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Sneak Peek & Rave Reviews for Tempting Fate Soundtrack

It’s been many months since I last wrote about Pedro’s movie composing and the status of Tempting Fate, his first full-feature American film. It’s hard to believe that we celebrated the 4^th of July last year at the VIP screening of the movie in Houston.

On the red carpet at the Tempting Fate premiere, July 4, 2014, Houston, TX.

One year later, the film’s stars and key production crew have just arrived in Lagos, Nigeria for another very important premiere of this Christian movie (Friday, July 10, 2015). Although Pedro is not able to attend, we are no less interested in what is going on with this faith-based film across the world.

We are counting down the days to its release across Nigeria (July 17) and Ghana (July 24). Only 9 days to go as of today’s publishing of this post. Momentum is building as positive media reviews are spreading across Nigeria.

To date, the official movie trailer has over 30,000 views on youtube.com.

What is the significance of the release of this movie in Africa? Stay tuned for my next update on the movie and an exclusive interview with Dan Davies, co-star of Tempting Fate, for more behind the scenes information.*

For now, let’s talk music…

Post Screening Promotion

The first music related production after the Houston premiere was the filming and release of a music video for the Tempting Fate theme song. This video was shot in LA, starring Andrew Onochie, who portrays Edu in the movie, and actress and singer Jacobed Melgarejo. The song is a blend of Igbo (Nigerian), English, and Spanish worship with words that echo the message of redemption and forgiveness, the overarching theme of the movie.

Over the past year, we’ve watched and patiently waited while the movie made its rounds through some very prestigious film festivals. Tempting Fate was chosen to premiere at the Indie Fest USA International Film Festival last fall in Orange County, CA and also at the Pan African Film Festival (PAFF) in Hollywood, CA earlier this year. Rave reviews were shared by audiences at both festivals.

PAFF program information, February 2015.

Release of the Movie Soundtrack

The movie soundtrack (available on iTunes, Amazon, Spotify, etc.) was released worldwide on February 12, 2015. In order to create the cross-cultural mix of music for the Nollywood (Nigeria)/Hollywood (US) film collaboration three composers were used on the project: Daniel Berg, Folorunso Obilana, and Pedro González Arbona.

Click image to sample soundtrack or purchase on Amazon.

The emotions in Tempting Fate music comes from real life’s rough ends and plundering experiences of Ugo and Edu as they journey from love and betrayal to forgiveness and loneliness. This is a story of two brothers, one of deep faith and the other buried in a life of crime. They had their worlds torn apart when the wrong one goes to jail and the other commits an unforgivable act. This music is a collection of compositions from Spain, USA and Africa. These songs are sent from above; they pierce directly into the heart. (Album notes from CD Baby site.)

The African songs with singing, including the “Tempting Fate” main theme song used in the music video, were composed by Folorunso Obilana. Daniel Berg’s music is purely orchestral. Pedro’s music is a combination of orchestral and African instrumental with some melodic voice additions.

While the official CD soundtrack has 12 songs, there is much more music in the film, most of those songs were composed by Pedro. After seeing the movie at the premiere in Houston last summer, more music changes were made to the final cut.

As is common in scoring for films, the composer doesn’t have a lot of input in the final cut of the movie. Even highly sought after Academy Award winning composers like Hans Zimmer have to swallow their pride when it comes to which music is used in their movies. Pedro composed over 80 minutes of music, but only a small fraction of that ended up in the movie or on the soundtrack. Pedro released some of that music on his latest CD, Memories.

An Exclusive Music Sneak Peek

One such song not on the CD, but in the movie is “Brothers.” This song is used in one of the first scenes in the movie where the two main actors, Nigerian brothers, Edu and Ugo, are revealing to the audience the nature of their brotherly relationship and love. It is a beautiful song that I was privy to watch Pedro compose while in Madrid in July 2013.

Pedro walked me through the composing process as he created this song. It was a very educational and magical moment to witness his creativity in action. The song went through a few revisions before settling on the version now in the movie. Since I work with Pedro, he gave me exclusive permission to share this song with my readers by clicking the ‘play’ button below.

One final music related note, last week during the media showing in Nigeria, the overriding comment was “not a dry eye in the house.” I won’t give away the ending of the movie, but suffice it to say that Pedro’s final song, “Requiem,” combined with the superb on-screen acting, gives the movie a lasting final impression. Memorable, moving, and touching, even for a crowd of seasoned movie critics. Listen for yourself and see if you agree.

Other reviewers commented on how the music strikes people as uniquely different. The music fits perfectly with the storyline and with the film. It fosters, helps, and propels the story along.

Praying for Success

Tempting Fate is the directorial debut of Nigerian born Kevin Nwankwor. The mission of KevStel Group, Kevin’s Atlanta based production company, is to produce uplifting, Christian, and faith-based film and television projects.

How can you help support this independent Christian movie outside of Nigeria? One way is to purchase the soundtrack. Another is by praying for its success. Nigeria is just the first stop for this movie with global appeal. With the premiere only days away, prayer is critical to the successful outreach of this film.

The message of this movie is truly inspiring. If people get behind this movie and pray for it, there will be more films like this available for viewing. So please join me and others around the world who are praying for this movie.

It’s not a coincidence that Pedro is associated with this inspirational faith-based movie. His music has been bathed in prayers since we met five years ago. It’s been a long road: from the antique and gutted out player piano in our home in the suburbs of Seattle, to his studio in the heart of Spain, and now to theaters across Africa. We are proud to be associated with this first class independent film.

Congratulations to the cast and crew of Tempting Fate! May the message of this movie resonate with viewers in Nigeria and beyond. May your dreams for this film exceed your every expectation.

*Special thanks to Dan Davies, who portrays Scorpion in Tempting Fate, for contributing to the content of this post.

Not your Typical Exchange Student Experience

This week marks the 5th anniversary of meeting Pedro González Arbona, a short-term Spanish exchange student, and his adoption into our family. Every year at this time, my internal clock reminds me and sends me down memory lane. That’s because Pedro’s arrival in our home set a series of life-changing events in motion for me emotionally, spiritually, and with my writing.

While our adventures that first summer were fairly typical of the experiences of host families and their students, the relationship that ensued was not typical. It led to a deep connection between his mother and me as we prepared for our mothers to pass away; it led to launching Pedro’s music and film composing career; and it led to my church mission to Spain last fall.

Pedro’s welcome poster, July 2010.

Five Years of Celebrations

So for the last four years, I’ve deliberately marked the occasion in some personal way.

The 1st year, I took Pedro into The Piano Studio to record his first CD, Introducing Pedro González Arbona.
The 2nd year, I went away on a personal writing retreat to work on my memoir related to this story.
On the 3rd year, I met his mother Rosa and other family members while traveling in Spain.
On the 4th year (last year), Pedro and I attended the VIP screening of his first full-feature film, Tempting Fate, in Houston.

Five years later, and I realized I had never publically shared the behind the scenes story of how this all came to be. Even the way in which Pedro ended up in our home was not the usual course of events that occurs when signing up to host a foreign exchange student. It was a whirlwind of surprises and quick decisions a few short weeks before Pedro arrived in America.

