Keeping creative during sad times (plus HAPPY NEWS!)
This is a post I have wanted to be able to write for a while. For the last 3 years to be exact!
Phil & I are expecting a baby boy!! Due at the end of September.
The journey to get here has been tough. We had to go through IVF.
IVF isn’t widely understood. Before I had to go through it, it just meant ‘test tube babies’ to me. To give you a flavour, it actually involves:
- months of daily self-administered hormone injections
- exhausting reactions to those hormones
- countless medical appointments
- general anaesthetics
all with not very high odds of success.
Oh and lots and lots of waiting. It’s a huge lesson in patience.
And the hardest part is the ’emotional rollercoaster’ of it all. It was the hardest thing I think I’ve ever been through (strangely beating thyroid cancer and a nasty divorce).
Possibly this is because I have always known I wanted children. I have a clear memory of thinking about it after seeing a baby on the TV when I was 9. It was deeply engrained in what I wanted for my life. Which meant that the threat of that not happening was very painful. As was watching friends and family having babies without issue.
People who haven’t experienced infertility can find it hard to relate. And I get that.
For those of you not familiar with what it feels like, it’s sadness and a strange kind of grief.
You can read about it here.
It’s made worse by the fact it’s pretty much a taboo subject and you’re often left to experience it isolated as a couple. Which is why I’m talking about it now, because I really believe the more we talk about it, then at least the secondary level of distress related to the ‘taboo’ part will decrease.
Like other forms of grief & sadness, it can be sapping of your creativity and your desire to paint.
But, in my experience, the blockage was only there if the grief wasn’t given space. If the sadness wasn’t allowed to be expressed.
I think it’s when the emotion is blocked, that’s when your creativity shuts down.
So for the most part I managed to keep on painting over the last few years. Of course doing it for a living helps with motivation. But the main help was to tune into when the ‘blocked’ feeling arrived and realising that meant I needed to take time out for a cry or to just write in a journal whatever came to mind. To get the feelings OUT somehow.
Doing that (even when I really didn’t want to – who wants to sit with horrible feelings?!), before trying to press ahead with my day was key.
If I powered ahead regardless I really struggled.
It’s been a tough few years, but now we have a happy ending, thanks to the absolute miracle of modern medicine, for which we are hugely grateful.
To those of you going through this now or who have been through this in the past, perhaps before technology was so advanced, and with or without your happy ending, you have my absolute sympathy and love.
And now that the 3 months of horrible all-day ‘morning’ sickness has passed, I’m now hoping for an uneventful rest of the pregnancy!
If you’ve got tips for nurturing your creativity through times of grief & loss, or other similar experiences you’d like to share, please leave me a comment below, I love to read them.
P.S for members – don’t worry, we’ve been filming lots of tutorials ahead of time and, with Phil & I both at home to share baby-care, I plan to be just as involved as ever with school activity!
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Wow! That’s fantastic news Anna! Congratulations to you and your husband and thank you for sharing. It’s all too easy to view other people through the gloss of social media and imagine that everything in their lives is rosy, when in actuality everyone has their own challenges and struggles. So lovely to hear that things have worked out for you and wishing you a very happy, healthy (and uneventful!) pregnancy from herein! Best wishes, Gill xx
I agree! Congrats and best wishes Anna
What great news! Many congratulations to you both. As you say, we all suffer sad times and sometimes we can’t see any light at the end of the tunnel. But all the struggles will be forgotten when you hold that little boy in your arms, I have been through some very sad times myself in recent years and all desire to paint disappeared. I wish I’d had your inspirational blogs to read then! Wishing you all the very best. Take care of yourself.
Barbara xx
Congratulations Anna, what fantastic news especially after such a long struggle! Wishing you a healthy and happy last few months of pregnancy and looking forward to hearing the announcement of the birth of your baby boy! Best wishes, Christine xxx
You must be a beautiful person to share your feelings with all of us.. thank you and congratulations.
Congratulations!
What amazing news. I truly wish you well. I have been through immense sadness in my life. Art was the thing that saved me. Thank god for Art.
Take care of yourself and put your feet up when you can. You will need some sleep in the ‘sleep bank’!
Congratulations – we’re so happy for you! Thank you for sharing your story – you’re truly an inspiration!
You are looking beautiful and strong Anna. Congratulations! And thank you for sharing!
Anna – what great news for you and Phil! Children are such a blessing…and getting there is an emotional roller coaster – even when things go relatively normal, let alone when situations such as yours happens. i wish you two the very best and CAN”T WAIT TO SEE PICTURES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Congratulations to you and Phil! I am very happy for you both and Know that you will be a wonderful mother. You are a kind, compassionate and creative soul and your new baby is lucky to have you for a mother:)
Wishing you all the best, Carla xx
Heartwarming news, wonderful to hear and you deserve this special gift, you’ll be a perfectly great mother…from Paris with warm regards
Fantastic news. Very many congratulations to both of you, and I hope the rest of your pregnancy goes smoothly. If your mothering instincts are only half as good as your art teaching skills then this little boy is in for a great childhood and a wonderful start to life.
I am so glad that your life seems to have turned a corner after all the lows that it has thrown at you.
Best wishes to you both.
Tony.
What beautiful news! Congratulations to you both!
Huge Congratulations Anna and Phil. Wonderful news, I hope all goes smoothly for you and please don’t put your brushes down for too long, we will miss you.
Kind regards, Stevie
Lovely to hear your news. My step daughter- in- law endured 5 years of visits and procedures at our Montreal Infertility Clinic. After four four attempts, twins were conceived and they are now 5 years old are the sunshine of their grandparents lives. It is a wonderful ride for grandparents and the greatest joy in their lives. Congratulations to all.
Donna
Delighted you have your grandbabies Donna!
Very very happy for you and Phil. Thanks for sharing this and tips on overcoming creativity blocks. ❤️
Congrats! So proud of all your achievements, you truly deserve this blessing.
Love and all best!
Congratulations Anna! I’m so pleased for you both.
Congratulations Anna and Phil!!!
You look beautiful as always.
The bond of artist, atleast for me, has always been a safe haven to share happiness, and hardships.
Thank you for sharing.
I wish you the Best!
Absolutely AWESOME, congratulations to you and Phil. You look stunning in your photo, positively glowing! I hope everything goes well and you are getting plenty of rest. You are an inspiration to me Anna, thank you.
Love Dale and family
Congratulations!!!! Amazing that you could still paint…Thank you for sharing your story and your talent!!
Donna
Fantastic news Anna. Many congratulations to you and Phil. Life can be very challenging but this is one you have struggled with, coped with and succeeded with. Wishing you both a very healthy and happy family life.
Congratulations, Anna!
Congratulations Anna! What a lovely news.. as always your way of communicating it to the schoolers is simply fantabulous.. wish you the best and plenty of creative rest at that! My heartiest congratulations to Phil too!
Congratulations. Nice to hear good news.
Congratulations to you both! Thank you for sharing your struggles as it will help others. We also have a miracle granddaughter that is so precious. We are looking forward to seeing your healthy baby boy in September. Enjoy the journey!
Oh Anna, I am so happy for you and Phil! You have such a beautiful spirit and will be a wonderful mother for this lucky baby. Keeping you and your baby in my heart and prayers for good health through the remainder of your pregnancy. Thank you for sharing your story.
Anna – Oh, such wonderful, wonderful news!!! Congrats!! 🙂
Congratulations, you are an inspiration!
Such happy news! Congratulations Anna and Phil! I wish you a joyous and healthy pregnancy.
Congratulations Anna and Phil! What wonderful news! You look beautiful! I’m so happy about your happy ending.
Oh So Happy for you Anna! Many congratulations!!!
A dear friend’s daughter married late in life as did her husband. They’d met in college but then met again much later and everything clicked. They had one baby girl together and still felt they had more family to come. It’s very expensive and risky and all that you’ve mentioned to us so you know. They were only given a relatively short time because of their ages but they now have a set of fraternal twins and one last little boy and have been so blessed! All are happy and healthy and I have seen miracles happen for them and I’m so happy for yours.
Enjoy every minute of it now and may it be a beautiful for you as it can be. It is truly an adventure!
Congratulations and a lovely photo. Looking forward to hearing more news soon! Sarah
Wooooow really very happy for you two. Not having been able to get kids of my own, I can fully feel for you, and sence your overwhelming joy. A huge congratulation, and may the good times roll with joy. Beauuuutiful news
Thank you Nadia, that’s very kind of you x
Congratulations!! So happy everything you have been through has had a bright outcome!!
Congrats. for you both!!! I will become a first time grandma on July, two months early than your due date but, I feel exited for you guys, love, joy, harmony and lots of laughter your way 😉
Oh, Anna, what wonderful news! I’m so happy for you and Phil. Through your videos, blogs and school it’s quite clear that you are a kind, insightful, patient, intellegent and generous soul..what a wonderful mother you will make! I hope that the next few months of your pregnancy are smooth sailing with no more morning sickness. Congratulations! Janet ps gorgeous, glowing pic of you 🙂
That’s a lovely thing to write Janet, thank you
Congratulations to you both . Nigel
Thanks Nigel!
Blessings to your growing family.
I think the most difficult lesson to master is managing one’s emotions.
I always say, “Learn to ride the dragon, don’t let the dragon ride you”.
The angels say that if humanity learned to master their emotions,
war would be a rarity.
Of all emotions, I find grief to be the most difficult… there are so many aspects to it.
But, as with all emotions (energies… which are just frequency and vibration) identify exactly what you feel in a word or two (sound frequency) and then identify its opposite word (sound) and focus (chant for example) on that. In essence, reprogram your life’s frequency program.
I hope this helps. Pregnancy is the most literal act of creation… LIFE ITSELF.
Beautiful flow of healthy, happy life force.
This is a good technique…
Many, many Congratulations to you Anna and to Phil.
Have a happy and healthy pregnancy.
Wonderful news, and thank you too for sharing your sensitive story.
Love, Cx
Oh many congratulations Anna. I am so pleased for you and Phil. You look wonderful.
I only have two words of advice for your wonderful pregnancy…TRAIN PHIL :>)
After meeting both of you at the seminar in Florida I am sure he is trainable LOL! I am so very happy for you both. What an inspiration and positive influence you are on so many artists lives! Thank YOU for sharing your exciting news with us…and NO you aren’t fat……..just FLUFFY :>)
best wishes….I am sure all will go well. Until the first dirty diaper …….LOL:>)
Fantastic news, so pleased for you xx
Congratulations! I have an idea of what you went through as my son and daughter in law went through the same thing. I now have a handsome 9 yr old grandson!
