7 Quick Takes-Slugs, Bugs, In-laws, Bathrooms, and Mountains

You don't have to read all of these, but do go to #7 and help save my mountains!

1. Put this one in the "Clueless About Mothering" category. Apparently, there is this entire world known as children's music that I have never entered. (I guess I listened to it when I was a kid, but my introduction to adult music was more memorable.) Anyway, after an e-mail exchange with some friends about good kids' music, I decided to hit iTunes and buy some. Turns out, there are some really good CD's out there. My boys are loving "Slugs, Bugs, and Lullabies" right now, and so am I. My favorite line so far: "So I listen very carefully because He lives inside of me, which could be gross but it's not 'cause He's Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior!"

If you have any suggestions for children's music that adults can stand, let me know. Don't worry, my boys will still be subjected to plenty of Dylan, the Beatles, and bluegrass!

2. While I was researching the CD mentioned above, I saw that Andrew Peterson has a new CD out. Since I love his lyrics and own all of his other CD's, I went ahead and bought this one. It is proving to be good music for Lent, not because it is gloomy and focuses on sin and repentance, but because it focuses on redemption and grace in a broken world, on the need for resurrection. Great stuff to contemplate as I anticipate celebrating the Resurrection in a month.

3. Lent is going well, not because I am keeping the fast well, though I am trying. Mostly it is going well because I am slowing down enough to contemplate the spiritual significance of the things I do on a daily basis, of my relationships, of my life. I am working on a post about what I am learning. Let's just say I hope to achieve a perspective like this one day.

4. I mentioned in my last post how much I love Auntie M. Really, I love living near family in general. My in-laws are amazing, and my mother-in-law takes the boys one afternoon most weeks while I take a break. They have goats (who just had kids), chickens, ducks, and a German Shepherd with a brand new litter of puppies. My boys came home Wednesday dirty, tired, and happy.

5. And I had a gift of an afternoon free. I spent some good talking, cuddling, loving time with Baby Linus, and then, while he took a THREE HOUR NAP, guess what I did? That's right, I cleaned my bathrooms! And most of the rest of my tiny house. It was so very therapeutic for me. Now you are all welcome to come over and enjoy it while it lasts.

6. What?!? Your house is still clean from Wednesday?!? Yep, that's because the boys and I are in TN visiting my fam while hubby works a super busy few days at work. The drive here was enlightening...and frustrating. How can I not get angry when I see signs from developers ruining these mountains with fancy neighborhoods...signs that proudly proclaim, "We're at it again!" "Come live the mountain life you've dreamed of." "Mountain lifestyles at affordable prices." "Priceless views. Affordable Condos." You get the point! Reading Wendell Berry (no, I may never stop talking about him) has made me even more angry at the way land and place and heritage are thrown around so cheaply to make a buck.

7. While I am on the subject of mountains, there is more than one way to destroy them. Houses are nothing compared to Mountaintop Removal Coal Mining. I'm asking for your help again! Read over here and then contact your senators and representatives about the Appalachian Mountains Preservation Act and the Clean Water Protection Act. Help me save these lovely mountains!

Read more 7 Quick Takes at Conversion Diary.