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A New Home

While working to get back into a routine after the memory loss, I have found that my blog posts have brought me great comfort, a way to connect with myself and get to know who I have become.

Over the years I have written posts in three different blogs, each with a different feel and flare. Moving forward I want all of me in one place.
So I have combined posts from each of the past blogs into a new home...

Jackie Wood Blog

This is where I will be from now on. I will be sharing my journey on getting back to me. Finding my way through the cloudy fog and learning how to live life with lost memories.

Summer Afternoon

Enjoying a lovely afternoon at the beach. The sun warms as the wind cools and the ocean soothes.

My Story Today...

...is about connection. Connection with a group of women that have become amazing friends. Friends that go deep into the soul. A soul full of love. Love that will last a lifetime. A lifetime of new adventures. Adventures with my new family. A family that understands. An understanding like never before. 

Last week I attended the Be Present Retreat - Your Story.

My journey to this retreat began in January when my good friend Liz Ness read me the description of the retreat. I listened as her voice read the very words that I had been feeling in my soul. Oh yes, I was going on this retreat! I was so excited when I found out that I had gotten in, yet life got crazy and the retreat went to the back of my mind.

Then early last week, when it was time to prepare for the retreat, my daughter got very ill and I wasn't sure I would be able to make it after all. I certainly had my mind on other things, so no time to prep. The morning of the retreat healing began in our home and I knew that the coast awaited.

Having no time to really think about the retreat ahead of time I drove to the beach with no expectations, just an open heart to soak it all in and relax.

From the moment I stepped out of the car I was welcomed into this group of women that have forever changed my life.

There was an instant connection. There was an instant understanding. There was an instant friendship. There was a full soul each precious day with these kindred spirits.

I am so thankful that I didn't set expectations, that I was able to just go with it (not easy for a control freak). My experience was much more colorful and abundant than I ever would have been able to prepare for. I did not know that I was going to come away from the retreat with a new family and a healing soul.

Liz Lamoreux was our gracious leader and guide through the discovering and sharing of our stories. Her smile will warm your heart and her voice reading poetry will melt it. Thank you Liz for all that you provided and the wonderful mentors (Kelly Barton, Ali Edwards, Meredith Winn) that you invited to bless us all. 

Living Life

These last three weeks I have been busy living life and enjoying my family time. I have been unplugged for most of that time and it has been good. My days have still been full of art and fun, but I haven't been sharing every detail. Nor have I been checking in on my favorite blogs and online friends.

Sure I have missed a few stories along the way (good news, they are still out there to read!), but I needed to take some time to just live. Not document that living, but just enjoy it. Glorious indeed.

During my time away I have:

• Bought a condo - we are ready to have a place of our own and settle into the city permanently
• Explored the city with Reenie - bought my first (and 2nd) pair of Danskos, I am in LOVE (pictured above)
• Spent 2 days sharing the city with my niece - had the best time, love you Ash!
• Took our first city bike ride - yes, Portland is one of the friendliest biking cities
• Explored Saturday Market twice - cute skirt purchased
• Visited my favorite tea shop so many times - if you are ever in the city, this is a must!
• Kept my capture 2011 project up-to-date - really love the tags
• Started writing every day - my story shared my way
• Spent time making meals - really love having the grocery store across the street
• Continued my work at CHAP - love love love the energy in this place
• Spent a day at Peculiar Ambitions Farm - love this family!
• Had lovely and inspiring chats with my friend Liz - congrats on your new site dear friend!
• Celebrated birthdays at The Melting Pot - thanks Mom and Dad for a great evening
• Started a new session of CYT with Rachel - I will be sewing costumes for Robin Hood

My time away allowed me to make deeper connections in the real world. It gave me the extra time every day to slow down and appreciate the moment I was in. It showed me what online connections mean the most (the ones I found myself missing right away) and which ones to let go - simplify.

I didn't plan for the break, but it was a wonderful blessing!

Spring Break

 
This year we decided to keep it simple for spring break and take the week to relax and slow down. It seems our lives go at such full force most of the time that when it comes to taking a vacation we exhaust ourselves with plans, schedules, and deadlines. No thank you!

This week will instead be filled with reading, exploring, napping, picture taking, art making, and lifetime memories. The books pictured above are on my list for the week, not that I will finish all of them, but I like to aim high since my stack gets bigger by the day (sometimes by the hour). 

How are you spending spring break?

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Books shown above:

Manifesting Change
Happiness
Committed
Savor
Masters Collage
Expressive Photography 

Unplugged

I am taking a little blog break....
Focusing on life
Creating art
Taking naps
Reading books
Watching the rain fall
Enjoying some unplugged time 

I will be back next week with a new city walk, a look into my studio space, and some new art. 