Wonderful news!
Congratulations Anna!
What a wonderful outlook you have chosen to have despite the suffering and sadness. I am battling thyroid cancer currently. I very much enjoy the classes that take away the guessing and provide the direction and skill to focus he mind and finish well. Thank you for giving of yourself.
One thing I am wondering is if you have considered charging per project? Sometimes it takes me some time to get back to a project.
Best of luck with your fight with thyroid cancer Lacie and yes in the future I expect we will also offer some projects as one-offs.
Congratulations anna for this wonderful news! He/she will be a very happy and lucky baby… I’m very happy for you and your husband !
Congratulations, Anna and Phil !!! I am delighted to hear you are expecting a baby boy
Love and best wishes.
Deborah Xx
Congratulations to you both on your long awaited bundle from heaven.
So very thrilled for you and Phil! Thank you for sharing this journey in your life with us!
Huge congratulations Anna and Phil, and enormous respect for your persistence and having looked after each other so well during the roller-coaster of events and emotions whilst providing such a seamless and professional service to us all!
Congratulations! I am very happy for you. ….. Love & light
Congratulations ….. so pleased for you both. Hope everything is easy from here on.
Congratulations to both of you, and at last a nappy ending..
CONGRATULATIONS!!!!! So happy and excited for you and your family. Thank you for sharing.
Greatest news ever!! so thrilled for you!! I had to go through a miscarriage before going on to successfully have my child. Keeping your sights on the goal is the key, I think and keeping busy with things that fill you with passion
Thanks for sharing Cecilia, it’s great people talk about these experiences.
Congratulations, wonderful news, you look so happy and beautiful, so happy for you.
Congratulations and happiness to both you and Phil.
Great news Anna and Phil! Enjoy the rest of your pregnancy.
Congratulations. You are now on a journey with this amazing bundle of joy. I always look at life as a gift and sometimes the gift may not have been what I was prepared for. When my mother became ill will vascular dementia, I had to go from roll of child to parent. Fortunately she never suffered. She was a beautiful, energetic person who always loved life. While caring for my mother, I started to paint. I needed to keep busy as her symptoms come on. When she was well she painted and when she saw me painting she always said how much she loved it. Your journey will be magical. You will be a wonderful mother. Thank you for sharing your sad time with us. May God protect you and your family.
Very Happiest of wishes for the three of you…a beautiful and growing family. Thank you for sharing your stories. These are important to digest and see an artist’s forward movement through pain and grief. My recent experience with my husband included his unexpected triple bypass surgery. The surgery and hospitalization was week one. My daughter was here to help me prepare for his coming home. Following that, I have had to do it all on my own. On top of the exhaustion, and mental strain and depression that happened, I also could not pick up a brush, a pencil, nor one item is use to do art with. Finally, I chose to read Simple Abundance (Sarah Ban Breathnach) each day in May. May was about HOME. And something in those reads gave me the idea to get a clean sketchbook, a pen and simply to use any moments I chose to draw anything I found I loved in our home. One sketch of the dog under a tree led to many others, and eventually, with the simple choosing “to take a line for a walk” as Paul Klee termed it, I found the way to reconnect with whom I most deeply am- a creative that needs to create to be well and balanced. . And that knowing has given me the strength to carry on through my husband’s continued wellness journey. Blessings and love to you and yours.
Interesting that you found painting at that challenging time of your life Eileen, thanks for sharing.
My mother died recently and art was my solace – I used it to draw two large gates in a beautiful garden which were left open for mum to walk through into heaven – I placed it into her hands in her coffin – I can’t begin to tell you how much it helped
many congratulations to you both xx
What a sweet idea and I’m sorry for your loss Ann. Thanks for sharing and it sounds like you will be keeping creative.
Congratulations! I am so happy for you and your husband!
Oh Anna, so so pleased for you both. Simply lovely wonderful news to hear. I hope you can have a smooth pregnancy now. With much love to you both. Xx
Congratulations Anna & Phil. How beautiful you look in your picture. Your beauty & love of life is shared in your open letter. Thank you so very much for this.
You are a wonderful example for us all, thank you for being you.
I am really happy to hear your news. My younger daughter had IVF more than once but without the happy ending. Luckily for her she has a full and happy life without children (she’s in Tanzania at the moment with a charity group teaching sewing to albino ladies in a community for them) I wish you lots of happiness with your new family addition to come and for sure you’ll be able to keep on painting and making others happy with your tuition, as you did me. Best wishes to you both Anne Cremer
I’m sorry to hear what your daughter went through Anne but I am glad she is doing so much good in the world and sounds like she has now come to terms with things. A very challenging path to walk but I’m sure you were and are a great support to her.
So happy for you, Anna and Phil. Hearty Congratulations. I have an idea of how you feel. My husband and I tried for 3 years to have a second child. I finally got pregnant and 3 months in lost the baby. We were lucky, we had a beautiful little girl. No one knew what to say, as you say it wasn’t really talked about back then. However, the grief was very real. Eventually, we were very lucky and had a beautiful boy who is now a 32 yr. old wonderful man. I didn’t have my art to help at the time. However, I have it now as I’m going through disabling breathing issues. In a way, I am grieving now, grieving the active life I thought I was going to have. I can’t do a lot of things anymore, but I can sit and paint. I get lost in my painting and forget everything else. It has been a real blessing. I do so enjoy watching you paint on YouTube. Your paintings are so beautiful and have inspired me. Now that I know a little more about you I’m inspired even more! Congratulations and best wishes.
Thanks for sharing Paula and I’m delighted you had your son in the end. I can imagine you are grieving that active life at present though it is wonderful that you are finding the activities you can still do and finding enjoyment in them. Don’t squash any sad feelings that come up though, that’s my advice. Good luck x
Many congratulations. Thanks too for sharing Nitya’s seminars. Very empowering.
Oh, Wow! Congratulations Anna and Phil! That is wonderful news! I’m sorry you had to go through such a painful, sad experience, I too wanted a baby so badly but my husband had been through cancer treatment which left him unable to have children. Due to various reasons, we decided on adoption. That can be a very trying time as well, but as it turned out after 6 years of marriage we were finally able to adopt a beautiful little girl! She is now 39 years old! We had our Wow experience and now you have yours!! Thanks for sharing. You two will be wonderful parents.
Thanks for sharing your experience and your own happy ending there Shauna.
Very Happiest of wishes for the three of you…a beautiful and growing family. Thank you for sharing your stories. These are important to digest and see an artist’s forward movement through pain and grief. My recent experience with my husband included his unexpected triple bypass surgery. The surgery and hospitalization was week one. My daughter was here to help me prepare for his coming home. Following that, I have had to do it all on my own. On top of the exhaustion, and mental strain and depression that happened, I also could not pick up a brush, a pencil, nor one item is use to do art with. Finally, I chose to read Simple Abundance (Sarah Ban Breathnach) each day in May. May was about HOME. And something in those reads gave me the idea to get a clean sketchbook, a pen and simply to use any moments I chose to draw anything I found I loved in our home. One sketch of the dog under a tree led to many others, and eventually, with the simple choosing “to take a line for a walk” as Paul Klee termed it, I found the way to reconnect with whom I most deeply am- a creative that needs to create to be well and balanced. . And that knowing has given me the strength to carry on through my husband’s continued wellness journey. Blessings and love to you and yours.
Thanks for sharing that Connie and I’m pleased you found a way of honoring your creative side through a very difficult time. I hope your husband is recovering well.
Congratulations on finally getting there, even though the road getting there has been truly tough. I have gone through cancer too which caused infertility. I was very upset by the fact I couldn’t have children naturally. But now I have 2 beautiful kids by IVF. I feel for you every step of the way, especially that all day morning sickness!! You look absolutely beautiful and I hope the rest of the pregnancy goes smoothly and have a safe birth. 🙂
Oh, so pleased the IVF worked for you, thanks for sharing Adrianne.
Congratulations! So happy for you both.
What fantastic news! Congratulations! What a lucky baby to have such a beautiful and talented mother (: Thanks for sharing- the happy and the sad.
Congratulations from my whole heart from Russia)))) That is wonderful news))) I read your book and watch your videos. You are a wonderful master))) Happiness and happy days to you and your family))) I hope there will be a time when you can make a master class in St. Petersburg in Russia)))) Thank you very much for your creativity and wonderful pictures. I love them)))
Congratulations tp you both! May God bless you with a healthy pregnancy and delivery and many years of joy with your precious child..
Many congratulations for you both!And thank you for sharing this!
Anna, what lovely news! Much as your art is important to you please, please please make as much time for that little boy as you possibly can! I remember my mother saying that jobs etc can wait enjoy being a mother as you cannot get that time back. The sacrifice is worth it, babies grow up so very quickly. Every good wish and happiness to you , Phil and of course your little boy.
Great advice, thanks Dorothy. I do plan to make space for him and really enjoy him.
What fantastic news! You look happy and healthy. I am so thankful you were able to continue your tutorials as you are a gifted artist and teacher. My thoughts and prayers for the rest of your pregnancy and a happy, healthy little baby boy.
Wonderful news. Now we want to see baby sketches instead of birds and fruit.
xxx
Congratulations! What a true blessing! It never ceases to amaze me the miracle of babies. Thank you for sharing your wonderful news.
Oh, Anna, you look absolutely beautiful. What a fortunate little boy, to have you and Phil for parents. I think of the picture of you as a little girl, with your easel in the garden, and wonder if he will be doing the same. Thank you for sharing your happy news with us.
I’m pretty frozen up right now. Lot’s going on (mostly not good) and I have big decisions to make. I think your idea of writing in a journal might help. I can’t focus on anything.
I admire your bravery and spirit and wish you every good thing as your life moves to a new level.
Beth
Thanks Beth and do try using the journal, you think you don’t know what you’ll write and then if you just sit there and start it all starts to flow and it is a release.
Congratulations! Boys are wonderful. I have two amazing grown sons who are my biggest joy. You will be their first love. Nothing better!!
It’s a happy beginning! Congratulations to you both – terrific news.
Congratulations to you and Phil on having a beautiful baby boy in Sept. I will be praying for you and Phil and the baby for safe delivery and healing for you. Thank you for sharing with us. You and baby boy will be in our hearts and prayers.
