needle & thREAD

{Sorry this is late; my model needed a little extra beauty sleep before her photo shoot this morning.)

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Good morning!

I've got real quick sewing update for you. I made Karoline a popover sundress. It turns out that it did, indeed, take about as long to make as the doll one I made last week. I have fabric all cut and ready to make Sarah a matching one today. Katie and I talked about how cute it would be to make summertime tops out of the same pattern, just hemming them at about a high hip length. Unfortunately, the pattern stops at Size 8. So, I'd have to re-draft the pattern on my own for Katie. I'm mulling the possiblities, doubting my ability to modify, but swaying with her earnest pleading. It looks like Leisl did draft it, but I don't think it's out there anywhere...

I'll report to you next week.

My reading this week is re-reading. I never finished the book study of The 10 Habits of Happy Mothers or the one of Mission of Motherhood. I'd like to finish both in the next few weeks. So, re-reading it is!

What are you up to? Stitching? Reading? Tell me about it!

I think I have an idea...

I finished knitting Katie's sweater just before Karoline's First Communion. So, she got to wear it with her Easter dress on First Communion Day. She was thrilled. Me? Not so much. It's full of mistakes. I wish I knew what they were. I mean, I know they're mistakes, but I don't know why. A girl can't learn from her mistakes unless she knows why. My plan is to photograph all the mistakes and email them to a friend. 

I was thinking yesterday about how I learned to knit. True, Elizabeth came one weekend and overwhelmed me with knitting love. I didn't really get to learn much that weekend, though. Then, Ginny unraveled my knots in real life. That was good. But I still didn't know how to knit. It was important to Elizabeth that I learn, so it became important to me. Carmen became dedicated to the cause, too, and suggested a pattern and sent me the link. Elizabeth dyed and spun the yarn and then tutored me through 5 or 6 of those sweaters via email. Katherine has encouraged every step of the way, via email or Instagram. Ladies, I learned to knit on the internet! This makes me giggle.

 I'm going to email my mistakes to Carmen and try to learn a little more. 

The internet has exploded in the last ten years--there's so much we can learn here. I dug out a very familiar book the other day. And I started re-reading. I think I wanted my younger self to give my now self a good kick in the pants. It worked. I'm sprucing my education plans here.

Someone (actually, more than one someone) wrote to me and mentioned how much she'd like to see me update and republish Real Learning. I've been reluctant. For whatever reason (or for a myriad of reasons), I've never been inclined to re-publish.

One day recently though, Aimee offered an idea that does appeal to me. Actually, Mary Beth, Christian, and Aimee each offered the idea separately, but it didn't really seem feasible until I talked it all through with Aimee.

What if the new version of the book weren't a book at all? What if it were a workshop? Eight or ten installments with various chapters from the book, all updated with links and photos and video. What if the "Words from the Wise" section checked in with veteran homeschoolers and what if we created community? What if we set aside a small space online to encourage one another to educate our children wholeheartedly (whether homeschoolers or not)? What if we engaged in conversation and those of us who have been at this a long time recommitted to our ideals, while sharing hard-earned wisdom with younger moms whose enthusiasm is contagious? Yes! I'd like to see the book become a big idea like that one.

What do you think?

Join Ginny for more tales of reading and knitting.

Happy Birthday, Christian!

Twenty-three years ago, on May 6, doctors warned us that we'd never have another baby. We hit our knees. We begged for a miracle. Really, really begged.

We welcomed Matthew Christian into our world two years later. 

Our miracle. 

Not a day goes by that I don't look at him and say, "Thank you." 

I'm so grateful for this boy, so very grateful.

(video credit: Mary Beth. Many thanks to Stephen for digging through boxes to find pictures.)

Lord, Hear Our Prayer

The internet is a formidable force for bringing the comfort and consolation and hope of the Lord to all of us. It can be an incredibily powerful medium for community. There is an unfathomable resource for prayer here. We have on the 'net the privilege of praying for people and of being witness to the miracles brought forth when fervent, faith-filled people pray for one another.

Let's be that community of hope and faith for one another.

How about this idea? What if I pop in here every weekend, share Sunday's gospel and talk a wee bit about how we can live it and pray it in our homes? And then you tell me how we can pray for you that week? Deal?

{And please, do return and let us know how prayer is bearing fruit.} 

Gospel

JN 14:23-29

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Whoever loves me will keep my word,
and my Father will love him,
and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him.
Whoever does not love me does not keep my words;
yet the word you hear is not mine
but that of the Father who sent me.

