Happy Birthday

Our dear friend Yvonne is a true Jill-of-all-trades: a self-taught artist, manager of many businesses, and tradesperson of many stripes. A couple of months ago, she painted the above canvas, inspired by a photo from the blog (thanks, Yvonne, for leaving out the ubiquitous pacifier). It is technically stunning, and personally precious, especially as she’s represented Will as a dove (“sitting by Ella’s shoulder, whispering in her ear to cause Daddy trouble”). It makes me smile every time I see it.

So on this, the day of their birth, I’m looking at it with thankfulness, deeply grateful for their lives and their love and their spirit. Nearly overwhelmed by the presence of the one, and holding tightly to the memory of the other.