A small connection that made sounds with such resonance

Hey all,

Such a long time since the last post and I can't remember exactly where I left off so let's do a current state of today.

I'm working at the school and doing freelance design.

I'm living in Toronto. Fabulous! Just a month ago I made the transition from burbs to city.

I'm no longer single. That's right! Off the market!

I'm still driving for the moment but will find a bike sometime soon to terrorize the motorists.

I'd love to share so much about all of these things especially thoughts on my lovely lady but tonight I think I'll focus on one little thing.

So moving into the city was an amazing thing. I moved in with two other guys I met at church and we're great friends now. In fact, they started looking for this place without me but told me they were looking for a place for all 3 of us. I didn't think it would happen but here we are. The house is amazing and did all the convincing that was needed.

Since moving into the city and moving into this house we've taken on thing small thing doing breakfast once a week. At first it was good friends of ours who made us breakfast for our first day in the city as we hadn't grocery shopped or anything. Such a lovely gesture and other people overhead of this and joined us. It was a lovely breakfast thing. Then every week since we've just been doing breakfasts and each week, more people come out and it's been a great way to see the church community be a community. And it's been even more amazing to see that happen in the same roof that I sleep.

Anyhow, from moving in I felt a huge responsibility, that this move was made possible by God and that we should make sure to use the house in a way to grow our capacity somehow in our church community. Almost like the idea of being faithful to the gifts and provision of God. Wicked idea right? I do try to keep mindful of it all but sometimes you can lose sight of things like that. Anyway, this past Sunday at church, it was a decent service and then it came time for communion and tithing. Tithing is giving money to the church. As a member of the community, it's important to tithe as without it, the church wouldn't be able to do things like have services on Sundays.

So I take a white envelope like any time before and borrow a pen to write my name and info on the envelope. It's for tax purposes really. I always forget a pen though. Anyway, I look at the envelope and write my name. Then I go to start writing my address and something hit me fairly powerfully. I was writing on the envelope the address of the place I just moved into in the city. After a long waiting period and a lot of commuting from the burbs and so much effort this was something that happened that I definitely couldn't have just willed myself. Writing the address on an envelope that was an offering to the church and to God made so much sense. It tied the house back so well to that responsibility to make amazing things happen here. It also made me crazy thankful again and in that moment I recalled everything this past year and a bit that has gone right, all the growth I've had etc. Such an amazing moment.

Anyway, I'm so tired from a show the band just played in St. Catherines so I'm going to run and jump and do a perfect swan dive into my bed.

Mmm sleep.

Peace, love, rock and sleep,

J

Coffee House

Hey all!

It's been such a long time since I've been blogging eh. I've got some big posts come to mind but a lot of the ideas have sadly been bouncing around my head for weeks upon weeks. So much is going on. This will probably one of the shortest posts ever.

So, I got my G drivers license. Amazing! This is something I put in my "Things" list under Life. I felt it was something I needed to be a little more grown up and serious about moving on up in my life. Done! The reason it became such a big thing is because I totally failed it my first attempt and then I got busy and then the testing people were on strike forever. The bonus was an extended license which gave me the time to go and pass it rightly. Sweet!

Second, the band played our first show. Yes we did play it at a house party but we played awesome and that's totally what counts. Show's coming up in March. Look for the band name "Take Cover Arizona" It just might be us. Cuba Libre has somehow lost it's lustre over the entire year since this plane first took off so we're trying on a new name to see how it goes. It seems to fit and less obscure than the Libre. So now the topic of conversation on the band name is gone but that's alright.

Third, I'm leaving the nest. Yep I'm moving into the big city. Finally yknow. Kidding. I think it's just the right timeing. I wasn't ready before. I've done some things over the past few months that have given me a huge boost and added confidence in all this amazing stuff. I feel ready now, and I think I can afford it too. My dream of scraping by for a little bit as I work my but off is almost here.

Fourth, I'm organizing an event for my church. Yes. Me... Weird eh? I never saw my self as the type to take on a task such as this but I almost feel like I'm organizing something for family or whatever. I can't screw it up as long as I put the energy I usually put into events into this one. The difference is that I took on the role as the main guy. It's kind of fun. It's going to be amazing. Oh and you should definitely come! I don't know how few people read my blog but really you should think about it.

