I love Brian Andreas’ work and I have for a very long time. We have two Story People prints hanging in our bathroom and one in each of Grace and Whit’s rooms. I gave prints to each of my bridesmaids at our rehearsal dinner. It’s impossible for me to read Brian’s pieces without my eyes filling with tears. He touches something inside of me so primal, so essential, so true that I don’t even have words for it.
Brian’s writing is particularly on my mind these days. I’m grateful that Shawn Fink reminded me of a post I’d written in 202 about what holiday cards mean to me and about how important I think the words we share can be. This seems the opportune moment to share that for our 2014 holiday card, our family used a line of Brian Andreas’:
Time stands still best in moments that look suspiciously like real life.
Grace and Whit hand-wrote some of their favorite moments from 2014, which I included on the card, along a family photo and one of each of the alone (see at the bottom of this post).
Brian is an artist and a poet and if you don’t know his work, I encourage you to find out more about him. I simply want to share some of my favorites today. One of his poems, more than any other sentence in the English language, I think, captures what it is for me to live on this earth. Given that I live my life swimming in sentences, I think that’s really saying something.
“She said she usually cried at least once each day not because she was sad, but because the world was so beautiful & life was so short.”
And there are so many others that I love. A sampling:
I will always remember the way she’d laugh & clap her hands watching us play & then later, before bed, she’d gather us in her arms & whisper, Have you ever seen a world so perfect? (the kind of mother I want to be)
Someday, the light will shine like a sun through my skin & they will say, What have you done with your life? & though there are many moments I think I will remember, in the end, I will be proud to say, I was one of us.
Sitting there in your pajamas & all the time in the world & if I could keep any moment it would be this: watching you & holding my breath with the wonder of it all.
Are you a princess? I said & she said I’m much more than a princess, but you don’t have a name for it yet here on earth. (on Grace’s wall)
Anyone can slay a dragon, he told me, but try waking up every morning & loving the world all over again. That’s what takes a real hero.
Additionally, I really adored working with Dawn Lindley of Lindley Creative on this year’s cards. I highly recommend her work!
I love this. I often use lyrics as the words on our holiday cards. I love that you had your children write on yours. Today started in a stressful way and this post was a reminder to me to stand back and admire the magic in all the ordinary moments. I am not familar with Brian’s work but I plan to become familiar!
Oh Lindsey, I love his work so much, too. And I love your card. Happy, happy holidays!
I love this. I hope you and your beautiful family have wonderful days this holiday season. Xo
Oh these quotes are all so lovely! As is your gorgeous card…thank you, thank you for always bringing such beauty into others’ lives–at the holiday and every day.
Oh hooray! Love his work too. We have a print of his (words for love) in our bedroom since our engagement. I agree that so often his words bring tears to my eyes as they cut so quickly and deeply to what feels like the fundamental truths of my heart. Gah. Love him.
Isn’t he amazing? I love that you have his work in your house. Kindred! xox
Thank YOU. What a generous thing to say. xox
Thank you so much. And you and yours too! xox
Thank you! And to you as well. I hope I get to read something else by you in 2015! xox
Oh, I love the use of lyrics. So wonderful. There is so much we can say, don’t you think? I am happy to hear that this post may have contributed in some way to easing your day and reminding you of the magic. xox
Oh I just love Brian Andreas’ work. We have the second quote in your list hanging in our bedroom and I stop a look at it at least once a month and it brings tears to my eyes. Cheers – and a joyful season to you and your family
Isn’t he wonderful!? Love that you have him on your walls too. xox
I just hopped over to the Story People site, and oh my, I’m going to need a few. I love the quote you chose for your card. I also love “bacon, egg & cheese sandwiches”. It really is the little things…
xo
Really, really love your holiday card. I adore the use of the quote and not some canned cliche, and using the kids’ handwriting is precious. I hadn’t heard of Story People but I appreciate your glimpse into it. I just found out I’m having a girl and that quote from Grace’s wall is the perfect – bookmarking it for the nursery!
That card is gorgeous. I love the quote (not because I cry every day for the same reasons). This: “Anyone can slay a dragon, he told me, but try waking up every morning & loving the world all over again. That’s what takes a real hero.” There. That’s one of my cries for the day. Beautiful family card, too. Hope your holiday is full of love and light.