I carry your heart (plus: painting progress and Isaac’s 8 month photo shoot!)
“I carry your heart with me (I carry it in my heart)” e. e. cummings
This is how I want to focus on the passing of Valentine’s Day this year:
I carry your heart with me (I carry it in my heart).
I always found Valentine’s Day stressful growing up, as getting valentines from classmates felt more like a popularity contest than an expression of anything genuine. I’m in a much happier place now but I still like to think about creating space in my heart for anyone who needs it. So many people (including you!) have touched me simply by being here and being your wonderful selves.
That’s an amazing gift that I don’t take lightly. Let’s carry each other and keep each other safe.
A happiness post (plus: life around here lately)
“Change the way you look at things and the things you look at change” Wayne Dyer
Who needs a little happiness today?
It’s no secret that the world is hurting right now. There’s a lot of anger and confusion and I’ve been feeling at such a loss about how to manage the enormity of what I feel. Regardless, I’ve watched in pride as people all over America (and the world!) stand up in support of one another.
The silver lining to all of this has been witnessing how much love there still is to be shared, even among strangers. I have hope for us, I really do.
Next year’s words (plus: happy holidays!)
“For last year’s words belong to last year’s language and next year’s words await another voice.” T. S. Eliot
Here we are at the end of another year.
Whether the holidays make you feel peaceful or tense or some combination of the two, we’re entering a new year soon and I’d love to find the celebration in that.
I like the Eliot quote above in that next year’s words await another voice separate from our present reality, a voice that we haven’t yet experienced. I imagine that each of our new voices uses the previous year as a foundation, collecting all of our mistakes and joys and memories and loves to guide more seasoned versions of ourselves into existence.
Here I am prepping the little Explore painting for its new home!
A new perspective (plus, painting progress!)
“All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better” Ralph Waldo Emerson
As Isaac spends more time awake during the day, I’ve had to get more creative about when / how I can get work done.
Even if you haven’t gone through this very stage we’re in right now, the experience translates: the sweetest, most tender moments of life matched with moments of complete exhaustion. I haven’t found my new normal yet (he’s only 3 months – I know I need to be patient with myself!), but we’ll get there. Thank you for taking the journey with me.
Here we are practicing in a wrap so I can work standing up while he sleeps:
Celebrating life, cuddles, business progress, and each other
“Appreciate and celebrate each moment. There’s nothing more sacred” Pema Chodron
The past few weeks have reflected back to me the many different ways we can be present and celebrate, from official birthday parties to the quiet sacredness of moments at home.
I have such an on-the-go personality that slowing down since Isaac’s birth has felt strange, but I’m doing my best. He’s spending more time awake this week and so I’m spending more time cuddling, singing, chatting, and walking around the house to show him things. We’re getting to know each other day by day.
Here we are on a recent morning:
Faith and focus (plus, the complete animal art series!)
“All the world is made of faith, and trust, and pixie dust” J. M. Barrie
I’ve been thinking over the past two weeks about the intersection between faith and focus and how each plays a pivotal role in our journeys.
A few weeks ago I met my baby for the first time as he entered the world unexpectedly early. He came 3.5 weeks sooner than anticipated, which threw all of our best plans to be organized and ready for his arrival right out the window.
Suddenly we found ourselves in unknown territory. We found ourselves with a beautiful little guy who was born a few weeks premature and in need of extra support and love.
We’ve spent the past two weeks shuffling from one doctor’s visit to the next and we’ve trooped to the hospital twice (once for an overnight). We conquered jaundice, he’s finally gaining weight, and he’s definitely acting more like a full-term baby now (YAY!). I’ve focused all of my energy on helping him grow and yet sometimes it’s still hard to believe that he’s really here and really ours.
Needless to say, the launch into motherhood has been equally rewarding and emotionally raw. And here lies my meeting point of focus and faith.
I'd like to read more, please»Surprise! Meet Isaac
“Some people care too much. I think it’s called love” A. A. Milne
I originally had a different blog post planned for this week, but then life happened!
Meet Isaac Thomas Cross, our new son:
Celebrating bravery in all forms (plus, two finished paintings!)
“You have to be brave with your life so that others can be brave with theirs” Katherine Center
As my pregnancy progresses into the final stretch (7 weeks to go!), I’ve found myself preparing to transform into whatever new version of myself I’ll become.
Of course so much of this transformation will happen once the baby is here and we’re in the midst of the learning // the growing into parents // the ebb and flow of joy vs. overwhelm. I can’t fully prepare for that ahead of time, so I’m doing what I can.
At my recent baby shower
Let’s celebrate today (plus, new owl art)
- At April 13, 2016
- By Elizabeth McDonnell
- In Business, Life stories
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“The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate” – Oprah
I want to celebrate today.
Celebrate the Journey, available here.
I want to celebrate, but not because I’ve achieved a big new goal. Instead, I want to touch on what often gets covered up by those bigger milestones. Today, this includes:
I'd like to read more, please»Big news (plus, painting progress and a thank you discount)
“‘Sometimes,’ said Pooh, ‘the smallest things take up the most room in your heart'” A. A. Milne
This has been such a year of change.
As I’m sure is true for many of us, change for me can be simultaneously wonderful, unpredictable, difficult, and needed. I’ve done my best over the past several months to navigate a huge upcoming change in my life. Here’s the image my husband Eric and I shared recently from our family Easter egg hunt:
