As a celebrant, I encourage the couples I work with to fully be themselves and to enjoy their ceremony.  Catie and Pete listened very carefully to this tip when, after they processed down the aisle, immediately went directly to the KISS!  They were so excited to be getting married, they were absolutely themselves!  We all laughed and any nervousness disappeared into a wisp of air. 

Their ceremony was an intimate one, filled with family and friends offering their intentions and blessings which were written on stones and included in a lovely water ceremony.  The first reading was perfect for them as it was actually an analogy of marriage and bicycle riding..leading to much laughter.  Catie's brother and sister shared a special song, and I wrote a personal and special reflection for them, which I must admit I shed a few tears through! 

Throughout the ceremony, Catie, Pete, their family and their friends laughed, cried, and enjoyed themselves as they witnessed, celebrated and honored the joining of their lives in marriage. 

I have loved working with them and know that we will forever remain in each others hearts!  Congratulations Catie & Pete may you continue to be fully yourself and enjoy each day of your lives.

Today is a day that even though cloudy and rainy is a celebration for me...and while I don't often share such things on my blog,  I am daring to publicly celebrate the entry into my 55th year! 

This is indeed momentous for  a) I never thought I would live this long (when you are in your teens or early twenties this feels ancient!)  and b) I could not have imagined feeling more alive than in my younger years. 

Yet here I am...hitting the double nickel and so excited to be "in life", healthy, in love and looking forward to continued growth and learning as I stretch myself beyond what I think possible. 

Aging is what happens to us all, every minute, hour and day.  While we might try to fight the outer signs of it...or resist letting anyone know we are really "that age", the fact is the alternative to aging is not something I wish to embrace!   Instead I embrace this glorious process with awe and amusement as I celebrate and honor all the years I have lived, the lessons I have learned, and hope for many years to follow.

A tidbit..for those who do not know, from a mystical perspective the number 5 (a prime number) is about balance, perseverance and transformation.  The doubling of this is a twofold blessing for when doubled...5+5 = 10, distilled down to the number 1, which is representative of my core essence...and given the double 5's...the transformation and balance that will emerge is sure to be profound! 

So I offer the possibility that each of us can shed the resistance to aging, embracing our blessings as we celebrate and honor our lives with each entry into a new year.

As a Celebrant, I have the honor of welcoming babies and children into our families and lives.  A few months ago this was especially spectacular as I created and officiated at a triple baby blessing for this loving family ( I will call them the "C" family to protect their privacy).

The baby blessing ceremony was designed to welcome each of the three triplets into their parents lives, their home, and their extended families lives.  Everyone was able to participate...the parents, godparents (holding the babies) grandparents and the community of family and friends that were present for the ceremony.  Everyone's role in the babies lives were spoken about and honored.   The ceremony concluded with a water ritual in which each baby was dedicated to their own unique path and Spirit's intention for them.  Congratulations to the "C" family whose lovely children grace our lives.  I have loved being part of this with you!

I relocated here 7 years ago, and during this time, I have lived near one of the most beautiful venues in the area.   While I have created and officiated at several ceremonies at the Longfellow Wayside Inn and the Martha-Mary Chapel, I noticed a significant change was beginning to occur about two years ago.  While always a hospitable venue, with a fine restaurant, what I began to feel was that the staff had become friendlier and more caring, and small improvements began to appear, allowing for a "home-away-from home" feel. 

As I began to investigate (yes I am always curious!)  I discovered that a new Inn-Keeper had arrived.  He brought with him a passion for ideas, community and team building and this is precisely what would transform this historic site and restaurant into the premier venue it is today. 

This location has the capacity to serve almost any size occasion or function, from a small meeting or workshop to baby blessings, memorial tributes, weddings, retirement parties etc. 

Today, this non-profit, historic site continues to be home to a lovely restaurant that will tailor their menu to meet your dietary needs, lovely grounds with gardens, a working grist mill, carriage rides, the infamous Martha Mary Chapel, an Inn and a lovely new Carriage House Inn that has just been brought under the inn's management (for a total of 58 rooms).

What truly makes this a home-away-from-home however is the staff that goes above and beyond mere customer service.  Each person I have met at the Wayside is invested in the organization, proud of it's history and considers it their own home.  They are passionate about customer service and community outreach and are brimming with idea's and ways to continually exceed expectations.

As an officiant who creates custom ceremonies that honor and celebrate life, The Longfellow Wayside Inn is now a standard that I judge other venues and sites against.  Thank-you to the staff and all your efforts to deliver premier services with heart and soul!

