about me

I am a writer
Using words to unearth the power in my story
I am a photographer
Capturing the beautiful moments around me
I am a builder of community
Connecting individuals in person through writing workshops
And with words sent in the mail through the Love Notes Post Card Project
I am a listener
Wanting to hear what it is you hold close to your heart  

In 2005 I wrote my first post on Giggling in the Rain.  When I hit publish I had no idea the world that I was opening up to.  A world filled with love, adventure, new experiences, deep friendships, and brave living.  It has been one heck of a ride and I am enjoying each moment.  

In 2012  I founded Love Notes, a project involving handwritten notes being sent through the mail ~ the real mail.  My heart has expanded watching individuals connect through this project and to see some of the beautiful notes that have been sent.  

Thank you for joining me here in this space.  

xo
Jennifer

the page catches your heart

Sit down for a moment

Let your mind relax

Day dream a bit

Drift off into another world, another time

Let go

Pick up a pen

Find a piece of paper to catch your words

Spill what comes from your heart

Give your words space to breathe

A moment to come alive

The page will catch anything you throw at it

No judgment will be given

Only love soaking in each letter

Breathe easy knowing you can say anything

Yes anything

The page is your savior

Calling you home

Letting you be you

In all your beauty, faults, and goodness

Sink deeply into this moment

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}

sharing your love notes

The Love Notes Post Card Project is in full swing, which means stunning post cards and words are traveling through the mail.  The real mail.

If you are a part of the project this round and would like to share your post card in the virtual world there are many ways you can.  Just be sure when sharing to not include any address information.

Here's how you can spread the Love Notes Post Card Project Love if you would like:

::  Upload it to the

Love Notes Facebook Page

::  Tag it on Instagram with #lovenotesjb

::  Upload it to the

Love Notes Flickr Page

::  Add it to the Gallery below by linking it

Don't feel any pressure to share your cards.  This project is all about sending and receiving real mail, these options are out there just in case you want to bring it to eh virtual world.

This one year anniversary is super exciting.  My heart is overflowing with gratitude.

An InLinkz Link-up

one year anniversary

A year ago I sat next to him spilling my heart out

I want to connect with people, I want to do something that will bring others together

I want to create a community, see people smile

I had no idea what this looked like, but he sat there and listened

I bounced ideas off of him

My love for writing, receiving real mail, my collection of postcards from every place I travel

Slowly it all wove itself into a project

Strangers coming together to send mail to one another

Real mail, you know the kind that actually travels through the post office

Individuals showing up with pen in hand and spilling their heart on the page

And then sharing these words with someone they may not know

Connections blooming from a simple post card

I knew I wanted to make it easy

Something any one could do

And with all that the Love notes Post Card Project was born

A year ago I launched the very first round and had no idea what to expect

Would people sign up?

Would this actually work?

My goodness I was blown away

People did actually sign up, from all over the world in fact

My heart burst open

It has been such a pleasure to host this project

To watch it unfold and evolve

And to see the connections and friendships that have formed

I am grateful for each individual who has taken the leap and been a part of it

Who so willingly put their heart on the paper and shared it with the world

It is a true blessing

The world could always use more sunshine and smiles

And together we are doing that

One post card at a time