Oh Anna and Phil this is wonderful news! Your love has melted away those gloomy clouds and now it shines brightly over a new life!
I wish you both all the very best.
So happy for you. I know what you are feeling so well. Even tho it has been over 30 years I remember the agony of waiting. Trying 6 years to have a baby, being jealous and resentful when others “accidentally ” got pregnant and the absolute joy when we had our baby girl. Then 4 years of losing baby after baby until we gave up and finally had our very own “accident” – a ten pound baby boy . It was all worth it – even the heartbreak. Enjoy every moment and remember – the diaper duty is the easy part!
Thanks for sharing this Diane and so pleased your son arrived in the end!
Anna, so very happy for you…my son and daughter in law are going through this, much money and no success…age is a factor, also…everything you mentioned they are experiencing…they are about to give up. I wish she had a creative outlet, but she does not. I can’t wait to know your baby boy is here and hopefully a pix of you all…I love your school and I am learning so much!
Sorry to hear what your daughter is going through Paula and I hope that there is a positive resolution for her soon. Glad you’re enjoying the School!
Many congratulations Anna and Phil. Lovely news .
What marvelous news! I have been out all morning so every one else got ahead of me with the comments but I echo them all. My own comment is you have that ” glow” every one talks about for expectant mothers and as sunny as the sunflower you painted. I wish you all of the best!
When my husband died four years ago painting literally saved my sanity. I hadn’t touched a brush in forty odd years and I paint greeting cards and am now doing dog portraits. all in water colors. Last year I painted 387 individual cards with no reproduction. I have been taking your tutorials and using your brush strokes and wonderful colors that I probably would never have chosen . You truly are an inspiration and I know there is going to be one very luck little boy to have you for a mother! Blessings to the soon to be three of you
Thanks Nancy and I’m pleased to hear that you really found a creative outlet after the massive loss of your husband. I congratulate you on keeping sane! xx
Congratulations Anna and Phil! What wonderful news. Thank you for sharing so honestly. It makes you more real to us.
You look lovely in the photo! You’re glowing. 🙂 Best wishes for the rest of the pregnancy and birth. You’re going to love being a mum.
Oh, Anna, I am thrilled for you and your hubby! Congratulations, best wishes, and prayers for you and your family. What a blessing!
Anna and Phil: The very best of good wishes to you both! So much sorrow is now behind you and you both have such a grand gift to look forward to in September. Happy times are here for you as a family with many treasures to come. You look absolutely lovely in your pregnancy, Anna. Thank you for sharing your struggles and your joy. It is greatly appreciated as we all have difficulties in our lives and it can indeed be overwhelming to get back to our art. Blessings on you, Phil and your expected little boy.
Such lovely news! Congratulations and best wishes. Thanks for sharing this with us.
Congratulations Anna and Phil!!!!This is amazing:)))
Anna-from 20y me and my husband trying to get a baby.
5 miscarriage,last one 3years ago in 23weeks of pregnency-that was veeery hard for me,close to depression.
In that sad time,the bigest kick give me my husband.He encourrage me to go out fro bed and start making whot I love to do..Without him I’ll be not here now.
IVF -super that we have possibilities for it,but is not workinbg with everybody.
Any way,art is the best remedy for sadness:)
Happy news Anna!
Monika I’m so sorry for what you have been through, it is unimaginably hard. I am sooo grateful that the IVF has worked for us here and very aware that it is not always successful. I hope you find a positive resolution in yourself, and am very pleased to hear that you have such a wonderfully supportive husband. Lots of love x
Congratulations
So happy for you Anna and Phil, . you have so much joy to come, xx
Just lovely . Xoxo
A happy ending ! Congratulations to you both may this give you all the happiness in the world. Big hugs and love from France from a very happy follower xx
Fantastic !
Congratulations Anna and Phil! What wonderful news.!
So glad to hear your news best wishes to you both it seem a long road but your got there in the end .I myself was never blessed with children but am so blessed with a wonderful husband love to you both Rita Morris
Thanks for sharing Rita and a wonderful partner is the absolute best!!
Tears in my eyes out of happiness for you both!
Wow wonderful news. I can totally relate, my daughter is going through something very similar. It is difficult to see her struggle with the emotional, physical and financial stress of it all. It is nice to hear happy news and makes me hopeful her. My heartfelt wishes to you and your family for continued happiness.
I agree that having an artistic outlet helps with the day to day coping mechanism. Thank you for your encouragement and sharing of your talents.
.
Fingers crossed for your daughter Susan.
Hi Anna what wonderful news, I am very happy for you both
you now have the longest commision of your life. Being a MUM. Xxx
Congratulations to you both! So lovely to read all these comments even if not always a happy ending. I could say I didn’t have a happy ending either but although my husband and I never got to be parents we have a fabulous relationship and for that I feel blessed. Art for me is a way of escaping the stress of everyday life and just having the opportunity of being me. Thanks for sharing your story and I am so happy for you and Phil. xx
Thanks for sharing Fiona and of course I don’t mean to oversimplify things. With a wonderful partner with you you’re really helped in making your life rich and full and can also help each other come to terms with any disappointments life brings,
My heartfelt congratulations!
Anna, I am so very pleased for you and Phil.
I had a friend who went through IVF, but unfortunately it did not work out for her.
From things you have said, I know Phil is very supportive, but I really don’t know how you have physically (let alone emotionally) managed to do so much over this period.
I know you will be wonderful parents to your baby boy when he arrives.. xxx
Thanks Gloria! It’s been a bit of a challenge I have to say!
So happy for you. You are right, depression saps creativity and just the desire to do anything. Which is why I started taking art classes. I will never be an artist. Since I am retired I have no desire to make a job out of it. I like to paint for the colors I think. You are a great artist. Thanks for being willing to share your secrets! I will join you soon!
Huge Congratulations to you Both!
Wonderful News!
Congratulations to both of you, Anna and Phi! A child is a wonderful gift from God!
That’s awesome news Anna! We all might be learning to be painting babies soon
Congratulations!
Congratulations!!! ❤️❤️❤️
Congratulations . That is lovely news.
Congratulations . That is lovely news. I am really pleased for you both.
I m so happy for you! Congratulations!!!
Thanks so much for such lovely comments! I’ve been loving reading them all and will have a proper reply session tomorrow! x
Congratulations! A new member of Team Anna!! I am most happy for you both! My niece had IVF years ago. Two successful! They now have a son in college and twins who will enter college in the fall. Our son and his wife had many failed pregnancies. Then IVF and now have a four year old son and almost 2 years later had a surprise son! Miracles do happen. So happy and excited for you and Phil! Enjoy every minute.
Great news to hear Sally, thanks for sharing!
CONGRATULATIONS!!!! Such great news! Wishing you all the best! And thank you for sharing your story!
What wonderful news. You may need a year to read all these comments. I am happy for you. Take care, sending lots of positive vibes your way. Bonnie Sun City West Arizona
Wonderful, happy news – congrats to you both.
Congratulations to you both!!! Thank you for sharing such happy news.
Ko koe rä, Taku nei raukura. Ma tau a-roha , E rau o taku , Tïtapa e. (Karakia for a first baby – “You are my most precious feather. May your love (be) the top leaf of my sacred family tree”). Congratulations and blessings from NZ! Thank you for your post. When I was experiencing acute clinical depression when my dad was dying, I met a lovely psychologist who helped me through a very difficult period of life. He was a very proper (English) man of science, who wore bow ties and was very precise! But the one thing I remember him asking me, was weather I had any creative hobbies. I had painted and written poetry at random times during my life, and he encouraged me to take one of those things back up, regardless of how much I felt that I had no creativity or energy to give. At the time, I thought there was no way it could help, and the path back to the sunshine once hitting bottom was a long one. But he was right about many things, including this! As someone who has had experience of depression throughout their life, I now acknowledge this creativity as an important and vital part of healthy living. It is often at the times when we have the least to give our creativity, that we need it the most. Ka Kite. ☺
Thanks for sharing this inspiring story Lisa!
What wonderful news!! Sharing your struggles & now resulting happiness makes you so much more friendly & personable , if that was even possible since your such a fantastic person 🙂
Congratulations again to you & Phil !!! Wishing your new little family much happiness, good health & lots of love !
Hugs
Pamela
What wonderful news!! Sharing your struggles & now resulting happiness makes you so much more friendly & personable , if that was even possible since your such a fantastic person 🙂
Congratulations again to you & Phil !!! Wishing your new little family much happiness, good health & lots of love !
Hugs
Pamela
Thanks Pamela
Congrats that is wonderful news and sharing with us your struggles does help us all.
Much Happiness to your and your husband.
Cheers from Canada
Sheryl
Dear Anna&Phil, congratulations to both of you from cloudy Saint Petersburg, Russia.
Anna, you have been helping for sooo much people to wake their creativity and bring them to happiness, that now it’s back to you and your family.
I wish you all the good, to you, Phil and your baby.
Thank you Elen!
Anna, congratulations to you. You will be an awesome mom, and your baby will be so very blessed. I’m truly ecstatic for you! As to grief and loss through creativity, I lost one of my sister’s a couple of years ago, (there were 5 of us girls), and it was devastating. Until then, I’d not done any real artwork, only sporadically trying a quick drawing, certainly never been serious about it. However, something stirred in me after the loss and changed how I “process” things. By the following year, at the age of 64, I began art classes….colored pencil and pastels. I love it, but I have days of devastating anxiety mixed with sadness that makes me want to drop it all, and I’m sure it’s all relative. To date, however, the “new” me has taken 10 classes, and I’m well into the 11th. I can understand wanting to give it all up – I certainly feel that way often enough. But, really, the pure enjoyment that comes from a finished piece of art keeps me persevering! 🙂 And now I’m about ready to branch out into watercolor, which I got interested in due to your tutorials; I thank you for that. Indeed, I have signed up for your Craftsy class “Realistic Watercolors Step by Step”, which I’ll start soon. Do take care, and again…Congratulations, dear lady!!! I pray all the very best for you and your family!
Thank you Vickie. How interesting that you had a shift after your dear sister passed. I wonder if somehow she helped you (the world is mysterious!). Anyway it is great that some good has come of the loss. Well done you!
Wow Anna, that is such fantastic news! Many congratulations to both you and Phil! You have such generosity of spirit Anna and so bravely sharing your story reaches out to so many people. Your honesty, resilience and positivity really are an inspiration. Wishing you, Phil and your wee baby boy all the very best from New Zealand!
