A QUOTE
There was this phrase they kept repeating: “Many hands make work light.” The statement was true, though hard to explain. Gradually, as you applied yourself to your task, the threads of friends and conversation would grow and connect you to laborers around you. Then everything suddenly became inverted. You’d forget you were working and get caught up in the camaraderie, the sense of lightened effort. This surely must rank among the greatest of labor-saving secrets. Work folded into fun and disappeared. Friendship, conversation, exercise, fresh air, all melded together into a single act of mutual self-forgetting. – Better Off, page 31
A NEW-TO-ME BOOKISH BLOG
This has a bit of a back story. While I was organizing my books, I stumbled upon The Well-Educated Mind, which led me to thoughts about Don Quixote. (Remember when I was going to pick it back up last August?) Those thoughts led me to the question of “I wonder if anyone has actually finished the entire booklist in The Well-Educated Mind?” and then I found the blog, A Great Book Study. I’ve only perused a small portion of her blog, but am already so inspired to challenge myself with books I wouldn’t normally pick up on my own.
A BIT OF NATURE
58º and sunshine through the trees! What a welcome sight after so many cold, dreary days.
A RECOMMENDATION
I mentioned Sophie’s Jixel set on Monday, but wanted to recommend it again since some of the smaller sets may be a good Easter basket idea! Jixels are a mix of puzzle and pixelated art, reusable, and perfect for that tween/almost tween age range. They come with templates or you can create your own designs. A great non-screen, relatively non-messy creative craft!
A DEEP THOUGHT
Sometimes I like to do little things for my kids: set up a scene with the Legos they left on the living room coffee table, buy that book they’ve mentioned in passing, bake their favorite cookies while they’re out of the house or playing upstairs. I love their surprise, their excitement, their joy. Recently, as I was organizing markers and coloring books for a little craft corner, I had the thought that God, such the loving Father, does things much the same way. He sets out the beauty of nature like a multi-colored sunset or a tender moment between loved ones. He lays out all the pieces and says, “Come and see what I have made for you!” Some days I am extra aware of these pieces and my heart fills to almost bursting. More often, I begrudgingly go about my day, head down and eyes blind. What a waste. I want eyes to see.
Let us know how you like that book! That last paragraph is very interesting…sometimes is difficult to recognize those little things or believe they are from God and no mere coincidences/regular events
I think it’s so easy to take those little things for granted and forget that all good things come from above, you know? Trying to keep my eyes wide open for those small gifts, especially in the crazy times we’re living in right now.
I love that quote..!! So true… it’s more enjoyable to work along side a friend or two and share in the joy of sweat equity
together .
Yes! I found it applicable both to the larger community and just our family here at home.
That looks like a fun book to dive into!
Very thought-provoking so far. It was actually written in 2004 and I keep wondering what the author would have to say about technology now in 2021. Hard to believe how much has changed since then!