Pedro at the Nelson family piano, July 2010

Rekindling an Old Friendship

The story starts in June 2010. My oldest son was a senior in high school and auditioned to perform a classical piano piece at the Baccalaureate ceremony. The evening of his audition, our son shared over dinner that one of the judges was Kris, a family friend from our old neighborhood. We’d lost touch with each other through the years. She remembered my son from way back when our kids played together.

After years of no contact, I decided to connect with Kris over email. That started a nice string of replies back and forth and the rekindling of an old friendship. My son passed the audition, and we made plans to see each other at the ceremony later that month.

Pedro in the recording studio, July 2011.

Looking for Host Families

A few days later, Kris sent us an email about Education First (EF), the exchange program that she was in charge of for our area. She asked us if we would be interested in hosting a student. 44 students from France and Spain were arriving in 4 weeks and they still needed homes for some of the students.

My husband and I had a Finnish exchange student through Rotary International in our home early on in our marriage (over 20 years ago) before we had kids. It was such a fun experience; we were open to doing it again, and sharing the experience with our now teenage sons.

We had never heard about the EF program. We learned EF was a short-term program, generally just a few weeks. Some years the program involved students being in language classes during the day. Other years the program entailed multiple planned field trips for the students, and lots of unscheduled time to be immersed in the culture and life of their host families. This particular year, was the latter program for 4 weeks in July.

We talked it over as a family and decided to give it a try. We filled out the application, went through the home interview process, and had our references checked. Since most everyone in my family had taken some Spanish in school, we requested to host a Spanish male student in our home. We anxiously awaited word of who our host son would be.

Our EF leaders, Kris & Jan.

Matching Host Families and Students

Ten days later, I eagerly opened the email that matched families with students. When I read our host son’s profile, I was surprised to see that he didn’t play the piano. During the initial interview process, Kris shared that there was definitely at least one student who played the piano and that we would be matched with him.

From the moment the opportunity to host an exchange student came up, I felt God was calling me to stretch myself outside of my comfort zone. I was excited about welcoming a student into our home, but I was also nervous about it.

So when I noticed that the student assigned to our family did not play the piano, I prayed about what to do. Was I to blindly trust that this was ‘the student’ for us? Was I supposed to speak up and make our desires known?

I contacted Kris about our assigned student. Her response was welcome news. She made a mistake in assigning the students. We were supposed to be matched with a young man from Spain who played the piano. His name was Pedro!

Pedro in his studio in Madrid, July 2013.

First Contact

Our family had the advantage of knowing a little bit about Pedro and his family by way of the profile sheet that he filled out as part of the EF program. Right away I sent Pedro an email introduction and family photo. He quickly replied, sharing his excitement to visit Seattle, and about his love of music and cinema. He had also looked up our location on Google Maps, said how beautiful it looked, and naturally asked about the rain.

Communication was also then initiated with his parents, Rosa and Rafa. In our first email from his parents, they told us we “have friends in Spain if you want to come to visit.” (Three years later I took them up on that offer.)

Several emails followed over the next two weeks before his arrival in our home. It was a crazy time for us. Our son was graduating from high school and we had an out of town trip planned to a family wedding. Somehow I managed to prepare the house and my spirit to welcome this young man into our home in short order. (I’m sure prayer had something to do with it.)

We had a fun filled 4 weeks together exploring Washington State, and learning about each other’s countries and cultures. And of course, Pedro played the piano every chance he got. Unbeknownst to us, he was also playing some of his own compositions, like “Portman,” still one of my favorites. A few months later, he sent us “Seattle,” a song he composed and dedicated to my family. (Click to view studio recordings or listen to songs on the media player in right sidebar.)

And the rest, as they say, is history.

Pedro, at the keyboard at the VIP screening of Tempting Fate, Houston, July 2014.

A Match Made in Heaven

I’ve never regretted opening up our home to an exchange student or specifically to Pedro. We were so attached to Pedro, we invited him back the next summer for a personal visit. Five years later our families still maintain regular contact via email, Skype, or Whatsapp messaging.

It was truly a match made in heaven.

The experience has expanded my definition of family and stretched my heart, my mind, and my faith in amazing ways. Sometimes the geographical and language barriers make our relationship challenging. Other times it brings such great joy.

When we agreed to host an exchange student in our home, I never thought I was signing up for this kind of long-term commitment. But I was open to being used by God; and I trusted Him each step along the way.

I have been immensely blessed by Pedro, Rosa, Rafa, and the rest of his family. They were a conduit for the Lord’s healing to be manifested with the passing of my mother several months after Pedro returned home. (That is the story published in Journeys to Mother Love.) Rosa is my Sister in Christ. I am a proud benefactor of Pedro’s music (pgarbona.com), and relish our friendship.

Pedro & his American family from Seattle, July 2010, a match made in heaven.

Be the Blessing

We never know how God is going to use some small act of kindness to bless us or others. I hope you will give heed the next time He nudges you to do something outside of your comfort zone. The blessing may just be on the other side of obedience.

2 Comments

by ardisanelson on July 2, 2015 • Permalink

Posted in Faith & Hope, My Spanish Connection, Relationships & Family

Tagged educational exchange program, encouragement, family, friendship, God's timing, gratitude, hope, Journeys to Mother Love, My Spanish Connection, obedience, Pedro Gonzalez Arbona, piano compositions, Portman, relationships, Seattle, Tempting Fate, The Piano Studio - Seattle, trusting God

Posted by ardisanelson on July 2, 2015

https://ardisanelson.com/2015/07/02/not-your-typical-exchange-student-experience/

Memories: A Musical Adventure by Pedro González Arbona

If you found your way to this post you must be a fan of the music of Pedro González Arbona, or film music in general. In my last post about Pedro’s latest CD, Memories, I gave my readers a glimpse into the making of his CD. In this post, I am taking you on a musical adventure of the sound, movement, and artistic beauty that these songs entail. (Click on any of the song names in this post to sample or purchase the song through Amazon.)

Memories: A Musical Adventure

Have you ever noticed when you watch the beginning of a film how the music fills the theater as the name of the movie, main actors, director and key production personnel appear on the screen? It is a glimpse into the music to come. Often it is blending of some of the songs for that movie, or maybe a medley like an overture in a musical.

Memories starts in the same way with track 1, aptly named “Opening Titles.” It is a large and extravagant piece that showcases Pedro’s musical talent and ability to draw the audience into the songs (or scenes) that follow.

Track 2 is one of Pedro’s most beautiful compositions, “The Great Beauty.” What can I say about a song whose title sums up the music that it portrays? Delicate, soothing, and distinctive notes from the piano, oboe, harp, and building up to the addition of some mellow horns. Yes, it is a great beauty! (Select the song title on the media player on the right sidebar to hear this song in full.)

I first heard this beauty a few months before the screening of Pedro’s new movie, Tempting Fate. I was already privy to his submitted work on the Tempting Fate soundtrack. This piece seemed to take his work to an even higher level. Yes, his work is (was) destined for the big screen.

