Sarah's Sewing and My Reading

My sweet Sarah is the only one with sewing to show for this week. I spent four days in Charlottesville with Mike and our littlest girls. We had a spectacular time! Pictures and a story to follow soon. We arrived home late Monday night and then, we left the little ones home with our big ones and I accompanied Mike to Miami to bask in his glory. His studio project is complete and he invited me to take a quick trip with him to South Beach for the grand unveiling. It's actually Thursday afternoon as I write and the party is tonight, so the details will be forthcoming next week. I have a flight to catch in the morning, though, and I didn't want to miss a needle &thREAD. 

Sarah went along with Mary Beth on Wednesday morning to the most wonderful Montessori school in the universe. Once upon a time, my friend Carmen, fellow soccer mom and Montessori directress extraordinaire, invited five-year-old Mary Beth to come "visit" her at school once a week. Mary Beth has very fond memories of those days. Now, she's teaching there, soaking up all that beautiful early childhood environment has to offer and being mentored by some of the finest teachers I know. Sarah is the happy five-year-old who gets to go to "Miss Carmen's school." Sarah sewed this week at school and she's asked me to present her handiwork for your inspection;-).

I have been reading! I finished The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. I truly loved this book and I feel like I learned so much. I envy my other friend Carmen (not the Montessori one, the Colorado one) her literary trip to Great Britain. I'd love to go to Guernsey one day. And I'm so grateful to Carmen for encouraging me to get the recorded version. It was so well done and the cast of voices really added to the experience of the story. Five stars, for sure.

I've been reading an advanced copy for Sally Clarkson's new book. You're in for a treat! Truly, this is her best book yet. 

And after I finished The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, I started listening to Running Like a Girl:Notes on Learning to Run. It's fine, but I'd like to find a different running memoir. I like the premise and I could identify with some of her story, but I would love to have been her editor because there are gaps to fill. There are lots of running books out there. Which one(s) to choose?

Next week, there will be a new adventure. I'm going to unpack and repack and go again. Twice actually. This is a very weird stretch of time for me. I'm not one to leave home hardly at all. And here I go. And go. And go again. I'll try to squeeze some sewing in early in the week and I'm certain to have plenty of reading time.

What's happening in your handicrafts and literary worlds?

When in Doubt

When they are little, we read them stories from Bibles with cartoon illustrations. We sing them songs about lights under bushels and Father Abraham and his many sons. God is good and God is great and we’re all friends. We weave Jesus and Mary and God in heaven around them like a warm, soft quilt, and we create for them a childhood where they are snug.

And then, despite our best efforts against such a thing, life comes at them. Sometimes, it comes quietly, and the reality of this fallen world makes itself known a little at a time, awareness of sin and disappointment that it’s not a fairytale seeping in, dampening the edges of the warm, soft quilt.

Sometimes, it comes in a torrent. Life crashes. The growing child, most likely a teenager, learns that his parents aren’t perfect. Maybe he even learns that the people in his church are not perfect either. He is sitting, quite alone, shivering in a wet, cold blanket, Father Abraham nowhere to be found.

And his mother wrings her hands.

How can this be? How can he doubt? How can he be shaken in this faith we’ve so carefully tucked around him? How did this happen?

With his awareness of the world, cynicism comes to hide beneath that blanket. If there is a God, why doesn’t He do something about the suffering? If there is a God, I’m not sure I like Him, what with all those people dying in His name and His seemingly standing by and letting it happen. If there is a God …

There is a God, isn’t there? All those stories, all those songs, all those bedtime prayers (especially the ones for baby brothers and sisters)? Those weren’t just make-believe, were they?

If there is a God, then where is He and why does real life hurt so much?

Because of sin, my child. God didn’t crucify the Christian in Syria. Sin did.

Sin abounds. Doubt creeps in and huddles close to cynicism beneath that blanket, both of them cold and damp and making the man-child colder and damper. And then he wonders, what’s the point? Why? Why am I here? This — this question — is the ultimate rite of passage. He is a grownup now, sitting huddled there with so many others, questioning the fallenness of it all. How did he get from “Jesus loves me, this I know” to being so aware of the magnitude of pain that is this fallen world. And how, how in the world, does he get warm and dry again?

He hums the familiar, faded tune. Jesus loves me. This I know. But, he isn’t sure. He wrestles doubt. He wonders why hope has left him here with these ugly bedfellows under this blanket.

