I cast on last night for a little newborn pilot cap for a friend’s baby. I’m hoping I have enough yarn left in this ball for it, we shall see!
I haven’t been reading much this week, but still reading The Shepherd’s Life when I can. We are headed out of town on Saturday morning and I have been a busy bee preparing for that. I’m hoping for some long stretches of reading and knitting during the car ride and week away!
Just plugging away at my precious cowl, reading a few books but this one has been top of the stack this week. Of course, I heard of The Shepherd’s Life originally through Ginny but became intrigued with it lately in thinking about the context of shepherding in the Christian life. I am always interested in learning more about farm-y things, but also curious how Rebanks’ experience as a Shepherd might better inform my understanding of Christ as my Shepherd. Recently at our church, our pastor felt God’s nudge to step down and we are, as a church, in a season of searching for a new pastor. I think my soul feels a bit bewildered, a bit like a sheep without a shepherd. Anyway, I don’t seem to get much reading done lately, more knitting. I try to squeeze in a few minutes a day before bed but my progress is slow! Did you see my last post with pictures of the finished lori shawl? I’m so happy with it. It feels important to finish and record progress in a season where most of my labor seems to produce slow results. Little moments here and there add up to something beautiful in the end, right?
Joining Ginny today for her weekly yarn along, where we share our current reads + knits.
Still working on my precious cowl, my first venture into lace + I really love it.
Still reading My Antonia but also reading The Railway Children with phoebe while the other kids are napping and I love this book so much. I can’t remember if I ever made it through the whole thing as a child, but it is actually quite engaging for me now. I find myself looking forward to snuggling up with Phoebe and finding out what these three delightful children will be up to next. I especially like that they are good figures for Phoebe to look up to: adventurous, looking out for the interests of others, honest, helpful, loving and compassionate, while trying to solve the difficult circumstances they find themselves in. It gives us some simple talking points about behaviors that we admire and want to cultivate in our own home. Mostly though, we just read it and I let her draw her own conclusions. 🙂 This old copy was given to me as a child by my grandpa on my tenth birthday so it’s a treasure and we love the watercolor paintings that accompany the story.
Joining with Ginny today.
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I bound off on the Nantucket throw last night as well as the Lori Shawl (two projects in one night! woo hoo!) and pictures of those finished knits will come after weaving in ends and blocking. I cast on the Precious cowl last week sometime, my first time knitting lace and working with a chart and I really love it so far. After the crispness of the linen in my Lori Shawl, this super soft yarn feels luxurious. It was a perfect small project to take backpacking with me this last weekend, which I did, and didn’t get as much time to work on it as I had hoped being that we were constantly dealing with winds and rain. It was still really fun to knit in my sleeping bag by head lamp while the winds howled and whipped outside our tent.
I’m still reading Wild and Free, wrapping it up in a couple of days I hope, but I couldn’t resist starting a novel of some sort. I’ve seen Ginny recommend My Antonia as one of her favorite novels and I spotted it at the library and figured I must check it out. I’m just barely into it but enjoying it so far.
Joining with Ginny today and her weekly yarn along.
I finally cast on for this big chunky Nantucket throw for our bedroom. It seemed fitting as a sort of way to commemorate/celebrate our 10th anniversary last week. I’m really loving it so far!
Wild and Free is a new release, one I am reviewing, and so far is better than I expected it would be. I’m about half way through it. At first the words “wild and free” as a description of a God-fearing, Jesus-following woman had me a little curious as to the direction these authors would go, but here’s a quote from the intro which put me more at ease with what the authors mean:
“If God is wild and if God is free, what does that mean for us? The answer we’ve landed on is that we believe we have the liberty to walk out our own wild freedom in pursuit of His kingdom, and He will help us as we go. He is the one who calls us to be wild–walking in who God created us to be. And He is the one who calls us to be free–resting in what Jesus has done for us.”
As one who has struggled greatly in different seasons of my life with confusion over my role as a woman, and as one who has consistently felt both “too much” and “not enough,” often at the same time, I am finding this book to be a great encouragement! More on it when I review it later. It’s a quick and interesting read so far.
Joining with Ginny at Small Things today.
I’ve been in sort of a knitting conundrum, I suppose, for the past week or so. I’m still finding my way as a knitter, but it seems I need a larger project going and a few quick and simple small projects to rotate to. My lori shawl is almost done, literally just a few rows from being complete, and I ran out of yarn, so now I must order one more skein + wait for it to arrive before finishing. I have a handful of smaller projects that I wanted to begin, but am trying to find a pattern for some yarn that I have. I have made a bad habit of buying one skein here, one skein there, and then never having enough yarn for a larger project that I’m eyeing. So I’m in the process of deciding on patterns, and I can’t seem to go quickly through that process. I get a bit discouraged with how expensive it can be to knit what I really want with the yarn I really like. I am going to work on a few more dishcloths in the meantime, because I literally have to have something I can quickly grab and work on in the spare moments I find during the day, while I wait for a bigger project to settle into.
