Indiana: K$

There are a lot of things that I want to say about the timing of this postcard.

Last night before I fell asleep to wake up super early to get back home, K and I were up late talking through some big stuff in life. I spent the greater part of this morning thinking about a lot of them, and her. As I pulled up in front of my house my phone rang and it was K. We talked for 10 minutes. I wished more then anything I could twinkle my nose and magically transport to her car. Then I shuffled through some mail and found this card. I wish. Wish so much that it was she that could open her mailbox today and find this. To remember she is loved. She is appreciated. She is one of a kind. How on earth did we get so lucky?

However. I am in Virginia, freshly returned from a Surprise rocket run Easter trip... I sit and I think about all of those things I thought last night as I went to sleep, and this morning as I barreled through rainstorms to make it home for work...

And I wish for Genie's power's. A twinkle of the nose, a wish of the heart.

To be where she is today, to tell her this very same thing.

You are a very special one of a kind friend who is loved and appreciated!

Love You!

K$ (smooches!)

Myrtle Beach: JJ

When I got to work today JJ got animated with remembering she had something for me from her mini-vacation to the Beach last weekend. She told me not to get too excited, and I tried to guess what it was. She came back to the front and told me to close my eyes, and handed me a postcard. Don't get too excited? I LOVED IT! She didn't get it in the mail, but that's ok.

JJ has become a treasured and beloved friend. The 2nd day we worked together I realized that we were meant to be BFF's. We have endless things in common, and mostly- we can talk about real life and laugh at it with each other. For awhile we kept having Monday's off, so we would have full on Jessica and Kari date days. Mimosas's, mani/pedi's, lunches, dinners to Ichi, shopping (lots of shopping), and laughter. They were the best. A few weeks ago she came with me to my Dr.'s apt, and afterwards we went to W'burg to the Coach Outlet and to have dinner with my brother. It was great to be able to share the news that came from my Dr. in the moment and not have to wait to talk about it, and then spend the rest of the afternoon justifying expensive bag purchases.

I'm like her 2nd spouse (her husband Brian is GREAT), and when talking about me moving away she shuns the notion and then says "I'll relocate with you". So many stories of the past five months include her, and I'm thankful that well after our Bridal day's are over we will still have so much to share and laugh about. She's a fantastic friend, and with all the changes at work we've had less time to hang out... lame. But we are bringing Sangria Saturday's back soon, and I can't wait. My favorite thing though? Whenever I am leaving to head home from hanging out she asks I text to let her know I made it home ok. Makes me feel so loved.

Kari Berry:

I finally got a postcard for you! I'm so sad that you're hurt, but I'm glad we're working together today! We need to have a dinner date ASAP! I feel we're drifting apart and I'm not a big fan of that! Miss you wife!!

Love, JJ

coffee press: theresa

Theresa is perhaps one of my favorite former housemates of White Oak Lane. She and I lived together a few years ago, and shared many a deep and profound conversation while sitting on the couch, while attempting to watch a movie. She was the biggest supporter of my time away from this house, and loved Gracie incredibly well as I traveled full time exploring and searching for everything- everywhere. She managed the business here, and my life with her administrative skills. I never worried about anything when I was gone, and when I returned she always made sure that there were 2 Diet Coke's in the fridge.

I've learned a lot from her, and I'm thankful that despite our very manic and chaotically different schedules that we are still able to catch up. She's a true friend in that time and distance don't really change anything. We can still laugh and talk and share the instant we reunite as if no time had actually passed. People like that are special. She's the best.

Kurry! Hello friend. I have been thinking about you lately and meaning to send you a postcard for awhile. So I decided to create my own :)

I hope you recognize the coffee mug. I drank out of it recently and it made me miss you. Life is good- busy, but good. The Lord is good as always and teaching me lots of things. Can't wait to share what the the Lord is teaching me with you... at Donny T's of course. We are still remodeling the basement. Hopefully it will be done before summer and we can have a party. Hope you're doing well. Can't wait to hear about your life!

Teeter

mornings: then and now

It is no secret in my life and with those that I love that I am not a morning person. I'm just not. I never have been one. Though, I have this very deeply rooted and sincere desire to embrace mornings, each and every one.

Having traveled a few times near and far I have had my fare share of taking advantage of the dawn hour to watch the sunrise. I sort of force myself to do this. Sunsets are much more my thing. I love the closing of the day. I love the promise of what is to come. One morning almost 2 years ago (which is crazy), I woke up really early to watch the sunrise in Santorini. I had originally done it because someone I knew at the time loved sunrises- and so I thought I'd take some photographs for them. However, it became much more then just a photo opportunity for someone else. It became one of my most beloved mornings of my entire life. It was poignant, profound, silent, and still- and it connected me to something much bigger. It was amazing. The picture below is from that morning. As the sun rose to the left of the beach, dead center you could still see the sliver of the moon and one singular star. It was... just beautiful. The blog post from the time can be found here: Silence.

