I have no idea what happened in Atlanta today, but the cold and dreary weather was no reflection of the gorgeous weekend we enjoyed. On Sunday, I took the camera on a long walk and snapped some shots of all the recent blooms. Flipping thru them tonight reassured me that spring has, in fact, sprung. 

Here’s hoping the rest of the week is sunnier than the start!

I am incredibly fortunate to have been given the family that I have. I really lucked out. My dad is the most valiant and self-less father in the world. My sister is my absolute best friend. And there simply aren’t enough words to describe how much I love my mom. She is my idol, my confidant, my champion and the one person I turn to when I can’t turn to anyone else.

As I have grown into an adult, our relationship has grown, also. It has evolved into a genuine friendship. I can talk with her about everything. I can turn to her for anything. And I know there’s nothing she wouldn’t do for me.

We aren’t spending Mother’s Day together this year. So I thought I’d use this little blog of mine to take the opportunity to express my appreciation to her.

Mom, I cherish you with every ounce of my soul. I am so proud that you are my mother and I’m eternally grateful that I get to be your daughter. You have taught me so much and your love and encouragement mean more to me than you’ll ever know. With everything that’s in me, I want to thank you for being the mother you are to your daughters. We are better people because we came from you.

Happy Mother’s Day. I love you.

Growing up, my mom always had our patio packed with lots of plants and we would work together in the dirt, repotting them, planting new ones in the yard and working in the flowerbeds. It was precious time spent with her and how I cultivated my green thumb.

Eric and I don’t have kids (yet). We don’t have pets (yet). But, we have plants…lots of them. They are our children and on Saturday we spent the afternoon repotting them, giving them new homes in healthy soil.

A visit from E’s parents on Sunday and our house is now filled with beautiful flowers picked from their gardens in Athens. I love waking up in the morning and coming downstairs to see roses, azalea blooms, peonies, and petunias on the windowsill and scattered around the house.

House plants do more than just brighten up a room with color. Along with being pleasing to the eye, studies show they offer real health benefits. According to a University of Agriculture study in Norway, indoor plants can reduce fatigue, coughs, sore throats and other cold-related illnesses by more than 30 percent, partially by increasing humidity levels and decreasing dust. Plants can also remove a variety of toxic air emissions including ammonia and carbon monoxide.

They can even make people feel calmer and more optimistic, says Bruno Cortis, M.D., a Chicago cardiologist. Interestingly, he says that studies have shown that hospital patients who face a window with a garden view recovered more quickly than those who had to look at a wall.

Now that spring is in full bloom, why not add some living energy to your home? The health benefits are proven, and nothing’s more gratifying than playing in the dirt!

Eric & I took a trip to Lake Rabun this weekend for a day full of wedding to-dos. With both sets of parents in tow, we had an indulgent lunch at the Dillard House, followed up with a wedding cake tasting, and then headed to the venue to do some serious plotting and planning. The first time we saw the King of Rabun Estate, it was a cold and drizzly January day, but we fell in love with the landscape nonetheless. Seeing it over the weekend, in all of spring’s splendor, was an exciting (and reassuring) experience. The landscape was green and lush and just about the most beautiful thing I could have hoped for. We are now even more thrilled to celebrate our union there. I thought I’d share a few sneak peek photos…we’re saving the “great reveal” for October!

My grandmother passed away this weekend. Her health had been failing for a while. Fortunately, we were given enough notice to spend some time with her. For much of the afternoon the whole family filled her hospice room and consoled each other, taking turns to be at her bedside and speak to her in soothing voices.

At one point it was advised that we actually eat something, so my parents walked across the street and brought back food. We sat around makeshift tables and as we ate dinner our conversation drifted away from the sadness of the day. At one point, my sister made a joke and the room filled with our laughter. At this very moment, she looked over at Nanna and noticed that the color was leaving her face and that she was slipping away. We all gathered around her bed and held her hands and smoothed her hair and told her how much we loved her and how much happiness she had brought into our lives. She passed away peacefully and with us by her side. It was an incredible experience. I will forever be grateful that I was able to share that moment with her.

Knowing my Nanna and the way she cared for all of us, I have no doubt that she was waiting until she knew we would be okay without her. As long as we were fussing about, in tears and struggling to comfort each other, she wasn’t going anywhere. I truly believe that when she heard us laughing and feeling more comfortable in the moment, she knew that it was okay to leave us.  

There are so few people in the world with the compassionate spirit that my Nanna had. For that reason, I am so very sad for our loss. But my heart is filled with joy for her. She is experiencing her first few days in heaven, reuniting with  loved ones, no longer plagued with a feeble body and aging mind. For eternity, she will rest comfortably and reap the rewards of her selfless life on earth.

Anna Morley

as a radio personality in college

Anna & Frank Morley

Anna Callahan Morley, forever in our hearts.

By now, we’ve all seen the photos of  devastation in Haiti. The images of pain and suffering are almost too much to bear and have left me feeling humbled and helpless….however, there are many ways to help!

My friend Davia & I decided to take up a collection around the office of non-perishable food, first aid items, bottled water, and clothing…little did we know that in less than a week’s time, we’d collect a massive carload of donations!!

We just returned to the office from dropping them off at the Fisherman Church in Norcross. They are still accepting donations. If you’d like to contribute, contact me at emily@eclairecreations.com and I’ll give you their info.

You can also make a $10 contribution to the Red Cross relief effort by texting “haiti” to 90999. It’s quick and easy and the $10 is simply added to your phone bill. For more information, go to www.redcross.org

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”
- Margaret Mead