Taylor's senior year

7 Quick Takes…….

January 30, 2009 by Edie Wadsworth 15 Comments

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We bought a crucifix as a ‘love’ gift to each other. (early Valentine’s) Steve’s been wanting one for a long time. Did I mention we’re not Catholic? We are Lutheran however, and Lutherans tend to embrace and appreciate the historicity of christian symbols. We just hung ours up and I’m just a tad bit, I don’t know, squeamish or something, about it. And maybe that’s the wrong word. ‘ Not totally comfortable yet’, might be better. I grew up in various Protestant churches, mostly Baptist, and although we embraced the ‘bare’ cross, most rejected having the crucifix. I think Protestants in general are way too ‘against’ everything that resembles Catholicism. The common phrase was “We serve a risen Lord”……yes, one who was first a baby (and we have no trouble displaying a manger scene) and then lived the perfect life (it’s okay to enjoy art that depicts the various parts of Christ’s ministry) and died a sinless death on the cross (the crucifix ‘issue’). I read a great article about the history of the cross and crucifix which you can download here. So, do you display the cross or crucifix in your home and why or why not?

ours is made of alabaster in Italy

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I learned this fun project from my mother, who’s birthday is tomorrow, and who will enjoy her birthday in Key West. She’s been there for a month now and we’re beginning to wonder if she’s ever coming back. She’s always starts her tomato plants, green peppers, and herbs indoors about this time of year. Last year was my first try at it and it was so much fun. The girls and I bought different kinds of tomato seeds and a few different herbs and planted them yesterday in the premade window box planters. Steve was home and helped us with our ‘seed’ discussion. They usually sprout in about a week and then in a month or so will need to be replanted into bigger pots. The whole process is fun and educational. You should try it.

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Where is this year going? My son Taylor graduates from high school and I’m starting to panic. I wish you could meet him. He is so kind and funny and caring and smart and talented. He’s just easy to be around. I know that he’s sinful and depraved just like the rest of us. I know he will fall and fail, but I can’t help well up with mommypride just a little. I was listening to his CD on my iPod and marveling at how talented a songwriter he is. You can listen to his music here. When the actual CD comes out (not until end of Feb) I’ll let you know.

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I have recently taken the Facebook plunge. Which has resulted in many phone calls to my sister to say, “Do you remember suchandsuch? Should I remember suchandsuch?” Apparently my long term memory is failing me. My short term memory is not all that stellar either. My daughter gave me a tutorial on FB last night and rolled her eyes and snickered 76 times. Then she sent me a piece of flair that said something about laundry. It’s not a bad way to communicate with your teenagers who happen to be upstairs. Turns out, I can type faster than I can walk. And ‘Bring your laundry downstairs’ doesn’t necessarily work better face to face.

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I’m planning my Superbowl eating extravaganza. I’m gonna make several yummy appetizers including chicken wing meatballs and queso dip. I’ve decided to try my hand at homeade philly cheese steak sandwiches. (although I’m definitely cheering for Arizona) I’ve done my research and now need to head to the store. I can’t decide on dessert. Any suggestions?

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This is the inside of our santuary at Our Savior Lutheran Church. Many of you have asked questions about Lutheranism which I am slowly trying to answer. One thing I love about the ‘design’ of the sanctuary is that the cross is central as is the altar (the Lord’s Table). The ‘pulpits’ or lecterns are off to the side. The message in that—-Christ-centered, cross-focused.

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Baby dog Hank is not so little anymore. He’s taller than Scooter (the maltese). Weighs 25 pounds and is 12 weeks old. And I can’t imagine our lives without him. He’s so smart and loveable and floppy. He still falls down a fair amount—which is hysterical–and has learned the ‘sit’ command. Steve just said “It’s a good thing they can’t smell him through that blog”. Yeah, he’s gets VERY stinky after dinner, if ya know what I mean.

If I had a salon, I’d call it COIFFEDINGRACE…..

January 27, 2009 by Edie Wadsworth 18 Comments

I didn’t write this on Friday, but it is kinda funny. Here’s what I started singing when Taylor agreed to let me cut his hair:

“I got skillz….they’re multiplYing….and I’m loooooooosing contro-ol….for the power you’re supplYing …It’s ELECTRIFYING”. I sang it all night long. Then I tried to find my Grease video.

Meanwhile, he sat in the chair looking scared. I shoulda got a ‘before’. It was a shaggy, mangy mess with near dread-locks. This is much better. Look, he has eyes. Don’t look at me like that. I’m your mother. And I love you. And I know that musicians can’t have jacked up hair. Just trust me. Don’t I look like a professional?