In my own life and the work I do with others as a relationship coach,  I am consistently reminded of the changing nature of our lives and our own personal growth.  It requires a conscious effort to remain connected to our own growth and that of those with love...looking with a "beginner's mind" at who we are waking up with and going to sleep with.    The most profound commitment we can make to another is that of constancy.  Constancy of our presence and constancy of an open and loving heart.  It is our ability to bear witness to our own and our beloved's changing self, with a compassionate presence, that allows for miracles to appear in our lives.  So today, take a moment and celebrate and marvel in the newness in your beloved and yourself!

In the work I do as a relationship, life coach and celebrant, I am always in awe of the potential created when we meet each other at the level of the heart.  Our heart connections offer us amazing possibilities for personal growth, experiencing the world and expanding our potential to positively impact others. 

We can often forget in the busy days of our lives to celebrate how a friend or loved one has changed our world.  So today I offer a lovely reminder in a quote by Anais Nin:

"Each friend represents a world in us, a world of possibility not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born."  

If we can pause today and take a moment to acknowledge, honor and celebrate this with that special someone...be it friend, lover, companion, parent or teacher, we will actively nurture our hearts and souls. 

Jill and Matt were married at Pleasant Valley Country Club in Sutton on a lovely sunny day in June.  When we first spoke about their ceremony, we discussed incorporating their religious heritages in a way that honored their personal beliefs and values.  They did not want anything elaborate but they did want something unique to them. 

Over the months leading up to the wedding, we co-created a simple, eloquent and fun loving ceremony... beginning with sharing of wine and acknowledgment of the importance of their community and culminating with "the breaking of the glass".  Their ceremony, which was approximately twenty minutes, honored the discovery of each other, how their lives had forever changed, and their vision for their life together.   There were tears of joy, laughter and much celebration in a simple and eloquent style. 

Congratulations Jill & Matt and thank-you for the honor of being such an important part of your special day!

As a wedding officiant who focuses on meaningful and customized wedding ceremonies, I spend a great deal of time writing reflections for couples.  This is not necessarily a quick process.  Often I need to be still to uncover the words or metaphors that will capture what I sense about two people and their relationship.  It is in these moments of silence that a new "phrase" or concept will emerge that I have not explored before.  This happened during the last few weeks and I have been exploring it ever since! The metaphor that came through me was: "Artisan's of Relationship".  This felt quite powerful, for Artisans are "workers" who have a passion for their art...whether it be writing, weaving, painting, carpentry, engineering, etc.  They apprentice, study, and acquire great skill at their craft as they learn to be masters, and in the process create works that support, enhance, enrich and nourish our lives.  For those of us who have become artisans of our relationships, this is our sacred journey in life...to work, study and perfect our craft.  It is an ever unfolding journey that heals our lives.   The next inquiry for me: How do I live as an Artisan, and in what ways do I abandon my craft?  Please share your thoughts!

A few months ago I have the pleasure of creating and officiating at Denise & Brian's wedding ceremony at Harrington Farms in Princeton, Mass.  It was an early day in April, and we were all prepared for the likelihood of an indoor wedding.  As the day approached, the days became unseasonably warm and clear, leading up, which was moved outdoors, was created to be light-hearted and meaningful.  It began in laughter when Denise and her parents walked the wrong way and needed to re-enter using the aisle. Any nervousness faded away in this moment as we all experienced the joy that laughter brings. 

It continued with a welcoming and an acknowledgment of their family and friends and delightful readings filled with joy and reflective of Denise and Brian relationship.  During my reflections, I was speaking about how much lighter and happier their lives were because of each other and a huge tree limb came crashing down behind us.  The mood was such that everyone laughed, as I ad-libbed and included the event into my reflections.     Denise, Brian and their family and friends began the ceremony with laughter and joyful hearts which stayed with everyone throughout the ceremony and the day.  Congratulations Denise & Brian, I loved being part of this extraordinary day!  (Photo courtesy of Geneve Hoffman Photography)

Emily Dickinson once wrote,

"If I can stop one heart from breaking,
I shall not live in vain;
If I can ease one life the aching,
Or cool one pain,
Or help one fainting robin
Unto his nest again,
I shall not live in vain."

As I came upon this the other day, I was reminded that in a world so troubled, the smallest kindness can make such a profound difference.  Sometimes we forget that we can have an impact in a troubled world, but as Emily Dickinson so eloquently wrote, offering comfort and help to one person or living thing gives our life meaning and helps to heal the world. 

Peace and Blessings and may you pass a kindness or offer comfort onto another this week.