Five Finds Friday (this, that & the other, also blanket sweaters, food documentaries and college thoughts)

It’s been a little while so let’s see if I have Friday Fives within my abilities this week.  You just never know.

funny

During last week’s writing class at Meadowlark, we worked on a project where we created bad titles and then tried to turn them into good poems.  

It was fun and I loved hearing what the kids did with their poetry.

Some titles that they created were . . .

Where Did My Sibling Go?
What’s on My Sandwich?
The Obsolete Oreo
Uncle Hitler’s Birthday

The time spent together with this group of bright and funny and interesting kids is always time well spent.

fashionable

Here, I just don’t know.  What I have NOT had time to do is to consider fashion in any form.  Although it is interesting to see how one’s own fashion shifts and changes through the seasons of our lives.

Six years ago I was all skirts every day always – skirts and a t-shirt was pretty much my uniform.  And it still remains my go to for summer.  This winter I’ve embraced jeans more fully than I have in years and I have no reason to explain this shift.

I’ve even been trying those blanket sweaters – which just look like blankets to me.  I feel mixed about them.  On the one hand, they are really comfortable.  On the other hand, sometimes I feel like I am wearing … well … a blanket.

I get mixed responses too from others.  A grown up says, “Oh, I like that.”  Today, a student said, “Man, that looks cozy – like you got out of bed and just pulled on your blanket and got to keep wearing it.”

So – there’s that.

flavorful

Again – not a lot of thought given to variety in food lately.  I have found, though, that the busier we are as a family,  the more essential it is that I have a legitimate meal plan.  

Before our classes today, as we were hustling around gathering school supplies and packing lunches, I had a couple of the kids rally together and help me toss chili in the crock pot.  None of us felt like dicing onions and garlic before breakfast, but we powered through.  

But when we came home late in the afternoon to the house smelling of chili and dinner was ready with zero effort from the gang, we rejoiced in our early morning labors.  Hooray!

In other food news, for their health class this year, the big kids are required to watch a handful of food documentaries and write about what they find.  

Two weeks ago it was Supersize Me.  This week it was That Sugar Film.

I wanted to eat a Hershey kiss and Mosely asked me, “Mom – do you want to damage your liver?”  To which I shrugged and Piper said, “I’ll get the Hershey kisses, Mom – you can damage your liver if you want to.”

We’re learning a lot over here.

Actually, the sugar film was really interesting and insightful.  And, you know, troubling.

Because when I did Whole 30 I caught a glimpse of what life without sugar could look like – and I saw the benefits of removing that little beast.  Ugh.  But I just love cake.  And jam.  Oh, sweet jam.

Have any favorite food documentaries we should watch next?  (We’ve seen Forks Over Knives already.)

faithful

We still keep a notebook of the ways that God daily provides for our family. It’s in a little journal we jot something in each evening.  And each day you can see the list from each of the previous years – four years now.  

It’s sweet and humbling to continually see the ways in which God has provided over and over and over for our family.

I’m hopeful and encouraged about the ways in which He will continue to show up.

Last Sunday a staff member at church stopped me for a quick word and just shared some kind and encouraging thoughts he had for our family – and for me specifically.  For my writing and my goals this year.  Words he could have had no idea that I needed to hear.  But that I did.

God keeps granting me eyes to see His hand, providing, providing, providing.

feels

I’m tempted to be feeling nostalgic or something over here.

It’s SUCH a mixed bag.

London took the PSAT last year.  Which means her name was added to a list somewhere and now colleges – COLLEGES – are sending her emails and our mailbox had two letters from colleges – COLLEGES – this week.

And that feels ….. exciting and scary and lovely and sad.  It feels everything.

I want to see this kid soar.  To dream big and to laugh hard and draw or read or write or do whatever skill she is best suited to do at the time in which she is best suited to do it.

And I want to see this kid sit on my sofa and chat with me and give me long good morning hugs and seek out my company to tell me about some secret worry and special concern, some funny joke and some clever idea.

I want what I have always wanted and have never been able to have.

I want it all.

And we all know – that is not how this parenting gig works.

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