One year ago, I was getting diagnosed with cancer. Your book was in this beautiful gift box on my desk, and every time I saw it, I felt sad. Could I still create anyway? Was there any time left? Was destruction the only thing ahead? I remember sharing it on social & whispering this secret prayer: please let this still be true for me, too.
One year ago, your book looks out at me from the shelf & it is spine-poetry all on its own. I still did, and I still am, and it matters so damn much that we celebrate every creation, every anniversary, every moments of goodness and beauty and joy along the long hard way. Thank you for every word you put out into the world and every encouragement you give to other women to do the same. You are a gift to us.
Laura, I have tears in my eyes reading this. Keep fighting the good fight, my friend. I have been in AWE of your strength, bravery, and determination over the past year. The way you keep fighting. The way you keep creating. The way you have honestly captured, time and time again, the raw gritty truth of what it's really been like. Thank you for showing up, even on, and especially on, the days you don't want to. ❤️
"...the act of celebrating art is always one part victory song, one part Ebenezer stone." Amen, amen, amen. In this world of endless and exponential content waiting - asking - to be consumed, your words are ones I consistently choose to consume, enjoy doing so, and walk away from feeling full and satisfied and nourished. Happiest birthday to this special book baby of yours. I am more fully myself because you chose to push past the doubt.
Aww, happy book birthday!! I am listening to Create Anyway on Audible for the first time and loving every single minute. I'll probably grab the physical copy, too, because there's been so many passages I've wanted to underline. As a first-time mama of a three-year-old who was just diagnosed with autism, your thoughts about writing and creativity and motherhood have inspired me more than I can express. I gave up writing somewhere between having a baby in the middle of the pandemic, and figuring out how to parent a kid with special needs. It's been a lot, but I'm feeling God call me back to the page. Your book has helped me recognize that doing so isn't selfish, but an important part of who I am, how I parent, and even how I worship. xo
Christy, this means so much to me. Have you read Gluing the Cracks by Katie Blackburn?? If not, can I send you a copy? Feel free to email me your address (if you're comfortable!) and I will pop a copy in the mail to you. ❤️ ashlee.gadd@gmail.com
Hi Ashlee! That is so thoughtful! Thank you! I haven’t read it and I would love that. My son has autism but is considered “high functioning” -- so I have a feeling there will be much in Katie’s book I might relate to. I will email you😊.
Well, I’m crying myself. I think, if I can quote Katie’s peloton trainer as well, you’re celebrating who you are, what you have done 10,000 times.
Some of us have been witnessing it all from the sidelines -way before Pres! I know. Crazy. You’ve done it girl, you’ve written (more than) 10,000 times. And we are grateful for every word. Thank you, and cheers to you!
Happy book birthday to Create Anyway! I so appreciate and value your leadership in celebrating art—both yours and others. So many women have been (and will continue to be) encouraged by your words. Just this week, I’ve been thinking about the idea of suggesting a “Creative Moms Club” at my church, using Create Anyway as the launching point!
Love this! Got chills when I saw the picture of the ladybug on the cake, because I knew what that meant from reading Create Anyway 💕 thank you for doing the hard work of overcoming resistance with your art, and inspiring us to do the same 🤗
“One of the awkward parts of being a writer and working from home in your sweatpants is that if you ever want to celebrate something related to your work, you usually have to be the one to organize it. You are the sole member of the party planning committee.”
This rings so true. Every Christmas I want to have a Christmas work party but it would just be me. I don’t know what to plan and it feels silly inviting others to my work Christmas party because no one works with me!
Anyway, I finished Create Anyway this morning (it was my slow read, I started it at the beginning of the year) and I loved it. You absolutely should celebrate this book, it is amazing! Keep celebrating it, keep shouting about it. I love everything you write and am grateful that you put your words out in to the world, because my life is richer for them.
That photo of Presley dancing at the book launch party… 🥰🥰🥰 I mean, all the photos are gorgeous, but there’s something about that one that I especially love. Thank you, as always, for writing—the book, the blogs, the substacks… all of it—and for reminding us that art is worth celebrating.
Happy one year book anniversary! I'm so glad you pushed past the resistance to celebrating because your book and all your many, many hours deserve to be celebrated. You have helped so many mothers, myself and my friends included, to feel seen and encouraged on this journey.
Ashlee! I love this. I was going to order oreo cheesecake on my picture book birthday, and was looking forward to it. Day of book birthday cake was out of stock/sold out?!?
Ashlee, your book is an apologetic to work and enjoy the side of us that contains beauty, delight, intrique, wonder, etc. God put it there, and you prove it through "Create Anyway."
I know you haven't been to seminary, but a course could be derived from your book just to minister to the Church and show what so needs to be creatively and artistically expressed by believers, and what is from the Creator and inate in those He created.
One year ago, I was getting diagnosed with cancer. Your book was in this beautiful gift box on my desk, and every time I saw it, I felt sad. Could I still create anyway? Was there any time left? Was destruction the only thing ahead? I remember sharing it on social & whispering this secret prayer: please let this still be true for me, too.
One year ago, your book looks out at me from the shelf & it is spine-poetry all on its own. I still did, and I still am, and it matters so damn much that we celebrate every creation, every anniversary, every moments of goodness and beauty and joy along the long hard way. Thank you for every word you put out into the world and every encouragement you give to other women to do the same. You are a gift to us.
