Edie Wadsworth

2010 Dance Recital

June 2, 2010 by Edie Wadsworth 27 Comments

The dance recital was a three day affair of girls and hairspray and lip gloss and pirouettes and giggles.

It really makes me wish I had been learning to dance when I was young instead of sporting a mullet and playing short stop. But let’s let bygones be bygones and hope I don’t turn into a ‘toddlers and tiaras’ mom.

The girls had a ball.

Their mommas (including Ms. Patty and Ms. Denise–whose daughters, Lexi and Tessa are fantastic dancers) had lots of time to fetch drinks and tights and random hair paraphernalia.

The dress rehearsal lasted all day so I brought my knitting and my book and my laptop.

I did not knit or read or surf the net.

Instead I just watched and enjoyed my girls enjoying themselves.

They were in a combined 9 dances. That’s a lot of costumes to keep straight.

I’ve told them from the beginning that if they want to do the other ‘fun’ dances, they have to keep taking ballet.

Finally, this year, they love ballet too.

We had several friends come watch including Ms. Kimmie, Anna, Sue, and Morgan.

It made the girls’ day to see their faithful supporters.

After an exhausting 3 days of pictures, rehearsal and recital, my girls were devastated when it was over and can’t wait ’til next year.

I’m the only one who seems to need a break.

This is a snippet of their Irish dance which they performed with the adult and teens Irish class. It was absolutely stunning onstage. It makes me wanna get up and clog or something.

And sometimes I do.

Be very afraid.

And you must watch this adorable dance to the Chipettes’ Single Ladies! Emme rocks a back handspring!

Happy 20th Birthday Taylor!

May 29, 2010 by Edie Wadsworth 14 Comments

Those of you who’ve been following this blog for a long time know that my son Taylor graduated from high school last year. I chronicled that journey with him here and am so glad to have the memories recorded. I wrote about his band The Verity and about his antics with Andrew and even about my heartbreak as he left.

But time just marches on, doesn’t it? We try to slow down the years and capture the moments but they seem impossible to hold onto.

And today, he turns 20 and has finished his first year of college! I’m so happy to have him home even if it will be brief —–and I am so proud of him. He’s my firstborn—the compliant and helpful one, the overachieving uber talented one. And I am continually amazed at the fact that no matter how old he gets, he’ll always be my Taylor, my rock, my kind hearted little boy with a smile a mile wide.

Happy Birthday Tay!

Love you.

Mom

Strawberry Cake Recipe aka The best cake in the whole entire world!

May 27, 2010 by Edie Wadsworth 36 Comments

As most of you know, I’m remodeling my new kitchen. Since my other house hasn’t sold, I left a LOT of my stuff in the old house so I don’t have to move it twice. When I needed to make a cake for a dear friends’ birthday, I lamented the fact that my cake decorating supplies were still in my turquoise kitchen. So, I improvised and as it turns out, I think this is the best cake I have ever made. I know I know, you’re feeling like I’ve ditched mocha cake for the tantalizing seduction of fresh strawberries. Emme thinks it’s just because I’m on this high protein diet that I think it’s so good. What does she know? She’s only 9 and likes Justin Biebers’ music.

Never mind the fact that I can be a little dramatic. This is without a doubt the best strawberry cake recipe I’ve ever made. Period.

Here’s what I did. I baked a white boxed cake in two 9 inch pans. I baked those per box directions. Then I mixed 3 sticks of butter with one stick of Land O’Lakes margarine. Do not, under any circumstances, substitute just any ole margarine. You must use Land O’ Lakes and if you don’t, I can’t be held responsible if you don’t think this is the best cake you’ve ever eaten. Next, add 2 pounds plus 2 cups of powdered sugar and 2 T. of milk. Add the sugar slowly and mix as you go. Alternate the milk so that you don’t end up with powdered sugar all over your face. Then—and here’s the key to the perfection—-add 1/2 cup of homeade strawberry freezer jam. If you don’t have HSFJ then you must make some. Strawberries should still be fresh and easy to get and just follow the directions on the sure-jell box to make the jam. Besides being the best jam you’ve ever eaten and the best cake you’ve ever eaten, your sister will offer to keep your kids for the weekend just for a jar of the stuff. I promise.

Now, add the jam to your icing along with a pinch of salt. Take a deep breath and then taste it. Breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth. Just relax. You’re not dreaming. It really tastes that good. Now, spread this fluffy dream of heavenly perfection onto your cake, add a layer of fresh strawberries between the layers, and then have your cute little 9 year old make strawberry flowers for you. If you’re feeling particularly nostalgic about your 4th grade memories, you can pipe LYLAS onto the cake using a ziploc bag.