Now just to fill you in on a little trivia, my mom was a ‘beautician’ as we called it back in the day. So I grew up in the salon. I saw more gray haired women get their hair rolled than you could shake some scissors at. I went to slumber parties for the sole purpose of ‘fixin’ everybody’s hair. And last year when I went to visit Donia with my angel friends Donna and Sue, I begged to get my hands in their hair. I can do a mean do.

I think I’ve got a pretty rockin’ technique. I’ve seen it done so many times that I really feel like I know what I’m doing. Of course, I don’t. But that’s not the point now is it?

Look at the dexterity….the precision….the shear skillz (bad pun intended). Never mind the outfit. I’ve got more important things to worry about than whether or not I have on my lounge pants at 7pm. Which I do. But whatever.

then Emme demanded to ‘style’ it for him….

We mean business at this salon.

So, what do ya think? Would you let me cut your hair? Or at least let me tease it and do Farrah Fawcett bangs?

I think I’ve proven that I have very happy customers. And I’m cheap.

There are a few people who don’t trust me and would rather play rock, paper, scissors.

I like my scissor skillz way better. It’s a beautiful thing to cut your own son’s hair!

January 7, 2009 by Edie Wadsworth 11 Comments

My son’s band, The Verity, finished recording their album last night! Oh my! You’re gonna love it I think. If you’re new here, maybe you should read this first. The CD is still not quite available to buy yet but you can listen to two songs on their myspace page. You don’t need a myspace account (thank our lucky stars above)…..just go to this link or type ‘www.myspace/veritytruth1 into the address bar. These boys are talented and I’m so proud of them.

I pray that they will make this their desire:

Eph. 6:20 “Pray for me, so that when I speak, a message may be given to me to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, for which I am in chains.”

https://www.lifeingraceblog.com/2009/01/166/

He will restore the years……

December 16, 2008 by Edie Wadsworth 20 Comments

Those of you who are new to my blog can read about my son Taylor here and watch a video of a wonderful song he wrote based on Psalm 42 here. You can learn more about Caiti here. I write about the little girls all the time…..they’re home alot more than the teenagers. So today: a little spotlight on the teens. Taylor is 18 and Caiti is 16 and they have been such a blessing and joy to me through the years. Taylor graduates this year so every event has become a quasi-emotional breakdown fest. “This is the last time he’ll” fill-in-the-blank……at least while he lives at my house. These two are like the quintessential siblings. They do almost everything together and truly do love each other and when Caiti gets her feathers ruffled (every morning when Taylor is running late for school) she nags and scolds him like a worn out housewife. I’ve always said he’ll make the perfect husband and father (having had 3 sisters) or else he’ll convert to Catholicism and join the monastery. One things’ for sure, he knows high maintenance women inside and out. I can hardly believe that these two are grown up. It seems just yesterday I was taking this picture.
and walking on the beach with this little sweetie……
and buying batman paraphernalia for this one……
Where do the years go? And through all the teaching and nagging do they know beyond a shadow of doubt how much they are loved? Do they realize how many times I’ve cried out to God in desperation…….wishing that there was some way to take any heartache or sadness away? Alas. These moments of honest reflection are often swept away by, “Why do you keep leaving wet towels on the floor?” and “If you don’t clean your room, I’m gonna take your cell phone away”. But sometimes in the quiet of the morning, when I reminisce about those years gone by…….I thank God for so much joy. And I thank Him for the heartache too. Because He has a way of turning sorrow to joy. He alone will restore the years the locusts have eaten.
So when I see my children dressed like this and singing ancient songs in latin……..
and when I see them all dressed up and enjoying their life and their friends…..
I can’t help but be filled with joy…….that for a season……for a short time……….
they were in my trust. I pray that where I have woefully fallen short, the Lord will fill in the gaps.
and they will find their way…….and use their gifts…….to His glory.
Enjoy this short video of the chamber choir singing. Taylor and Caiti both were selected for this audition choir at their high-school for the last few years. And you’ll easily be able to find Taylor. He’s the one that can’t seem to sing without a lot of swaying. He drives his choir teacher crazy ….but I think it’s kind of adorable.

And say this prayer this morning for your own children: taken from the Lutheran prayer book:

With joy and thanksgiving we praise You out of the fullness of our grateful hearts that You have gladdened our home and life with this child. We know that this child is a gift of your bountiful hand. Grant us grace and wisdom to bring up this precious soul in the knowledge and understanding of Your word. Watch over them with your tenderest care and continued grace.