Sing it strong, son! Sing it like you mean it. Call out to God in your doubt and your confusion, and ask Him to breathe warmth and light on your blanket. Or whisper it quietly. Just barely audible, ask Him in to your coldness and your damp sorrow. Invite hope to sit with you and let faith warm in such a way that cynicism and doubt are mightily uncomfortable and vacate the premises.

Go ahead, ask those questions again of the real and present God. Why are you here? What’s the meaning in your life? You are here because you notice. You see the suffering. You understand pain from the perspective of someone who has felt it. You are wonderfully made for just this moment in time. You are here because your blanket, warmed in the sun of His grace, is big enough to throw over your neighbor.

You are a big boy now, and you see, because you know suffering, that God does exist and He didn’t abandon you and He’s not capricious. He’s not some mean tormenter who stands idly by while His people suffer.

Indeed, He created you for a time such as this. He led you here; He let you feel. Because He has plans for you, plans for a future and a hope. He calls you to be His hands and His feet, to heal and to bind the wounds.

The world is broken, son, I know you’ve noticed. Now, let me show you that it is also good and that we can spend a lifetime together being the good, bringing the warmth. You are not here, under my roof. I cannot tuck that blanket around you and trace the round cheeks of your childish face while you sleep. You are miles away, your face lean and angular, and so, instead, I tuck you into my prayers, and I call upon God in His heaven to keep you warm.

More than I ever Imagined

“...that he may know the feel of wood, clay, leather, and the joy of handling tools, that is, that he may establish a due relation with materials...” “The points to be borne in mind in children’s handicrafts are: (a) that they should not be employed in making futilities such as pea and stick work, paper mats, and the like; (b) that they should be taught slowly and carefully what they are to do; (c) that slipshod work should not be allowed...”~Charlotte Mason”

As I tweak the schedule for this semester, I see where the windows are opening for genuine Charlotte Mason afternoons, spent working with our hands. Yesterday was more than a little chaotic, as I scramble to tie up several loose ends before leaving town, but we managed to create, all the same. 

Kristin came over with Lucy, which meant Karoline and Sarah and I got to play dolls with a real live baby. It also meant that Kristin and I could put our creative heads together and Kristin could put her hands and her heart towards a project we both love. 

And Katie made progress sewing a shirt for Sarah. When my babies were little, I imagined that when everyone was "big," I'd have to time to quietly plug away at handcrafts. My reality is that knitting is a bag that comes along to soccer games and sewing is just as often done in the dressing room of the dance studio as in my carefully appointed "studio." Neither scenario is at all quiet;-)! In all my imaginings, I could not have conjured the comfortable companionship of Kristin and my arms full all over again. When I wondered and worried about who would be an example of young motherhood to my little girls, I did not have the scope of vision that would bring to mind their sister-in-law and a baby niece snuggled into one of many baby-wearing lovelies. These afternoons are nothing like I imagined and more than I ever hoped.

The days are intense. And sometimes the struggle takes my breath away. But for golden afternoons and the loveliness of girls gathered, I am grateful. 

I'm still listening to The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. I know I could blaze through the print version in no time at all, but the audio version is such a treat, so very well done, that I am letting it linger.  I also spent some time this week previewing the printed version of  A Year of Playing Skillfully. Oh. Wow. Firstly, there's way more than enough for more than a year here. It's beautiful! And I'm a huge sucker for visual appeal. It's incredibly complete. And it makes me want a house full of preschoolers again. From Lesli Richards and Kathy Lee, both experienced mothers and teachers and the authors of The Homegrown Preschooler, comes the most complete and carefully crafted preschool curriculum you've ever wanted. I came away from my reading with a renewed sense of the wonder and joy of those early years. I'm grateful to have gotten to take a look and I'm excited to watch the community of women using these resources grow. Poke around over there a bit. You'll be glad you did.

““...my object is to show that the chief function of the child—his business in the world during the first six or seven years of his life—is to find out all he can, about whatever comes under his notice, by means of his five senses...”
― Charlotte M. Mason”

What about you? Sewing? Reading? Just playing babies? Tell me all about it!

Gathering my Thoughts in Early September

::outside my window

The sun is rising. I'm on the recumbent bike in my closet, biking while I type. I think I'd rather be outdoors, but it's pretty cool to watch the sun rise from here.

::listening to 

Just the hum of the bike...

::clothing myself in 

T-shirt, shorts--doesn't really matter. I will go from this bike to the shower and then begin the day. I think it's going to be cool enough for capris and a long-sleeved T-shirt. And then tomorrow, hotter than most days last summer were. 

