36x36 - First-anniversary moon, butterfly, opal magic. 

“My New Jersey fire isn’t for everyone,” he says. “But it suits her just fine.” I smile at this. It is wonderful to see an old friend so in love, so settled into the role of husband and father. His details of what you love  and what is special to you both are impeccable. I can tell by this ten minutes of texting how he makes her comfort and joy his priority. 

He shared with me how you both always say “I love you to the moon and back.” So I thought it was nice to add one in yet, as a half and very fragmented. It’s the splinters and cracks of the parts of ourselves that we think are broken that really let the light shine out. I think the pain of life's lessons are what give us a deeper appreciation for joy. Loss a deeper appreciation for love. Cracked glass is way more interesting than whole and complete glass - the imperfections are allowed to be a part of, accepted and celebrated. 

Opal stimulates flashes of intuition and insight. It is a protective stone for deep innerwork as we go through life's lessons. The moon symbolizes immortality and eternity, and the illumination of the deeper, dark side of nature. The gold butterfly within the moon symbolises rebirth, transformation, creativity, infinite potential, change, and the ability to experience the wonder of life. 

I wanted there to be a great emphasis on the halos around the moon, as you have both illuminated and uplifted each other into each other's lives. Jeff so excitedly told me so much about you and Sophia. I have never heard him so happy, so doting, so alive. The halos around the moon symbolize the joy of the connection of family that you share. 

I know that Jeff's Mom is like that golden butterfly, illuminated within the halo of the moon, alive in the joy and family you have both created. I have no doubt that she thanks you deeply for the ways that you have healed and loved her Son. She’d probably come all the way back here to hug you, kiss Sophia, and tell you she couldn’t have asked for a better daughter. She is never far from any of you. I worked on this and really read between the energetic lines of your family. Your Mom was always right there trying to shine extra light with echoes of happy laughter. She laughed so loud, didn’t she? 

But anyway. Happy first wedding anniversary to you both. What a time to get married and have a baby girl. Your resilience and joy are impossible not to see. Protecting each other for eternity, glowing and sparkling bright, bright, brighter. You both deserve the best, to the moon and back, illuminated within the support of each other, and the joy of this life. I hope this picture is a reminder of that magic. The fire that suits you both.