Here's a card that was done. I can't take credit for the drawing. That's all Andrea Manica. She has a wicked blog called "Cereal with a smile". If you like the drawing on the card, check her blog, you'll love it.

But yes, the church is just east of College and Bathurst. Just east of Bellevue on the south side. Everyone is welcome. We'll have free coffee, inexpensive yummy snacks and other warm beverages. It's a great opportunity we have for outreach so bring a friend. Oh, important facts. The Coffee House is an event that's chill like a coffee shop but a band or musical act is playing. We'll have some games, comfy seating and a wicked ambience to our environment. You'll love it. Plus you could meet some great people and have some wicked fun. So yeah, bring a mug, bring a friend or two or three or four or more. Everyone is welcome. In fact, if you see random people on your travels to get to the event, invite them too. We'd love to have them there.

Your Heart will be playing. Rumour is that they have a new song about Zelda. Maybe they'll play it. And then Elissa Mielke and Chris Graham will also be playing. Both super talented singer songwriters on piano and guitar respectively.

So yeah, you and me and a whole bunch of other people, let's rock!

Peace, love, rock and coffee house to all,

J

Time stretches like dough. You should try it! Delicious!

Hey all,

I'm back for a quick moment of reflection I think. That very long year look-back really cleaned out a lot of thought that was kicking around my little brain.

Let's focus on the tail end of the week first. It was the tail end of the week. Wow... observant eh? It was actually alright but a bit of a battle. I swear, my two jobs are fighting each other. Right now the one with more passion is kind of the underdog and taking a licking. No good. The bigger more drone-like one is winning. Or was winning anyway. I basically have a great project that I'm super psyched about but haven't had the proper time to dedicate to it.

Let's cut to Friday night and the start to a pretty epic weekend!

A friend of mine from church was having a party and as I like to do, I went. I'm still getting over a cold so I totally just went to hang out and chat. It was really cool to do that. It also dawned on me just how comfortable I am with friends that I've known for less than a year. So cool. Great discussion, great environment and all that.

Cut to Saturday! I had plans to have a Breakfast at Tiffany's breakfast viewing with my Audrey viewing friend for over two months and it finally happened. We did have breakfast at 3 but that was after we made both pancakes and biscuits. I even did shopping that morning for any missing goodies and totally forgot about sugar. haha. I don't know the neighbors so we went on a mad dash, a great adventure to the grocery store. Seriously! It was fun. Something about going to the grocery store with a friend is great. It's like new different conversations are sparked. Plus there's some sort of bonding over food and shopping for food! Anyway, Audrey did us proud (as we all know). Breakfast at Tiffany's is simply amazing! I noticed while watching how much I love the way the movie sounds. Audio capture of the 70's? 60's? Awesome!

Breakfast was my meal of the day. I laid low on the food the rest of the day. But I did go to band practice. Darran is back and we rocked out pretty good. Good things coming, talk of shows, talk of recording, lots of talk and perhaps a party where we make an appearance. Sweet! I spent Saturday night watching Yes Man with a good friend. Love that movie. Such open arms to life. I love it!

Sunday! Brunch with great friends. Cause brunch is pretty much the best meal ever! We've decided that it should be a once a week or once a month thing. Sometimes we just don't see enough of each other yknow. This is church friends. Sunday nights are good for some people but for those in school it's a crazy time, finishing work for the next day or prepping for early class or the work week. Late nights of relaxing in depth conversation just aren't happening in those types of frameworks. This was a nice change and it was beaming beautiful rays of light this morning. I of course was late but highly enjoyed the company and foods. Heading back to the studio I had a tough work session trying to get my head wrapped around things for a client meeting tomorrow.

Then... Church time! It's like my favorite part of my week even when the weekends are full of little victories! The sermon was about the spirit and following the spirit and walking with the spirit. I loved the tractor beam analogy. Basically, walking with the Holy Spirit is like walking into a tractor beam to get beamed up. Somewhere along the way you may see something outside of the beam you want and go to get it and of course you start falling. I definitely felt the spirit tonight in that church. I'm not great at singing but a part of me just wanted to sing so loud and so proud and really get into the worship. "My heart, it beats for you!"

Such an amazing night. I also got to see a few people from my living room that had just got back into the city. I'll be honest and a little cheesy. I missed them while they were gone. It's so good to see them back and it also means they'll be at living room on Wednesday when I make a little spicy (not as spicy) chili. I've been thinking that making that tomorrow might be a way way better use of my time or even Tuesday after getting back from practice. Something tells me that rushing home to cook from work before living room might be pushing my abilities a little too much. We'll see though, it'll all work out. I know that for sure.

