This group also suggests that you find something to be grateful for, and remember the feeling.

On a smaller scale, seek to give gratitude and appreciation to people in your life who have done good deeds. It could be something as simple as a “thank you” or a card of thanks to someone. Or, you could offer some type of certificate or plaque of appreciation from a group you belong to, for contributions from individuals inside or outside of your group.

Happy World Gratitude Day!

I have known my brother’s best friend Ryan since what seems like forever.  Watching him & my brother Tyler playing pee-wee football together, to graduating high school, being college roommates, & now Ryan’s in med school… I’ve always considered him to be my other “little brother” the guy holds a special place place in my heart.

Ryan introduced me to his at the time girlfriend Kylie  about 3 years ago when I made a big Italian feast (my specialty- rolled lasagna & salad) for my brother & his roommates as a “one last hurrah” before I gave up my hearing . I immediately had such a good feeling about Kylie  (after we explained Girl Scout Cookies! hehe) She made Ryan light up like a Christmas tree. At that moment I knew she was the one.

True Love

Yesterday I proudly watched Ryan & Kylie get married.  As a wedding gift to my nerdy birds I painted “Whoo Loves You”.  Congrats again R+K!!

"Whoo Loves You"

Close up: My nerdy birds "Whoo loves you"

Medical Update-

Here is a link to the latest medical update ABC’s WZZM13 news (Grand Rapids, MI) aired on me. I’m not taking it as bad news or great news. I’m still breathing, and that’s all I care about. My mantra is – Mama didn’t raise a quitter.

Click Me for Jessica’s Medical Update

Paintings–

This summer has been crazy hot! It hasn’t stopped me from painting. My skin has become very sensitive to being outside, so I have been seeking refuge inside by a fan. Here are 2 paintings I finished this summer.

Journey of Life is Sweeter When Shared

This was part of my wedding gift to my friend Lisa & Paul. Congrats again, you guys are beautiful.

Up There Smiling Down On You

I donated this painting to  Ashley’s Ride which was auctioned for $275.00 to go twords finding a cure for Neurofibromatotis. Words can’t even begin to express how close to my heart I hold this event. 4 years ago my close friend also with Neurofibromatosis (NF) Ashley Sexton died during her third surgery from this disease.  Today, Ashley’s parents & community continue that fight to cure Neurofibromatois. The annual “Ashley’s Ride” helps us reach that goal, and keeps Ashley’s spirit alive in all who knew and loved her.

Ashley I miss you! You are never far from my thoughts and hold a special place in my heart.

Family Reunion-

We held a family reunion this year for our Muniz family here in Muskegon. Mind blowing!! I’m not really sure how else to put it getting to finally meet family I have heard a lot about from Texas. I had so many mixed emotions because I was so excited to spend time with them all, and also sad because I wish we all made more of an effort along time ago to get together & stay close. I didn’t want the weekend to end because I didn’t want to let them go. I definitely get my artistic ability from that side. Literally our clan consists of painters, musicians, photographers, graphic designers, film-makers… such a surge of artistic energy, many great memories retold & so many new ones made. I’m looking forward to next year’s reunion, and planning to come visit family in Texas this winter. I love you all!!

FAMILY

Now some heart breaking news-

This isn’t so much the heart breaking news as what comes after this, but still is pretty bummer-ific.  After a year of dating Josh & I decided to end our relationship to focus on being friends while achieving our own goals. If you already watched my medical update you know that I’m wearing thin. Josh has been nothing but supportive with me going through chemo, not to say that we haven’t had our differences, but we both agree it’s best to be friends. We still care about each other very much, and I’m very fortunate to call him a friend.

Lucky to have supportive friends

Now for the big heart breaker- My 12-year-old Boxer, Toby is on his deathbed, and there isn’t a thing I can do to change that. Please if anyone has a time machine I can borrow, get a hold of me! I don’t want to lose my dog. He isn’t just a dog; he’s a part of my family and one of my closets friends. I am just praying this will be an easy passing for him, and trying to remind myself that he has lived a really good life. I don’t know what I’m gonna do once he’s gone because the hole in my heart will be hard to fill. I love you Toby. You are the best dog, and I will never forget you.

