"I don't mean to be like people are stupid," I say, "but with math and science and history and art, any idiot can learn it if they do the steps." A felt ornament in hand, I pull embroidery floss through it's wool surface.
"I know," Jane says. I'm checking her school work. Paused at a cache of sketches, we stare at the latest installment of daily practice. "When we started art with Grammie," she says, "it was HARD. And I was like, I'm not gonna be any good at THIS."
"Yeah," I say.
"But after hundreds of hours, I mean HUNDREDS," she leans toward me. "That has some WEIGHT," she says.
"Yup," I say. "You're probably coming up on 400 hours."
"Yeah, WOW," she says.
"After hundreds of hours," I lean in and whisper, "any idiot can learn it."
"It does help to have IQ," she says, "but most people with a high IQ don't want to stoop so low, which is actually standing TALL." She shrugs.
"Yup," I say.
So it is. Practice makes easy. Hundreds of hours and suddenly, there, in the palm of your hand: skill.
Gratitude:
6198. George Lewis. Our newest additions grows strong and healthy. Big boy, over 10 lbs. by now.
6199. I get the blessing and privilege of having a dear, dear friend as my doula at George's birth.
6200. Jack meets my every possible need the weeks recovering from delivery. He cooks the meals, cleans the main living areas, does dishes. With nary a hint from me, he serves from his heart, every action pure love.
6201. Dear friends and family send us meals and treats and gifts. On top of the gift of a child, we find love and help there reaching out to us.
6202. We celebrate Christmas over the weekend with extended family. Peace settles on the whole clan of us out at my parents. Something more than us, something I can only describe as the presence of Christ encircles us. Christmas truly.
6203. I still struggle to keep the house tidy, and struggle to respond with the perfect combination of strength and grace when things go sideways, but even there, even the worst moments are fill with purpose. We encircle each other with grace and spur one another on in love and good works.
6204. The new geography of our family adds depth to each of us.
