INTRODUCTION & Days 1-10

Welcome to Effortless Transformation! The original version of this program was created by Bill Turner: www.journeysaspiritualcommunity.org and was available online several years ago. I have abridged and simplified the program to fit more gracefully into your busy life, plus there are some new quotes and experiences, but mainly these were lessons created by Bill. What I've added into the program is the Silent Language of Peace CD (a free download) and I'll be teaching you a 'toning meditation' with music.

Before we launch into the e-Course it's important to understand that "The Silent Language of Peace" audio-download is an integral part of our journey! Work with some portion of the CD every day. Listening daily is the easiest way to remind yourself to stay on track, and the CD also provides you with the meditation music for our toning-meditation. Don't worry, it won't take any extra time out of your day. You don't need to sit down and focus, in fact, you'll get more out of it if you listen while doing dishes, cleaning your closets or commuting to work.

You can also listen to the toning-meditation at www.aspaceoflove.com - it plays automatically when you go to the site. The full length version is 10 min. and is on the last track of 'The Silent Language of Peace' audio-program.

Tomorrow you'll receive Day 1. Be sure you have a Gratitude Journal, note cards and a pen ready for each day. Also make a commitment to follow through with this program for the entire 40 Days. Write this down and sign it!!

I intend to work with this program for 40 consecutive days.
I intend to give up self-criticism and Be Positive (no complaining).
I intend to work with some portion of the Silent Language CD daily
and applywhat I am learning,
And I intend to have fun!

Enjoy the Journey! Heather

Welcome to Day 1

Here we go!

1. Write in your journal one thing you can do to improve your life today.
2. Then list the benefits that you could experience over the next 40 days.

"At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us."
Albert Schweitzer

Your Gratitude Journal: Write down 3 people who've 'rekindled a spark' in you, and what you appreciate about them. Imagine yourself sending love and appreciation to them as you write. Really feel it!!

Today's Meditation - Take just 2 minutes to hold the thought "I'm willing to be at peace," and then sing or hum with the music as it plays: www.aspaceoflove.com

Giving to Others - Share a kind, encouraging word - with a stranger! Don't worry, it's more fun than you might think!

Today's Abraham Quote - "Appreciation is the secret to life. Become a person appreciates, and you will thrive; you will fulfill your reason for being." (www.abraham-hicks.com )

Enjoy the journey! Heather

Welcome to Day 2!

Let's begin with gratitude!

"Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom."
Marcel Proust

Your Gratitude Journal: Write down all the things, people, and events in your life (past or present) that you appreciate and enjoy.

Today's Meditation - Take just a 2 minutes to hold the thought "I'm willing to be at peace,"and then sing or hum with the music as it plays: www.aspaceoflove.com

Giving to Others - Speak a kind word to a stranger today.

Today's Affirmation: Write it on a card and focus on it 3 times today. (I like to post it in my kitchen in huge letters!) "I'm not here to fix anything; I'm here for fun." (Abraham)

Today's Abraham - "You are not here to fix anything, because nothing is broken, but everything is continually changing and expanding. Release your struggle, and seek joy and fun, and in doing so, you will align with the fantastic expanding rhythm of this Universe."

Enjoy your Journey! Heather

Welcome to Day 3!

"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion into clarity.... It turns problems into gifts, failures into success, the unexpected into perfect timing, and mistakes into important events. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow."
Melodie Beattie

Wow, there's something to aim for!! And when you feel gratitude you naturally attract more to be grateful for. Practice feeling gratitude and appreciation, and watch your life respond. It just takes a little focus.

Speaking of focus - How's that '7 Day Mental Diet' from the Silent Language of Peace coming along?! (Just so you know, it took me 2 ½ weeks to get through one day!!)

Your Gratitude Journal: First thing in the morning (before you get out of bed) write 3 things you're grateful for and 3 more just before you go to bed (your subconscious mind will then 'work' on gratitude all night long!) Guess how much fun it is to wake up in gratitude? If you want the FULL experience - go to sleep listening to the toning meditation!

Today's Meditation - Spend 2 minutes holding the thought "I'm willing to be at peace," and then sing or hum with the music as it plays: www.aspaceoflove.com Or just sing with the last track of the Silent Language of Peace.

Today's Affirmation: Listen to Amelia's Affirmations - you'll need 10 min.
http://www.aspaceoflove.com/free_downloads1.html
(Scroll down to "Inner Child Affirmations.") When you have a chance try following this affirmation with the toning meditation, especially at bedtime.

Giving to Others - Share a kind word and smile with a stranger.

Today's Abraham - "The more I appreciate, the better I feel. The better I feel, the more I am allowing who I am to flow through me. The more I allow who I am to flow through me - the better I feel." www.abraham-hicks.com

Enjoy the journey! Heather

Welcome to Day 4.

Hello Transforming Person! Today I’d like to give you one of my favorite activities from Abraham. This is one of the first ones I used and it really made a difference in my life. I still use it.

The Placemat Process:

The Placemat is one of the most powerful processes of deliberate creation offered, so far, because it helps you to clearly focus, without resistance. A woman said, "Abraham, this is like magic!" Abraham replied, "It seems like magic because you have been wanting these things for years but now you want with no resistance."

The power of the Placemat process is that it accomplishes the only two prerequisites to Deliberate Creating:

1. Identifying your object of desire (what you want)
2. Allowing it (having no resistance)

Want it, allow it, and it is!!!

Jerry and Esther call it the Placemat process because they started using it as they traveled, eating in restaurants a lot, simply writing on the back of a placemat.

Using the back of your Placemat (or any other piece of paper), draw a "T" dividing the paper into two sections, writing "ME" on the top of the left side and "UNIVERSE" on the top of the right side. On the left side (your side), write those things that you are ready and willing to take action on now--those things that you really want or feel inspired to do (not anything you think you "should" do or have any "obligation" to do, for there is resistance already built into those).

On your side, write things such as:

Look for more things to appreciate. Be fully present in the moment. Clean out my closet. Write three thank you letters. Achieve enlightenment (smile!).

On the right side (Universe's side), write anything you want to have, do, or be in your life that you are not ready to take action on (or that you don't know how to do or think you don't have the resources to do). Then allow the Universe, with its large and competent staff, to handle those things for you.

Your list can be very short and the Universe's list can be as long as you want it to be. The best part of writing something on the Universe's side of the Placemat is that there is no follow up for you to do.

You don't have to keep telling the Universe what you want. You really only need to tell the Universe once. The advantage of continuing to think or talk or write about what you want is that you get clearer about it. The more you focus your attention on it, the more you fine tune it.

As you say "I want it," the Universe begins it, and then you say "I would like it to be this way," and the Universe modifies that, and then you say "A little bit of this would be nice," and the Universe adds that . . . .

Once you are clear about what you want, once you have zeroed in on it, it is on the way to you. It is done! The manifestation of it will probably follow later, because there is most often enough resistance so that you don't have it instantly.

Remember that there is this constant steady Stream of Well-being (Pure Positive Energy) flowing to each of us, and in the moment you say "I prefer" or "I like" or "I appreciate"--in that moment, the heavens literally part for you and the Nonphysical Energies (you can call them "Fairies of the Universe")--in that instant--begin orchestrating the manifestation of your desire--in that very instant!

Faster than you can speak it, the Energy begins to flow, and circumstances and events, in an orchestration you cannot begin to imagine, begin to take place in order to give you exactly what you want--and if it were not for your resistance, it would come really fast.

The Universe will never fail you. The Universe will always give you what you have asked for.

The question is: How soon will you allow it? How many things will you use as your excuse to have resistance that does not allow it? How long are you going to hang on to those habits of thought that don't let it in?

The good news is, if ever you are not letting it in, you've got a signal that's telling you. That's what negative emotion is. Negative emotion means that in the moment you are vibrating in a place where you can't let it in--you are resisting.

When you are looking at the problem, you're resistant to a solution because when you're looking at the problem, you're vibrating there. So the Energy of solution cannot come to you.

Sometimes people ask Abraham, "Shouldn't I face reality?" Abraham says, "No! Never face reality!! Never face reality unless it is perfect in every way!"

All really is very well with you. Your job is just to relax and acknowledge that. Have fun with all of this. Don't make too much of all of it. Don't act like it's life or death, because there isn't any death.