Toby the Best Dog Ever

So concludes the circle of life. Do me a favor, and ever miss the opportunity to tell someone you love them. Always be inspired by life. And never EVER give up.

Peace, Love, Rock on!

Jess

This is for all the patients at the cancer clinic undergoing chemotherapy too. Keep keeping ass because i believe in you!

hello chemo drippier! please work

my birthday peacock cupcake

Time for me to enjoy my day because… it’s my birthday.

Peace, love, rock on!

Jess

Check out Doodle #1 here: http://bit.ly/jSE0BQ

Check out Doodle #2 – http://bit.ly/jPaw9r

Now bid!!!!!! Bid for hope, bid for a cure, bid just cuz you like the art. And not just mine, check out all the great doodles this year.

Random bits on my mind-

If you say you will do something but don’t follow through, than your word is only worth a grain of salt. Be true to your word, otherwise you are just sabotaging your words worth.

Did you know-
STRESSED spelled backwards is DESSERTS. I am a fat kid at heart.

Joke I just learned-
Cop pulls over a man and awards him $500 for wearing his seat-belt. Then the cop ask the man what’s he’s gonna do with the money. The man says “I’m gonna go to driving school, and learn to drive. ”
Then the wife learns over and says “Officers, don’t listen to him. He’s a smartass when he’s drunk!”

Well time to go. Stay beautiful. Happy Friday!!

Peace, Love, Rock on!!
Jessica

Today you would be… 158

]]> http://lifeinspiresme.com/2011/03/happy-birthday-vinny/feed/ 0 http://lifeinspiresme.com/2011/03/eye-of-the-feather/ http://lifeinspiresme.com/2011/03/eye-of-the-feather/#comments Fri, 18 Mar 2011 13:19:19 +0000 Jess http://lifeinspiresme.com/?p=925

New painting completed!!!!! Keep an eye out for more to come on here as well as my Facebook Page.

Heading to Chicago! have a lovely weekend!

Ashes to ashes,

Dust to dust,

Spring is near,

And growing an avocado is a must.

Yup. That’s right. An avocado tree. In Michigan.

IN MICHIGAN?!?!?!

Yes! I’m growing and avocado tree, in my attic to be exact. It will be at least 5-6 weeks even before stems sprout. 3 or 4 years before it bares fruit. Just what I needed, a nice long term project to invest in. As of lately, I have felt like something isn’t there.

Friend’s are getting married… (Happy for them, love getting to be a part of their wedding, but that’s NOT the stage I’m at in life. I am, and I think Josh would agree, very content dating. So marriage isn’t what’s missing).

Tyler got a puppy named Milo… (Milo is a cutie, but as any pet, comes with a lot of responsibility. I’m very content with Toby, so a puppy isn’t what’s missing).

Sam & Bob have their hands full with Cooper growing like a weed…  and praying to Buddha another one could be one the way for them (I’d make a great mom someday, but I LOVE being the cool aunt sooooooo much more! So a kid isn’t what’s missing).

I just want something to take care of… So I’m growing an avocado tree. I even named him Riley. Pictures to come of my little ones progress in a few weeks!

PLRO,

Jessica

I literally just finished reading, Into the Wild, by Jon Krakauer.

(Note:  I have not seen the movie, nor am I in any rush to go rent it.)

Josh had given me this book to read, as I traded him one of mine to read. He said he read Into the Wild in a day; however, I could not… I get so emotionally attached to characters, fictional or in this case not. I have been procrastinating to read the last few chapters to prolong the demise of Christopher McCandless. I’m not going to write a whole book review, but I will say that this tale of a man with an unquenchable thirst for achieving his dream. Chris, you inspire me.

Chris McCandless 1968-1992