On Fridays I share things that made me happy from the week - a photo, a song, a quote, a beauty product, a recipe, a pair of cute shoes, etc. If it's a product, sometimes it's something I actually own and sometimes something I just saw online that gave me a smile. Sometimes it's serious and sometimes it's silly. I suppose I believe that God is in the simple details of life and yes, I can even find Him in a tube of lipstick.
Have a great weekend, Friends. Happy September. And also, if you are looking for a team to cheer for, I'd suggest the Texas Longhorns. Matthew McConaughey and I are feeling alright, alright, alright about the whole situation. We've got College Game Day in Austin tomorrow morning and a game against LSU tomorrow night. Your prayers are appreciated as these are the sort of games that if they go the wrong way can launch me into a dark place. Now, I have to go stretch and hydrate. I suggest all my Longhorn brethren and sisteren do the same. Thank you and good-bye.
Well, hello there. Are you out there? It's been a minute.
I realized that I started a Friday Favorites way back in early July and then completely bailed, not only on the post, but on this entire blog for most of the summer. So perhaps we'll call this a 5 Friday/Summer Favorites because there's a lot of ground to cover.
I've certainly taken a break from this blog before, but I think this might be the longest stretch so far. In any case, I didn't abandon writing completely. For me that would actually be akin to abandoning breathing. ;-) I had a few freelance writing jobs here and there. I also wrote some devotionals for my church and some posts for the Northern Virginia Travel Baseball League, but this space has been virtually neglected and perhaps, if I'm honest, intentionally avoided.
It's been an emotional summer, but a beautiful one. It was busy and full and fun with lots of friends, parties, travel, and a whole heckuva a lot of family togetherness. And though what I refer to as "#forcedfamilyfun" can be a risky undertaking, I am so happy that we were intentional about it because it helped me to get ready for yet another period of change in our family.
In the midst of the busyness, I spent the summer doing a lot of processing in my head and heart, but not, as I normally do, on this blank white screen. I contemplated the challenges and joys of raising young adults, recognized with some sadness the shifting dynamics of our family, and watched numerous friends start the empty nest phase of life. I really wrestled with God about my anxious resistance to change - even change that my head tells me is exciting and healthy and good.
As we are settling into September and fall and routine, I find myself drawn to writing here again. I miss getting all my feelings and thoughts and questions and gibberish out in black and white. I miss my readers - although I'm not sure there are any left (!) - and even though blogs are quickly becoming a thing of the past, I think I'll stick it out here. I hope to continue to write other places and finish that book proposal that I've started and stopped seventeen times, but for now I'll be here sharing the extraordinary blessings and difficulties of the ordinary life He's given me and I hope you'll stay. :-)
Here are some of my very favorite things from the summer of 2019.
I realized that I started a Friday Favorites way back in early July and then completely bailed, not only on the post, but on this entire blog for most of the summer. So perhaps we'll call this a 5 Friday/Summer Favorites because there's a lot of ground to cover.
I've certainly taken a break from this blog before, but I think this might be the longest stretch so far. In any case, I didn't abandon writing completely. For me that would actually be akin to abandoning breathing. ;-) I had a few freelance writing jobs here and there. I also wrote some devotionals for my church and some posts for the Northern Virginia Travel Baseball League, but this space has been virtually neglected and perhaps, if I'm honest, intentionally avoided.
It's been an emotional summer, but a beautiful one. It was busy and full and fun with lots of friends, parties, travel, and a whole heckuva a lot of family togetherness. And though what I refer to as "#forcedfamilyfun" can be a risky undertaking, I am so happy that we were intentional about it because it helped me to get ready for yet another period of change in our family.
In the midst of the busyness, I spent the summer doing a lot of processing in my head and heart, but not, as I normally do, on this blank white screen. I contemplated the challenges and joys of raising young adults, recognized with some sadness the shifting dynamics of our family, and watched numerous friends start the empty nest phase of life. I really wrestled with God about my anxious resistance to change - even change that my head tells me is exciting and healthy and good.
