year than ever before:

1. Waitress, Brooks Atkinson Theatre on Broadway in February

2. In Transit, Circle in the Square Theatre on Broadway in February (closed)

3. Wicked, Gershwin Theatre on Broadway in February (for the 7th time!)

4. The Lion King, Fox Theatre in St. Louis on tour in April (for the 3rd time!)

5. Hamilton, Private Bank Theatre in Chicago in June

6. Bandstand, Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre on Broadway in August (closed)

7. Chicago, Ambassador Theatre on Broadway in September (for the 2nd time!)

8. Beautiful, Stephen Sondheim Theatre on Broadway in November (standing room tickets = cheap but tiring)

9. Once on This Island, Circle in the Square Theatre on Broadway in December

It is incredibly difficult to determine my favorites, but here goes:

3rd place: The Lion King - It is becoming a classic and is a must-see for everyone at least once in a lifetime, the most visually stunning production I have ever seen

2nd place: Waitress - I knew nothing going into it, but I have fallen in love with the storyline and the perfect music written by Sara Bareilles

1st place: Once on This Island - Run to the Circle in the Square Theatre to see this because it is so freaking good and I am counting down the days until the cast recording is released; I loved getting to see the Broadway debuts of Hailey Kilgore and Alex Newell among others

Always go see it forever and ever: Wicked - The true love of my life and the musical that I see annually because I'm *obsessed* with it

Lol at your attempt to get tickets: Hamilton - Because I only got in after someone was reselling tickets for 1/3 of the price, and I enter the NYC ticket lottery every day and never win

One of my goals / challenges for 2017 was to take a picture of every Playbill / program from each show that I saw. This helped me to keep track of what I have seen, and it reminds me of great memories with local productions that are keeping the arts alive and providing creative opportunities to my favorite people in southern Illinois:

1. Jesus Christ Superstar

2. The Sound of Music

3. Beauty and the Beast, Jr.

4. R&H's Cinderella

5. The Wizard of Oz

6. Legally Blonde

7. Seussical, Jr.

8. Sister Act

9. Seussical

10. Singin' in the Rain

11. Cats

12. Haiku / Gods are Fallen & All Safety Gone

Jesus Christ Superstar felt very convicting, I have seen various productions of Legally Blonde like six times, Seussical is always a win, Singin' in the Rain was new to me, Cats was *T*R*I*P*P*Y*, and Haiku / Gods... was a night of one act plays presented at Drew. It was a good year for amateur theatre (but I could say that about every year).

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Secular Music

I didn't purchase a lot of music this year, and I was more into singles than albums which is rather irregular for my past music tastes. Moana is my favorite cast recording of the year. I love the Hamilton Mixtape, especially "Satisfied" by Sia feat. Miguel and Queen Latifah and "Immigrants (We Get the Job Done)" by K'naan, Snow Tha Product, Riz MC, and Residente. This should be no surprise that my top two albums of the year are from works of Lin-Manuel Miranda who is a genius.

I was a little underwhelmed by the cast recording for Dear Evan Hansen. Although I don't love it overall, I would like to see the show eventually even though it gets me in my feels. I really enjoy "Anybody Have a Map?", "Waving Through a Window,"  and "You Will Be Found." I was also underwhelmed with Taylor Swift's reputation and Lady Gaga's Joanne.

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Christian Music

My copy of Lauren Daigle's CD has gotten a lot of play time lately although it is a few years old. Some singles - whether new or old - were played often and became anthems to be remembered by 2017.

5th place: "It's Not Over Yet" by for KING & COUNTRY

4th place:  "O Come to the Altar" by Elevation Worship

3rd place: "You are Loved" by Stars Go Dim - In case we ever need a reminder that we are loved (like all of the time), we've got it

2nd place: "Tears" by Matt Hammitt - I remember hearing this on the radio and feeling captivated by it as a reminder that feelings are ok and it's good to be expressive

1st place: "Great are You, Lord" by All Sons & Daughters - One of my close friends played this about a year ago, and I fell in love; it was a song that was played at church while I was in Austin and one of the first songs that I heard at my current church, so I can't help but remember God's greatness through all of these significant life moments and life changes

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Books

Books are the great love of my life above most other things, and receiving gifts of books means that someone really gets me. In the past few years, I had been on numerous book launch teams in which I would receive books for free in exchange for honest reviews and sharing about them among friends. I scaled back due to time constraints of all of the change, and then I read considerably less for personal enjoyment after school began.

Without including any academic books, I have gone through the difficult process of narrowing down my top five books of 2017:

5th place: "All in All" by Sophie Hudson - I was proud to be on the launch team for Sophie's 2016 book, "Giddy Up, Eunice," and I instantly signed up for the team for the release of her 2017 teen girl devotional. I gave away my copy, and I think it is absolutely perfect for teen girls who are in the late high school to early college years. I can't think of anyone better than Sophie, who knows teens and knows God, to write this.

4th place: "The Magnolia Story" by Chip and Joanna Gaines - Just like so many others, I have fallen in love with Fixer Upper and shiplap. Do I really know what shiplap is? No. Do I love it? Totally. Their book was a great story filled with struggles and accomplishments, disheartening moments and encouragements. I enjoyed the audiobook, and I was disappointed when it ended because I wanted even more.

3rd place: "Talking as Fast as I Can" by Lauren Graham - I want to be Lauren's best friend. I have loved watching her on Parenthood and Gilmore Girls, and now I need her to be my BFF. I especially enjoyed the parts about Gilmore Girls, and it is my favorite non-religious, non-fiction book of 2017.

2nd place: "Of Mess and Moxie" by Jen Hatmaker. My girl J-Hat is the coolest person I have ever hugged (and I'm so not a hugger) (and maybe she is cool because I was incredibly awkward every time I talked to her but she acted as if I wasn't the weirdest person around). This book, like Jen's 2015 release of "For the Love," was given to me for free as a launch team member, but I share it out of genuine love for the content and for who Jen is. She is bold and caring, fierce and comedic, truth-telling and recipe-sharing. Jen inspires and encourages me to be a better me, and I could never thank her enough for how her books have literally changed my life.

1st place: "Braving the Wilderness" by Brene Brown - No one could beat out Jen for the top spot except Brene. I was instantly challenged and changed when I first listened to Brene's 2010 TED talk on "The Power of Vulnerability" in 2016, and I am still challenged and changed by her words. (Her videos have been played in two of my classes this week which is perfect timing!) I listened to the audiobook recording of this publication, and it was like a friend telling me her hard life stories and her intense research that has shaped who she is and how she sees the world. We may always be outliers who are going through the wilderness, but that is not bad and we are not alone.

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If 2017 wasn't such a year of big things and big moments and big travels and big experiences, I wouldn't know what to say. (Jk, yes I would, I love written words.) Even so, these words and music pieces and artists have shaped who I am. They continue to be leaders in my life in how I live it and how I view others. All of these special moments with so many special people made 2017 as courageous as it was. While I'm leaning into the vulnerable places of the unknown and the unexpected, here's to #2018persist.