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3 Reasons You Should Still Build a Family Library (in a digital, konmari world)

January 26, 2016 by Edie Wadsworth 14 Comments

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I just konmari’d my closet so trust me when I say, I dig the current trend for less clutter and more organization. I’ll take your advice on the underpants, but easy on my books, sister. (I guess not ALL of them spark joy, but most of them do!)

I have a confession to make: I read a lot last year but it wasn’t the satisfying kind of reading I’ve done in the past.

I was writing a book and sharing about my new passion so I read mostly for utility. Lot of books on how to write memoir and then whole memoirs or rereading parts of pieces of great memoirs. Then I read stacks and stacks of books on essential oils because not since medical school has anything so intrigued me and amazed me like these little drops of God’s making, so I had to learn more.

I read voraciously. I read health books, business books, then more memoirs.

It was wonderful and I learned SO much but I missed reading just for the sake of reading. I don’t think I read one whole CS Lewis book all year. (a long sad sigh) I think that’s the first time in ten years. I didn’t read a whole Chesterton book. I didn’t read many novels. And I want to change that. So, one of my goals this year is to broaden my reading again and to fight for reading in my own life and in the lives of those I meet. So here are my reasons for why you should still build a family library in a digital and minimal and kon-mari organizing age.

1. Reading is THE PERFECT antidote to our life of screens

I love screens and then I loathe them. I make my living by them. I wrote my book on one. I have found my dearest friends from them. I can serve my neighbor with them. But then I see how insidious they are and then I want to throw them all in the lake.

They change our mood. They shorten our attention spans. They change our brain chemistry. They change everything.

Which is also why I don’t read many ebooks. I like to hold my books in my hand, carry them around with me, dog ear them, write in them, spill coffee on them. Know exactly where I am in the book. And I want my kids to see me reading and not to have to guess whether I’m just surfing the net.

2. Physical books holding space in our homes sends a message

My older kids come home and inevitably shop from the home library. They look to see what’s new or what’s old that they forgot about. They borrow books. Or they get inspired by our book collection to make their own book collection. I probably won’t leave a huge pile of money to my kids but I want to leave them a legacy of reading good books.

Good books were my path out of poverty and a family history of violence and addiction. Good books changed everything for me. I held onto those words for dear life. And I want my kids to know those same words and to know the power of transformation that comes from reading.

3. Christians will always be people of the Word

God spoke life into being out of nothing. He created His people and then He gave them a book. A book of life, where He would share His love. And we learn to follow Him by listening to His words. Reading good books trains us on how to be good disciples. His book first, then other great books.

And then mystery of all mystery—the WORD became flesh and dwelt among us.

This Word changes everything. We must remain hearers of His good news.

***

So, what about you?

Are you struggling with the same thing? Are you tired of screens and scrolling?

Let’s break out some actual books, my dears! I’ll be giving my 2016 list later in the week!

p.s. Some books that remind us of the great power of books and the danger of not reading them:

Amusing Ourselves to Death, by Neil Postman

Imagination Redeemed, Gene Veith

The Medium is the Message, Marshall McLuhan

The Abolition of Man, C.S. Lewis

The Power of How You Were Made

January 20, 2016 by Edie Wadsworth 36 Comments

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When I was 33 years old, I went to a week long medical conference in Hickory, North Carolina as part of my training to pass my Family Medicine Board exam. Thankfully, I passed that year, thanks to the VERY BORING training and months of hours of study I did while nursing a baby and taking care of a toddler and two school agers. Those were good times.

The first day of the conference, I walked into the room and it was a sea of gray and navy and black suits with slim briefcases and those fancy pens with the nibs. 80% or more were men and there was a very serious vibe hovering over the room.

I walked in like Elle Woods walking into Harvard Law, minus the dog and the expensive suit, my papers spilling over from my colorful tote which was holding my 10 tubes of lip gloss and scads of colored pencils and pens and highlighters and Sharpies. Wearing a summer dress and wedges and a denim jacket. I did not look like any of the other physicians there. NONE of them.

I sat down by a very respectable doctor and his very respectable and tidy leather binder with a steno pad in it. Pulling out my inspirational notebooks and my plethora of colorful writing utensils, he probably wished I’d sat somewhere else, except that by the end of the day, we were chums and I knew EVERYTHING possible to know about him—his wife’s name, how many kids he had, where he had trained, where he was practicing, what struggles he was facing in his town, and many more details.

