Don't Blink

I'm always a little heartbroken when I'm reminded again how fleeting these newborn days are. The hours turn into days and weeks, while my baby seems to grow before my very eyes. This season is not always blissful or idyllic, but it is so very dear.

It's a retreat from "loftier" pursuits to care for a tiny soul's simple needs of food and warmth and touch -- needs that I can satisfy with my own body, because God's design is very good indeed.

It's a reminder that my heavenly Father cares for me even more tenderly than I care for my littlest love (and a reminder that I'm as utterly dependent on Him as my baby is on me).

It's a reprieve from the groanings of a weary world -- life in the face of death, joy in the midst of darkness, a taste of the good things that He has promised to bring to pass.

Our soul waits for the Lord;

He is our help and our shield.

For our heart is glad in Him,

because we trust in His holy name.

 Let yYur steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us,

even as we hope in You.

Psalm 33:20-22

 

Waiting on a Rainbow (with a little sewing on the side)

I had every intention of getting some maternity photos with this pregnancy around 34-35 weeks -- after all the heartache we've been through in the last four years, this "rainbow" pregnancy was certainly something to commemorate. And I've always regretted not getting decent bump photos with most of my babies (only Little Man has a handful of "maternity" photos, taken in my parents' back yard -- my goodness, my husband and I look like babies ourselves!). I knew exactly what I wanted to wear, the absolutely lovely "Eliza" dress from Emme Mama. The only problem was the price tag...it's hard to justify spending more on a cotton gauze everyday dress than I did on my silk wedding gown, even though it's a company I'd love to support because of their ethical manufacturing. I decided to try my hand at drafting my own dress, and even made a trial run before we moved (which was a significant help, as it turned out). 

And then our house needed more renovations than anticipated (well, not all of them were needed), and our shipment was delayed by a month... As you can imagine, sewing a new dress was hardly my top priority when our belongings finally showed up. I finally managed to squeeze in some sewing, and finished my "knock off" dress just before 37 weeks. Cutting it a bit close, wouldn't you say? Though during the delay, I remembered a local museum that has the loveliest grounds. It turned out to be the perfect setting, and we all wished we could stay longer (we were trying to find the happy medium between closing time and golden hour, so our visit was a bit rushed). I suppose we'll just have to go back! 

Back to the dress details:

Even with some experience to guide me, I had to tweak (and tweak, and tweak again) to get the fit right. After the first try-on, I had to reduce the length/circumference of the puffed sleeves and hack almost eight inches off the skirt -- which meant removing and reattaching the ruffle. At which point, I realized that the ruffle just wasn't full enough, and still a bit too long. So it was removed again, expanded to include an extra length of fabric, and re-hemmed. 

I feel a bit narcissistic posting so many photos of just me (and Kit, by default!), but I've omitted photos with my husband and children for the sake of privacy. I promise that the rest of the family was involved; the littles have been so excited to welcome a new baby to the family, and it was truly sweet to capture memories with them as we all anticipate this little rainbow's arrival.

It seems foolish to make a maternity dress only a few weeks from delivery! But it should prove a boon during that awkward postpartum stage (and beyond, for that matter); it's insanely comfortable and nursing friendly. Besides, it has a decidedly autumnal flair, so I suppose it wouldn't have been ideal for the blistering summer we've had.

I found my cotton gauze on Etsy -- the five yards I purchased yielded the dress with plenty to spare (in fact, I've already made a wee pair of Misusu Olli pants and a bandana bib for Kit with the leftovers, and still have a yard or so left). It washed up beautifully, with a slightly squishy texture. In the end, the fabric cost about a fourth of the "inspiration" dress...considerably more budget friendly.

I debated hiring a photographer for a maternity shoot, but in the end I'm glad it was just us -- I didn't need or want a whole album of photos, especially since there are only so many ways to pose with "the bump." But I did want to capture a few memories of a season that's come after so much waiting and prayer. Thanks to my in-house photographers (i.e., my husband and oldest son), a tripod/remote, and a bit of help from Lightroom, we were able to do just that. We even managed to get a full-family photo, which is a bit of a shock considering how many people and how little time we had. *wink*

It's surreal to be here, in the final days before we meet this sweet boy, Lord willing. My heart overflows with gratitude for the Lord's undeserved mercies in bringing us to this point. So many times as we walked (stumbled? crawled?) through the valley of grief and recurrent loss, I wondered if the clouds would ever part. The darkness seemed so consuming and so endless at times. It's true, the scars of loss will never fully heal on this side of eternity -- I will always be a mama missing her babies until He wipes away my tears for good. And let me be quick to say that a "rainbow baby" was not the inevitable outcome of our valley sojourn, nor the only way God could bring healing and hope to our hearts. But I am so grateful for this little life, this tiny soul who has already brought so much joy to our family. He is not a "replacement" for the sweet babies we lost; he is a precious gift entrusted to our care. A gift that we do not take for granted.