I’m in the same sort of place with books. I’m just trying to finish up a few that I’ve been stuck in for a bit. Meanwhile, a friend gave me Gluten-Free on a Shoestring so I’m browsing through that a bit. I’m always on the lookout for tips and tricks to do this whole gluten-free diet more economically.
Joining with Ginny today.
Give the momma you love the gift of a good book this Mother’s Day! If Brandon asks me what I want for Mother’s Day, there is usually a book involved, whether it’s a new one or just time to read one. One of the things I am asked most frequently here is about book recommendations on varying subjects. I have a little link on the slide-out bar on the right hand of my blog over there —> called “Recommended Reads.” If you click on it, you will find my top recommendations on all sorts of subjects related to the things I blog about (family, theology, motherhood, marriage, children, celiac’s disease, etc.).
Since Mother’s Day is just a couple of days away, I wanted to share some of my “momma” favorites with you and some that are on my wishlist this year! These are some of the books that the Lord has used to profoundly shape me in the last few years. I believe strongly in the power of a good word at the right time to be greatly effective in helping us, shaping us, encouraging us. Of course, nothing beats the Scriptures in fueling us as mothers, but sometimes we need the help of another in unpacking and applying the Scriptures. All of the books listed here will do that for you, all of them rooted in Scripture, all of them gently teaching and guiding and instructing you as a woman and mother in your role.
What the mom you love really wants for Mother’s Day is to know she is somehow doing this well, this motherhood thing. She desperately needs encouragement, hope, biblical support and training. She needs fresh vision. In a world where motherhood is discredited and often discarded, she needs to know that this work counts in the Kingdom of God. She needs to remember why it counts.
When you build up a mother, you are building up the one raising the next generation of disciples. When you build up a mother, you are building up the Body of Christ, you are building the Kingdom.
This one has helped me so much as a momma who leans heavily toward moralism/legalism. Grace is still as scandalous as ever for me, dangerous even. I scribbled these words across the intro to this book: “God wants more for my children than obedience. He wants to give them more than a tidy life — He wants to give them the Gospel. He wants to give them grace.” As Tullian Tchividjian says in the into, “The biggest lie about grace that Satan wants Christian parents to buy is the idea that grace is dangerous and therefore needs to ‘kept in check.’ By believing this, we not only prove we don’t understand grace, but we violate gospel advancement in the lives of our children. A ‘yes, grace, but..’ disposition is the kind of fearful posture that keeps moralism swirling around in their hearts.” If you are a momma (or know a momma!) in the trenches of parenting who needs to remember the goal of parenting, who needs to go back to the foundations of grace, this book is for you! I have underlined and dog-eared it to death. Highly, highly recommend.
2. Your Beautiful Purpose: discovering and enjoying what God can do through you by Susie Larson
This one is such a beautiful and practical read, and certainly not just for mothers! I loved this one from cover to cover and slowly went through the study material in the back of the book, soaking it all in. Larson’s writing is scripture-saturated and Christ-exalting. I include this one as a book for momma’s because if a mother were to read it through the lens of motherhood being a part of her beautiful purpose on this earth, it would be quite profound. This book encourages you to uncover God’s purpose for you and helps with practical things like when to move forward, how to wait on God’s timing or discern His voice, how to walk in your own calling and not coveting another’s, what to do with being criticized, etc. So very good and helpful and encouraging. I will return to this one often!
“Who we are and what we possess. These are the two targets the enemy aims for again and again. If he can get us to doubt, he can trip us up. If he can get us thinking we’re poor though we’re really rich, we’ll scratch and claw our way through life; and we’ll live anxious and afraid, like we’re without hope. And if he can convince us we lack something good, he’ll be able to tempt us to live frantic and hurried lives, never satisfied, always wanting more. We’ll skim life’s surfaces and miss its depths. We’ll live jealous, me-focused lives and forsake the whole reason we’re blessed: because God loves to love us, and He loves to love through us. Jesus promises that those who trust Him lack no good thing (Ps.34:10). These aging earthen vessels carry the treasure of heaven within. Ponder the significance of that truth every single day.” (Larson)
3. A Million Little Ways: Uncover the art you were made to live by Emily Freeman
So you know I love Emily, right?! I got to meet her (!!!) last summer at her book party for Simply Tuesday (another book you should go buy right now). I met her on the pages of this book and in many ways, this blog was born as a result. Again, this is not a book that is specific to motherhood at all, but is one I think could greatly encourage the mother who wonders whether her menial and daily work with littles is of any value to our missional God. She writes to show that all of life can be lived to the glory of God, not just the time we spend reading the Bible or praying. All of life lived for His glory, even the small and mundane tasks of our day, can be the art that we offer to the world to the glory of God. You may not see yourself as an artist, I certainly didn’t before reading this book. But she argues from scripture how God made each of us a work of art, and each of us have an art to offer. Whether its washing dishes, decorating homes, hammering nails or hammering words on the keys, God is not so small that He is only glorified in what we typically call “spiritual” activities. He wants to be revealed and glorified in all that we do. These words are words I will read again probably every year. She is an incredible writer, and her words set me free and brought so. much. joy.