How wonderful for you Anna. My sincere congratulations to you both. Here’s to the happy times ahead. My very best wishes .
I am so happy for you and you husband!! Pregnancy was a wonderful experience that I remember with a great joy. I wish you a peaceful waiting to meet your baby.
And thank you for sharing your life with us, like a friend!
Many kisses
Elisabetta
Congratulation. All the best to you and the baby.
Sabira.
South Africa
Congratulations Anna and Phil,
What a blessing and I wish you both loads of happiness with your little one.
Anna,
Lovely! I always enjoy your site. Love watercolor myself, even though I am not painting daily now.
Congratulations! You must be thrilled and excited ! We had a similar experience and I found it very hard to go through. We both did. But now, many years later, we have grandchildren! Keep painting and best of all, paint your baby! …when asleep perhaps like Monet, and others did. I also loved drawing our two when they were playing in the bathtub. They were then relatively calm, and at least they were located in one spot together. ENJOY, ENJOY ENJOY.
One of my favorite pieces of advice is to dress yourself first when you are getting ready to go out.. That way, you feel good about your readiness, and the child has less time to get messed up! It works!
Best to you all,
Rosemary and Bo
Thanks Rosemary & lovely to hear about your grandchildren!
Congratulations Anna & Phil!
Wishing you all a lifetime of love, health, laughter and happiness together.
Awe I’m so happy for you! Biggest Congratulations! I have been dealing with a similar issue for the last 6 years. We’ve tried treatments etc. It has been an emotionally exhausting experience. Finding your site actually helped me discover my love of watercolor during that difficult time. I thank you for that. You don’t know how many times I have watched your videos wondering if you’d pop up in my notification one day with this very news. I just always felt like you’d make such a great mum. I’m extra excited because after 6 years I had the surprise of my life by discovering we’re having a baby boy in Nov. without even trying. I had pretty much given up on the idea at that point. Wishing you all the best and thank you so much for sharing this wonderful news with us! Best Regards
This is wonderful news Rio! Congratulations to you and the daddy! Another little miracle x
Wow, I didn’t know that you could get any more inspiring! I really wish for you and your baby to be happy, healthy, and that everything goes smoothly❤️
Thankyou spirited brave lady for sharing so openly your experience. Congratulations and all the very healthiest and happiest precious times to you.
Im sadly on the other side, struggling now for 4 years with IVF and miscarriage which gets harder and less hopeful as time passes and negative experiences and failures accumulate and more and more pregnancies are announced. There is something very hard being joyful for people who get pregnant easily but heart warming and yeah ‘ go girl’ to those who have struggled.
IVF and all its damaging drugs and procedures and roller coaster hopes and dreams broken has robbed a huge part of my femininity, faith in my body soul and the trust in mother nature, knocked my confidence, strained relationships and friendships and made my concentration to get on with my passions of dance and freelance work as a textile designer very hard. Income has been effected on top of everything else. Only a person who has or is going through this can truly understand how many faceted the pains and frustrations are and life consuming it is. I imagine other traumatic sadnesses can do similar in various ways.
Creating my designs and painting my beautiful flowers has been my saviour. At times the working solo has been double edge sword giving me peace and solace but at times too much time to think but as hard as our journeys are we creatives are so very lucky we have this tranquil meditative place to fall in to in times of turmoil.
Good luck to you, enjoy your pregnancy and the forth coming bundle of love and new family togetherness and many sweet experiences.
To all lovely people on their hard lonely fertility journeys may you all find strength, peace and acceptance soon enough with or with out baby. Life is amazing with many gifts.
Love to all creatives…..jump right in and paint yourselves happy xxxx
Thank you Nicky and best of luck to you in the rest of your journey. I can really appreciate how tough it is and has been for you. Your life is obviously a lot richer than just the fertility issue (though that does seep into absolutely everything). So I’m very pleased you have for the most part been finding solace in your creative work. There will be happier times ahead whatever happens. Lots of love xx
Fab news. So happy for you.
Oh Anna, I am so happy for you. There is nothing like a new baby and being a mom,or a dad for that matter..
I understand the joy because we raised four sons ( boys really are special) and as for the sadness…yes I understand that too. My husband passed away last summer after 50 years of a good life. The grief people say to write it all down and I have on my blog about ‘the day’ but mostly just try to stay busy and work through it all. Maybe why I am so very tired.
Hang in there girl…Motherhood is the most wonderful profession even with all the ups and downs.
Sorry to hear about your loss Beverly but it sounds like you are coping with it admirably. Good luck x
God bless you both. Sorry you had to go through so much but happy that you got through it all. Soon you will have a beautiful baby. God bless that little one and keep him/her safe.
Many Congratulations!
Anna, congratulations. I have some understanding of what you must have gone through. My son is adopted but that was 40 years ago. I’m so happy for you and your husband. You’re so cute in your pregnancy clothes. Keep painting no matter what.
Glad you have your happy ending son too!
Thank you for sharing your experience, so valuable and healling since it comes from your heart. You look beautifull and so happy. Your baby will be the most wonderfull living experience and it certainly is a great blessing. A big hugh to the three of you.
Congratulations! That’s absolutely wonderful! All you’ve been through will add to your joy of parenthood.
It’s been 27 years, and it’s remarkable when I remember yesterday, but I remember the night our daughter was born with perfect clarity. I wouldn’t trade a day of being a father and I’m sure you and Phil will feel the same way.
Cherish every day, they go by way to fast!
What a fantastic new Anna!
Congratulations!! Im so happy for you and Phil.
God bless you and your family.
Enjoy your pregnancy and can’t wait to see the new born baby pictures!! You’re a great artist and will be a great mom. Xxx
So glad to hear such GOOD NEWS ,hoping the rest of your waiting time will go fast.Maybe some day wewill see you painting holding the baby in your lap.Imelda
MANY BLESSINGS TO YOU BOTH!! SO WONDERFUL TO HEAR SUCH GOOD NEWS!
Congratulations, Anna! You look beautiful. Art and creativity in tough times is a very valuable subject to discuss. Thank you for sharing.
Wonderful new,,my daughter went through IVF with the first 2 boys the third was an unexpected surprise ,it just happened after the youngest was 7 ,i have an understanding going through it with my daughter,I had my own issues in time i had 2 a boy and a girl.You look beautiful.
Thanks for sharing Maria and I’m delighted to hear of your grandchildren!
What fantastic news. Congratulations, Phil and Anna, hard fought and worth every moment. Your creative juices are about to hit another high, and I can hardly wait to see what evolves. You are an amazing woman who put your soul out there ~ your sharing has been an enormous help to me personally and to many others with whom I have shared your articles. You have the digital age at your fingertips, which allows you to capture so many precious moments and I hope you continue to share with us. God Bless you, Phil and your baby boy
Thank you Penny
Congratulations fellow IVF Mama!! Bless your sweet heart for enduring that process. Not many people can relate to the effort, the strain, and the exhaustion it creates. You are such a warrior!! We have been trying to conceive for 4 years, and after two losses, a year of IUIs, and one failed IVF transfer, we found out (this month!) that we are pregnant. What a blessing after all of that battle. I truly believe that God uses challenges like infertility to highlight the strength He has placed within us. To reinforce our belief that miracles can and do happen through faith and trust.
I want you to know how much your school has meant to me during the 8 long months of injections, meds, infusions, and hard effort. I signed up one month ago (just celebrated my ‘watercolorniversary!’) after our first FET of 2 failed. It was a tremendously difficult time that felt so similar to the pain of a miscarriage. And the hardest part? Nobody understood. Nobody. But there was one place I knew I could fit in, and it was (still is) your school. When I’m watercoloring, it’s as if the world stops spinning. Many times I found myself forgetting what day or time it was! I could completely escape from the effort of IVF and let my heart finally rest.
I learned that, like in this fertility journey, all I need to do is take it one layer at a time. There’s a time for everything- the details and appreciation of the darkest darks, the softening of the lightest highlights, and the smoothing of the mid-tones- the waiting, the middle ground. With patience, the full beautiful picture will blossom before my eyes if I just trust in the process. Thank you for your positivity in each tutorial, and for reminding us to “relax and have fun” in each one. You are such a blessing to everyone here. Congratulations again, my sweet friend and teacher. 🙂 I look forward to painting with you throughout our miracle pregnancies!
Wow this is wonderful, congratulations Jandi!!! You must post pictures in the School forum when your miracle makes an appearance! I am thrilled that the School has been of service to you through such a challenging time. Your attitude towards the journey you’ve been through is perfect. On my good days (and deep down on the bad ones too) it was the attitude I had as well. It’s just great you have your painting now too and can continue with that for yourself going forward into what are happier times. Best of luck for your pregnancy!! x
Congratulations, Anna! Seeing your new baby will probably be one of the happiest moments of your life. I know seeing mine was. You are so right about creativity being a relaxing and healing source. Seems like all the problems and illness you may be going through disappear when you paint, write, play an instrument, or doing whatever your creative soul enjoys. I hope you have a peaceful pregnancy and a happy delivery of a beautiful boy. Here’s a flower from my garden for you. Bar
Thanks Barbara!
Congratulations! I hope you have a happy and uneventful pregnancy and a happy and healthy baby! You look so cute!
Congratulations to you, Anna & Phil. Such an awesome blessing. You will never take this precious life for granted. May God continue to bless you during the remainder of your pregnancy and beyond. Anna you glow with happiness in your photo.
Congratulations Anna. What wonderful news.
Wow! Congratulations to both of you So happy for you Anna. That’s the one I wanted most in my life but I passed the down side moments…. By the way…you still looks so lovely!
Hello Anna-Your post could not have come at a more timely moment for me. Sorrow is visiting me again. I have only done 2 of your tutorials so far (rose & pear) but I feel that I have found the medium and style that speaks to me. Your art school came into my life just before this tragedy in my life. Divine intervention? Your school will be my salvation. Thank you for all you do and all you are. You will be an awesome mom! My IVF twin boys are now 13 years old. The IVF process was so difficult. Yet I tell you, there has been nothing so worth the struggle in my life. I would do it again in a heartbeat. I have cherished all the joys and challenges. Still do!
Thank you Sarah and I’m so sorry to hear you are experiencing a period of sadness again. Though with your IVF experience behind you I am sure you have the inner resources to meet this new challenge head on and feel through it. Best of luck and I’m sure painting can help you through.
