In my pocket this week, VOLUME TWO

This week was full, and pretty difficult honestly, but we’re on the other side, having learned some hard lessons and gained a fresh perspective. On the brighter side, we got to celebrate my 3 birthday boys this weekend, and doesn’t Bruno’s face just say it all? His puppy themed cake was just the most fun to make (shoutout to my mama who taught me her cake decorating ways). Thanks to my dear friend and Waco photographer Citrus Holly for her incredible documentation of our little shindig.

I continue to be immensely thankful for the time I’ve had this summer to be on my own writing, reading, and planning. I simply hadn’t realized how much I had been needing time like this. Things will change when the Fall semester starts, and we have a newborn, all in what will likely be the same week, but until then I am savoring the slowness of these days and the space to think, create, and learn. Thank you for being a part of this writing journey and for all of you who encourage me in this calling.

Thinking on

Handwork for preschool and Kindergarten children. This year we have been taking one subject or activity at a time and trying to build good habits. We are on a solid path of reading aloud, drawing/coloring time, outdoor play, and decreasing screen time. Soon we will start Seb’s K-1st grade (we haven’t decided yet which one it is!) school year and reading and math will be a regular feature of our days (more on all that later). One area that I feel behind on, or at least a little lost about is handwork. I have zero patience for children’s activities that require me to make a trip to Michael’s and spend $15 on popsicle sticks, twist ties, cups, string, and whatever assortment of disposable items one can think of. It feels completely incongruent with the way we live otherwise. I’m a huge fan of tinkering, but I feel that that type of activity should stem out of a child’s interest and creative ideas. And so I am looking into things like beeswax modeling. Bruno has been asking me if he can “knit,” and by knitting he means sewing. Here are some sources I’m looking to for inspiration and direction:

Sewing buttons, Handwork in Kindergarten, Handicrafts and life skills, The Waldorf and handwork craft curriculum, The epic guide to beeswax modeling in Kindergarten

Dreaming about

This nature program in Austin. It is the closest thing I can find to a forest school here in the states, and the closest one to Waco. It’s called Earth Native Wilderness School. They offer a nice assortment of classes and programs for children and adults. I don’t know if taking our boys to Austin once a week will ever be feasible, but I’m glad to know about it and hope that maybe we can make it work next school year! Perhaps there’s a reader from Austin? If so, check it out!

Jazzed about

Glossier Boy Brow. I asked a friend a couple weeks ago about her makeup and skincare routine and I’m so glad that I did! I go through phases of caring and not caring about my makeup routine, but I guess I’m in the “caring” phase right now. I like to take the guesswork out of the parts of my day that come and go no matter what. Taking care of my skin and applying (or not applying) makeup, though a small thing, can be stressful if you don’t have a routine. I’m still working on mine, and seeing what works for my face, but… sculpted, natural eyebrows? Check. Actually, I’m wondering if I ever need to pluck again, this stuff is that good. Use this link to get 20% off your first order.

The 3rd trimester hit me like a smack in the face and I’ve been so tired, but yesterday I napped for a full hour while the boys played (I’m a light sleeper so there’s no chance I would sleep through even the tiniest row). How did I get such awesome kids?!

Memorizing

The Peace of Wild Things

By Wendell Berry

When despair for the world grows in me

and I wake in the night at the least sound

in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be,

I go and lie down where the wood drake

rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.

I come into the peace of wild things

who do not tax their lives with forethought

of grief. I come into the presence of still water.

And I feel above me the day-blind stars

waiting with their light. For a time

I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.

Thank you for the wonderful poetry recommendations you all gave me last week! This poem is a compelling reminder for me to rest in the comfort and truths found in Psalm 23:1-3 and Matthew 6:25-27.

Visual delights

Cody’s 31st birthday

c/o Citrus Holly

c/o Citrus Holly

c/o Citrus Holly

c/o Citrus Holly