There are several other songs on this CD that are soft songs that would accompany slow or romantic movie scenes. Some songs may lend themselves to a sad scene with strings accentuating the mood.

Which mood is really up to the listener. They are all magical. Included in this variety are “Memories,” “Dreams,” “The Crime,” “Ordinary Lives” (listen on the music player in the right sidebar), “Green View,” “Autumn,” and “Learning from Life.”

Memories contains several songs geared more on the dramatic side. “Chaos” sounds like a scene right out of a drama or suspense film. Riveting music that builds and takes you along with the action, glued to the music and the movie, awaiting the finale.

Another large song is “Flying.” This song reminds me of a patriotic piece or something maybe in a war movie. It takes me back to movies from years ago. I can envision an old black and white movie playing as the victory is won in a waging battle.

“Epic” is a song meant for a dramatic or suspenseful scene as the music builds. The music (and the scene) end with a slow fade. If action movies are your favorite genre, then “Action Theme” will be the song for you. This song was used by KevStel, producer of Tempting Fate, in a short trailer alert for the movie, but was not on the soundtrack released in February 2015. Watch the video below to check out how they used this dramatic music.

The last song on the CD is a sentimental favorite of mine, “Kalinda.” This is Pedro’s first song that was composed for a movie. It dates back to February 2013 when he first started to experiment with adding strings and other instruments to his piano compositions. It was used as the trailer music for Thirst for Love, a Spanish short film directed by Chani Bas. Check out the video below to watch the trailer and listen to “Kalinda.”

Hear it for Yourself

Memories is really music for the movie that is yet to be written. It is from the movie in Pedro’s mind. In time, some of these songs may accompany a movie in a theater near you. Until then, please support Pedro’s music dreams by purchasing his CD, reviewing the music online, and liking his professional Facebook page, Pedro González Arbona, composer.

Want a copy for yourself? Here’s the purchase links and methods to listen to his music:

Digital Downloads

Streaming

Or purchase the physical CD through my site.

For more information about Pedro González Arbona and his music, visit pgarbona.com. Stay tuned for more updates on Pedro’s musical career and breaking news about the premiere of Tempting Fate across Nigeria and Ghana in July.

1 Comment

by ardisanelson on June 24, 2015 • Permalink

Posted in My Spanish Connection, Pedro's Musical Pursuits

Tagged CD Baby, iTunes, KevStel Group, Memories, movie composing, music, music projects, My Spanish Connection, Pedro Gonzalez Arbona, piano compositions, Spotify, Tempting Fate

Posted by ardisanelson on June 24, 2015

https://ardisanelson.com/2015/06/24/memories-musical-adventure-by-pedro-gonzalez-arbona/

Making “Memories,” a CD by Pedro González Arbona

My desk and my mind are cleared of the clutter and busyness of life. The most amazing music is engulfing me, stirring my senses, and begging me to share its beauty and my joy with the world.

What am I listening too? It is the new CD by my favorite musical protégé and composer, Pedro González Arbona. Memories is Pedro’s latest foray into the music and film scoring business.

Pedro’s Musical Background

In the three years since Introducing Pedro González Arbona, his debut album, was released, Pedro’s music has grown by leaps and bounds. His first album was a collection of his earliest solo piano compositions performed on a Steinway Concert grand piano in a recording studio in Seattle. It was a gift for his 18^th birthday while visiting from Madrid. It was a monumental day for us both.

I’ve written a lot about Pedro’s love for music and how it was nurtured and inspired at an early age by cinema. Now his work has matured and blossomed into full orchestral music that rivals the likes of other famous film composers that he admires, like John Williams (Star Wars), Hans Zimmer (most recently Interstellar), and Alexandre Desplat, winner for Best Original Score for The Grand Budapest Hotel at this year’s Academy Awards.

I don’t say this to boast, although it is hard for me to be impartial. I say this because, at Pedro’s request, I’ve been immersing myself in various film scores over these last few years as well. I hear the similarities and have been captivated by Pedro’s music. Not just listening to it, but also as I witnessed it on the big screen at the VIP screening of his movie Tempting Fate, last July in Houston.

Pedro knows music!

Making Memories, the CD

While I was in Madrid last fall, Pedro and I met over dinner one night to discuss his next CD project. On another night in Madrid, he played one of his newest songs for me, “Opening Titles.” He was fully engaged in the music, as if conducting the orchestra with an invisible baton. This was Pedro’s first orchestrated piece, complete with pages and pages of sheet music. Watching his delight in the final cut of this piece, and immersing myself in the music, was one of my best memories while on this trip to Spain.

A proud moment in Madrid: “Opening Titles” plays through Pedro’s sound system as he reviews the sheet music.

Although we collaborated in the production of the CD, it is truly his project from start to finish. He designed the album cover, titled the album, and naturally, composed the music. I brought his vision to completion by working in America with our music distributor, CD Baby. They make worldwide sales and distribution via iTunes, Amazon, Spotify, and other internet music sites easy for any artist.

Pedro’s album cover design (above) conjures up feelings of old time movies, before the age of digital technology, with strips of film negatives pinned to a clothesline. Which scenes will make the final cut of the movie? Which songs will make the final cut of the CD?

Selecting the Songs

It was a difficult process to select the final 14 songs for this CD. The music was mostly composed over the last year during a period of prolific musical and artistic inspiration. I received some of the songs along his composing process. I’ve collected a large archive of his music over the past four years from his various film and internet projects or impromptu personal musical inspirations.

Some of the pieces included on the CD were composed for the Tempting Fate film, but didn’t make it to the final cut of the movie. As I’ve come to learn, it is just part of the film composing process. It gives Pedro the opportunity to showcase them on his CDs or use on other projects. (The soundtrack to Tempting Fate is available on Amazon.)

Pedro also collaborated with orchestrators (credited as ‘featuring’ in the track titles) to provide the professional sound quality and feel to his music. The final 14 songs showcase the variety of Pedro’s music composing ability.

The easiest way for me to describe this album is to say that even though it was not written for a specific movie or movie scenes, it is just like a soundtrack. The songs conjure up a wide breadth of emotions that are commonly experienced in a movie: romance, suspense, action, drama, mystery. You’ll be hooked after the first song! I certainly was.

So in my next post about Memories, I will take you on a behind the scenes musical adventure through his latest album. Until then, you can preview one of my favorite songs “The Great Beauty” on Soundcloud or by selecting the song on the media player in the right sidebar on this page.

For more information about Pedro González Arbona and his music, visit pgarbona.com. Memories is available for your immediate listening pleasure through any of the links below:

iTunes
Amazon
CD Baby
Or purchase the physical CD through my site

You can show your support for this young artist’s music career by liking his page on Facebook, Pedro González Arbona, composer.

