Jen and John Speak

First, you check the kite itself, untangle the string, and locate a large treeless field. Then map out your runway to get the kite to fly. Once on top of the highest flat hill, hope for a windy day. As we rushed out to midfield our kite began to flutter. We followed our flight plan and caught the first breeze. Up goes the kite. We yanked and tugged on the string to maintain control. At times it soared as high as the cotton-fluff clouds and in a sudden twist the kite crashed back to earth. Like in winning, it’s all about the preparation, building momentum, practice by doing, learning from crashes and heights of excellence.

Mixed media/collage signed print with verse. $40
8-1/2″ x 11″

It seems like every day I was pulling weeds from my garden. I noticed that part of the problem was that it was coming over from my neighbor’s yard. First, I tried to create a fence to block it from coming over. That didn’t work for long. Then, I dug a trench, but somehow it was able to hop over it. Finally, I went to my neighbor and we discussed ways to get rid of the weeds in both our gardens. There are plenty of weeds in our towns, neighborhoods, communities, and if we want our wonderful lives to continue we’ll need to address these areas of decay that are underdeveloped and filled with hopelessness. Or one day it will reach our own garden.

Mixed media/collage signed print with verse. $40
8-1/2″ x 11″

It wasn’t my best. It blindsided me. It replays over and over again in my head. I can’t believe I made such a dumb mistake. I vowed not to let it happen again. So, what did I do wrong? What should I have done? How can I take advantage of the situation next time? I turned the inner beating to feed my inner flame. I flexed and stood up high like the tree I envisioned in me. I took a step forward. Tomorrow is a new day and this will pass. Like deja vu, this process happens again and again. In fact I encourage it. The faster I can run, the more falls I get up from, the quicker I will reach the finish line. No one cares about my falls, everyone wants to know if I finished the race.

Mixed media/collage signed print with verse. $40
8-1/2″ x 11″

You follow a routine every day. You drive on the same roads to get to work. You see the same people. If you are going to do the same thing every day, shouldn’t you make sure it’s something you love, something in your heart? If you find yourself losing focus, getting lost, becoming more mechanical, and lifeless. Start dreaming about what excites you, find something that you’ll want to do every day. Be true to yourself, it’ll build you, give you purpose and fill your heart.

Mixed media/collage signed print with verse. $40
8-1/2″ x 11″

When you get a fever you’re probably sick. It started as a small microbe that worked into your blood. Then it grew in your core as you nurtured it unknowingly. It pushed up from your gut into your throat, up your sinuses and into your gray matter. It made you sick, caused a fever and became an obsession. Now from every part of your being it feeds, improves, gets stronger as the years pass. It no longer resembles the seed it came from. It’s now a passion, constantly improving, serving others and doesn’t stop until success is achieved. Success is an ongoing mutation from a simple idea that follows a process of satisfying an ever-growing community.

Mixed media/collage signed print with verse. $40
8-1/2″ x 11″

Before your kids ever drive, you teach them to buckle their seat belts and you make sure your car has airbags. Yet, they run down the stairs in the dark, jump from couch to chair, tight rope railings on the back deck, and ride their bicycle without helmets or hands! But you let them, not because you want to, but because they do it when you’re not looking. In the end they become so grown up with your love, guidance, your carefully orchestrated safety nets without their knowledge and because it helps them grow to be confident, inquisitive, healthy people.

Mixed media/collage signed print with verse. $40
8-1/2″ x 11″