As we are settling into September and fall and routine, I find myself drawn to writing here again. I miss getting all my feelings and thoughts and questions and gibberish out in black and white. I miss my readers - although I'm not sure there are any left (!) - and even though blogs are quickly becoming a thing of the past, I think I'll stick it out here. I hope to continue to write other places and finish that book proposal that I've started and stopped seventeen times, but for now I'll be here sharing the extraordinary blessings and difficulties of the ordinary life He's given me and I hope you'll stay. :-)
Here are some of my very favorite things from the summer of 2019.
1. The State of Tennessee
I left on Sunday morning in June for Tennessee and I didn't return for a week and I really can't think of a better place to have spent seven days. We were in Knoxville for Student Orientation for Kyle and Nashville for a baseball tournament.
I saw a tweet recently by a man who was traveling in the South that said, "I've been in the South for 2 hours and the employees at the Shell station and the Hardee's are nicer than 80% of the people I know."
I could not agree more. The Tennesseans are a lovely people. Even Drew commented that while he was playing catcher in one game, the hitters from one of the Tennessee-based teams they played were talkative, funny, and "the nicest kids I ever played against."
Add to that the fact that it is BEE-YOO-TEE-FUL with rivers and lakes and mountains and biscuits and gravy and you can't help but love it. If you haven't been there, I highly recommend a visit. In the meantime, please enjoy this slideshow of our good times.
I saw a tweet recently by a man who was traveling in the South that said, "I've been in the South for 2 hours and the employees at the Shell station and the Hardee's are nicer than 80% of the people I know."
I could not agree more. The Tennesseans are a lovely people. Even Drew commented that while he was playing catcher in one game, the hitters from one of the Tennessee-based teams they played were talkative, funny, and "the nicest kids I ever played against."
Add to that the fact that it is BEE-YOO-TEE-FUL with rivers and lakes and mountains and biscuits and gravy and you can't help but love it. If you haven't been there, I highly recommend a visit. In the meantime, please enjoy this slideshow of our good times.
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| Baseball Bros trade their caps for cowboy hats |
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| Fangirling at the Redneck Riviera in Nashville |
2. Summer Reading
Young Jane Young is a great read that revolves around a fictionalized political intern/congressman sex scandal that not only is a great story, but really puts into perspective the double standard in highlighting how differently women and men are treated in these situations. It's funny and the characters are really endearing.
Kelly Corrigan is the absolute Queen of all Queens when it comes to non-fiction/memoir writers in my mind. Her The Middle Place was a revelation to me not only as a writer, but as a mom, a woman, a daughter, and just a human being. Tell Me More: Stories about the 12 Hardest Things I'm Learning to Say had me nodding my head in earnest, crying, laughing, and reading passages out loud to my husband every night. I will read it over and over again. My word, can that woman write.
One thing I'm really, really skilled at is sleeping. This means I am a pajama expert and these pjs are the absolute best. They are so soft, comfortable and cool for crazy hot summer nights when your air conditioning is working so hard but can't quite keep up. They come in a zillion colors and are only $25.99! What? Go get 'em.
Not writing lent a whole lot of time to reading and I read a ton this summer. Here are just a few of my favorites.
Evvie Drake Starts Over was one of Jenna Bush Hager's Today Show book club picks. It was a quick, fun, summer read and even had a little baseball storyline included. I loved it.
Young Jane Young is a great read that revolves around a fictionalized political intern/congressman sex scandal that not only is a great story, but really puts into perspective the double standard in highlighting how differently women and men are treated in these situations. It's funny and the characters are really endearing.
Kelly Corrigan is the absolute Queen of all Queens when it comes to non-fiction/memoir writers in my mind. Her The Middle Place was a revelation to me not only as a writer, but as a mom, a woman, a daughter, and just a human being. Tell Me More: Stories about the 12 Hardest Things I'm Learning to Say had me nodding my head in earnest, crying, laughing, and reading passages out loud to my husband every night. I will read it over and over again. My word, can that woman write.