4. Glimpses of Grace: Treasuring the Gospel in your home by Gloria Furman
Gloria is basically my best friend, she just doesn’t know it. This one will always probably be in the very top three of my favorite books on parenting/motherhood ever. If you knew how much I read, you would know that is saying a lot. I will read everything she writes. In this book, she addresses the stay-at-home momma or the working woman, and she writes to unveil how the Gospel impacts our normal, daily, mundane lives. Does God care about the mundane tasks we perform day in and day out? How does His grace change the way we do laundry, potty training, bed-making, cooking, grocery shopping, guest-hosting?
For me, this has been my greatest struggle as a parent thus far. This seeming endless battle to live a pure and holy life before God in even the mundane details of life, and yet this daily failing and floundering. My heart is so often discouraged and barely feels brave enough to whisper: Is there any purpose in it? Is there any hope in it? Can a sin-bent woman such as myself ever live a life that pleases God? This book answers those questions so beautifully and with a heap of humor.
“Theology is for homemakers who need to know who God is, who they are, and what this mundane life is all about…As homemakers who are made in God’s image and desire to live for God, we need to know what God’s intentions are for us and for the work we do in the home. More specifically, we need to know: What does the gospel have to do with our everyday lives in the home? How does the gospel impact our dish washing, floor mopping, bill paying, friend making, guest hosting, and dinner cooking? How does the fact that Jesus himself bore our sins in his body on the tree so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness (1 Pet. 2:24) make a difference in my mundane life today?…This book is a description of the distinctly Christian hope of God’s glory and how it relates to the home” (Gloria Furman)
5. Desperate: Hope for the mom who needs to breathe by Sarah Mae + Sally Clarkson
This one was a mother’s day gift to me a few years ago from Brandon. It had me at “desperate.” I found so much practical encouragement for how to run our home, and how to face all the various aspects of motherhood that drive me crazy and bring me to my knees. One of my favorite aspects of this book is the way it fleshes out the mentoring relationship we crave and should experience between the older + younger generations, as each chapter begins with Sarah writing a letter with a motherhood question to Sally, and Sally’s response. A beautiful and easy read that has stuck with me and shaped my parenting since first reading it. I feel like it is a huge dose of momma encouragement.
6. The Ministry of Motherhood: Following Christ’s example in reaching the hearts of our children by Sally Clarkson
Have you, momma of littles, ever been wiping noses and bottoms and counter tops all day and wondered what on earth this is accomplishing? Have you ever missed your former days of being more active in ministry? This book will help you see the ministry right before you, the daily ministry of discipling your children. We know that Jesus called us to make disciples, and as a mother I often find myself more caught up in discipling others before I’ve even invested that energy and attention in my own children. This book is so helpful in that regard, breathing fresh life and focus into your parenting. Perfect for the mom who needs a tune-up in her own vision of her work in her children’s lives.
7. The Life-giving Home: Creating a place of belonging and becoming by Sally + Sarah Clarkson
Yes, a third book by Sally Clarkson! This one is so unique in that she coauthors it with her now-adult daughter, talking about the scriptural purpose of the home. After a few chapters setting the foundation for the book, the book is organized around the seasons of the home, each chapter focusing on a month of the year and discussing a theme of that month. For example, January focuses on “Creating a framework for home: rhythms, routines, and rituals,” and June focuses on “Times of Delight: creating a value for play.” Sally and Sarah take turns authoring these chapters, each offering their perspectives and experiences from their own home and ideas for your home. Chock full of inspiration and resources for the mom who is looking for fresh ideas to make her home life-giving. This one is a must-read!
“We must understand homemaking not as a retreat from the fallen world, not as a retrenchment from culture, but as a profound engagement with it. We must understand the creation of a home as a work of incarnational power and creativity. ‘Kingdom come’ doesn’t happen on some cosmic scale; the whole point is that it invades the physical at the humblest level. As Christ was born a tiny human child of Mary, so Christ comes again, invading the human realm in and through our ordinary love of children and friends, spouses and siblings. His Kingdom comes in the way we celebrate, the shelter we make of our homes, the joy we put into what we cook and eat and create, our willingness to welcome strangers into our midst. As the Holy Spirit fills us, our families and friendships and the particular physical spaces of our lives become the spaces where Christ is born again and again — growing, ordering, renewing, healing.” (Clarkson)
The following two are not pictured but are books on my wishlist, ones I am eager to read very soon!
