Taylor and I were out the door by three this morning.My body, even after all these years of traveling, is not appreciative of rising before dawn. But a cup of coffee, no traffic and some good tunes evokes the full fledge travel vibe.

Taylor and I were out the door by three this morning.My body, even after all these years of traveling, is not appreciative of rising before dawn. But a cup of coffee, no traffic and some good tunes evokes the full fledge travel vibe.
We met Leslie, runs the Hope Alive Clinic, at the airport and I felt very fortunate to have access to a scale before the official check in. The first three were a few pounds under the 50 lb mark, but the last bag was a solid 56.5. Fortunately, between our other three bags and Leslie's extra space we were set. What's up, 200 lbs of awesomeness heading to Haiti!
A large portion of today will be spent traveling, but I am anxious to arrive at the clinic and get the goodness rolling.



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Got in a paddle and preppin' for Haiti

Each day of summer seems like an individual grain of sand. Sometimes you can hold a heap in the palm of your hand and then there are those moments when they seem to slip through your fingertips. I feel the older I get the quicker time goes. I feel old just saying that.
As we reach mid-July I have finally had a few opportunities to saturate myself in the Atlantic. Last night Keith and I headed to LBI for dinner and a little beach time. The ocean is pretty much a sanctuary for my mind, body and spirit. It does good things.

There is a sense of stillness and peace that comes upon me as my hands graze the surface of the water and the feel of the wave's spray as my board is hurled over the crest of the wave. It's pretty awesome.   Clear skies with 73 degree water makes for a pretty good combo even when the waves are a little challenged in the height zone. 

Nearing the 24 hour departure mark for Haiti and packing for any international trip always brings out the creative side of me. From donated lollipops, suitcases, baby formula and clothes the bags are being packed to the brim. Attempting to strategically place nail polish remover, lollipops, heaps of clothing, medicine, pens and gifts has caused me to pack, re-pack and then switch things up from all different angles. You have to take advantage of space and getting in as much as possible. 

Standing in our living room I am in awe of how almost every item stacked, stuffed and placed before me was donated by so many individuals. There were those who passed on monetary donations, the local pediatrician who hooked us up with two cases of baby formula, friends who scoured through their closets to give bags of clothing and the many others who just simply found a way to pay it forward towards Hope Alive Clinic. Heaps and heaps of supplies that will be used in countless ways. To all of you, from the bottom of my heart I say THANK YOU!!!! I am quite often left speechless and a lump in my throat whenever I have one of my crazy projects going on. So many who rally together to just make the world a little better. Dig deep and beautiful things transpire. 

We have a fifty pound limit on each of our four bags and I'm pretty determined to reach the 200 lb mark. The more I contemplate where we are going and what we're doing the greater my determination to bring as much as humanly possible. I was really stoked when I ran to the bank today asked if they were interested in donating lollipops and walked out with a 15 lb box. I figure it never hurts to ask and the worst thing is someone says no. So we will dream the dream and aim for 200 1b of goodness on trek for Haiti. Let's see how it goes! 

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Car wash, chicken fried and killer sunsets

Ringing every ounce of summer out of summer. Not sure if that's always a healthy thing, but it's how I function. The Xterra trekked from the farm and rolled into Medford Lakes leaving about 14.7 hours before we held our car wash in an effort to make some last minute cash for Haiti that will be used to purchased medical supplies. Frequently, when it comes to donating there can be skepticism as to where the money you hand over is going. Being able to convey our mission and that each penny will be used to purchase items that will immediately help people is AWESOME! 

In the pouring rain we cheered, scrubbed and sprayed in the name of Hope Alive Clinic: ) Taylor, Nate (my nephew) , Jenna, Kate & Sydney (a friend's middle school kids:)  worked non-stop with smiles on their faces. I'm always in awe of how stoked kids can get about helping others when you provide the right ingredients.
Every time someone dropped another donation they wanted to be updated on what the tally was. Overall, we raked in $204 that has the ability to literally save someone's life
 To think that some might think there is an age limit as to how old one must be to make a difference. I had a bunch of five super stoked young people who knocked it out of the park today. Way to change the world, guys!                                                      

We arrived home soaked and I felt a slight resemblance to a chia pet. After chilling for a little bit and morphing back to human status we headed to Camden with lawn chairs and smiles ready for a little Zac Brown Band! It was an awesome night of dancing in bare feet, swaying to some awesome tunes and letting myself unwind after a super long past few days. How can you not reach the zen zone with good tunes, a killer sunset and great company?

Another farm fresh trek

In an effort to squeeze in a little extra time on the farm I headed south for a few days before Taylor and I head to Haiti. I have to think that if I ever managed to sit still for more than a day I just might internally combust. Sitting still just is not my nature. Timing was perfect with having 72 hours to catch up with my Grandma who was in town for a week.
Grandma Gert has lived in Florida for over twenty years now and we typically see her once a year. The boys entertained her with their boisterous personalities and even serenaded her on the porch with their musical skills. It was nice to see her enjoying herself and just being happy. I am grateful to get the time with her, even if it is only a few days a year. She is my last surviving grandparent. It's a sad thing, but Gert is 93 in a few weeks and as spry and bedazzled as ever.

In the few days we all had together we typically slam  a whole lot into every moment we have. I always find myself mentally and physically exhausted, but I wouldn't have it any other way. Being around the little dudes recharges me in so many ways. Every moment is memorable whether it be picking apples, chasing cows, rolling the scooter down the steepest hill on the farm to sitting on the porch eating breakfast. Once the school year begins it's much more of a challenge and time constraint in seeing everyone, but I'm blessed to have the summer off.

I hope to have one last go down to Va before September rolls around. Sitting on the porch with my parents, Jess and the boys is something that I look forward to. Until then, we'll stick with daily phone calls and a fridge stocked with farm fresh eggs. Keep the goodness rolling!

Past and present connected

 

With the temps hitting an awfully uncomfortable 104 today I managed to spend most of the day indoors attempting to be productive in a way that has yet to have my a.d.d unleashed. I spoke with
my Grandmother yesterday who gave an open invite for us to come down to Florida to 'cool off' from our oppressive heat here in Jersey. Who would have thought? 

(meaning behind the sign - I was born in Pt Pleasant & grew up in Medford.)

I spent a portion of the day sorting through pictures that I have been determined to have scanned and put into dvd form & eventually book form. It's amazing in one box how much life is reflected and the chapters of our lives that are evoked from images that have managed to slip through our memory over the years. In a large rubbermaid bin hundreds of pictures were stashed in my parents attic for the past six years and the sorting through process has brought smiles and tears. In the end, I am in awe of how rich my life has been in these past thirty four years. There have been so many people in my life that have allowed me to become a better human being through their example, their words and encouragement.

I found pictures of my grandmother and grandfather that both passed on nearly thirty years ago. Both Betty and Jack left an impression upon my heart that still is carried with me today. What I take from my grandparents, sister and countless friends are life lessons that continue to mold me. We are a work in process. If you think you know it all you're wrong. If you do not seek wisdom from others (be selective with this one) and rely only upon your own understanding, faltering is inevitable. There is richness in the past and lessons to be learned. I hope to always have the ability to reflect back on different chapters of my life that may bring tears, smiles or a laugh. But through that not clinging to what could have been, but more of the blessings that existed even in the most turbulent of chapters. Life's a journey that will always have a past, present and future.