Posts tagged Enhanced Essay

TRAVELING WELL

Today has been marked Duchenne Awareness Day - so I wanted to re-share this video in hopes of showing the impact DMD has on children and families.

Though the scope of Mitchell's Journey goes beyond the medical condition of DMD as it contemplates the human conditions of faith, hope, and healing, I want to do my part to raise awareness. I want people to know what took my little boy away from me.

“A life of true significance doesn’t say, “Here I am, look at me!” but rather, “There you are, how can I help?””

— Christopher M. Jones | Mitchell's Journey

In the most unexpected ways, my heart is especially tender today. Tender because I miss my son and tender for the many families who fight for their children still living.

We will all die at some point - that much is certain. But how well we live between now and then ... how we help others along their journey, is what makes our lives significant. Little Mitch inspires me to live a life of quiet significance.

A life of true significance doesn't say, "Here I am, look at me!" but rather, "There you are, how can I help?"

May we all find a way to not just travel through life, but travel well.

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Recently I was asked to serve on the board of Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy, the same group that tried to save my son's life and who works tirelessly to unlock the riddle of DMD. I honor that organization and hope to serve them well - to help put a face to a fatal illness that broke my heart and give hope to those who face that same fate.

https://www.facebook.com/parentprojectmd
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Christopher JonesSeptember 7, 2017Enhanced Essay, Video Series, Seasonal_SeptemberComment

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20 YEARS

“It was a perfect day. To be clear, life wasn’t perfect – but as days go, it was perfect.”

— Christopher M. Jones | Mitchell's Journey

It wasn’t many years ago Natalie and I took little Mitch to Shriners Hospital for a check-up. The leaves were crunchy and the season had changed from a hot summer to a crisp, cool fall. I love every season for many reasons; each is beautiful in its own way and I’m grateful for the reminder that things are temporary and everything changes.

I remember this day so vividly. Mitch was ever-so-tender and Wyatt was full of life and energy. Natalie chased the boys around the park as they threw leaves in the air and giggled. Sonya, Natalie’s sister, worked at Shriners and left the hospital to enjoy a little of the afternoon with us. It was a perfect day. To be clear, life wasn’t perfect – but as days go, it was perfect.

Little Mitch was young and our hearts were tender – our fear of the future, raw. I made it a point to go to the hospital with Mitch as often as I could. In fact, I almost never missed an appointment because I didn’t want my little boy to see an empty chair where his daddy should have been. I wanted him to know how much he mattered and that I cared – for I knew a time would come when he would have to step into the dark abyss of death and I wanted him to be assured we were always at his side. That abyss came much sooner than we ever imagined and I know in the quiet of that sacred winter night, my son didn’t feel alone.

This photo was taken almost exactly 10 years ago; and today, that's about the half-way point in my life with Natalie, thus far. Today marks our 20th anniversary.

That’s 20 years I can’t get back and 20 years I would never give away – not for anything. This dear woman has been the best investment in time, energy and love I’ve ever made. Because of her, I’ve had 4 beautiful children and 1 amazing soulmate. I am a better me when she is around and I’m forever grateful for her.

In honor of our 20th anniversary, here are two essays I’ve posted on anniversaries past that describe the thoughts and feelings of my heart. These words aren't still true ... they are more true today than the day I first wrote them.

JUST THE BEGINNING (2014)

THE PEASANT & THE GLASS SLIPPER (2016)

This Essay is part of the September Seasonal Content. Visit each month to get more.

August - September - October - November - December

September 6, 2017 | 7:20PM

The best 20 years of my life have been with this girl. Tonight I gave her a surprise anniversary gift that represent her greatest treasures. Her dad took this photo and I had it framed to include little Mitch.

Christopher JonesSeptember 6, 2017Anniversary, Marriage, Family, Our Family Today, Seasonal_September, Enhanced EssayComment

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ECLIPSE

Last week, Natalie and I set out to do what millions of people did ... we took our kids, along with a friend, Jonathan Gardner, who we met through #mitchellsjourney to Madras Oregon to witness the total eclipse.

We rented a van (almost a small bus) and went on a long drive to the coast of Oregon at first, then journeyed inland to an arid town (Madras) in hopes of clear skies and a glimpse of an astronomical wonder.

Along the way, we stopped to take photos of the Oregon landscape.