And that, my friends, is how I made the best tasting cake in the whole entire world without my cake decorating supplies.

p.s. I went to all this trouble to write this post for you stat because I want you to have time to make it for Memorial day—and I really do LYLAS!

(love ya like a sister)

pss. I’ve lost almost ten pounds on the Ideal Protein Diet. I’m taking the weekend off for Memorial Day and have every intention of making this cake to eat all by myself for my family. I ate a small sliver of it today and almost hyperventilated. It will not disappoint.

psss. I know, 2 posts in one day. Don’t faint but that’s how urgent it is that you make this cake.

Deeds not Creeds?

May 26, 2010 by Edie Wadsworth 67 Comments

The girls and I were studying the reformation in history.

I could hardly believe it when I went to my local library to check out some books on Martin Luther and was not able to find even one book on Martin Luther or the reformation in the junior section of our library. Not one. Then I went to my local christian bookstore and asked if they had any books on Martin Luther.

The worker said quizzically to me, “No, I don’t think we have any books on Martin Luther King?”

I reply, “Ummm, no, I mean Martin Luther, the 16th century reformer who is at least partially responsible for all the churches in this town save one. Yeah, that guy.”

I didn’t really say that but I wanted to. And no, they didn’t have any books on or by Martin Luther either. Not one single solitary book.

But they had shelves and shelves and shelves of books on every possible topic and fad that has ever passed through modern christianity: how to be a better wife, how to get your best life now, how to be more purpose driven, how to be financially successful and even books on how to improve your *intimacies*.

The whole ordeal made me think of the famous Rick Warren quote:

The first reformation of the church 500 years ago was about beliefs. This one is gonna be about behavior. The first one was about creeds. This one is going to be about deeds. It is not going to be about what does the church believes but about what the church is doing.

The problem I have with that quote and with the whole movement in general is that christianity is not about behavior. It is about faith.

Christ did not come to make us more civil or successful or more socially responsible or even to make us better husbands and wives.

He came to give us life.

Our problem is not that we do bad things.

Our problem is that we are dead in our trespasses and sin.

And when we center our religion around ‘deeds not creeds’, then we center our religion around ourselves—-what we do , how we act, how we live. And that is no different than any other modern religion that tries to appease God by its’ good behavior. Jesus gave us the simple way to evangelize and it has never been about our deeds. He said, “If I be lifted up, I will draw all men unto Me.”

Creeds are crucial. What the church believes is everything.

The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost of sinners, Jesus Christ might display His perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life.” I Tim. 1: 15,16.

St. Paul was an apostle with a creed. “I have received mercy so that Christ might display to the world His perfect patience, that He could work faith even in someone like me.” Christ shows the world His love by saving us—right where we are—in our dreadful condition—-as an example to those who would believe. He saves us and uses us in spite of our deeds, not because of them. The good works that flow from our life in Christ are those things we do in service to our neighbor but they should never be the focus of our attention nor the subject of our reform.

I lived for many years in a belief system that seemed to value behavior above all else. It drove me to despair. Christ has come to rescue us from ourselves. And if we’re brutally honest, we must throw in the white flag of surrender. We are nothing but poor miserable sinners in desperate need of the life-giving words of forgiveness. All our deeds (even our righteousnesses) are like filthy rags.

We need deeds, to be sure—but only those of Christ. His perfect life, His perfect death, His perfect atonement on our behalf.

Lord save us from our unbelief. Guard our hearts against trusting in ourselves. And reform us with Your perfect deed of redemption.

Guess what we did this weekend?

May 24, 2010 by Edie Wadsworth 7 Comments

~We bought some training skis (that are connected together and require an adult to hold the other end of the rope) and Emme got up on her 2nd try. I yelled and squealed like a school girl. Steve took Taylor and his friends (on the regular skis) and everyone had a blast.

~We took some lemon bars over to our new neighbors and got a peek into their wonderful place. She has an unbelievable gourmet kitchen and some of the exact same cookware and bowls that I have. She’s also working on a DIY glass mosaic table top on her amazing screened-in back porch that overlooks the lake. I think she’s my new BFF. Our neighbors’ on the other side have this awesome double decker dock with a diving board and a rope swing. We happen to know these sweet people because he was the OB doctor who delivered Elea. Our kids are in heaven!