1 Comment

by ardisanelson on May 21, 2015 • Permalink

Posted in My Spanish Connection, Pedro's Musical Pursuits

Tagged Alexandre Desplat, CD Baby, following your dreams, Hans Zimmer, John Williams, Memories, movie composing, music, music projects, My Spanish Connection, Pedro Gonzalez Arbona, piano compositions, Spain, Spotify, Tempting Fate

Posted by ardisanelson on May 21, 2015

https://ardisanelson.com/2015/05/21/making-memories-cd-pedro-gonzalez-arbona/

Celebrating the Sound of Music’s 50th Anniversary

The 50^th anniversary of the Sound of Music was recently marked with lots of fanfare: tributes, release of a 50^th Anniversary 5-disk DVD/Blu-ray collection, television programs, and special viewings of the movie in Hollywood, and across America. I was lucky enough to attend one of the special viewings locally last weekend with some women from my church group.

SOM cast

This is not the first time I’ve written about my favorite musical and probably won’t be the last either. It has a lot of sentimental significance to me, having first seen it as a young child in 1965, and is another connection that I have with my Spanish family. When I told Pedro, my Spanish host son, film aficionado, and movie composer himself, that I was going to see the Sound of Music, he relayed that he and his friends wished they could also attend such an event. Unfortunately, no special viewings were planned in Spain.

Recent Media Attention

I’ve been following along with the Sound of Music media attention the past few months. First was the Sound of Music tribute medley sung by Lady Gaga at the Academy Awards Ceremony on February 22. Did you know that Lady Gaga practiced for six months prior to that performance so she could sing it in the same key as Julie Andrews? They met for the first time when they embraced on stage at the Oscars.

Andrews-Lady Gaga-Oscars

Then on March 18, the ABC Television Network aired, The Untold Story of the Sound of Music. In this program Diane Sawyer and Julie Andrews, 79, toured Salzburg, Austria and sites from the movie. The show was a treasure trove of behind the scenes stories and Julie Andrews’ memories of filming the movie.

Photo credit: Ida Mae Astute/ABC via Getty Images

Me and 7.3 million other viewers were glued to the television set that night. My favorite seen from the show was when Julie Andrews recreated the famous wedding march at the Salzburg Cathedral (starting at 6 minutes in the video below).

I’ve never been to Salzburg, but I have been in numerous Cathedrals in Spain in recent years. It reminded me of those grand Cathedrals, making that scene come more alive for me than ever before. The scenes with the Alps towering over Salzburg also reminded me of my time in the French Alps last fall. Priceless!

Then on March 26 in Hollywood, CA, the Turner Classic Movies: TCM Film Festival kicked off when Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer reunited to introduce the opening-night screening of the Sound of Music. They have been good friends for years, but he hadn’t embraced his role in the movie until recently.

Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer, 50 years later, opening night at the TCM Film Festival.

Popularity of the Sound of Music

Here’s some background and historical context behind the musical’s popularity:

The Sound of Music is the third highest grossing motion picture in the United States and the most successful movie musical of all time.
In 1966, at the 38^th annual Academy Awards, the Sound of Music won 5 Oscars, including Best Picture.
The soundtrack to the Sound of Music peaked at Number 1 on the Billboard charts on November 13, 1965, edging out HELP! by the Beatles.
Salzburg has only 150,000 people live there, but attracts 6.5 million tourists annually, most in search of reliving the scenes from the movie. (A bucket list item for me too!)

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Those numbers don’t lie. So what’s the big deal about the Sound of Music? Why does it resonate with so many of us? Why does it resonate worldwide?

Here’s what I think:

The Sound of Music portrays a message of hope, sacrifice, courage, love, and faith. It’s a movie about following your heart and standing up for what you believe. It is interspersed with a powerful message of trusting God and His timing. It’s the classic triumph of good over evil—with the added bonus of a love story. Plus it’s a real-life story with songs that compel us to ‘sing once more’ (a line from the song “The Sound of Music”).

Both of the main characters had strong convictions. Captain von Trapp, played by Christopher Plummer, was loyal to his country. However when he was ordered to serve as a military officer for the Third Reich, he and his family fled his beloved Austria, leaving their home and possessions behind.

Maria, played by Julie Andrews, brought her cheerful disposition and Christian beliefs into the von Trapp home as a governess, the 12^th in a long line of successors. She had to face her fears as she left the Abbey to follow God’s will in this new position. She stayed true to her religious and moral convictions in caring for the children despite Captain von Trapp’s attempt to run the house like a military compound. That meant no play time for the children. They were to march around the grounds for recreation. Maria brought music and laughter back to the home, and melted the Captain’s heart in the process. She was not meant to be a nun, but her identity in Christ was strong and led her to serve in His Kingdom in other ways.

Maria would never be a nun.

Captain Von Trapp

Publicity still, 1965

Spanish Appeal

When Pedro entered our home and our lives in the summer of 2010, music in general, and the Sound of Music specifically, was one of the ways that our friendship was bridged across cultural, language, and geographical barriers. It was the universal language of music that connected us. So I recently asked Pedro more about the significance of the musical to him and how it is regarded in Spain.

Pedro’s first time viewing the movie was when he was about four years old. Due to the global popularity of the movie, his parents owned it, and he watched it at home with them. The movie was translated into Spanish, which means that the songs were also dubbed with Spanish lyrics. The Spanish version of the movie is Sonrisas y Lagrimas. In English, that literally translates to Smiles and Tears.

SOM Spanish The musical is a favorite of Spanish children. Pedro’s nieces learned “Do Re Mi” in school. That led to my delightful experience singing the song with them while on holiday on Mallorca, Spain with his family in the summer of 2013.

The first time Pedro saw a live performance of the Sound of Music was when we took him to the musical theater in the Bavarian themed town of Leavenworth, Washington. It was there, surrounded by the Cascade Mountains, that he watched the musical for the first time in English. It was a gift for his 17^th birthday.

SOM Leavenworth

Naturally, Pedro’s love for movie soundtracks was also nurtured by this great movie at an early age. That led to his playing many of the songs to the musical in our home that first summer. Like music brought life back to Captain von Trapp, the summer of 2010 was the summer that music brought me back to life too. I still have original recordings of Pedro’s impromptu practice sessions on the piano. (Muchas gracias, Pedro!)

Our Girls’ Night Out Movie Experience

I wish I could say that the theater was packed as my friends and I watched the special viewing of the Sound of Music. I had expected to see a large crowd. I think the 70 degree whether outside, a rare phenomenon for April in Seattle, had something to do with it. Nonetheless, it was an enjoyable outing with friends.

One woman had never seen the movie before. I asked her about her observations, as an objective viewer. My friend was surprised to learn that it was a true story. She also had heard some of the songs before, but now had meaning to put to them. There were a lot of surprising twists to the movie for her, including thinking that the movie ended when the Captain and Maria wed.

Overall, it was an enjoyable movie-going experience. Having seen the movie on the big screen last year at the Sound of Music Sing-a-Long, I think I was a bit spoiled having watched it so recently. I wanted to sing at this event too, but that would’ve ruined the experience for everyone else. So in that regard, it wasn’t the big sentimental teary experience that I thought I might have.

It has renewed my love for the musical again. I’m still singing the songs around the house and in my mind because “My Favorite Things” isn’t just a song in the movie. The Sound of Music really is one of my favorite things.

Are you a fan of the Sound of Music? When was the first time you saw the musical? I’d love to hear your Sound of Music memory in the comments below.

