Archives for February 2013

Love. On Purpose {A Link-Up}

February 27, 2013 by Edie Wadsworth 17 Comments

This year, I made a goal to live with more intention-—to find ways to spend my time, my money, and my gifts more wisely.

It’s so easy for us to fill our lives with so much stuff that we leave little room to serve others, to dream our dreams, to make art, to love well.

This month our focus is love. C.S. Lewis said of love,

“To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket- safe, dark, motionless, airless–it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable.”

It’s your turn. Tell us about your broken, beautiful love!

What Love Sounds Like:: Love, On Purpose

February 25, 2013 by Edie Wadsworth 284 Comments

Nobody tells you how hard it will be to love someone. Most of us have such a flimsy idea of what love means.

You have no idea at the outset of this adventure that this relationship may cost you your life.

The culture has taught us to grab what we need, to get our part, to take care of ourselves. The culture worships at the altar of ‘me’ time.

But Christ shows another way.

When our house burned down before Christmas in 2010, Steve and I woke up to a house filled with smoke, with flames shooting out the dining room window.

He didn’t hesitate. He crawled through the burning house and unlocked the front door and made a way for our kids to escape.

He didn’t count the cost.

And as he lay gasping on the front steps, heaving for breath, all he could think about was the kids.

When our sweet Caiti brought them downstairs to safety, she looked like an angel. We all survived by the mercy of God.

But for months, I was tortured by the sounds of love—the wheezing, the coughing, the scars that may never heal. The smell of smoke always lingers in the air. He used a steroid inhaler for the longest time but I’m not sure his lungs will ever be the same.

Every time he coughs, I’m jarred awake to what it means to really love another.

Love that will enter a burning room, not knowing the outcome. Love that will lay down its life. Love that will go to work, day in and day out, despite the stress and drudgery and the thanklessness.

Love that sets His face like a flint and won’t stop until mankind is ransomed. Love that goes to a cross, to die, for the sins of the world.

Real love can’t be summed up in chocolate and cards and flowers.

Real love is dirty, smoke-stained, bloody, left for dead.

But the Father of all mercy will raise the dead man, will give him breath and life, and will in His resurrection, raise us too.

Love will have the last word.

Love will never fail.

“Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God.”

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The Inner Ring

February 23, 2013 by Edie Wadsworth 46 Comments

It’s shaping up to be a busy year so I’m extra thankful for the hunkering down we’ve been doing the past two months. One month from today, I’ll be in Dallas, Texas with all my Blissdom friends and I absolutely can’t wait. I’m reposting this because I love C.S. Lewis and his thoughts on this topic. My whole life, I think people have assumed that I’m in the inner ring, the group that matters, the popular crowd. Sometimes, I have been but I’ve never cared a hill a beans for it. Why? Most of the people in ‘the popular crowd’ aren’t very interesting because they’re too busy trying to stay popular. I love to find camaraderie and friendship where my interests lie and when you seek that kind of fellowship, a circle or ‘inner ring’ forms naturally—but not at the exclusion of others.

Do what you love, be who you are and you’ll find your people.

{one of my favorite inner rings, forged by time and trial and good fortune}

It can be intimidating to go to a meeting of five hundred smart, opinionated, quite successful women. Let alone women bloggers: that’s another category altogether. And when 500 women gather at Blissdom in one month, there’ll inevitably be 100 little groups of 4 or 5 women huddling and laughing and talking about all manner of topics, as it should be. We seek out those with whom we have much in common and hope to make true connections.