Dear Anna,
Have so admired your paintings and somehow your gentleness which somehow shines through each beautiful work of fine art and the way you teach. Thank you for sharing these most difficult times that you have been going through with us. You will make a wonderful mother! You and your dear husband Phil are, and will be very close in my heart and prayers in the days and months leading up to the birth of your baby.
Thanks Marilyn!
Congratulations!!!!! I know the frustration and disappointment of infertility. We tried for three years to have a child…I had been through fertility treatments with no success. We had given up – our home burned down two months later. The next month I was pregnant! Wishing you a very healthy, happy baby!!!!!
What a remarkable story! So glad you have the child you wanted.
Anna, you look so radiant! So very happy for you and Phil. I am sure you both will be loving, nurturing parents. Good things are so worth waiting for. You are an amazing woman, strong, positive, giving and beautiful!
Dear Anna,
Such beautiful news.
I am the grandmother of twins, Maddie and Nick, now 17 yrs. old and getting ready to start college this fall. 17 yrs. ago on Christmas day, our miracles were born as a result of insemination, after months of fertility drugs, and 9 months of complete bed rest. All worth every minute of it..
all the happiness and good luck to you and Phil who I’m certain is just as excited to become a daddy!
Barb G.
Wonderful story to share Barbara, thank you!
Wonderful News. Best wishes to you all. Thank you also for sharing your experience and your heart. Your honesty and transparency blesses us all.
Congratulations Anna and Phil. My son and daughter in law went thru the same procedure and now my grandson is thirteen. I love your art work and the encouragement you give. You and Phil will make wonderful parents.
Congratulation 🙂 Anna.
I wish you have good health and Happy in Mind ^ ^
Congratulation Anna ^8^
I wish you have very good health and strong heart 🙂
Congratulations! I am so happy for you!
I can’t imagine how busy you must have been! Hopefully now you can relax and sail through your pregnancy with less stress! Your little bundle of joy will be here before you know it and your life will never be the same!
For me, painting can help me pass the time when I am most worried but it can also be hard to sit down and do it. If I am in the midst of a project it works out better but I cannot attempt to start a new piece while stressed out. I keep my area ready to jump in at all times so I have painting as an alternative to worry even if it’s only for 10 minutes. I never really thought about it before but my work habit allows it to be accessible whenever I want which is why I am able to paint at the drop of a hat!
So important to keep that painting area ready so there are fewer barriers to doing it, great tip Bernie and thanks for your lovely comment.
Congratulations. Great news!
Congratulations and wishing you and your husband all the best. Keep on painting, you are very talented and I enjoy seeing your work.
Wonderful news! Congratulations and many blessings for a very lucky baby boy!
Thanks so much for sharing your beautiful momma-to-be photo.
To quote the beginning tutorial, “Congratulations, you did it!” So happy for you both. I admire you so much for still finding time to paint and teach. This baby will definitely be loved. Can I be a grandmum from the States? lol Love and best wishes to you both. .
Thank you for your courage in sharing Anna. Having been there ourselves, my husband and I found your story very touching. We are so glad for you and Phil and wish you joy.
Thank you Judith x
Congratulations anna its a blessed baby directly from god.precious than anything in your life. As i too had tough times and god grant me a lovely girl angle after 7 yrs.god bless you three.
OMG Congratulations to you both. I expect to see lots of photos during the pregnancy and after you baby has been born. I am so excited for you.
Anna, so happy for you and your husband. Your are just beautiful in the photo you shared with your growing belly! I just have to express to you how much I appreciate your openness with us that follow you. You inspire us all and help us to remember we all have something to deal with. The grace you display keeps me going!! Thank you and best wishes for a healthy and happy pregnacy! Sally in Phoenix
Thank you Sally!
I’m so happy for you both! Anna, you’re blooming- pregnancy suits you. Ever since I started your course, I wondered if you would have children. I wish you all joy and happiness and that your baby boy will be healthy, creative and wonderful like his parents! I’m crying as I write this by the way. My boys are grown ups and as I live overseas, I miss them soooo much! Love to you all!
Aww, thanks Jenny and I hope you get a visit to your boys soon (thank goodness for Skype!) x
All the best for you all. Thankyou very much for sharing!.
Congratulazioni Anna. Sono felicissima per voi e per il baby in arrivo. Un forte abbraccio. Tiziana
Congratulations to you both. Inspirational as usual
I’m so happy for you! So many wishes, dear Anna! You are right, even in my opinion the thing that blocks creativity is not accepting sadness
A kiss, bruna
Herzlichen Glückwunsch auch aus Deutschland. Ich kann mir vorstellen, was du in den letzten Jahren durchgemacht hast. Umso schöner, wenn ihr euch jetzt auf eure kleine Familie freuen könnt. Alles Gute für euch und euer Baby.
Manuela
Such a happy news Anna! Congratulations for both of you!
I know what you have been trough. Sometimes sad or difficult things in life bring good things too, at the time. It has made me paint, and I am so grateful to have learned so much from you. Thank you!
How very exciting!! Congratulations. Thank you for being so encouraging and including us all in your journey. You never know when something you have said can completely change another persons life. Can’t wait to see photos and remember time goes by so quickly, My kids are grown and it seems just like yesterday they were babies. Congratulations again!!!! Debbie
Congratulations Anna and Phil… that’s great news !!
So happy to hear your good news Anna. It is amazing you have been battling through this and yet still able to give us all a wonderful smiling face with your tutorials. You are an inspiration. You and Phil so deserve this and I am sure you will enjoy the experience with the new baby, and I am sure your parents will enjoy it too.
As I sit hear waiting to hear from my daughter who is now several days overdue I was delighted to read your heart-warming news. You are about to embark on the most intense and wonderful experience and I’m sure that together you will enjoy it too the full.!
I look forward to some tutorials on painting sleeping babies!
As I sit hear waiting to hear from my daughter who is now several days overdue I was delighted to read your heart-warming news. You are about to embark on the most intense and wonderful experience and I’m sure that together you will enjoy it too the full.!
I look forward to some tutorials on painting sleeping babies!
Dear Anna, I am so very, very happy for you and Phil. You will make a great
Mom, Anna. I really admire you for smiling so much with all the struggle you
have had.
I have to say you look beautiful pregnant. I mean that sincerely. I know
how my own Mother loved children so much. How she would write while
washing dishes and even changing diapers. Both of you are terrific role
models for women.
Anna!
That’s a great new!!!
It’s amazing how life is unbelievable, in a second wonderful things can happen and change our perspectives.
Even if I do not know you personally, I’m very happy for you both so I wish you a wonderful life 🙂 .-)
Roberta (from Rome Italy)
The best news in the world to hear!! Thank you for sharing your experiences Anna…as always so encouraging. You’re absolutely right about all that you’ve said and when we are able to get our sadness ‘out’, then being able to once again ‘lose’ ourselves in our creativity, is the thing that will bring us joy. It is what I have experienced in my own life, many times. You and Phil will be wonderful parents. Many congratulations!!
Thanks Connie!
Congratulations Anna – you are just beaming – I love that picture of you. This is a hard subject and you are absolutely right in everything you said! There’s a book in there somewhere for sure.
I’m so thrilled for all three of you, and look forward to following your journey with you. Much love!
What can I say that has not been said hundreds of times before, this is wonderful news, congratulations to you both. I have some small idea of what you both have been through as my daughter and son-in-law have been through it also, with no success . . . so far! You will not get it, but I wish you all the happiness in the world. It would seem you both have a lot of supporters. Thanks for sharing so much.
Thanks Keith and best of luck to your daughter.
Dear Anna! By chance on the Internet I saw your tutorials and I bought your book in Russian language. I began painting in watercolor 1 month ago. Love watching your book on Rousseau language. I unfortunately only speak Russian and don’t understand what you’re saying in your videos, but I’m enjoying them. Thank You very much for your work. I live in Saint – Petersburg. This year was a watercolor festival in Fabriano.Happiness to You and your future baby.
Thank you! We will be adding subtitles soon so you will at least be able to look words up a little easier 🙂
Congratulations to you both, it couldn’t happen to a nicer couple. Don’t forget the job’s not done with babies until the paperwork is finished – hope Phil is honing his skills.
Congratulations to you both. I am so happy for you with this outcome. Me and my husband have gone true treatment for 11 years in total. Unfortunately not with the so desired outcome. I can still remember the frequent hospital visits and going from the big high to enormous big lows. But we two have survived.
Stories like yours still bring me to tears.
After 11 years og ups and downs and the last IVF treatment going completely wrong we decided it was time to stop.
But this story also has a happy ending. A yeah after the last treatment we were allowed to adopt our son from Sri Lanka.
He has just turned 17 and finished his last mid school exams.
Oh I am so pleased you adopted and got to be a parent, thanks for sharing this Liesbeth.
Dear Anna, I am so excited about your new family member! I don’t know if you remember me…but my husband Dr. Embro and I took your first class in Sarasota a few years back….and have several of your paintings.I had a similar situation in my life. I was 36 and after having a healthy daughter 15 years prior….was remarried and trying to have a child.. I had 3 miscarriages in 2.5 years….very difficult…both on me and my husband. However…..the 4th one was a win! He is 23 now and graduating from the Univ. of Florida and headed to dental school! I look at this 6’5″ good looking…smart…bouncing baby boy…and know he was a gift from above! I am so happy that you and your family are welcoming this little bundle of joy! No offense….but you think these things were difficult…try keeping up with this little bundle! They are a handful!!! Forever!!!! Our best to you…all of our prayers!
Sincerely,
Dr. And Mrs. William Embro (Lynn)
Thank you for sharing your wonderful news Anna.! You look absolutely radiant in the photo. I admire your strength and perseverance in not only going through IVF but also in continuing to work throughout it. Best wishes to you and your husband!
What a long journey for you both,
I wish you every happiness. I am sure I speak for many when I say we can’t wait to find out who this little person is when s/he arrives. We will need updates.
I found drawing and painting again while enduring the most awful shock and grief helped me so much. I wasn’t under any pressure as it was an interest not my career, which must be very different. Well done you!
I found that I was able to ‘lose’ myself even if was for a very short time. Eleven years on it gives me such strength and happiness I’m so pleased I persevered.
My step son and his wife went through the long and emotionally painful process of IVF and now have two beautiful, happy children who give us all great joy, their grandfather would have been so proud.
