Jamie Janosz

Moving from the Midwest to Florida, I had certain expectations. Some good. Others bad. I looked forward to throwing away my down coat and my plastic ice scraper. I worried about humidity and hurricanes. Well, I've been here for six months now - January through July - and I have a much better idea of what there is to love (and maybe not love as much) about my new home. What you give up... 1) Grass Lawns . The grass in our Florida front yard is crab grass. They have all sorts of fancy names for it here, but it is definitely the stuff we tried hard to kill in the Midwest. This is weedy, finnicky grass. The ground is sandy. Even after what seemed like a drenching downpour, the sand appears untouched and parched. Yes, we do have green lawns - but if you look closely you can see the difference. 2) Seasons . Perhaps my biggest shock was to give up any semblance of seasons. I remember stopping at a restaurant in December and hearing a Christmas carol. Why are they playing Chr...

After seeing the beautiful mosaic-like cracked ice in the Chicago River, I decided to grab my camera and snap a few shots during my early morning commute. Each day, I make the trip from Northwest Indiana to Chicago. I arrive, via commuter train, at Millenium Station and walk north on Michigan Ave, over the bridge. I zig-zag my way north to Moody Bible Institute. The city looks especially beautiful this time of year. I'm usually bundled in my ugly, but incredibly warm, down coat. My trip is a bit happier when I have a tall cup of Starbuck's in my hand. Another view of the icy river... Crossing the bridge over the Chicago River, heading north on Michigan Ave... The Wrigley Building, which has recently been refurbished, decked for the holidays. This is the Driehaus offices, housed in one of Chicago's original homes. Always lovely and worth a quick detour on my way. And here I am, freezing, but happy because I now have my Starbucks......

  We’ve all seen those photos of a screaming child sitting on Santa’s lap. In fact, I have one of them. My daughter was about five years old – and, every Christmas, she had steadfastly refused to get her picture taken with Santa. While she would read Christmas stories about him, write him letters, and even set out cookies by the fireplace, she was terrified by the actual living breathing guy in the red velvet suit. One year, thinking that we were being clever, my husband and I took her to Chicago’s Christkindlmarket – a traditional German festival with small wooden huts and holiday treats for sale. My husband I learned that one of the huts contained a Santa. As we strolled through the village, we noticed that there was no one in line. Casually, we entered the booth – and my daughter came face to face with Santa. I plopped her on his lap – in what probably was a cruel motherly move – and let the photographer snap the now treasured photo of my cute little girl scream...

This week, I traveled to Madison, Wisconsin, to visit the Wisconsin Historical Archives collection on the McCormick family. Nettie McCormick, wife of the inventor of the reaper - Cyrus McCormick, is one of the eight women in my book. The building is being restored, but the interior is gorgeous. Filigreed windows, marble floors and a winding staircase. Fueled by Starbucks, I started up the grand steps. The Wisconsin Historical Society Archives were granted the McCormick collection in the 1950s. There is a massive amount of information, 12 million pages, kept in files about the family and their businesses.  Cyrus McCormick changed the landscape of farming worldwide with his invention of the reaper. The couple changed Chicago and the world by giving millions of dollars to religion and educational institutions. What struck me as I requested box after box, was how odd it would be to have your life documented in this way. There are files of interviews ...

In 1877, a woman named Sarah Dunn Clarke and her newly-wedded husband George started a rescue mission on Chicago’s south side.   They were wealthy, but their hearts were broken by the men and women who struggled to survive on the city’s streets.   The Pacific Garden Mission is the 2 nd oldest operating rescue mission in the United States. Now located on 14 th St and Canal – just south of Chicago’s loop – they offer shelter to as many as a thousand men and women on any given night.   As part of my book research to understand how the work of Sarah Clarke continues today, I visited the mission with my friend Dawn Pulgine. Entering through the side, we felt a bit out of our element. Men, black and white, old and young, clustered near the doorway. Some carried bags of personal belongings. Others were working the desk and security. It was mid-day at the Mission. We were given a tour by one of the “program men” – residents who choose to stay a...

This morning, I signed a book contract with Moody Publishers. I am so excited! Not only am I thrilled for this opportunity to be published, but I am honored to tell the stories of some amazing turn-of-the-century women. The working title of my book is: HEROIC PIONEERS: 8 Christian Women Who Changed Chicago, the Church, and the World. And they did! The book will highlight the lives of eight, Chicago women who were contemporaries of evangelist D.L. Moody. One was a slave’s daughter – one a single school teacher stricken by typhoid fever – one was a wealthy philanthropist - yet each of them achieved amazing things for God and His Church. They started schools and ministry organizations. They preached at the World’s Fair. They marched boldly into Chicago's vice district and changed taverns into missions. They worked alongside United States Presidents to change public policy and challenge injustice. Together - they instituted many important outreach organizati...

One day, on eBay, I found this silver key charm from 1915. Because I love history and all things vintage, from time to time, I do an online search for items that are related to Moody Bible Institute. This charm belonged to at student named Myron Griswold - and asked to be returned if lost...for a reward! As I walked to my Chicago office, Myron's charm on a chain around my neck, I smiled. This little bit of history was going back to the right place, a place where I have worked since 1990. Funny how things come full circle. I work at Moody Bible Institute because I love my job - I teach writing to college students who are driven to change the world for good. I help them learn to tell their stories and articulate their faith. They are hopeful, sometimes naive, but always determined that they can make a difference. I also work there because I believe in the purpose and history of this unique and important Chicago institution  The college, located in the center of...

Polynesian dresses were the order of the day as Chicago area Rockabilly types welcomed fall with the First Annual Fong Fest - a tiki fest featuring food, vendors, bands . . . and no palm trees anywhere. Bands, with names like The Hot Rod Huxters, The Concussions, The Dyes and The Neandrathals, graced the main stage wearing crazy get-ups from rubber skeleton masks to fur caveman outfits. Chicago's mayor of Rockabilly, Mr. Ken Mottet, emceed the two-day long event. Luckily, the temps had dropped to a respectable mid-70s, so the fur-wearers weren't sweating. It wasn't until 9 pm that the skies opened and guests rushed under the canopies or inside the restaurant to keep from washing away. Tiki vendors sold home decor and vintage clothing. My husband, Milt, inside the Chef. We enjoyed the company of John and Tina (my friend and fellow blogger at Retro Fashion is My Passion ). Go go dancers, a group named The Janes, entertained th...