I sadly had to return to the studio after all that loveliness but it was good. I feel a little more on track and like I've put in worth while time into it. It is also past 6 in the morning. That means it's time to stop writing. Oh me. Probably should have just gone to bed but it's hard when there's stuff running around my head.

I'm so fortunate and I really try not to forget it. There's something inside me that just lovely helping people. I feel so fortunate that I'm in a position where I can do so much good and help the friends that I have from anything like a ride down the street to putting together portfolios or giving them a sounding board and listen to the ache's of their heart. The dynamics of the days and weeks as they go by constantly astound me. Everything seems to get more complicated and ridiculously intertwined and yet there's so much joy in each moment, especially when you get to the end of the day where all you have to do is go to bed and you can reflect on it, blog about it and have such hope for tomorrow.

One interesting note! I asked my living room for input on where I might spend some time reading in the bible. After buying an NIV version for the very first time last week I've been waiting to block off an afternoon and get deep into the good book. Friends from living room really gave some good pointers for me as the newb and again that's something to be thankful for. I now have a group I can ask these questions. It's like having the wealth of knowledge of 13 other amazing people at my fingertips. And together, we'll be much more than the sum of us together.

Anyway, no thoughts left. I'm sure this is the time that I should be aiming to wake up every morning. Maybe in two days time.

Love to all,

J

Welcome to 2010, how was your flight?

2010.

Twenty-ten.

Two-thousand and ten.

Wow, it's been quite the journey but it's here and as promised, it's reflection time.

The way I see it, there is always 3 states, past, present and future. (shrugging off the sense I'm in English or French class). Here's how it fits in to my little head. The past has brought us to the present where we decide on the present that effects the future. Let's start in the now and work our way back to the beginning of 2009 (though I can't really remember very well that far back).

Right now, I'm sitting in a very warm and cozy apartment (the ground floor of a house) in the west end of Toronto. It feels like home, I've just entertained and played host for some guests. Am I living in the city? I'd love to say yes but the answer truly is "kinda". I'm house sitting for some lovely friends that decided to celebrate their holiday season back home in Amsterdam. I totally win out in this situation. I've been having something of the time of my life. I'm close to friends and use that closeness to actually see them. In fact, they can come visit me! (Allow me to bask in this concept for just a sec. It doesn't happen all to frequently when you're in your twenties and live at home in the suburbs of a city.) I've been cooking also! I had a few things I made for myself (scraps from the fridge) back in the summer but never actually prepared a whole meal from scratch. But this past week I made some awesome soba with some drizzled rice vinegar, soy sauce, ginger, chili stuff on top with some chicken. So good. I also made pasta sauce from scratch, letting it all boil down and tomatoes make lovely fresh sauce that was just a little spicy. Mmmm. Then I made the hottest chili I've ever tasted in my life. It's vegetarian chili at that. I think I've surprised myself in both how I've just rolled with the punches, made substitutions, learned what things could go with what. I also surprised myself in the end product. Things actually taste good! This means there's hope for me for the future. I also had a lot of fun doing it. Perhaps I'll have people over for dinner next week. Might be a late dinner but it'd be fantastic anyhow.

Being in this house is great. It makes me really feel like Toronto is where I should be living for reals. At the very least, at this point in my life. It would be a great step towards my own personal growth in many aspects. I think it would bring me an increasing sense of pride and confidence being able to support myself. It would definitely make other things in my life blossom. For now though, it feels a little like I'm living someone else's life. I live in this wonderful place, I work at a studio nearby. I go to Etobicoke for band practice and have a vibrant social and church life. I'm just about beaming right now. I don't feel like I'm living someone else's life in a bad way though. It's not like I feel weird about it. I feel reassured that things I'm working towards would be good for me. Always a good feeling. I think just being in the city also gives me more of a capacity to do things, do more outreach, get more involved, those kinds of things. I work really hard not to make living in Mississauga a boundary for having life in the city and that's probably why I appreciate this so much.

