READ ALOUD ALBUM !

It's done! I didn't know if it would happen or if I could finish it in time, so I feel SO relieved and happy to see this project to its completion.  Earlier this year, I thought it would be a lovely thing if we could record voices of friends and kids reading aloud poems and short stories, put some music to it, and compile it into an album to then be shared and sold with all the proceeds going to a local non-profit organization. The idea came about from trying to think of ways to support those in our community that are most in need in ways where we could actually use the skills, talents and passions we already have. This way, the giving and the sharing is genuine, organic, invigorating, realistic and more sustainable. Reading, books, and music are all things that we love, and this is a way to do all those things together for the purpose of something bigger than ourselves.   

Friends contributed recordings of readings as well as music (an an original song as the last track by me and my friend Zach!), the album art is illustration by my friend Ashley, and this past month I put them all together (with big help from Ken) and then published it to Bandcamp, where it now lives.

The organization that we will donate the proceeds to is called Patty's Hope. It's a local organization started by our friends, Leila and Pete, that helps biological mothers of children in foster care.  They provide support for those who are without by way of safe housing, trauma recovery, life skills, and a healthy community.  So when you purchase the album, 100% of the proceeds will go to Patty's Hope and the work that they do for mothers here in Richmond. The recommended price for the album is $8, but feel free to donate more, as you are able. Sale of the album will close on December 26, 2018, and Patty's Hope will receive the proceeds at that time, along with a list of all those who have purchased the album. 

Please purchase, enjoy and pass it on!! (You can find it here) Ask friends and family to purchase the album as a gift to you! All of us are very excited about making this and being able to share it with those around us.  We imagine you listening to this album in the car to and from holiday bustle, or cozily tucked inside your home on a cold day, while you cook or clean and children play. We hope you will be be captivated by the melodies and stories, and be inspired to share some of your own.  

A FOX FAMILY

Happy November from a foxy family!

I have many more photos to share from our literary party this year, but I thought I'd drop in these photos that we took at home before the party to tell you we dressed up as foxes! The theme this year was the beloved Roald Dahl and each family picked a book to read, present and bring a food for - we chose "Fantastic Mr. Fox".  We loved reading that book (and several other Roald Dahl books together) and the girls were so enthusiastic as being little foxes together.

I made their masks and tails very last minute from felt (working on them on the evenings the week before the party!) but it was all so gratifying because Sloane and Logan were very excited about them and so proud of me for doing it.

This was later that morning when the discovered their tails make perfect guitars. 

For the adult fox heads, I found a designer who designed these paper cut-out kits that you essentially glue together to make a three dimensional head, and I gave Ken the task of putting ours together. They turned out beautifully! 

Lots of love from Mr. Fox, Mrs. Fox and their two baby foxes!

WHAT I'M READING V. 37

Yes I'm still here! Along with the glory and pain that is surviving the shift into colder and darker weather, I'm doing a lot of reading. Here are some I read last month:

1. Come As You Are by Emily Nagoski, Ph.D

This was the first of the sex books I picked up when I decided I wanted to read more about sex. We have a ladies night every month with some friends in town, and most nights we have a topic that we discuss. Recently, we decided on the topic of sex (which extended to two parts over the span of two months) and it motivated me to find some good books about sex.  This was one of them.  This book is insightful, well-researched and helpful for giving language to some of the topics that might be difficult to discuss with your partner.  It's also easy to read and has summaries at the end of each chapter that can serve as good prompts and discussion points!

2. Intended for Pleasure by Ed What, M.D. and Gaye Wheat

I also wanted to read a sex book that is written in the genre of "Christian marriage" and found this one to be highly rated.  I had some reservations at the beginning, but this ended up being an extremely helpful and practical book. I really appreciated how he starts with the physical anatomy of the male and female, puts names to all the things, and addresses a range of practical health and emotional issues.

3. Sex and Sensibility: The Parent's Guide to Talking Sense About Sex by Deborah M. Roffman

As I was reading the above two books, I posted on my IG stories asking if anyone had other good recommendations for sex book.  This one was recommended to me and I instantly picked it up because I was like, oh hey I am a parent and I need guidance talking sense about sex! Turns out, this one is a really good one. I know there are so many books out there about it, but this one is so thorough and walks through how important it is to you yourself know what it is you think about sex, what your values are, and whether you are able to communicate it to others, especially kids at their various stages of thought and development.  It's not just a "what" and "how" but a "why" sort of book about sex education that I really appreciate.

4. Liturgy of the Ordinary by Tish Harrison Warren

I started this one on Labor Day and read it in bits and pieces over the month of September.  There wasn't anything radical or new in this one that I didn't already know, but it was full of wonderful reminders of how to appreciate the very ordinary and simple things in life as the sacred things. For examples, her chapters are titled: Waking, Making the Bed, Brushing Teeth, Losing Keys, Eating Leftovers, Fighting with My Husband, Checking Email, Sitting in Traffic, Calling a Friend.  I underlined things here and there and this is one of those books that I will pick up for those gentle and friendly reminders of how to be mindful through these things.

MEETING IVY ANN

I was so thrilled to meet the third Agaba baby when she came - Ivy Ann! I took these photos of the family with their new addition last month, and gleefully watched the three girls together, wishing for them friendships and adventures like my sisters and I have had.  Here are some of the photos from that day!

LABOR DAY MONDAY 2018

A labor day weekend update, a month and a half later!  How is everyone doing? Do people read blogs anymore?  I still love looking back at old blog entries of mine, so I shall proceed:  documenting, telling, sharing - thank you for being here. 

Most of October stayed warm - there were pumpkins showing up at the stores, and they seemed like utterly out of place, and then there were mentions of pumpkin chocolate chip cookies, and truly, I don't understand why one would ruin a chocolate chip cookie with pumpkin? And then suddenly, a few days ago, the weather turned and we are officially in autumn weather. Which isn't bad really, but I know what's coming, so I'm diligently taking my vitamins and hoping for the best. 

Anyways, rewinding back to the beginning of September, when we were mentally gearing down from summer and trying to prepare for the new school year (Sloane starting 1st grade! ah!), I realized we hadn't been to the river all summer, so I planned a trip to Belle Isle for that Monday morning. Ken and I used to go to Belle Isle at the James River all the time (and fun fact:that's where he proposed !) but we haven't gone with the kids often, so it felt novel. We took our time; we sipped and savored on that morning, the rushing waters providing reprieve from the sticky air.  Us together walking to the rocks and resting there, felt like an appropriate commemorating of a new season. 

Here are some photos from that morning: 

Do you see the person on that little bit of land? Logan saw him and said, "Look! A really tiny grownup!" 

We saw a lot of dogs that day (I think we counted 24?) and as usual, the girls tried to meet as many of them as they could. 

This seemed like a good book to start reading on labor day weekend to start the new school year.