Right away, I could tell he was shy and genuine and trustworthy and despite the fact that the two of us were NOTHING alike, I think we’d both say we were glad our paths crossed.

At first glance around that huge conference room, I felt self-conscious of who I was, maybe ashamed. I had thoughts like: I should be more serious, I should buy a suit, I should wear more navy and black, I should stop wearing so much make-up, I need a leather binder, I should stop using colored markers, I should, I should, I should.

Later when I set up my own family practice office, I did it like no one else I’ve known. The rooms were repainted and decorated. I bought lamps and artwork for the exam rooms and games and puzzles for the kids and I did it because that’s what came naturally to me.

I wasn’t trying to be a rebel. I just wanted to be a doctor like I would naturally be a doctor.

I couldn’t change how I was created, I could only make myself more of who I already was, focusing on what made me unique, what made me me.

It taught me something valuable about life. I’m never going to the best or the smartest at what I do but I’m the only person who can do what I do in the way I do it—whether that’s cooking dinner or blogging or writing a book or folding a load of laundry.

Not to say that we shouldn’t keep growing and learning because we absolutely need to improve our skills at life—things that make us better wives and moms and creatives and leaders. I spend a lot of time and money trying to do that.

BUT. My shoulds look different than they looked when I was just wanting to fit it. You know them well, they’re the shoulds that tell us we should change who we are to be more like whoever else we’re idolizing at the moment. My shoulds now look like: I should learn better people skills, I should take a course on business for moms, I should learn how to quilt, I should take a nutrition course, I should take a course on finances, I should read that book on parenting, and so on and so forth to infinity.

We all need better skills.

But we need you to be you.

And we need you to keep learning so that you can serve the world with the best version of who you were created to be.

And that’s what you need from me too.

When I put away my fears at that conference and let my real true self shine, I focused on the doctor sitting next to me and honored him, instead of spending the whole conference focusing on myself, trying to figure out how to fit in with a sea of black suits, I did what I do best—used my passion for people to show interest and honor to him. I would never have done that if I wanted to act like everyone else in the room.

And trust me, sometimes I still try to hide who I am. I’m still learning.

But what is different about you and me is what makes us special, not what is the same.

Use your uniqueness to honor and serve others with more passion!

****

One of the things I study to get better at being myself and at honoring others is through personality study. I’d love to know what personality tests you’ve taken and what your results were.

I’m a Blue with yellow and red qualities and ZERO green qualities. My faults are all Blue.

(I’m making the girls take Marc Accetta’s color personality test as we speak.)

I’m an ENFP on the Myers-Briggs but I’m probably actually an extroverted intr0vert because I need a LOT of downtime.

I’m an Enneagram type 4.

I’d love to know yours!!

The Year of the Lord’s Favor

January 4, 2016 by Edie Wadsworth 21 Comments

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Last year, on the front page of my journal/notebook/scratchpad, I wrote out the first part of Isaiah 61. That wonderful passage of scripture is always the old testament reading for January 1st on the PrayNow app, which I adore. It’s also one of my favorite all time passage of scripture and so with it written on page 1 of my notebook, I read it most days and thought about it and mulled over it and tried to superimpose my life over it.

Jesus was handed the scroll of the Prophet Isaiah at the synagogue in Nazareth when he spoke these astonishing words:

“The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to grant to those who mourn in Zion— to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he may be glorified. They shall build up the ancient ruins; they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations.”

These are the words that Christ spoke about Himself. He is the One who brings good news, and binds up the brokenhearted and opens the prison. He comfort those who mourn. He raises up the ruined cities. Because of His overwhelming love for us, we live in the year of the Lord’s favor, the jubilee year, the year that debts are canceled and slaves are set free.

I want that freedom. That’s why the first few days of the year has always been my very favorite. A new year, a fresh start, a slew of resolutions, and goals—it’s the perfect storm for holing up in my bed for a few hours with warm socks and warm coffee and an oversized sweater and planning for THE BEST YEAR EVER. That’s what I tell myself every. single. time.

This year was different. My uncle died late New Year’s Eve so we spent the first few days of the new year on Brown Mountain, eating ham, soup beans, cornbread and too much mocha cake, sharing stories and stale pots of coffee for too many hours to count.