We're ready to meet you, Little Kit! 

Endings and Beginnings

We're in such an in-between stage right now -- we've finished school, we're waiting to move, we're halfway (plus!) through this pregnancy. So many things coming to an end, so many things about to begin. In the midst of such limbo, I've done the only sensible thing: sew voraciously. My sewing machine has been whirring away for the past few weeks, with a threefold mission. First, catch up on all the sewing I didn't have time for during the school year. Second, satisfy my nesting instincts by stitching little things for Kit and "big" things for mama. Third, distract myself from all of the pre-move prep I probably should be doing... Though, to be fair, I've done a good bit of decluttering already and very little of the packing is my responsibility (they'll literally pack your trash!).

While we wait, we're soaking up our last memories in this wild place. We've made some new friends in our last weeks here, like this tiny killdeer nestled into Rosa's little brown hands:

 

Some boys at church found this quail mama nestled deep within a bush:

Or this sweet little goldfinch that nested in the tree by our house: 

She was always on the nest when I checked, and then one day she was gone. My suspicions were correct...

Our last week of school was relaxing, mostly finishing up projects we never got around to during the school year. While I do struggle to find motivation for hands-on projects and experiments, this year I graciously grew a baby to augment our study of human anatomy and growth. *wink* I hope the littles enjoyed learning about the body as much as I did -- such an amazing masterpiece of God's design!

I'm sure doctors wish they could just velcro organs in place...

To my relief, the littles have been thriving, even without the normal school schedule. I had envisioned boredom causing all kinds of problems, but they've been playing together much better than I'd anticipated and spend a great deal of time working on various Lego creations.

It's no surprise that helicopters are a favorite build!

Flowers are a welcome sight in the desert, and every spring I'm surprised by how many roses there are:

Meanwhile, I get to try to eat my lunch without feeling guilty...

Back to sewing... here's my list of projects from the past four weeks, assuming I haven't missed anything:

• 9 pairs of boxers for Laddie and Scout
• Maternity/nursing friendly swimsuit for Mama (briefs, skirted leggings, and top)
• Maternity/nursing nightgown and shorts for Mama
• 3 upcycled skirts for Rosa
• Upcycled dress for Rosa
• 2 pairs of upcycled denim shorts for Scout
• 3 sleepers/rompers for Kit
• Newborn gown and hat for Kit
• Tiny sweatshirt and pants for Kit
• Upcycled denim shorts for Kit
• Upcycled linen trousers for Kit
• Altering a homemade skirt for maternity
• Changing several of Scout's long sleeve tees to short sleeve (my favorite hack to extend the life of winter shirts not worth passing down to the next child!)
• Various mends (mostly turning Rosa's holes-in-the-knees leggings into "shorties")

Some of those projects were much-needed, others were just for fun. I think it's probably time to retire the sewing shears until we move, but I'm grateful for a most satisfying spree -- it's rare for spare time and motivation coincide so nicely.

Some of those projects will get their own posts (eventually!), but I'll share a few smaller ones here.

My poor little boys were running quite low on undies after trashing a few pairs recently that had shocking holes. I'm trying to purchase more thoughtfully/ethically, but it's hard to justify spending a lot on underwear, however organic or fairly traded! Fortunately, I'd tried the Stitch Upon a Time Boxerwear pattern for Little Man, and it worked great for the little boys, too. I might have to redo a few waistbands at some point, as the yellow knit on these pairs for Scout just isn't very stretchy. But I spent less than two dollars on thrifted knit shirts (combined with a few scraps from my stash), so it was well worth the "investment."

