It has been cold and rainy here, but yesterday, for the first time in a long time, I was out at the swing set with all my kids. They spun on the tire swing, showed me new tricks, laughed, examined the garden we didn’t properly close up last year, and there was a general sense of being at ease.
This is a good place to be, especially as the calendar on our fridge shows us we’re halfway through Lent. We’re feeling the challenges before us, but outside with that fresh nearly-spring air, there was a quiet joy in knowing that Easter is coming.
Some updates
Some highlights from the last month include an Aretha Franklin tribute concert with the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra that my husband took me to as a Christmas gift. Guys, if you don’t have any live music on your calendar, get some on there.
There is no substitute for live performances. There is artistic talent all over the place, right around you. I didn’t realize until I was there and we recognized one of the performers from another show what a joy it is to support local artists and help keep things like this happening.
I also overheard someone recommend Anna Karenina in the YMCA locker room this month. The lady who who reading it was really selling it to the other woman. So unexpected, so wonderful.
What I’m reading
In addition to Well-Read Mom and my MFA class, I joined a four-week seminar looking at two novellas by Jon Fosse (pronounced Yann Foe-sa, not John Fos-sey, in case you were wondering). A friend also mentioned Alice McDermott’s new novel, Absolution, to me and was curious about my reading of it. So the bedside stack is very full these days!
What my kids are reading
I read the Chronicles of Narnia aloud to my older two boys when they were probably about six and four. My daughter sat for them, but tells me that she doesn’t remember any of the stories (not surprising!).
No matter, she’s reading them all for herself now. She’s enjoying them so much that she asked for a Narnia-themed birthday party. I can’t imagine a situation in which I’d say no to a book-themed party, so we went for it, Turkish Delight and all!
Something I love
My kindergartner is doing well enough to read Piggie and Gerald books out loud with me. I love this stage! He reads with inflection and has a great sense of humor. He also read all of Good Night, Good Knight (legitimately one of my favorite books) to his younger brother the other night. Reading lessons were…challenging at times, and seeing him enjoy reading now is just the best.
What I’m creating (knitting, lettering, embroidery, etc.)
One of my dear friends is expecting a little one, and I managed to knit baby a hat. It took way longer than it theoretically should have, but there it is.
The yarn is leftover from when I made something for my goddaughter (this baby’s older sister), so I know Mama likes the color, plus it matched a onesie on her registry. Hopefully by the time you’re reading this, I’ve given it to her.
Where my work is
The Road to Hope was featured at the National Catholic Register: “Aiding the Addicted: Healing Hearts and Souls Through Spiritual Accompaniment”
What I’m working on
I don’t share enough about my role as Associate Editor at Verily. Today I’ll be working through a batch of accepted pieces to get them ready to post. Verily is one of my favorite things on the Internet, and has been for over a decade. I love writing for this site. It’s a gift to get to edit for it now as well.
We’ve gone back to print, in addition to online. Grab your subscription, or give one to a friend here.
A quote to sit and sip with
If you say, “Show me your God,” I will say to you, “Show me what kind of person you are, and I will show you my God.” Show me then whether the eyes of your mind can see, and the ears of your heart hear.
— From the book addressed to Autolycus by Saint Theophilus of Antioch, bishop; second reading in the office of readings for Wednesday of the third week of Lent