Monthly Mercies: October

Novels about the education system, crew socks, and 8 year-olds with mom reflexes

Hello, friend.

Welcome to October.

Last weekend, Joel was with friends (competing in their second Friendolympics where a bunch of dudes lifted heavy weights and ran and rowed and hit baseballs and did a lot of other things that made them all sore the next day, a summer Olympics tradition I love very much), so the kids and I had a Saturday morning to fill by ourselves. It was wonderfully crisp fall morning and we were planning to check out a used book sale at our favorite local bookstore but the line wrapped around the block and I know my life well enough to know that waiting in a long line with three kids and then expecting those three kids to show restraint toward a crowded room of tables piled high with books just…would not have gone well. It’s good to know your limits.

So, we pivoted, and headed to a nearby playground beloved by all three Grass kids. As they ran and squealed with glee, I settled myself into a bench with the three-level rocket ship themed climbing structure in view. A few minutes later while I watched Ollie ride on a space shuttle, I heard Eloise’s frantic voice yelling “Mom! Mom! Come help! Phoebe is falling!” My eyes scanned the playground and landed on Phoebe’s little legs waving in the air. She had fallen through the slats in a ladder and Eloise, was going up the ladder behind Phoebe, somehow managed to catch her?

I sprinted toward the rocket ship and you can laugh along with me as you picture me trying to climb a ladder made for children to reach my girls on the second level because it was just as humbling as it sounds. Let’s be honest, there is no hurrying up a ladder, even when your toddler is dangling in mid-air above.

When I reached the top, I saw that Eloise had wrapped her body around the ladder, catching Phoebe in mid-air as she nearly toppled to the metal grate below. Her hands were firmly held under her little sister’s armpits, keeping an impressively strong grip. I plucked Phoebe up and—hearts pounding—the three of us immediately burst out laughing. “You saved her life!” I told Eloise, and we laughed even harder.

I worry a lot about my kids. I worry about their brains and their hearts and—since we’ve had a ladder-related broken leg before—I worry about their soft little bones. I try to do everything I can to protect and prepare them but the thing is, there are always going to be gaps in the ladder. What I saw last Saturday is that they are learning how to not just count on me taking care of them, but to take care of each other too.

The kids are gonna be alright. What a mercy.

I hope your October is full of crisp Saturday mornings, belly laughs, and the mercy of seeing people you love take care of each other.

In His mercy,

Amy

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September Reads

The Wedding People by Alison Espach
This novel is one I had been most looking forward to from the Modern Mrs. Darcy Summer Reading Guide and it did not disappoint. Was I partial to it because the main character is named Phoebe and she lives in St. Louis? PROBABLY, but that’s beside the point. When Phoebe abruptly leaves St. Louis and checks into a hotel she’s dreamed about on the east coast, she has planned to go there to die. What she doesn’t expect is to be the only guest at the hotel who isn’t there for one specific wedding. The observations and conversations Phoebe has there will go on to change everything. This book was witty but had some depth and I just loved every single person in it. Content warning though: I had read many blurbs about The Wedding People but was surprised when I started reading the book that no one had mentioned how central to the plot suicide and suicidal ideation is, so read with care.
My Goodreads rating: 4/5 stars

The Faculty Lounge by Jennifer Mathieu
Told throughout the course of a school year, The Faculty Lounge tells the story of the staff at Baldwin High School. Each chapter follows a different staff person while also telling the larger story of what is going on at the school (for starters, a retired teacher who came back as a substitute died on the couch in the faculty lounge). I loved the way the novel portrayed teachers as real people with complicated lives who care deeply about their students and their work. One scene involving a central office-run meeting made me laugh out loud because it was so spot-on to what it’s like working in public education. This big-hearted novel would be great for anyone, but I especially recommend it to former or current educators.
My Goodreads rating: 4/5 stars

Foul Play at Seal Bay (Morwenna Mutton Mystery #1) by Judy Leigh
When 70-something eccentric, bicycle-riding, librarian Morwenna Mutton finds a man dead on the beach at her daughter’s engagement party in their small Cornish village of Seal Bay, it doesn’t take long for Morwenna to start to get involved and do some investigating herself. This novel was charming and the characters fun even as it wasn’t terribly memorable.
My Goodreads rating: 3/5 stars

The Comfort of Ghosts (Maisie Dobbs #18) by Jacqueline Winspear
Welp. It’s the last Maisie Dobbs book (insert me crying on the very first page). WWII has ended and Britain is trying to piece together some semblance of normalcy after those war-torn years. Maisie’s business and family are doing the same and Maisie finds herself in the midst of a case that draws her back to her past to confront some ghosts once again. This last installment of the series brought closure to various story lines and while I was sad to see the end, I loved the way things all wrapped up. I’ve been reading these books for years, so finishing The Comfort of Ghosts felt like saying goodbye to an old friend. We’ve been through a lot together, Maisie and me.
My Goodreads rating: 5/5 stars

