I know it’s been a while since I’ve last written, and mostly I’ve been holding off until I could share the good news: Jake has an official job offer! We are elated and grateful. We’re waiting on a few more things before we share the details, but he loves the company and the people he’ll be working with, and he’s excited about what he’ll be doing. It will involve a bit of travel, so we continue to ask your prayers as we get ready to adjust to it all!

And, in writing news, I have another article published in HERLIFE magazine’s August issue. You can read it here. I really enjoyed speaking to these winemakers and learning more about their artistic process — it was such a pleasure!

We celebrated Jake’s job offer in style (steak and champagne). It felt good to rejoice together over something after so many months of navigating the unknown.

And — more to celebrate! My grandparents had their 60th wedding anniversary at the beginning of August. They had a party to mark the momentous milestone of a Diamond anniversary. It was a beautiful event full of music and laughter — so many people showed up to show their support. Their steadfast example of love and sacrifice blesses everyone around them, and the celebration was a testament to that.

Michael is a joy, with hilarious one-liners and profound thoughts that come from the most random moments. It’s a such delight to be his mom. He is finally successfully weaned from using his pacifier at night, too. We got him a weighted dino plushy as a replacement comfort item, and Michael promptly named him “Twinkle” and loves him. He’s also beginning to show great interest in numbers: we have a game where I hold up fingers on one hand, then fingers on the other, and he counts them separately then together: “two on this hand, and two on this hand, and one-two-three-four on both!” It’s a way I’ve snuck in some basic addition skills.

Some recent quotes:

Jake: You’re not as light as you used to be.

Michael: That’s because I’m standing in the shade!

Michael: I’m gonna play at Grandma and Grandpa’s today for SIX MINUTES!! (His go-to “biggest” number is 6)

We were listening to the theological podcast Lord of Spirits….Michael picks up on the best part…

“Mom, we’re on the ROAD to HELL??”

As Jake works on getting Bea down for a nap:

Michael: Mama, does dad need help? I think he needs your help.

And as the screaming continues…

Michael: “….maybe you need THREE people…”

When we introduced him to VeggieTales for the first time a few weeks ago:

“Wait…fruit doesn’t have EYES…”

And, my little 3 year old introvert, after a very busy weekend:

“I want to stay in my house forever”

Beatrice continues to be a force to be reckoned with: she holds her own against her brother and is absolutely fearless. She’s taken to climbing everything she can, including ladders and kitchen tables. Her favorite thing to do is play with shoes (and hide them around the house). No one can make her giggle like her big brother does. Her verbal skills have exploded recently too: words now include: shoes, hat, ball, no, yeah, grandma, grandpa, juice, kitty, and more.

My brother is home for a little bit before he begins graduate school for his PhD — it’s been so great for the kids to have extra time with Uncle Jon (and I love it too). Michael especially loves telling his godfather alllllllll about each and every one of his trains.

I got my knitting mojo back recently after falling into a bit of a slump. I made two different hats for babies at church, and I’m still working on a handful of my languishing WIPs during the quiet evenings. Writing takes a lot of creative energy, so I haven’t had as much bandwidth for other crafts.

I’ve been doing a lot of writing — both speculative fiction and articles/journalism — and it’s been lovely. I really enjoy working with words, and rediscovering my passion for writing in the midst of a rather stressful time has been rejuvenating. I’m trying to find the balance between mothering and making, and how my writing fits into both.

One of the best things writing has been teaching me recently is delayed gratification. In the age of being able to share everything with the internet in the blink of an eye, making things (whether knitted or spun or sewn or written) is counter cultural. Making takes time, as all good things do. When I make things with yarn I can share pretty pictures of each step, but it’s a bit different with writing.

When I write something, I have to return to edit and polish it (sometimes multiple times). Then I have to wait for its publication before sharing. Many of the things I’m working on right now won’t be shared with the general public for a few months.

So, I’m constantly learning to sit with the quiet slowness of the making process. It’s a lesson that’s been super applicable to every area of our lives right now, specifically in the job search process and parenting. Sometimes, things are quiet and slow, or there isn’t much visible progress. But growth is often quiet, and in tiny increments that can’t be seen with our eyes.

So glory to God for growth, however small, and glory to God for His goodness in both times of trials and celebrations.