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life{in}grace

live with more presence, passion, & purpose

Edie Wadsworth

The Stuff of Dreams……

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I’ve been tagged by Keli, so I’m supposed to share 7 things about myself and then tag 7 others.  I’m terrible at following rules and very technically challenged so forgive my ‘butcherin’  of this ‘taggin’ .  

Without further adieu,  I give you 7 things from my dreams:  I start my dreamy day in ‘my’
covered outdoor room with a fireplace,  cozy outdoor furniture,  lots of outdoor lamps,  and me…cozied up with my favorite quilt(cause it’s October…..in my dream) and some perfectly brewed coffee (’cause it’s 7a),  in my flannels,  reading C.S. Lewis……’cause it’s my dream,  and he’s my favorite.   Then there’s this……
‘my’ sub-zero frig that is graciously hosting my half and half,  and my favorite sparkling wine Moscato D’Asti,  and yummy italian soup leftovers……’cause my dreams always have good food.

Then there’s ‘my’ collection of this (in my dream,  of course)…..
Beautiful white ironstone.    I drink my coffee,  pour my half and half and serve my soup…..all from this gorgeous collection.     In my dream,  I then take my hard-working,  stock-market watching  husband to dinner for his birthday in this…….
‘my’ alpine white BMW with khaki leather seats and GPS and a sun roof and built in ipod converter……’cause remember it’s October,  the 22nd to be exact…..and that’s macdaddy’s birthday.    I take pictures of him with ‘my’ handy-dandy- Nikon D300.   The pictures are beautiful and crisp and I post them on my blog…..’cause he’s dreamy like that,  and I knew ya’ll would all want to see.
He tells me thanks for the birthday dinner but it was nothing compared to all the yummy meals I cook for him on ‘my’ Viking Stove with six gas burners and a built in grill.   He says Ruth’s Chris doesn’t hold a candle to me….that me and my Viking Stove have got it goin’ on….everyday, not just on birthdays and not just in my dreams.
After dinner,  we dance in ‘my’  kitchen and make more coffee and talk about kids and stocks and theology and Dave Ramsey’s plan for financial freedom,  which is when I abruptly wake up from my dream.   
And realize that I am, in fact, living the American dream,  and I am sooooo grateful….for all the beautiful things and people in my life and in my dreams.
Now,  I tag the following people:   
Kelly at 5onawhim
Jessica at thesearethedays
Enjoy your day and your dreams!

Sunday grace……..

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There are so many things to love about this guy.   He’s rugged, funny,  smart,   loves football and fishing and good scotch,  can name nearly every tree in nature,  reads theology books,  can water ski and snow ski like a pro,  likes classical music and Pearl Jam,  and  occasionally loses his temper.   He’s edgy like that sometimes…..in a masculine,  Jesus-and-the-money-changers sort of a way.   He has huge biceps and makes you feel like he’d crush anyone who tried to hurt you…….all the things that make a girl go weak in the knees. 

  Yesterday,  he saw our children and there friends throwing small matchbox cars in the pool.   It was right after the Vols got beat so he was already a little ‘frustrated’,  let’s say.   He yelled…… they cried……I was bewildered.   Today, as we pulled into the church parking lot,  he put his right hand on my shoulder and gave me a little touch of affection.  He asked the girls if they remembered the pool incident and they, of course,  did.    He told them that he was wrong to lose his temper and asked if we would forgive him.    Elea said,  “Yes,  daddy,  I forgive you.”   The exchange was powerful.   I can’t think of a better way to teach forgiveness to your children. The historic liturgy of the church is beautiful on this subject,  and thank God we say and  hear these words every Sunday;  


“Lord we confess that we are by nature sinful and unclean and have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed by what we have done and by what we have left undone.   We have not loved you with our whole heart and we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.   We justly deserve your present and eternal punishment.   For the sake of Your son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us.  Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in Your will and walk in Your ways……Almighty God in His mercy has given His son to die for you and for His sake forgives you all your sins.”   

Now, that is comfort.   We fail.   We screw up.   We lose our tempers,  get angry…. and He stands there waiting…..to forgive.   It is a powerful force in any relationship,  but especially in families. To forgive and be forgiven,  what a gift from God!    I am thankful for  a man who is passionate enough to get angry and man enough to ask for forgiveness.   He also  just so happens to able to identify nearly every bird flying overhead  and he can wind the bobbin on my sewing machine!   I’m starting to feel so inadequate!

