HT: Doug Wilson

More info about murmuration…

Speaking of birds, our musician buddy and fellow ornithologist Eric Peters needs your support in creating his newest album, Birds of Relocation. We’ve heard bits and pieces of some of his new stuff and can’t wait to hear what comes of this project. Let’s make it happen! Only 4 more days…

One more thing. I found a link, via Pinterest for a bird book that I decided we must have. It’s available for free download to Kindle and other mediums through Project Gutenberg.

So, there you have it: a Monday post from me. Don’t call it a comeback…

I remembered that I was inspired to write a poem when my first girlie was born. (And not again since then!) I remembered the peace that came over me when I watched her sleep. Have you ever watched a newborn sleep? They run the gamut of emotions: huge smiles, then looks of worry. And they make all sorts of strange shapes with their lips. It’s just a fun way to pass a little time. That is, before you pass out from lack of sleep yourself. Still, the experience is definitely worth your time.

Glimpses of a mystery dream will flit across her face,
Pleasures, fears we’ll never know, and waking will erase.
Smiles that melt my heart; who are those smiles for?
I wonder what she’s thinking and when I will know more,
About this little one in front of me who sleeps,
So restlessly, peacefully, beautifully.

She cannot tell us what’s inside because she cannot speak.
But every day we spend with her we get a tiny peak,
Into her world of little care and far less complication.
Our job seems huge and so we pray with fear and trepidation,
That we will teach her important things,
Like love, wisdom and Truth.

Yes, I think our house needs one more baby in it. This crazy crew needs another member. And I am finally looking forward.

I also liked reading this. I imagine that when the time comes, letting go and trusting God’s grace in the lives of our children is difficult. We mothers can be such control freaks…yes?

Here is my girlie, having a conversation (for real!) with a robin that was out in our yard. They were talking back and forth for a good ten minutes. Until little brother scared the bird. Boys!

There was just something so delightful, during those first few weeks, about having people come to visit and handing them this pretty little bundle to hold. I would swaddle him up, put him in the sack and know that he was warm and happy and wouldn’t be kicking off his blankets or getting cold feet any time soon.(Then I would disappear into the bedroom for a nap or the shower, whichever felt more pressing at the time. Devious, wasn’t it?)

As precious as those new baby days are, very rarely do things feel “together.” When your surroundings are far from neat and pretty, it’s so satisfying to hand over such a charming little package (if you can bear to part with it, that is).

Anyway, I have a dear friend who is expecting a little girlie any day, and when the crochet bug hit me this winter, like it does every year, I whipped one up for her in purple.

But it was so fun that I just kept going. And the result of that little crochet party, in the coziest of greens and blues and hints of teal, waits in the shop for a baby to fill it. So if soft greens and blues are the colors you choose, look no further. But, hurry, hurry. Because there’s only one.

Sigh… “Is it words?” I asked sarcastically. I love being part of his world, but if there’s one thing that puts me instantly to sleep or sends me spiraling into a world of daydreams, it’s listening to audio books. I just cannot focus when the reading begins. Come on, husband. Don’t you know me at all? I prefer music in the car.

He rolled his eyes and said, “Yes, it’s words. But just listen.”

Poetry, no less. Oh dear. I’m drifting, drifting. But then…I giggle. I’m hooked. It was Billy Collins. Here’s one in particular that my mother’s heart could relate to. I’m posting the video so you can get the full effect. (I think it’s a real treat to hear it read by the poet.  Then you know exactly how it should sound.)

I guess he does know me a little.

The Lanyard – Billy Collins

The other day I was ricocheting slowly
off the blue walls of this room,
moving as if underwater from typewriter to piano,
from bookshelf to an envelope lying on the floor,
when I found myself in the L section of the dictionary
where my eyes fell upon the word lanyard.

No cookie nibbled by a French novelist
could send one into the past more suddenly—
a past where I sat at a workbench at a camp
by a deep Adirondack lake
learning how to braid long thin plastic strips
into a lanyard, a gift for my mother.

