Attention is the beginning of devotion

how to love + the orange turns into an avocado

“Attention is the beginning of devotion,” Mary Oliver wrote in her essay, Upstream.

And, of course, this is so. The unnoticed can’t possibly be loved.

I read this line from this Atlantic article after reading

Jillian Hess

‘s 5 Love Notes, both featuring Mary Oliver’s poetry, and it stabbed me right in the heart.

If we do not notice, we cannot love.¹

In that spirit, here are some things I’ve noticed…

1. Heart attacking walls makes people feel seen and loved…

2. Listen, I don’t make the rules. This potato just jumped out at me and said - I love you!²

3. Painting our hearts is a way to be more self-aware (

   Mari Andrew
   -inspired!)

4. In the final weeks of her life, the writer Flannery O’Connor, who was deeply religious, described a prayer she “said every day for many years.” I think it is so beautiful.

   O Raphael, lead us toward those we are waiting for, those who are waiting for us: Raphael, Angel of happy meeting, lead us by the hand toward those we are looking for. oh angel of happy meeting…

6. World Read Aloud Day was awesome. Along with the potato, kids are also my love language

7. Poetry. This one caught my breath.

   

8. A book with HEART? Try The Unforgettable Guinevere St. Clair: “Part mystery, part study of the human heart, and one pierced with rays of hope.” — Booklist (starred review)

   

9. Volunteers make the world go round. From my town’s free, independent paper:

   

10. Our beating hearts! (I pitched this as picture book idea, but the feedback was that I needed a protagonist…but isn’t the heart the hero?!)

working to make this more kid-centric

Pay attention. Attention is the beginning of devotion…

Love, Amy <3

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Baby Bump Painting of the Week:

watercolor and black ink

Painting these baby bumps “fruits” week by week is helping me pay attention to the miracle of life.

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The Unforgettable Guinevere St. Clair is part-mystery, part understanding of the human heart 💖

Ten Thousand Tries is Golden’s quest to save his dad and the soccer team ⚽

The McNifficents is one summer with six rambunctious kids and their miniature-schnauzer nanny 🐕 New Hampshire’s 2024 Great Reads for Kids selection!

1. p.s. Noticing will make us much better writers

2. potatoes are actually my love language