Expectant

Today is…

Expectant. Sharply inhaled and held, paused and patient. Two months of radical change have brought us to an ending, a beginning, and a moment of wondering what will come next.

This past September, we moved our retail shops entirely online; a practical, yet poignant change after eleven years. As a family, we sent two of our daughters abroad to study, one to Ireland and another to Scotland. The logistics of these changes happening all at once left little room to consider their emotional weight. October, comparatively, has been quieter with the excitement of new adventures giving way to the ache of letting go, and I found myself adrift and unsure of how to navigate these major transitions simultaneously. The people we love are farther away, the rhythms of everyday life are different, and the future feels less certain.

It was during this period that Paisley Honey reached out to see if we were still interested in carrying their rosaries.

Fiach, the founder, an Irish-born craftsman living in Scotland, first introduced us to his work over the summer. He draws on the Christian heritage of both places to create beautiful rosaries inspired in part by Irish saints, Scottish landscapes, and pilgrimage. His intention, in his own words, is to make things “that people may carry through meaningful parts of their lives.”  

What providential timing.

All of his work is exceptional, yet three of his rosaries stood out:

The St. Patrick Carndonagh Rosary. The cross on this rosary is a detailed replica of one of the oldest high crosses in Ireland, the 7th-century Carndonagh Cross in County Donegal. My husband was born in Donegal and now our daughter is studying in Ireland, carrying that connection forward in her own story.

The St. Columba of Iona Rosary created another connection. St. Columba was born in Ireland and crossed the sea to Scotland in the sixth century, establishing a center of faith and learning. His story feels particularly meaningful as our daughter takes a bit of home with her as she continues her own studies in Scotland.

And finally, the St. Christopher Travel Rosary is for prayers of safe passage, new beginnings, and finding our way. As I look toward the months ahead, I can't see through the uncertainty, but I can exhale, trusting that my faith will anchor me as life moves forward. With God, none of us travel alone.

As sister shops, Morningside and Carrick Mor are also beginning a new chapter of their own. Our journeys are continuing, and we hope you'll join us.