Month: February 2017

yarn along

MarthaKimball8 Comments

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Sorry for the fuzzy picture, it’s a gray rainy day here so my camera didn’t want to focus.  Anywhoo… still knitting my Lila sweater.  I’m thankful for an easy, meditative, mindless knit in this busy week of last minute packing as we prepare to move this weekend.  It’s easy to pick up in the evenings and unwind while working on it.  I’ve just joined sleeves and am working on yoke shaping.  It’s been unseasonably warm here in NC in February so I’m not sure if it will be cold enough to wear it when I finally finish!  But I hope for some more winter weather before spring comes.

I am so greatly enjoying Long Days of Small Things (affiliate link).  I find myself craving to read it during the day (but no time!!) and eagerly looking forward to squeezing in a few pages when I’m in bed.  It’s a paradigm shifter for moms who have found that since becoming a mom there is no time anymore for the pursuit of God.  We hear this so often from our fellow mom friends, don’t we?  Even from our own hearts–where is the time, the energy, the finances, the brain power to put thoughts together to pursue God as we once did?  So many mothers longing to be faithful in this trying season of sacrifice, yet feeling like failures because we feel that we must choose between our own pursuit of God and satisfying the constant demands of our little ones.  No matter which we choose, we are tempted to feel like a failure for forsaking the other.  Here’s a little excerpt from the first chapter:

“Children are consuming.  They leave us with nothing left to give ourselves or anyone else.  But this is the perfect training ground for our spirits, the very setting many disciplines are designed to produce.  Our demanding, beloved children are what we create–they are our spiritual path.  What if we looked through new eyes and discovered that into our very life stages our Creator has placed impressions of himself, reflections of his strength and beauty, a spiritual path laid out just for us?”

What I’m also loving about this book is the “practices” McNiel includes at the end of each chapter.  They are simple, immediately attainable and small practices such as paying attention to your breathing throughout the day, walking, eating, washing.  All the things we do cyclicly each day, finding these human activities to be worshipful.  I have found myself thinking about this as I’ve been going about my usual routines this week and it has so deeply encouraged and helped!  Just to realize sometimes that I’m holding my breath in stress–to take a deep breath and to say to the Lord as I do so: I’m breathing in your grace and steadfast love in this moment.  I’m breathing out my fears and worries to you.  Just this little prayer, over and over throughout the day–how can it bring such joy?  But it does.

Anyway.. for any mom in the trenches: READ this book!  I’m only a few chapters in but I believe I will love it to the end.

Joining with Ginny of Small Things today and her weekly yarn along.

 

yarn along

MarthaKimball10 Comments

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I’m kniting on my Lila sleeve number two, and loving this project so much.  I can’t wait to wear it but also never want it to end! 🙂  No second sleeve syndrome over here.  I did, however, cast on for a pair of baby socks for a friend and also need to finish up another small gift item for someone else, as well.  So I’m forcing myself to set aside my lila for a few days.  Maybe.

I am crazy, crazy I know.. because I selected two books to review this month while I’m packing and moving and trying to buy a house because I simply don’t have enough to do already.  Actually, I just couldn’t resist these books!  I cannot wait to dive into this one on motherhood.  I need regular motherhood check-ups in this busy season of Long Days of Small Things.  This title grabbed me immediately and I so hope this book lives up to my expectations!  I HOPE to review it this month, so I will let you know what I think.  I did finish up The Broken Way, I tried to make it last as long as I could.  I didn’t allow myself to mark it up at all because I just wanted to savor and read and let it wash over me.  I loved it so, so very much, and will be rereading it maybe immediately.  And this time mark it up.  Please go get a copy of it!  Ann is such a gift and such an encouragement to me time and again.  And, if you notice, she also endorses the above book.

I’m linking up with Ginny’s weekly yarn along and also Nicole’s KCCO.  
Affiliate links included in this post.

 

 

keeping rhythm

MarthaKimball1 Comment

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Only two weeks now until we say goodbye to this little house and move on out.  We have been spending the last number of weekends packing in big spurts, then trying to keep life going normally during the week.  We packed the books on Saturday and our home feels a bit colorless and empty without them.  There is so much to do, as anyone who has ever packed and moved knows well.  But in the middle of it, life goes on, and I try to keep some semblance of normalcy going.  Our daily and weekly work–cooking, schooling, reading, cleaning, outside play, trips to the library and grocery store, knitting for me in the evenings after the kids are in bed.