It's about Well-being that you're eking out or Well-being that you're allowing to flow rambunctiously! Well-being abounds! Sometimes you have to step back from the circumstances or conditions of your moment in order to recognize that.

Lighten up--have fun with it!

* * * * * *

PLACEMAT ACTIVITY

Start using the Placemat process--either on your activities for the day, or on a project, or a specific goal you want to achieve. You only get the benefit if you choose to use it, and practice it just as you would any new thing you are learning. I recommend using it every day. It is the most powerful technique I have found for me so far, and I use it daily. Have fun with this.

I’d like to also mention that this process is incredible if you’re feeling overwhelmed or stressed. Write down everything you feel you don’t have time to do on the Universe’s side and watch things begin to resolve without any effort on your part!

Ok – there you are. I’ll give you another Abe exercise next week.

Your Gratitude Journal: How’s your gratitude list going? Try doing three NEW ones every morning and three more every night. New? Absolutely. Let me know how things are going. I appreciate you.

Today’s Meditation: Take just a 2 minutes to hold the thought “I’m willing to be at peace.” Sing or hum with the music as it plays: www.aspaceoflove.com. Try doing this twice a day. Once in the morning and once in the evening.

Giving to Others: Someone is open to hearing a positive word from you today. Your word is magic. Share an uplift with a stranger today. Hey – why not go totally crazy – let’s share a really ‘nice’ word with someone we know too. Yeah – that’s the ticket. Have I told you – I think you are great. Ok – that doesn’t really count for my uplift for today . . . but I really do think you are great.

Today's Affirmation: Write it down and read it every chance you get: “The secret of creating anything desired: Get Happy!”

Today’s Abraham - “As you practice happy thoughts, you practice your connection with Source and Well-being. From your place of being happy – you have access to all that you desire.”

Enjoy the Journey! Heather

Day 5

Welcome to Day 5 of Effortless Transformation. Let’s take it easy today. Instead of feeling pressure, let's focus on centering by taking a moment to get in touch with yourself. Simply pay attention to your breath. Take a moment right now (its ok if you stop reading) and close your eyes.

Inhale, slowly to the count of 4, hold your breath for the count of 8, exhale SLOWLY to the count of eight. Repeat this 4 times and try to do it at least 4 times throughout the day, but once an hour could do wonders! It changes the pace of your day.

At the end of the day, take a moment and write in your Effortless Transformation journal any affects of your practice. Don’t expect anything huge. We’re just getting started.

Remind Yourself: Whatever is happening in my life, I take a moment to center and return to myself.

Your Gratitude Journal: - Gratitude is the highest of emotions. Write down three things you’re grateful for this morning and three things you’re grateful for before going to bed. That’s a total of six new things for the day.

Today's Meditation: - Ok – so how are we going to do this meditation thing? I’m going to suggest 8-10 minutes a day. Sing or hum with the music as it plays: www.aspaceoflove.com

If you’re working with toning-meditation on the last track of The Silent Language of Peace CD – it’s exactly 10 min. so that’s easy enough.

The psychoacoustic music you’re listening to in the toning-meditation is from a CD called ‘Sound Body, Sound Mind: Music for Healing’ (Andrew Weil, M.D.) The following link will give you detailed information on the elements we’re working with – sound healing, whole brain learning and entrainment: http://www.aspaceoflove.com/sound_healing.html

As you listen to the music be SURE you sing or hum. Singing AH and OM is the very best, and be sure you take deep, slow breaths. We’ll talk more about these sounds, but for now, ‘AH’ is the universal sound of attraction and ‘OM’ is the universal sound of gratitude. As you’re singing with the music (and BREATHING deeply) think to yourself, “I’m willing to be at peace.” The more peaceful you feel the better. If you’re worried about something tell yourself that you can think about that later, but for the time being you’re going to be willing (or ‘willing to be willing!) to be at peace. It’s really more about how you’re feeling than what you’re thinking, so if you find that you’re starting to feel peaceful, don’t worry about holding any thoughts.

Giving to Others: A kind word to a stranger. Remember what you give - is what you get back. Enjoy.

Today's Affirmation: Here’s something good to focus on for today: “The measure of my success is my joy.” Feel the joy as you ‘center.’

