Our society is so quickly judgmental today that we immediately assume things, based on an exterior appearance, and look no further.

I’m guessing your initial reaction to this photograph is that of a beautiful model within a choreographed setting. This is not the case. Because of her looks people have mistakenly presumed to judge her as nothing more.

Allow me to introduce to you Jack and Emma’s big sister Jordan. This beautiful young lady is 18 years old. That is her bed in her bedroom; she had actually been awake for only a short time and was temporarily babysitting a stray kitten that had wandered into our neighborhood until Jordan could find it a good home. Which she did two days later.

I had gone into her room to make sure she was awake (she had asked me to check in and make sure she was up, as she had an appointment to keep that morning, and like many teenagers is up late at night!) I was struck by the black and white of most everything except her hair (She’s a teenager, her hair changes as frequently as her mood. :D)

On a more serious note two years ago when the children suddenly lost their father in a senseless accident caused by a meth-using driver, Jordan (just like her mom) went into extreme shock.

Her dad had been her buddy, her pal. He and her mom taught her to believe in God (she is an active member in her church youth group), to love life, music and that beauty comes from the inside out. With her youth group she has travelled twice to Mexico – called A Labor of Love, to help construct homes for the homeless.

And her dad also taught her to drive and to love the river. The last two years have been very hard for her. They had spent every summer on the water. One of the first things to go (financial needs) was the ski boat. (Interjecting a quick note here. I live with this family now and I am a close relative, I help as I can since the accident, the focus here is on their journey after a tragic event in their lives).

For Jordan her loss of her father turned to anger and depression. It was a struggle for her to overcome. She’s moving on now – in a good way, but it was a very hard loss for a young impressionable teenager just at the beginning of her awareness of all that life can offer.

The musical notes you see in the background of  two of the photos are all over the walls of her room. Her dad had lovingly done this a few years previous. (taking weeks, in his spare time to complete a score from her favorite song “butterfly kisses”– he was like that with his whole family. All those little extras bits of love!)

So this is Jordan today. She was always kind, loving and giving; now she is also wiser and more reflective.

She is also amazing when it comes to repairing the engines of vehicles. Her male friends call her for advice (Yup, totally true – luckily her boyfriend isn’t the jealous type, in fact he asks her for advice in that area also).

She is also an excellent photographer, a photo journalist although her special knack in this area is cinematography. I am hoping this becomes her chosen career.

So there you have it. Jordan, As beautiful on in the inside as she is on the outside and the third of the four members left in this amazing family of loss and courage.

I have two more to write about in the near future. These children’s brave/persevering mom and of course their dad/her husband Duane. Who we all miss so very dearly!

And after that I shall introduce the other most important people in my life  – My son and his wonderful family!