I don’t know where these “lazy days of summer” other people speak of are. If you see one can you send it my way? I hate to continue a theme by complaining about the busyness of June like I did in May, but good gravy!
We kicked off the month with a low-key official celebration of my mom and dad’s 50th wedding anniversary with family and friends. I wrote a letter to them. If you missed it you can catch it here. And that same night my youngest bussed to Colorado for Student Life camp with our church. While she enjoyed fun days and cooler temps, I adjusted to driving Shelby, my special abilities daughter, to dayhab so I could work. Instead of the school bus picking her up in our driveway, I added about 2 and a half hours of driving to each day with the drive. Talk about a grind! Thankfully after Shelby enjoyed a week at Camp Summit (which is a hoot for her and much needed respite from caregiving for my husband and me), we were able to get her insurance to cover a brand new facility closer to home. A darling little church opened their doors to this much-needed ministry to families like ours and I could not be more grateful. The first morning at Ability Connections I plugged the address into my navigation app and breathed a huge sigh of relief at the 10 minute drive time.
Mid-month we enjoyed a visit from the oldest and his family. At 45 I am young(ish) to have 4 grandchildren and for this I am thankful. I might or might not still be recovering from all the fun. While they were still in town, my 14 year old Allie left to spend a week volunteering with children’s choir camp at my mom and dad’s church. Allie attended this camp for as many years as she was eligible and loves it so much she still wants to be involved – especially now that her younger cousins are old enough to go. After their final production Allie came home on a Sunday and started volunteering at our church’s Active Camp (like a sports version of VBS) the next day.
In between all her church activities and other social butterflyesque adventures, Allie is working toward her goal of playing volleyball for her high school next year. These “strongly encouraged” endeavors include conditioning 3 days a week at 8am in a cross-fit-type gym where making it through the 90 plus minutes without throwing up is a major accomplishment. She is also attending “optional” clinics with the high school coach, clinics at her old volleyball club, sand volleyball and private lessons. In our uber competitive area, if she doesn’t make a team it will not be from lack of effort but strength of competition. Side note: After typing all that out I need to go take a nap.
While my steady, hard-working husband is adjusting to a demanding new job (which we are so thankful for) I am shuttling, coordinating rides and trying to hold down my two part time jobs. I also began attending a new class at our church called “Intro to Biblical Counseling”. We are using Instruments in the Redeemer’s Hands: People in Need of Change Helping People in Need of Change by Paul David Tripp for curriculum. I cannot recommend this book enough. I must admit that calling what is being taught “counseling” makes me a little uncomfortable. During a time of great need I sought the support of a Christian Licensed Professional Counselor and have a great deal of respect for the training and expertise it takes to walk someone through life’s traumas. I prefer the book’s label of “personal ministry”. My goal in taking part in the course is to learn ways to be a better friend to those I come in contact with as I point them to Jesus.
I do have some book recs from this month, too. Although not nearly as many as last month. Prototype: What Happens When You Discover You’re More Like Jesus Than You Think? by Jonathan Martin and Peter Scazzero’s Emotionally Healthy Spirituality: It’s Impossible to Be Spiritually Mature, While Remaining Emotionally Immature. Both messages of encouragement and inspiration for the believer. And to dumb myself down between challenging reads I indulge in a free subscription to People magazine. Don’t judge. I wouldn’t pay for it but somehow it keeps coming to my mailbox. And the latest picture of Prince Harry and Meghan doesn’t tax my brain.
On the boob tube, I’ve been savoring the last few episodes of Life in Pieces. If you have yet to discover it, this is the last season. And it is truly one of the funniest shows on television. My husband, teenager and I (an activity all together? Yes, it can happen) watched the movie Passengers – sort of a last man on earth without the earth. Pretty good. I’ve been catching up on my usual podcasts, but tried a new one that has lots of potential. The team at Family Ghosts unearths and investigates tall tales and hidden secrets within families. I love history and I love family. These stand-alone episodes have plenty of both. One word of caution, I am very sensitive (read prudish) when it comes to language so I delete the episodes labeled explicit so I cannot speak to the appropriateness or lack there of for those.
I have one final recommendation and it’s an audio book. You can read it, but I think you might be doing yourself a disservice. I Ain’t Doin’ It: Unfiltered Thoughts From a Sarcastic Southern Sweetheart by Heather Land almost made me wet myself from laughter. If you’ve got a summer road trip coming up, get into it! 
I close with a request. It would be inauthentic of me to tell you about my month without telling you that I am struggling with parenting my teen. I am poured out, worn out, and plum out of ideas. To get very real, I’ve spent the better part of this week in tears. I’m being broken and humbled and driven to my knees and I plead with you to pray for me. And if there is anything I can pray for you about, email me at [email protected]. I would consider it an honor. Love you, thank you, and hope July treats you well.
Sharing is caring! If you liked this post, please share to your favorite social media accounts. And if you want to make sure you don’t miss anything, subscribe!
And look up these great writers I link up with every week:
InstaEncouragements, Literacy Musing Mondays, Hello…Monday,
Dream Team link up, The Good. The Random. The Fun.