I recently found a women's 3X maxi skirt at the charity shop, which was basically just yardage waiting to be upcycled. It was made of that "traveler" fabric that doesn't wrinkle, I think it might be called ITY in the fabric world? Anyway, I tucked it into my basket (on basket day, everything you can fit inside is only $7, which brings the cost per item on a full basket to about $0.30), thinking it would make a great maternity skirt. But as I mulled it over, I realized two things. First, I have a black polka dot skirt out of virtually identical fabric that actually works well for maternity. Second, the skirt was so large that I could probably get an entire dress for Rosa out of it. And so I did! I used a free tee pattern as a basis for the bodice, but ended up changing it significantly (less at the waist, rounded cap sleeves). The skirt was an easy draft -- it's probably a 2/3 to 3/4 circle skirt, since I flared it as much as my fabric would allow. A few facings later, and all was ready to assemble! The fabric turned out to be a beast to sew -- my machine wanted to eat it at the beginning of each seam, and it also made my needle skip stitches. So much of it was sewn twice! It's a "plain Jane" style, but it looks so sweet on Rosa and I think it will last her a while.

Here a few more upcycled projects -- two pairs of shorts for Scout on the left, both made from the same skirt (and I fit a pair of shorts for Kit on the leftovers! Love those 90's denim skirts...). The upper pair is from the Olli shorts by Misusu, which I got for free by joining their Facebook group. I omitted the pockets this time, to conserve fabric. The lower pair is a free shorts pattern from Tiana's Closet, generously offered in sizes 1-8. I made the 4 (Scout's age), and they turned out great! I did add a little faux fly detail, just for fun. 

Rosa got three new skirts, too, as many of hers were worn out or outgrown. These were all simple to put together, since they're variations on a rectangle with an elasticated waist. From top to bottom:

1. Gathered denim skirt upcycled from a thrifted skirt. I salvaged the existing buttonholes and hem, and cut down the length. The leftover fabric was used for the new waistband -- the fabric is gathered into a solid waistband in front, but the back is elasticated. I topstitched the front waistband, but only had to do one new buttonhole. New coconut shell buttons to replace the hideous plastic "faux metal" buttons! 
2. The bottom half of a Wiksten Tova tunic that I made in 2018 and was no longer wearing. I wanted to keep as much length as possible, so I stitched a white cotton facing to the waistband and flipped it to the inside to form the elastic casing.
3. Tiered skirt made from a luscious tencel fabric, which I salvaged from a favorite dress -- the seams were fraying on the outside, but the skirt fabric was still in great shape. I cut strips out of the skirt, reassembled them, and did a simple elastic waist (with a row of eyelet at the bottom!).

With summer well on its way (and feeling like it's already here), I'm eager for all that's coming -- we're going home and moving forward at the same time, and I'm ready for familiar faces and places as well as new adventures (I'm trying not to think too much about the dear people we're leaving behind here...). And summer is the last full season before we meet little Kit in person, Lord willing, as he'll hopefully be joining us early in the fall. 

Endings and beginnings. 
 

Last Spring

 Somehow, we're on our fourth and final spring out west. We moved here in the midst of winter just over three years ago, and watched our little valley slowly unfold under the warm, western sun for the first time. And now here we are, three springs later and preparing to move back east.

I haven't had a good ramble in a while, so this will probably be a bit-of-this, a bit-of-that sort of post.

Disclaimer: all the cow photos are from January -- there's far more green now!

More and more rainbows have been finding their way into my life (this mug was my first faith purchase after we found out about this little one), and I'm treasuring the growing bump that signifies life within. I feel such relief in the first few days after my weekly doppler checks, and then as the week wears on I start to wonder... I'm fifteen weeks today, and counting down every day. We're finally past the gestation where we lost Baby J -- that's the one that's been weighing most on my mind from the start. It doesn't mean we're safe from loss now, but it's a relief to pass that particular milestone.

Obviously a few weeks ago! I'm trying to take more bump
pictures with this pregnancy.

I'm currently going through Spurgeon's commentary on the Psalms as my daily devotional. The two volumes of commentary cost less than a dollar at a charity shop, a small price to pay for such spiritual riches! It's slow going, both due to my time limitations and his eloquence. But perhaps that's for the better. It's also giving me the chance to "mark up" my illuminated Psalms journal, which I am very much enjoying. My Bible has room for notes, but not nearly this much! I'm hoping this is something I can come back to repeatedly over the years (though same pages are already quite full...) -- I'm adding dates to my entries, so I have some time reference for my comments and the (many) quotations from Spurgeon. He's so quotable! I think I'll break this study up into three 50-psalm units, and pause between them for some of the other studies that are waiting for me.