This really also ties into that feeling I had a little while ago when I was able to move into the studio space. I had been praying to get all this work done and somehow get into the city to live. I had the feeling that God was responding, telling me to be patient. It was almost like a "not yet" response but at the same time a compromise. "I can't do that for you just yet but how about this?" And I think this house sitting is another piece in our conversation. It's also shown me how it is to live on your own. To be honest, I thought I'd dread it but it isn't so bad being by myself. No conflicting schedules and fighting for anything at any time. This being said, over time I might find it lonely. Either way I'm learning. It's also a lot of hard work. Keeping on top of the regular every day things is pretty interesting. Right now I'm trying to find some time to cook with my schedule going crazy. The chili has saved me this week for sure.

I held living room tonight at this wonderful space. Everyone's now gone home and really... it was fantastic. Living room is kind of like a small group or study group you get put into once you decide to become a member at the church I'm part of. It's called freechurch (formerly Freedomize). Anyhow, tonight was the first meeting. I hosted, no cooking but I did serve up some veggies and those kinds of things. It was the first time since our membership classes that we've been all together and it was pretty sweet. I feel closer to everyone already. We have many ideas on how we would love things to work and one huge thing is we have a direction we'd like to go in for our own ministry. It's like something we'd like to do to be Jesus in some way. Something we can do to help the church, help the community, make a difference, anything like that. I think our ideas could be a driving force for our living room in getting closer to one another and in expressing new energy into our church. A lot of people are excited to see what we'll do and so are we. We're young, we're driven, we're creative and together we'll make things happen. I love it. It make so much sense to do something fairly large because of how we all feel. Helping out over advent really filled my heart with a lot of joy and energy. Work and the daily chores will always be there and there will always be a large unending list of things. The things that fill your heart with joy are those you should be doing to keep you going throughout all that time.

Right, that's a lot of type already, wow. Can you tell I'm excited?

Work. um ya... how's that going?

Good. A resounding GREAT in fact! So much opportunity. I was working on a book project forever (over a year) and just finished it up. It's not all printed and delivered as of yet but it's pretty fantastic so far. I saw an unbound copy today. Very excited!

Something amazing happened just as I was closing off this project... I got a call for a brand new piece. A mini-catalogue from a new client referred to me by a place I'd like to work at. Do the skies get much more blue? Here I was heading into a little bit of the unknown and worrying about finances a little and the answer was just right there. I ask frequently if this is what I'm supposed to be doing and someone in the heavens keeps throwing breadcrumbs keeping me on this path. So lovely. It's amazing how things happen like that. The key is to keep working hard. The other thing is I keep getting great opportunities to help my church out with graphics materials. I wonder if they know how much it really means to me that I'm able to do that. It's such an important thing for me if I have things I owe them that I'm working on. On the same level and sometimes above my other clients and jobs (which is pretty understandable I think).

Relationships! Yup still single but really I'm not at all worried. Things happen in time and through the process of searching you can end up meeting great life long friends. I see ways that God is preparing some of my other friends for future relationship and I'm sure the case is very similar in my life. I have faith that when I'm ready, it'll just happen. The waiting is sometimes deadly but that's why I have so much work and music to keep me occupied for the time being. A few of my friends have said a few times that they don't want a relationship right now. I'd be lying if I said that but I really don't want to rush it at the same time.

Well, that's a lot about talking about the present. I'm sure you can tell how excited I am. I'm also at a point in my life where I'm becoming more mindful of God in my everyday life experiences. It's interesting how my thought process goes back and forth on things now. One new thing that just happened yesterday was that I bought a bible. I've had a few sitting around home but none are NIV I don't think and there is something about starting from square one and purchasing something for a purpose, really owning it. I'm excited to stop saying it and get into the bible and doing it regularly. I'm not well studied in the bible and feel weak in that area a little. It's a little daunting and I've actually asked my group to pray for me a little on it. To devote the time and effort. Like many of the things I do, sometimes the hardest part is starting. (just like this blog post and now it seems like I might never end).

Anyway, thinking back I've come a long way in a year.

One year ago I was finishing up a contract position at a small advertising firm. I didn't have aspirations to keep working there, instead I wanted to learn more under someone who'd been there, done that and done great things. I'm still in that journey. But one year ago I was definitely frustrated in where I was. It seemed like such a long process to get into a place where I could grow personally and design wise and also finish this crazy big book project and see it right through to the end. I've grown in expectation, excitement and commitment of my profession in this year. I owe a lot of it to hard work and another thing...