::talking with my children about these books

So many books! We've begun "school" in earnest now. The boys are taking on ancient history this term. I just noticed there's no ancient history reading list on Serendipity. I'll have to remedy that soon. The little girls are going to follow the Storybook Year plan. Beatrix Potter will anchor the next couple of weeks. Mary Beth will be focused on American History and Government and American Literature. And with Katie, I'm going to modify Beyond Five in Row and take it from there.  Lots and lots of books for a ll of us!

::in my own reading

Carmen suggested last week that I listen to The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society. I'm so glad she did! This book really comes to life on audio! i'm very much enjoying it. Also, I'm listening on loan from my library. Yay for free!

::thinking and thinking

about running. And fitness in general. I'd always said that when there were no more nursing babies, I'd get really serious about fitness. I was 46 when my last baby stopped nursing. I would not trade one second of that experience. But I should have gotten serious sooner. I think that trying to get really fit while also transitioning through perimenopause and menopause is formidable challenge. I'm not giving up, but yeah, this is n't coming easily.

::pondering 

I've got two. One from C. S. Lewis because he's most often quoted in this space and another, just because. Actually, maybe three. 

If one could run without getting tired I don’t think one would often want to do anything else.  C.S. Lewis

If you want to become the best runner you can be, start now. Don’t spend the rest of your life wondering if you can do it.  Priscilla Welch

Believe that you can run farther or faster. Believe that you’re young enough, old enough, strong enough, and so on to accomplish everything you want to do. Don’t let worn-out beliefs stop you from moving beyond yourself. John Bingham

::carefully cultivating rhythm

The first week of school was a bit of a rhythm mess. Usually, I overplan and I'm mightily disappointed that my children are actually real, fallen human beings who can't jump through all my hoops. This year, I didn't really plan more than in my head and I learned that over planning might be preferable to under planning. I also resolved this: next year, we won't try to begin the week of Labor Day. We'll just field trip that whole week. It's silly to start try to use plans that are always written for five day weeks and be behind right from the get-go. For us, it's also ridiculous to expect a smooth transition to school days right on the heels of a hot, three day soccer tournament weekend. Since I have already received my Emily Ley planner for 2015, I've made a note of it.

I did buckle down and do quite a bit of planning early last week and I've got everything in its place on my colorful sheets and all will be well in the world of Foss. Soon. 

I've also committed to lots and lots of nature study and we're getting after it!

 ::creating by hand

I have a shirt for Sarah all cut and Katie plans to sew it. I have a sling for Sloane, very nearly finished. And Karoline just informed me that she thinks I'm making 30 or so headbands for various dance companies... In my spare time.

::learning lessons in

Running. I've been reading and reading. It's inspiring, but when I read about running before bed, I dream it. Then, I wake up tired and go for a run and it's nothing like the dream was. Running is being assigned to breakfast reading henceforth. (Breakfast is this pumpkin spice smoothie these days.) I've enjoyed the Another Mother Runner site. I think that after I finish the  The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society I'm going to listen to their books. The podcasts have been very informative. When I clicked over to those books at Amazon, I hopped down a rabbit trail of books about running for women and about women who run, training plans and memoirs, who knew!? Do you have some suggestions?

::encouraging learning in.

Organized study habits. We're beginning this semester with really working on putting things where they belong, taking good notes and filing them well, and all matter of things smart students know. 

::begging prayers

for safe travels this week. 

::keeping house

Chore charts. Several years ago, a voice on the internet accused me of spending more time planning things than doing them. She was someone I respected and she probably meant well. I overreacted and stopped planning pretty much everything. Her words had sliced deep and discouraging. Because things were so well planned (how's that for irony), we ran along fairly well for a long time without new plans. But the dynamics of my household have changed drastically. I need some substantial household plans again--meal plans, chore plans, grocery plans. There will be plans. And fast. 

::crafting in the kitchen 

I'm doing a lot of freezer cooking this week. Loosely following recipes in this book. I'm going to be gone a lot in September and those left at home will only need to thaw and cook. But it's going to take some planning first;-)

::to be fit and happy

I hit 243 miles in August. For September, I didn't set another mileage goal (this was becoming a bit ridiculous). Instead, I joined along with And Babies Don't Keep and committed to run at least a mile a day. I'm reporting and recording on Instagram. Check in with me there. Kristin is doing the run streak, too. She's such a huge encouragement!