I'm also going to be starting a new prayer journal soon, as this one's nearly full! This journal was a gift from my women's Bible study when I moved out west. It seems appropriate that I'll just be finishing it when I move back. I highly recommend a prayer journal if, like me, you've always struggled to be consistent in prayer (and especially intercessory prayer -- it's so easy to forget who you've promised to pray for!). Inspired to start a journal by a friend from that same Bible study, I chose a "monthly" format. Rewriting my requests every month allows me to see what prayers have been answered, keep my list updated with the "latest" for each person/request, and even functions as a journal of sorts. It's evolved over the past few years, but now I have a structure that works for me and it's proven to be such a blessing.

One of the things we'll miss most about our town is the little Indian food truck! My lands, those folks can cook! The lady who runs the truck knows our order now, because we're creatures of habit. I always, always order the Lamb Rogan Josh -- because if local lamb is an option, why not? It's one of the best things I've ever put in my mouth. We're trying out some Indian recipes (mild!), and this Tikka Masala was our best effort so far:

There are so many calves in the neighboring fields just now! Two itty bitty calves were butting heads in a field as we drove by the other day. It's going to feel odd not to see hundreds of cows on my way to the grocery store after we move.

I happened to plan chicken pot pie on "Pi Day" (3/14), so I had to make a circular pie instead of the rectangular casserole I'd anticipated! Which also meant I had to make two pies, because my children eat like strongmen. Interestingly, I made a gluten-free pie crust for the second pie, and that was more of a hit than my faithful Betty Crocker crust on the "normal" pie. Go figure.

Rosa left me the sweetest message on my pincushion -- the downside being, that I can't bring myself to use those pins now...

I also had a massive knitting fail recently! My Ivy cowl, despite some modifications intended to avoid this issue, was a decided flop! Ah, well, I can reuse the yarn -- and I did learn some interesting stitch designs. I may give this another shot with a lighter yarn (mine was held double to get the weight, and I think it would be better with a yarn that has some drape).

I suppose this might have made an effective face covering two
years ago! Haha!

Some naughty little boy decimated a clump of daffodils at our church -- so we recued a few stems, and brought them home for our own enjoyment. I can't wait to have my garden back next spring! Bulbs are perfect for these black thumbs of mine; they're so easy and reliable. I am a little anxious to see what our house/garden is like after three years of renters, but I'm also just eager to be home.

We're finishing up our last few weeks of home school, and I'll feel relieved when that's done -- much as I love educating my children (and myself!), both the pregnancy and the upcoming move are taking up quite a bit of my energy -- mostly mentally, at this point. We'll all be ready for a break, and I'd like to take some final "field trips" while the weather's nice. I suspect we'll be taking some field trips back East, too, since much of what we've studied about early American history will be right around the corner. How I've missed Williamsburg! Perhaps that will be a good break from all the unpacking.

I've actually made it into my sewing room recently, so hopefully I'll have some stitchy projects to share soon. And I cast off a pair of socks, which means I need another "travel" project! It will probably be -- you guessed it -- more socks. *wink* What I really want to knit are little baby things, but I'm waiting to find out the gender before I go too crazy. I'm excited by the prospect of an October baby; lots of cozy knitting potential there. And what I ought to be doing is preparing for this move (it's shocking how much clutter can accumulate in three years when you have four littles!), as we'll quickly be entering single digits in our weekly countdown -- a thought that's simultaneously exhilarating and a bit alarming! Hmm, what to tackle first... 

Newest of Years

 I wasn't present in this little space very much during 2021 -- it's been a challenging year, busy with grief over my littles lost and busy with the joys of mothering my littles here. Now that the new year has dawned, I find myself nostalgic about the past twelvemonth. I realized there were several adventures and projects that never made their to way to this little space! They'll probably make an appearance here over the next few posts, even if a bit belated. Besides, I'm housebound while we're recovering from a nasty bout of illness (a variant of a certain you-know-what, I think), and what better way to pass the time than a bit of virtual scrapbooking?

Also, I've found that I've been more present on Instagram than here, likely because the process of posting is so much simpler. Immediate gratification, if you will. But I miss blogging, which feels more permanent and intentional. And while my social media usage was well-controlled for a long time, I've fallen into bad habits of wasting time there. Though, admittedly, if I just stuck to posting and keeping up with the (intentionally) few accounts I follow, it wouldn't be a problem... So while I'm not a New Year's resolution sort of person, the timing happens to coincide with my desire to have a healthier relationship with technology, and to model that to my children. Smartphones are so multi-purpose that I find it all too easy to spend a great deal of time on perfectly legitimate pursuits; but the end result (too much time with that little screen in my face) is the same.