Today’s Abraham - “The amount of joy you have allowed yourself to experience is the greatest indicator of your allowance of Energy and Success. Whenever you are feeling good, you are an enormous (successful) contributor.”

Enjoy the Journey! Heather

Welcome to Day 6.

Are you having a good time? I am! I love this stuff.

Do you remember Sophia Loren? Here’s what she said: “Mistakes are part of the dues one pays for a full life.”

We have come to expect perfection of ourselves, even when we try something new. This is extremely limiting. Here’s what I’d like you to do:

1. Today, if you do something you consider to be a ‘mis-take’, write it in your Effortless Transformation journal.

2. Next, rate each ‘mis-take’ on a scale of 1 to 10 (low to high) based on the following questions:

a. How important is this to me?
b. How important is this to other people?
c. How important will this be in 5 years?

3. Write down any advice to yourself about what you learned from this incident (e.g., “in the future I will remember that….)

4. On a separate piece of paper, make a note of your ‘mis-take’. When finished, toss the piece of paper into the wastepaper basket as you say out loud, “I am perfectly human. I release my ‘mis-take’ with gratitude for the wisdom that it brought me.”

Remind Yourself: I accept each mis-take as a natural step in learning and gaining wisdom. I learn from my mistakes and move on.

Your Gratitude Journal: I am so grateful for . . . How’s your list going? Are you feeling it? Let’s do six more new ones today – (3 in the am and 3 in the pm) - be sure to feel it!

Today's Meditation: Do the toning-meditation for 10 min. today. If you want to see remarkable results try doing it twice a day – in the morning and at night before bed (then your subconscious mind will ‘work’ on peace all night long. This is something you can do without music as well, but you’ll probably see there’s a big difference between toning without music and with music. Actually it’s a fun experiment!

I promised I’d explain more about the Toning-Meditation, so here’s a link that will give you all the details: http://www.aspaceoflove.com/SLP1.html

Giving to Others: Do a big uplift today. Pick out a stranger and let them know -they are doing something right. Kind words can really open doors. Have you had any interesting responses yet?

Today's Affirmation: Here’s a good thing to focus on today – all day: “The main event isn’t the destination; it’s my joyous journey.”

Today’s Abraham - "You did not come forth seeking assignments to complete. You came forth for reason to flow, and to love and enjoy life. Even though you will return home at the end of any vacation, the idea of your holiday is not to complete it as quickly as possible so that you can check it off of your list. The idea of your vacation – and of this experience – is to have joyous experience.” Amen!

Don't you just love the wisdom of Abraham!!

Enjoy the Journey! Heather

Welcome to Day 7!

Here’s what I know – when I place my trust in the universe – things tend to work out well. I think I’m just going to keep learning and knowing that - All is Well. It really is!

Celebrate it today. You are loved and adored.

Your Gratitude Journal: There are lots of things going on around us – some things I consider peasant and others not so pleasant – the real question is: which one shall I give my attention to? Today I intend to give my attention to the good stuff (what I like) – because I’ve noticed when I do that – I get more of it. One of the best ways to do that is focusing on what you are really thankful for. There’s lots to choose from. List six things (or, people) that you hold great appreciation for today. Feel the gratitude!

Today's Meditation: Toning-Meditation. Practice, practice! Have fun with this! I often lie down when I’m toning – if I fall asleep I think it’s quite a success. Really! I have amazing dreams and I wake up feeling REALLY good! Meditation doesn’t have to be a ‘serious’ event, it feels really good to breathe and sing and listen to beautiful music. Ahhhhhhh………….Ommmmmmmmmmmm…..

Giving to Others: Make a stranger smile today. It’s up to you how.

Today’s Abe quote – (This is one of my personal favorites – it’s always posted in my kitchen!!) “The way you feel is your indication of your vibrational connection to that which is your Source. The better you feel, the better your connection; the worse you feel, the more disallowance to that connection. Nothing is more important than that you feel good – because nothing is more important than your connection to that which is your Source.”

Enjoy the Journey! Heather

Wow! Can you believe it's Day 8?

Quality questions create quality lives. Questions help us focus. Questions determine what we see in life and what we fail to see. Questions determine our focus and focus determines our feelings and feelings determine our vibrations and our vibrations determine what we attract and what we attract determines our lives - then let's come up with some great empowering questions to ask ourselves every morning and every evening.