Our little buddy was with us too.

All that to say, I didn’t finish my book yet and I didn’t finish writing out all my goals. I don’t even have a word yet for 2016 like all the cool people do.

To top it all off, the combination of crying and laughing in equal parts with equal vigor for the last few days left me puffy eyed and exhausted this morning—the day I was hoping would lead all the others days to goal reaching nirvana.

So, I’m raising my glass (of rewarmed for the third time coffee) to choosing people first over goals and projects and really everything else. I hope I to cultivate more of that kind of courage in my to do list.

My botched up plan is this: post Isaiah 61 everywhere I spend my time so that it informs and inspires the rest of my goals. Sugar detox? Sure, but why? So that I have more energy to help pry open some prison bars.

Pray on my knees everyday? Yes, but why? So that He will give me new eyes my to see the brokenhearted.

Increase my income? Yes, so that I can bring good news to the poor.

Launch a book? I sure hope so. Because I pray He uses me to comfort those who have mourned this messy thing we call life.

It’ll probably be the end of January before I get all my plans in order but I sure hope that the God of all grace continues to give me a voice to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.

We are free. Not because of what we can gin up in ourselves on the coat tails of a resolution high, but because He has set us free.

And because of that freedom, we set our sights on them—the precious ones He is putting right in the way of all our tasks and hopes and dreams. They are not an interruption to our best life ever.

They have been sent to raise up the former devastations of our self obsession.

They are messengers from Him.

I hope we are brave enough to listen.

The Year I Broke Up With Blogging

December 30, 2015 by Edie Wadsworth 54 Comments

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Well, you might be happy to know that I’m within days of turning my manuscript in for the third time. Which means, showering is very low on the list right now. And so is cooking and leaving my house and in general, anything that involves not typing on my computer. Please pray for my general sanity and perseverance and for the health and wellbeing of my family, who are largely surviving on chips and salsa and grilled cheeses. I’m probably headed to my mountain cabin alone this weekend for a marathon session, in an effort to finish by Monday, my 46th birthday.

But I’m really proud of ALL the changes we’ve made in the book. They’ve all been made for you actually, designed on purpose so you will (hopefully) enjoy the book and not get lost in my sometimes very meandering way of telling a story. My editor said to me AT LEAST forty times: “I can appreciate the idea of using flashback here, but I think this chapter will work better if you put it in order.” And yet, the next chapter?!?!? I thought it would work SO MUCH better in flashback. (Another face palm for my editor)

I think I’ve decided flashback is the protective mechanism I use so as not to fully relive the story I’m trying to tell.

To help me even more to understand why the process has been so grueling and taken so long, my editor actually told me to write a letter to my reader explaining what has been going on with me and this book for the past two years. Here’s what I wrote:

Dear kind reader,

This is the story I never wanted to tell. This is the story I’ve been trying to run from for forty years and the story I’ve been skirting around for nearly three. Though a writer for many years, the words in this volume are all raw and fresh and hard fought. I wanted to tell you everything but so many times I told you everything but the truth. So I started again. And again. And again. I tried to write it with fancy literary devices because I figured then you’d think I was really smart. I tried to hide behind the writing of all my heroes with a plethora of the most beautiful quotes on earth and then I tried hiding behind my family members, undoubtedly the funniest and quirkiest people on earth.

I tried to make it a story about theology and then tables and then prodigals and then I wanted it to be a story about fire. What I didn’t want to write about was the thing that scares me to death. What I didn’t want you to know was that fatherlessness is my deepest ache—and being untethered and unspoken for my suffocating fear. And now that I’ve said it and can’t take it back, I will attempt to tell the story that has wrecked me for far too long. My prayer is that in the telling there’ll be healing, perhaps for both of us.

The process took its toll on me—physically, spiritually, and especially emotionally. The healing has been slow to come but I know I’m getting there.

The book editing/writing/overhauling combined with my newly revived love and passion for wellness and essential oils has left precious little time for this little corner of the world. And I’ve missed it so much. My teaching schedule and my new friendships that have blossomed this year have been so wonderful and so worth the accidental sabbatical I’ve taken from blogging, but with the book deadline approaching, ALL I can think about are all the things I’ve been meaning to tell you over the past year. Things like what I’m cooking and what I’m reading, my current uniform and how I’m dealing with my teenagers leaving their childhood room and moving to the basement. And also how I’m dealing with being alone at home after all those years of homeschooling and what my big reVOLution plans are for 2016.

