patience (postcard poetry)

the (weekend) view from here

a week in august

earlier this month, my dad married a woman i have come to call my friend over the last few years. while we were in the PICU in July, it became clear that because of ellie's health, we would be unable to travel to their wedding. on one of those PICU days, i answered my dad's question of "how are you doing?" with "after all this is over, i might have to take a trip to the ocean and stand in front of the waves, before everyone else is awake, and yell how i am really feeling out into the universe." the next day, he called and said that he and anne had talked and they were wondering if they could come out the week after the wedding and take us all to the ocean (if ellie was able to take a shorter trip).

and to the ocean we went....

today, i am sharing a few of my favorite photos that really represent the goodness of our trip to me.

(all of these were taken with my Canon Rebel T1i but i had fun processing a few with picnik. though that sunset photo is straight out of the camera. you really must come to the oregon coast.)

(oh and yes, i did spend time standing at the waves sharing my feelings. i will share more about that soon.)

i come to the forest (moving pictures poetry)

this little moving pictures poetry film is a companion to "i come to the water" (which you can watch here). 

i have been greatly inspired by my friend vivienne when taking self-portraits lately. i am feeling a stirring, a healing within as i set the timer and find my way to illustrating all the emotion held inside through moments captured with my camera's lens.

all footage and self-portraits were taken in the Pacific Northwest woods near Frog Creek Lodge, the location of Reveal, the Fall 2010 Be Present Retreat. a few spots are still available. give yourself the gift of joining us on the adventure of revealing where we are on our paths...

blessed.

you have cocooned us with your words, silence, love, notes, burning candles, prayers, hand holding.

you have pushed me to know: i am heard. i am seen. (dare i own it?) i am loved.

you have held the space in this time when i most need it.

thank you. thank you.

(i am so blessed.)

another doctor's appointment early tomorrow morning. another holding of the breath while we see if the little one has gained weight. another prayer being said in the form of a mama stroking the cheek of her daughter. another day where our little elliebean will continue to sit herself inside our hearts with her every breath.

yes

we just live it. each day. we live it.

thank you for being beside us, holding us gently.

blessings and light,
liz

today. i choose.

 

leap . gearhart, oregon . august 2010

today, i choose to believe that something good this way comes.

Inner Excavation (the contributors and preorder your copy)

a few of my out takes from Inner Excavation

When Viv was here last month, I showed her the most recent printout of Inner Excavation that was from my final editing phase that happened earlier this summer. As she flipped from page to page and commented on what she was seeing and reading, she pushed me to own all that I put into the book. She pushed me to see the beauty and truth that tumbles from each page through the words, photographs, artwork presented by the contributors and myself. 

Life has been a bit consumed by the little bean for quite a while now, and the book was written during a pregnancy that was pretty tough. And today, when I look at the cover and see my name there (my.name.), right there, on the cover, I am filled with joy. I really did it.

And I cannot wait for you to read it and get lost in the photos and words and then take out your camera and paintbrush and pens and begin to peel back another layer of you.

Because the simple truth is that you are what Inner Excavation is about. Through photography, poetry, and mixed-media art, the book examines our inward journey using several different themes including looking at where we stand on our paths, where we have been, and what we can discover when we open our hearts to ourselves.

I believe that as you walk through the pages of this book, you will reveal your inner poet and dance inside the joy of self-portraits and pause to take in the present moment and sift through the dreams you have tried to ignore and find your way back to you.

Now to introduce you to the contributors! You are going to be deeply inspired by what the following incredible women have shared in this book:

Kelly Barton

Susannah Conway

Jen Goff

Darlene Kreutzer

Stephanie Lee

Annie Lockhart

Vivienne McMaster

Kristen Perman

Ruth Rae

Susan Tuttle

Judy Wise

Inner Excavation comes out in October, and it will be in bookstores of the online and in-person variety. You can also buy the book from me, and it will come signed (to the person of your choice). I am now taking preorders. Here are the details:

For $28.95, your Preorder Book Package includes:

*One book signed by the me (addressed to whomever you specify)
*A special edition postcard pack of photography, poetry, and mixed media art from several of the book's contributors (these images are bonus images not seen in the book)
*Signature packaging 
*Two-day shipping via US priority mail; international orders will ship first class international

To preorder, just click the PayPal button below. In the "Instructions to Seller," be sure to let me know the name of the person receiving the book. 

*****

In this moment, Ellie sleeps beside me and I know I am so blessed. This is truth. Thank you for being here and holding us and pushing me and inspiring me to continue to share these truths and cheering me on through this new path of motherhood that intersects with a childhood dream of the path of published author. Yes. I am so blessed.

sixty seconds of searching

(from my sixty seconds project)