I dream...

I

dream of  a place where children can come and feel safe enough to be themselves.

I dream of exploring, taking trips, getting dirty in nature, and enjoying what surrounds us.

I dream of raising self esteem, ingraining an awareness for the

environment

, and respecting others.

I dream of story telling, listening to ideas, creating dreams and watching them unfold before our very eyes.

I dream of laughter, smiles, and lots of hugs.

I dream of place that children look forward to coming to and parents feel safe sending there children.

I dream of a place where we take the time to know one another and embrace our differences.

I dream of painting, singing, dancing, and doing whatever sparks our interest.

I dream of an enchanted place where children grow, are nourished with love and support, and connect to each other and the world which surrounds them.

And like the picture says...

"Anything's Possible"

I admire you...

Look at you up there, speaking so eloquently.  So calm, never skipping a beat.  You have a great ability to speak in front of a crowd, do complex math equations in your head, and connect with total strangers while evoked in conversation.   You are strong, smart, funny, and kind.  

I always looked up to you, and always will.  You taught me how to catch a baseball and learn math...even if it took hours.  You work hard and instilled that within me.  You never give up, you follow through.  You are strong and totally gentle.  Your smile lights a room and your laugh is contagious.  You taught me respect, kindness, and how to be a better person.  You have helped me to grow and are always there if I need you.  

Over the years I have put you through a lot, but there you are still smiling and still loving me.  You are my hero, someone I deeply admire.  Thank you for being you and sharing that with me.  

I love you!!

I have returned

I have returned from my little hiatus of no

television

, no reading, and computer.  I have missed this blog community but I was also able to clear my head, clean out my closet, enjoy a wonderful night out with Christian, and a family dinner filled with laughs.  So it was a wonderful time away.  

Normally in the mornings I will watch NBC and be so unproductive.  However this past week I was able to clear my head, write, and enjoy a nice

breakfast

.  It is nice to not have others thoughts swirl around my brain.  I was able to be more creative and I felt more peaceful.  

Possibly a week away is necessary each month even if I don't leave my own apartment.  

A little Vacation

I am taking a little trip,

I just need to go away for awhile,

However, I won't be going anywhere.

I just need to get the jumble out of my head,

I need to fill my brain with original ideas and thoughts,

I will only be gone a short while.

Right now my head is swirling,

The noise from the tv is not allowing me to think,

I need to step away from it all.

I will miss reading,

But hopefully I will do more writing.

I will miss movies,

But hopefully I will take more photos.

I will miss hiding myself behind a book on my lunch break,

But hopefully I will talk to more strangers,

and encounter more interesting things.

I will miss you,

and a piece of me hopes that you will miss me too.

I won't be gone long.

I wish you fun adventures while I am gone!

Leaving and Receiving Love Notes.

I find it a bit frightening to leave love notes around.  What if people find them and then find me, and then confront me about it.  What would they say?  What would I say?  Would they mock me, think I was silly, think I was stupid?  Would they put me down and make me feel bad?  Every time I leave a note a small sense of fright washes over me.  

I left one the other day on the first floor of my new office building.  I am still to chicken to leave one on my own floor.  Before leaving for the day I had to use the bathroom, and so I stopped on the first floor and entered the bathroom where I had left my love note earlier in the day.  

When I left the note I hung it neatly on the back of one of the bathroom with stalls.  A little surprised to be discovered by some un-expecting stranger.  I hung it with pride, fright, and a little sense of freedom.  When I walked into the bathroom their it was, on the floor.  Devastation flooded my body going directly to my heart.  Saddness for my heart felt love note which read:

"Cheers-

To a new day and another chance to get it right."

I choose this one carefully for the office, hoping that it would make someone smile or brighten their stressful day.  And their it was---on the floor.  With tender loving hands I scooped up my note and placed it safely into my bag.  My heart was sad.   

Seeing the love note on the floor got the wheels in my head turning.  I thought about how difficult it is for some people to receive gifts.  They could be right their for the taking and yet we drop them instead of carrying them along with us.  Sometimes we even look right past the gifts being offered to us and we don't accept them.  

If I saw this note hanging on the back of the bathroom door I am not so sure I would have picked it up myself.  It surely would have made my day, made me think happy thoughts, and made me smile...but I don't think I would take it.  

I think it may be hard for the recipients of my secret love notes to accept them.  I think they get a little frightened when they see it, just like I feel placing it.  Frightened because we are not used to such kindness.  Frightened because we were taught not to accept things from strangers.  Frightened because they don't believe the world can be this kind.  

But what we really need to do is learn how to put our guard downs.  We need to be open to the possibility that love, tenderness, caring, and kindness does surround us and is constantly swirling around.  We just need to open our eyes up to it.  

Dear Universe

Dear Universe,

It has been a little while since I last wrote.  I have been holding my fears, thoughts, and dreams inside.  However, I can no longer do this alone.  I need you to hold on to some of my fears and dreams for me.  I need you to hold them so that I am free to "be."  I want to be present in the moment, I want to show up, I want to feel what is going on around me, and I want to be able to appreciate it.  With all of these thoughts swirly through my head I am never sure what to listen to and I always feel like I cannot stop and be right where I am.  

So today I am handing them over to you.  Of course they come with an enormous THANK YOU!!! For being there, guiding me, and accepting me just the way I am.  I appreciate all that you have done for me and I really appreciate you taking these worries out of my hands.  

Thank you!

With Love,

Jennifer