But lurking closely is temptation to what C.S. Lewis, in his book The Weight of Glory, calls the ‘inner ring’. And we often perceive that we are somehow just ‘outside’ it. You know the ‘inner ring’ well from high school; the group of girls that are inseparable and exist for the sole purpose of excluding everyone else from their circle. The group is usually not a natural, organic group that forges easily because of the like interests shared by the parties. It’s a group that has the appearance of including the ‘important people’ or the ‘people in the know’. And it’s sole existence is exclusion. The allure for the inner ring only works if there’s an imaginary line of admittance which is guarded tightly by those already inside. Lewis points out what many of us already know;

If all you want is to be in the know, your pleasure will be short-lived. The circle cannot have from within the charm it had from outside. By the very act of admitting you it has lost its magic. Once the first novelty is worn off, the members of this circle will be no more interesting than your old friends. Why should they be? You were not looking for virtue or kindness or loyalty or humour or learning or wit or any of the things that can be really enjoyed. You merely wanted to be “in”. And that is a pleasure that cannot last. As soon as your new associates have been staled to you by custom, you will be looking for another ring.

The quest for the Inner Ring will break your hearts unless you break it. But if you break it, a suprising result will follow. If in your spare time, you consort simply with the people you like, you will again find that you have come unawares to a real inside, that you are indeed snug and safe at the centre of something which, seen from without, might look exactly like an Inner Ring. But the difference is that its secrecy is accidental, and its exclusiveness a by-product, and noone was led thither by the lure of the esoteric, for it is only four or five people who like one another meeting to do what they like to do. This is friendship.

What we seek to establish and strengthen are friendships. Inner rings are unavoidable, necessary, and often innocent wholesome groups. It’s our desire to be admitted for the sake of being “in” and our pleasure at others’ exclusion that ushers in evil.

So, remember that the people sitting with you are likely the most interesting, kind, passionate people at the conference. And when you find, perhaps unawares, that a cozy inner ring has formed, be thankful for the gift of true fellowship, which never has exclusion as its’ touchstone.

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Tell us about your struggles with the inner ring. Have you ever “come unawares to a real inside?”

True fellowship is a good gift from God and I’m so thankful for it in my life!

How to Make a Skirted Tablecloth {the lazy girl’s guide}

February 19, 2013 by Edie Wadsworth 80 Comments

I love my dining table. Like LOVE it. It’s an Eye-talian made table that I bought at O.P. Jenkins after our house fire. (I can’t find any more specific information than that).

This is one place I decided not to skimp.

I’m all about a Goodwill rehab project but I wanted a good, sturdy table. After seeing Julie’s beautiful table, I knew wanted a large round table that would foster all kinds of warm and cozy hospitality. I’ve tried various swatches of fabrics draped over it to simulate a make shift table cloth but I’m kinda rebellious. Far be it from me to go buy a table cloth to fit the table. THAT is way too right inside the box. When Better Homes and Gardens came to our house, I found a kindred spirit in Elizabeth because not only did she not care that I didn’t have a proper tablecloth, she swore she wouldn’t have used it anyway. And then she proceeded to duct tape a piece of fabric together and call it a day. We were obviously separated at birth.

It looked a little something like this.

Then, before Thanksgiving, I hemmed and hawed around and nearly ordered a skirted tablecloth from Ballards. But it was gonna be $250 for the size of my table and that just seemed OUTrageous.

So, I got my lazy sewing skills on and made one and I HAVE LOVED every raveling thing about IT. I mean, LOVED it.

It’s imperfect and unfinished and raveling and beautiful. I wash it every Friday and then drape it back over the table while it’s damp to finish drying it.

The first one I made was this perfect blue-green linen from Hobby Lobby. It’s the one we use all the time. Here is it, freshly laundered in all its imperfection. It adds just the right amount of coziness to my industrial/cottage kitchen. I could have ironed it. But then those 20 minutes of my life are gone forever. And we’ve got episodes of Gold Rush to catch up on, people.

I made another one this weekend in anticipation of an upcoming soiree at my house.

I used this fabric, that I ordered from Amazon, because apparently, if I can’t order it from Amazon with free shipping, I don’t need it. It took about 8 yards for my sized table, give or take a yard or two. (I know, my attention to detail is inspiring.)

So, here’s the laziest tutorial ever known to man. This tutorial will make real seamstresses shudder. I will do violence to the craft of sewing. I’m just giving you fair warning.

First, lay the fabric on the table and roughly (I told you there would be violence) cut out a circle in the shape of your table leaving about an inch overhang. It helps SO much if you buy fabric that’s wide enough to cover the table. My table is 48 inches in diameter so I made sure my fabric was 54 inches wide. It makes this step so much easier.