I can’t wait to dive back in with you.

As I’m setting new goals for the year and making my schedules, I’d love to know what you want.

How can I best serve you here? I’m all ears!

Sending you all my love,

xoxo,

edie

5 Courageous Things You Can Do On the Darkest Days

November 24, 2015 by Edie Wadsworth 7 Comments

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We had our boy this weekend which meant it was legos and books and golf cart rides and running and screaming through the house all the live long day. The best kind of chaos in my humble opinion.

It also meant that I took a much needed weekend break from internet world.

Don’t worry, it was screaming at me when I woke up out of the blue at 3am. I was missing my boy. I couldn’t sleep so I scrolled through the newsfeed— more awful stories, the worst horrific tragedies, more terror, more death, so much hate.

It’s easy on mornings like today to become paralyzed by it all.

The world is dark. Sometimes it’s so hard to know what to do with this gift of today. Is it even a gift, after all?

I wanted to go back to bed but I fumbled around for my pen and paper and jotted down a list—a list of things that might help me through the day. Hope it helps you too.

1. Pray & Repent

The tendency for me is to think that ISIS is the root of all evil—that somehow the world be okay, safe even, without those monsters around. The violence and human suffering is unbearable.

Still, I know that the problem is much deeper. I know that the sin that so hopelessly corrupts them has strangled me too. Our pastor gave a wonderful sermon yesterday in which he asked us to think about all the things we had done in the past church year. I was stroking the hair of a fidgety toddler and thinking how amazing that we were able to bring the little to be baptized this year. Then the pride and the self pats on the back that always creep in when I think of my list of rights.

That’s not what Pastor was referring to. He started to list all the things I had done in the past year—he said I had gossiped and murdered and committed adultery and lied and cheated and slandered my neighbor and worshipped all sorts of false gods and looked down my nose at others in self righteousness and his list went on for longer than I was comfortable.

Then he reminded me of what Jesus had done in the past church year—how had had loved me and forgiven me and fed me and washed me and cherished me and given me every good thing.

Oh, the relief that came when I remembered that my list is not the one that counts.

There’s only one who is blameless. The rest of us need the life changing power of the blood of Jesus. You, me, them, the whole world.

2. Feast at God’s table & on his Word

You can’t do this on your own. You need God’s people and you need the food from His table. This is where He strengthens our doubting faith, this is where He makes disciples, this is where He has promised to be. We need to hear the Gospel every week because we don’t believe it. We are tormented by our sin and we need His word and His Shepherd to constantly reassure us that we are His.

3. Serve your neighbor

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I’d even say start with your husband. One of my favorite ways to do this is simply to make dinner. There’s nothing more comforting when the world is falling apart than to gather your people around the table to eat a hearty bowl of soup, pray for those whose days and nights are being torn apart, and give thanks for this one precious life we have to use our gifts in service of others. I can’t stop ISIS from killing people but I can pray and I can give and I can love the ones that God has put in my path everyday. It may not seem like much but it is.

And then there’s that “friend” you hate to see coming. Maybe you avoid her at the grocery store or avoid her like the plague at a party. Stop holding a grudge against her. Forgive her sin and move on. Because you’ve been so freely forgiven of yours, it will be possible and then you can actually see her and serve her like you’ve never served her before.

The antidote to all the hate in the world is love. The perfect love of Christ in whom we have forgiveness and the promise of heaven. For now, we live in His righteousness and go out into our lives wearing His love.

4. Do what you’ve been called to do

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If you’re a doctor, go to work and serve your patients. If you make jewelry and sell it on Etsy to help your family’s economy, make the best jewelry you can. If you wrangle toddlers all day, love on them and whisper Jesus’ name in their ears while you pick up the thousandth toy.

As for me, I’m gonna keep on making soup and raising teenagers and trying to keep up with the laundry and teaching people about wellness. I’m going to keep living out my calling to the best of my ability. And so should you. Keep on lashing out against the darkness by doing what only you can do for the people in your life. Against all odds.