Serendipity List

In January, when "savor" became my word for 2011, I knew that I wanted my focus with this word to be on moments and life not necessarily about food as the word is so often associated.

I began searching online for phrases such as "savor the moment", "savor life", "savor abundance". What came up? Many different books, blogs, and art all focused on this one little word.

One of the books was Living a Charmed Life by Victoria Moran. The tag line for this book says it all, your guide to finding magic in every moment of everyday.

This book is broken down into fifty small chapters all presenting a simple concept to help you live a charmed life. While the book could be a quick read I have been taking each chapter slowly and thinking about how I could apply each concept into my own daily routine.
A few of the chapters titles:

• Wake up and smell the morning
• Expect the best
• Wash the dishes with all your heart
• Seek out your life stories
• Slow down
• Be completely, utterly yourself
• Start a serendipity log

This last item, start a serendipity log really struck me as key to my word "savor". This log is a place to capture those events big and small that bless our everyday.

My log, or serendipity list as I have titled my book, is a Moleskine Cahier 3.5" by 5.5" Plain Notebook. I keep it beside my bed so that it is the last thing I see before I go to bed, which also happens to be a great time to reflect back on the day and jot down the blessings and moments that made me smile. It also means that it is the first thing I see when I wake up, to help remind me to look for the best in everyday.

Even on the days that seem hard to get through when the world seems to have you dangling on the edge of a cliff, there are good moments. These moments are what lead to a life full of joy, appreciation, and abundance. These moments are what allow us to savor all that we have. These moments are what we remember when we look back. These moments are what give us hope and excitement for the future.

What is on your list today?

Loving Orange

Right before we accepted an offer on our house last year, I began studying the color orange. I was using it my art, reading about it's qualities, and learning the power behind this magnificent color.

Orange is said to be the color of change and exploration of new things. What perfect timing, to begin the study of a color when we were planning on big changes in our lives.

I became completely smitten with this color. Oh I had loved it before, my favorite paint color has always been Golden's Nickle Azo Gold (I get weak in the knees when I use this color, anyone else have that reaction to paint?) but some might say my love turned to obsession. When I say some, I mean my dear family that thought I might have gone a bit crazy.

In my studies, I had read that if you want to bring about change you should light an orange candle for seven nights to invite the change into your life. Well, we burned three orange candles for seven nights and we welcomed a whole truck load of change. Of course the change didn't just happen due to some illumination of wax, but it was a wonderful nightly ceremony and a special time for the three of us.

After we accepted the offer and started looking for a place to live we walked into the lobby of the Broadstone Enso and smack, their signature color ~ orange. Yep, sign us up we are going to embrace the orange!

I am still loving orange, here are a few photos of orange in my daily life...

Your Story Retreat

In June I will be traveling to the Oregon Coast to breathe in the ocean air and share an amazing adventure at the Your Story Retreat. This retreat is part of the Be Present Retreats organized by Liz Lamoreux.

It all came about due to my very dear friend Liz Ness. We were chatting on the phone one day, working on dates for our own beach getaway when she mentioned this retreat. Liz said, "Let me read you the description." Here is what she read to me....

During our time together, we will sink into what it means to share our stories through our writing, photographs, blogs, and artwork. We will play with color and words, let our cameras guide us, walk on the beach, and let the sun shine upon our heads as we listen to one another and share pieces of who we are. As with all Studio Gatherings, there will be several hours of free time each day for participants to continue the conversations, "work" on how they are sharing their own stories, explore the coast, or simply relax. ~from the Your Story Retreat Website

Perfect and exactly what I want to focus on this year. My story, the words and images that make up who I am. 

Thanks to both Liz N. and Liz L. for bringing this opportunity into my life, it is going to be so good!

CHAP

A few months ago I was reading through the Bolt Blog and they mentioned a group called CHAP. As I read the post, I was very excited to hear that such a wonderful organization existed. 

Children's Healing Art Project, CHAP, is an organization that brings healing to children through art. They work with several hospitals in this area and have teachers that travel around sharing art and love with families that have children dealing with illness, disease, and trauma. The teachers help these kids express their feelings and bring back the wonder of childhood and maybe for just a little while forget their surroundings and the trials they face everyday.

Frank Etxaniz is the man behind all of the creative fun and amazing community involvement. He has a big heart and loves creating opportunities for kids to share their art with the world.

In addition to the hospital work, CHAP has an Art Factory where anyone can come in and create a masterpiece, paint on the fort, or cover their world in glitter. This is where I spend two mornings a week. I get to help support a wonderful organization while listening to the sounds of creative art happening in the background. How cool is that?

Best place I have ever worked! I come home with my heart filled with all that is good about humankind and my clothes dusted with glitter!

CHAP has many programs to bring art and healing to the community. Check out their website to get completely immersed into the world of CHAP!