Andrews & Plummer, 2015 (Photo credit: vanityfair.com)

The actors who played the Von Trapp children, 2015 (Photo credit: vanityfair.com)

Going Gaga for the Academy Awards

I woke up yesterday morning to see a flood of social media attention to the 87^th annual Academy Awards show. That is nothing unusual on the day following the annual telecast. What stood out was not people weighing in on the winners and losers, but on “The Sound of Music” tribute performance by Lady Gaga.

Going Gaga for the Sound of Music

I am not a Lady Gaga fan, but I am a big fan of “The Sound of Music.” Her performance was incredible, giving me new respect for her musical talent. She was a stunning vision of beauty in a shimmery white sleeveless evening gown and long blonde hair that caressed her bare shoulders. (I was a bit distracted by her obvious love for tattoos, and tried to look past that to enjoy the overall performance.) The stage setting was also beautifully choreographed, with a background of white birch trees, surrounded by a virtuoso of violinists, and framed by twinkling lights arched over the stage.

If you missed her performance, you can watch it here.

I’ve written about my connection with “The Sound of Music” on other occasions—once after attending a Sound of Music Sing-A-Long event, and another post during my adventures in Spain. I felt inspired to write a post about this again the night of the Oscars but decided against it.

“How silly to write about the Academy Awards,” I thought to myself.

After all, isn’t it just an awards show geared to the rich and famous, and full of Hollywood hype? Truthfully, that used to be my opinion of it, not really paying much attention to the awards, and rarely seeing the nominated films. That has changed in recent years with my Spanish connection and friendship with Pedro González Arbona, a young film composer.

Going Gaga for Nominated Films

Every year, Pedro sends my family his Oscar predictions and posts them on Facebook. He also sends me personal reviews of which movies he thinks I would like, taking into account my dislike of violence and my Christian values. My front row seat to his blossoming music career has also given me insight to the world of film composing. He shares his favorite composers and film music with me as well.

A few days ago, my family went to see “The Imitation Game,” nominated for Best Picture and starring Benedict Cumberbatch, nominated for Best Actor in a Leading Role. It was a great movie. As a writer I was drawn into the way they told the story, interweaving the past and present from the perspective of Alan Turing (played by Cumberbatch). I loved the history, especially having now traveled to Europe. I loved the unfolding of the story and the development of the characters. And I loved the music!

the-imitation-game-poster

At the end of the movie, I patiently waited for the name of the composer to appear on the screen. As I watched the credits scroll before me and was immersed in the music, I thought how the music sounded like Pedro’s music. I thought, “Pedro can compose like this.” I’ve seen and heard it before. Regrettably, I didn’t do my homework before going to see the movie or I would’ve paid more attention to the music. That is because the film was scored by Alexandre Desplat (also nominated for Best Original Score)—Pedro’s favorite composer.

Going Gaga for Film Music

I only caught the tail end of the Academy Awards show, rushing home from a meeting at church, just in time to catch Lady Gaga’s amazing performance. Pedro was watching the show live (televised starting at 3 AM in Spain) and texted me during the performance. We both have a love and connection to this musical. He played the music in our home the summer we met and attended a live performance of the musical in the mountains near Leavenworth, Washington. It was a very special and memorable evening.

At the end of the performance, Julie Andrews came out on the stage, hugged Lady Gaga, and thanked her for such a fitting tribute to the movie. Julie Andrews proceeded to introduce the nominees for Best Original Score and made some opening remarks about how music cements our memories in the film going experience.

Pedro texted me: “Here is the moment.” He was predicting Alexandre Desplat to win for “The Grand Budapest Hotel.” Earlier in the day he said to listen for his scream if Alexandre won the award.

Alexandre did win the award! I let out a squeal myself. Moments later my phone pinged his response: “Incredible,” Pedro texted me. “Did you hear me scream?”

“Si, y mi?” I texted back. (English translation: Yes, and me?)

Alexandre Desplat acceptance speech for Best Original Score/The Grand Budapest Hotel (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Why was I so excited? Why was I so engaged in the Oscars and interested in this award category? Because I believe in Pedro’s dream, and I know how important film composing is to his future.

However, I’m not the only one. After last year’s winner was announced for Best Original Score (Steven Price for Gravity), Pedro received an email from the producer/director of his movie “Tempting Fate,” offering the same kind of encouragement to Pedro. He sees the possibilities in Pedro.

A few minutes after Alexandre Desplat accepted his award, Graham Moore was announced as the winner for Best Adapted Screenplay (The Imitation Game). In his acceptance speech, he mentioned his attempted suicide as a teen because he felt “different and weird.” He encouraged young people watching at home to keep believing in themselves and that one day they would have their moment. It was truly inspiring.

Going Gaga for Our Dreams

For me, the Academy Awards show is about people working hard, believing in themselves (against the odds) and fulfilling their dreams. Just like I believe Pedro will one day. He has the talent and the gift of composing beautiful music. With a little luck, and I believe the Lord’s favor, he will walk across that stage one day, or at least be nominated, if not in America, in Spain for their prestigious Goya Awards.

So watching Lady Gaga and the 87^th Academy Awards ceremony on Sunday night was very personal to me. My heart has been blessed with the sound of music:

Pedro’s simple piano playing of the Rogers & Hammerstein classics,
Pedro’s first solo piano compositions (Introducing Pedro González Arbona),
Pedro’s movie soundtrack pieces for “Tempting Fate,” and most recently
the release of his full orchestral album, Memories.

Memories, available worldwide on iTunes, Amazon & Spotify

I went gaga for Lady Gaga’s tribute to the musical that has touched my life, and I continue to go gaga for the future of Pedro González Arbona. (I am his American manager after all.)

Congratulations Alexandre Desplat and all the winners and nominees of the 87^th annual Academy Awards. Dream on!

3 Comments

by ardisanelson on February 24, 2015 • Permalink

Posted in Faith & Hope, Pedro's Musical Pursuits

Tagged Academy Awards, Alexandre Desplat, encouragement, following your dreams, Julie Andrews, Lady Gaga, movie composing, music, Pedro Gonzalez Arbona, piano compositions, Tempting Fate, The Sound of Music

Posted by ardisanelson on February 24, 2015

https://ardisanelson.com/2015/02/24/going-gaga-academy-awards/

Tempting Fate in Houston, Part 3 ~ Meet the Press

While Pedro González Arbona, a young Spanish film composer, and I attended the VIP screening of Tempting Fate (produced by KevStel Group) in Houston over the 4^th of July last year, we walked the red carpet and witnessed much of the paparazzi and press attention directed at the actors and movie producers. Pedro had his time in the spotlight as well. It was indeed an exciting evening!

On the red carpet with Pedro González Arbona at the Tempting Fate premiere, July 4, 2014, Houston, TX.

I was proud to be there for Pedro, traveling from Seattle, just to meet up for this special milestone in his life. An avid photographer myself, I was happy to join in with the professional photographers to capture the memories for Pedro’s portfolio as well. I expect that was only the first of many opportunities Pedro will have to participate in these types of events.

