"People will forget what you said. People will forget what you did.
But people will never forget the way you made them feel."
- Maya Angelou, brilliant poet and memoirist

JESSIE R. ELENBAAS

LET'S START WITH SOMETHING DIFFERENT

I'm a misfit yoga teacher who garners balance and peace from Jesus.

WHAT I HOPE YOU'LL FEEL

ENCOURAGED by being present to your crazy, hard, and precious life. And

RENEWED through God's presence and peace, which leads you away from envy, comparison and judgement of yourself and others and extends beyond your understanding. That's been my experience.

MY PROMISE TO YOU

I'll give my best, because I'm learning from the best -- Jesus and Lady Wisdom (the Holy Spirit). And YOU deserve the best. But what is that?

Perhaps listening will help you see.

BY DAY

I'm a Freelance Writer, serving as the Interim Communications & Marketing Manager at Make-A-Wish Alaska Washington.

I shepherd my busy kids (24/7 love).

And I meditate with God every morning.

BY NIGHT

I DABBLE IN LABORS OF LOVE:

* blog about listening for God
* record my podcast, encouraging busy humans to slow down & love life
* teach hot yoga - my latest obsession

I'LL SHARE WHAT I'VE LEARNED THROUGH...

"JOY GENIE" WORK

SERVING OTHERS
FILLS YOUR SOUL.

For 13 years, I worked at Make-A-Wish Alaska and Washington, coordinating wish experiences for kids with critical illnesses. I loved it. Especially meeting and working with so many others-centered humans.

YOGA & MEDITATION

BLENDING MINDFULNESS PRACTICES & FAITH HELPS YOU MEDITATE ON WHAT'S
TRUE, NOBLE, JUST, PURE & LOVELY.
(more inspiration in Philippians 4:8).

Hailing from the midwest and growing up in a conservative Christian family, I used to think yoga was too woo-woo and new-agey for me. Ironically, yoga taught me something I never learned in church: how to be still and MEDITATE. How to focus whole-heartedly. How listen to my body and emotions, connecting to them instead of escaping. Later in my practice, yoga became a way I connected with God. In 2009, I started the first yoga program at Seattle Pacific University, teaching students stress-management skills and how to see their bodies as unique, holy temples (not things to perfect).

CENTERING PRAYER

REPLACE ACHIEVING WITH RECEIVING, WORRY WITH PEACE,
TALKING WITH LISTENING.

Centering prayer is not the asking, pleading and bowing-heads-before-meals-and-bedtime praying you may have learned as a child. It's the MYSTIC way. Grounding our bodies, centering our minds and reorienting our hearts to seek the Source that quenches our soul's deepest thirsts and longings.

LIVING FAITH

JESUS TEACHES DIFFERENTLY.
HE'S MY SPIRITUAL MR. MIYAGI

I'm not an expert on life. I struggle daily. #mom. But I'm learning to listen and discern from Jesus, whose life and words often differ from "Christian" politics or "religious" opinions of today. Everything Jesus said and did stemmed from LOVE.

MARRIAGE (Couples Coach)

ACTIVE LISTENING STRENGTHENS A TEAM.

Ask a question. LISTEN.

Then say, "I hear you saying..."

REPEAT until you've heard your partner correctly.

PS: You can do this with God, too.

After becoming a certified COUPLES COACH through Prepare-Enrich, I gleaned tools for healthy communication, which my husband appreciates along with the couples I coached. LIKE LOVE, BEING A TEAM TAKES WORK & INTENTIONALITY. I know. I'm married to a guy who's quite different from me. Dave wants to ski, hike, fish, anything to do with mountains or water. I'll take a spa day, vino with friends, a walk outside or sun, beach, breaking waves and a good book. And yet, David is the reason I stayed in Seattle after moving from Indiana "for fun" after college. Good move, I'd say.

PARENTHOOD

BEST TRAINING FOR BECOMING A SERVANT OF ALL.

WARNING: it can also lead to becoming addicted to wine, sugar or work to help us escape the tiny tyrants. The struggle is real.

We named our kids Jasper and Ruby, our dear treasures. They're also our teachers, saying what they mean and feel. Daily. The nerve!?! Puts me in awe of God's patience with us, running our mouths and wanting things our own way. But if God loves you and me like I love my kiddos, we are in for a surpising treat.

"People will forget what you said. People will forget what you did. But people will never forget the way you made them feel." - Maya Angelou, brilliant poet and memoirist