Thanks for sharing Sylvie and I’m glad to hear about your grandchildren!
Congratulations to you both! May baby bring you all the joy ! I have been through similar hardships to have a child. You are blessed and may the pregnancy go well!
This has made my day . I totally love children. Your life is about to turn into complete adorable crazy awesome exhausting lovably adventures. You have accomplished so much already by your journey to get to this point so don’t for a second think you can’t do this You can and will be the best mum ever❤️. I look forward to this new season of your life .❤️❤️❤️
Anna! Look at You! You look beautiful – well, you always look beautiful – but now, radiant. Bless you, Phil and the baby! I understand everything you say about using your art to get you out of the sadness. I just had shoulder replacement which has a 6 month recovery. The first few months with the pain medication caused many emotional lows. This is when I started your classes. I would find myself in a low and would pull up a video, hear your cheery voice, and paint away — and lift my spirits. I saw your interview – loved it. Your 8 years away from art was my 27 years. I connect with you in so many ways. By the way – belated Happy Birthday. A new year; for you will bring so many joys. Take care of you first! <3
This has made my day . I totally love children. Your life is about to turn into complete adorable crazy awesome exhausting lovably adventures. You have accomplished so much already by your journey to get to this point so don’t for a second think you can’t do this You can and will be the best mum ever❤️. I look forward to this new season of your life .❤️❤️❤️
You are one of the strongest and most inspiring person I have ever “met.” I am very happy for you and your husband. Much love and light!
Anna & Phil….what wonderful news. You are glowing in your photo Anna. Wishing your new family every happiness.
Thank you Anna for sharing with all of us this difficult but now wonderful moment of your life. I feel that there is lots of love around you two…ops three! I can not even imagine what you’ve been living during the last few months but I see you have not lost your smile and the power to find the vividness not only in your watercolors but also in the everyday life. We look forward to the happy event!
Anna and Phil, big congratulations to you both. Anna, you look marvelous and very happy despite all you have been through. Sounds like Phil is your absolute partner in life, you are very fortunate. I wish you all the best and cannot wait to see the little guy when he arrives. I can’t say that parenting is easy but it is very rewarding to which you will see. I currently am working on the Magnolia, anxious to get that one done so I can get on w/ the others.
Congratulations Anna and Phil. What a blessing. I’m so happy for you. Anna, you have a “light” that shines through across the miles in cyberspace. Whether through your blogs, your tutorials, or your incredible paintings, you have been inspirational. I have been a part of your community for almost two years, but I have been blocked, unable to paint no matter how much I desired to do so. Your email today resonated with me. I have been blocked by grief and need to get it out somehow, someway, and not just keep plowing through. I’m taking the first step today. I’m looking forward to the day when I can again pick up that brush and post a completed painting. THANK YOU and congratulations!
Congratulation on your baby!! Being a mom is the most amazing thing.
Art is one of those things that come from your soul. For me it is an scape from reality. It is an addition I can’t live without. Going through my separation and living with my son without my other half is very lonely. Art fulfilled that emptiness in me. I don’t feel lonely anymore. Watercolor is specially fun and challenging too.
I thank God everyday for giving me the gift of creativity. I am a fashion designer by profession but watercolor is what has giving me the most satisfaction and excitement. I want to paint all the time.
I am so very grateful for your school where I can nurture this side I didn’t know I had.
So thank you Anna.
Anna — you continue to inspire! I was going through a very difficult time when I found a video of you painting a white and purple iris. I was so fascinated by your painting that I looked for more, and I was so excited to find your online school. I love your tutorials, your tips, your passion, and give you credit for being one of the factors that has helped me return to a state of gratitude. I get compliments on my paintings, and I have even sold a few. S0 — what do I do when I get blue, even navy blue? I watch a tutorial, and pick up my brush.
Thank you — and congratulations to you and Phil.
That’s so good to hear, it really does make all the hard work worthwhile to know it’s made a difference to you, thanks for your comment Lorna!
Many congratulations Anna to you and Phil. Such wonderful news.
Fabulous news Anna! Congratulations and celebrations to you both. They say that life’s challenges are our biggest teachers, and you have had an awful lot of lessons, and have come out the other side looking positively to the future. Now at last is your time to enjoy your rewards. I do know what it feels like to suffer from infertility; it is cuttingly painful and when you are going through it you do seem to notice how the world seems to be populated by pregnant women and young families, and you can feel quite distraught at times because you don’t know if ever you will get pregnant, or even if you do, whether you will carry to term your own child. I had three years of treatment, but it worked (funnily enough when I sort of gave up ‘wanting’ so much, and began to focus on other things), and now I have a lovely daughter who is 24 this year. Lots of love and hugs, Alex.
Thanks for sharing this Alex and so pleased you have your daughter!
When I was asked as a child…..what are you going to be when you grow up…..my only answer was…..I’m going to be a Mum. So when the time came and it didn’t happen I was heart broken….but finally after a long battle with endometriosis, numerous surgeries and a multitude of pills and potions that’s exactly what happened. I have three wonderful children that I thank the stars for everyday. I would look into those beautiful faces and think …how could I have been so lucky. So late at night the 3am feeds weren’t a chore…they were our special time. The dirty nappies were a chance to blow a raspberry on a beautiful belly. I blinked one day and those three beautiful souls turned 10 …..I blinked again and they turned 20. Enjoy every moment ……and congratulations….. I couldn’t be happier for you both…. Love Fiona xx
I am so happy for you Anna and Phil. It’s wonderful news . You are going to be terrific parents.
God bless your little family.
So happy for you both …bringing two beautiful baby girls into this world myself I know the wonderful feeling of giving birth and being a parent. IVF has helped so many couples to enjoy Parenthood …You look Beautiful Anna enjoy relax …the hard work begin at birth.
Love to you both xxxx
Congratulations dear Anna and Phil. I am so happy for you. You look so beautiful and radiant in your photo. Anna. I stopped painting on the school for about 6months with a broken heart when I lost my beautiful sister to cancer having also lost my brother to cancer. I couldn’t concentrate on anything and felt so sad. Then one day Anna sent me an email telling me it was her birthday and inviting me to join again, and guess what I did and 3 or 4 students welcomed me back and that meant such a lot and so the healing proses has begun, it was my art I needed all along so many, many, thank’s and love to you Anna
Congratulations. God has blessed me and my husband with three very special sons. You all have so many wonderful and special times ahead. God Bless you all.
“Sometimes the smallest things take up the most room in your heart.” Winnie the Pooh
OH MY! God in all his glory has blessed you with his greatest gift! Congrats to you and your husband!
Congratulations Anna and Phil! Such a happy news The very first thing I would like to say is that you look so very cute with that baby bump, just like a baby girl. Hope the rest of the months will be easy for you. God have tested you several times and each time you have managed to come out of the suffering with your positive attitude. And not only that, you have spread happiness and positivity by sharing your beautiful thoughts. Be blessed always and keep inspiring.
Anna! So happy for you! I have been through a lot of grief in my life and have always found my way through
by honoring the it’s necessary expression, talking about it in support groups (there should be one for IVF women), and staying in the moment as much as possible. I became involved with painting while taking care of my mother, who had a form of dementia. She had long been an artist and still took much pleasure in painting, so we painted together everyday. The walls of her room in the assisted care home were lined with
her paintings. My memory of those days will always be with me… Now I need to make time to return to painting myself! Be sure to take a break if you can BEFORE the baby comes. Indulge yourself, sleep, play, do some nesting…. Then you’ll have a storehouse of rest to draw on when baby comes!
Thanks Dee, great tips!
Congratulations! I am so happy for you, your husband Phil, and little Mason! Your online tutorials have been so helpful to me. Like you, I just picked up watercolor in the last year, with no other art experience and I am loving it and learning so much from your Online School. Congratulations again. I look forward to seeing your new one in September 😉 My birthday is the 25th!
Congratulations!! IVF is a beautiful thing! Without it, I would not be a proud Aunt to a set of Quadruplets that will graduate from high School on June 1 (Today is their last official day of High School! Where did the last 18 years go???) I hope you have an uneventful last 3 months of pregnancy before that awesome bundle of joy makes their grand entrance to the world! Again – Congratulations to you and Phil!!
Congratulations to you both. Before IVF was possible we, too, went through years of hospitals, tests, injections, pills, etc, and yes, it is discouraging. The garden was where I found solace, which is why I fell in love with your botanical painting. The colors, the beauty of nature seemed to bring life and hope. Our now 40 year old miracle baby was born on September 26. Enjoy this special time in your life.
What a coincidence, our baby is due 27th Sept. Thanks for sharing your happy ending!
Congratulations Anna and Phil!I wish you all the joy of parenthood.
I’m so very happy for you Anna, and for Phil :). Sadly, I never got to have a child as I was born in 1960 and infertility didn’t quite catch up with my physical issues. So, I had to mourn the loss of ever having a baby. Life is good though, with all that grief behind me. Sure wish I had your advice when I was going through it though, lol. Sound advice :). Many blessings to you, Phil, and your son.
Congratulations!May God bless you with all the happiness. You are a kind person,may you be always happy. May God bless you with a sweet and cute child.
Здравствуйте Анна. Это замечательно, что у Вас будет малыш! Всего наилучшего Вам!
Oh, what fantastic news that is! 🙂 Massiv congrats to you and Phil! Thx for the share, Anna. Can’t even imagine what struggle that must have been… to me you’re such an example of the never giving up! I also had my fair share of misery.. and couldn’t agree more on the shutdown of creativity. So therefor still immensely grateful for stumbling upon you and the School back then. Art has been… still is such a painkiller! And you are such an inspiration and look so radiant in the pic! Take good care.. may it be a happy and healthy pregnancy for you. Be blessed in abundance, dear Anna! x
Anna, I am very happy for you! I wish you safe and calm pregnancy and real happiness of becoming a mother. Your child is lucky to have such a great mom with extraordinary feeling of all the beauty from nature!
Anna, you are an inspiration in so many ways. Thank you and best wishes to you and Phil. That will be one very fortunate baby boy. And thank you for sharing your journey.
What a treat, Anna! So, so cool! I hope all turns out well 🙂 Will we see a shift from flowers, fruits, animals into baby portraits? 🙂
Dear Anna & Phil,
Sending you lots of love and care in your moments of joy and hope.
