Hearts in Focus - 11/10/2008

'Hearts in Focus' - Please enjoy the latest updates from fellow Heart Rock enthusiasts...

Newsletters with Heart & Soul:

Found Heart's Newsletter
Check out Rick Ruggle's newsletter to learn more about his new photograph collections. Just in time for the Holidays...give a gift of the heart from the heart.
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LovingBlind Productions Newsletter
Josie Iselin continues her soulful work in sharing her special vision of seeing the beauty in the gifts found in the earth, sea and all that surrounds us. Subscribe to her newsletter and keep up-to-date on her latest books and projects.
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Heart stones hold precious memories...

"... found these on the river bank of the Ct. river in Northern N.H. before my Mom died...they are a source of great comfort, until next time....Gert"

Thanks to Gert Cote (Western, MA) for reminding us that our 'roots' (the people and places that shaped us) remain forever in our hearts. Welcome to the Heart Rock Collective, Gert!

To see more of Gert's collection, check out her heart rock stories and images over on Josie Iselin's blog.

Heart Shaped Rock in Memory of a Fallen Agent

I always love to receive emails from people who offer a piece of their hearts. The following email was received from Frances O'Connor on October 23, 2008...

I do not have an image to share at this moment, but pursuing a quest of over twenty years, last week I picked up a rock at the site of where my younger brother transitioned over 3 months ago in upstate N.Y. It had a piece off the top and looked like a broken heart. He was too young to die at age 62. He was a Criminal Investigator for ICE (Homeland Security). They are still investigating his death. A moment ago I went to look for the rock and panicked when I couldn't find it from my trip, but a prayer to St. Anthony quickly solved that.

Fran

Hearts in Focus - 9/13/2008

'Hearts in Focus' - A weekly addition to the HRC that will highlight newbies to the Heart Rock Collective. If you stumble upon an intriguing post, story and/or resource pertaining to heart rocks in your virtual travels, please forward the link and/or url so that I can add them to our collective and extend a 'Hearty' welcome.

Please enjoy the latest tales of hearts found and shared...

Writings from the Heart:

Cheryl-Anne Millsap is a staff writer for The Spokesman-Review and writes a weekly post on her blog, Home Planet. I discovered two articles she penned for the Spokesman Review a few years ago about her personal experiences collecting heart rocks and the flood of stories she received from others who shared a similar passion.

1. Take Moment to Cherish Love on the Rocks - March 20, 2006
2. Many Memories are Embedded in Hearts of Stone - April 3, 2006

Virtual Heart Heart Projects:

Hearts from All over the World

A beautiful testimony...this website chronicles one family's journey of discovering and observing heart rocks and shapes. After the passing of a loved, heart rocks and heart shapes became a way for each of them to honor the memory of their loved one and to celebrate and enjoy the love found in each moment.

Join a 'Heart' Centered Group:

Pawn Shop Hearts - Pawn Shop Hearts is a public collective of heart-shaped images discovered from all corners of the world.

Hearty Blogs:

Jim and Lea - Heart Rocks at Cradle

Matters of the Heart - Quotes & Inspirations:

"Let a man set his heart only on doing the will of God and he is instantly free. If we understand our first and sole duty to consist of loving God supremely and loving everyone, even our enemies, for God's dear sake, then we can enjoy spiritual tranquility under every circumstance." ~ A. W. Tozer, The Pursuit of God

Many blessings,
Kimberly

Allow Me to Explain: Collections

Hello, HRC Readers,

Please welcome the most recent addition to the Heart Rock Collective:

Nisha from TX shares her heart-warming stories about family, farm life and the treasured memories and lessons embedded in ordinary moments in her sojourn through life.

Check out her blog and read about her Collections of Heart Rocks:
Allow Me To Explain: A wife and mom trying to keep the memories fresh

**Please send prayers for Nisha and her family for safety, God's protection and blessing as Hurricane Ike heads towards landfall on the Texas coast.

Special Delivery...

