Writing, to me, is like coming home over and over again. For as long as I can remember, I wrote. I wrote to keep my head above the storm, or to collect myself after life threw its many curveballs. I wrote to remember the potency of moments that occurred. I wrote just as much as I spoke out loud, which was an overwhelming amount for a gregarious Italian girl! Then, in shift to a seemingly survivalist effort to parent four little daughters born within 6 1/2 years, somehow and somewhere along the way I stopped writing. I lost such a huge part of myself, so I thought. But ideas hover and percolate, even when you don’t give them your full attention.
I use my images to present a visual sentiment about what I write. I feel like I am a photo-infused writer. I believe in the magic of written words to connect people closer. And I believe in capturing light through a lens and letting it permeate my heart whenever the opportunity arises.
You know in the movie Elf, where Will Ferrell exclaims, “I’m in love!! And I don’t care who knows it!!” That’s me – with writing. Late nights with arm hairs on end, heart racing, fingers flying across the key board. Here begins my new written journey.
Appreciatively,
Anna
Testimonials
“Parenting is hard! One of the most difficult aspects of the role of parenting is feeling guilty about not doing it right and thinking that you are the only one who is completely clueless about how to navigate the ins and outs of raising kids. Another challenge is taking the time to forget about the difficulties being a parent brings and recognize the million and one wonderful little occurrences that accompany having the title of “mom” or “dad.” Anna Stump’s delightful blogs always bring me back to that perspective of appreciation – often just when I desperately need it most. Her words are easy to digest, yet powerful enough to evoke memories, a smile, a laugh, and a much needed redirection. Whether the blog is about a common children’s phrase of “I’ll be” to a hefty topic of breaking down walls, the words Anna writes seem to reach a deep part of me. For a busy, professional mom, her blog is a quick ride back to what is important. In our current social and political climate, CatchlightSB keeps me focused on family, gratitude, keeping an open mind, fun, my immediate surroundings, and something that oh-so-often gets pushed to the backburner – me. Thank you, Anna, for your snippets and glimpses and the opportunity they provide to reflect and find joy.”
“For me, settling in to read something that Anna has written is like sinking into a comfy couch with a big bowl of lyrical ice cream…a TREAT! Anna’s natural, light and deep introspection always tends to take me on a journey into her world, which I always feel honored to dip into for a moment in time. I always come out with a twist on how to look at something through new eyes, with a dose of positivity.”
Catchlightsb 