Catching the Breeze

As I consider how my life has changed since I started working as assistant editor of Victoria magazine in April, my mind drifts to a happy memory from my early days of motherhood. Son Carson was about 8 months old, and every day was full of joyful discoveries. I relished seeing life anew through his piercing blue eyes. Carson keenly observed every detail around us, and the intensity of his experience heightened my own senses. Tasting the sweet indulgence of a creamy chocolate milkshake, touching the soft fur of a neighbor's energetic new puppy, listening to the soft creaking of the rocking chair as Carson reluctantly succumbed to sleep -- every moment of the day seemed extraordinary encountered with someone so new to the world.

On this vivid day, Carson was a few weeks from taking his first steps. He could sit up in the stroller, and we both enjoyed venturing out into the fresh morning air for a walk around the neighborhood. Blissfully unaware that when he started walking at 9 months Carson would never want to sit down again, I buckled him into the carriage and stepped outside to discover a perfectly beautiful day. The sun was shining in Kentucky, where we lived during his infancy, but the mild climate kept temperatures blessedly comfortable. We set out for our walk in silence, taking in the sights and sounds as the world around us awoke to a new day.

A little while into our stroll, we paused to study something on the path, and a soft breeze began to blow. The rich green bluegrass began to dance, and tree branches nodded gracefully as the welcome gust caused the leaves to quiver and sway. Carson grimaced, closing his eyes and wrinkling his nose as the gentle whisper tickled his face. As the breeze grew stronger -- lifting tufts of his baby-fine blond hair and playfully caressing his exposed arms and bare feet -- a smile spread across his little face. As the wind blew harder, Carson started bouncing in his seat. A giggle erupted, and from his belly he began to laugh heartily. I laughed, too, experiencing his first encounter with the wind. I will never forget the moment I watched my sweet baby boy lean forward in his stroller and stretch his arms wide, as if to embrace the breeze. It was a moment of pure, unrestrained joy.

Carson accepted that first breeze as a gift -- fully experiencing it and appreciating it as if God Himself blew a breath of love for my baby's pleasure. My own whispers of thanks mingled with Carson's giggles as the wind played hide and seek that morning. In the years since I have never forgotten the feel of the fresh air on our faces.

During this time of transition into my new job with Hoffman Media in Birmingham, Ala., my thoughts often return to that blissful stroll. Thinking of Baby Carson's observant nature, I am reminded to be present. Whether I am on the road for a lengthy commute, playing with words to craft a story for Victoria, or spending precious time nurturing relationships with family and friends, there is a gift to be unwrapped in each moment. Just like that Kentucky breeze, joyful moments can be fleeting. The challenge is to stay focused, aware and open to the blessings at hand. As Psalm 188:24 declares, "This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it." That pledge holds true whatever the day holds, as long as we strive to be present where we are.

Remembering Carson's exuberance in greeting the wind, I want to stretch my arms wide to embrace the day before me. Growing older can make us more tentative in our outlook. We count costs, measure our frailties and hold back as we figure possible outcomes for failure. But children remind us to fully live each moment. Their examples teach us to love fearlessly, laugh deeply and run as fast as our dreams can carry us. And what do we have to fear if we are striving to follow God's will? Scripture assures us in Romans 8:31, "If God be for us, who can be against us?"

Finally, that distant neighborhood walk reminds me to be grateful. James 1:17 says, "Every good and perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." Whether viewing the ever-changing beauty of the landscape along the country roads that lead to my office, basking in the inspiration of creative people and projects, or savoring the welcoming security of home and time spent with the ones I love most, every experience offers a gift from God. He has blessed us all so richly and deserves our continual thanksgiving.

So to update you on accepting my dream job, sometimes I am unsure how I will balance the demands of working and raising a family. Often I am tired and wish I had more hours in the day. But always I am very, very thankful that this rich, full life is the one God planned for me.

And just like my sweet baby boy who has grown into a strong young man since our beloved stroller walks so many years ago, I am eager to lift my chin and feel the morning sun on my face. I hope you will join me as together we step out in faith, stretch our arms wide, and catch the next breeze.