I sat some heavy objects on the table to keep the fabric from moving and then just starting cutting my circle.

Okay, apparently, I sat a vase of flowers on the table but heavy objects would work fine.

THen measure the drop of the table from top to bottom and add 3-4 inches to make sure it gently brushes the ground after it’s sewn together.
I just layed my fabric right on the island and used the tearing method to ‘cut’ my strips. Many fabrics won’t tear and honestly it’s harder to sew if you do that because of the raveling. But I’m like the ten year old who won’t listen. So I tore it into strips. And then cursed it while I sewed. It took 4 1/2 strips of fabric for me but it’ll depend on the diameter of your table.

THen, I turned the circle piece wrong side up and started pinning the strips to the circle. I added in some very imperfect pleats, just by pinning them in place.

You can join the sides of each strip together if you want or not. I sewed all the sides together so my tablecloth skirt would be one continuous piece of fabric. Just pin it along the sides, when you’re joining the strips together.

About halfway around the table, I took it up to the sewing room and sewed what I had pinned because, 1) The fabric gets bulky and heavy fast and it’s easier to deal with 230 straight pins than 500, at a time. 2) I’m terribly impatient and wanted to see what it would look like half way through.
Ten, finish pinning the strips to the circle and the sides of the strips together until it looks like this.

Now, sew the rest of the pinned pieces together and you will be so darn proud of yourself.

Unless you’re me and do violence to your sewing machine by sewing at the speed of lightning on steroids and break the bobbin thread every five minutes and poke 8,00o tiny holes in your fingers.

I have a love/hate relationship with my sewing machine but I do dearly love the finished product.

I don’t hem the ends, just let the ravel-y goodness drag the ground. Surely that doesn’t surprise you.

I made this for a fun silhouette/french themed party at my house next week. We’re making all kinds of goodies, of the crafty and food variety but this one is my favorite so far.

My sincere apologies to all talented seamstresses in the world!

Around the House, {winter edition}

February 16, 2013 by Edie Wadsworth 69 Comments

Aren’t you just itching for Spring right about now? At our house, we’re a mix of irritable and extremely contented. We’re tired of homeschooling and gray skies and shin splints and complicated epic poems and dirty floors and cluttered counter tops and pilling yoga pants. But then that’s all a lie because we hope the long, winter days snuggled in at home making art projects and reading books will never end. We’re majoring in the beautiful paradox again. We’re conflicted. Just like Tennessee February weather.

Thank heavens for the lemons, that are always in season and beautiful. They never seem to be tortured and twisted up. They’re Spring, in a bowl.
We try to ramp up the arts and crafts, to keep the winter doldrums from settling in too long and hard. Today, we’re making a skirted tablecloth, paper flowers and silhouette art in anticipation of an upcoming gathering at my house. I don’t know about your kids but my girls are SO hard on themselves when it comes to art. They complain that they can’t draw or paint well, that they’re not creative. LIES. It’s all lies, I tell you. So, I just keep making them do it, through the tears and the heartache. And then this occurs.

And this…..

And this…..

And with all the weeping and thrashing around about how UN-artistic we are, someone emailed me to ask me the name of the folk artist who did oil pastel chicken drawing on my wall in the living room. Well, I’m so glad you asked. Her name is Cutie Pie Wadsworth and she’ll be happy to do some chalk drawings for you. Her work may be stained with tears because she’s convinced she’s not very good. So, thanks for asking and I’ll keep reminding her that someone loves her work!

Sometimes I wonder if what I’m doing here in these long days with these girls is really making a difference. I despise my work too. But then the early morning quiet time, reflecting on their words, their tender hearts, their carefree dancing and laughing—I know it’s important. I know it’s good.

I can sense that these days are numbered and I wish I could bottle them up and keep them here forever.
We read our books and talk about Greek heroes and the new color of Essie polish and how to make freezer paper art and I’m overcome with joy that they beg me to sit on their beds and just talk.

