by Ashley Larkin | Apr 1, 2014 | Concrete Words, Grace, Love, Mothering, Perspective, Truth-telling
It began with a rush and a flood and a steady slow trickle. It began in spinning anxieties and a heart that pounded fierce love and basked in her eyes, little neck and gurgles like wet birds. It began with deep soil digging and gave birth to skeleton structure and...
by Ashley Larkin | Nov 11, 2013 | Community, Concrete Words, Faith, Favorite posts, Grace, Love, Redemption, Surrender, Truth-telling
On this November 11th, I wake thinking of my father-in-law — my husband’s father, who I was just two months shy of meeting. The proudly full-blooded Irishman with the big voice and larger than life presence, the loving father of four boys. Passionate...
by Ashley Larkin | Oct 14, 2013 | 31 Days 2013: Right Here, Childhood, Concrete Words, Family, Love, Marriage
We returned about 25 minutes ago from a long weekend with my sister and her family in Central Oregon. We feel full. From minestrone soup and brownies and nest building under the pine trees and running in the open grass and playing in the pool and listening to music...
by Ashley Larkin | Jun 10, 2013 | Amusings, Concrete Words, Faith, Grace, Hope, Perspective
Welcome to those joining for the first time today from the blog of the lovely Nacole Simmons at Six in the Sticks. I’m honored to be guest posting there, along with others who are linking up their pieces on “The Morning.” If you’d like to get...
by Ashley Larkin | May 20, 2013 | Community, Concrete Words, Faith, Poetry
Finger wrapped steam curls toward wood beams, this holy morning fragrance mingled with words and some tears and knit brows and shoulder shaking gold Lives, lots, portions in earthen containers and hers seems more like folds of linen this morning and she asks where is...
by Ashley Larkin | May 13, 2013 | Concrete Words, Family, Just Write, Mothering, Perspective
We zoom in. We squint. We tilt heads and thrust necks forward. We walk to the next case, the next frame and hold hands behind our backs so as to notice without touching the strokes of oil, the blended hues creating glen and chin and river and belly. We look intent at...
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