Stealing Hearts in Malibu

Large mauve colored heart rock from Malibu Beach, CA (June '07)

A Brother's Love

Last summer, my brother Chris invited me out to southern California for a visit. Finances were tight; I couldn't afford the plane fare. Knowingly, he purchased a ticket for me to fly out (not once, but twice) last year to spend time with him. His heart eclipses the one pictured above. How would you describe someone like my brother? His joie de vrie permeates his whole life. His wisdom exceeds his youth. I marvel at his ability to understand and accept himself - always seeming to move beyond the self-doubts and fears in confident stride. I find his generosity, caring and concern towards others incredibly genuine and selfless. Did we emerge from the same womb? :-)

So...back to my visit...

Everywhere we went in California was a special adventure. The itinerary on one particular day trip included a drive up the coastline -- destination Malibu beach. After a couple of hours spent lolling in the hot shifting sands and walking amidst the pounding surf it was time to pack up and head home. My feet dragged slowly as I headed towards the parking lot. Just one more rock...that's all I wanted to find...just one more. My two-year old inner child emerged ready for a full-on temper tantrum! My face flushed crimson as my selfishness overtook my sensibility. I was determined not to leave empty-handed. I frantically began searching for a heart rock. I told myself that I couldn't leave Malibu without one. My brother 'lovingly' gave me the 20 second "It's time to go!" warning (heart-rock withdrawal started to overtake me). I shot a quick prayer to God hoping to find a BIG heart rock before time ran out. Typically, my prayers to God don't include demands or 'wish lists', but this was a special situation; time was of the essence. A sign post or billboard with a directional would suffice- something unmistakable. An 11th hour miracle prayer never hurts either. Just as we passed an outcropping of rocks, a flash of mauve caught my eye. I thought to myself, "It couldn't be, could it?". I sprinted over to a rock wedged between two others. Just the corner was visible...just enough to pique one's curiosity. One swift tug on the rock did the trick. I flashed a Cheshire grin towards my brother as I hoisted up a HUGE heart-shaped rock. Unbelievable! I stole a few 'hearts' in Malibu ~ Writings from the Heart Rock Collective

Side note: Early this year, Chris and TJ moved to Sweden with the 'girls' Lily & Zoey. Before they even left US soil, an invitation was extended to visit them overseas. So yet another great adventure awaits. This Friday, I'm hopping across the pond for two weeks - itinerary: Road trippin' to Italy. Maybe I'll steal a few 'hearts' in Italy!

Will post again when I return sometime in early August. Happy Heart Rock hunting to all!

Healing Broken Hearts

When I first began to find heart rocks, my collection resembled a mass of rejects from the Lonely (and Broken) Hearts Club. I was a magnet for attracting 'broken' hearts. Many years later I discovered the message that each broken heart (rock) contained. These symbolized the places within my own heart that needed healing and restoration.

Burdened by years of unresolved anger, failed relationships and unfulfilled dreams, I felt heart-weary and hopeless. Prayer offered me solace; I began to ask God to show His love for me. That's when I began to find heart rocks. At my darkest moments, God offered me the most beautiful heart rocks. I began to share them with friends and family. Bits of joy began to replace the heaviness that weighed on my heart. The more heart rocks I gave away, the more love filtered into my life. Today my heart is full of hope...still healing and becoming whole!

The seeds for this blog were sown by my brother, Chris. I'd begun to write a collection of stories entitled 'Writings from the Heart Rock Collective'. He encouraged me to share the stories of my 'heart rocks' on the web. From this small seed, the collective voices of heart rock lovers emerged. My vision for this blog is to create a virtual community where people can share their heart stories freely, fully and openly.

Keep the Heart Streams flowing! Give away your heart rocks to those who need some love. Help participate in the movement of 'healing hearts' through sharing one heart rock at a time.

Take the Challenge: Put Your Heart On-the-Line

Challenge #1: Share your heart rock story with us!

Pick one of your favorite heart rocks and share about your experience in discovering it. Where were you? What feelings did you experience when you found it? What did you do with your rock(s)? How long have you been obsessed with finding heart rocks? :-) I started collecting them about 16 years ago. I know there are others besides myself who share this passion! I'd love to hear from you!

I'll share a story first...see my post below.

Heart(s) of Forgiveness

Last week, I drove up to Maine to spend the day with my Mom and celebrate her birthday (June 20th). We took a long walk along the path that bordered the rocky coastline at Portland Headlight. As we started out on the path, I prayed that I would find a heart rock. I planned to make amends to my Mom that day. I needed strength and assurance from God that my conversation with her would be fruitful. I'd thought about making amends to her for years, but didn't have the courage, willingness or humility to follow-through with it...until now. About one month prior, I'd asked her to let me know when she was ready to have this conversation. As we were driving out to the headlight, out of the blue, she said, very quietly, "Do you remember awhile ago you mentioned you wanted to have a talk with me? Well, today would be a good day." Long pause...my mind raced back to that conversation. Yes, I'd asked her to tell me when she was ready. Today was the day. Was I ready? Honestly (in that moment) I wasn't. I prayed to God for a willing heart. We had a few miles to go before we arrived at the Headlight -- a few miles and lots of silent prayers.

