when you don't want a t-shirt quilt

I come from a t-shirt-lovin' family, and ooo I especially love the ones that are soft and well-worn.

Sometimes Most of the time, "well-worn" turns into "you really should throw that away," but you don't want to, because that t-shirt tells a story. It represents a memory. Throwing it away seems like throwing away the feels.

You know?

I cleaned out my t-shirt drawers back in the spring and parted with an embarrassing number.

But I also kept a smaller pile of memories to preserve. Much smaller. Around 18 shirts.

My crafting skills and patience capacity are not sufficient for the likes of a t-shirt quilt, so that was never an option. Instead, I chose to frame the designs and create a gallery wall in a strategic location of my house.

Namely this hallway that is rarely seen by anyone except me.

As with all my craft experiences, this one began in anxiety-inducing chaos.
 

You can see the only shining light there in the middle: my notepad, listing all t-shirts and respective frame sizes. I can never totally abandon the left side of my brain.

Following that planning session, when my blood pressure was stabilized, I spent a couple of hours scouring craft stores for frames that fit, and that were on sale by at least 40%.

And then I figured up in my head how many days I'd have to go without eating to pay for it all.

I won't give tutorial advice on how to frame them, because frankly, every one was different, and every one was a complete roll of the dice. Suffice it to say, scissors, tape, a pen, a screwdriver, and a functioning brain is enough.

There were a couple of misses. An off-centered cut once in a while.  A rogue pen marking here and there. It was a good exercise for me in accepting imperfection.

Once they were all framed, I loosely planned the layout. On a bed.

Don't mind that blanket up there in the top.

As for hanging, I worked from the center out, making a couple of adjustments along the way. Here is the first (and only) progress shot.

That black Peachtree Race frame was my start, and I moved to the left first.

During the hanging process, I got in a fight with only one frame. I won for now, but it'll be a miracle if that one is still hanging in 24 hours.

In the end I was pleased.

Completed my 2015 craft quota, which is exactly one.

And most importantly, avoided a t-shirt quilt.

to carter, on the occasion of your fourth

"Who in the world am I? Ah, that's the great puzzle."
-- Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland

Dear Carter Christopher,

Four years old. I might want you stay like this forever.

Your expressions are wicked-funny. You speak with an inflection in your voice that is dreamily pure, every phrase and question dripping with a sweetness that I savor so much in these days.

On our recent beach vacation as a family, you jumped into the pool a bazillion times, each stunt increasingly daring. Even in your building confidence, you'd occasionally ask to jump in holding hands with your mom or dad, or me, or Pat. It was a subtle tension between your dwindling dependence on us, and my hope that you might always be inclusive and inviting toward those around you.

School has continued to be a good and healthy challenge for you, and while reaching new milestones is fun to celebrate, perhaps more rewarding is watching you work hard at the things that don't particularly interest you. One day this work ethic will be one of your best qualities, because responsible adults have to do things all the time that they don't like. You'll be better for having learned that discipline now.

I didn't think you could get any cuter, but then this summer you got glasses.

It turns out that idiosyncratic winking of yours wasn't a quirk, but an endearing symptom of struggling eyesight. My goodness, you are darling.

Of course the big event of the year was that your family welcomed a new addition, and glory to God, you have embraced the Littlest like a natural. Your teachers say that his arrival was a catalyst for some of your most dynamic growth, which is true, but I would qualify that progress as important heart growth that should not be overlooked. You love to make him giggle, you are careful to check on him regularly, and you are wildly adoring of him.

I'm so encouraged and expectant of the big brother you will be to him, as you learn to love and protect another.

Here's what your mom and dad say about this past year:

I'd describe Carter's personality with these few words:
mom: Friendly, curious, strong-willed.
dad: A loving heart that is raging for independence.

Carter is happiest when he ...
mom: Is active! Jumping on trampolines, swimming, wrestling with Dad, kicking the soccer ball, or running on the beach.
dad: Is running, bouncing, jumping, wrestling, or playing with Jack and Mason.

Carter is not-so-charming when he ...
mom: Back-talks.
dad: Tells me I need to listen, not to talk back to him, and that he is in charge (all while stomping his foot at me).

