Yesterday I did four things to celebrate my 30 Days of 30. I made sure to get lots of pictures, so I’ll let that be the focus.

Writing: Every morning (mostly) I drink coffee and I sit for a while with what I’m going to post that day. Commitment to the 30 days of 30 posting provides me with a structure to write something additional to the varied writing I do throughout the day. As a writer, the discipline of daily writing matters immensely to me, and any way that I can create space for it is a bonus in my book.

Reiki: I worked with a Reiki client today; it was my first hands-on client in several weeks. Amazing how quickly I forget what using that gift feels like and how strongly it feeds me to share it with others. I’ve practiced long-distance with several folks, but it had been some time since I worked with someone in person. Some day, I’ll write more about what the process actually is like, but for now, I just want to note that my favorite part of Reiki is walking with people as they step into their own power and gifts. Nothing beats that journeying-with.

This was my final certificate in my Reiki classes. My teacher, Terri, is a gem, a gifted healer and teacher.

Some of my supplies: Stones and shells, Sage, Rattle, Feather.

Mosaics: There are 3 things to know about these pictures.

#1: The artist who guided me through this process: Freakin’ Talented. Check out her Etsy site here:

#2: Our lunch pre-sealing was delicious. I appreciate the combination of breaking bread and creating beauty, nurturing body and spirit.

#3: This was just the final step of the creation of the mosaic. There were three steps that proceeded it: firing/melting the bottles, selecting and placing the tile, and grouting the tile. All in all, it took 3 visits with Tracy to complete.

Grouted and ready to seal! If you look closely, you can see that the tiles look grimy. That’s what the sealer removes!

Pre-work shot: the gloves are to protect me from the chemicals in the sealer

I can’t keep a straight face… Must be the joy of almost completing the project.

We used big soft sponges to cover all the grout and tiles in sealer. Once that was done, we allowed it to soak in for about 20 minutes.

Tool 2 was using paper towels to wipe off individual tiles so that their colors could pop

We had to use clay tools to scrape away the dried grout that covered some of the tiles

There’s still some work to do, but it’s almost completed!

Mathie & Luke movie night: Mathie is one of my oldest friends and my 30 days of 30 wouldn’t be complete without spending time with her. I love that whether I’m with Mathie and Luke or just Mathie, it feels the same: the same ease is there, the same connection, the same attention. It’s a testament to their relationship that I don’t feel odd-woman-out with them (even though they’re newlyweds). Last night we ate pizza and watched Ocean’s Twelve, but the best part of the evening was when Mathie took my hand, placed it on her 7 (I think?) month pregnant stomach and said, “Here, push hard.” I timidly pushed. Luke said, “No, you really have to poke it,” so I did and then I waited. Within seconds, there it was! A surge, a push back, a fist or a foot: the most.amazing.thing.in.the.world. It was the perfect ending to a day—a celebration of new life, of friendships, of the ordinary and the extraordinary, bumping up against each other and rubbing shoulders.

Mathie and I have so many pictures from over the years! This is one of my favorites.

Luke and me at their wedding. I’m so grateful to get to share life with him now.