BloggerClubUK, Tea and Word Tuesday, Purposeful Faith,
GraceFull Tuesday Link-Up, Different Dream,
Let’s Have Coffee, Welcome Wednesday, Recharge Wednesday,
Worth Beyond Rubies, #TellHisStory Link Up, Porch Stories,
Encouraging Word Wednesday, Tune In Thursday,
Stories of Hope, Moments of Hope, IHeart Verse Link Party,
A Blogging Good Time, Fresh Market Friday, Feature Friday Time,
Friendship Friday Blog Hop, Faith on Fire, Traffic Jam Weekend,
Faith ‘n Friends, Dancing with Jesus, Grace & Truth, Booknificent
Lastly, my posts may contain affiliate links. If you purchase anything from one of these links, I will receive a few pennies to help offset the cost of this website at no additional charge to you. Thank you in advance for your help.
Sounds like you had fun!
Jennifer
Effortlessly Sophisticated
It’s been a rough one.
Yes, Lauren, you have your hands full, indeed! I will definitely keep you in prayer, my friend, and please let us know in July if things have gotten better/slowed down.
Blessings!
Thank you for the prayers and concern, Martha. They mean so much.
I will be praying for strength because the teenage years is hard, and oftentimes, it gets worse as they become young adults.
Thanks for sharing #TrafficJamLinkyParty and have an awesome 4th of July Holiday!
Antionette, your prayers mean more than you know! As I am typing this we have enjoyed 3 peaceful days together and I am celebrating that small milestone. One day at a time.
Wow, what a busy month! But it sounds like so much fun, too! That book by Paul Tripps sounds great–I love his books, and I have also heard great things about Emotionally Healthy Spiritually. I really need to read those! Thanks for the great recommendations, and I hope you enjoy the rest of your summer! 🙂
Thanks for popping in, Christin. Those two books are great!
What a super-busy month! I’ll have to look up Passengers – that sounds like something my husband would like. I am very sensitive about language as well. Visiting from the LMM link-up.
I enjoyed Passengers more than I thought I would. Thank you for visiting, Barbara!
Congrats to your parents on their 50th. That’s quite the accomplishment. My parents made it to that milestone as well. Your month has been busy. Glad you’re able to enjoy such fun activities and people!
This is the last season of Life in Pieces? Sad. We finished it off last night and always get a good laugh with every episode.
I know! Extremely underrated show.
What a busy month you had had! Glad you had fun too.
#globalblogging
Thanks, Veronica.
I agree with your estimation of summer! I love the beauty, but the pace nearly slays me. And thank you for the movie and book recommendations.
Thanks for visiting, Michele. Hoping for a little rest this holiday weekend.
What a busy month! Praying three things for you:
1. July brings slivers of rest and peace
2. Grace and wisdom for both you and your teen (I’ve got a 14 year old girl too. Solidarity sister!)
3. New hope for the days to come!
Perfect! I am praying the same things for you right now. Thank you so much, Rebecca.
Wow, that was a long journey each day, so glad you found one closer!
Bless you,
Jennifer
It’s such a blessing, Jennifer. Thank you for coming along for part of the journey!
Whew! Lauren, just reading your post wore me out, so I can’t imagine walking in your shoes. It’s quite ok to feel like June has been a whirlwind cause it sounds like it certainly was. I pray July will offer some moments of respite. And while my kids are only 12 and soon to be 14 I am beginning to get a glimpse of what you mean about the teen years. I’ll whisper a prayer for you today, friend.
Be blessed!
Thank you for the prayers, Marva. They mean so much.
Popping back from another linky #blogginggoodtime@_karendennis
Great! Thanks, Karen.
Goodness, you’ve had a busy summer already. Be sure to take some time to relax! Sending up a prayer for you and your teen. These days can be challenging.
Thanks for looking up at Legacy Link up.
Taking a couple of days away this weekend. And thanks so much for the prayers, Mandy.
Thanks for linking up at the #WednesdayAIMLinkParty 40!
Thank you for hosting.
Lauren what a neat post! I can’t believe you’re a grandma! Isn’t it the greatest thing ever!?! But, yes! They wear you out!
Thanks for linking up at InstaEncouragements!
I still can’t believe I am either. Thanks for weighing in.
With you on how difficult parenting a teen is — we’ve got two! #ABloggingGoodTime
Power to the parents, Enda!
I agree, summers are harsh! and I am not talking about the heat. So much to do, and no rest for the weary! Praying you can find some time to rest and relax. Thanks for linking up with us at the #WednesdayAIMLinkParty 40
Thank you for the prayers, Sylvia! And for visiting from the link up.
Firstly congrats again to yourself and Allie for being my featured #AbloggingGoodTime blogger this week, her poem was wonderful, yet sad and true. My own daughter just turned 15 and we are helping her best friend still 14 with opening up about her anxiety and eating disorder, so please pray for my daughters best friend. I am so glad she has opened up to me and allowed me to tell her mum, but there is so much work and healing to come.
You sound like you need a peaceful July and I will pray for you. Take care lovely xx
Thank you for linking up for #ABloggingGoodTime
Thanks so much for featuring her poem. What an honor for her. And I am definitely saying a prayer for your daughter’s best friend. I cannot begin to imagine the pressures teens face today. I am sure it’s not a close comparison to what I went through.