My questions look like this:

1. What is giving me joy right now in my life?
2. What am I excited about in my life right now? What about that makes me excited?
3. What am I proud of in my life right now? What about that makes me proud?
4. What am I grateful about in my life right now? What about that makes me grateful?
5. What am I enjoying most in my life right now?
6. What am I committed to in my life right now?
7. Who do I love? Who loves me?

Come up with two or three answers to all of these questions and feel your response. Visualize the answers. If you have difficulty discovering an answer, simply add the word 'could.' What could I be most happy about in my life right now?

Your evening questions might include things such as:

1. What contribution did I make today?
2. What did I learn today?
3. What difference did I make today? (think of at least one person)

Come up with two or three answers for each. Remember to 'feel' the answer.

Your Gratitude Journal: I am thankful for so many things. Do you know what I've discovering? When my attention goes to the things I am thankful for - I feel really really good. It's important to keep your list fresh. Write three things you're grateful for when you wake up and write a couple more as you get ready for bed. Today I read through my whole gratitude list. Try it - you'll like it!

Today's Meditation: Enjoy your 10 minutes of doing the toning-meditation. Why not start doing it twice a day – just for the fun of it?!

Giving to Others: When we pause and choose just the right word (uplifting) we feel better and so does everyone around us. Share a word with someone (anyone) today that will lift and benefit - them and you. Have fun.

Today's Abraham - "Your decision to reach for a thought that feels good is a powerful decision, for it serves you in many ways. The better-feeling thought reverberates within you, opening passageways to Well-being that reach far beyond this one good-feeling thought."

Hey, enjoy the journey! Heather

P.S. Something Extra....

I found an article from "Spirituality & Health" Magazine (Aug. 2004) called, "Materialize Your Visions." The author, Terry Helwig, poses a series of questions, so I thought I'd add them here... in case you want to expand your daily questions. (This is very, very abbreviated!!)

Terry talks about 'weaving' the following 7 threads together.

1. The Thread of Awareness is incubating an idea even though you don't know how to manifest it.

Questions: What idea or ideas have come more than once? What wants to be born? (If ever you feel like David standing before Goliath, remember the words of Margaret Mead: "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."

2.The Thread of Inquiry asks us to explore an idea to make it richer...

Question: How is my idea or vision symbolic? (If you can connect your particular idea to the universal or archetypal, then your idea will speak to the deepest levels of human experience.)

3. The Thread of Commitment is about voice and choice. It is saying, I will. In 'Energy Anatomy: The Science of Co-Creation and Your Power of Choice, Caroline Myss talks about creativity. She imagines an angel approaching the altar of our life and placing upon it the gift of an idea. We then have a choice. We can accept the gift and say, yes, I will help this idea become a reality. Or we can say, no thank you.

Questions: How can I ritually say yes to my idea or vision? Where can I safely voice my idea?

4. The Thread of Heartfullness is about listening to what your heart wants.

Questions: What does my heart want? How does my idea or vision add "heart" to my life or to the world? (Engaging the heart calls forth the passion and energy necessary to see an idea through to completion.

5. The Thread of Trust underscores the belief that we harbor the ability to find the resources we need to manifest our visions. (Georgia O'Keeffe said, "I have been absolutely terrified every moment of my life and I never let it keep me from doing a single thing I wanted to do."

Questions: Do I trust that by following my thread of trust I will be guided to the resources to make it happen? What one fear might keep me from taking the risk? If I could not fail, what would I do? (The Thread of Trust is now knowing everything; it's trusting that you will be given the resources you need.

6. The Thread of Ingenuity is being resourceful, inventive, original, and creative.... it's letting your idea evolve.

Question: How can I see my problems as catalysts for creativity? (This thread encourages us to approach problems as thresholds to creative solutions that can move an idea forward.)

7. The Thread of Perseverance may be the elephant's graveyard of ideas. Ideas and visions intoxicate and excite. But turning them into a final product or outcome is plain hard work.... This thread means showing up every day. It's painting the painting, writing the book; putting in the time to turn a vision into reality.

Question: What is my plan of action to anchor my idea in reality? (This thread challenges us to materialize our inspirations as part of our spiritual journey.)