Ankita
Anna, I’m so happy for you both. What a joy and miracle. My son and his wife went through that and had twin girls. All healthy and now 7 yrs old. Then after trying and trying and losing one at 18 wks they got pregnant with no help just God’s miracle. This was five years after the twin girls, and they had a boy. So happy after all the ups and downs. So happy for you. You look mighty cute pregnant.
Praying all goes well through the rest of the pregnancy and all the way to holding that little one in your arms.
Congratulations to you both and thank you for sharing the news.
Congratulations Anna & Phil what wonderful news! You look so utterly content and radiant in your photo. Thank you for sharing your story and for all the inspiration you give to us all. I hope these next few months go well for you and you’re coping in this heat! My little baby girl is now 23 and one thing I always remember being told when I first had her was that the time would fly by and they’ll be grown up before you know it and you should relish and enjoy every moment. How very true that is. I love being a mother and it the best thing that happened in my life. I wish you both every happiness as parents and look forward to seeing the pictures of your baby boy.
Congratulations Anna and Phil such wonderful news… IVF can be a bumpy road and sometimes a solitary journey for the couple, my nephew and his wife didn’t have any easy journey but now I’m Imo-halmoney (Korean for Grant Aunt) to a 2 very active year old…
Congratulations. Wonderful news. Pregnancy certainly suits you Anna , you look radiant. Very best wishes to all three of you. Can”t wait to see your first baby portrait!
Congratulations ! I am so happy for you ! Yes, I went through this problem over 40 years ago. I ended up adopting a newborn baby. I knew I wanted children from a young age. Although seeing pregnant women made me cry for years. I am very happy with the choice I made, it was my only choice for a child. I now have two beautiful grandchildren.
I am so pleased you got to be a mother Betty, thanks for sharing.
Hi Anna,
So happy for you!. I know the heartache of infertility. Both of my children had problems getting pregnant but have both had happy endings. We now have 5 grandchildren. They are so precious. So, so happy for you both.
Linda
Congratulations. Miracles do happen! She just turned 21. After tons of medical intervention, she made it into the world.
Good luck and bless you for caring for your school members and sharing the news.
Congratulations Anna! I will pray for an uneventful pregnancy and delivery.
I know how much you have suffered. I was told I couldn’t have biological children but 4 years later I delivered the first of my two biological sons. Like you, it wasn’t an easy process, as my womb was tilted, fibroid, and way too little, but a previous, first=trimester pregnancy helped enlarge the womb enough to carry the second child to term.
I went on to adopt 2 girls, care for a ward, have the first two permanent foster children in the nation, and dozens of foster children over 35 years of foster parenting. I am still the mother to some of the foster children now that they have matured out of the system and have families of their own.
So I hope you will be able to have as many children as you want regardless of how they come to you. I love all my children and wouldn’t trade them for anything. Like colors, each one has their own properties that add to the palette of life.
Congratulations to you, Anna and Phil. Great news and you look beautiful. My niece went through IVF as well and now have two lovely boys.
Thank you for sharing and looking forward to the photos.
All the best for the future.
ps – your tutorials have been so helpful – hope to download images in the near future. A big thank you.
Thanks Pauline, I look forward to seeing your paintings!
Anna, As i read the difficult journey of your past few years Ii can only say that the aches, pain, deceptions, hormonal roller coaster ride, he pricking and picking will all be worth it! There is nothing more satisfying in life than being a parent. You think you know love ❤️ wait until you hold that baby in your arms. This is truly a gift of life, and I have no doubt you will be a wonderful mother! God bless you all with health, love and happiness forever…
Beautiful time being pregnant every tiny move you feel
Stays with you I still remember having being lucky to have two beautiful girls.
I am still going through difficult times …My husband having prostate cancer turns your world upside down. He’s been cleared for five years but it seems it has returned …he won’t discuss it.
My Mother had dementia …horrendous the Last Six months of her life bed ridden just being turned every two hours.
Through all of my difficult times I find painting a great comfort. They don’t always turn out as I hope but following your technique Anna I have more successes then failures.
I also sing in a choir this helps lift my spirit to paint
Lots of lovely friends.
Love to you both enjoy your future with your bundle of fun. xxxx
Congratulations Anna!
Whish you the best!
Congratulations Anna! I am so happy for you and Phil.
Congratulations Anna, I hope that you will have a very happy baby boy! into puddles, mud and paint!! Sadly I could not have children,due to cancer at 21, but I love being an Aunty. I’m the one that ”my nephews” or ”my boys” as I call them,came to when they wanted to do something Mum didn’t approve of…..what they didn’t realise was I always checked with mum before I answered their request….not always as they wanted either, but we normally found a middle ground. Painting has kept me sane during difficult times and it is so nice to do. Good luck, and heres hoping no more ‘all day morning sickness”. much love to you and Phil. ps time to start practising answers to embarrassing questions–lol!!
Thanks Jan! So pleased you enjoy your nephews so much – and painting! Thanks for sharing.
Congratulations – what wonderful news – I hope you have a happy and healthy baby boy. You look fantastic.
Congratulations!!! I’m praying for your delightful family. God Bless you all abundantly through this process and my your morning sickness be healed soon.
Hi Anna – Such great news for you both. It is lovely news made all the more special by the effort its taken to fall pregnant. I know nothing of the IVF process except that it takes dedication and can be very hard to go through. I have my own tough times here.
Over 2 years ago I took on the full time care of my Dad who is now 93 and living in our house. It was easy at first but as he’s become more frail and his many multiple health issues are impacting him in more serious ways its very hard. I’m watching him decline and lose weight daily. He’s still in good spirits or grumpy spirits (lol) – I feel quite down at times.
Although I’m not working in the studio as much as I should its always a haven for me to come to and find myself again. I think I’d be banana’s if I didn’t have my art. Its my salvation.
Best of luck with your Dad, Anne and I hope your art continues to be a relief from the stresses of it all!
Congratulations. Hope the remainder of your pregnancy is wonderful and that it culminates in a healthy baby boy. Much happiness to your family.
Congratulations to both of you on the happy news, hope all goes well and the lovely boy will arrive safely in September.. You look so happy in the pic. Take care, your carrying precious fragile cargo!
Margaret Ng
Thank you Margaret! I am taking a holiday over the next couple of weeks to make sure I put my feet up and chill out with the fragile cargo!
Congratulations to you, Anna, and your hubbie, Phil. I agree that painting is therapeutic, especially through sad and stressful times. Painting makes me happy. Can’t wait to hear of your son’s arrival and hopefully a photo of the happy family :).
congratulation to you and your husband, you look like you are on cloud nine, hope hubby is fine as well, we go though it as well, supporting and sometimes forgotten. in the back ground. but not very good at taking about it !!! Be happy together and i hope you bloom with you family.
Thanks Nick – you’re quite right, Phil is a great support and not to be forgotten!
Anna, I am so excited for you. I am a grandmother of 6 all grown.
And I am subscribing to your class this month. I have completed the free class
with the pear and wow what a difference it made.
I look forward to learning watercolor painting with you.
I will keep you in my prayers for all to go well with your pregnancy
and the delivery.
God Bless,
Celia
Thanks Celia and I hope you really enjoy the School!
Wishing you many more wonderful blessings. Congratulations to you Anna and Phil.
You and your husband are truly blessed with love, health, happiness and talent. The sadness that you and I, and millions of couples feel at the loss of a new life or the experience of new life is overwhelming. Thank you for sharing your heartfelt story. I admire your strength and endurance and wish you continued happiness as you nurture your baby boy throughout his life. God is Good!
Wonderful news!!!!!! I wish you all the best. You’re going to be a wonderful mom. I just got the free lesson and am awaiting supplies can’t wait to start.
welcome to motherhood Anna! congratulations to you both 🙂 it is such a hard journey for some and doesn’t seem to make sense does it? It seems almost alien to some people I have met to not be able to just get pregnant, but when getting pregnant doesn’t just happen it hurts and there doesn’t seem any justice to it all. It can be especially hurtful when people think you are ‘putting your career first’ by not having a child quickly or just having one child- when you do get pregnant they want to know why you don’t just have another! The most important thing is not to give up and you have shown that 🙂 All the very best to the three of you 🙂
I am so happy for you both. You have given us so many skills which in itself is a lovely gift. Your heart will melt when you see that gift of life for the first time. As a mother of two and a stepmother of 2 more, we have been further blessed with grandchildren. The latest one went through the same process you are going through and it turned out beautifully. A lovely little girl was their gift and I laugh every time we get a picture or video of the now 9 month old. She makes me laugh and it warms my heart. Congratulations to you both and now it is your turn to receive what you so generously have given to us. Best wishes!!
C
Congratulations Anna,
A flower is the first step to a fruit and a seed, You have been painting flowers, God had to bless you with your own bundle of joy!
You have been very generous in sharing your learnings, God bless you and Phil and your little one with loads of good health and happiness of togetherness always.
Mrunalini
Congratulations Anna & Phil! I am so very excited for you! I know full well what you have gone through, as I went through it some 28 years ago. Hard to believe the time has past and my two children are grown now. What a blessing the miracle of modern medicine has given you all!
Thank you Marcia and I’m so pleased it worked out for you too!
Congratulations Anna you look positively glowing. Good luck for your and Phils future
Sue
I am so very happy for you. I know you will be the greatest mom ever
Congratulations Anna. That is wonderful news and will be another exciting chapter in your life.
Wonderful news Anna..
I wish you all the very best to you both and for a healthy baby
With lots of love to you all
xxx
Dear Anna
The crazy part of this is that our familiarity with you is the intimacy of your paintings and conversations of painting and then the divorce and an oddly sad feeling for someone you don’t really know. And here we are with a baby on the way and all I can think to say is how wonderfully blessed the whole idea of you and Phil having a baby boy. That life goes on after all the messy stuff and people and their marvellous energy send waves of love your way hoping to ensure you are truly happy. There is something very special about you and I am personally happy to be on your website hoping to grow as a painter, learn and learn. A hearty congratulations and May all your dreams come true……::)
How lovely of you to say, thank you Maureen. 🙂
Congratulations Anna,
To become a parent (as well as becoming a grandparent) is really wonderful! Thank you for all inspiration you give! To start painting again with your inspirational school has really help me in tough times! I hope to take advantage of learning painting shadow and light – 3D in my weaving of photo realistic tapestries.
Congratulations to you Anna and your husband on your baby!
A child is a wonderful change in the life.
I use this apportunity to thank you for creating this fantastic and affordable school.