When I was in China last summer I sensed so many things shift and change in my heart, and one the most interesting was how much more peaceful I felt as the day would break and the sun would rise. The last few days before I returned home I went to Japan. Each morning I woke up so that I could watch the day come. I wrote about the experience on my other blog here: shine.

Since then I've continued to be mindful of the morning silence and stillness. I have bouts and periods of time when I am more concerned with sleeping in, or sleeping more. But during this season of Lent I've worked hard to be intentional with my morning time and what I focus my energy on.

I often crave that morning while in Greece. Sometimes in my mind I flash through my images of benches, and beach fronts I have absolutely loved-- but most times in my heart I return to the place below. Whispering back to those I love that were 7 hours behind me in the time, "I will hold the light for you." Truth is, I gathered all that I had learned that morning and placed it deeply in my heart. And when I needed it most, it broke through and light came back. Last summer, in Japan... the light returned... and it was the right and perfect perspective I needed.

Monday morning I woke up in a new place. It was bizarre. I went to bed with the house fan on, and the house was warm and cool at the same time through the night. It was like summer. A rain storm came and woke me up, and Gracie freaked out a little bit... but sleep was deep, restful, and restorative. It set up what became a very different day. Everything felt different. And... so the postcard below captures for me the gratitude for what can come in the morning, and reminds me that it shouldn't be missed.

(and yes Matt. I listened to part of the European Adventure play list while I wrote this).

"Standing around a willow weeping,
we were praying in the backyard.
In the chill of the night
the friendship light reminded me who we are
...who we are, who we are

Will you hold the light?
Will you hold the light for me?"

-caedmon's call, hold the light

4-12-11

Today I woke up at 7:30am without an alarm. I snuggled with Gracie- and woke up slowly to the day. I was early leaving for work for the first time in months. Everything about this morning was tender and sweet. I listened to my iPod for the first time in ages. Its been hidden under my seat in the car. Now fully charged- I found my way to shuffle. Sometimes I had to skip. Some songs just can't be heard right now. And that's ok. It is what it is. Made my way through and found some classics. Tonight with the sunroof open and blasting "Flashing Lights" I sang. I drove towards one rainbow and through another- and then upon Lexington saw my 3rd. God's creativity and majesty never gets old. It was a great day. Different. A shift had been made. The morning came and after rainstorms all night the sky was beautiful. It was hope on display. It was the perfect platform to build on. It was real. In the midst of angst, anger, and confusion- am so thankful to see and experience joy in the sky, in the song, and in the moments of morning. love.love. kar

1) flashing light: kanye

2) free: scc

3) wildest times of the world: vs

4) windmills: mas

catching up april

catching up.

1) W'burg with JJ. The best dinner I've ever ever ever had. Laughed. Shared stories. My brother is the best. Love love him.

2) Singing in the car. Laughing endlessly and freely.

3) Dr. Apt. not the best. But... moving forward.

4) Hung out with Leah. Grabbed dinner- shared real life. To the heart.

5) Not giving into a Text

6) Ryan's Birthday! Favorite things and people.

7) Sunday Church. More on that later.

8) Cirque! The clown ripping up the letter and the blizzard...tore my heart out.

9) DC. Gets its own postcard.

10) A complete weekend off was magical.

11) Confused. But ok. Working out the details.

12) Greys. Love the musical.

13) Minus Eight.

14) Suburban Girl. Random movie: but loved it.

15) While in DC- the email banter with Seth. Africa felt so close!

16) Great talk with Krystal. I miss that girl.

17) "You look like you."

18) Gracie chasing the fly.

19) Reading. Trying to again.

20) Life continues.

-k

Radio: Just Three:

1) your love. still.

2) higher window: jb

3) silence. lots of it.

Cherry Blossoms: DC

4-4-11

1) The Teddy Pendergrass conversation with Matty.

2) The Thong Song.

3) The lady riding the bicycle in the Starbucks park lot.

4) No shuttle stop?

5) Finally.The Blossoms. Yay.

6) We are laughing & talking and having a splendid day.

7) We the Pizza.

8) Feet in the grass- time with Mary. love her.

9) Hmm... bumper? Best police officer!

10) Pinkberry!!!

11) Best day... felt familiar. Like days in NYC & LA... but different. Loved everything- minus jacked up car.

Love.Love.