By clearing a path of possibility, our unique gifts and ideas can be manifested in the world.

Welcome to Day Number Nine!

Our lives do not belong in the past. They do not belong to the hurts, disappointments, or even the successes we experienced. Our lives belong in the here and now.

Create a new story of you. You are so much more than your past. I'll tell you this: your past does not equal your future. Your identity is so flexible and fluid. Make it into what you wish.

Remind Yourself: Learn from your past and then let it go.

Your Gratitude Journal: Is there anything as empowering as the recognition of the goodness inherent within life? The universe is indeed friendly. Let's accept the unfolding of good in our lives today. Be sure you see the good all around you - what are you thankful for today? Write down a few of those gratitudes.

Today's Meditation: Let’s try toning twice a day for sure. And if you feel a bit ‘off’ or if you’re worrying, try toning instead. (You’ll be amazed what will happen if you get in this habit!) By the way, you can do the toning any ol’ time. While you’re doing dishes or driving to work – so don’t let ‘time’ be an issue.

Giving to Others: Reach out a little today. Speak a kind word to a stranger. What reactions have you been getting? What are you learning from all of this uplifting?

Today's Abraham - "Today, no matter where I am going, no matter what I am doing, no matter who I am doing it with - it is my dominant intention to see that which I am wanting to see."

Enjoy the Journey! Heather

Welcome to Day 10.

Here’s the Abraham exercise I promised: Abraham Calendar, p. 679.

"Most of you are not writing a very deliberate script. Most of you are responding to conditions; you are talking about what happened. You are talking about what is or what has been. Most of you are not being deliberate about what you want. And sometimes, in the beginning, even though you state clearly what you want, you offer equal or greater resistance...You must want it and allow it and it is. Or want it and believe it and it is. Now we are saying to you in even more deliberate terms, want it and don`t resist it, and it is. Every single time without exception.

Notes from the Abraham Session from Dallas 1995.

"SCRIPTING is where you take some bugaboo that has been really bothering you and literally change your vibrational habit about it.

Just play with it, most of all be easy about it and have fun with it. We can make so much work of these processes that in time you get overwhelmed just with the process. And we want to bring simplicity to your life.

We want you to realize that you've got a guidance system with you in every moment. So at any moment that you are vibrationally out of synch with your Source Energy you feel it. So if you feel negative emotion, if it's fear or anger or frustration or resentment or disappointment or loneliness or guilt or any of those emotions just stop & say hmmmm what am I pushing against, (what's bothering me), because there is always something, and as soon as you've identified what you are trying to say no to, then say, "what's the obvious yes", and just by doing that, usually the resistance will lift, or soften substantially."

"On a recent tape, Abraham explains about scripting and then adds: 'You do not script to get the thing you are scripting. You script because you want to feel good. And in order to feel good you write about something you desire.'

That is interesting. I think it implies that if you script about that one thing you WANT, you cannot do otherwise but come from a place of lack. But if you script for the fun of scripting, that will (re)connect you to your stream. The fun of this is: you can script about one thing and manifest another.

Whatever method you choose, write something that makes you feel good! I write scripts often, and what I notice is that, although the details sometimes change dramatically, the manifestation usually has the same feeling as the original script!

Assignment: Take a desire you have for your life, and write a new script about actually having it happen for you. Allow yourself at least 15 minutes when you can dream and write, dream again and write. Writing focuses your attention, and allows you to be more consistently positive than just thinking about your desires. Have fun with it! Make it as elaborate as you like. As long as the details feel good, you are doing very well!

Your Gratitude Journal: I am filled with gratitude whenever I think of you. Make six lines in your Effortless Transformation Journal and write a name. You might want to give them a call or drop them a note. It’s good to love.

Today's Meditation: Enjoy doing your toning-meditation twice today – more if necessary!

Giving to Others: An encouraging word can change a life. I remember certain pivotal moments in my life that were absolutely life-changing - many of them started because of an encouraging word. Share a word of encouragement today. Make someone soar.

Today’s Abraham – “When you have a problem, a desire exudes forth from you, and Source hears it and answers immediately. Once you remove your attention from the problem, you then allow the solution. Give birth to the question and let it go – and allow the answer to flow.”

Enjoy the Journey! Heather