Your school is an escape place for me and meticulous kind of painting absorbs me into meditative state where everything like worries, fear, anger, frustration transforms into relaxation, joy, happiness and unthinkable possibilities.
Your school is changing my life.
Thank you one more time.
Lana
I am a very new member, my husband bought me the lessons for a birthday gift. I am tremendously happy with the classes.
I’m sitting on my sofa with the intention of choosing a class to paint tomorrow.
As I read your blog, I felt I needed to comment. Firstly, your very brave to write about this, I remember feeling useless when I couldn’t conceive. Hearing everyone’s ‘tips’ often left me feeling worse. But there was light at the end of the tunnel. Not because I fell pregnant, but because I became a foster parent. I adopted 3 amazing babies, and today I am sitting feeling happy and quite exhausted, as today was my eldest sons graduation party from High School. He’s gentle, kind, funny and very smart. 3.95. Salutatorian. He wants to be a doctor or a scientist. I know he will do amazing things.
Never give up on your dreams. I wanted to be a parent…. And how lucky am I. I’m a parent of three wonderful kids.
Tracey U
Anna – Baby Ben is Beautiful – and he has momma’s dimples. In no time you will release the difficult times and forget they existed. Ben will take over you life (good ways and ‘oh boy’ ways) and you will never understand how you could find so much love in your heart. Be patient with yourself and (as you already are) tackle parenting as a team. There is nothing like it! Congratulations to you and Phil – Amazing. and lots of love! Lynn
Such fantastic news Anna and Phil! Many many congratulations to you both! I have been thinking of you all week Anna, so it was just wonderful to open
the Member News and be greeted by the gorgeous photo of your absolutely beautiful wee boy Ben! I am sure he will be the light of your lives and there is no doubt that already, Ben’s smile and dimples will have brought joy to all your members. I am so thrilled for you.
Congratulations Anna! You have a handsome baby! I am so happy to hear that both of you are doing well. I must congratulate Phil for joining in, you are so lucky in that regard. I wish all the best to you. baby Ben and Phil!
Hi Anna Congratulations to you and Phil. The baby took my breath away, he is beautiful. May God bless you all.
Best wishes and kindest regards
Marie
Congratulations Anna! Two of my nieces went through IVF last year and they were both blessed with beautiful baby girls that we refer to as ‘Miracle’ babies. ENJOY!
I also understand grief and the difficulty in being creative during that sad process. It was months after my first husbands death before I could pick up a paint brush. I’m so glad that I’m finally able to paint again. I find such peace and enjoyment through my photography and painting.
Congratulations on the safe arrival of your little man – good job!
Hi Anna,
Congratulations to you and Phil- Ben’s absolutely gorgeous. Time is so precious – enjoy him and motherhood. They grow up fast.
Very best wishes and keep well.
Hi Anna! Congratulations to the happy couple! Benjamin is just the sweetest baby… and he looks so much like you. Enjoy all the precious moments!
Hi Anna , congratulations to you and Phil. I wish you a wonderful time with your little family. Enjoy every moment with little Ben ..Time goes really fast as they grow up… Your baby looks gorgeous!
Lots of love ,
Monique
Congradulation and be happy!
Oh, Anna, You look just precious!:)) Congrats :-*
What a beautiful and healthy looking baby! Congratulations to you both. I can relate personally to the long journey you took to get to this point. Creativity and joy will flow so much more easily now, I hope. Finding time for art will become the challenge, but soon! Best wishes to your beautiful family.
Thank you Cheryl!
Congratulations! I just saw your news…so glad that you were able to have the baby..what a blessing in your life. Now you have a family! Beautiful son! Congratulations again.
Congratulations!!!!! Wow it’s been a long road for you.
When I have negativity and or grief, I made this giant journal, the first thing I do is on the left side page I can either do negative art to address my feelings or write, cuss, cry whatever. When the page is done I ck myself. If I’m not happy clear whatever you want to call it I gesso the page and do this as many times as needed.
Then I can do a positive page on the right page. I also do heavy meditation. I may meditate many times a day. Something is wrong in my body if I get stressed it’s ugly head comes up, so I try keeping that in ck.
BTW I could never have babies, it was a hard pill to swallow, but after a couple of years I learned how to deal with it and am fine now.
I just know you and your husband will have such joy with your new bundle of joy. I’m thrilled for you!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks Darlene and that’s a great tip about doing both the negative and positive pages – thank you for sharing Darlene.
First and foremost congratulations to you both and thank god you have be blessed I am over joyed when I heard your new today from my emails. Thank you for putting your thoughts and feelings out their you are a brave lady . You are 100 percent right it is a taboo subject fall all women from all walks of life and it really needs to be spoken I have loss a baby when I was in my 20 s and I am now in my 50s you didn’t talk about and I still don’t talk about in fear of being people, just looking away or just dismissing it . I have been through the worst 3 Year’s of my life when in five months I kissed five female family members one after the other my mum a best friend and this was all at a time when I had to move to help to look after my mother through cancer for the last time . You right when I was looking after her the second time she had cancers I was able to keep painting at night to keep me awake to care for her , but the last time I could do it I was just to consumed with grief. To had to the pressure I move inter state had to find work so srt became my last choice of creative. I but I am happy to say I now have a full time job and I have started drawing I gain . Ps I love you watercolour lesson this is where I will bring to come back to art , you see even those lessons which I just watch did help be to keep the faith for what l love doing which is art . Sip I thank you for help to save my art sole when everyone around be kept saying just give away the art you not that good why do you do it anyway. And that’s not the reason I can do art for my self and I move away from those types of negative people. So bottom line I am back trying my best at life drawing which as always be a challenge but if it was easy everyone would , lol in a much happier creative space now thank you again many blessings I will be doing small art works in water colour from next week , setting goal hey lol . Yvette from Australia .
Oh so happy for you and your husband what a blessing. Such a cute little boy. Enjoy being his parents. Love him
Thank you for sharing such a wonderful and blessed event.
Congratulations
You, Phil and Ben are blessed for having each other in your lives
I am very happy for you
Sincerely
Alexandra
Hi Anna
Congratulation, you are the most happiest mom after the courage’s time period you ever had. God bless you.
So happy to read about your wonderful news Anna & Phil. Fortunately, I have a son & daughter, 59 & 60. I have been in a horrific motorcycle accident &many fracture neck, back, etc. for me & my boyfriend. My painting has helped tremendously. I recently signed up for your lessons & look forward to doing some. I am 80 yrs young & love adventure but NO MORE MOTORVYCLES. Tha you for sharing your “happy ending” story.
Watercolours are much safer Deanna! But I hope they will be lots of fun for you too. Thanks for your message.
This is an amazing & inspiring story. Congratulations Anna & Phil. Best wishes for the future.
David
Anna,
What an amazing account of what the three of you ~ Anna, Phil and Ben ~ have gone through and with a most wondrous ending… your handsome and perfect baby boy “Ben”…!!! I Send you ~ With great Cheer and total happiness for you three, along with Prayers of Joy and a great future ahead for the three of you…
Congratulations to both of you. I can’t believe how creative you have been under such stressful times. I haven’t been able to do it!
Just reading this now (March 2018). I had seen that you had a 5-month-old baby, but I didn’t know the story behind it. I am so happy for you! My two children and now my four grandchildren are the joy of my life. I wish you and your family all the happiness in the world. I love your classes, too.
Congratulations and thanks for sharing your very personal journey having a child. He is a beauty! What a great cleft chin – very handsome. I can relate to what you say about grief that isn’t really okay to talk about. Several years ago, I had a miscarriage and the grief was intense and I felt very alone with it. Anyway, I am very happy for you. My two kids are grown now. They are the treasures of my life!
Oh, Anna!! I am SOO pleased for you and your husband. I am a Granny of two GORGEOUS and MIRACULOUS little boys! Our daughter, our only child has been married ten years now and , try as they might, she was told she would be UNABLE to have children. Katherine lost half of her reproductive equipment years ago in a freak occurrence. She was 35 when she FINALLY got our beautiful Oliver ( now 4 years old following the horrible hormone treatments etc- you KNOW this drill.) In the end, they conceived naturally, but all the agony and sadness etc was happening as she tried to write her comprehensive exams and her PhD dissertation! In 2014, Oliver, aged two, attended Mummy’s grad and watched her cross the stage to get her doctoral hood, then pregnant for the SECOND time, with our equally beautiful little Martin! Marty is now 1 1/2 and a going concern. We feel so totally blessed and know how excited you and your husband must be. I only found this post today and hope and pray that this story has had a VERY happy ending. VERY best wishes to you and your family and thanks so very much for inspiring me to continue to try to improve my watercolours. 19 June, 2018
Many congratulations both. My children are all grown with children of their own, so I am retired nd enjoying life to the full after many tears of motherhood and a career.
I have only just joined the club and have to say I am having a great time painting again every day, and actually enjoying painting, with 90% of my work going in a folder, instead of in the bin!
I had all but given up with watercolours until I found you from Facebook.
You offer so much detail, and make even the intermediate tutorials easy to follow and understand.
So many thanks Anna, I will be continuing with my monthly subscription, and look forward to working through the tutorials.
In the meantime once again congratulations on your wonderful news and all the very best throughout the coming months. Best wishes, Iris
Beautifully said, Anna! Which is why this community is so lovely, your heart is evident across all you post.
I read once (think it was Keanu Reeves) that grief never goes away, it only changes shape – and I think there’s a lot of truth in that, but I would add that it’s also what you choose to do with it. Your positive perspective will always enhance your life and your circumstances and, yes, you do need to acknowledge it and work through the loss, but don’t allow yourself to be consumed by it – it doesn’t get to define who you are.
It’s difficult to be creative when everything else is pressing in, but mostly I find I go stir crazy if I haven’t made the time to create something, be it paint or some other outlet. It truly is therapy for me and it feeds my soul, but you have to allow it to.
Congratulations on your little one. I truly hope you are blessed through this experience and enjoying all that life’s new season has to offer.
My daughter is on her second IVF pregnancy. We were blessed with a grandson two years ago this month and will have number two join us this fall. I know the heartache that she and our Son in Love felt as they began their journey and watched how God worked to make it happen. It’s not only emotionally and physically taxing but financially burdensome also, which can make that dream seem unachievable. But, miracles happen everyday and we have our little miracle babies to prove it!
May God bless your precious family as you grow together and keep on painting!!