8. Missional Motherhood: the everyday ministry of motherhood in the grand plan of God by Gloria Furman
Yes, this is the newest release from Gloria Furman, releasing this month! I can hardly wait to get my hands on it. “Gloria Furman helps women live out God’s story of redemption in their daily lives as they nurture their children and joyfully share the message of the gospel with those around them” (from the amazon description).
9. Wild and Free: a hope-filled anthem for the woman who feels she is both too much and never enough by Haley Morgan and Jess Connolly
If that title doesn’t resonate with you, dear woman, I’m not sure you have a pulse. This one is not specific at all to motherhood, but is one I think every mother could probably relate to. This, from the amazon description: “Wild and Free is an anthem and an invitation in equal parts to find freedom from the cultural captivity that holds us back, and freedom to step into the wild and holy call of God in our lives. With fresh biblical insight tracing all the way back to Eve and a treasury of practical application, Jess and Hayley reveal how women today can walk in the true liberty we already have in Jesus.” I’m hoping and praying this one breathes fresh life into the wild and holy call of motherhood and the other roles I fill as a woman on this earth in my generation. I cannot wait to review it later this month here on the blog, so check back!
What are some of your top favorite books on motherhood? I’d love to hear your recommendations!
*Full Disclosure: There are affiliate links in this post. Please understand these are all books I am freely recommending of my own volition because I strongly believe they will be a blessing. By clicking through to amazon and purchasing a book via this post you are helping to support this blog and my family at no additional cost to you! Basically I am just receiving a tiny “thank you” from amazon for the referral I would be giving anyway. My family and I thank you!
It’s not terribly interesting, but I’m still working on the Lori Shawl and nearing the end. Methinks I will need another skein of Quince + Co Sparrow in order to finish. I am trying to figure out what my next project will be and sort of itching to cast on to something else, but haven’t decided on anything yet.
I picked up The Year of Miss Agnes from the library this week, just a quick, whimsical read about a teacher who comes to the small Athabaskan fishing village on the Koyukuk River. She proves to be unorthodox in her methods, supposedly, so I’m curious. Plus, Alaska. Enough said. I was re-watching Anne of Green Gables recently with my Phoebe girl, and reminded of what a great impact her teacher, Mrs. Stacy, had on her life. I love the way she taught, the way she had the kids outside doing calisthenics, climbing a tree to see a bird’s nest, doing nature journaling, etc. It’s helpful for me to cast some vision, I suppose, as I head into homeschooling in the fall.
Joining in with Ginny at Small Things today.
I’ve been doing some “secret knitting” for my niece, her first birthday gift, so I have been mainly working on finishing that up. In the meantime, when I need some random quick knitting I’ve been working on some basic dishcloths just because I need some and it’s mindless and easy. Also, I shared in my last post some pictures of Philippa in her finished sunsuit, for those of you who were curious how it turned out and how it fit her. It was my first attempt at knitting a clothing item (besides hats and socks, I guess) and I’m excited to try more! I’m wanting to make some cardigans for the children, still hunting around for the right pattern. Any favorites/suggestions?
I am still reading through For the Children’s Sake and am really grateful for it. I need to read mothering/parenting type books frequently as it helps me continually to be mindful of the gift of this season of life and the responsibility I have to disciple these three little people under my care. Of course, this one is geared toward home education but I’m still finding it encouraging to me in my parenting as well. It is helpful in understanding more of Charlotte Mason’s methodology/philosophy, which I am very drawn to.
Joining up with Ginny of Small Things to share what we’re reading + knitting.
Almost done with Philippa’s sunsuit, doing the ribbing on the leg holes and then just sewing on buttons for the straps in the back, then blocking. I can’t wait to actually try it on her. I’ve attempted a few times while it has been in progress but she’s so wiggly and impatient that it’s hard to see how it will really look until I can fasten it in place. It’s been such a fun knit! I could have probably finished faster but I got stuck picking up stitches for the legs and took a break.
I just started For the Children’s Sake. As I said in my last post, schooling is constantly on my mind these days and the rest of the spring and summer is devoted to reading and researching and prepping. Francis Schaeffer is one of my favorite theologians and I adore his wife, Edith Schaeffer’s book The Hidden Art of Homemaking. So I don’t doubt I will enjoy this one written by their daughter.
Joining today with Ginny of Small Things and her weekly yarn along.
everything He gives 