Anyway, here's a little bit of this year's beginning: 

Despite not having done any sort of embroidery for as long
as I can remember, I loved the design of this kit and thought
I'd give it a go. Once I changed needles, it was an incredibly
therapeutic experience!

While the overtly "Christmas" decor has come down, I've left up as
much cozy winter touches as a I can.

Cozy winter projects in morning winter light. These colors make
my heart sing, and I've actually just finished up this pair of socks.

A few books harvested from my bookshelves that I'd like to read
this year. I'm also reading my daughter's Elizabeth Goudge story,
The Little White Horse, and purchased two vintage Goudge 
novels that I'm eager to start!

 I found this free reading log from Everyday Reading, and thought it was
such a lovely idea! I finished up several books right before the new year,
so technically I haven't completed any books yet in 2022...

The type of scene that I'll miss most when we move back to the east coast this summer -- I've
decided that mountains make the loveliest backdrop for just about anything!

I do hope your new year has been off to a good start! I'd love to hear what you're planning to read or sew or craft soon!

A Year in the Psalms

I finished up my year-in-the-Psalms book in May. It was a bittersweet ending. Sweet, because I've  rarely summoned up the discipline to complete a year-long devotional commitment. Bitter, because as I neared the end I didn't really want it to end. When I started, I little guessed that the already-long-and-dark valley I was traveling would only grow longer and darker in the coming months. 

But God knew. It's no accident that I started this book when I did, after it had been languishing on my shelf for about a year (there were even a few entries from not one, but two failed attempts to start it). At the time, I knew that I needed to commune with Him, but I couldn't have known just how much I would need that communion in the coming year -- my heart already heavy with loss, I carried and grieved three more babies as I journeyed through those pages. 

God met with me in the Psalms. In the depths of my grief I began to understand lament, which had always seemed a bit foreign before. When I couldn't express the intensity of pain or praise, He gave me words. The Word.  When I would have lingered -- wallowed, even -- in the darkness, lines penned by divinely-inspired ancient poets drew my eyes back to His steadfast love, His faithfulness, His nearness. God met with them, too, when they traveled the darkest valleys of life. Their raw honesty resonated with my soul. Their passion for God and His law humbled me. 

As I neared the end, I knew that I wanted to keep reading the Psalms regularly. Much as I loved the little book that's been my companion through so much joy and grief, it's not ideal for re-use (and the way it was divided up was sometimes clumsy). I'm certainly not ready to part with this book yet, because it has all of my notes and reflections inside! But it was time to move on to something that would lend itself to years of study. I chose the ESV Psalms Illuminated Scripture Journal, which is both lovely and inexpensive. It has plenty of space for journaling, and the blank pages have a grid of faint dots so that you can write or illustrate neatly (this isn't an ad, by the by! I just love good books. *wink*). 

The Psalms have become a familiar and necessary rhythm in my life. Because unlike physical food that satiates as it's eaten, consuming God's Word leads to deeper cravings. The more I know Him, the more I want to know. There are so many facets of His character in the Psalms, glimpses of His glory like the rainbow hues cast by a prism. He's there when we're grieving and when we're rejoicing. He's there when we don't understand "why?" Always faithful, always loving. Always Himself. 

You have said, "Seek My face."

My heart says to You,

"Your face, LORD, do I seek."

Psalm 27:8

Faithful

We had some much-needed Spring rain last week -- we get so little here that it's quite a novelty. But a few days ago the clouds parted, and after one glimpse of the sky I grabbed my camera and headed down the road to get a better view. It was the warmest day we've had this year, and the feel of sun on my skin was glorious. I only wish I could capture the beauty of the sky!

Some of the distant ranges are still snow-capped, which makes me quite happy:

The yellow-headed blackbirds are returning with other feathered friends, and after a silent winter I'd forgotten how beautiful birdsong can be. It's time to refill the feeder -- hopefully "Emma" the German Shepherd won't frighten them all away!

As I stood by the side of the road, soaking up the sunshine, I happened to look up and see a rainbow -- just a tiny strip of color directly above me. When I looked up a few minutes later, it had already disappeared.

