Lil Treasures #61: Lumpy Clay and Evening Primrose Oil

Hello friends. This week we celebrated our daughter Marlo’s birthday and as I scrolled through the parts of her life I’ve collected on my phone the other night in anticipation, I was struck by how much she’s grown this year. Her face changed, losing some of its little girlishness and adding angles where curves once lived. In August, both of us frustrated with her long pandemic tangles, we chopped her hair. She was determined to get bangs. She, of course, learned an important lesson in womanhood: you will almost always regret bangs. I watched as I scrolled from the day after her birth, seeing her become more of the herself we all know now. The change is so perceptible in her: a full transition from big-little girl to young lady with fully formed (read: strong) opinions, favorite books (Junie B. Jones is the funniest thing she’s ever heard), struggles, frustrations, and a curious mind.

I say all of that because I think back to how much we’ve all changed since this time last year, too. It’s easier to see with kids, but I am not the same, and I’d bet you aren’t either. Some of the things that were important to me one year ago are laughable now. I never even thought about or considered some of the top tier issues weighing on me currently.

I don’t have anything profound to say other than I’m still trying to feel this change out. The world alternately feels too dark, and also too bright. Either way, I’m blinded, using my hands to navigate along walls that once were familiar, now I’m not so sure. I feel very “in process” — like a piece of pottery that was something useful, but now the potter has changed her mind, so she breaks me back down to a lump yet unformed, thinking about what she’ll do with me.

And I sit here, very lumpy and unfinished. I think I am deciding I’m grateful for that.

[I’m gonna level with you all and let you know that I wrote this 👆 while having a migraine episode, so I’m not even positive it makes sense, BUT WE’RE KEEPING IT.]

There’s no easy way to transition from me weirdly expressing myself as a lump of clay, so we won’t ease into it. Here am I, Lumpy Clay, with your treasures this week.

✝︎ Lent begins February 17, but you can sign up for my Lent community and devotional (ugh I hate calling it that but maybe I should just embrace it) here. And don’t forget, Lil Swipes get the biggest percent off with code (you guessed it) LILSWIPE. If I’ve been absent from the places I usually dwell, it’s because I’m finishing up the final details of the guide to deliver to your inboxes SO SOON. Because Lent is coming, even if it feels like we’ve been in Lent for a year now.

📘  Sarah’s Bessey’s book A Rhythm of Prayer is available for pre-order and will officially be out February 9! I’ve pre-ordered this and just based on the pre-order bonuses, I think this book is about to wreck me.

📚 IN OTHER BOOK NEWS, I have been made aware of a new biography on Eugene Peterson and I have pre-ordered the absolute mess out of that. Put it in my veins.

🦙 As someone who believes Emperor Kuzco is the best Disney princess, I obviously loved this oral history on THE greatest Disney movie, The Emporer’s New Groove (h/t to Knox McCoy for bringing it to my attention).

⚾ Baseball legend Hank Aaron died this past Friday. He left behind a huge legacy not only in the sports world, but also as an activist in the civil rights movement. I found this sobering article about the woman who helped with his fan/hate mail correspondence. It is well worth the read!

Y'all ready for some good Twitter?

Ariel Dumas @ArielDumas

When we are back to real life I’m not going to remember how to do small talk I’m just going to be like “HI WHAT ARE YOUR GREATEST LOVES AND FEARS”

SparkNotes @SparkNotes

Greek choruses had the right idea. Show up, offer commentary on the drama, leave.

Andy Ryan @ItsAndyRyan

Two elderly British ladies greeting each other

ruby 🐊 @roobeekeane

𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗯 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗼𝗻 @calebsaysthings

john goodman is one of the only american heroes we have

Jacksepticeye @Jack_Septic_Eye

I live in Spain but the S is silent

NewDadNotes @NewDadNotes

Voldemort: I’m here to kill Harry Pott- [struggling to open baby gate] James Potter: push down and then pull back Voldemort: I am [still struggling] Lily Potter: jiggle it he needs to jiggle it Voldemort: I AM JIGGLING IT; You know what forget it I’ll come back when he’s 10

Tom Neenan @TNeenan

I am determined to turn this into a viable new meme format

neutron star keno @babybabypluto

My mental health surviving a really tough day but then my keys drop when I try to unlock my front door

Best Engineering videos @engin_video

engineering 👍🔨👎 https://t.co/5dANzB8m1y

We made it through the week. I cannot wait to see your treasures, my dears!

(Pretend this gif doesn’t go in for the kiss, I didn’t see it until it was too late.)