Graduation, graduation, graduation.
We’ve got three this year; it might be our biggest year ever for caps and gowns.
Lots has happened since my last half-post. For one thing, it looks like this mug will be a little more frequent in the rotation.
Some updates
I did it—I submitted my thesis. I have completed all requirements for the Master of Fine Arts degree at the University of St. Thomas, Houston. Graduation is today, and while I won’t be in Texas, I will be celebrating at home with ice cream sundaes. John tried to surprise me with my favorite ice cream, but I called him yesterday about some other logistics while he was secretly at the shop. It was his turn to order, so he had to say “black raspberry” in the midst of our conversation. Oops! And yum.
God’s Little Flowers didn’t get as much of a book launch as I would have liked. Next month, I’m making up for it! The lovely folks at the Shrine of St. Joseph are offering space for me to have a book party to which all are welcome! Details below.
What I’m reading
While my coursework is officially complete, I still have 150-200 pages of reading I’d like to do. I told myself going in that I’d read everything that was assigned to me. I’d hoped to finish that before I submitted my thesis. Then I’d hoped to do it before graduation. But there was a thesis to write, and then there was everything I’d put on hold to catch up with. I WILL do it this week; mark my words!
Really, though, there was so much to read even taking just one course at a time that having a little more time and space to process what I’m reading isn’t a bad thing.
What my kids are reading
We finished Wonder and watched the movie, and wow on both. Highly recommend. Now we’re on to one of my favorite books of all time, Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt. We will not be watching the movie version. Years back, my mom and I attended an event with Babbitt (she signed my book!) and she expressly told us not to watch it, since it was done so poorly. Okay, then.
Something I love
I reconnected with a lovely woman I haven’t seen in a couple of years yesterday. As we chatted and caught up, I noticed a beautifully crocheted amigurumi Mother Mary on her bag. When I asked about it, she told me she made it and she sells them in her Etsy shop. Pop over to Crafts by Nana for a truly unique gift for a sacrament or graduation.
What I’m creating (knitting, lettering, embroidery, etc.)
Our wonderful library has a tiny art show this time of year, and the kids and I are participating for the first time. We each got a bag with a tiny canvas (maybe four inches square), some paint, and a brush. The idea is that you take it home, paint away, and bring it back before the month is out. Then all these little works of art are on display for the month of June or so. No prompts, no rules beyond that. Not to brag, but my library is really good at doing things just for fun, just to build community.
Here’s my entry, though I’m hoping to add some embroidery before I bring it back.
Where my work is
Dappled Things: “Reconsidering YA Lit” (a review of Little Sanctuary by Randy Boyagoda)
CatholicMom.com: “Can I Honestly Say, 'Truly, This Was the Son of God'?”
Trending with Timmerie: “Comparison or Happiness?”
Lisa Hendey and Friends: “Episode 79: Lindsay Schlegel ‘Don’t Forget to Say Thank You’” (recorded many years ago; just recently posted to YouTube)
What I’m working on
It’s finally time to write some new pieces for Our Sunday Visitor Magazine and Verily. It’s been great to dig into a longer project and get a draft of my novel not only written, but revised twice. As I let my brain work on what still needs improvement, I’m grateful for these shorter assignments to stretch different creative muscles.
A quote to sit and sip with
It’s a wheel, Winnie. Everything’s a wheel, turning and turning, never stopping. The frogs is part of it, and the bugs, and the fish, and the wood thrush, too. And people. But never the same ones. Always coming in new, always growing and changing, and always moving on. That’s the way it’s supposed to be. That’s the way it is.
— Angus Tuck, Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt