Memoria Arts~ Life in the Making

Today...

 

{In the window: Our thankfulness project, loosely inspired by Kristin Welch over at (in)courage}

Welcome fall...

The first day of fall- the first day of my favorite time of year. I love the cool, crisp weather that isn't cold, the blaze of leaf on limb, the excuses to drink hot drinks all day long... I like nothing more than the first day I get to pull my favorite sweater on. I live in an area that turns all out for Fall- such golden, sparkling hues of orange, red, and gold sprinkled all over the hills. And the smells! Autumn has a smell that is unmatched by any other season... wood fires and apple cider and spice, pumpkin bread baking in the oven...

What is your favorite thing about Autumn?

Catching the first smile...

Baby love...

Excuse me while I flood the blog with baby pictures....

We came home from the hospital on Thursday and are doing well. The kids are absolutely, positively, crazy about their new baby brother, and looking at him is providing endless hours of entertainment. (Isaiah says, "Mommy, when is Josiah going to do something?" At which point, Josiah cracked his eyes opened and fixed Isaiah with a look. Isaiah started giggling.)

Sleep is elusive, but who cares? I have a baby to kiss and cuddle! Besides, whoever thought up that whole 'sleeping like a baby' phrase really intended to mislead, methinks. I think the other children have finally gotten back on their normal sleep schedules (such strange sounds at 3 am!), so hopefully the overall grumpy factor in the house is headed to better places.

So much to tell about our little miracle baby...soon. Very soon. But right now, I am headed back to kiss that little sweet head... Thank you for all your prayers, love, and well wishes!

Heart beating praise songs...

I had a fetal heart echo today, where they closely observe the baby's heart over a period of time. This was primarily due to the fact that at the last ultrasound Bean was being quite shy and they just could not get good images and measurements of the heart. We tried to get a peek at just "who" Bean was today, and now the little wiggle worm wouldn't sit still long enough to peek! Nor would Bean stay still for the technician to get the heart properly imaged. We had to play a game of hide and seek for a little bit, but finally, Bean got comfortable and they went to work taking the measurements and listening to the heart, watching the blood flow in and out and around. Ultrasounds never fail to amaze me...there is just something about peering into the hidden places and seeing the baby move- the hands, the feet, the little idiosyncrasies of personality already showing. The steady heart beat: whoosh whoosh whoosh. This is the longest amount of time I have ever seen or heard any of my children in utero- almost half an hour. I watched Baby suck on hand, tickle foot, turn, flip and wave. The doctor said that everything was fine and looked good, and I couldn't help but smile when she said "all the pieces and parts are exactly where they belong". This snippet of verse had been running through my head the whole time- the Lord's care for us, for me, for this wee little one's heart beating praise songs within me- it astounds. How graced we are! What ultrasound reveals for moments, God sees for every second, minute, and hour of pregnancy. Praise to El Roi, the God who sees!

For you formed my inward parts;
   you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.Wonderful are your works;
   my soul knows it very well.
My frame was not hidden from you,when I was being made in secret,
   intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed substance;in your book were written, every one of them,
   the days that were formed for me,
   when as yet there was none of them.
How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
   How vast is the sum of them!
If I would count them, they are more than the sand.
 I awake, and I am still with you.

          

{Psalm 139: 13-18}

Seeing...

(This is a part of continuing poetry challenges over at LL's blog, Seedlings in Stone)

Slumber comes
inward floating down
dancing waters
rhythmic turn reaching
against starry night
stretch and grow

but in the darkness
fear and betrayal swim
swirling tempests
threatening to overcome

tossing and turning
flail I against the
emptiness
bedclothes tangle and catch

arm encircles
comforts, draws in
husbands heart beat pounds in ear
soothing slowing

tears wend ribbons
across skin down face
round curve
as I slip into sleep again

Kitchen Poetry, #1

Toni challenged her readers to join her on a kitchen poetry tour this week. I spend so much time in my tiny kitchen that I thought it would be a great way to capture what I do everyday. Of course, this weekend I've had the luck and the sincere delight to eat at others homes, so no cooking has been happening. (Quite a break for me...I  don't know what to do with myself. And such brave people that they would invite a family of six!) I'll call today traces.

Postcard Wednesday, Edition 3...

Still a good reminder, yes? It was penned 94 years ago. I hope you've enjoyed this trip down memory lane this month,  collecting stories as we go.  It was a perfect way to transition as we head into Thanksgiving and Christmas. This season, make sure you ask questions, listen for stories, and, above all, RECORD them! {climbing off soapbox now, he he he}

Postcard Wednesday, Edition 2...

  This one is written in German. I thought mine was good enough to translate, but it has eluded me. It was written in 1908. Isn't the script beautiful?
This one was postmarked 1944.

Howdy:
  Your family sounds swell. My husband and I have been married for just a year and we a just starting house keeping. He was in the Army but got discharged. I am 23 years old. Husband, 26. We both work.
Mrs. M. Becker
3437 W. 45th St.
Cleveland, Ohio

I have a little secret...

So, I have this wee, wee fascination with all things vintage. Beautiful vintage. Things you find in some secret attic of your great aunt, or hiding under your grandma's bed, love letters written in flowing, free form script. Or, on the other hand, you're one of those lucky ones that manages to find a whole priceless stash of it for five cents at a flea market. Such is the collections of one of my favorite artists, the beautiful (inside and out) Rebecca Sower. Her artwork mixes all of this delightful vintage with abandon, resulting in stunning and inspiring collages that stretch across mediums. Rebecca was one of my first artist crushes when I fell into the colorful world, and she remains one of my favorite.  She recently made a few "secrets" journals. I may not have a whole lot of secrets to keep, but I fell for this journal hook, line, and sinker, and I was so lucky to nab one! I feel not the least bit guilty either, since it was my birthday. Now, I loved this thing before ever getting to turn its pages. Imagine my delight when I discovered that it really did hold secrets! Every little envelope, every little hiding place, held a treasure. As I finger through the pages I imagine Rebecca with a slightly impish smile as she made this, hiding each little piece for us to find. A treasure hunt indeed. Shall I share a few?