finding my way

On wobbly legs I traveled to the land of the bean with him.  With each step I took the ground felt uncertain.  I wasn't sure where I was going or what my heart would encounter.  I was losing the path I had been traveling on, but I boarded the plane anyway.

This new city greeted us both with sunshine.  We made our way to Millennium Park where he slept off the early morning flight and I wandered around.  Notebook in hand I found a cozy spot to write and spilled my words onto the page.  Opening up, letting go, releasing the fear and worry.  Within that park I stumbled upon my path, finding my way again.

I felt the weight of the worry lift from my shoulders.  This whole time I knew where I was going, I was just fearful of losing my way.

letters across the miles

Dear Kristine,

Oh how the time has flown since our last letter to one another.  I apologize for not writing to you last week.  I was off in the land of the bean and I had a letter in the queue to go, but it never published.  Such is technology some times.

This time of year is filling my soul with sunshine and happiness.  I have been riding my bicycle and have gotten back into running.  I am scheduled to run a 5k in July and I want to be ready for it.

I have been thinking a lot about the choices we make and how even one small choice can change our lives forever.  We never know the outcome of what we choose until we choose it.  We have to trust our heart, take a leap, and see where the path opens up to.  People ebb and flow into our lives constantly and others stick around for a long while.  We never know upon meeting someone if the moments we have together will be fleeting or last a long long time.

Because of this, I am learning each day to appreciate the moments.  To soak in the sunshine, the flower blooming, the quick encounter at the grocery store when the gentleman let me go ahead of him.  It is the small things that make a big difference and we never know when those small things will happen.

There are so many different ways we can touch others lives.  Have you ever heard of the Warrior Canine Connection (WCC)?  They are a Non-Profit Organization from Maryland that raises and trains Golden and Labrador retriever puppies that will be placed with disabled Veteran's as Mobility Service Dogs.  Before the dogs go to a disabled Veteran WCC works with Soldiers suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) who train the puppies.

My Aunt Alice, who is a total dog lover introduced me to the organization.  They have a live puppy came that you can watch online and see the nine new puppies that were just born about two weeks ago.  I warn though watching them can become addictive because they are so darn cute.  Even for me who isn't an animal lover checks in on the cam to see how big they have grown.

The organization has been entered into the Veterans Charity Challenge where they could win up to $35,000 to put towards raising and training the dogs.  I have been to WCC and was amazed.  They are a top notch organization doing everything they can from their hearts to help these wounded Veterans and Soldiers with PSTD.  These men and women have given up so much for our country and they need our help.

If you know anyone that would be interested in donating they can head on over to HERE to make a donation.  No amount is to small because as I have learned through this blogging community when we come together in our own small ways we can make big things happen.  The contest is running until July 3rd and all the money that is raised goes to WCC, so it is a win win.

I love the power of the internet and how we are able to help one another so easily.  It is such a beautiful and strong thing.

I hope you are doing well in your part of the world and that the summer has been treating you kindly.  What have you been up to?

Sending you so much love and looking forward to hearing back from you.

xo
Jennifer
{09}

favorite things

Baseball
One of my favorite things

When I used to live alone I did not have a television.  I would sit on my couch in my apartment and listen to the Yankees on the radio.  There was something magical about listening to the games on the radio.  I loved it.  

I really enjoy going to baseball games.  The energy of the crowd.  The excitement of being there.  It thrills me.  One of the things on my life list is to visit every baseball stadium.  I have a few checked off and more to go.

What is one of your favorite things?

one moment

In a moment everything can change
In one split second your life could flip upside down
One small decision
One micro movement
Changing everything, forever

What brings upon that thought
What has spoken in your heart to lead to that moment
How did you get there
Where do you go from here
How did it all unfold, like this

These moments creep up on us
Strike when we are least expecting
We are left breathless
Our insides shaken up
Our minds a flutter of indecision

The world is now altered
Once we see something, we cannot un see it
So where do we go from here
How do we step through this moment
And arrive on the other side ok

choose love

It is here where the dreaming begins
Right in my backyard
Ideas filling my mind
Heart fluttering
The picture of a full life motivating me to take the
LEAP

I sit here scribbling away
My pen unable to move as quickly as my mind
Thought after though bringing a smile to my face
I am glowing
I am in awe that I ended up here
In this moment FREELY dreaming

There were times when it was dark
Dreams shattered before even given a chance to bloom
Jelousy hindering my inner desires
A closed enviornment closing me in even tighter
There was no space to sit and breathe
No sunshine filling my SOUL

I traveled a journey to get here
Falling down many times
Learning how to stand on my own
I choose to cling onto faith and hope
I choose to reach high
LET GO

And now I sit here
In this serene enviorment
Encoruaged to go further, dig deeper, find what moves me
I no longer have to hide my inner desires
I am free to dream, to be, to open up
TOGETHER we brainstorm and I take action

I didn't know that my journey would take me here
All I knew was that I had to follow my heart
With each step I took, I had to listen to that inner voice
And here I am in full bloom
Choosing love
Leaping freely into my soul, letting go together

letters across the miles

Dear Kristine,

How was your "Kick Off to Summer trip?  I loved seeing some photos on your blog.  It cracked me up to see Chilis in one of them because my second job is at Chilis.