::giving thanks 

Here's where I tell you that Mike has been gone for most of the summer, and actually a lot of the spring before it. He's been working on a project in South Beach and another in New York. We don't live in South Beach or New York. It's been a long, lonely, exhausting summer for both of us. We struggled through this one. He's burned out. I'm hanging on by my fingernails. One show launched yesterday. The other will launch today. He's done some amazing, artistic, creative things and I am so proud of him. Tomorrow, he travels home and we are going to spend huge amounts of time together for the rest of the month, including some pretty cool trips. I'm am so grateful to have arrived at this point in time. I cannot even adequately express it. 

::loving the moments

that begin with a safe landing. 

living the liturgy

It's the time of year when our family liturgical devotions truly come to life. it's time to update that post. I've been giving lots of thoughts to enduring liturgical traditions, the kinds that follow kids to college and take up residence in the homes of newlyweds. More on that very soon.

::planning for the week ahead

Mike comes home tomorrow! And we're going to Charlottesville together later in the week. We have plans to celebrate our 27th wedding anniversary in the very same place we went for our first date in 1981 (yes, I was way too young to date;-). Lucky for all of us that Patrick's locker room is in University Hall and 27 years ago, Robert E. Lee High School won the Virginia State basketball championships in that very same building. I was there. With my new boyfriend. Friday night, we'll park there and walk across the street to watch our boy play soccer. Sweet.

I'm SO Glad You're Here!

Now, let's catch up!

I think the all the feeds are finally working. You're here! I've missed you! Come in. Look around, Make yourself at home. if you missed the post where I welcomed you to my new home, please visit here.

And please stay awhile. 

Below are links to all the posts that went up when there was no feed. Here's what you might have missed:

All the Books (and not much sewing): In this one, I review the books I've been reading, link to a wonderful DIY tutorial for a baby carrier drooly bib, and share Fat Quarter Shop's awesome new shipping rates.

Girl Talk: What Alice Forgot What a great book! We started talking about it here, but it's so absolutely not too late to join the conversation. We've been waiting for you to get here!

Gathering Resources Before 9/11 It's nearly the anniversary of the horrible assault on freedom that we know as 9/11. Take a moment right now to gather some resources so you'll be ready to talk with your children about these things on Thursday.

The Best Things Happen in the Margins {The Wider, the Better} This might be one of my favorite columns. I'm very much taking it to heart this semester. It's all about #smallstepsinwidemargins

We're all about REAL: Pumpkin Spice Latte You've heard about the "no-pumpkin PSL" at Allthebucks? Well, this one is the real deal. Several different versions, hot and cold, and one that is a genuine whole foods kind of meal. 

Paths Unexpected I'm a solitary walker. And now, I'm learning to be a solitary runner. Maybe one day, I'll run alongside someone, but for now, I really like being alone with my thoughts. In this post, I share some of those thoughts and I share lots of pictures of the beautiful places I have been blessed to walk and run over the 243 miles I logged in August. Click on the video. My heart's in it. 

Lots of Reading and Just a Little Sewing In this post, I share about Anna Quindlen, Anne Lamott and Annie Dillard. Just a little love for writers named Ann... And I share with you how I've started reading fiction again after twenty years of being without it.

Daybook. Mary Beth is going to contribute on a regular basis! This is her first Daybook. Stop by the combox and say hello. She'll be so encouraged.

Roasted Tomato Sauce Lots of late summer tomatoes and very little time? Here's what to do!

Could it be a Storybook Year? Here's one from the archives--a way to bring light and love and laughter into your reading with children. And a lengthy list of ideas for talking and writing about books after you've read them together.

There are No Do-Overs There was a tragic accident in my neighborhood around 11:00 on a sunny Thursday morning. An extremely high-speed collision on a residential street. Makes you think. 

i've really missed you. The move was maddening and the problems with feed readers super frustrating. But everything should work now. you might need to check on a few things.

First, if you usually click over here from Facebook, go like this page. My personal Facebook page is going to become more personal, more private, and quieter. As we move in here, there will be more frequent blog updates and I don’t want you to miss them, but they won’t all appear on my personal Facebook page. The blog page is going to get hopping. So, go like and follow the blog page!

You might need to update your subscription. If you saw this post in your reader this morning, you're just fine. If you've been a reader for a long time and subscribed to ebeth.typepad.com you'll need to re-subscribe. We put a handy link in the top bar if you'd like to have posts appear in your mailbox every day. Or you can subscribe on Feedly or Bloglovin’ or another feed reader. Go check yours! You might be subscribed under the old RSS and you won’t get updates.

You can still access learning ideas and lesson plans at Serendipity. We are working on a plan to move all of those over here very soon. 

Have I mentioned how glad I am that you're here?