Frontier Dreams: Do Small Things with Great Love

Sunday, September 4, 2016

Do Small Things with Great Love

small things sweater

oldest and youngest

cuties

small things sweater with wooly moss roots buttons

small things sweater

cute baby faces

small things sweater (knit with yarn handdyed by K and I)

small things sweater (dyed with black beans and marigold/calendula)

Some days are full of simple but immense joy. Days that remind me to shine my light and I feel like nothing could bring me down. Yet by the evening time I have forgotten all of the beauty of the day due to one thing or another. Usually something related to the weight of feeling like I am parenting alone and my words are not being heard. I end up in a pit of despair, unable to pull myself out. Trying to post about what I was feeling earlier in the day almost feels like a lie. Although sometimes that act of posting about those happier moments of the day helps me to reflect on it all and brings the joy and hope back into my heart. Soup for the soul, so to speak.

I am not going to hide it - It can be so very hard when you have full faith in the Lord and your spouse has none at all. I am trying to remind myself, on this very special day of Mother Teresa's canonization, of this saying she had on her wall in her home for children in Calcutta:

"People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you. Be honest and sincere anyway.

What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight. Create anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous. Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, will often be forgotten. Do good anyway.

Give the best you have, and it will never be enough. Give your best anyway.

In the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway."

- Saint Teresa of Calcutta

p.s. - A little of what I was originally intending to write:
I finished up Baby F's Small Things sweater just in time for the chilly weather that suddenly appeared *happy dance*. The yarn was dyed by my kiddos and I, made from calendula/marigold and black beans. The yarn used to sew on the sweet Wooly Moss Roots buttons was some yarn we dyed just using black beans. His adorable hat is an aviatrix and was knit by my wonderful friend Natalie.

Here is what he thought of Mama taking these photos:

what he thinks of all these photographs

Comments (19)

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sara nagy · 448 weeks ago

Hugs Nicole.

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jackimay 17p · 448 weeks ago

Beautiful knits, beautiful children, and beautiful honesty. If we were all open and honest like you, there would be more peace in the world because no one would feel like they are walking alone (regardless of religious/spiritual beliefs). When you speak out, it gives others the courage to be real....and that is what we need in the world.

Thank you for being you.

1 reply · active 447 weeks ago

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FrontierDreams 111p · 447 weeks ago

Oh my. Thank you so much for such a sweet, sweet comment. It means so much to me.

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cariemay 52p · 448 weeks ago

Oh what wonderfully inspiring words, I love the end "it was never about you and them anyway". Your knits and the children wearing them are completely adorable, don't let the hard bits of life and parenting stop you from celebrating the good :). Every now and then in church we sing a hymn "God is working his purpose out, as year turns into year" and I love that it's a present tense verb; wherever we are right now he's not finished yet!!

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Lauren · 448 weeks ago

*hugs*
We are as well a blended family on religion. One thing I will share with you from our personal journey that my husband is going on to "learn more about my Lord":

God works in ways that we don't always know and eventually have a "ah ha!" moment. It took them XXX many years to get their minds made to where they are, they will never change overnight. We expect children to have a blind faith but grown men honestly shouldn't. They need to question, know and understand before they can believe. This being said my husband has actual debates with one of our pastors once a month over Steak and Shake regarding the end of the world and all that is wrong with the Bible since I refuse to humor him plus I don't have the theological background to challenge him. However that being said he finally broke down and said, "Christianity is the only religion that has a resurrection and people have died time and time again stating someone else rose from the grave. That is the one trait that makes it completely different from others and that would be very pathetic if all was done simply for a lie"

Prayer, perseverance and sometimes a glass of wine are needed but the Lord does work in mysterious ways.

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Bianca · 448 weeks ago

I have a question that perhaps you could answer me. Do you think the black beans are colorfast? Did you remordant the yarn? I have been trying to get a green yarn. I have some yarn that I dyed with goldenrod so that that should be the same as the marigold and calendula blend. Lovely job. Love the sweater and the color! Please do let me know. Thanks.

1 reply · active 447 weeks ago

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FrontierDreams 111p · 447 weeks ago

i *think* they are colorfast. I have washed my son's romper that we dyed with just black beans many times since it was knit up and the color didn't fade. I have only washed his new sweater seen above once so far but so far so good. I mordanted the yarn in the beginning before I dyed it but not again afterwards. Hope that helps!