~And last but not least, we went to our friend Lacey’s graduation party. Her dear mom, Kimmie, was our nanny when the girls were little and became a dear friend of our family. We love them all and were thrilled to spend some time together. Congratulations Lacey!

~And now, it’s Monday morning and my mom is headed over to help me test the girls. We’re using the California Achievement Tests for the 2nd year in a row. I’m ambivalent about testing them for a whole host of reasons but we’re doing it and for some reason, they actually like taking the tests.

~We then have a busy week preparing for dance recital on Saturday. The girls are in ballet, jazz, irish, tap, lyrical and hip hop. It should be a long and wonderful week.

Hope your weekend was lovely!

A numbered list of minutiae

May 20, 2010 by Edie Wadsworth 23 Comments

1. By day, I’ve been teaching my girls and then traipsing to dance classes and then over to the old house to get it ready to sell. I love that house. I will always love that house. It’s like visiting an old friend—who’s wearing a really cool turquoise dress. By night, the kids have enjoyed some adventure swimming.

2. My new kitchen installation has been delayed a bit but is set to go in on June 1st.

3. Taylor’s home from college and is enjoying lake life with his friends. Caiti wrote me the most endearing card for Mother’s Day–that I keep by my night stand and read over and over.

4. I’m slowly but surely adjusting to my new life. There are so many things to love. Soon I hope to do some fun projects around this place. For now, it’s seems mammoth enough to grocery shop and make dinner and do laundry (and school and sell a house and design a kitchen, etc etc etc)

5. The girls and I are in the middle of book 6 of the Harry Potter series. I’ve said it before but I am deeply indebted to Jo Rowling.

6. I’ve been listening to lots of CD’s from the homeschool conference and oh my word—–such good stuff. I’ve learned so much about my kinesthetic learner from Stephen Guffanti. I’m ordering his book soon, “Does my Child Really Have ADHD.”

7. I’m tempted to attend the CCLE conference in June. Gene Veith will be there and the topics look fantastic. I could so be a conference junkie.

8. I’m reading A Little Book on Joy by Matt Harrison. What a fantastic read—very joy inducing!

9. I’ve been listening to an amazing 2 hour bible study on Leviticus (from the Issues Etc 24) and it may be one of the best bible studies I’ve ever listened to. Who knew that Leviticus was so chocked full of goodies.

10. As our school year winds down, I’m debating our summer plans. How much time should we take off if any? I like the idea of summer vacation but shouldn’t it be a couple of weeks long instead of a couple of months? Don’t we now live in constant summer vacation at this lake house? What camps should we sign up for? What books should we read? Can we master the math facts and have fun doing it? After listening to Andrew Pudewa‘s talk on mastery learning, I realize that we’re conditioned to learn things and then forget them. I spent 20 years in school doing that and I hope I can create a different paradigm for my kids.

11. I apologize to those of you who have emailed me that I haven’t answered yet. I’m not on my A game but I’m trying catch up. Some of you are trying to decide about homeschooling for next year and you’re torn about what to do. Here’s my 2 cents. I’ve never done anything in my life (including medical school) that has so changed me and challenged me as homeschooling. I am profoundly thankful for the opportunity to do it and I am learning everyday, often by my mistakes. To do it right, you must lead by example and my example setting is so incredibly flawed. I am more in tune with my children than ever, which can sometimes be disturbing. Why? Because when you see them clearly day in and day out, you see your own struggles and sin manifested in them. It’s like looking in the mirror and seeing yourself for what you really are. But just like with our spiritual life, the redemption is sweet. We fail miserably and we forgive and start over the next day. It’s all at once beautiful and tragic and profound. I say, if you’re pondering and thinking and researching about it, just do it. You won’t regret it.

12. Lastly, I’ve been pondering boy names. I don’t know why. No, I’m not pregnant. Let me repeat, as much as Steve and I would like more kids, it’s probably not possible and I’m NOT PREGNANT. However, if I were, I think I’d name him James Elijah Wadsworth. James: after my daddy. Elijah: after Elijah the prophet Wadsworth: after his daddy. And his nickname would be Jack after C.S. Lewis (whose nickname was Jack). His initials would be JEW and Christ was a Jew, ya know.

So there. That’s my numbered list.

And if anyone has seen my mojo, I’d really like to get it back please. This barely surviving business is for the birds.

Love ya and thanks for all your well wishes and your ‘for goodness sakes would you blog something’ remarks!