I had never seen anyone use a lanyard
or wear one, if that’s what you did with them,
but that did not keep me from crossing
strand over strand again and again
until I had made a boxy
red and white lanyard for my mother.

She gave me life and milk from her breasts,
and I gave her a lanyard.
She nursed me in many a sick room,
lifted spoons of medicine to my lips,
laid cold face-cloths on my forehead,
and then led me out into the airy light

and taught me to walk and swim,
and I, in turn, presented her with a lanyard.
Here are thousands of meals, she said,
and here is clothing and a good education.
And here is your lanyard, I replied,
which I made with a little help from a counselor.

Here is a breathing body and a beating heart,
strong legs, bones and teeth,
and two clear eyes to read the world, she whispered,
and here, I said, is the lanyard I made at camp.
And here, I wish to say to her now,
is a smaller gift—not the worn truth

that you can never repay your mother,
but the rueful admission that when she took
the two-tone lanyard from my hand,
I was as sure as a boy could be
that this useless, worthless thing I wove
out of boredom would be enough to make us even.

While I don’t know that I can ever let go of  “brown paper packages tied up with string,” I do enjoy the idea of fabric gift bags like Amanda’s. (If you missed her posts about a “week of elving,” go there and be inspired. File away some ideas for next year!) Anyway, I got a jump on this last year and was able to add to our stash in the last week or so.

These are just great, not only because they’re pretty, but because they are kid friendly,

and husband friendly!

(Isn’t he cute? There is a “this is lame” warning on the tag. Just so you know, I love lame gifts.)

And check out this beauty! It’s for Sam, so I can’t show you what’s inside. But I’ll spill the beans next week.

I hope your last couple of days before Christmas are days that you enjoy and not dread. By the way, are you looking for an easy homemade breakfast to serve your loved ones? Shelly just posted a lovely recipe for a pastry braid and I can personally attest to the deliciousness of it.  Pay her a visit over at ModMamas and you won’t be sorry.

Happy wrapping!

However, I get carried away so easily with the responsibility of being a mother, a teacher, a wife and a keeper of this place we call home. I start moving full steam ahead to stay on top of it all. I get things all lined up and planned out. Then I try to move heaven and earth to execute the plan.

But there’s no ‘I’ in grace. And the truth is, it has nothing to do with me.

I’ve been so gently and subtly reminded of that just these last few days. It’s been refreshing… and humbling. I sat and cried this morning as I listened to an interview with Greg Lucas and his wife Kim about their journey through adoption (with a special needs child) and all the hard stuff that comes with it. Their story is just dripping with humility, vulnerability and evidence of God’s grace and faithfulness to his children. I just really needed to hear it, and to embrace once again the fact that I am nothing without the beautiful, matchless grace of God.

I’m starting this November morning with a thankful heart.

(Now…there’s a poopy diaper calling my name.)

Soccer, co op classes, school days and projects, travel and birthdays have been occupying our time. Fun, but exhausting. (My girl is the one with the pink shoe laces and weird thumb sticking up. She gets that from me….the thumb thing, I mean.)

I wasn’t completely absent from the web though, and I have some fun links to share, as well the latest birthday party installment, later in the week. (You can see the others, here.)

In celebration of autumn and the gorgeous colors of West Virginia in the fall, here are some easy craft ideas. I thought that among these, I could surely pull off one or two in the next couple weeks. Surely. But we’ll see.

Crafty Crow has a great post on Nature Walk Crafts. Some of them look really fun and simple.

This pine cone jewelry is sweet.

And here’s a cute little Fall Banner that would seriously take no time at all.

Anyway, I hope you’re taking time to enjoy the season. Perfect temps, cozy meals, memories and family. That’s what it’s all about.

I will bless the Lord at all times;
his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
My soul makes its boast in the Lord;
let the humble hear and be glad.
Oh, magnify the Lord with me,
and let us exalt his name together!

Psalm 34:1-3

Look how pretty!