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amothershares 33p · 448 weeks ago

Thanks for sharing that. I am going to print it out and hang it somewhere to remind myself of this great wisdom. Yes its a real challenge when your partner does not share your beliefs as they are so integral to who you are, but you do share other things I imagine, I guess it's best to focus on that. We all come to our realisations/spiritual awakenings in our own good time (or not at all). Sometimes you just want that spiritual connection, but the other person just isn't ready. I also think being a Waldorf mum and homeschooling in isolation can make you feel out on a limb and especially if you are not getting any input from your partner. It really looks like you are doing a wonderful job and the early months and first years with young children are so very hard on your relationship ( I found anyway). The baby needs you and the children need extra reassurance that only a mother can provide, not to mention all the chores...... I don't know if this makes sense, but I just wanted to wish you well and hope that you will have many more better days with more connection and love. ps I love the colour of that top you knitted - it is gorgeous. What a cute baby you have! Well done.

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Louise · 448 weeks ago

wish i could knit baby sweaters, but since i cant i knit baby blankies and hats for the needy..its my passion..
you have beautiful babies..
have a great week ahead..

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marthahelen 28p · 448 weeks ago

Truly, I cannot imagine how difficult it must be to have different beliefs in marriage! My husband and I differ so much in all sorts of ways, and that is hard enough. Praying for you now, that the Lord would encourage your heart today and give you an extra measure of strength and faith that comes from Him. Remember the scripture that says a husband may be won without a word by the conduct of his wife (1 pet. 3:1)? I pray that you would have renewed energy to serve and love your husband, and to do so with the spirit of Saint Teresa's words: done for God and as unto Him. God sees you and so loves you! I have been following your blog for a little while now and I always admire how much you do to serve and love your family--making a healthy and happy and beautiful home for them and giving them a sweet childhood. Carry on, sister! And also.. what an adorable sweater. Small efforts over time and with patience and diligence result in beautiful work! <3

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Sonia · 448 weeks ago

If you are fully trusting in the Lord then you are not parenting alone, you have Him too. Lucky you, He is the perfect Father!

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Ariana W · 448 weeks ago

1Peter3:1-2 is encouraging. I think it can be overlooked b/c the term "submissive" can be misinterpreted, but I love how it encourages us to be faithful even if our husbands are not believers. Pray, trust in Him to work in your husbands heart and know that the life you are living is being watched by your dear children...you are setting a wonderful example by walking in faith. :)

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gabriela · 448 weeks ago

Entrust him to our Blessed Mother. Have faith in the Green Scapular. God Bless you and your beautiful family.

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Alin P. · 448 weeks ago

ohh yes, those times when you feel like you just can't swim anymore, everything is to much and the world is just running too fast, and you feel like you are falling behind. Mama friend, those are the times when you have a little one nursing and kids running crazy, that's our life (mine are 1,5,7years) ... but one day will come and you will not feel like this anymore. You will catch up with things and you will find your own pace. Love and enjoy motherhood, prioritize what's important, maybe look at that unshakeable peace from Sarah Mackenzie again, follow her facebook. Give yourself some time to breath. You are a wonderful women, you can do it. Hugs, Alin

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kja1130 58p · 448 weeks ago

He is a beauty and so are the knits and so is your daughter.

I married someone who was not a believer (I'm catholic) and I never ever thought he would change. Imagine my surprise that at my mom's funeral (a devote catholic) he started to doubt and considered maybe and then two years later yes. (we were married for 15 years by then)

So keep believing because one day you never know.

And you are a very busy mom so be kind to yourself and know that whatever you do or get done is enough for that one day. You have happy lovely children :)

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Kate · 448 weeks ago

I just want to thank you Nicole for this quote its just what I needed to hear today for something that I'm going through in my life! I appreciate you and your blog! Love Kate

1 reply · active 447 weeks ago

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FrontierDreams 111p · 447 weeks ago

That makes me so happy to hear!

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FrontierDreams 111p · 447 weeks ago

Thank you all for your compassion on this post!

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Kate · 382 weeks ago

Keep praying for your husbands salvation. I prayed for my husband for years and he finally came to see his need for a Saviour! And everything changed! Don't lose heart dear friend. I too struggle with the same feelings of sadness and depression and anxiety so I get it. Know that i will pray for your dh and for you and your dear children! I have practically watched them grow up over all these years and I think you are doing a great job! Love Kate

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Thank you for joining me here. My name is Nicole Spring AKA wife, Waldorf homeschooling Mama to four sweet little ones, homemaker of the radical kind, knitter, cook, seamstress, student of life as well as my children, crafter, girl of all trades... and always with a camera in hand to document our days so we may look back at these glorious yet exhausting times.

I enjoy hearing from you and would love it so much if you wouldn't mind taking the time to leave a comment. They mean so much to me (honestly, they make my day!). I appreciate not only seeing all that you have to say but also being blessed to get to know you better. If you ask a question please check back here for my response. I try my hardest to respond quickly. Thank you so much!!