When we arrived at the parking lot, I remember thinking to myself, "How and when do I start this conversation?" The words stuck thickly in my throat. Breathing deeply, I summoned my willingness...my prayers becoming deeper. I took a few steps as we started on our walk. I stopped in amazement -- a heart rock lay in my path. God had answered my prayer. Sending thanks skyward, I continued on. I noticed the tiniest heart rock a few steps from the first one; it was almost imperceptible to the human eye, except to the trained 'heart rock' aficionado (It's hard for me not to see hearts wherever I go). I picked it up and turned it over in my hand; just to make sure that it really was a heart rock. Yup...it was the real thing! I reached out and put it into my Mom's hand. To pass on to her a gift from God.

When I was little I remember that I would give her little 'gifts' that I would make or find. It reminded me that the simplest gesture from the heart reaches the heart. Shortly after I'd found these two hearts, my Mom found a few of her own. The day ended with a pocketful of heart rocks...we were showered in love.

Each piece of my heart that I offered to her; each acknowledgment of the hurt caused by my harsh words and judgments over the years began to loosen the hardness within my heart. How do you make up for lost years, words unspoken, actions not taken, love not shown? My eyes opened to see the truth. All those years that I spent blaming, resenting and misdirecting my anger at my Mother stole precious time and intimacy from our relationship. Nothing was ever resolved from my outbursts. Healing began with my admission and acknowledgment of my wrongs towards her. Forgiveness heals. Love heals. It begins with the decision to extend your heart to another...to put it on-the-line. What have you got to lose?

God's love exists all around. When I share my heart with someone, the love within me grows and expands. My stone heart of unforgiveness transformed into a heart of flesh as I mended the strained relationship with my Mom that afternoon.

I LOVE you Mom!

Flickr: Hearts of Nature

Interested in sharing images of Hearts found in Nature with other like-minded souls?

Check out this Flickr group: Hearts OF Nature

See images of all natural/nature hearts that are found in our natural world.

A Pug's Life...

Goodboy Norman Featherstone's blog chronicles his daily mischievous adventures in Asheville, North Carolina. Even this little Pug enjoys the excitement of finding heart-shaped rocks. Read his story.

Missouri Farm Yields a Crop of 250 Heart Rocks

What an amazing find! I discovered this blog, Farm Girl Fare, during one of my google searches for 'heart rocks'. Read about Farm Girl's dream come true of moving to the country...read about daily life on a 240-acre farm in Missouri, organic gardening, food and recipes and read about her incredible 250 piece heart rock collection that she's collected over the past few years on the farm.

Check out her latest 'heart rock' post, Tuesday Farm Photo: Still Collecting Heart Rocks.

The Heart Rock Buffet

From coast to coast, we hear from 'heart rock' aficionados who share a similar passion...sharing the joy and love symbolized in the 'heart-shaped' rocks they discover.

We recently received this email from Hannah Blaydes in California. Learn more about how her whole family collects and transforms heart-shaped rocks into beautifully crafted pieces of art.
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Email dated: Sunday, June 8, 2008

Hello!............

I just stumbled upon your blog!............ How wonderful!..
My husband,daughter and I have been collecting Heart Rocks for a while now, We have put them together in a way that has created Amazing Art Forms!.........

Please check out our website.. www.HeartRockBuffet.com
There are many more to come!... God has given us such beautiful things!...the journey of these rocks is amazing.

Thanks for visiting!
Heres to Heart Rocks!
Denise, Dave and Hannah

Anika's Heart Rock

Mary Grinaker contacted the Heart Rock Collective to share this touching 'Heart Rock' story and make a special request.
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"Yesterday while walking home from school my kindergartener ( Anika, age 6) found a
spectacular Heart shaped rock. She slept with it last night. Carried it in her backpack to school today. And then put it in her dress pocket to play in the park after school.

All was beautiful UNTIL she discovered the rock was missing from her pocket. We searched the park for an hour...until I could convince her that we would Google Heart shaped rocks and see if we could get one. That's of course, how I found you.

Any chance I could get another from your collection? My little girl is very sad and very desperate!"

All the best!
Mary Grinaker

Found Hearts by Rick Ruggles

I discovered the website, Found Hearts by Rick Ruggles during one of my google searches for 'heart rocks'. A fellow heart rock collector listed his site on her blog as a 'must see'...

With a keen eye and passionate vision, Rick Ruggles, captures inspiring and awesome images of hearts found in nature and the world around us. His creative vision speaks to the love that can be found all around...open your eyes and your heart and enjoy these beautiful images.