India, the start

On the flight into Delhi, I sat next to an Indian man who wanted to talk the whole time. It was a bit hard with his accent, but I managed and he talked my ear off about human duty to the world as the most intelligent species and also about love and tradition. He seemed to think a woman's place is in the home and it felt odd to meet someone who had a view about women in general and didn't see each person as capable (and deserving even) of making their own choices about the path of their lives, I knew that people had this view, but as he was asking me questions and not understanding how "free thinking" I seemed, it struck me as more unacceptable to pin a person into a role than I have ever felt before.
Once I arrived, I withdrew my rupees and got a taxi. I was told it was a certified taxi service, but ended up getting in a van with a driver that didn't know much English. Probably not a great idea in retrospect, but he seemed nice I guess, so I said ok. He ended up being super super nice, got lost a bit, but it gave me time to adjust to how impoverished the streets seemed. He ended up asking lots of people where my hotel was, got one guy into the car to help, but later kicked the guy out because I think the guy was trying to get my driver it just drop me off somewhere... The driver pulled over and yelled at him and kicked him out, and as we drove away, he called him a "cheater man". Haha :) I was thankful and happy to have ended up with a nice man who persevered and found my hotel and was kind. I think I would have had a hard time finding the hotel as well.. The streets are super small and wind around and the sign was small.. He even got out to ask at the last and the guy pointed across the street.. "Haha!" We both laughed!  "We are here!"
Since then, the hotel has been good, has wi fi, a nice bed, and a tour guide here keeps calling me hott, which is funny.. He tells me he wantsto take me to his home near the Himalayas, and I can stay at an Ashram and do yoga for a month and I will love it he says.. And I can meet his mother! Haha!
I appreciated the sentiment, but now to sleep!

Finding

Things I have found:

Many people share my feelings and thoughts, expectations and dreams. This is good, feels good to know. I have a place in this world. Where explanation is minimal, elaboration is flowing, excitement is vast and my creativity can blossom.

Where one self dies, another begins.

There is no 1 way to live. No pattern I must follow. Rather, there is change whenever I want it and a world of choices to make.

More personal: I was startlingly mentally and physically intertwined with Mark. Daily I am slammed with this reality taking different forms.

There are a ton of work possibilities out there if I am open to them. I am excited to see the beautiful forms this will take.

I am happy to be me.

To all my friends and family out there, thank you for your love and support.
X o
Jenny

Disclaimer

I cannot figure out how to load images from my iPad onto blogger... So I may be doing mostly verbal posts and fill in photos later...

a new inspiration

i got the chance to work with Amy Hamilton at Granville Millinery on her property at Skipping Rock Farm. she has a show coming up at the Hammond Harkins Gallery inspired by a recent trip to Italy and I got to help her with the collection. 

loving it. such an inspiration. another skill gained! now---to refine it.....

check out her work at: www.granvillemillinerycompany.com

i got to make this hat for myself while working with Amy! I'm thinking of calling it "Faretheewell"

Here is my girl Emily posing in the hat-- doesn't she look so good in it??? :))))

kb

just want to brag about my girl katie, she is an inspiration and a great friend
kb on the guitar:

isn't she rockin? :)))

courage. 

creating beauty

nice to have friends that you believe in, who cry when they talk about your well being, who you know will be there for you when you need it... and when you don't.

praise God for all of these blessings

a celebration

to celebrate love
to celebrate finding someone who suits you
to the joy that i have seen increase

to david and linda. congrats.
to the joy of another new addition to the family