a little girl

I read these sweet song lyrics today.  True and worth remembering.  

Her mama bought her a hopechest
To keep her dreams inside
All the precious memories
Little things she's like to hide
A magic wand, an old rag doll
Some plastic pearls 'cause after all

A little girl is only a little girl so long
And tender hearts need their stars to wish upon
'Cause one day you will turn around and she'll be gone
A little girl is only a little girl so long

One day when she got home from school
She slipped a little note 
Beneath the tattered lining
And here is what he wrote
"Roses are red, violets are blue" 
"Put an X in the box if you like me too"
A little girl is only a little girl so long
And tender hearts need their stars to wish upon
'Cause one day you will turn around and she'll be gone
A little girl is only a little girl so long

They married in the garden on a perfect July day
In a horse and carriage they waved and rode away
Mama went inside to put away her wedding dress
And spotted a letter lying on the old hopechest

It said...

A little girl is only a little girl so long
Your lonely heart might need a star to wish upon
So look inside once in a while to bring the memories home
A little girl is only a little girl
And I will always be your little girl
So long...

~S. Bentley~

Books & Pretty Tunes

I'm listening to music.  It's usually Pandora.  I love how you can pick a station/artist you like and it finds similar music.  Speaking of artists I like, I've always loved my brother's music.  He sings, plays guitar & piano...but what I love most is he writes his own music.  I'm a words person and his lyrics are solid, deep, poetic.  Here's his most recent song that he co-wrote with his lovely wife, Amy.  

January is also the best month for reading.  I'm almost obsessive-compulsive checking my email to see if any of the books I've requested are available for pick-up.  I love the library.  I'm currently first in queue for Young House Love's book and this book by Anne Lamott.  I already have a stack on my side table including one titled Clean Food, The Ragamuffin Gospel, and a few novels including The Last Runaway [which I haven't started yet].  Please drop a comment on any of your book recommendations.  There's a good chance I'll be at the library tomorrow.  

Into His Arms

One thing I love in my relationship with God [especially in significant times in my life] is how He brings multiple things into my life, from many sources, to communicate a message to me.  I love words and He sends me the part of His Word perfectly suited to what is going on inside of me.  It's amazing because it's the same message breaking into my life.  It all has the same theme.  It's as if everywhere I go I hear the same song.  There it is again.  There it is again.  I can't escape the song.  

This week is yet another example of this.  

God is ministering and reminding He is close.

Today's, [October 1] scripture reading:

"Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand.  You guide me with your counsel...Whom have I in heaven but you?...My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever...But as for me, it is good to be near God.  I have made the Lord my refuge."  [from Psalm 73]

I continued reading with this: 

"Gaze intently with the eye of faith at the infinite wisdom and unlimited power of God, to whom nothing is impossible or difficult, and consider that His goodness is unbounded, and unspeakable His willingness to give, hour by hour, and moment by moment, all things needed for the spiritual life, if we will throw ourselves with confidence into His arms." 

Linking up with Grace Laced.

Yes, Chef

One of my goals for 2012 was to read at least a book a month.  Some of my other goals have been a complete fail, so far, but I'm on target with this one.  Here's my list of books I've finished since January:

1. Veneer
2. A Million Miles in a Thousand Years
3. Start Something That Matters
4. Bird by Bird
5. Beneath the Lion's Gaze
6. The Kite Runner
7. Organized Simplicity
8. In Defense of Food
9. The Perfectly Imperfect Home
10. Yes, Chef
11. NurtureShock

I just finished Yes, Chef.  Because our daughter, Addis, is Ethiopian, books about Ethiopia are of special interest to me.  This is the memoir of Marcus Samuelsson, who was born in Ethiopia, adopted by a Swedish family, and has now become a world-renowned chef.
  

I especially enjoyed reading about when he traveled back to Africa, as an adult, and met his biological father.  I appreciated how he describes life in Addis Ababa [the capital of Ethiopia] and the sights, smells, and food.
 

 

 

Reading about his experiences in Addis make my own more real.  I traveled to Addis Ababa twice but most of the time it feels like a dream.  Ethiopia is another world.  The contrast of life in Ethiopia and my life in America is so vast...I can't process or comprehend it.
 

 

 

Marcus wrote about how he stayed at the Sheraton Addis during his visit.  I stopped at this very hotel numerous times during our two brief stays in Ethiopia.  I even had a lunch on the Sheraton's outdoor patio.
 

I ate the traditional Ethiopian foods he describes.  There is such a contrast with the luxury of the Sheraton and the extreme poverty right outside its gates.  There is beauty in Ethiopia ... the people, mountains, endless summer, coffee ceremonies, artistry of thatched roof huts.  Yet, life is hard, in a way most Americans cannot understand.
 