Kar

We The Pizza: DC

Top Chef is one of my favorite TV Shows. And the Masters of all of the Seasons just finished. (though Bravo calls it all-stars, I believe they are Masters). While in DC, Matty and I went to Spike's restaurant. I had a slice of pizza. I broke the rules. Pizza and I are not speaking right now. But... it was worth it. The sauce, the crust... yummy! No sign of Spike or other TV friends, but all was delicious!

xox Kar

Hong Kong: January 2008

I didn't think too much about it. I knew where this was, and I pulled it out. I haven't posted on a Sunday in a couple of weeks, and I wanted to be sure to get this done today before it was Monday. I didn't read it all the way through until I went to type this entry out.

What this postcard honors is the perseverance and survival of a journey. Both a beautiful and stretched time. I had been truly hurt by a friendship on the trip, and struggled with pulling out of it.

This postcard is perfect for today. Especially after my rant and rave on my other blog about how angry I am about something else. This postcard reminds me to keep moving forward. But that taking the time to reflect, explore, and to acknowledge the struggle also allows healing to come. Don't rush it. It will come. I didn't know that part well enough during or after this trip. I rushed everything.

Now I have sensed an ease about me return. I like it, even if its hard.

Because its real. It's where I am, and who I am and right now thats a great place to be.

1/18/08

Dear Self:

1) You did it. You made it across the globe and you survived. You survived the village, the wrath of Mark, the mercy of Tiff's plans- the motorbike accident... you got through it all. You doubted the way you and you worried about your long term success in such a place- but its almost done and you are better.

2) You love the MRT & Disneyland. You found comfort in Starbucks and you had time to think. Perhaps not the best way to utilize a different country but you went with it. You struggled being so far away from home and that struggle is and was real. Don't forget the voice of reason and sense you've heard in the past 4 weeks. Pray about remembering. Hold onto the moments. Be thankful. Drink lots of water. Look at your photos. Exist. Love. Continue to dream.

-K

Snow Day Activities: Mandy

I don't know what inspired Mandy's Snow Day post card (especially with the Spring like weather recently), but it did make me laugh and make me think of my own things for a snow day.

I think my list would be fairly identical.

Though I think somewhere on it I would include,

"Wish that Mandy and I could be snowed in together"

Yes. That definately would have made the list.

What's on your list?

Top 10 things to do on a snow day...

10. watch hulu

9. visit the redbox

8. Just Dance!

7. make a labor intensive lunch.

6. paint toenails

5. premake food for when you don't have time

4. read/finish a book

3. sleep in!

2. take a nap!

#1. pray for another one!!

Nepal: Meghan

And... the award for furthest traveled postcard goes to my sister in law, Meghan. Way to go.

So... Meghan is a lot more adventurous and bold then I am. She is currently trekking in Nepal, for two months. She just kicked my Europe trip ambition's ass.

My brother married Meghan 11 1/2 years ago. They lived in SFO in the beginning of their marriage, and then moved back to the East Coast. A couple of years after their return I started thinking about moving South. I had no idea when that idea was born that I would end up on Property Staff in the mountains, after planning for the Beach. But the time between our houses can be clocked at 3hrs, and thats fantastic.

We have shared holiday's as a family. Met for several Melting Pot Celebration's. Gone to the Beach. Screamed on roller coaster's. She has hosted many a sleep over with my Lexington friends. We have laughed a lot. Thanksgiving this year with the full house- she stayed up late with "the kids" to party and throw a ping pong ball around.

She is now in Nepal. Doing all sorts of crazy things. She's one bold and crazy lady. I can just imagine her telling her inappropriate and often random jokes to her Sherpa as they trek. This visual actually makes me giggle a little bit out loud. I however, wish I could just follow her journey and take 10,000 pictures of every last thing I see, while she looked and marveled at rocks.

3/13/11

Kari! Hope you are well! Think of you a lot... Things are great here in Kathmandu, Nepal. I'm staying at this hotel. It's pretty old, it has temple carvings everywhere. You would love it here. I have met so many solo women trekkers & travelers. More postcards soon!

Love, Meghan

Naples, Florida: Courtney

Courtney and I have been sisters for I don't know... 15 years now? Marriage brought us together, but a deep and profound friendship and love has kept us there. I love that regardless of how little or randomly we speak on the phone, that when I see her- its instant reconnection, and laughter. That... is priceless to me.

She has come to visit me in Virginia countless times to soak up all the goodness, and parental/sisterly advice I can dispense at her during any given time. She's bright, fun, and has a deep rooted desire to love... with her entire self. Sometimes I think its an endless well, and I admit I wish she sometimes used caution, but I'm inspired by her ability to continue... always.

She is about to graduate College. I am incredibly proud of her achievement. And with this chapter closing, I have often wondered how much more I will be seeing of this free flying and loving sister. I keep my fingers crossed that for a brief while she will be as close as the room down the hallway.

You are loved, Court. Always and Always. This came on the perfect day.

Kar,

There are many moments in life that remind me of how special you are.

There are even more for which I should be telling you.

Thank you for being every last bit of everything you are.

Always.

xox Court

You are loved...