What fun things did you do and see?  What is your favorite memory from your time away?

Memorial Day weekend around here was filled with rain, wind, and cold weather.  Not the usual kick off to summer.  I can't believe that it is already almost June!

I love this time of year and am looking forward to the sunshine, flip flops on, and time spent outdoors.  Dustin and I may be heading to Chicago in a couple of weeks to catch a few baseball games.  I have never been so would love to go.

I have been busy around here with all different creative projects.  My mind is working at warp speed and my hand can't keep up to get all of the ideas down.  I just opened up sign ups for the next round of Love Notes and can't wait until we start.  Registration is open until June 15th.  I hope that you will join in.  It is the one year anniversary of the project.  I can't believe that it was a year ago when I started it.  It has been so much fun to host each session and I love looking back and seeing how it has evolved.

This weekend I am hosting a little girls art date with three girls.  I am looking forward to getting them together and digging into some creative fun.  I love working with children.  Their honest demeanor and try anything attitude is always such a blast of fresh air.

I wonder when I lost my try anything demeanor.  When I became afraid of getting hurt, or not wanting to put myself out there.  I wish I could go back to that one moment when the switch flipped and tell that little girl to continue on that path.  That it doesn't matter what others think, all that matters is that in your heart you are happy.

It is amazing how as a child we are fearless and as we get older we try so hard to get back to those roots.  To live without fear, embrace the moment, let loose and just have fun.  I want to dance around like no one is watching and fall deeply into joy.

Hope you are settling back into home and reminiscing about your time away.

Sending you so much love from NJ

xo
Jennifer
{08}

seeking

Seeking the space
To plant the seeds
Tend to the roots
Watch the flowers grow

Seeking the time
To let it all marinate
Water the plants
Watch the flowers flourish

Seeking
Tending
Watching
Knowing

in the works

Ideas swirling in my head
Writing
Unearthing
Connecting
Pulling things from the ground
And shining light on them
I am giddy with excitement
A good kind of nervous about walking this new terrain
I can feel in my bones this is needed
I know in my heart I need to push on
I stand here certain of the direction I am going
I know there will be twist and turns
And I look forward to navigating that path
I want to work with people
To encourage them to write
To uncover their stories
To find what may have been hidden
I want to stand beside them and listen as they share
So much power and goodness comes when we share
I want to provide ideas and prompts to stretch them even further
This is all currently in the works
I cannot wait to share it with you
And hope that you will want to work with me
Together we can heal through writing

energy

There is a living, breathing energy that you put out into this world
It affects each individual you interact with
The cashier at the local bookstore
The friendly lady who makes your Chai Tea each morning
The bike rider you wave to as you pass
Your energy swirls around
When it is positive and filled with light it lifts others up
When it is negative and dark it drags others down
Your energy sets the tone within the environment you stand in
It happens instantaneously
Without any thought or gesture, it is simply there
An aurora around you
Filling the room and affecting others
What mark do you want to leave with the individuals you interact with
What feeling do you want to infuse into a room
The choice is yours
The control is in your hands
Which choose are you going to make

~~~
p.s.  Yesterday I posted over on your heART makes a difference.  I would love for you to stop on by for a visit and read how we are all in this together.

letters across the miles

Dear Kristine,

Happy May!  Have you gone on your Kick Off to Summer trip to Maine yet?  I know I have said it before but I so love that you guys take a Kick Off to Summer trip.  What a great tradition and a beautiful way to spend time together.  Can't wait to see some photos of your adventure.

I love that you have a view of the city from your office.  There is something so amazing about the feeling that comes from being in a buzzing city.  So much to take in.  People going from here to there.  Stories around every corner.  What a great place to sit and write during the warmer months.

I have been soaking in all the sunshine that May has brought us.  Being on my bicycle is complete and total freedom.  It clears my mind and makes me feel so incredibly happy.  It is the best therapy ever.  I love this time of year.  I will definitely share photos of my adventures.

I have been trying to carve out some time for myself and a little self care each day.  In the morning when I have a bit of extra time I will pick up a favorite book and soak in a few inspiring words to start my day.  It has gotten me off on the right foot when I do it.

Why is self care the last thing we think of to do?  So easily and willingly we take care of others but taking care of ourselves requires a bit more of a push.  I always drain myself to the core before I take the time to care for myself.  It is just not the way to do it.

How do you nourish your soul?  Any ideas for working self care into your normal routine?

Sending you so much love today.  I hope the sun is shining down on you.

xo
Jennifer
{07}