Laura, I have tears in my eyes reading this. Keep fighting the good fight, my friend. I have been in AWE of your strength, bravery, and determination over the past year. The way you keep fighting. The way you keep creating. The way you have honestly captured, time and time again, the raw gritty truth of what it's really been like. Thank you for showing up, even on, and especially on, the days you don't want to. ❤️
"...the act of celebrating art is always one part victory song, one part Ebenezer stone." Amen, amen, amen. In this world of endless and exponential content waiting - asking - to be consumed, your words are ones I consistently choose to consume, enjoy doing so, and walk away from feeling full and satisfied and nourished. Happiest birthday to this special book baby of yours. I am more fully myself because you chose to push past the doubt.
Thank you so much, Asha! Grateful for you.
Aww, happy book birthday!! I am listening to Create Anyway on Audible for the first time and loving every single minute. I'll probably grab the physical copy, too, because there's been so many passages I've wanted to underline. As a first-time mama of a three-year-old who was just diagnosed with autism, your thoughts about writing and creativity and motherhood have inspired me more than I can express. I gave up writing somewhere between having a baby in the middle of the pandemic, and figuring out how to parent a kid with special needs. It's been a lot, but I'm feeling God call me back to the page. Your book has helped me recognize that doing so isn't selfish, but an important part of who I am, how I parent, and even how I worship. xo
Christy, this means so much to me. Have you read Gluing the Cracks by Katie Blackburn?? If not, can I send you a copy? Feel free to email me your address (if you're comfortable!) and I will pop a copy in the mail to you. ❤️ ashlee.gadd@gmail.com
Hi Ashlee! That is so thoughtful! Thank you! I haven’t read it and I would love that. My son has autism but is considered “high functioning” -- so I have a feeling there will be much in Katie’s book I might relate to. I will email you😊.
Well, I’m crying myself. I think, if I can quote Katie’s peloton trainer as well, you’re celebrating who you are, what you have done 10,000 times.
Some of us have been witnessing it all from the sidelines -way before Pres! I know. Crazy. You’ve done it girl, you’ve written (more than) 10,000 times. And we are grateful for every word. Thank you, and cheers to you!
😭 Ahhh thank you, Rocio!
Happy book birthday to Create Anyway! I so appreciate and value your leadership in celebrating art—both yours and others. So many women have been (and will continue to be) encouraged by your words. Just this week, I’ve been thinking about the idea of suggesting a “Creative Moms Club” at my church, using Create Anyway as the launching point!
!!! Laura, thank you for this. That moms club would be amazing! I hope you can make that happen!
Love this! Got chills when I saw the picture of the ladybug on the cake, because I knew what that meant from reading Create Anyway 💕 thank you for doing the hard work of overcoming resistance with your art, and inspiring us to do the same 🤗
“One of the awkward parts of being a writer and working from home in your sweatpants is that if you ever want to celebrate something related to your work, you usually have to be the one to organize it. You are the sole member of the party planning committee.”
This rings so true. Every Christmas I want to have a Christmas work party but it would just be me. I don’t know what to plan and it feels silly inviting others to my work Christmas party because no one works with me!
Anyway, I finished Create Anyway this morning (it was my slow read, I started it at the beginning of the year) and I loved it. You absolutely should celebrate this book, it is amazing! Keep celebrating it, keep shouting about it. I love everything you write and am grateful that you put your words out in to the world, because my life is richer for them.
I would totally come to your Christmas work party 😜
And celebrate anyway 🤍
seriously delightful.
The photo of your daughter (I think?) dancing brings happy tears to my eyes. Oh, to be a child and to dance.
She told me yesterday, "Mom I love you more than anything in the whole world ... well, except for dancing." 🤣
Haha! I think a little me would've said the same thing to my own mom.
That photo of Presley dancing at the book launch party… 🥰🥰🥰 I mean, all the photos are gorgeous, but there’s something about that one that I especially love. Thank you, as always, for writing—the book, the blogs, the substacks… all of it—and for reminding us that art is worth celebrating.
Love this so much. So proud of you Ashlee! 💛💛💛
Thanks, friend. Appreciate you so much!
So glad you are sharing your art, Ashlee! It inspires me!
Happy one year book anniversary! I'm so glad you pushed past the resistance to celebrating because your book and all your many, many hours deserve to be celebrated. You have helped so many mothers, myself and my friends included, to feel seen and encouraged on this journey.
❤️ It's a joy to create alongside you.
Ashlee! I love this. I was going to order oreo cheesecake on my picture book birthday, and was looking forward to it. Day of book birthday cake was out of stock/sold out?!?
So CAKE IS IMPORTANT lol.
I love your happiness in these photos!
And so impressed you didn't read any reviews!
Cake IS important!! Tell me you got a redo when it was back in stock!! 😅
This is so lovely, and also, so necessary.
Ashlee, your book is an apologetic to work and enjoy the side of us that contains beauty, delight, intrique, wonder, etc. God put it there, and you prove it through "Create Anyway."
I know you haven't been to seminary, but a course could be derived from your book just to minister to the Church and show what so needs to be creatively and artistically expressed by believers, and what is from the Creator and inate in those He created.
Laura this was incredibly generous. Thank you, friend!!
💖 you are very welcome!!!