So...

We're participating in Self-Stitched September.

How about you?

{This Moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, visit Soulemama to leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

Handmade Days

One of the very few advantages of having a husband that travels? LOTS of knitting time.

My neice's birthday party is on September 3, and I've had a February Baby Sweater almost finished for her since May. I pulled it out to finish up that second sleeve and I realized that if I finished that one and gave it to her it would probably only fit her until December, if that. So I made the most rational decision and cast on for a new one Friday night. By Tuesday I had this:

I can't say enough how much I love the February Baby Sweater. It's a quick knit that looks complicated but is really easy, and it always turns out well. This is my third time through the pattern, twice for the baby size and once for myself. Now I have the itch to knit myself another one...

I also made some good progress on my first shawl. I'm a few rows into the third section of the pattern. I'm really enjoying this knit.

Next up? I'm not sure. It really should be the Christmas scarf for my Mother-in-law or Ender's mittens, but I think I'm leaning toward Ender's requested sweater... we'll see.

On My Knees

He is his father's son.

Their emotions play out in identical patterns, 26 years apart.

It wasn't so long ago that I was able to redirect an angry toddler with a few words and a point in a new direction.

But now that he is older the emotions are bigger, as is the child, and it's so easy for it to explode into a big mess that falls on everyone. There are tears and rage and cries of "not fair" and I sit with a boy that is sad and angry and thinks he's alone.

He cannot see that we walk with him, that we are sad too, that we wish Daddy was home just as much as he does. I try to remember that these few weeks that seem to move slowly to me seem not to move at all for him.

I find myself quite continually on my knees for this child. While I pray for the lessons I know my son needs to learn, I grow more and more aware of the lesson God lays before me:

I am still shaping you on this journey, just as I shape him.

Sometimes I find myself wondering where that balance is: parenting is supposed to be about the formation of our children, but there are times where it seems like it is so much more about my own formation.

*****

Ann Voskamp invites us to consider prayerful parenting this week. For more posts on this topic, visit Holy Experience:

Daybook

Outside my window... the late night noises that usually mean peace, but right now? Loneliness.

I am listening to... the Wicked soundtrack. We saw the musical on Broadway a few weeks ago and I have had the music in my head ever since.

I am wearing... A black tea-length skirt with white polka dots and a black peasant blouse. Bare feet to beat the heat, even at this time of night.

I am thankful for... a certain brother-in-law of mine who has found time in his busy schedule to come and wrestle with the boys when they're particularly missing Daddy.

I am thinking... about the work we have around the house in the next week before the fall schedule starts. The goal is to get a few key areas re-organized so they'll function a little better for us in the coming months.

I am reading... The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and another time through Knitting Around by Elizabeth Zimmermann.

I am creating... mittens (still in need of thumbs and lining), a baby sweater (an inch from the end of the body, then sleeves), and the shawl KAL (almost done with step 2, almost into step 3!). I'm in a finishing mood now, so I'll try to finish the mittens and and baby sweater this week, and maybe one of the socks in progress.

Always learning... We finished up learning about continents and oceans last week and this week we're starting to learn about the people and animals in Africa.

Around the house... the closets are all calling out for some attention again, so that is first up this week. After that? Well, I'd *really* like to get a new coat of paint on the studio walls, but we'll see if that happens or not.

I am planning... the next few math blocks. I love planning games for Ender.

I am hoping... for continued peace in the house while we wait for Daddy to come home to us.

One of my favorite things... after 2 weeks of my husband working out of state? Skype. It brings Daddy "home" to us every night.

A few plans for the rest of the week... I will be working a little here and there, but otherwise we're tidying the house, learning a lot and doing little things to keep little boys happy while Daddy is gone.