My proudest moment as a parent this past year was ...
mom: There were so many. I am proud of how he loves his brother; how he overcame his fear of the swings; how he is working really really hard to write, even though he doesn't like it; how he tries to remember his memory verse from church; how he treats his friends; how much he loves and respects his dad.
dad: First, watching Carter become a big brother. He is so naturally good at caring for Luke and is amazingly patient and loving. And he can make Luke smile and/or laugh on cue. The other is just the astounding explosion of vocabulary and confidence with his social interactions. I am so proud when he engages people, and tells stories, and rattles off words I didn't even know he knew. He has worked so hard over the last year and there is such a noticeable difference.

One time this past year when I thought I was going to lose my mind was ...
mom: When I would get Luke back to sleep in the wee hours of the morning and turn around and Carter was awake and ready to the start the day. OR the time he pooped himself in the airport after being potty trained for 9 months, and had to fly home commando.
dad: Traveling home from Maine. There were two poops and Carter flew home without underwear on. I was disciplined out and was ready to just throw in the towel and leave him in an airport bathroom.

Carter's best qualities are ...
mom: He is a loving, sweet boy that is full of absolute JOY. His excitement for things is just amazing to watch.
dad: His tender heart, inherently tremendous big bro skills, infectious smile/laugh.

I was surprised this past year when Carter ...
mom: Handled being a big brother so well. It was a big change, but he handled it great!
dad: Recited the Pledge of Allegiance out of nowhere. This is up there with one of the proudest moments of the year. My heart was filled!

I laugh out loud when Carter ...
mom: Laughs. He has the best laugh. Even little Luke thinks so, because Carter's laugh always makes Luke laugh.
dad: Overlooks social norms and says hello to un-expecting strangers passing by. The element of surprise is so entertaining. (Lighten up, people!)

After his fourth birthday, I'm most looking forward to ...
mom: Watching the relationship with his brother grow.
dad: How Carter manages a mobile Luke, encroaching on his personal space.

It really is a miraculous dichotomy to witness, this business of growing up.

When I read these answers from your first birthday until now, they collectively reveal how your world continues to expand (as it should) in the physical realm.  And yet they are spun with these transcendent common threads, the sacred evidence that you are who you've always been, and who you were made to be.

They got me reflecting on identity, and how yours is taking shape over time, and in some instances, in a matter of minutes.

This year has been so transformative, as you are learning to be a friend to others and a big brother to Luke, and simultaneously stepping away from your only-child-and-grandchild persona. And over your lifetime, your worldly identity will continue to evolve, as your family, memories, friends, feelings, and experiences will all accumulate into what we pray mightily is a man who reflects Jesus in how he loves and serves people.

But Little Man, remember this: No matter how the world defines you, no matter the experiences or people that influence you, or the memories and feelings you bear, you will always be who you were made to be by the one true God. We pray for you a spiritual identity that will forever be chosen, beloved, secure and accepted in Christ, who will be faithful to remind you of that for as many times as you have to ask.

We love who you are becoming on this earth, but we look forward to watching you discover the eternal identity that will define you more wonderfully than any other.

Happy Fourth, Little Man. Our lives are richer because of you.

thankful thursday #227 (on a wednesday)

Tomorrow is Little Man's fourth birthday (?!), and his annual birthday blog post takes precedence over a Thankful Thursday post.

But that's no reason to ignore gratitude (although I've had no trouble omitting it of late). Wednesday will do.

It's rained every day this week, and I mean the stormy kind. Fat rain drops, hard downpours, some thunder rolls, and a bit of lightening. And when it's not down-pouring, it's threatening, or it's drizzling, and the air is heavy.

It rains in the afternoon, at night, and before the sun comes up, and twice this week, my early morning runs have been cancelled.

Running before our city awakes is a hard discipline for me. And admittedly when it's raining and I get the blessed text message that we're cancelling, I love to curl back up under my covers and sleep a little longer.

But running is also an important rhythm for me, and my days are better when they start with running. My word, my sixth grade self would not know me right now.

This morning, we were gifted a tiny opening, and the opportunity to run a few miles before the rains came. I was thankful to reclaim that rhythm today, even for a morning. Maybe I won't get it again for a few days, but if so, I'll be grateful for when the skies clear.

