Tea for Abigail

 Abigail is probably my most difficult child to knit for. Perhaps it's because she's the oldest and has the most developed sense of her own style, or maybe just because she's no longer young enough for me to say "I knit that thing for you, so you're gonna wear it!" and have that be enough. Regardless, I view her to be my personal knitting challenge, always trying to find the thing that we'll both like and that she'll actually wear.

 So far, she's been getting some wear out of this new Tea Leaves Cardigan. She chose the pink trim to compliment the blue, and I think it was a good choice - it brightens up the overall look and goes well with some of her standard clothing selections.

It does appear, however, that she's gotten rather comfortable with her new threads quite quickly - I caught her sneaking out into the back yard last night because she had left her new sweater in the tree earlier in the afternoon. So, if you happen to see a sweater that looks like this one lying around anywhere, you know where to return it, don't you? Thanks... 

Presently, I am...

...so thankful for the recent change in weather - finally put away shorts and flip flops and pulled out the woolens! Autumn is my favorite time of year - the trees turn into a firework display, and it makes me so happy!

...reading several books, including Jesus + Nothing = Everything and a biography of Susannah Spurgeon. I've been in a spate of fiction, which was a nice break for my brain, but it's time to read some more edifying stuff.

...knitting my first pair of socks, a sweater for Caleb and a bookmark. Always something to keep my hands busy.

...enjoying turning my girls loose in the kitchen. They've been making all sorts of cookies that I wouldn't have the patience for, and they love it! I'm not as enthusiastic about how the leave the kitchen, but it's an area we're working on.

...battling some pain in my elbow. I'm not sure what tennis elbow really is, but it feels as if I've pulled something. Praying rest and pain killers do the job!

...watching Caleb getting bigger and cuter everyday. He's started taking some steps here and there, and between that and his sweet little chatter, he's just about the cutest thing ever.

...needing to improve in my planning sessions. It always seems to need more time than I am willing to give it, but I'm needing to spend some time planning school, inviting folks over for hospitality, and Christmas gifts. At least the bills are getting paid!

Living History

A couple weeks ago, we had an opportunity to visit Locus Grove, a local historical estate known to be a stopping place for the Lewis & Clark expedition. They had an 18th century battle reenactment and camp that was really interesting!

 They did their "pomp and circumstance" thing, where none of us really knew what was going on...

 ...got to see some old-time cooking and meet interesting people, including the local rat-catcher...

 ...smell some really delicious food...

 ...see how life in the camps was for those who travelled with the soldiers...

 ...and how even the most basic necessities had to be made. The best part of it all is that this isn't a job for the people involved, but it's something they did for fun - it was clear that they really enjoyed what they were doing and sharing it with others.

It was also clear that these people are the sort you want on your team if you're ever dropped in the middle of nowhere. There's not much they wouldn't be able to handle...

Home again

Well, our trip to Orlando was a joy, and I'm so thankful we were able to go! A great resort, beautiful weather and a soul-encouraging conference over three days - fabulous.

To listen or read the transcripts of some of the messages, visit the Plant & Build blog. It would be time well spent.

It was also a joy for us to meet with some of the folks from our Maryland church, as well as meet some new faces. There are a couple of churches in New England that are very interested in seeing more churches planted in that area, so Toby and I got to talk to them and hear their vision for what God is doing in that part of the country. Of course, anyone you talk to is excited to tell you about how wonderful their area is and how they'd love to see God's kingdom advance there, but we were surprised to learn how few Sovereign Grace churches exist in New England - there are 2 in Massachusetts, and that. is. it.

So, we're continuing to pray and consider how God will direct us when Pastor's College is complete. We are tentatively considering visiting one of the Mass. churches over the Christmas break to get a feel for the place and the people, but there are no done deals as yet. At the moment, we're praying and working and studying (well, Toby's studying), seeking to make the most of the year we have here in Louisville.

Please to pray for God's direction and guidance for our family, both this year and all the adventures that are yet to come!

This week

This past week was busy - evening meetings, full school schedule, places to go, people to see.
This week is also going to be busy, but a rather different kind of busy. Toby and I will be attending the Sovereign Grace Pastor's Conference in Orlando. Just to be clear, we will not be visiting the Magic Kingdom, but I suspect it will certainly be magical to spend a couple of days among adults, hearing some good teaching and relaxing in the sun. My children will be having a magical time with their grandmother, who's chief aim is to love on them and spoil them stupid.

A word about my mom...

I heard this story about my mom (from my mom) a while back. Apparently some neighbors had a squirrel problem in their attic, and the cost to have a guy come and "deal with it" was exorbitant. I'm not fully sure how my mom got called in, but it didn't take much to get her climbing up into a tight space with a hand gun. It seems there were no working lights in the attic, but there was a busted vent that she could tell was the squirrel's main entrance, which was also the only source of light. As soon as one of the little stinkers' silhouettes filled the hole, she fired.

When they found the squirrel later, they found one shot - right between the eyes. My mother shot a small, moving target in the dark, right in the head. She laughs this off, amazed at such a lucky shot, but I know better - I know my mom!

So when people ask me who's watching my children while we're out of town and if she'll be okay, I smile and nod. Six kids might be overwhelming for a lot of folks and she'll be tired by Friday, but I know she's got this under control. Clearly, there's not much they can do that I haven't already done, and there's not much she can't handle. She (and they) will do just fine.

Rental decorating

When we moved in, we decided that even though we have loads of pictures and paintings for the walls, we weren't going to hang them all because we (Toby) didn't want to deal with filling in lots of holes at the end of the year. At the same time, we (I) didn't want to live inside a bare shell for almost a year. So, we compromised.

