Category Archives: general

This blog experienced a nefarious hack while our lives were too busy to fix it. Michael finally made it happen for me today. For now, the blueprint header represents the in-progress nature of where things are at the moment. The medium is almost dead and this particular manifestation has seen much better days. But, there is hope and a plan.

N.B. All the old links here and pins are broken. The recipe index and church year at home pages have updated links. I apologize for any inconvenience.

Welcome back, kind readers.

This girl is eight years old, which is baffling. I remember the day she was born like it was yesterday. She has grown into an amazing little person, full of wit and whimsy and wonder. In a family of first-borns, she rocks our world a little by approaching things differently, but her other-ness is refreshing.

What was the best thing about being 7?  Being alive

What are you most proud of learning? Soccer and surfing

What was the best book you read?  Stallion by Starlight by Mary Pope Osborne

What is your favorite song? “The Fox” by Ylvis & “Let it Go” from Frozen

What is your favorite tv show? Dog With a Blog

What are you looking forward to about being 8? Playing basketball

What college do you want to go to? Ole Miss — just kidding, I have no idea

Do you think you’ll get married when you grow up? Have any kids? Yes, I will get married and have two daughters

What do you want to be when you grow up? A veterinarian

Hello again. I apologize for the long absence from this blog. I took a temporary job last semester and had to keep up my writing gigs in case it didn’t turn into a permanent gig (it didn’t) so I was run ragged from all the work I was doing.

But, I have a little more time at the present, so I am reading more books and getting out to run and doing other things that are healthy and make me happy. Blogging is somewhere on that list, so even though blogs in general–and this blog in particular–have jumped the shark, expect some posts here for the time being.

I took an unexpected, but much needed break from blogging after being pretty consistent for the last year. I feel refreshed and ready to go again.

I finally posted about the books I read in June, and stuck the post where it belongs (June 30th) for the sake of consistency. I hope I read some more books in July so I have something to share at the end of the month.

The summer is rapidly approaching its end. The girls know their teachers for next year and there are school supplies to buy and things to do. I’ve resumed looking for a job. So I am trying to enjoy the season while it lasts. Most days, I do.

During our time in Birmingham, I got to know Kathy and her family. They are in the middle of adopting a little girl from China and their agency was suspended. Lily is almost four and has been waiting for a family for a long time. Miraculously, they were able to have her file transferred to a new agency, but they are having to pay an additional $5,000+ in fees, duplicating what they have already paid the first agency. Kathy is making very fun and affordable jewelry you can buy to help fund this adoption, and there is also a raffle going on right now for a kindle or a nook (your choice!) you can read about on their blog.

I think these would make great gifts, don’t you? It even comes in a pretty gift box. Even if you don’t buy anything, I know the Wiehls would appreciate your prayers for God’s provision.

“We shall not cease from exploration
And the end of all our exploring
Will be to arrive where we started
And know the place for the first time.
Through the unknown, unremembered gate
When the last of earth left to discover
Is that which was the beginning;
At the source of the longest river
The voice of the hidden waterfall
And the children in the apple-tree
Not known, because not looked for
But heard, half-heard, in the stillness
Between two waves of the sea.
Quick now, here, now, always—
A condition of complete simplicity
(Costing not less than everything)
And all shall be well and
All manner of thing shall be well
When the tongues of flames are in-folded
Into the crowned knot of fire
And the fire and the rose are one.”
[T.S. Eliot, “Little Gidding,” 1942]

Breathe in me, O, Holy Spirit
that my thoughts may all be holy;

Act in me, O, Holy Spirit
that my works, too, may be holy;

Draw my heart, O, Holy Spirit
that I love but what is holy;

Strengthen me, O, Holy Spirit
to defend that which is holy;

Guard me then, O, Holy Spirit
that I always may be holy.
[Augustine of Hippo]

May is the craziest. Far too jam packed for my tastes. In the next week my kids have three field trips, one play, two class parties and require two costumes. Kate needs a Little House in the Big Woods dress (and bonnet and pinafore, if I am that awesome.) She picked out several pictures like this one to inspire me. Lexi needs a crow outfit for a play. I just started the dress today and have not even started to gather things for the crow situation. I need to remind myself next time of my complete inability to follow a pattern and how many seams I end up ripping out when I do cost-benefit analysis of whether I should make or buy all these Westminster costumes.

Of course, we have lots of events for the upper school as well. It just adds to the crazy. For example, today we had awards assembly, an in class awards ceremony, the senior art show and I made a lot of peanut butter cream pies for a bake sale. And I am teaching a class at church and Kate has girl scout events and…

Most of these things are fun, so I expect we will survive, but next year I am starting all the May costumes in February. And I will not turn down any offers of Starbucks delivered.

For years I have been using affiliate links for amazon.com when I do book reviews. Friday I finally got a payment! So thank you for buying things, kind readers. If you are making a purchase from amazon and want to stick it to the man / give me a percent, there is a link in the footer. :)