Justice of the Peace - Christie Girouard

06/29/2026

06/29/2026

PLANNING

I have been heard to say that planning requires many moving parts to synchronize in a universal alignment, so that we may experience the vision of what we wish to see. People, places, and things....

The planning of a wedding ceremony is, often, based on a location that speaks to the memory of an experience. A place that honors the relationship that is moving toward something that represents a solid foundation. A destination that will mark a new beginning and the start of the next chapter.

If this place intends to mark time in a way that is weather dependent, it falls back on the planning of a universal alignment. A synchronicity of moving parts. June 26th was this sort of occasion.

The weather forecast proceeded for days: rain and thunder....and then maybe just cloudy. No, back to rain...perhaps no thunder.....just cloudy again....torrential rain....no wait....partly cloudy....and so forth. Thus creating an obsession built of the JP, photographer, Bride and Groom, and gathered company. Collectively though separately, we monitored weather.com to distraction!!

A time was set to meet in the parking area at Black Cap Mountain at 5:30pm on Friday. I quietly whispered to myself, "I don't do thunder on a bald peak." And admittedly drove the 30 minutes in fog and dark clouds with skepticism.

I can't honestly say how and why miracles happen. They just do. Black clouds turned to puffy white, and grey skies evolved into royal blue. Not a drop of rain, nor a clap of thunder...though other mountain peaks looked compromised. And so.....the Planning and the Universal Alignment burst open in all its glory!!

Before meeting that Friday night, my words to the bride, "It will be perfect, no matter where our feet land." And it was all so perfect. Many blessings to D, Rachel, and those who became family during that burst of sun in moments of astonishment.

06/14/2026

TEN YEARS LATER

As a Justice of the Peace, there is a dedication to each experience. We assist with a greeting, vows, ring exchange and a pronouncement. Not bound to any ritual or format, but this is the general idea of what it is to create the body of the ceremony.

Each couple brings something different. How they met. How they love. And most importantly, how do they honor who they are as a couple? All of these things culminate into the crux of sharing something deeply personal.

Ten years ago, Becky and Mike wondered if they might have their experience take place in our yard. After checking out a few locations, The Shire (as we so lovingly call our homestead) resonated with its flora and fauna, bringing a sense of peace and comfort.

Once the pronouncement is complete, typically, this is the end of my journey with the bride and groom. So in 2016, Becky and Mike bid me Adieu...until last year. Would I consider renewing their vows so they might stand in the same spot where their "I do's" originated.

This is the gift of how we become part of the story. A decade of memories, gathered into a moment in time. A moment that wants to be replicated though different. We bring all the things that have come in between. While life has offered its challenges, there are chapters that we joyfully want to revisit. Like a vow renewal....and an anniversary.

Becky and Mike returned to The Shire with their daughter, Frankie. We revisited “I Like You” by Sandol Stoddard. And as a family they blended a mixture of flour and water that became a sourdough starter. "Like a marriage, like a family, sourdough starter is alive.
It changes. It asks to be tended."

The blessings of this experience are far reaching. When a validation crosses your path, believe it to be true. Love has its way....when you share it with others, it always comes back.

01/10/2026

SURROUND YOURSELF WITH BEAUTIFUL THINGS

I admit, my nervous system has been activated by global matters. My quest becomes a soulful intervention to be peaceful. And I think about this title I have lived by for over 22 years. Justice of the Peace. It is a privilege that keeps evolving in ways I could never have imagined back in 2003.

Justice of the Peace. What an honorable journey. A reciprocal appreciation of the heart. Yesterday, I was introduced to a "new" destination in Randolph. Shared with lovely people while soaking in the extraordinary views of King's Ravine. A peaceful plain, offering a whisper quiet, surrounded by beautiful things.

Blessings Abound.

01/05/2026

"PEACE ON EARTH" my version....

I find that my quest for peace is reflected on the way I live, and the way I think. The way I treat other people, and the way I treat myself. To always remain in kindness, while facing adversity. And to honor my heart as it seeks serenity. Being peaceful begins from the inside out. And this is the attitude that creates the space around us.

I share my weekend of celebrating love. This keeps my feet firmly planted in moments of excellence. The people I meet and the places I go are far from coincidence. Synchronicity is a powerful force. And when you believe your are on the right path, no matter the obstacle, the journey is filled with validation. I know I am exactly where I am meant to be.

Bright Blessings to all for 2026