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Dear Friend,

Although I didn’t intend for nearly six months to go by since my last newsletter to you, here we are. I’ve missed this weekly rhythm and am anxious to start showing up regularly again in your inbox.

We have had an incredible, eventful spring and summer. Since my last email my second daughter got married, I started a new part-time job, my youngest girl graduated, five of us in my family celebrated birthdays, we had three summer trips all across North America, and our baby left for college. So much life was squeezed into a short amount of time and I tried my best to soak up and savor every bit of it.

So now, autumn is on its way and my hubby and I usher in our empty nest season. I am juggling the feelings that so many before me have felt. It’s an odd mix of sadness for what was and an excitement for what’s to come, which is a reminder of the gift our feelings truly are… and how feeling so many emotions simultaneously… all mixed up… rooted deeply… is healthy. It gives us an alive-ness of spirit.

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I’ve got a new framework for my letters to you… I’m hoping this structure makes it easier for you to read and be inspired and gives me a consistency to what I share.

Years ago, God gave me the word ‘write’. It’s taken me several years to truly decipher what this word means for me (and you!) and I will be sharing more of that in the future. But this word has become a roadmap of sorts to so much of what I create.

How does this relate to my newsletter? Here’s is the new framework I will be using each week:

-W-hat’s on my mind…

-R-eal letters…

-I-nspiring me today…

-T-his and that…

-E-xtras for you

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What’s on My Mind…

We all ponder things in life. This space will be used for what’s taking up space in my thought life. I’m a thinker… I marinate on things… and I often linger around a while giving space to what I hear and learn. If it captures my attention, I have a great tendency to dig in.

Staying connected is what I’ve been thinking about this summer. The more our family spreads out, the more I long to see them and talk to them. While spending time in person is the ideal, it never happens as often as I’d like. So what are practices to keep those you love tucked in your heart? What can we do to feel that closeness we long for? Sure, we can text, but that’s a space where everyone I talk to is in and out of all day long. However, when we write a letter to someone, when we make space to jot down words just for that person, we actually feel a connection to that person while we form our words. Our mind spends time in that zone a lot longer than quick texts can do. And when we write, assuming we put our phone out of reach, that whole chunk of time is dedicated to the person to whom you are writing. No dings, no interruptions, no notifications pop up on our paper.

Who are you wanting connection with today? What space can you make to ink out some thoughts on paper and send in the mail? I have NEVER heard of someone not loving getting a personal letter in the mail. :)

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​Real Letters

Sharing who I am actually writing letters to… this is what will be included here. There are the obvious people in your life you’ll want to connect with… but there are endless ideas on those in the margin of your life who would be blessed by your words as well. I’ll give you some ideas each week… but the point is to have eyes outward on your world around you and take notice.

So set up a system now… keep a list in your notes app, voice text yourself when that person or situation comes to mind, or go analog and keep a small notebook and pen in your bag. I promise when you start looking for special people, you will notice more than you thought possible.

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​Inspiring Me Today

I feel like I encounter inspiration all around me. Words I read, conversations I listen to, colors I see in nature, designs I notice in stores, patterns I observe in the most random places… it doesn’t take much to add a pep to my step, inspirationally speaking. So I hope to share this with you.

Most recently? I have to say, I’ve been incredibly inspired by so much of what I learned about flowers and symbolism for my newest collection. You’ll be hearing more about this in the coming weeks… but the details and variety God gave us with flowers is such an incredible gift. Add to that the thinkers in this world who took that beauty deeper by attaching meaning and symbolism… it’s an incredible language we can use to communicate to each other.

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​This and That

This space is just as it says… random items, musings, experiences, lessons learned, art, or anything that is worthy of sharing.

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​Extras for You

This is the weekly gift for you! Stationery, downloads, printables, wallpaper, etc. This is the ‘from-me-to-you’ section. :)
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Let’s start with a forget-me-not stationery page. Print and send to someone unforgettable!

​Forget me not stationery sheets.pdf.pdf​

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Friend, thank you for going on this journey with me. There is so.much.noise in the world. For me, letter writing is an antidote to that and I want to help encourage and make easier this hobby-habit for others. I appreciate you being a reader and hanging out with me here.

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Happy Writing!

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❤️ Jill

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P.S If you have a friend who you think may enjoy my newsletter, I’d be so grateful if you would forward this to them and share the love. Or, have them sign up here:

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