Midday Bookclub marches on………

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This group of women is smart,  talented,  inspiring,   and just plain fun to be around.   Thus,  if you like to read classical literature….. and like to learn and be challenged……and like to be surrounded by strong,  opinionated,  sweet ladies…..then you should join us.    And if we’re too far away for you,  then maybe you could start your own classical book club.   Go here to learn how we got started and how we plan our reading.

So,  if the scintillating company above doesn’t tempt you to want to join us,   then this…..
and this……

and this…….
will.   These ladies know how to make some good food.   We read Uncle Toms’ Cabin this month…which is now one of most most favored books.  Tina and Jeannie provided the most wonderful Southern fixins to which we all say a hardy ‘thanks ya’ll’.    I regret to say that I didn’t eat near as much as I had intended because I was trying to be a good moderator/hostess.    Our next book is Madame Bovary if you want to read along with us.   Our new bookclub blog would be a great place for you to have ‘discussions’  with us even if you can’t join us.    You can be in our ‘virtual’ bookclub.   We’ll try to figure out how to send you some virtual snacks…..’cause that’s half the fun.    Since our October read is Madame Bovary my mind is reeling with what wonderful french culinary creations we can come up with for our next meeting.   You won’t want to miss it!

Maiden Voyage……

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Dedicated to parents of teenagers with newly begotten drivers’ licenses:

Dear Lord,  lead us towards those we are waiting for,  those who are waiting for us!
May all our movements,  all their movements,  be guided by your Light….
and transfigured by your joy.    Lonely and tired,  crushed by the separations…
and sorrows of earth,  we feel the need of calling to you and of pleading for the 
protection of your wings…..
Remember the weak,  you who are strong–

and bring us back together in due time…..
that we may again enjoy the fellowship we have together in You…
Lord, in Your mercy,   here our prayers.

Congratulations Caiti on passing your test and on increasing the fervency of your mothers’ prayer life!   

Why we memorize…………

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The following excerpt is taken from a paper by Andrew Pudewa called “Linguistic Development through Poetry Memorization”.  This part of our homeschool day where we memorize poems, scripture, catechisms, etc.  is one of my favorites.   It simply amazes me how much kids excel at memory work.   I’ve included a video of my girls reciting “The Creation” and I hope it inspires you  and your children to commit something beautiful to memory.

“Young children will naturally memorize language patterns from their cultural environment.  If teachers and parents don’t provide high quality models,  kids will automatically internalize and memorize random stuff from their environment–mainly TV advertisements and songs on the radio,  most of which we would not find to be ‘reliably correct and sophisticated’.   A child’s instinctive desire to memorize is intrinsic to language aquisition,  yet for the most part we ignore it,  or allow it to happen so haphazardly that we miss out on one of the greatest opportunities to build sophisticated language patterns.   Poetry has long served a critical role in the transmission of culture, as it tends to convey the “rhyme and reason”  of life in a concentrated and memorable form.   But is we don’t provide the content and opportunity for organized memorization,  kids will let popular culture be their teacher.  In other words,  if we don’t provide them with Bellox,  Stevenson,  and Rossetti, they’ll memorize McDonald’s commercials and Snoop Doggy Dog rap lines.   Memorization is not only natural for young children,   it is culturally powerful and educationally essential.”


Find more videos like this on The Wittenberg Trail

Fall Decorating 101…….

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Start by baking some pumpkin bread (use your favorite pumpkin bread recipe) and then add one cup of butterscotch chips per loaf of bread.  It’s to die for….and then your house smells nice and ‘fall-like’ while you decorate……
Recruit your small children to paint pumpkins for you using apples…..
and flour sacks and plenty of creativity……
Jazz up your breakfast table with black and orange……
Put your daughter’s witch hat from last year on a pretty white pumpkin……

And if you don’t have a pretty white pumpkin…..spray paint one white and add some spook.   Just a ‘peek-a-BOO’ into our fall fun.  More to come soon!   For other great festive halloween ideas,  go the Kimba’s sight.  This post is part of her fall halloween party and there are many more great ideas to peek in on.   For now,  we’re off to paint some birds and ferns black…..oh,  and to do some latin and memory work,   of course.