Opportunities to Meet the Press

As I mentioned in Part 1 of this series, Pedro had live press interviews the night of the premiere. He was interviewed on the red carpet by two Houston stations: Sky Houston, from Majic 102.1 radio station and Usenika Usoro from Afro Centric Television Network. (Unfortunately my requests for copies of these interviews went unanswered.)

Pedro was interviewed by radio personality Sky Houston.

Pedro’s red carpet interview in Houston.

The next day, Pedro was scheduled to do a television interview for SpeaksTV, a local cable channel in Houston. Most of the actors had arrived in Houston before the movie screening and already had their interviews. They were on their way back to LA and other locations across the U.S. that they called home.

Watch the short video clip below for a teaser with each person in the show!

Like the night before, we were again direction and GPS challenged on our travels in the Houston area. This time the GPS led us in a very circuitous route over surface streets to a multi-story office building outside of downtown. There were virtually no cars in the parking lot on this Saturday afternoon, the building was locked, and we couldn’t find a sign to confirm we were at the right place. We used the after-hours security phone and finally reached someone who could let us in the building.

In the ‘Green Room’

When we arrived at the television studio, we were greeted by Kevin Nwankwor, Tempting Fate producer/director. We apologized for our tardiness, but luckily there was no harm done as there were other interviews still in progress. We sat in the green room (my comical name for the waiting room, in reference to the TV guest’s pre-interview room commonly referred to on NBC’s Tonight Show). While waiting, we conversed with Kevin and his wife and producer Unoma Nwankwor, executive producer Emmanuel Ojeah, and Ramsey Nouah, Nigerian actor and star of Tempting Fate. Ramsey is the winner of the 2010 African Academy Award for a lead role in the Nigerian movie, Figurine.

Actor Ramsey Nouah in the SpeaksTV studio.

Pedro with Ramsey Nouah, aka Ugo.

Nollywood, Nigeria’s version of Hollywood, is a growing film industry and the 2^nd largest in the world after Bollywood in India. The Nwankwor’s are from Nigeria, and with Ramsey’s affiliation with Tempting Fate, the Nigerian audience is a very important market for this movie. The movie will open in theaters across Nigeria on Friday, July 17, 2015.

While waiting for Pedro’s interview, we learned a bit about Nigeria. At the time Nigeria was in the early aftermath of the kidnapping of a group of girls by terrorist Boko Haram. The Nigerian government’s response was a hot topic of conversation.

Kevin Nwankwor (writer/director/producer), Pedro, and Unoma Nwankwor (producer)

I asked Ramsey about Nigeria’s spiritual climate in relation to the Christian theme of Tempting Fate. Nigeria is equally divided between Christianity and Islam. The conversation turned to social media. In referencing Ramsey’s Facebook page (over 100,000 likes at the time), we found out that his identity had been stolen on Facebook and that the page wasn’t his. He doesn’t use social media at all. I was saddened to hear it, realizing how frustrating it would be to have that sort of false promotion and unauthorized use of one’s personal name. It was shocking!

We were the last to go in for the interview. Before we did, I gave Unoma, who is also a successful author of several Christian fiction novels, a signed copy of my book, Journeys to Mother Love. She graciously offered me the opportunity to guest blog on her site, unomanwankwor.com. That post, Author Spotlight ~ Ardis A. Nelson, was published in August 2014.

We bid the Nwankwor’s farewell, thanked them for their invitation to the premiere, and pledged our continuing support for the movie.

Pedro’s Interview at SpeaksTV

Pedro and I were greeted by Voké Ogueh, producer for Talk Time Show, the SpeaksTV program that was spotlighting Tempting Fate. Voké was at the premiere the night before, but we didn’t get a chance to meet.

Voké prepping Pedro for his interview segments.

Talk Time Show is not filmed as an interview dialogue between two people but is pre-recorded as separate segments. I was invited to join Pedro in the interview, but declined. This was Pedro’s moment to shine. I watched the filming from behind the camera man’s angle, and occasionally coached him.

Pedro at ease in front of the camera.

I could tell that Pedro was very accustomed to being in front of an audience. He was a natural on camera and spoke with clarity and command. (He has acted in several theatrical productions in Madrid, and also starred and co-directed “Noises Off” in December 2013.) Not having the pleasure of seeing him act in person, and certainly not in English, this was a priceless experience for me.

Voké prepped Pedro telling him what they wanted to know about the movie’s music. In the first segment Pedro explained how he composed the music, first being inspired and touched by reading the screenplay. When he received the film, his music was inspired more by the actors and how moving the scenes were on screen.

Pedro and me with Voké on set at the SpeaksTV studio.

In another video segment, Pedro was asked to describe some of the music. He spoke about the Brother’s theme music that he wrote with multiple variations throughout the film, matching the mood of the scenes. I watched Pedro compose some of that music while in Spain the year before and was quick to recognize it in the movie: violin, cello, and guitar—a trio of beautiful strings.

Voké was particularly interested in the African music in the movie. In another segment, Pedro described how he added African instruments to some of the songs and a female African soprano was hired to add humming as well.

Pedro wrapped up his studio recording with a 15-second teaser for the show (below). For the benefit of their Spanish speaking viewers in Houston, they also had him close the commercial teaser in Spanish. We wrapped up our time at the studio with a few photos on the set.

Editing of the interviews and adding Pedro’s music to the final show took a few weeks. The interview was broadcast in Houston on July 26 (video below) and posted on youtube.com for viewing online. (Pedro’s segment starts at 9:30 into the video.)

Farewell to Houston

Pedro and I had a leisurely dinner at a very American restaurant at The Galleria and had a long overdue conversation to catch up on family and personal news. We ended our day by reviewing, selecting, and posting a photo album on Pedro’s Facebook professional page. (Like it to show your support of his musical endeavors.)

Touring the Johnson Space Center.

The following day was reserved for a tour of the Johnson Space Center. Pedro was on his way back to Madrid on Monday morning. It was a whirlwind trip—less than three days together on this once in a lifetime experience.

Click image to sample soundtrack or purchase on Amazon.

I’m ever so grateful that I was there to witness Pedro’s dreams come to life on the big screen. His star is starting to rise. For a few days it shined over Houston, soon it will shine across Nigeria as well, and hopefully over all of America too.

The Tempting Fate soundtrack will be released on February 12, 2015. And then everyone will get to hear for themselves how great this soundtrack is.

Stay tuned for lots more exciting news about Tempting Fate and the music of Pedro González Arbona!

2 Comments

by ardisanelson on February 9, 2015 • Permalink

Posted in Pedro's Musical Pursuits

Tagged following your dreams, Hollywood, KevStel Group, movie composing, music, Nollywood, Pedro Gonzalez Arbona, Ramsey Nouah, SpeaksTV, Talk Time Show, Tempting Fate

Posted by ardisanelson on February 9, 2015

https://ardisanelson.com/2015/02/09/tempting-fate-in-houston-meet-the-press/

The 12 Days of Christmas & the Gifts from our True Love

Did you know that in many church settings throughout the Western World that the Christmas season extends beyond Christmas Day? This post-Christmas period was popularized by the old song “The 12 Days of Christmas,” but truly there are twelve days of Christmas that are celebrated on an annual basis as part of the liturgical calendar.

