June was a very mixed bag.
Parts of it were beautiful. We’ve finally settled into home life with Felix. We spent some lovely days with our sweet and challenging Lydia. Some days felt gloriously normal.
Ben and I spent one day away where I shopped for some new clothes and we finally watched The Avengers. I pretty much smiled the entire day.
Other days were spent sobbing in fear over the future. We spent a lot of time on the road to various terrifying appointments, including one in Toronto, which was a six-hour drive for us. We had to have lots of long, serious talks about the risks involved in the therapy we’re pursuing for Felix. We had to come face-to-face with the reality that our son could die. We had to engage hospital politics and differences in medical opinions. We’re desperately clinging to hope.
So tiring.
We are preparing to leave for Los Angeles (i.e. we’re making a cross-continental flight with our immune-deficient baby) in a few short days, where we will pursue an experimental therapy for our son’s life-threatening disease. So much ahead of us.
In the meantime, this is what I’ve been into.
Haircut
This might not seem like a big deal to most people, but it is for me. This is by far the shortest I have ever had my hair in my life. I have ALWAYS ALWAYS had long hair. In fact, growing up I was not allowed to cut my hair — Old Colony Mennonites believe hair length is a moral issue that God cares a lot about, on account of that one thing Paul says to the Corinthian church. (Poor teenaged me struggled with this sooo much. I dreamed of having a stylish cut!) And after I moved out, I continued to keep my hair long, in part to placate my family, in part because it was familiar and I liked it.
I finally decided to get it chopped. With all this life upheaval, a change just felt right. I’m a different person. I’ve been through so much. I wanted something that felt kinda badass, cuz I’m kinda badass. I give injections. I argue with doctors. I dance on the edge of life and death.
Another thing that excites me about this cut? Texture!! I have pin-straight hair, but with these razor-cut layers I can experiment with homemade texture spray and dry-curling to get some of the waves I’ve always wanted. Yay!
Books
The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo — LOVED this book. I want to do a separate, full review yet. But let me just say, learning how to fold properly was worth the admission alone. So far I have only tackled my clothes using the method, and it completely transformed our bedroom. I have so much more room now! Can’t wait to move on to the next step!
The Well-Trained Mind: A Guide to Classical Education at Home by Susan Wise Bauer — I’m interested in getting familiar with the various educational philosophies before we start formal education with Lydia. (Which, for the record, we’re not planning on doing until she’s at least five.) So far, I’m not too sold on Classical. It just hasn’t captured my heart the way others have. I do, however, like the emphasis on history and world literature, and would like to incorporate these elements into our schooling.
PS – I need to put in a plug for an e-cookbook featuring one of my recipes. It’s called Anti-Inflammatory Herbs And Spices: 30 Delicious Recipes To Reduce Inflammation And Pain and it’s only $0.99! Check it out!!
Kids’ Books
Ah, heaven — we’re back to taking stacks of books home from the library and reading them together whenever Lydia visits. Just like old days. These books are all great for an almost-four-year-old.
The Seven Silly Eaters by Mary Ann Hoberman — absolutely fabulous. Delightful illustrations, funny story, excellent writing (terrific rhyming!). We all love this book. (Thanks to Molly for recommending it!)
Llama Llama Misses Mama by Anna Dewdney — not as awesome as Llama Llama Red Pajama, but still great. Lydia really likes it. A fun read, though it likely won’t be relevant to Lydia since we plan to home school.
Big Red Barn by Margaret Wise Brown. What’s with the rhymes in this one? I can’t get the rhythm down no matter how many times I read it. That makes it less fun to read. I expected better from the writer of Goodnight Moon (which is brilliant). Lydia still likes it, though. All the cute animals.
Sam and Dave Dig a Hole – Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen. This award-winning pair has teamed up again for another gem. I bask in their genius.
Movies
Like I mentioned, we finally saw Avengers: Age of Ultron. It goes without saying that I LOVE LOVE LOVED it. I will eat up everything Marvel ever puts out. I don’t care how unoriginal I am.
Music
I basically only add this category to my What I’m Into posts whenever Walk off the Earth comes out with a new album. Sing It All Away does not disappoint!!! Far and away my favourite band. If you love whimsical, upbeat, folksy rock music you can dance to, buy this album!!