"As each day comes to us refreshed and anew, so does my gratitude renew itself daily. The breaking of the sun over the horizon is my grateful heart dawning upon a blessed world." ~ Terri Guillemets

My First Victoria & a PJ Winner

Victoria

Last week the July/August issue of Victoria was delivered to our editorial offices. This issue was close to going to press when I started working with the magazine, so you won't find my byline in this issue. But I hope you will look for my name in the masthead! I was so excited to share the magazine with Joe and the children. We celebrated the milestone over the weekend by making the blue-ribbon Peach and Raspberry Pie recipe featured on pages 76 and 85 of this issue. With fresh peaches from a farmer's market and a pretty crust cut out by Emma, a slice of pie served a la mode provided a sweet celebration of the fruits of our labor. Look for the July/August issue on the newsstand, or subscribe by clicking the magazine title below the photo. Computer problems have me behind on posting, but look for travel, party and craft photos as soon as I can upload again.

Congratulations to Jody, who won the generous Mother's Day giveaway from The Pajama Company. Jody will be welcoming a new baby in a few weeks, so I hope she will feel pampered in the stylish Lovebirds capri set from The Cat's Pajamas. Jody, please e-mail me or leave a comment below.

Ballet Recital Celebration

"The dance is a poem of which each movement is a word." ~ Mata Hari


Mary Ashley and Emma's spring ballet recital is always one of the highlights of the season. For several years, we celebrated with dinner before the ballet, and last year we enjoyed appetizers and desserts before an early curtain call.



 

This year finds us in transition with my new job with Victoria magazine, so planning a recital soiree  a few weeks ago presented a challenge. My busier schedule didn't allow time for preparing an elaborate menu, yet I did not want this occasion to slip by without sharing special time with the girls and special friends who join us each year for the show.



 

With an early show time again this year, dinner at 4 o'clock in the afternoon wasn't appealing, and I wasn't sure I could pull everything together in such a small window of time. So we decided that dessert after the recital was the best way to go. I took the easiest route to celebration possible, purchasing cakes, flowers, and snacks at a local grocery store Saturday morning during the girls' dress rehearsal.



 

I set up the dessert spread in the family room Saturday afternoon, and we invited friends and teachers to stop by after the performance.



 

This fluffy pink strawberry cake from Winn-Dixie looked ballerina perfect, especially with the addition of a flower.



 

A petite white cake, also from Winn-Dixie, offered another sweet option. Fresh strawberries served with chocolate dip covered all the bases for a simple dessert buffet.



 

For a savory bite, herbed cheese and crackers were delicious.


 

Lush potted pink flowers and a metal dress form with a tutu (saved from previous ballet parties) added color to the display.



 

Plates, napkins and silverware were put in place before curtain call, and the coffee pot was ready to brew when we returned.


 

I really enjoy hosting handmade, homemade celebrations and always hope that my family and friends see the love in all the little details.



 

When time or circumstances do not allow the same level of attention, letting go of extravagant plans can be difficult. Not necessarily for my family, but for me.



 

What I am realizing, though, is that I see love in all the little details, but eliminating details does not diminish the love.



 

In fact, when the circumstances are right, simplifying the celebration allows the love to flourish.



 

Here is a view of our family room Saturday afternoon before the show, complete with a little ballerina who had time to relax with some quiet time before the performance.



 

Friends Neil and Hailey Scott joined us after the show for coffee and dessert. It was so nice to enjoy a leisurely evening together, and no one seemed to mind one bit that this year's party was simple and store-bought. Lounging on the sofa enjoying laughter, cake and a reprise of this year's sibling number, I realized that just being together was what made our special evening ballerina perfect.



"Dancing with the feet is one thing, but dancing with the heart is another." ~ Author Unknown

A Gift from The Pajama Company

I am so excited to start the weekend off with a giveaway from The Pajama Company. In my last post, I shared details of the Mother's Day gift I shared with a friend who is a single mother. I ordered her Cat's Pajamas PJs from The Pajama Company, and the site has graciously agreed to give a pair to a reader of A Little Loveliness. I discovered this site last year while searching for pink toile pajamas, and I was delighted to find some of my favorite luxury brands of sleepwear offered at a discount. Check out this adorable set below.

 

 

 

 

This Cat's Pajamas 100 percent poplin cotton capri set with matching eye mask is perfect for spring. The cheery print is fabulous, and charming details like cap sleeves and soft ruffling in the back make these company-worthy pajamas.

 

 

 

 

Isn't this Lovebird print precious? Find the set here.