This brings us to the church aspect of my life. God, Jesus, praying, attending church... Where does it all fit in and does it? did it?

One year ago I had been to visit Freedomize 3 times or so. It was in the second week of advent that I returned to church for the first time (not on Christmas or Easter) for about 8 years. I had a lot of questions, I didn't know where my faith laid but I knew the experience of going to church was good for me, the sermons offered good words and thought to me and the community seemed pretty welcoming. The year has seen me take communion honestly not going through the motions. I've prayed, I've made crazy strides not to miss service even. I surprised myself in my dedication to going. Everything was definitely worth it and God has definitely worked on my heart. I feel almost like every day should be a celebration of faith. I'd love that. This amazing new and very strong constant in my life has given me crazy fuel. It's turned Sundays into one of if not my favorite night of the week coming from the day I dreaded. That's quite the leap. That's like going from #987 on the billboard chart and going all the way to #1. It's also not dependent on a person here on earth. In relationships, especially when they are going great, I have tons of energy and I'm on cloud 9. When they aren't going as well, I end up having a huge weight on my chest. So far the relationship with God has been a lot more of that cloud 9 feeling. Perhaps it's his perfection? The fact that I'm learning so much as I go is amazing to me as well. The year has also seen me become part of a church community and really get involved in making a difference and trying to "be the church". The simple idea that I not only enjoy the service but I help make the service what it is, I'm not on a consumption only relationship with it. It's a good plan for me cause most times I feel even better by hanging out and helping out than just standing by and letting it all get done. Plus making the space somewhere sacred, somewhere crafted is something I'm really interested in so I'm learning while I do that too.

I tell you, so many doors have been opened and almost around every corner I've been seeing how the Lord works. It's so cool.

Right now, I feel like I'm at a place where I'm strong in my faith but still such a newb in it all. Not quite like blind faith but perhaps close. I'm putting a lot of trust in God right now and from what I hear, that's a good thing.

K so I think I've successfully painted a blurry picture of a slightly confused but uplifted version of myself one year ago. That blurs into the time that is right now where I see many things but also understand that I have a place and a reason for why I'm doing what I'm doing and why I'm meeting those that I'm meeting. Certain friendships that I have now are so important on a bidirectional sort of way that I couldn't see my life without them. Truly remarkable.

Now for the future.

The road ahead is less definite. The band that I'm in is up and down and I wonder if and when we'll get a chance to play a show. Regardless they are super important to me living a balanced life. Work is on this teeter totter where I wonder when freelance will end and full time with the possibility of living in the city happens. Church life has so many opportunities for great outreach and success, personal growth and spiritual strength. 2010 will be prosperous if nothing more. I think I can describe the future as having more bright lights than I can properly draw in a picture. I know that my optimistic outlook on life is something I look forward to sharing with more people in this coming year.

Definite things in the near future are getting my full license, getting new glasses (I've had these frames for ever pretty much) and working hard.

I think I've had a big shift from one year ago in what I want in life. One year ago I probably had a major career driven aspirations as the ideal. It involved moving to the city, working really hard, for ridiculous hours and barely scraping by. Living in the city so I could have a party lifestyle, go to the clubs and dance and be in the city to get a little too sloppy a little too often. Now I want to be in the city in a different capacity. I'd like to be here to lead a rich and fulfilling thought provoking, discussion filled life. Not too much party, a lot of God, a lot of outreach, a lot of friends and yes a lot of work. But there's a bigger balance, more of a focus on a simple life. Less physical things but more memories and more things to create and more time spent in places where it matters (like with my nephews or my niece (another new thing from 2009)).

I think I really tried not to get refocussed on God through this blog posting but it kept happening that I was talking more and more about it. I think it's good. I think it's also because of living room tonight. I think it could potentially weird some of my friends out. I don't think that's bad either though.

Anyway, it's definitely bed time. Can't wait for that. This dude's tired. I'm going to sleep for a good 8 hours though. Life continues in the morning after some great rest.

Love to all!

Cheerios,

J

Better late than never

Hey all!

It's been forever since I've done a good update on my blog and it's a
pretty special time. Not only Christmas, New Years, copious amounts of
family time etc. It's also yearly reflection time. It's gonna be a
good one I think. Stay tuned.

Love you all,

J

Birthdays

Wow!