 

I want to hold on to the memories so, in some way, I can tell my daughter of her birthplace.  She is two years old now.  If you ask her where she was born, she will answer, "E-OPIA!"  Yes.  I want it to be natural to talk about with her.  Just like I tell my older two children the story of their birth, I tell Addis, often when I'm rocking her and she's sleepy, about our airplane trip from Ethiopia to bring her home.  

It really did happen.  Proof is watching her.  Here.  Now. 

Things that make me happy: Pink Edition

Books around the house

This morning these holds were available for pickup at the library.  These were all for Grace [age 9].  I might have been more excited bringing them home than her. 

via

Pink- being mama to daughters

Look how much pink was in my light load of laundry today.  I also painted the girls' room a very light pink a few weeks ago ["Silk Sheets" by Behr]. 

Sunshine & being outside

Today my husband was trimming up shrubs.  I was hanging out laundry.  Grace and Jude were whipping around on their [new] scooters.  Grace reminds me so much of myself as a little girl in this way...her poor legs are always scraped up and bruised.  As for Addie, her wearing a tank top makes me smile.  

  Happy Weekend!

~Kate 

Heart Wrenching

I love a great story and the book The Kite Runner I couldn't read fast enough.  It's a heart wrenching story of family, love, betrayal, regret, and redemption.
 Between the pages, the tears were falling off my cheeks.  It's the kind of book that makes you want to hug your children extra long and whisper "I love you" to your spouse even if they're sleeping. 

Addie saw a new pediatrician for a child well checkup today.  When I recounted small pieces of her story to the doctor with it's difficulties and the progress she's made, I'm reminded again it is an incredible story.  One year ago today, her adoption petition passed Ethiopian court and she became our legal daughter.

One day I will look her in the eyes and tell her the story.  I will tell her I loved her even before I met her.  I often look at her and think I could have missed this.  I could have missed her.
Oh, God, thank You, for giving her to us.  She has brought so much joy to our family. 

I love.  I want to love freely but it scares me.  The more I love the more I am aware of how very little I control.  I can't keep those I love safe.

~Kate 

 

Print by Katie Daisy

"To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one..." ~C.S. Lewis~

Vision with Action

"Vision without action is merely a dream.  Action without vision just passes the time.  Vision with action can change the world." (Joel Barker)

Last week, I finished the book Start Something that Matters by Blake Mycoskie the founder of TOMS shoes.  I am inspired.  The book provides practical business advice, encouragement for the entrepreneur, and a real life example of putting passion and vision into action.

 

Then on Sunday our pastor shared an excellent message entitled "Believe.  Begin.  Become."  Our family's move from Minnesota to Wisconsin a few months ago causes me to think about the new things God has for me, for us, here.  This, combined with a new year before me....I not only want to change and grow but believe it must happen.  Now.  I do believe change can come.  I get more stuck on the begin part.  Am I willing to take the necessary steps?  Will I take steps today?    

It's going to take courage and perseverance. 

~Kate

Every Life Is a Story

I gobbled up A Million Miles in a Thousand Years like a dish of my favorite candy.  I was hooked as Miller writes about how he edits his life into a great story.  His writing is real and honest and I feel like he's in a conversation with me. 

Here's an excerpt I liked: 

"Here's the truth about telling stories with your life.  It's going to sound like a great idea, and you are going to get excited about it, and then when it comes time to do the work, you're not going to want to do it.  It's like that with writing books, and it's like that with life.  People love to have lived a great story, but few people like the work it takes to make it happen.  But joy costs pain.  

A general rule in creating great stories is that characters don't want to change.  They must be forced to change.  Nobody wakes up and starts chasing a bad guy or dismantling a bomb unless something forces them to do so.  The bad guys just robbed your house and are running off with your last roll of toilet paper, or the bomb is strapped to your favorite cat.  It's that sort of thing that gets a character moving.  The rule exists in story because it's a true thing about people.  Humans are designed to seek comfort and order, and so it they have comfort and order, they tend to plant themselves, even if their comfort isn't all that comfortable.  And even if they secretly want for something better."  

~Kate 

Magical Adventures with Mary Poppins

We are reading nearly every day.

Grace (age 9) and I are cruising through Mary Poppins .  She reads a page and then I do and then back to her.  She enjoys reading and reminds me we should read. 
The book is delightful and I smiled at this part: 
"Mr. Banks said to Mrs. Banks that she could have either a nice, clean, comfortable house or four children.  But not both, for he couldn't afford it." 

It's a little difficult to get Jude to sit for reading.  Jude (age 5) is a boy in motion.  
He does not walk through the house instead he hops, spins, rolls, skips 
("it's not running, mom") and in the midst of all the movement he is swinging his imaginary light saber.  I tell him he really will like the books and after we're done he usually tells me, sounding surprised, that I do pick out good books.  
His faves this week were Cyrus the Unsinkable Sea Serpent and The House that Jack Built.

Addie (age 1) loves repetition.  This week it's The Foot Book by Dr. Seuss which is progress because we were stuck on The Eye Book for months.

~Kate