She Taught Me Wonder
"The world is filled with so many beautiful things; constantly be amazed by them."
- Momma Joan
Long before I became an artist, my mother was teaching me how to see the world as a masterpiece waiting to be noticed.
As a child, she took me to arboretums, butterfly gardens, wildflower patches, and quiet nature trails. She showed me that beauty wasn’t something we had to search for. It was already there if we slowed down long enough to notice it.
She taught me to stay present, especially when my anxious mind wanted to pull me into worry instead of wonder.
She taught me to marvel at birds, admire wildflowers, appreciate the changing seasons, and to care deeply for every living creature.
Most importantly, she taught me the power of gratitude, especially as a balm for difficult seasons.
Today, I realize those lessons became the foundation of my life and my art. Everything I create is a tribute to the gift she gave me; the ability to notice the extraordinary beauty woven into ordinary moments.
She Chose Joy
One of my favorite memories is taking my mom to a Sips & Strokes painting class. Although Parkinson’s caused her hands to tremble, she sipped wine, giggled, painted with abandon, and reminded me that art isn’t about perfection.
It’s about the joy of creating.
She laughed that her piano painting had become a little too “surrealist” thanks to her trembling hands. To me, it was a masterpiece...as was she.
My mother embraced beauty in every form. She taught me to appreciate music, dance, theater, museums and the simple joy of creative expression. From Broadway shows in Memphis and Nashville, to unforgettable "bucket list" trips to New York and Las Vegas as her disease progressed, our adventures were always filled with laughter. Even the time I hit a curb and nearly launched her out of her wheelchair on Las Vegas Boulevard, she laughed hysterically and thanked me for the thrilling ride.
Through it all, joy was her baseline. And it was contagious.
After she passed, I framed this photograph because it captures everything I want to remember. Her radiant spirit, her love of life, and the quiet courage that continues to inspire everything I create.
My Journey Through Grief
In 2014, after a courageous battle with Parkinson’s disease, my precious mother
passed away, and the world I knew was forever changed.
She endured more hardship in her life than anyone should ever have to face. Through it all she never lost her kindness, her grateful heart, or her ability to find beauty in the smallest moments. Even as Parkinson's slowly took away so much, it never touched the generosity of her spirit.
She was not only my mother, but also my greatest teacher, my biggest encourager, and my best friend. After her death, I found myself experiencing an overwhelming ache in my soul and crippling grief. While searching for peace and continued connection to her spirit, art became part of my therapy.
What began as a way to help navigate my grief, slowly became something much deeper. As I created, I felt more connected to her spirit.
As I slowly learned to navigate the world without my best friend, I began noticing the same creatures my mother had taught me to love, especially hummingbirds and cardinals. Often they would come at times when I was thinking of her and I began to associate them with her continued spiritual presence in my life.
I began keeping a journal of every encounter.
The Hummingbird - My First Sacred Messenger
Over time, I realized I wasn't alone. People across cultures and generations have found comfort in these same quiet moments. These types of sacred messengers have been embraced as symbols of hope, transformation, remembrance, and enduring love. Whether you view them as signs, meaningful coincidences, or simply beautiful reminders to remain present and connected, they have a remarkable way of inviting us to pause and remember.
For me, they became part of my own healing journey and a way to remember and honor the extraordinary woman who had given me so much. I also began to associate butterflies with my grandmother and eagles and ducks with my grandfather. Those quiet, yet deeply meaningful encounters became the inspiration behind the Sacred Messengers Collection.
Some of the most meaningful moments in life can’t be fully explained.
Sometimes they come quietly. A hummingbird hovering outside your window.
A butterfly crossing your path at just the right moment. A dragonfly catching the light over still water. A cardinal appearing when your thoughts drift toward someone you love.
"Life is eternal, and love is immortal, and death is only a horizon; and a horizon is nothing save the limit of our sight." - Rossiter W. Raymond
A Letter I will Treasure Forever
One year before she passed away, my mom wrote me a letter.
In it she reminded me to notice the birds, flowers, butterflies, changing seasons, sunsets, mountains...and all the quiet beauty that surrounds us every day.
She encouraged me to never lose my sense of wonder.
To live with gratitude.
And to always keep looking for beauty.
Today those words shape not only my life, but every piece of art I create. I return to her words often as they have become a compass for my life.
Today, I simply wanted to share them with you.
My hope is they encourage you to pause, take a deep breath, and notice the beauty around you.
Momma Joan's Wisdom
These daily reminders were taped to my mother’s bathroom mirror and reflected the way she chose to live each day. After she passed, we shared them as keepsake cards at her Celebration of Life. Now they live on my bathroom mirror. I hope they bring you the same comfort and inspiration they continue to bring me.
My Hope
My greatest hope is that every Sacred Messenger becomes more than a work of art.
May it become a quiet companion.
A daily reminder to notice beauty.
To embrace hope.
To celebrate love.
And to remember that even in life’s most difficult seasons, grace has a remarkable way of finding us when we need it most.