 

 

 

To enter this giveaway for a set of Lovebird pajamas from The Cat's Pajama's, compliments of The Pajama Company, leave separate comments below for each entry you choose. I will announce the winner soon.

 

 

(1) Leave a comment if you follow A Little Loveliness.

(2) Like The Pajama Company on Facebook here.

(3) Outside of your own mother, tell me about a special lady in your life you could honor for Mother's Day next year.

 

 

 

Congratulations to Alison Penland, winner of a copy of Flavored Butters by Lucy Vaserfirer. Alison, please contact me via comment or e-mail.

 



For a Special Mother

"Hundreds of dewdrops to greet the dawn,
Hundreds of bees in the purple clover,
Hundreds of butterflies on the lawn,
But only one mother the wide world over."
~ George Cooper




I am long overdue sharing this post, but before May gets away I wanted to share the Mother's Day gift I shared with my friend, a mother of three whose husband died two years ago.

This gift was for the birds! I wanted to pamper my friend with a gift that would encourage her to relax, and pajamas from The Pajama Company were the perfect choice.

She favors pastel colors, so these Lovebird PJs from The Cat's Pajamas were a refreshing option for spring.

The cheery PJs inspired the gift packaging, a birdcage from Michaels.

Fresh pink roses and a floral card added feminine touches.

And a soft pink bow added the final detail.

And from one mom to another, it was time to say, "Happy Mother's Day."



This gift comes with a surprise for a reader of A Little Loveliness, so don't miss my next post!

Flowers for Teacher

"One looks back with appreciation to the brilliant teachers, but with gratitude to those who touched our human feelings.  The curriculum is so much necessary raw material, but warmth is the vital element for the growing plant and for the soul of the child." ~ Carl Jung

 

 

 

For the past several years, we have honored the children's teachers at the end of the year with a gift of flowers.



 

In years past, I have found a creative container and filled it with a fresh arrangement. This year, though, I was so taken with pink and white peonies I found at our local Fresh Market that I decided to keep the presentation simple.

 

 

 

What could compete with these lush, showy blooms?



 

Emma and I picked up crystal vases from TJ Maxx with our elementary and middle school teachers in mind.



 

We will present our bouquets during this week's end-of-year parties and programs.



 

Along with hugs and thanks for a great year of school.



"Teachers who inspire know that teaching is like cultivating a garden, and those who would have nothing to do with thorns must never attempt to gather flowers." ~ Author Unknown

Happy Mother's Day!

 

"No woman      can be strong,
gentle, pure, and good without
the world being better for it,
without somebody being
helped and comforted
by the very existence
of that goodness."
-- Phillips
Brooks



To all the mothers, grandmothers, daughters, sisters, aunts, teachers and friends who make the world a better place, happy Mother's Day!

Image from The Graphics Fairy. Used with permission.

The Other Side of Mother's Day

In honor of Mother's Day, I am sharing a post I wrote last year. I hope you will read it again and think about those around you who could use a little mothering this weekend. (And on a side note, take a look at the magazine featured in these photos. When I put this basket together, I had no idea that within one year I would be working on Victoria. God's blessings are amazing!)


Last week I read an insightful essay that gave me pause. In "An Open Letter to Pastors: A Non-Mom Speaks About Mother's Day," author Amy Young spoke about the pain many women experience in confronting Mother's Day. As a single woman in her 30s, Amy revealed her discomfort when mothers were recognized during worship on Mother's Day and she remained in her seat while other women stood: "I don’t know how others saw me, but I felt dehumanized, gutted as a woman. Real women stood, empty shells sat."

Amy's letter struck a chord with readers all over the world whose hearts have been bruised -- some by dreams of motherhood yet unfulfilled; others by memories of mothers past. Her wise words counsel us to be sensitive to those around us who may be hurting on Mother's Day.

To some degree, I can relate to the sting others have felt. Before we had Carson, I was not sure I could conceive. During the years of waiting, I remember wondering if Joe would ever be able to wish me a happy Mother's Day. Then last year marked the first year that I would not have the privilege of hugging my own mother and telling her happy Mother's Day. She died in September 2010, and the grief was still fresh as the holiday approached. Although I never considered staying home from church on Mother's Day, as some women confessed they have done, I realize that in some ways I sat alone in my sorrow and grief.