Another year has gone by and apparently I'm a year older now. Weird. It totally doesn't seem like it's been a whole year at first glance but then I think about how much has changed over that time and it all makes sense. I think back to projects, transitions, new friendships, new commitments, celebrations, contemplation and a whole lot of learning not only about things but about myself. It all quickly brings it back to timelines that make sense in this real world. The idea that things aren't instantaneous at all, that they take hard work, dedication and mostly time. And WAY more often then we'd like, they take a lot longer to accomplish than we initially think would be possible.

I guess this time, this birthday, this period of contemplation marks a pretty epic time in my life. I feel a lot nay a lot of love coming in my direction and in terms of wonderful things in the life, love is pretty crazy high on the list. Definitely a front runner! Also at this time of my life, I feel truly happy. I'm not stuck clinging to just one thing in my life as a barometer. It seems like a more complex system and it seems to err on the side of just going with it and being happy. And really why not, there's so much to be thankful and happy for, so many things going on that I never thought possible.

One very cool thing that has happened during this past year has been the connections that I've made. My favorite friendships are when I have close connections, the ones where you can talk about what's going on and just be straight up, there's trust in there and sometimes you can just let the wall down and show your cards no matter if you're bluffing or not.

Last night I celebrated my birthday. No, I'm not old though some people my age may say "I'm old, dude." I'm not sure what is keeping me so young, maybe it's that I still live at home, or maybe it's the optimism. I haven't been crushed by the truths of life in some time so that's also a factor haha. Anyway, I digress. So the celebration included Sushi which saw many more guests than I had planned for then drinks and Karaoke. The karaoke turned out to be half karaoke, half dance party which is really what I was hoping for. I loved it. Birthdays work best if as many people as possible are having a killer time. The karaoke dance party was one of the most fun experiences of that I've had. I highly suggest! Just find a great place with rooms for rent, get a bunch of friends and just hang loose. Break out those dance moves you're too shy to do in public, dance on couches, pump your fist, jump up and down and just for fun, do a Spice Girls song and a Biggie track back to back. Really the key is to get into it. The sooner that happens, the sooner it's amazing!

Thank you to every single person that came out to my birthday. You made it a pretty unforgettable experience. Really, you made the party! And thanks for all the wearable birthday decor stuff. I got a pirate hat card, a birthday hat with some sick lions and tigers with balloons attached plus a hawaiian lay (get it?)

Anyway, I think I'm going to relax a bit with some tv, and fuel up for some hardcore work tomorrow morning.

Love you all.

Peace, love and rock,

J

Good Good Things

Wow! Good week!

It's only Thursday night and I've felt so many good moments come along. It's just great, it not only leaves me a little warmer inside but gives me even more hope for the future. It's a mix of so many things, small little changes to good friends working through things to small family issues and a sense that things are moving forward and they're being worked on. I no longer feel like I'm behind on everything, I have a sense of accomplishment every day and I'm not cutting myself off from friends and social environments. I do have to say that there are a few friends I very badly need to check in on and catch up with but I'm sure time will allow such things very soon with the weekend coming up.

Have you ever worried about something that you knew was coming? I mean worrying to the point of dreading it full out? Perhaps it hasn't been quite that extreme but one main project I'm working on is a high pressure one. It HAS to be good. Just by the mass of time that I've put into it through the past year, it MUST be a success. I'm sure it will be. In a way, I feel like it already has been. I've learned so much through day to day interaction with my client and how to keep things going well, never to promise too much too soon and to really take some time to get things right before handing them over. Anyway... My point was back to the things coming up. In the case of this project, it's finally the meal. And you know what? It looks like it's the perfect portion. It doesn't seem overwhelming, I know I can do it and how is that? One mouthful at a time. And you know what else? Each bite is pretty sweet. It might be pie or brownies.

There are some things that have been on my heart this week and at membership (at freechurch) a question was put out right at the end. The pastor asked if anyone had anything that was on their heart this week that they wanted everyone to pray for and really the thing that I had there was my grandma. It was sitting on my whole heart. It's a big thing. But yeah, in speaking to the size of the importance, I'm just about done at the studio so I think I'm going to rush home and see if I can spend a little bit of time with her. I really don't do that nearly enough. The last month of rarely being at home hasn't helped it increase any either.

Anyway, I hope everyone else is having a stellar week.

Love to all from a pretty happy place,

J