The Epiphany

In Christian terms, the twelve days of Christmas are known as the season of Epiphany. It starts the day after Christmas and ends with the Feast of Epiphany on January 6. I’ve only become more familiar with it in recent years due to my relationship with my Spanish family and then later due to my adopted prayer times in the Catholic Church. It is in celebration of the Magi’s (wise men’s) arrival to worship Jesus.

What is the significance of the Magi’s arrival (the Epiphany)? Until that time, salvation was reserved for the Jews through God’s Covenant with Abraham. The Magi were Gentiles (non-Jews) who followed the star in the sky from the East to worship Jesus. They were the first Gentiles to worship him signifying that Jesus came to save us all. We are also the Gentiles, and were excluded from the covenant. In celebrating the Epiphany, we are celebrating our inclusion into God’s plan of salvation.

Spanish nativity scene (a Belen), photo courtesy of Pedro's family

Spanish nativity scene (a Belen) courtesy of Pedro’s family

Three King’s Day

In Spain, the Epiphany (feast day on January 6^th) is called “Three King’s Day” (Dia de Los Reyes) and has traditionally been more popular than Christmas. Spanish children look forward to this day and celebrate it with the receipt of presents, like on Christmas. The giving of gifts on this day is a representation of the gifts given by the wise men, or “Three Kings.”

For children the fun starts on the evening of January 5, when the Three Kings are welcomed into the cities in a parade. (Spain is known for its festive religious parades with ornate floats and statues.) Children are rewarded with candies thrown out by the Three Kings along the parade route. Similar to Christmas in America, children anticipate the arrival of the next day to see what kind of presents the Three Kings have left for them overnight.

Floats being prepared for a Spanish feast day parade, Toledo, Spain, June 2013.

Gifts from our True Love

Since Three King’s Day is celebrated by my Spanish family, I also make a conscious effort to acknowledge that day with them. This year, I’ve been making many observations since Christmas which remind me it is still the Christmas season. It has been a deliberate slowing down of the season and watching how God is giving me daily experiences of His love, just like in the song, The 12 Days of Christmas.

It has been an amazing opportunity to witness God’s goodness in my life. For instance, yesterday was the 5th day of Christmas and my True Love brought me three surprise encounters with friends. The days before that, I was blessed with special family outings and meals, our annual family card game of Canasta, a wedding ceremony, a movie night out, and a Seahawks victory!

These haven’t been physical gifts. They have all been experiences to treasure. They are also reminders to me of how God wants to use me by connecting with others. That got me to thinking about the everyday gifts we receive from our Father in Heaven.

He is good; and yes, life is hard.

With my ADHD, chronic fatigue syndrome, and other health issues, I seem to struggle with it every day. But when I pause long enough to see the fruit of His love to me, I can see how faithful He has been to bring me through the ups and downs of it all.

Farewell to 2014

2014 has been another monumental year for me. I’ve had to normalize that my life keeps getting bigger and that the Lord has called me to go places and do things that I never dreamed possible for Him.

But with God all things are possible. (Luke 1:37)

So tonight when I celebrate the ringing in of the New Year, I’ve decided to celebrate the gifts from my True Love. I eagerly embrace the coming of the New Year and what’s in store with arm’s wide open.

Happy New Year to my faithful readers, supporters of my writing, and to those who prayed for or donated to my call to share the gospel in Spain. You have all abundantly blessed me in 2014! May you celebrate the 12 days of Christmas and the gifts from Our True Love every day in the coming year!

What gifts are you celebrating as you ring in the New Year?

1 Comment

by ardisanelson on December 31, 2014 • Permalink

Posted in Faith & Hope, My Spanish Connection

Tagged Catholic, Christianity, Christmas, encouragement, Epiphany, gifts, God, gratitude, holidays, hope, My Spanish Connection, Spain, Three Kings Day

Posted by ardisanelson on December 31, 2014

https://ardisanelson.com/2014/12/31/12-days-christmas-gifts-true-love/

Coming Down From the Mountaintops, Part 2

In Part 1 of this post series, I wrote about how I am adapting to the changes in my life since returning from my mission to Spain. In this post, I’m turning more to the biblical undergirding that I’ve been processing after coming down from the mountaintops of serving God across the world.

Esther’s Moment in History

The book of Esther is the story of how Esther was taken out of her Jewish heritage and community to live as a queen in the palace at Susa (present day Iran). Esther 4:14 is often quoted when studying this book of the Bible: “For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”

Esther’s presence as queen put her in a unique position to boldly speak to the king on behalf of her people. She could’ve been killed for her reproach to him. Yet she did it; for she knew that she was called by God ‘for such a time as this.’

I’m no Esther, but I have at times felt like my boldness for Christ has put me in ‘for such a time as this’ situations where I have to make a decision on how much I share and in what venues. (Case in point, all my recent speaking for Celebrate Recovery and while on mission in Europe.)

Have you ever wondered what happened to Esther after saving the Jews from annihilation? I have.

I’ve wondered how she lived her life after being such a catalyst for the survival of her people. How did she keep it from going to her head? How did she humble herself in the aftermath of such a major event in the history of her people?

I wonder because I want(ed) to learn how to live in the aftermath of living on the mountaintops for God (now and at other times in my life). I know it’s possible. Moses did it. David did it. They were not perfect people.

What if They Lived Today?

If Esther lived today, she would have media breathing down her back. Her image and story would be all over the news and fodder for social media. Hmmm, would she have her own Facebook page or be posting what she had for dinner or who she was with?

Thankfully, they didn’t live in the social media frenzy that we live in today. (What would they think about it? I won’t go down that rabbit trail!) Since the heroes and saints of the Bible didn’t have to face these types of pressures or intense social media saturation, does that mean the Bible is not relevant? Of course not! We are to live grounded on the Word of God. We are to live humbly and morally, giving praise to God in times of success and in times of defeat.

I think that how we live in the valley, after a mountaintop experience is a much bigger testimonial for God’s work in our lives. How do we carry on? How do we face the trials and tribulations that follow? Do we cling to Him or do we grow angry and bitter?

For me, I persevere knowing that as Paul says in Romans 8:28, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” I’ve seen it time and time again in my walk of faith. I know God’s character and I trust Him.

My Humble Perspective

My perspective from being on the mountaintop for what seems like an eternity (on and off since my mother’s passing almost four years ago), is to not let my past dictate my future. And my present circumstances, grappling with a new routine and change of focus post-mission, is not where I will be forever.

So I am re-thinking my priorities and once again adapting to a new normal in my life. I’m backing off from the social media frenzy. I’m trying to silence all of the ‘shoulds’ in my mind related to writing and publishing. That even meant not writing about Thanksgiving and letting other November milestones like my birthday go without comment.

I’m living in the aftermath of ‘such a time as this’ and it’s humbling.

God used me in Spain. He met me on the spiritual and physical mountaintops of France and Spain in very deep and significant ways.

On the mountaintops for God and with God, September 2014.

He was there with me and for me.