Our First Adventure, A Waterfall & the Ocean

Preparing for the Eclipse

We camped at SolarFest (local fairgrounds in the town of Madras) but then went to Solar Town (a plot of farm land just outside Madras) to see the actual eclipse.

Another great shot by Jonathan of the campgrounds a the fairgrounds

Solar Town - The Place We Photographed the Eclipse

As the Eclipse Began

As the sun began to hide behind the moon, I was overwhelmed with a sense of humankind's utter nothingness against the backdrop of an infinite universe. It was a humbling to witness the majesty of two celestial bodies interact. As small as I felt, my feelings about Mitch loomed enormous.

A Moment for Mitch

As the Sky darkened I thought to myself how much Mitch would've loved to see what I saw. I know there are people who will say, "he was there with you" ... but he wasn't ... not in the way I wanted him with me.

So, before I began to take in the eclipse, I dedicated a small prayer in my heart so I might always remember my little boy and re-commit to be nice to others and be grateful for life.

The Eclipse Closing In

Here are a few photos of our experience and what we captured. Admittedly, our photos of the eclipse itself are unremarkable, inasmuch as they look like everyone else's photos. But these were our pictures and we were excited to take them.

The Moment of Totality, a 360° Sunset

At the moment of totality, we were surrounded by a 360° sunset. Mitch, having loved sunsets the way he did, would've been fascinated. I'm putting together a little video of the experience that I'll post shortly.

Unfortunately, this panoramic photo is blurry - but it still serves to show how dark the sky became during the 2+ minutes of totality.

The Sun's Corona

Our Favorite Photo of The Eclipse

The last photo in this series is my favorite. I took a burst of photos as the sun began to break over the edge of the moon and that photo represents one of them. Captured in that series show multiple sun flares. It was amazing to witness.

Hi Marlie!

The morning we returned home, Natalie and I went to our cousin's home whose family was watching Marlie for us. THis was the look on her face after our being gone for 5 days. It was as if she were saying, "Dad, is that you? Where have you been?"

This little pup who gave Mitch great comfort now serves our family in a similar way.

It was a fun adventure and I am so glad we saw it through. Wyatt and Ethan were anxious to photograph the journey so they could make videos and photo journals of their own. Jonathan (our family friend) and Natalie both took photos like a paparazzi.

I think it's safe to say, if nobody else on this planet shot the eclipse save our family, we'd have had it covered.

For those who are following our Everyday Photography tutorial, this series can serve as an example of our photojournalistic style.

Christopher JonesAugust 29, 2017Seasonal_August, Eclipse, Enhanced Essay, Our Family Today, Photojournalism, Everyday Photography Comments

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LITTLE MITCH & THE BIG UNIVERSE

It wasn't many years ago I took my boys camping high in the Uinta Mountains, far away from city lights. It had been a long day, filled with adventures and exploration. As we lay in our tent, tired from a long day of play, we gazed through the window of the tent into the starry expanse of the heavens.

Mitch said softly, "Dad, how big is space?" I remembered wondering that same thing when I was his age.

“... one thing I know, I am in heaven right here with you”

— Christopher M. Jones | Mitchell's Journey

"Well," I said, "scientists have learned a lot about space since I was a kid. So far, we can't see the end of space. In fact, they say the universe is so big, it isn't possible for humans to comprehend it."

Mitch thought for a moment and then said, "Wow, that's amazing."

A few minutes passed, soothed by the melodic song of crickets, then Mitch said, "So, Dad, is heaven up there?" I paused a moment and said, "I think heaven will surprise us. But one thing I know, I am in heaven right here with you." Mitch smiled and snuggled up to me. I put my arms around him as we fell asleep.

There, in my arms, was little Mitch frail and curious. Above me, a universe so vast, my finite mind couldn't comprehend something so infinite. Mitch and I lay on the ground, high in the mountains, less than a speck in the cosmos. Somewhere in the middle of the finite and infinite I held the universe in my arms, grateful to be alive.

Be sure to learn more about the full solar eclipse.

It's happening in 1 week and it will never happen again. At least in your lifetime.

We hope you take a moment on Monday, August 21, 2017, to experience any portion of the eclipse and look upon the sky with a child-like sense of awe.

Christopher JonesAugust 13, 2017Seasonal_August, Camping, Enhanced Essay, August2017_Exception Comments

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