Ch, ch, ch, changes . . .

Well, it seems like here in Wisconsin we skipped over spring and went straight into summer. The temperatures have been in the high 70s and low 80s. It is so nice to wake up in the morning to the sound of birds singing!

On a sad note, our dog Shelby was diagnosed with bladder cancer back in September and he has progressively been getting worse. So we made the difficult and heartbreaking decision to let him go. I can't tell you how much my heart aches . . . if you've ever been in this situation you know all too well the pain and heartache of having made such a decision. I am most grateful to my friend Marsha for suggesting a veterinarian that came to our home. Shelby was able to pass over in the peace and comfort of his own home. As difficult as it was, it was also peaceful and I know we did the best we could for him. I'll always miss his physical presence, but I feel he is still with me in spirit. He is now with our Teddy over the Rainbow Bridge having a ball! Rest in Peace, beloved and loyal friend and companion.

I started my Volunteer position with Agrace HospiceCare last week and have been assigned to two lovely people. Although I've only had a few visits, I have to say that I'm looking forward to my visits next week and in the weeks to follow. And I learned how to play Kings in the Corners! What fun!

And lastly, I'm moving my Reiki practice, Loving Heart Reiki, LLC, from the Harbor Wellness Center to a new space in Madison above the Duncan Edward salon. In order to provide a more relaxing, tranquil and peaceful experience for my clients, I feel this move is necessary and I'm looking forward to the change.

So, it's been a heartbreaking, life changing, moving forward kind of month, but this I know for sure, time heals and change happens . . .

Happenings

My goodness! How times does fly! I can't believe we're almost at the end of February and spring is on the horizon . . . even with the four to five inches of snow we had overnight! It's a light, fluffy snow and I have to say it's really quite beautiful. I took some pictures this morning . . .

I've been keeping myself pretty busy with classes and Reiki/EMF sessions. I've completed four of the five required training sessions for Agrace HospiceCare and should be out in the field sometime in March . . . I've completed two of four classes towards certification as an Aromatherapist . . . I'm giving a presentation on Reiki for the Young Onset Parkinson's Group next Thursday . . . and a trip has been planned to Sedona in May for Karuna Reiki® training. If you'd like to see the expanded story visit this post on my Reiki blog.

Do you know how it feels when you think you're doing nothing and then you sit down and really think or write about what you have been doing (or you go back over the week or month in your planner)? I've been in kind of a slump thinking that nothing's happening and then I wrote about it all this morning and realized something IS happening! Sometimes when you're so wrapped up in the doing, you don't realize it until you step back and take inventory. I realized that as I was writing my post this morning I'm doing okay. Things are happening and I'm right where I'm meant to be. All is good . . .

Happy Holidays!

It seems that I have been enjoying the 'hustle and bustle' of the season since about September. So much has happened and is happening that I feel at a loss to express it all. The past year has been extraordinary in so many ways.

Firstly, I became a Certified Reiki Master and EMF Balancing Technique® Practitioner. I set up my own practice in my home and just recently moved into a space at the Harbor Wellness Center in Middleton, WI. Truly a blessing of which I'm most grateful for. If you haven't visited my website, you'll find it at 'Loving Heart Reiki, LLC'. I designed the website myself and am really quite proud of it.

Along with the website I've started a blog 'Loving Heart Reiki, LLC' where you'll find more information and keep up to date on what's happening with my Energetic Arts practice.

Yesterday I graduated from the 'Hibiscus Moon Crystal Academy' and am now a Certified Crystal Healer! You'll find a Graduation post at the LHR blog at the link above.

This past Tuesday I attended a Volunteer Orientation at 'Agrace HospiceCare' and am looking forward to starting HomeCare training in February. It is intensive, for a volunteer position, with five 4 hour sessions after which I'll be able to visit Hospice patients in their homes and at Nursing Homes. This is a position which I'm truly looking forward to and one that I'm called to do. I believe it's part of my life's purpose to bring healing and comfort to those who are making their transition from this life to the next. It is a humbling and awesome responsibility and one that will be fulfilling in so many ways.

None of this, however, would have been accomplished without the love and support of my husband, Brian; my teachers and mentors, Mary and Stephanie; my best friend south of the Canadian border, Carl; and all the friends who have shared and encouraged me along the way. Without you, life would be very dull indeed!

I'm ready and positioned for an awesome start to 2012. Foundations have been laid, I've done the work, and now I'm ready to sail on to the horizon . . . ever mindful of the highs and lows of the waves.