So, today is Valentine's Day. :-) Yes, I'm smiling about it - do you know why? Because love is all around - ALWAYS! To be honest with you, I used to hate Valentine's Day. Most years, it just reminded me of how alone I felt. But lately, something has changed for me in my life - and I'm so incredibly grateful for it. First of all, yes, I have the love of an incredible man in my life. We're engaged and will be getting married later this year. He has helped me to truly love and enjoy Valentine's Day once again.

In addition to that, I've started to recognize that love is everywhere - always and all the time. It flows through us constantly, even if and when we don't recognize it. I'm grateful for it. And I'm grateful I'm surrounded by people I love. I hope you are too.

Happy Valentine's Day!

With love - today and always,
~Jen

So, after 4 1/2 years of joy, love, pain, sorrow, learning, laughter and patience, I'm FINALLY ready to release my latest album. It's a 2 CD set full of everything I have ever had to give. Throughout the creation of this album, I've laughed, cried, pulled my hair out and shouted for joy. There were days where I thought I would never finish it and there were times where I couldn't get enough of being in the studio working on it. It's been the biggest part of my life for the better part of the last 4 years and I'm so anxious to share it with all of you! It should be available late February or early March 2012 and I'll let you know as soon as it is! Thanks so much for all your love and support!

In just a few days, we'll be celebrating Christmas. It's hard to believe it's here already. It seems like Thanksgiving was just yesterday. And here I sit, still as grateful as can be - for the many incredible blessings in my life. I'm grateful for the important 'stuff,' which - as it turns out - really isn't 'stuff' at all. It's the people in my life I am most grateful for. It's my family, and my friends (who are truly like family) that I am grateful for.

If I could have just one wish filled this year, just one present delivered...it would be for the people I love and care about most in this world to be happy - to be at peace. That's it. That's all I want. And, when I stop and think about it, that's all I've ever really wanted.

Tomorrow, I'm flying up north with my fiance to visit family for a week. We're both excited - and we know it's going to be a good Christmas. :-)

I hope it is for you, too. I hope peace and love find you wherever you are. And I hope you take time to be grateful about the truly important 'stuff' in your life.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Much much love,
~Jen

So, once again the holidays are upon us? Is it just me or does it seem like Christmas approaches faster and faster every year? In any event, I wish you and yours the loveliest and most blessed of holiday seasons.

Here is my Christmas wish list for 2011:

~world peace - or, if we're not quite ready for peace around the world yet, I'd settle for people being nice to each other while they're out shopping for Christmas - maybe even let someone else have that prime parking spot... (that's a good start)

~ I'd like for everyone on the planet to feel loved - no matter where they are, what they've done or what they've been through

~ I'd like for our brave service men and women to be able to spend the holidays - at home - safe and sound surrounded by their friends, family and anyone else who celebrates their service and sacrifice

~ I'd like for my family to know how much I love and appreciate them

~ I'd like for my friends to know how much I love and appreciate them

~ I'd like for my fans to know how much I love and appreciate them

~ I'd like for every child on earth to have a safe place to call home and more than enough food to eat

~ I'd like to see an end to people arguing, fighting and killing each other in the name of religious righteousness - over whose God is better...all roads lead to Heaven and we can create that Heaven right here on earth...

~ I'd like to live to see the day when we have just one flag - representing the entire world - when are we going to realize that we cannot judge, criticize, condemn or kill anyone else, without first doing the same thing to ourselves?

I suppose this isn't my entire list but, sort of like being nice to each other in the parking lot while going to shop at Target, it's a good start...

My biggest wish this holiday season however, is that Christmas finds you at peace and feeling so very, very loved...because you are...

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!!

Love always,
~Jen

I realize that the actual 'juice' in the journey has absolutely NOTHING to do with the final destination - what you think you're going to 'get' or how you think you're going to feel once you 'get' there. It's about the journey itself. It's about being brave enough to GIVE as much as you can - every step of the way.

So, now that it is after midnight here on the east coast, it is technically my birthday! :-) I'm only 13 minutes in and, already, this is my best birthday yet. I don't know how to explain it other than, by saying that I am simply grateful for my life in general.

Right now, I'm finishing up my latest album. This particular album has taken me 4 years and a LOT of blood, sweat and tears to finish - I couldn't be more proud of it. It's a double CD and I can't wait to release it.

In other areas of my life, I have an amazing family - I'm grateful beyond words for that. I also have an incredible fiance. :-) Not surprisingly, I'm grateful or that as well.

But, in general, I'm most grateful for Life itself. I'm grateful to be so connected to the Divine and I'm grateful that I'm being given the chance to grow and give more than I have already.

Much love - and more soon,
~Jen xoxo

Just another quick update to let you all know that our mastering sessions are going really well!! Everything sounds simply incredible!!! It make me even MORE excited to share this album with all of you!! :-)

If all goes well, we'll finish with the mastering this upcoming Friday. Then, next week, I'll work on the album artwork, liner notes, etc and then have it sent off to be duplicated. My intention is to be able to release the album sometime around Thanksgiving, but I'll keep you posted on the exact date once I have it.

Hope you're doing well in your corner of the world. More soon!!

Lots of love,
~Jen

Just a quick update to let you all know that Day 1 of my mastering project was a complete success!! I'm SO excited about how this album is shaping up - I CAN'T WAIT to share it with all of you!!! If you'd like to see a couple of the videos from today, please check out my facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/jenstackpole or take a look at my YouTube page. Thanks so much (as always) for all your love and support!! I'll update soon with more news from the studio!!

Love always,
~Jen

Just a quick update to let you all know that I'm headed into the studio all this week to master my new album!! I'm SO excited!! This album has been 4 years in the making and I'm so happy that it's almost ready to share with all of you!

I'm hoping to be able to release it sometime around Thanksgiving, but I'll definitely keep you posted on all the details!

Much love,
~Jen

I'm performing a set of my original music at the Deltona Arts Center Coffee House Singer/Songwriter Showcase TONIGHT!! Hope you can make it!! Details are posted below! :-)

THE WORD IS SPREADING!

Deltona Coffee House is swiftly becoming the Central Florida avant garde cozy venue to experience original music; true artists sharing their craft with the house audience and viewers worldwide over the internet.

Central Florida Songwriters are in the spotlight this Saturday. Comedian/Magician, Tim Piccirillo will emcee.

The songwriters... Jen Stackpole, Javion, Linda Sylvester, Daya & Chris and Jeff Mason.

THIS SATURDAY

August 6, 2011, Time: 7pm

Admission Donation: $2.

Deltona Coffee House
682 Deltona Blvd., Deltona, FL 32725 / info: 407-923-1878

Deltona Coffee House is an outreach of Deltona Arts & Historical Center, a 501c3 non-profit.