As surely as You will endow them with faith and strengthen them in spirit, so too we pray too that You will endow them with a healthy body and strengthen and preserve them according to Your good and gracious will. Grant that they may grow in favor with You and bring sunshine and joy into our hearts and homes. Keep us all in Your grace, forgiving us daily our sins and filling our souls with peace. You are our hiding place. And now to You be praise, glory and thanksgiving, for this precious gift, this day and forever, through Jesus Christ, who is the Friend of children and Savior of all. Amen.

Song 42

November 3, 2008 by Edie Wadsworth 15 Comments

My son wrote a song called Song 42 based on scripture taken from Psalm 42—tricky, huh? The song is beautiful and after I listened to the song 442 times, I went and read Psalm 42…..and began to weep. Like a baby. I’ve read Psalm 42 many times before and have always loved it. But it’s different when you see how your children might translate that word into a song. I think the girls and I (the little ones that I homeschool) will have to add this psalm to our list of ones to memorize. I’ll never read it the same again. Every time I read those precious words I will hear my son’s voice in my head singing this:

I will say a prayer to the God who gives me life

I will say to God my rock, Lord I love you

And I am thirsty, thirsty for the living God

Where can I meet Him?

Tears have been my food day and night

I long to serve him

Where can I meet Him?

During the day the Lord sends his love to me

During the night I wil sing songs about Him

I will say a prayer to the God who gives me life

I will say to God my rock , Lord I love you

When the world comes down on me

and questions “Where is your God?”

I will say, He lives inside of me

During the day the Lord sends His love to me

During the night I will sing songs about Him

I will say a prayer to the God who gives me life

I will say to God my rock, Lord I love you

Lord I love you

Lord I love you.

Now for a double blessing, read Psalm 42.

Ramblings on rain, bread, forgiveness, books and dancing…..

October 10, 2008 by Edie Wadsworth 4 Comments

Things I hate:

1. driving on the interstate

2. in the rain

3. with little ones in the car

4. at night

5. or driving on the interstate

6. at night

7. by myself

8. without the rain

9. my children getting hurt.

10. to the point that suturing will be necessary

11. while making lifesize sling shots out of old frames

12. which have sharp metal edges

13. while I google ‘Letters of Abigail Adams‘ in the next room.

14. which leads me to why I missed my teenagers’ cross country meet last night

15. which I hate to miss

Things I love……

1. Making homeade french bread

2. with the best recipe ever which you can find here.

3. and serving it to my life’s love, warm

4. with butter on top.

5. and wine.

6. which are to us life’s most complete meal

7. bread and wine…..like The Lord’s Supper

8. which we will be served on Sunday

9. at the Lord’s table

10. for the forgiveness of sins

11. which we don’t deserve

12. and could never earn.

Things I am undecided about:

1. Not who I will vote for in November

2. What new item shall be included in my Thanksgiving feast

3. Shall it be maple glazed turnips

4. Or maple glazed brussel sprouts

5. Or both

6. Will I train for a half marathon

7. or make another loaf of chocolate chip banana bread

8. or both

9. Should I paint my armoire red

10. and my kitchen cabinets a delightful hue of blue

11. or neither

12. Should I read every letter that Abigail wrote to John (Adams)

13. Or is 1100 letters too huge an undertaking in a weekend

14. Should I cry til my heart’s content every time I think of Taylor leaving

15. or should I bake more banana bread

16. or french bread

17. or all of the above?

18. Who will win ‘Dancing With the Stars’?

19. Will I ever be able to dance

20. at all?

21. without embarassing my children?

22. Should I dress up for Halloween?

23. a witch again?

24. Maybe con macdaddy into a little Sonny and Cher?

25. sing “I got you babe” to him anyway, even after he refuses?

26. while I sling my hair and sway?

27. and promise him unlimited loaves of french bread for one year?

28. if he would humor me. just. this. once?

29. Should I read Madame Bovary this weekend?

30. Or John Adams?

31. Or Abigail’s letters?

32. Or New Moon?

33. Or What’s so Amazing About Grace?

34. Or forgo sleep and general hygeine and read them all?

35. Or just make bread and dance?

36. Should I listen to Lifehouse’s Learn You Inside and Out

37. or Eddie Vedders’ Rise

38. or this on worry?

39. What would you do?

I clearly have more questions than answers. Have a great weekend!