I haven’t been here in awhile.

Good Friday seemed like a fine time to show up.

I started the year all ready to be more intentional about goals and plans and resolutions and I was going to be the girl who really used the planner.  No kidding.  I bought one and really tried to go step by step only somehow I got a little bit lost.

Life is so messy, you know?

Then, a really cool thing happened.  I realized that the two things that felt really important to me in addition to all the amazing blessings I am surrounded with was to find my tribe of people and to grow my creative business while maintaining my education career.

I fell into the most beautiful gathering of women pursuing happiness like I do.  Then I tiptoed into a bible study group that felt so strange to me.  I figured I wouldn’t really fit.  Guess what?  They are really nice and it’s ok that I’m really liberal and have never done this thing before and get freaked out about groups of women a bit.  It’s all ok.  Sometimes I go and sometimes I don’t and that’s ok too.  Cool, right?  I KNOW!!!

Also, I get to sit and visit with my new neighbor and she is the greatest gift.  My boyfriend’s people are lovely and I look forward to getting to know them too.  It’s all so amazing.

There is this other thing…it’s so huge you guys.  I really enjoy Jen Hatmaker.  I first heard her when she was on the Today show about the end of the school year thing?  I’ve followed her ever since.  She just speaks my language.  She made me feel comfortable when I went to Women of Faith for the first time and let me tell you what…all those hands in the air and Jesus in giant flashing letters is a whole big thing for this girl.  I made her a cuff and gave her a hug and it was cool.  Then, I read that she was looking for a launch team for her new book.  I thought that sounded cool.  I applied and so did 5000 other amazing people.  Guess what???  I was one of 500 to do this  thing!!!  (She wanted all 5000 but the publishers said no way Jose).  THEN, in the FB group for the launch team I find out she loves that cuff and wears it quite a lot!  How bout them apples?  That felt so nice!!!  THEN these lovely women liked my cuffs too.  I posted my Etsy store and decided half the profit should go to a charity of Jen’s choice because this whole thing is about something bigger than my little creative business.  I have realized that I really love shipping people packages.  I also love when they post a picture of my cuff on their lovely wrist.  The greatest thing???  I have donated two new pairs of shoes and $330 to Help One Now all because they bought these cuffs.  I’ve never donated that much to a charity ever.  It’s the greatest feeling in the world and it’s all because of the chain reaction I just skipped on through with you.

I feel like I’m skipping on the clouds.

All my love,

DZ