Early morning light gently brushed across my face to awaken me this morning. Fleeting thoughts of a dream flickered in and out ...my mind grasping to piece together the wisps of memory dancing close to the edge of my consciousness...just out of reach. I dreamt about Andrea, my sister, last night. I awoke with an ache in my heart...I missed her.

Over the weekend, I'd spent hours pouring through dusty boxes of letters from friends and family - some dating back 30 years. Most of the them penned in the familiar graceful strokes by my sister. Letters flowed back and forth between us across the miles and years...She'd been on my mind since this weekend. Over the last few years, life circumstances changed the frequency and means of our communication.

Recently, a family reunion beckoned me home to the shores of the Peninsula in Erie, PA (my Mom's hometown). My sister didn't attend; I'd desperately wanted to see her, but respected the choice she made. I sent her a beautiful heart rock that I found on the sandy shores of Lake Erie to let her know I loved her; that across the miles in spirit we remained connected.

When I arrived home this evening, my eyes fell immediately to a yellow package stuffed into the mailbox. A quiet voice rose up within me...it's from Andrea - special delivery. Hesitantly, I opened the package not sure what to expect, not wanting to be reminded of the deep ache of missing her. Five years have passed since we've been together as a family. Pictures and occasional letters keep me updated on their lives, though I always want more.

A short note tucked into a pocket size book enclosed a picture of my beautiful little niece Nicole. She's growing up so fast...taller and more beautiful than I remembered. A quick note jotted on floral stationary expressed my sister's appreciation of the heart rock I'd sent her. A few lines caught me up on her daily life these past few weeks. Just enough connection to feel the love closing the distance I'd felt between us. As I turned over the small book in a my hand, a smile crept to my face. While shopping one day, the book Heart Stones by Josie Iselin caught her eye. She thought I'd enjoy it. (The book is a wonderful collection of heart stone images. Josie captures the beauty and universal appeal of the heart stones and the 'messages' offered in each.)

Ironically, my sister and niece share the same passion for heart rocks. For last decade, they've collected heart-shaped rocks. It amazes me that our connection remains so strong...one that transcends time and boundaries. Across the miles, two hearts forever share the bonds of family, sisterhood and love.

Heart Rocks...

Discovered a new blog called 'Reflections on Being Present' by Jenna from Nashville, TN. Her first post offers a personal reflection about the meaning of the heart rocks discovered during an important period of transformation in her life...

'Heart Rocks' ~ Reflections on Being Present (Jenna's Blog)

A Heart for Grampa...

Email received from Jean in Marshfield, MA on Sunday, August 24, 2008
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My story...

"My dad has been in the hospital for three weeks now. He went in for hip replacement surgery and has suffered one complication after another. At one point he needed to be put on a ventilator. As I was getting ready to go to the hospital one day, my daughter chose one of my many heart rocks and asked me to bring it to Grampa. It was picked specifically because the shape would be obvious to him if he held it in his hand! So, I brought it to him and placed it in his hand. I told him it was a heart rock form my daughter. For days I would check to make sure the nurses were keeping it in his hand. One day when I came in I noticed that since it kept falling out of his hand, one of the nurses had taped it on his bed right next to his head. It has been with him ever since."

Jean
Heart Rockin' Family: www.frecklesfilledwithlove.blogspot.com

Padova, Italy - Hearts in Stone

Email received from Jan, Connecticut on Saturday, August 23, 2008
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My daughter just spent the summer studying in Padova, Italy. The tiny cobblestone street in front of where she was staying had some heart rocks, and someone painted them all red. What a pleasant way to be greeted each morning as she set out for class!

Jan in Connecticut

PS I found your site through polly-vous francais

More than Meets the Eye

Email received from Neha of Kolkata, India on Friday, August 22, 2008
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Hi!

I'm Neha from Kolkata, India and let me just tell you that I was absolutely elated when I came across your blog....here's my little heart rock and its story :)

REWIND. . .Unbound and unleashed..Rethought from A to Z...Pages turned incessantly..In hopes of finding ME...
http://rewoundreflections.blogspot.com/2008/08/more-than-meets-eye.html

hope to hear more stories!!
thanks again :)