Hi friends. I am — ✨ Emerging from newborn hibernation ✨(Well, kinda.)
Happy 2024!
My baby boy is four months old and that feels somewhat like highway robbery. I’m not quite sure why time is allowed to pass so quickly. I packed up his newborn and one to three month clothing the other day and found myself blubbering over tiny hats and socks. Mothering is full of celebration and mourning. Celebrating my little one’s new skills and reached milestones while mourning the little thing he was what seems like just a few blinks ago. I’m equally ablaze to find out who is he going to be all while begging time not to take my baby away. Oh, to be a mother.
While begging time to slow, this has been the first winter I haven’t wanted it to hurry out the door and make room for spring. I have found this winter to be homey —relishing in this season. I have been praying for snow and it sure was answered. We were gifted the most beautiful snowfall I’ve seen in Tennessee.
What I’ve been reading:
— I can’t tell y’all how much I delight in & . They are doing the Lord’s work with their writing. I’ve gathered so many fortunate and fitting resources from them — While also finding myself swept away in inspiration and encouragement from their work. Here’s a sweet letter from them that I frequently return to. I recently finished reading Pride & Prejudice for the first time. Not sure how I made it this far without having read it but it was well worth the wait. The first thing I told my husband after I read it was, “Why was I wasting my time reading twilight in my tweens?” Jane Austen is unparalleled.
I’m currently reading my way through Don Quixote using Susan Wise Bauer’s classical reading method she explains in the The Well-Educated Mind: A Guide to the Classical Education You Never Had. I feel blessed for having been exposed to Susan’s work. I have been seeking how to read better. Not in the sense of reading quicker but learning to digest and brood over words. Susan’s work has been a great aid.
“The clever reader who is capable of reading between these lines what does not stand written in them, but is nevertheless implied, will be able to form some conception.” — Goethe
Additionally, I’ve been reading through the Catechism in a year via the Hallow app. I cannot advocate for this enough.
Finally, a lovely new read from
full of ideas and a true fountain of how to celebrate the faith more and live liturgically. This issue is about feast days and it’s a glorious one.Other tiny things —
My husband and I have been blueprinting our 2024 garden and we’re quite thrilled. Along with the standard backyard vegetables, I placing potted dahlias all around our deck and garden. I’m currently in the delicate process of picking out my tubers. Which I have found to be one of the most difficult tasks that I’ve ever done — I’ve learned that I’m terribly indecisive when it comes to dahlias. Far too many colors and textures to choose.
My husband has started our garden compost and while it won’t be ready anytime soon, there is a joy to be found in feeding it. I’m thinking of naming it in the same way you name a sourdough started. Edith? Dorothy? Ethel? I’m open to suggestions.
Ash Wednesday falls on St. Valentine’s Day this year. My husband declared, “It’s a date!” I have begun ruminating on my Lenten sacrifice this year while gathering up vegetarian recipes for Fridays.
I hope this season is treating you well. Looking forward to writing another letter to you soon. Happy wintering 🕯️God bless you!
“If we make every effort to avoid death of the body, still more should it be our endeavor to avoid death of the soul. There is no obstacle for a man who wants to be saved other than negligence and laziness of soul.” — Saint Anthony the Great
Congratulations on your little one :) At the moment our oldest is sitting in a university class (and took her teen brother along to audit today), yet I can still clearly remember the early days that you are living through just now, and how quickly they pass. It's a wonderful time to get some reading done and using Susan's guide is quite the deep dive into classic literature. Thanks for the mention - I hope that Peco and my writings will continue offer encouragement and inspiration:)
Love this Jak! I was a follower on Instagram when you decided to leave and take to Substack instead. Now I have my own little cherub (2.5 month old Daisy🥰), married, and dreaming of our own garden one day. Thank you for this cozy corner of the internet and for inviting God there. Hope you write something again soon!