There are a few of our special pieces up, but not in the kids' rooms yet. So, the kids' rooms became my first project.

In the boy's room, I made a little banner out of some leftover fabric and yarn.

 Since it was only a matter of cutting, and threading the yarn through holes poked into the corners of the triangles, this little project sits firmly in the "no-sew" category.

 In the little girls room, I used an idea I found on Pinterest to iron these little dots onto the walls using fabric circles I'd cut out for something years ago and some heat and bond fusible backing.

 Iron the circles to the backing, cut them out with the backing on and iron them to the wall. Avoid scorch marks by placing some fabric between your circle and your iron.

 The pin that served as my inspiration recommended doing it with your child's name, but that involved more than I could handle with half a dozen excited people around and bedtime approaching.

All photos taken by Anna!

Currently, Abigail and Caleb have a banner that I made years ago gracing their walls, and for now, it'll do. I'd love to do something else for them soon - just waiting for (more) inspiration to strike!

Kentucky Horse Park

 Last week we had a chance to visit the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, an hour away. Toby was even able to join us, and thanks to some free passes, it was very affordable!

 

 Noah, Ellie, and Dan had a great time riding the ponies...

 ...whereas Abi and Anna ventured out on a 45-minute trail ride - their first time!

 

Caleb made do with a little bronze donkey - it was more his speed.

 

There was a trolley tour that took you all over the park that was actually rather helpful... 

 

 

...and a fun Kids' Barn, where the kids even got to brush one of the horses (for those who felt brave enough).

 This is Ollie, a Norweigen Fjord horse. He's pretty, and he's got seriously cool hair.

They even had, on display, some of the jumps that they've used in shows and competition. These two chairs would hold one of the jumps (it took some explaining that not even the horses could jump over the chairs!

In one of the museums (there are a few, and they are thorough!), they had a blue screen where you could pretend to ride some show horses...

My cowboys.

Old Pop

Last Saturday, we received news that Toby's paternal grandfather, Pop, had passed away.
This was not unexpected - he was 96 years old and shutting down. We had even had a conversation with Toby's dad earlier in the day about how Pop was no longer eating or drinking or even really conscious. So, though we were expecting it, there is still a sadness and finality that comes with it.

Unfortunately, the kids didn't really know "Old Pop" (to distinguish from "Pop", which is Toby's dad) very well. Some of the kids had never met him at all, whereas others haven't really seen him in years. In fact, I think Ellie got confused about who we were talking about and started sobbing - it took some time to confirm that everyone she knew was alive and well, and she didn't know the man we were talking about.

The way our family works through grief is to tell stories, so the kids enjoyed hearing some stories about this man who lived through so many interesting times and places. The kids' favorite was the story about when a lion at the zoo cocked its leg and peed all over Pop's trousers. What kid wouldn't love a story about an adult getting peed on?

If you're so inclined, keep the Gayner family in your prayers. While my kids may not remember, there are many others who do, many who will miss him. We continue to take comfort in the Word:

Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning   Psalm 30:5b

The Lord builds up Jerusalem; he gathers the outcasts of Israel.  He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. He determines the number of the stars; he gives to all of them their names.
Psalm 147:2-4

Back on the needles

It's been a while since I've shared anything I've made, and there is a very simple reason for that - I haven't been making much. I had knitted some washcloths to give to friends before we moved, that's been about all I'd been able to managed the past couple of months, with the packing and moving and unpacking.
I've recently gotten back into the needle swing and started on a cardigan for Abigail. It's a pattern I've used several times before (projects here, here, and here), and I'm about halfway done the body. I should be able to finish it in time for her to wear it as the weather cools.
The funny thing is, Abi's always really excited about my making things for her, but she's usually not always that interested in wearing what I've made. Glutton for punishment that I am, I keep making things for her, thinking that "finally, this she'll love!". (I think she likes that hats and "accessories", rather than the clothing.)
I suspect that we continue to do this little dance because at the end of the day, I love the challenge of finding what she really likes, and she loves the idea that I'm making something special for her.
I'm also comforted by the knowledge that there are two other girls here that are not quite as particular, waiting to snap up some of Mommy's hand knits (weird, I know). So, on we knit - me enjoying the process, and my girls enjoying either the theory or the finished product. It all comes right in the end, just so long as no one throws it in the dryer...

Learning the humble

It was kind of a rough week, last week. You ever have one of  those weeks, the kind that seem to be a big dose of humility fertilizer? For instance:

• I did something to my back - not really bad, but bad enough to bring me up short when I twist or bend, enough to be a regular niggle.
• We've had teething kids, and with teething kids comes clinginess and horrible diaper experiences. Fun for the whole family.
• One night, I started to walk down to the basement, but somehow manage to slide halfway down on my butt, gaining a few colorful new bruises along the way. It was mainly funny, but rather painful. Every time I thought about the painful, I could just picture how funny I must have looked, surfing down the stairs, and I got the giggles again. It was so loud, too, that Abi came running downstairs to see what had happened. It's a rather humbling to have your 11-year-old escort you to bed.
• I somehow manage to overfill the reservoir in the coffee pot, not a few drops, but so that it overflows all over the counter. At this point, there was nothing else for it but to laugh. And mop up.

It's good to be reminded that I am I finite person with questionable depth perception and a tendency toward colorful bruises; it helps keep my tendency toward smugness in check. Here's hoping some of my ongoing lessons in humility are a little less painful this week.