A reminder

Last night Paul and I saw The Descendants.  We both loved it.   The story follows a man (George Clooney) and his two daughters as they struggle to define a new life together after his wife and their mom is in a tragic boating accident.

Paul and I both walked away reminded of how, just a few months ago, our lives could have quickly taken a very different course.  A few months after Paul's accident I caught myself counting up the misfortune we've had this year: Family problems, Paul's near-death accident, my surgery, struggling with infertility, even losing our cat, the list went on and on inside my head.  But, then I realized: these are all problems we've endured, issues we've overcome together.  2011 was a difficult year, yes.  But we persevered.  We remained a family.  We found peace, joy and an abundance of love. 

I'm feeling deeply grateful that we could sit together in a dark theater, share popcorn and candy and, after, leave the theater thankful for the live we still have, and head home to our little boy.

So, here's to life's noble reminders.  And may they always be accompanied with a loved one by your side and a bag of popcorn in your lap.

xo,

steph

First two images taken after Paul's accident
Top image: the first time Paul and Dylan saw each other

Middle image: Dylan showing Paul his own boo-boos

Bottom image: taken this Thanksgiving

Paul's work in Standard Magazine

My talented husband's artwork and home objects are featured in the new issue of Standard magazine.  The starburst headboard he made even made the cover!

Many thanks to Standard's Editorial Director, Kelly LaPlante.

Congratulations, Paul!  We love you and are so proud of you!

Paul's Artwork

Sacred Hoop

Today I'd love to share my talented husband's artwork with you.  Paul paints on canvases and uses materials such as plaster, resin, paint, burlap, wood and other found objects.  His paintings are highly textured and feel almost sculptural.  We have several hanging in our house and I love how each one looks different depending on the light of the day.

Ballad of Saint Rose

Prey

On Returning to Worship the Ruins

Progress

Saint Quebrantahuesos

Pathetique

This Thursday, an art benefit is being held in Paul's honor.  This is the first showing Paul has had in his hometown, and we are both nervous and excited.  We are also blown away by the support we have received since Paul's accident, and overwhelmed that so many people came together to organize this event.

You can view more of Paul's artwork here.  I'll be sure to post details on the benefit!

xo,

steph

p.s. Thanks for all of your sweet and thoughtful comments.  I was thinking late last night that I had failed to mention the outpour of love and support so many of you were a part of when Paul was in the hospital and during the hardest parts of his recovery. As difficult as this time has been for us, the love we've felt has turned a traumatic event into a profound experience.  From the bottom of my heart, I thank all of you.

A new start

Dear friends.  It's been a long time and I'm so happy to return to my little blog.  My last post was on March 11, nearly three months ago.  Two days later, on March 13, my husband Paul was painting when the scaffolding that his ladder was on collapsed.  He was alone, but based on the area he was painting, he is thought to have been between 25-28 feet high when he fell.  His accident was life threatening.  A blood clot in his brain nearly took his life.  But, today, he is alive, he is well, and he will heal.

There is so much I want to write about our experience.  During it all, I found myself retreating to the smallest circle of family and friends and focusing on taking each moment at a time.  And it seems I've remained within the confines of this little refuge for quite some time.  For better or worse, this tragedy changed the course of our life.  It redefined us as a family and as individuals. Over the past months, I've thought a lot about my little blog.  I've considered posting several times, but always found myself unable.  It was as if I didn't recognize myself anymore.  The person I was, was no more.  Everything seems different now and I've had a hard time seeing anything other than what our life used to be like; what our family looked like or how we interacted before Paul's accident.  It's strange, but our life after the accident has seemed almost foreign, like I'm peering in from some place else.

But then today, I got an email with these...

And I realized: We made it.  We are a family and we made it.

And, the part of me that was still standing in that trauma room, feeling small and helpless, considering the fragility of my sweet husband's mortality, pondering what life would look like from that point forward: just let go.

We have been given a new start.  And we are so grateful.

xo,

steph

p.s. These photos were taken Mother's Day weekend by the amazing and adorable Wendy of Blue Lily Photography.  Wendy is one half this talented photography couple, her husband Tyler completes the team.  We love the photos and loved our photo shoot with Blue Lily!

A Christmas Surprise...

Hello lovelies.  I hope you all had a very merry Christmas.  Can you believe it has come and gone already?   I had to pop in today to brag on my beloved.  My adorable and hugely talented husband.  Who spent an entire night finishing the most exquisite Christmas present I have ever received.  Who endured splinters, cold temperatures and the smell of Bondo in the name of love.  Who always listens to my interests and tirelessly works to create and re-create beauty in everyday things.

On Christmas Eve, the man I love more than anything in the entire world, gave me this work of art.  And, yes, he made it.

Isn't it amazing!?!  Most of the sticks are from our property, which makes this one of a kind starburst mirror even more meaningful.  I love you, Paul Damien.

xo,

steph