Do you have a rhythm you've missed lately? I bet you appreciate it when you get it back. Go on, be grateful!

thankful thursday #226

August is, in the rhythm of my work calendar, the blessed calm before the storm. It is slower during the weekdays, and weekends are quiet and protected, in preparation for the coming season of travel.

Of course, when the storm does hit, it is hard to remember the calm that preceded it. I'm an expert in compartmentalizing and grinding and pushing through, which are strictly survival strategies, but the calm. I miss it in the storm.

I'm feeling grateful this week for the calm weekend ahead, and for the awareness of it, for it is fleeting.

When you're in the calm, are you thankful for it? Go on, be grateful!

i'm obsessed with these shrimp

Recently a couple of girlfriends and I spent a weekend in a small town tucked in the mountains of north Georgia. It's not a place to which one goes to be seen; it's a place to enjoy the view, stay in my pajamas all day, and nap for no reason other than because I feel like it.

Now I do love a fine restaurant experience, but in these times (and tiny towns), I love to cook and stay cozy at the cabin.

This dish is one I'd made several times before, but it was especially perfect for this trip. The ingredients are easily packable (no grocery store run needed), it only takes 30 minutes from start to finish, and there are zero leftovers. Ever.

Since then, I've cooked this dish a gazillion times and can't get enough. It's wicked-easy, but has just enough sophistication to jazz up a routine weeknight.

Garlicky Baked Shrimp
Serves 2-4

1 lb. large or extra large shrimp, peels and tails removed
3 Tbsp. white cooking wine
3-4 cloves garlic, minced
salt and pepper
4 Tbsp. butter, melted
1 c. Panko bread crumbs
2 Tbsp. chopped parsley

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees, and grease a small casserole (I use an 8" square).


2. In a bowl, combine shrimp, wine and garlic, and toss to coat. Spread shrimp evenly in the baking dish, and season with salt and pepper.


3. In a small bowl, use a fork to mix melted butter, Panko bread crumbs, and parsley. Top the shrimp with the Panko mixture.


4. Bake for 15-18 minutes, until the shrimp are pink and opaque.

I love to serve this with steamed broccoli and a green salad, to keep things super simple. Prepare those sides while the shrimp bake, and everything comes out ready to go at the same time.

And some other tips, because I can't help but over-share:

"Serves 2-4" is a joke. I could eat the entire pound of shrimp myself, so you'll need to adjust for your crowd. Seriously, these shrimp are like candy.

As for the shrimp, I've used frozen and fresh, depending on whatever is on sale, and both are fine. Just get large or extra large. 

So I can have the ingredients always handy (except for the shrimp), I use a parsley herb blend that comes in a refrigerated tube, like this:

You can find it in your grocery store's herb section, and it's an even substitute. Easy peasy.

That is all. Now go treat yourself to an easy and delicious meal.

catch-up monday

Listen up. Here's some of my summer in a quick photo purge.

And as a bonus, these first few from our company retreat have a very fine yellow filter.

I work with these gals all the time.

They're so fun.

And this one. She and I share a very deep love of Mississippi State, having both served there for many years.

She's so great that I spent two weeks in Italy with her. I can't say that of many.

These two I've known as coworkers and friends for 14 years. (What?!) Some of my very earliest memories of my career are with them. (That was back when we didn't know what we were getting into.)

We worked hard, but in the end there was this sunset that brought my heart rate back down.

Some girlfriends and I went to see a movie. These are work friends, too, and sometimes we dress alike.

Not on purpose.

This one got spectacles.
 

I wasn't convinced he could get much cuter, but he did. I can't take it.

And this one will not stop smiling.

All summer long. So happy.

Meanwhile, I've been darting all over the place for meetings. On one of those jaunts, I actually drove a Dodge Dart.

I couldn't help this snap. Those Darts. They're tiny.

On another one of those jaunts, on an airplane, I landed back home around 2:00 a.m. That was not worthy of a photo, I tell you.

I turned 37. I felt loved in so many ways.

My parents celebrated with me. My friends. I ate like a queen. I laughed til I cried. My mom's carrot cake. I loved that birthday.

There is more to share. It's been a summer full. Has yours been, too?