5. Make Advent part of your family’s Christmas tradition this year

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I’ve posted about it before and to make it easier, I’ve compiled my Advent resources in a free pdf. We follow a wonderful advent reading schedule and do a wreath lighting every night. It’s simple but it adds so much to the anticipation of Christ coming to us incarnate to make all the ugly things in the world make sense.

I can hardly wait for this Advent season as we bear witness to the Light that shatters all darkness.

His incarnation gives us courage to live our lives in the Light of His glorious love no matter what crumbles all around us.

Crafting During the Holidays

November 16, 2015 by Edie Wadsworth 5 Comments

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Back in the glory days of blogging, I used to host a 12 Days of Handmade Christmas during November. I kinda miss it. So, instead of 12 Days, I’m sharing my favorite 12 projects from the past few years, in the hopes that it’ll inspire us to sit down and do something fun and creative with our hands.

Right now, I’m knitting a scarf and then switching over to dishclothes when I get bored. I’ve made all these projects on this list and they are some of my favorites!

Hope you will find some inspiration for making the holidays more meaningful and more handmade. Enjoy!

For a full list of the past projects, 12 Days 2009, 12 Days 2010, 12 Days 2012!

1. The Handmade Dishmat

I’ve made this project SO MANY TIMES. It’s my favorite thing to give for Christmas, with my favorite cookbook wrapped inside. This mat takes about an 1 1/2 and everyone I’ve ever made one for LOVES it. I have my friend, Darby, to thank. It’s the gift that keeps on giving. My sister just made me one and I’m in heaven!

12 Days of Handmade Christmas via lifeingrace

2. The Linen Flower (Pin)

This is my new favorite project. They’re so fun to make and are perfect plate/table decorations as well as beautiful flower pins. They take 1-2 hours to make.

12 Days of Handmade Christmas via lifeingrace

3. Large Zippered Make-Up Bag

Thank you to Miss Jan for this awesome project! I’ve made it for gifts many times and it’s easy and fun and easy to personalize!

12 Days of Handmade Christmas via lifeingrace

4. Large Photo Prints (mounted to foamboard)

These would make great gifts for kids, teens, or adults. They’re so easy and so personal!

12 Days of Handmade Christmas via lifeingrace

5. DIY Alphabet Crayons

Thank you, Meg, for sharing this awesome project so many years ago. So colorful and fun, just like Meg!

12 Days of Handmade Christmas via lifeingrace

6. Yarn Wrapped Wreath

I made this a couple of years ago and it’s been hanging in my house ever since, loose strands and all. It takes about an hour or so.

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7. Hand-knit Dishcloth

Let me teach you how to KNIT!!! This is THE perfect time of year to learn to knit and this is THE perfect project on which to learn. These make wonderful little gifts wrapped up in soaps or homemade dish soap!

12 Days of Handmade Christmas via lifeingrace

9. Pom Pom Wreath

Thank you, Julie, for sharing this project last year. I’m determined to make one this year and can’t wait to try one in a gold/mustard color!

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9. DIY Monogrammed Candle

Amy shared this project during our very first 12 Days and it’s still THE most popular 12 Days post. It’s been pinned 6 million times.

12 Days of Handmade Christmas via lifeingrace

10. Grannie’s Homemade Fudge

I just finished a sugar detox so I figured it was the perfect time to tell you about the best fudge in the WHOLE entire world. You can only have one piece because #DIABETES. This is my favorite gift to give away. And my favorite holiday treat to make. It’s so easy and SO delicious! Thank you, Grannie!

12 Days of Handmade Christmas via lifeingrace

11. DIY Crayon Roll

The super talented Lindsey shared this post with us and it’s been one of the most popular of the 12 Days posts. Make some for traveling gifts for your own littles or for all the lovely littles in your life. Thank you, Lindsey!

12. Homemade Honey Wheat Bread

Perhaps, THE perfect Christmas gift! I usually gift it with some homemade strawberry jam or local honey. It’s love at first bite. I get these clear cellophane bags from Amazon and give bread away all year!

12 Days of Handmade Christmas via lifeingrace

Have you made any of these projects?

What’s your favorite (easy-ish) handmade gift to give to others? Leave links or descriptions in the comments and I’ll share my faves this weekend!

Click here for my free ebook on hospitality!

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