the weekly gather

newsletter .01

The first pancake always feels a bit nerve wracking, comes out a little wonky, but also teaches us how to proceed. So this is my first pancake. And I love pancakes, so hopefully you do too and we can partake of all the sweetness to come, together.

I’ve been in my garden a lot this June. First it was planting in April and May, then waiting, and now finally starting to reap the benefits that come not just in the form of juicy blackberries and happy florals, but as a place for reprieve. Every morning I wander in and check to see that everything is still intact, taking inventory of what needs to be done, and every evening all 7 of us end up back within those pickets, roaming and plucking and appreciating it all.

Since we spend mostly mornings and evenings outside, the middle of the day is usually spent indoors to escape the oppressive heat. This can get a bit tricky with 5 children, but I’m always learning new ways to let even those times be filled with lessons and joy. My 12 year old son told me he was bored the other day as he sat cross legged on the kitchen counter. I offered him the suggestion of making something in the kitchen. I could see his mind begin to work and within a few moments he had his idea. “Do we have any wheat berries?” he asked. I showed him where they were as well as the electric mill and the hand crank mill (he chose the latter), and within about 4 hours of very genuine time and labor and zero assistance from me, he had produced a beautiful oaf of freshly milled bread. The satisfaction that brought him further inspired him to try his hand at freshly milled sourdough honey buns the next evening for a Saturday morning breakfast treat for his siblings. This also turned out insanely good, and well, basically we have a resident bread baker now.

A lesson for us all on boredom and the importance of allowing not just our children, but also ourselves to be bored every now again. To not jump to entertainment and stimulation, but instead to allow our minds to wander and daydream and create possibilities. I think this has sadly been all but eliminated in our constant dizzying whirl of flashing entertainment these days. The good news is, we can choose another way.

I’m loving this little dress and these cotton pointelle underwear for my toddler. These are the cutest little juice glasses and these plates are perfect for outside dining or indoors too. This recipe is on repeat for an easy lunch paired with a protein because it stays crunchy in the fridge for a couple of days. I’ve been taking this heme iron daily to boost my ferretin levels and it’s going up nicely. This clean ingredient shampoo is keeping my hair so soft and shiny and this clean ingredient moisturizer is working wonders for me!

Monday | coconut curry meatballs with rice and garden vegetables

Tuesday | sausage, potato, and green bean sheet pan bake

Wednesday | tacos with fresh fruit

Thursday | salmon fried rice

Friday | grilled chicken with strawberry goat cheese salad

Saturday | homemade pizza and smoothies

Sunday | lasagna with fresh fruit

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Give me all the frilly blouses with overalls and dainty cotton dresses… the best way to stay cool while looking put together each day! I also wear those jellies about 90% of the time bc I can slip them on and off easily and they are perfect for those summer stormy days too!

listening to: Jervis Campbell, Rend Collective, and always Cece :)

reading: Just Do Something by Kevin DeYoung

I spend some amount of time every day dreaming of visiting the English Countryside again. Sometimes I’ll go outside in the early morning, and the glowing sun begins to rise just right, and the dew feels just right and there’s just kind of something on the air when I breath in, that just for a moment let’s me close me eyes and feel like I’m there. So I’m holding tight to the prayer and dream that I will be back there next year with my family and a handful of other ladies for another retreat.

I’ve also been spending a decent about of time preparing for something I’ve never offered before. It’s for the mothers and the makers who want to cultivate meaningful work without sacrificing what matters most. If you long to contribute financially while remaining deeply rooted in your home and family, if you feel caught between your ambitions and your desire to be present or you’re tired of building work that depends entirely on your constant presence, or you believe meaningful work and meaningful motherhood can coexist and you’re craving more margin, flexibility, and freedom in this season… I invite you to join the waitlist.

I hope your week is filled with blessings!