We’ll Prescribe You a Cat by Syou Ishida
Something I’ve noticed about myself in the last couple years is that I love quirky Japanese novels. This book reminded me of Before the Coffee Gets Cold and The Kamogawa Food Detectives, but had its own fun spin. In a hard-to-find little building in Kyoto, people come to the Nakagyo Kokoro Clinic for healing from their problems, but no patient ever gets what they expect when the doctor prescribes them a cat. Yes, a cat. Each patient leaves with a cat and instructions for his or her care. I loved the various stories of how the cats “healed” people and helped them understand their circumstances in a different light. This was such a fun and quick read and I don’t even like cats, you guys.
My Goodreads rating: 3/5 stars

Plays Well With Others by Sophie Brickman
I guess novels that are commentaries on education are also a thing for me now, because here’s another one. Plays Well With Others is about Annie Lewin, a writer and mom of three who is trying to balance her career and family life in New York City while also navigating the wild process of elite private school kindergarten admissions. With her oldest currently in a fancy preschool, Annie and her husband, along with all the other “fours” parents at Bartleby spend copious time weighing the options of certain schools, which extra curriculars to enroll their four year-olds in to pump up their applications, and how to stay sane through it all. Spoiler alert: no one does and as the book rolls on, Annie starts to fall apart. Though the end fell a little flat for me, this was a funny and thought-provoking read. You know I love a school choice conversation.
My Goodreads rating: 3/5 stars

The Sunset Years of Agnes Sharp (Miss Sharp Investigates #1) by Leonie Swan
The elderly residents of the eccentric Sunset Hall are in the process of trying to cover up a death when they get news of another one in their community. Agnes Sharp takes up the charge at Sunset Hall to first figure out how they can use this turn of events to their advantage and eventually to get to the bottom of what is going on in their town of Duck End. This novel was less predictable than I expected which was enjoyable, but I did find it hard to follow at times. But it was a fun take on the elderly sleuth and a lovely story of friendship.
My Goodreads rating: 3/5 stars

The Third Gilmore Girl: A Memoir by Kelly Bishop
I’ve been a Gilmore Girls fan for many years (like since it was on actual television!) and have always loved the character of Emily Gilmore because, well, who doesn’t? I’ve been so excited for the release of this book and was even more excited that Kelly Bishop was coming to St. Louis on her book tour. A couple of weeks ago, I got to go see her speak about the book and her life which was simply delightful. She’s just as charming and entertaining as you would hope for her to be. Reading the memoir after seeing her in person was a fun follow-up and I enjoyed learning the story of her career and life. This was a quick read but a fun one. My one gripe is just that I wish it was written a little better? Now I’m itching for both a GG and Dirty Dancing rewatch.
My Goodreads rating: 3/5 stars

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September Bakes

I loved getting to make this cutie little wedding cake in September! It, along with a half sheet cake, were carrot cake with cream cheese frosting.

This classic vanilla cake was made even more delicious with a mixed berry filling and vanilla buttercream. We love a fruit filling.

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September Words

In September, I shared my poem from Issue 16 of

Part-Time Poets

on Instagram. Read the whole issue here:

Issue 16

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September Favorites

This episode of That Sounds Fun on unconditional love with Dr. James and Jonathan Merritt was such a beautiful picture of a family’s love and respect for one another even as they disagree—particularly about sexuality—and I haven’t stopped thinking about it.

As the owner of a Toyota Sienna, I was delighted by this compilation of Siennas off-roading.

Okay the banana pudding milkshake at Chick-fil-A has NO BUSINESS being that good.

I bought these crew socks at Target and since then, several of my friends have bought them and coincidentally we all seem to keep getting mistaken for young hip twenty-somethings, who knew?

Speaking of socks from Target, my kids have been really jazzed about these and these Halloween pairs.

PSA in case you didn’t already know, but The Great British Bake-Off is back and all is right in the world. Or at least all is right in my world for the one hour per week that I watch it.

Also, it’s time for my annual reminder that this maple streusel pumpkin bread is my favorite pumpkin bread recipe I’ve ever made.

I’ve been looking for black jeans that I like for several years now and this extra high-waisted wide leg pair is just perfect.

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🎶This month's newsletter was written while listening to: 
Rumours- Fleetwood Mac
Mood III- Jon McLaughlin

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I'll see you back here on the first Friday in November! Until then, you can find me on Instagram.

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I hope your October is full of new mercies. Take care of yourselves, friends.