Crafting
Since Felix can’t leave his room, I’m always trying to find ways to stimulate him and enhance his environment. Ben and I worked together to make this mobile for him (from this tutorial). I’m quite pleased:
Essential Oils
I finally signed up with DoTerra as a “Wellness Advocate” (<–LOL. That’s a pretty grandiose title for someone who just wanted the wholesale prices). I think I’m on the road to becoming a Crazy Essential Oils Lady. Only time will tell.
If you get into essential oils, DO get a diffuser. I got one just a few days ago and it changes everything.
Also? DoTerra’s Serenity and Elevation blends are spectacular.
**Disclosure: post contains affiliate links. Thanks for supporting Becoming Peculiar!**
Linking up with Leigh Kramer!
I LOVE every single thing in this edition of What I’m Into – your haircut (so cute!), Felix’s upcoming treatment, Seven Silly Eaters (this one still sits on our bookshelf because we have read it so many times aloud, and now it goes along on babysitting jobs), that you liked Avengers (I am shocked, it seems too mainstream for you ;) and your new title as a wellness advocate for essential oils. Thank you for keeping us updated and entertained.
On another note, we continue to keep you four in prayer as you take this next part of your journey. We ask God for healing, safety and peace. LORD, carry Ben and Kathy in your arms. Much love.
Thanks, Maria. My taste in movies is actually pretty mainstream — when I watch movies, I usually just want to be entertained. I want something fun to take me away from reality for a little while. The Marvel movies do just that!
You are so badass!I love your hair, and I love you girl. I pray for you often.
Thank you so much, Sandra!
I love the badass haircut. It looks awesome. We have you on a post-it note on our fridge and on a post-it note in my brain…all our prayers go with you.
Abbey @ Surviving Our Blessings recently posted..Five-Minute Friday: FEAR
Aww, thanks, Abbey!
Great post! Your writing is so fantastic, with the wit, and the phrasing. I just love it. And your haircut! Whoa! Good for you, Kath! Your “What I’m Into” posts are always my favourite!
The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up is pretty much making my life right now. I didn’t know I had so many clothes. I think I heard my dresser sigh with relief.
Oh gosh, Kathleen! What a topsy-turvy month it’s been for you. I’ll be keeping Felix in my prayers as you prepare to travel. Your haircut is super cute!
Leigh Kramer recently posted..What I’m Into (June 2015 Edition)
Based on your recommendation (and because I have heard of it elsewhere) I picked up the tidying book and read through it and loved it. But man, that’s a lot of work ahead of me to go through all my stuff. I did go through my clothes and realized that almost nothing brought me joy. (sad) And I thought I would ask you, since you don’t shop at thrift stores anymore, what stores DO you frequent? I want to get myself a few outfits that I love, but I’m a terrible (usually uninterested) shopper. Thanks :)
Yay! And boo. :)
I was afraid someone might ask me this . . . I’m actually a little embarrassed of my answer. I would LOVE to say I know how to shop ethically, but for now I still just shop mostly at quick-fashion stores. Hopefully I can figure out how to source ethically-made clothes yet (it’s hard in Canada, because shipping here is SOOOOO expensive, so I have to visit local brick-and-mortar stores. We don’t live near a big city so I have to take what I can get.) Two of my recent faves are Winners (do you have those? They sell name-brand clothes at discounted prices) and H&M (I love their styles). I’ve gotten jeans from Aeropostale and American Eagle because they have long sizes (I’m 5’10”). Does that help at all?
Love this list!
I totally got into Marie Kondo this month, too. It may literally take me the next six months to tidy everything, but I am determined!
First time visitor to your blog—I can’t wait to read more!
Mary
Mary recently posted..What I’m Into (June 2015 Edition)
Hi! I’m visiting from Leigh’s link-up. Read a bit about your son, and I can’t imagine all the changes and transitions you’ve been experiencing. Go you for fighting doctors and cuddling and sanitizing. I pray the treatments are beneficial. Also, I love that haircut!
Sarah Quezada recently posted..Why My Views on the Confederate Flag Changed
Hi! I’m visiting from Leigh Kramer’s What I’m Into linkup. Reading about everything you’re handling right now – yeah, I’d say you were TOTALLY badass. And I don’t know what your hair looked like before, but I love this cut!
(Also, I still haven’t seen any of the Avengers movies, so you’re ahead of me!)
Emily McFarlan Miller recently posted..What I’m Into {June 2015}: Minnesota, Nebraska, Wisconsin and more stops on my road trip summer