Then, I’m pushing too hard— to do Latin grammar and to stop doing so much dancing, to quit goosing around and laughing all the time. At least they’ll never have to wonder if their mother was crazy. That one’s in the bag.

It is February so right after a week of 60 degree sunshine, we got snow. The girls were thrilled. When you live in TN and it snows, you know you’re on borrowed time so you keep your gear on the ready. There can be no looking for gloves for ten minutes because it’ll all be melted by then.

So, I knew I had exactly 47 minutes to snap this photo. We even made snow cream. Twice.

Also, I’ve got some news to share with you all but I’ll be sending it out through the newsletter to protect the names of the innocent. If you’re not subscribed yet, do so before Sunday. I am not sending every blog post out through the newsletter but some of you have asked for that. How about if I send an email update once a week or so with the links to all the posts from that week and then a newsletter once per month? I can have it set up to send an email with every post, but then I would want to unsubscribe because of all the emails. Tell me what your preferences are. Do you want an email with every single post? Tell me all about it. I’ll be checking the comments, amidst all the crafting today!
I’m using the email service to protect myself in case Google ever ‘loses’ me, which has happened to some of my friends. I don’t want to be at the mercy of Google to connect with my peeps so an email service gives us more control and connection.

Okay, happy weekend, dears!
Hope it’s full of beautiful contrasts!
Tell us how you’re fighting the winter blues!!
Mwahhhhhhhh!

Jesus, Mumford and Sons, and the Sermon on the Mount

February 14, 2013 by Edie Wadsworth 297 Comments

I’ve been in love with lyrics since I can remember. I ALWAYS want to know the lyrics of a song. That may be why I love historic hymns so much—they usually have a rich, depth of meaning that is missing in most modern music. When I hear a new song I love, I usually Google the lyrics and then argue with the screen about what the lyrics really say. Maybe it’s the romantic in me. I’m a lover. Good writing and good lyrics are my love language.

And don’t we often insert ourselves into the lyrics, somehow? It’s hard to listen to a song that you love and not insert yourself into it. The same thing naturally happens with scripture. We hear the Sermon and the Mount and we start trying to figure out how pure and peace-making and merciful we are, so that we can ‘see God’ and ‘inherit the earth’. The truth is, the Sermon on the Mount is fulfilled in Jesus, not us. He’s the one who’s poor in spirit, meek, merciful and pure in heart. If we’re ever to be called Sons of God, it’ll because of His peacemaking, not ours.

That’s where Mumford and Sons comes in. (You knew they were be here on Valentine’s Day, right?)

I’ve decided that since I’m not into most modern praise music, I’m adopting this as my official Lenten praise song.

I like to imagine Jesus is talking to God, His Father. He’s anxious to ransom mankind but he waits, and tames His flesh and fixes His eyes, and does it all willingly and never forgets the Father’s kindness toward us on His Son’s behalf.

I can’t help but see Him everywhere, giving Himself over in love for His creation.

“Herein is love, not that we loved God but that He loved us.”

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Mumford and Sons – I Will Wait – Grammys 2013 by IdolxMuzic

And I came home
Like a stone
And I fell heavy into your arms
These days of darkness
Which we’ve known
Will blow away with this new sun

And I’ll kneel down
Wait for now
And I’ll kneel down
Know my ground

And I will wait, I will wait for you
And I will wait, I will wait for you

So break my step
And relent
You forgave and I won’t forget
Know what we’ve seen
And him with less
Now in some way
Shake the excess

But I will wait, I will wait for you
And I will wait, I will wait for you
And I will wait, I will wait for you
And I will wait, I will wait for you

So I’ll be bold
As well as strong
And use my head alongside my heart
So tame my flesh
And fix my eyes
That tethered mind free from the lies

But I’ll kneel down
Wait for now
I’ll kneel down
Know my ground

Raise my hands
Paint my spirit gold
And bow my head
Keep my heart slow

Cause I will wait, I will wait for you
And I will wait, I will wait for you
And I will wait, I will wait for you
And I will wait, I will wait for you