I’m not physically there anymore. I’m coming to grips with the reality that He may not use me there physically again. I can’t dwell on that, future trip, or let that dictate my value. I did what God called me to do there. I have peace about that.

I continue to pray for a spiritual revival in the country. I ask the Lord to reveal the fruit to me in my lifetime. In the meantime, I’m learning to be grateful for the peaks and the valleys of serving Him.

Finally, I know that I didn’t leave Him in France or Spain. I came down from the mountaintops with God, in me and beside me. That’s what He wanted to remind me of today as I re-engaged my blog for His purpose.

And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. Matthew 28:20, NIV

On a mountain high or a valley low, God uses it all. Giving him the glory in the French Alps, September 2014.

Have you found God’s purpose for your life? How are you using your gifts and talents for His Kingdom? You never know when or where your ‘for such a time as this’ moment will be. He is waiting to meet you there. Just listen and follow His voice.

Coming Down From the Mountaintops, Part 1

The blank page sits before me. Words and sentences are rapidly racing in my mind so fast that I can’t catch up to them. Now they are gone.

“Am I really ready for this?” I wonder to myself. “Am I ready to deliberately sit down and write a new post on my blog?”

Breaking my Silence

I’ve been regularly writing here once a week for over three years. Then I stopped over a month ago without a word. Maybe my regular readers didn’t notice because I was sharing blog posts from my publisher and ministry sites where I contribute, JourneysToMotherLove.com and CelebrateRecoveryOnThePlateau.org.

I once read that when blogging to not explain an absence of your posts—to just re-start. I don’t know if it’s an official blogging rule or what, but I’ve seen it broken many times. So I’m digging back in with what’s been going on, and a bit of reason behind my absence. It’s part of the vulnerability and authenticity I hope to share in my writing, and to inspire others to not be shamed into silence.

Since it’s been a while, I’m a bit nervous about writing what’s been on my heart to share, so here goes with Part 1…

The Easy Answer

First of all, writing for the mission took a lot out of me. It was very hard to carve out the time while traveling to send updates. I’ve heard positive response to it, like hearing how people felt they were right there with me. I’m so glad I could update my mission supporters along the way. No regrets on that.

I had also hoped to write on my personal blog about the mission—not necessarily updates, but from my perspective on other things that didn’t seem appropriate to share on the ministry site, and to just write in general about being in France and Spain. It became too hard to separate them, and to make time for it. I did, however, write in my journal as much as possible. For the most part, that body of work is not lost. Time is always my biggest obstacle in publically sharing it.

On a personal writing retreat at the ocean for NaNoWriMo.

Sunset over the Pacific Ocean.

Which brings me to another reason I’ve been absent from my blog: I started a new writing project, and I didn’t want to make any fanfare about it. During NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month), I worked on the groundwork for a book that the Lord put on my heart related to the past year culminating in the mission. Up until this point, the only writing discipline I’ve had for publishing has been weekly blog posts. I was trying to change that, not blog for a while and dig into (back into) my memoir. Again, no regrets, and no fanfare either. I have confidence that in time, the Lord will use it. For now it’s between Him and me.

The Not So Easy Answer

In addition to busyness and writing fatigue over the mission, I think the main reason I haven’t blogged is lack of motivation and where I’ve been emotionally since my return. It’s not a writer’s block. It was a deliberate decision I made to not push myself into writing again before I was ready.

The truth is when I came down from the mountaintops of serving God, I came down hard. I suppose not altogether unlike what happened last year. That makes me nervous to write and to publically share my inner turmoil.

I’ve had to pick up the pieces from the intensity of which I have lived the last year. I went from working through the depression that surfaced after my first trip to Spain in the summer of 2013, into the throes of a full blown mission trip back to Europe. It wasn’t just a mission trip that I participated in. It was one that I led. (I was beyond the depression when the invitation to Spain surfaced.) However, I have spent the last year in the therapeutic process helping me to get more emotionally grounded. I knew I had to in order for God to use me. He was and has equipped me for the call.

At 6000 feet in the French Alps

On the mountaintops for God

Almudena Cathedral, Madrid, where I worshiped one day while on mission to Spain, October 2014.

On Grand Via, a famous street in Madrid

At Retiro Park, Madrid

At Plaza de Espana, Madrid

At Plaza Mayor, Madrid

Coming home to the daily grind of life in America, after living in Europe for three weeks and serving God in my sweet spot—sharing and teaching about life transformation through Celebrate Recovery, left me somewhat empty inside. Before I left on the mission, I repeatedly told my husband, friends, and myself, “I’m going to re-group when I return.”

Well, that’s what I’ve been doing. I’m looking at my own recovery issues (the next layer) as I co-lead a women’s step study group. I’ve significantly decreased my late night writing routine. I’m making more time for my family and household commitments. I go back and forth between isolating for my own introvert sanity and reaching out to others for support. It’s hard to find a balance. Thankfully, I’m a work in progress and He’s not done with me yet.

What’s Next?

After almost 200 blog posts in 3+ years, I’ve decided to blog when the spirit moves me. I have other writing I want to do. God’s been nudging me. There will be no more schedule keeping or late night writing to make that self-imposed (and recommended platform building) deadline. I’m not doing this for fame or fortune or because I feel the need to carry on a virtual relationship with others.

Some light bedtime reading.

Before there were blogs, journalists wrote for the sake of the story. There were no ‘like’ buttons or comments at the end of an article. That was reserved for those who took time to write a letter to the editor. I’m not saying those are bad, just that I’m not driven by it.

I know enough about recovery to know that it is cause for concern in our society and can lead to addictions, and at the very least is making us ever so attached to our smart phones. Yes, it is a compulsive behavior. I look forward to the day Celebrate Recovery participants stand up, admit that and take a ‘blue chip’ for it. (Blue chips represent an area of recovery that a person is working on.)

For me blogging is about the journey, the inspiration to others, and leaving a legacy of healing.

I’ve also been doing more reading—reading about writing and the role it plays in healing. It’s all coming together, step by step, and one day at a time. Hopefully, the memoir will make its way to a greater priority in my life. I want that to be my focus of any writing discipline I establish in 2015.

In Part 2 of this post series, I’ll share more about the biblical perspective of coming down from the mountaintops with God—’with‘ being the operative word.

1 Comment

by ardisanelson on December 5, 2014 • Permalink

Posted in Faith & Hope, Healing & Recovery, Identity, My Mission to Spain, My Writing Journey

Tagged adapting to change, Celebrate Recovery, encouragement, God's timing, healing, hope, identity, memoir writing, trusting God, writing

Posted by ardisanelson on December 5, 2014

https://ardisanelson.com/2014/12/05/coming-down-from-mountaintops-part-1/

WELCOME to my site!

I'm an author, writer, speaker, mentor & mom. I've struggled to find my voice all my life as I lived in the shadows of a mother with mental illness. Thankfully that was not the legacy that she handed down to me. It took a lot of recovery and deep healing work to rise above it.

I am thankful to God for Making Me Bold in the process. Now I use my writing and speaking voice to help others on their journey to turn healing into hope.
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© Ardis A. Nelson and MakingMeBold, 2023. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Ardis A. Nelson and MakingMeBold with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

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