“I have told you this while I am with you.
The Advocate, the Holy Spirit,
whom the Father will send in my name,
will teach you everything
and remind you of all that I told you.
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.
Not as the world gives do I give it to you.
Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.
You heard me tell you,
‘I am going away and I will come back to you.’
If you loved me,
you would rejoice that I am going to the Father;
for the Father is greater than I.
And now I have told you this before it happens,
so that when it happens you may believe.”

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Think

“The splendor of the rose and the whiteness of the lily
do not rob the little violet of it’s scent nor the daisy of its simple charm.
If every tiny flower wanted to be a rose, spring would lose its loveliness.” 
― Thérèse de Lisieux

Pray

In the springtime, God, I see how varied the splendor of the flowers is and I know that people, too, are varied, each of us with our gifits, each of us with our own missions. Help me to see, dear Father, your plan for me. Help me to bloom in the warmth and light of your Spirit. 

Act

Gather a bouquet. Go outside and gather God's goodness. If you can't pick, capture images with a camera or with pencil and paper. Whatever you do, take the time to notice the beauty of the springtime (or the autumn, if you happen to be down under). 

Let's Try This Again

Last week, I introduced you to  Pat Gohn, author of Blessed, Beautiful, and Bodacious.

I had hoped to spark some conversation about friendship and about spirtual mentors. Since I know you all are interested in both, and since usually it's not terribly difficult to strike up a conversation here, I was surprised to see so few people chime in. I'm thinking I just picked a super busy day for almost everybody. But this is a topic thtat's become a bit of a passion for me, so I'm going to go out on a limb and give it another go.

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I am truly amazed at the wisdom Pat has crammed into these ten minutes. I think her insight is so valuable that I stopped and let my girls listen. We had an excellent conversation about how these five principles can be adapted even if you're only ten years old. Life with four daughters has given me lots of insight from an adult perspective on what makes for healthy friendships. What a lot of friendships I witness these days! Some are genuine blessings. Some, not so much. Some girls have a gift for friendship. Some must overcome some real deficits to be or to have good friends. Just as we train our children in good academic habits and good moral habits, we need to train them in good friendship habits. These are valuable lifeskills. This book is a valuable life book.

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This time, after the podcast link, I'll recap Pat's five talking points, so that even if you don't have ten minutes to stop and listen, you can walk away this morning with some truly priceless food for thought.

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Pat has recorded a thought-provoking (and sweetly short) podcast for you to listen to with your morning cuppa. She's got me thinking about spiritual motherhood. I'm reflecting gratefully on the women who have taken the time and care to mother me spiritually throughout my lifetime. They have firmly imprinted goodness on my soul and I am eternally grateful. I mean that. Eternally. Those women who have mothered me spiritually have affected eternity for me. And, through me, they have affected eternity for my children.

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Spiritual mothers aren't just mother-figures, they're the good friends in our lives, even the ones who are from our peer group. I can think of at least two women who fill that role in my life who are much younger than me, too. We are all called to spiritual motherhood. And, I think, it's in answering the call to that particular vocation that we become genuinely good friends.

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Pat has some wonderful concrete suggestions for us. They aspire to help create spiritual mothers and strike right to the heart of creating really good friends. Oh, how the world of women is desperately in need of good friends!

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This is a ten minute podcast that might change your life-- and your friendships. I'm not exagerrating here. Take some time --just ten minutes-- to listen today. The world and your world will be a better place because of it. I know mine will be.

>>>Click here to listen to ‘In the Heart of my Home hosts the Blessed, Beautiful, & Bodacious Blog Tour’ on Audioboo<<<

Five recommendations for aspiring Spiritual Mothers (Pat fleshes out these ideas in the podcast. It's only ten minutes. You'll be glad you listened.):

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1. Make friends with one another. Create a non-competitive sisterhood. 

2. Find THREE. Find three friends: one younger, one from your peer group, and one older than you are.

3. Raise the fun quotient. Do things that bring a smile to the one you want to befriend.

4. Pray for one another.  Ask. Seek. Knock. 

5. Use the four gifts of receptivity, generosity, sensitivity, and maternity. 

After you listen, come back here, because there's something in it for you and for the community here at Heart of My Home. 

Let's have a conversation. I really, truly want to hear your heart on this topic and I want to share with you in the combox. 

Who has been a spiritual mother to you? Describe her ways. You don't have to name her, but let us know how she's been a help for you. Pat talks about five gifts. How can we live those? How can we encourage one another to be spiritual mothers, both in real life and here online? 

Winning a copy of this book is very simple. Listen to the podcast. And then join the conversation. If you come back here to chat with me, you will automatically be entered to win a copy of Blessed, Beautiful, and Bodacious. I'll announce the winner right here, next week:-)