Mother's Day conjures Norman Rockwell images of the perfect day of honor: breakfast in bed delivered by adoring children who giggle as Daddy surprises Mommy with flowers and gifts; family gatherings where grown children return to the nest to bless Mother with praise and affection. But life isn't always picture-perfect.

So what do we do when we face the other side of Mother's Day?

I believe that we will find our greatest fulfillment when we explore the other side of Mother's Day.

You see, at its core, motherly love is really "otherly" love.

Edwin Hubbell Chapin said, "No language can express the power, and beauty, and heroism, and majesty of a mother's love. It shrinks not where man cowers, and grows stronger where man faints, and over wastes of worldly fortunes sends the radiance of its quenchless fidelity like a star."

The virtuous woman described in Proverbs 31 tends to the needs of her family, but verse 20 tells us her kindness extends beyond her household: "She extends her hand to the poor; and she stretches out her hands to the needy." This godly woman offers a mother's touch to all who need it.

Whether single, married, widowed, divorced, childless, child-"full" or orphaned, isn't that our divine privilege as women?

 

This year I experienced a dramatic shift in my view of Mother's Day. Instead of mourning it as a day about my mother, I broadened my view and celebrated all the women who mother me with their kindness. So when tears pricked my eyes at the sight of Mother's Day cards, instead of passing the greeting card aisle with a  heavy heart, I stopped to find the perfect card to honor my mother's sister, who loves my siblings and me like we are her own.

 

And rather than closing my eyes and waiting expectantly for the honor that would come to me on Mother's Day, I opened them and looked for the honor I could give. I thought of my friend Melanie, who lost her husband to a massive stroke a little over a year ago. She is now the single parent to three children in middle school. Without the aid of a husband, she works, prepares meals, maintains the house, manages the money, services the car, makes parenting decisions and provides spiritual guidance. Without the camaraderie of their father, she watches her children grow up. And despite all she does for them, her adolescent children don't have the means or opportunity to buy her a Mother's Day gift.

 

This year I decided it will be my blessing to help Melanie's children give her a Mother's Day gift each year. Over the weekend, Carson exchanged secret texts with Melanie's elder son so we could fill a pretty basket with some of her breakfast favorites: English muffins, homemade strawberry jam and freshly-squeezed orange juice. I reasoned that this was an easy menu that the children could prepare for Melanie in the morning while she lingered under the covers with flowers on her nightstand and a pretty magazine in her hands. When we picked up Melanie's son on Mother's Day Eve to hang out (i.e., carry out the covert Mission MD), Seth said it meant a lot to him to be able to do something special for his mom.

And do you want to know something surprising?

Despite the heartache of missing my mother, this might have been the best Mother's Day I have ever had.

 

Mother's Day gives us a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the gifts we received from our mothers and the ones we hope to pass on to our children. But when we feel the pain of Mother's Day -- the wounds of disappointment, the agony of grief -- we can still find joy when we seek to put others ahead of ourselves. And isn't that what mothering is all about?

Maybe, like the virtuous woman, children will rise up and call us blessed on Mother's Day. But as godly women with mothers' hearts, we won't sit idly waiting. We will seize every opportunity to reach out and bless others. Because there is a lot of heartache in the world, and we have some mothering to do.

"There is an instinct in a woman to love her own child -- and an instinct to make any child who needs her love, her own." ~ Robert Brault

 

Flavored Butters Cookbook Giveaway

 

 

"Good bread is the most fundamentally satisfying of all foods; good bread with fresh butter, the greatest of feasts!" ~ James Beard

 

 

This week I am really buttering you up with a deliciously creamy cookbook giveaway. I previewed Flavored Butters by Lucy Vaserfirer recently, and it is a treasury of sweet and savory butter recipes. First on my list to try is the whipped vanilla bean butter, pictured above. See the recipe below, compliments of the chef.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

Flavored Butters

 

Other recipes on my must-try list are rosemary-roasted garlic butter, Gorgonzola-chive butter and rose-berry butter. Which spread will you try first? One sweet reader of A Little Loveliness will get a complimentary copy of this new cookbook. To enter, leave separate comments below for each entry you choose.

 

 

(1) Leave a comment if you follow A Little Loveliness.

(2) Leave an extra comment if you follow cookbook author Lucy Vaserfirer on Twitter.

 

 

 

Congratulations to Sheila, The Quintessential Magpie, on winning last week's tea party cookbook. Sheila, please contact me with your address.