A Later Launch
Gemma made a few more friends this weekend.
We’re on the later side of the eights today, since some of yesterday needed to make it in this post. What a day—a book party; my son riding returning from a karate tournament with a bow staff to acknowledge his team’s participation; and then hatchet-throwing to celebrate a friend’s birthday. All this after a double-header of graduations, and with four birthday parties and Father’s Day in the week to come.
I’m grateful for my resolution to read for thirty minutes a day this this year, since it goes a long way in helping me stay collected in the midst of the most beautiful chaos.
Some updates
I’m not sure you can call it a “launch party” when you celebrate a book that’s been out for four months, but we had fun yesterday at the Shrine of St. Joseph all the same. I didn’t know what to expect, and was delighted at the show of support from family, friends, friends who brought friends, and a few new faces. Thanks to all who came out and thanks to the Shrine for giving me the space and posting the flyer all around! The Shrine is such a gift—a beautiful retreat space, a wonderful gift shop, the sweetest sisters, and Confession offered every day.
The children were so willing to participate in a conversation about the book and what we can learn from it. They listened beautifully as I read. And then they had a great time making cards at the table one of my sons helped me set out ahead of time. The party went an hour longer than I anticipated!
Book Party Celebrating God's Little Flowers As we wrapped up I realized what a cool (and easy) birthday party anyone could build around this book:
A family could easily introduce the idea of flowers having the same elements (stem, leaves, roots, petals) but different manifestations (shape, size, color, scent, medicinal or symbolic use) and ask kids to consider how that might relate to people, who are made in the image and likeness of God, but who are also unique and unrepeatable.
An adult could read the story aloud, as I did, pick up the conversation where it left off, show the bonus video and offer the activity pages available here, and then invite kids to make cards to encourage people they know.
The favor could be a copy of the book for each child.
The celebratory dessert might be cupcakes with icing flowers on top.
Let me know if you give this a try or if I missed something!
Also of note: I asked the kids to think of someone who might not typically get a card, rather than making them for their moms. And then one precious girl made one for me!
What I’m reading
I still have thirty-five pages of MFA reading I want to finish. Can I finish before school lets out? Can I finish before my diploma arrives in the mail? Time will tell.
What my kids are reading
I’ve just started Nothing Else But Miracles by Kate Albus with my daughter (and my two older boys, who tend to slow down and find things close to us to do when I pick up the book). We read A Place to Hang the Moon by the same author a while back and loved it. I’ve been looking forward to this one for a while now. So far, so good.
Something I love
I have loved Verily since I first heard about it more than a decade ago. I’m proud to write and edit for a publication that’s committed to creating media that uplifts women and never objectifies. Right now, every donation is being matched! Help us keep going strong by giving today: tinyurl.com/SupportVerily
“Less of who you should be, more of who you are.” ← Love that.
What I’m creating (knitting, lettering, embroidery, etc.)
Apart from the party, most of what I’m creating these days are summer plans—what to read, what to purge, how to keep our house in order and get a little something done each day, but also slow down and enjoy long hours with nowhere to go but the lake.
Where my work is
CatholicMom.com: “Daily Gospel Reflection for May 26, 2025”
God’s Little Flowers was featured in Wholly Surrender Magazine
What I’m working on
I’m excited to dig into a new project with Into the Deep this month. I can’t share too much about it yet, but consider this your invitation to follow Olivia on social media or sign up for her email list so you don’t miss a thing.
A quote to sit and sip with
Quoting pieces of this essay (even quoting a great deal of it, as I’ve done here) doesn’t really do it justice. It seems to be given in full here, though I’d more highly recommend One Long River of Song: Notes on Wonder, a book of essays which contains this and many other beautiful pieces by Brian Doyle.
When [my sons] were three and four years old they used to stand on the pew next to me and lean on me as if I were a tree and they were birds. Sometimes one would fall asleep and I would sense this through my arm and shoulder so that when I sat down I would be sure to haul the sleeper down safely. …Sometimes they would lean against me just from a sheer simple mammalian affection, the wordless pleasure of leaning against someone you love and trust. But always I was bigger and they were smaller, then.
Then came years during which there was no leaning because generally they were leaning away from their parents and from the church and from authority in all its figments and forms and constitutions, and generally they sat silent and surly and solitary, even during the Sign of Peace, which distressed their parents, which was the point.
But now they are twenty and one is much taller than me and the other is much more muscular. … And the other day in Mass I leaned against one and then the other and I was moved, touched, pierced down to the fundaments of my soul. What were once pebbles are now cliffs. They are tall and strong and stalwart and charming and at the Sign of Peace people in all directions reach for them smiling. When I lean against them they do not budge and now I am the one leaning against men whom I love and trust and admire. Sometimes I lean too hard against them on purpose just to make them grin. …
—Brian Doyle, “What Were Once Pebbles Are Now Cliffs”