Thus, my random smattering of photos.  The children spread out on the floor watching movies.  Finding Philippa after nap time on top of her bookcase, having colored all over her hands and dress in colors that actually coordinated her dress.  Kombucha batches brewing on the counter, catching the afternoon light.  Children playing and snuggling and reading books on my bed.  Little random moments that make my heart happy and light and keep me grounded.

I feel that I can share with you now that we are under contract on a home, but won’t close until the end of March.  We are excited but also trying to keep our emotions in check until everything goes through.  It has been such an up and down journey, certainly not what we ever would have expected.  Since we have about a month of limbo between this home and our new home, a sweet friend has offered for us to live in their new home in the meantime.  We will put most of our stuff in storage and live fairly minimally during our time there, so I’m not sure how diligently I will be blogging.  Be praying if you think of it for the children, that they handle this transition well.  I think they are mostly excited and will be resilient in the midst of it, and I’m guessing it will throw Philippa off the most, as she has only lived in this home and has a strong love for being home, not usually sleeping well anywhere else.  I’m hoping by keeping some of our family rhythms going, we can provide a sense of consistency.

All this upheaval and change in the midst of our ongoing battle for Phoebe’s health and the uncertain future ahead has me so thankful that we make our home in God alone, wherever we are wandering on this earth.  He is our home, He is our security.  He is our constant in a wild storm.  There really can be peace in the midst of the tumult.  Why do I forget this every time?  Sometimes every day?  I am thankful also for that sense that wherever Brandon is, wherever my children are, that is where home is for me.  What kind of walls hold us and who owns them doesn’t matter too terribly much.  Trials of any sort always pare life down to the basics, the simple and small things that matter most.

In Him we live and move and have our being. (Acts 17:28)

fifteen years

MarthaKimball1 Comment

I originally wrote this post last year, and many of you have heard my story of rescue. But for those who are new to my blog, or those who haven’t heard it before, this day is always a special day of memorial for me, and I wanted to share it with you.

MarthaKimball's avatareverything He gives

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Fifteen years of undeserved life + breath.  Fifteen years, a gift.  We all know that each day we are alive is truly a gift, each new morning another day He has chosen to give us.  But I remember laying in the freezing dark cold of that snow, wet and shivering, being fully aware that this might be my last day.  We talked about it, my sister and I, as we clung to each other and to any semblance of warmth in that makeshift snowcave.  We knew God would be good even if He chose to end our lives in this way, on this mountain, at the ages of 16 and 20 years old.  He could have, but He didn’t.  In the swirl of emotions following our rescue, the way it felt to see a helicopter with men smiling and waving over us, the way it felt to be helped onto that…

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yarn along

MarthaKimball4 Comments

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Still knitting on my Lila sweater, about half way through the first sleeve.  This yarn and pattern are pure comfort.

Still reading The Broken Way.  I just read the part last night where Voskamp talks about Lark at Elizabeth’s funeral, so it was neat to hear that little mention of Ginny and her family.

Joining with Ginny today and her weekly yarn along where we share our current reads and knits, and also with Nicole of Frontier Dreams.
Affiliate links included in this post.

yarn along

MarthaKimball3 Comments

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I cast on for the Kingsley hat a few days ago and finished it up last night.  I still need to block it and can’t wait to wear it.  It fits perfectly and it’s the first hat I’ve knitted for myself.  I really enjoyed the pattern and will definitely be knitting it again.  I originally wanted to make the slouchy version of the hat but was using stashed yarn and ran out, but I still really like the way the fitted version fits.  It’s still roomy enough for me, and I may add a pom pom as well.  I’m still knitting on my Lila sweater and just about done with the body.

Still reading The Broken Way.  Struck and sitting with the concept this week (from my reading) that God believes in me.  It sounds cheesy to say, I realize.  But it is gripping.

Joining with Ginny’s weekly yarn along today.
Affiliate links included in this post.