It was a gift, a timely and gentle reminder of God's faithfulness. That very morning I'd been reflecting that images of rainbows now bring me more pain than joy after losing three "rainbow babies" in quick succession. But God ordained the rainbow as a promise to never again destroy all life on earth with a flood, vividly displaying His compassion and His value for the life He has created. My hopes of ever having another baby have dimmed with each loss, but my hope in the One Who keeps His promises has deepened. Rainbows should still bring me joy, because they symbolize more than a baby born after loss (which is a blessing, not a promise) -- each one is a reminder that God still honors a covenant He made with Noah thousands of years ago. More than that, He sent His precious Son to the cross to keep a promise made to covenant-breakers. Every promise He's made to me, He will keep.


What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written,

“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;

we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:31-39

The In-between

The day between Good Friday and Resurrection Day: Jesus was dead, and hope had died with Him. It must have been excruciating for Mary, as the shock of her firstborn's brutal murder wore off and the reality of his death set in. All of the prophecies, all of the moments she had treasured up were now cold and lifeless, entombed behind a stone as heavy as her grieving heart. Jesus' disciples had lost not only their beloved friend and teacher, but also their hope that Israel's long-awaited Messiah had finally come. One of them had betrayed Him, one had denied Him, all had fled in terror. It was over.

Even though He'd told them this would happen, even though they'd witnessed Him bring the dead back to life, they couldn't comprehend that the Messiah had to die so that death itself might die. Their joy was coming in the morning, but they couldn't see it yet.

They didn't know that dawn was coming.

Jesus said, "I have come into the world as a light, 

so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." 

John 12:46

Staying Home

The past few weeks have been troubled, to say the least. As an introverted homeschooling mom, I can't say the isolation has been personally difficult. My husband's job is unaffected by closures, and we live in a semi-remote area that hasn't been infected (for now). But I know it's much harder for many others, whether the frustration of cancelled vacations or deeper concerns about livelihoods and health. 

I'm grateful to live in a rural area. The turmoil and panicked frenzy of the news (which I mostly avoid) seem blessedly distant as the rhythms of a new season unfold. Cows graze and tractors till the dirt, while the trees put out their buds. It's ever changing, but there's a sameness and steadiness, too. 

I paused Little Man's Thistle sweater to whip up a pair of merino socks for Rosa -- I call them her "Royal Ryes," because the yarn colorway is "Royal Court" and the pattern is Tin Can Knits' marvelous free Rye sock pattern. I've only done the "light" version before, written for fingering weight yarn. But I had a single skein of superwash worsted weight from a yarn subscription box, and a quick project sounded appealing. Of course, I spent well over an hour knitting the heel of one sock over and over, because I couldn't find a wrap-and-turn heel that was just right. I never did find it, but after knitting the heel six times, I thought it was time to give both my yarn and myself a break, and settle for a perfectly adequate heel. They are just socks, after all. I'll find the perfect heel next time. Maybe...

These knit up so quickly, thanks to the small size and the thicker yarn/larger needles. It took less than three days to finish them, even with the extra time spent on the heel (and homeschooling, and housework, etc.). I'm hoping they'll wash well, too, because my experiments with non-superwash socks have resulted in more felting than I'd like.

I have another skein of this yarn in "Empire" (an all-blue colorway), and they'll probably end up as socks for Little Man.

We're well into the third and final term of our school year, and I'm trying to keep up momentum to the end. Little Man and Rosa are much more independent with their work now, which is so helpful! But Laddie's ready for more one-on-one attention, and I need to adjust my routines to accommodate that. Life is never stagnant with young children. They're ever changing, ever growing, and that's both a blessing and a challenge. 

I try to remind myself often that God's plan is being worked out, both in my own life and in the broader context of history. It's all too easy to become weighed down by the anguish of personal grief and the uncertainty of global pandemic. The mountains I see from my bedroom window every morning help me to be still and know. To breathe deeply. To remember. 

I will remember the deeds of the Lord;

yes, I will remember Your wonders of old.

I will ponder all Your work,

and meditate on Your mighty deeds.

Your way, O God, is holy.

What god is great like our God?

You are the God Who works wonders;

You have made known Your might among the peoples.

You with Your arm redeemed Your people,

the children of Jacob and Joseph. Selah

Psalm 77:11-15 (go read the whole psalm!)

I hope you can find some stillness, friends, in the midst of a world that's chaotic even at the best of times. Let's look to the God Who redeems and works wonders.