This Classical Life

Today and last Friday, I had the opportunity to take pictures of adorable newborns. They are sharing my favorite photos of the week spot. :) (It usually goes Fri-Thurs, but I make the rules, I can bend them!)

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis Re-reading these this year is going to be very pleasurable. 10/10

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott The first half is stronger than the second, but for a 19th century novel, this is among the very best. Every one, male and female, should read it at least once. 10/10

In the Bible: Exodus

I just thought through all the things I must do tomorrow, and I am exhausted. And that doesn’t include the things ought to do. For example, several good local consignment sales are held tomorrow, and even though Kate needs spring play clothes, there is no way I can make it to any of them.

I am weary of the pace of life, I want to stop. Listen, read, drink a cup of tea, sing more with my girls. But there is no end in sight. I have small glimpses of rest, moments of peace and enjoyment, but they are fleeting.

My busyness is the busyness of this age, but it makes me wonder about my old world ancestors. Did they have time to rest or did they feel oppressed by the tasks of everyday? Did they find contentment amidst their busyness? Might I find rest in mine?

Blogging for the girls
Eating Girl Scout cookies
Grading way too many papers
Listening to Mark Driscoll
Smocking Easter dresses
Tackling a very long to do list
Taking pictures, and loving it

I am somewhat of a car seat safety nazi (see here) and the brand of convertible car seat we use is Britax because they pioneer the very safest features that eventually become industry standards. This comes at a cost: they are not the cheapest seats and like many manufacturers, they dictate pricing policies to their vendors. From now until March 1st or 2nd is the week Britax seats go on sale everywhere from BabyAge to Amazon to HipMonkey, which donates all profits to the Kyle David Miller foundation. So if you are in the market for a car seat, now might be the time.

This article in the Atlantic is alarming, and likely very prophetic.

I am really looking forward to moving to the city, but there are aspects of our small town life I will miss. Lexi got a stomach bug* Sunday night that necessitated washing her car seat cover last night. Forgetting this fact, I went to put the girls in the car to run a very important envelope to the post office for a very important family. With the sudden realization that the carseat needed to be put back together, I quickly decided that it would be faster to just walk. That’s the joy of living four blocks from the post office. It was cool outside, but not completely unpleasant, and the girls were enjoying themselves a great deal. That’s when I conceived of writing this blog post, in praise of small town life.

We approached the old post office, a squat and utilitarian structure that looks like many small post offices built in the 50s and 60s: mid-century modern, sans chic. Carefully walking up the narrow and rather steep wheelchair ramp, I tried to make it in the door. A kind woman saw me struggling and came to my aid. My new-used double jogger was one-half inch too wide. (Note to the government - wheelchair ramps should have roomy doors.) So I went down the ramp and in the front double doors and parked the stroller at the bottom of the stairs. Two kind old ladies watched over the girls in the lobby while I walked into post office proper to conduct my business. (The girls were no more than 15 feet from me, and in full view, we kept eye contact and regular waving the entire time.) It was approximately 4:30p and as is often the case, there was no one in line, and I was able to buy the necessary postage in a minute flat. Our post office displays a “5 minutes or less” sign, and I’ve never waited longer. I can’t say that for any other post office I’ve regularly patronized!

And so, only slightly thwarted by the narrow door, we bid adieu to our new small town friends and walked the few blocks home, passing three neighbors who stopped to say hello.

* Lexi is well, but Kate fell prey tonight. Please pray that she stops vomiting and Michael and I are spared.

I desperately need to update the girls’ blogs. In the midst of parenting, planning for the future, teaching, grading, photographing, cooking, laundry and cleaning, I’ve got a lot of stories to tell I don’t want to forget.

In college, it was books and music. I was always trying to sell someone on some great artist or novel they’d love. I thought I’d outgrown it, but I see it creeping back in.

Several people have told me recently that I got them hooked on babywearing and cute slings. GUILTY AS CHARGED.

Books are still pretty high on the list, but The Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones is definitely the big one. I’ve blogged about it several times. I have the most helpful review on Amazon. I used the sample chapters online with my 50 coop students and got a few families hooked. Locally, if the topic comes up I am quick to suggest it. But as with my previous forays into pushing, I get good feedback and I’m encouraged to keep on keeping on.