3. Pajamas from Amazon
One thing I'm really, really skilled at is sleeping. This means I am a pajama expert and these pjs are the absolute best. They are so soft, comfortable and cool for crazy hot summer nights when your air conditioning is working so hard but can't quite keep up. They come in a zillion colors and are only $25.99! What? Go get 'em.
3. Baby Kaylin Mae
Here's a tip I have for any mama who is sad that her kids are growing up. You just be sure your niece delivers a brand new baby girl to the family right as you're about to deliver a couple of kids to college. The timing works out real well if you can swing it. My sweet niece and her husband welcomed a daughter, Kaylin Mae, in June and our family is thrilled.
Kyle was away when she was born. I texted a photo of her to him and he said, "Wow. We really got a new human. That's awesome." 18 year old boys are so eloquent. She is quite the new human. God is so good.
I've mentioned this before, but I heard from Jamie B. Golden (from whom I get every single bit of my skincare advice) that this Nivea Cream made in Germany is made with basically the same ingredients as the famous La Mer. It costs only $11.60 which is approximately 7,000,000 % less than La Mer costs.The key is to be sure you get one made in Germany. Your Walgreens Nivea is likely not the one. I've used it all summer long and I really love it. It smells great, is really thick, and perfect for skin dried out by the summer sun. I honestly think it's done good things for my skin. I had two people tell me my skin looked "glowing" recently. Perhaps it was because I was sweating, but whatevs. This stuff is the best thing I've bought for my face in a long time.
Kyle was away when she was born. I texted a photo of her to him and he said, "Wow. We really got a new human. That's awesome." 18 year old boys are so eloquent. She is quite the new human. God is so good.
4. Nivea Creme (Made in Germany)
I've mentioned this before, but I heard from Jamie B. Golden (from whom I get every single bit of my skincare advice) that this Nivea Cream made in Germany is made with basically the same ingredients as the famous La Mer. It costs only $11.60 which is approximately 7,000,000 % less than La Mer costs.The key is to be sure you get one made in Germany. Your Walgreens Nivea is likely not the one. I've used it all summer long and I really love it. It smells great, is really thick, and perfect for skin dried out by the summer sun. I honestly think it's done good things for my skin. I had two people tell me my skin looked "glowing" recently. Perhaps it was because I was sweating, but whatevs. This stuff is the best thing I've bought for my face in a long time.
5. Hawaii
Hawaii meets every single expectation that you could ever have. We spent ten days on two different islands. I jumped off a cliff into the ocean. I climbed up a volcano. I watched sunsets and sunrises. I drank a blue beverage (or three) with a pineapple slice in it by the pool. I ate dinner at the same table at the same restaurant where my husband and I ate on our honeymoon almost twenty-five years ago. I snorkeled in the Pacific, read three books, and spent time laughing a whole lot with my guys. I marveled at the amazing, good work of God. It was perfect. Mahalo, Hawaii.
Have a great weekend, Friends. Happy September. And also, if you are looking for a team to cheer for, I'd suggest the Texas Longhorns. Matthew McConaughey and I are feeling alright, alright, alright about the whole situation. We've got College Game Day in Austin tomorrow morning and a game against LSU tomorrow night. Your prayers are appreciated as these are the sort of games that if they go the wrong way can launch me into a dark place. Now, I have to go stretch and hydrate. I suggest all my Longhorn brethren and sisteren do the same. Thank you and good-bye.
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2 comments:
What a sweet new baby to add to the family! Sadly my son is one of the oldest in his generation so no grand nieces or nephew for me when he goes off to college.
Such a beautiful baby. I'd love to visit Hawaii someday. I visited TN for the first time in March when my 20 yoa son moved out there. I also went for a weekend trip in the middle of August. I have to agree, the people there are very nice.
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