It’s 97 degrees right now at 6:14pm in the Dallas area. It actually doesn’t feel that bad considering most of the month temps reached 100. That’s August in Texas and I say “GOOD RIDDANCE” to it. While running errands, my deodorant outlives its usefulness in the 2 minute walk between building and car. Color me over it! Although we still have a month or two of wearing shorts around these parts, when the calendar turns to September I can at least START to imagine Fall around the corner.
Shelby attended Camp Blessing the first few days of August. The owners and volunteers of this camp for special needs kids and adults do amazing work. Shelby had a fantastic time while Chuck and I helped ourselves to some much needed respite. Allie, my youngest, made the high school volleyball team on the 2nd and started games on the 3rd. I’m excited that she earned her spot, but proud of how hard she worked to overcome her fear and anxiety. To be honest, my girls don’t have to do anything to make me proud. I was as proud as the proverbial peacock they day they were born and they hadn’t done a single thing. If you feel the same way about your kids, make sure they know it.
Our church hosted Brett Kunkle, co-author of A Practical Guide to Culture: Helping the Next Generation Navigate Today’s World. I think I’ve mentioned the book here a time or ten. I can’t say enough good about it. My family also attended a prayer event there called Battle on Our Knees. We spent time in guided prayer for our students, teachers, administrators and parents for back to school. I can’t think of a better way to spend our time. This month has also driven us to our knees for some loved ones fighting through medical and spiritual challenges. Our hearts are a little heavy but it’s so reassuring to know that God carries that load for us.
Mid month Allie and I joined her cousin and my sister-in-law for a little girls weekend. We traveled down I-35 for our other sister-in-law’s baby shower. We ate, celebrated the next Baby Sparks and did a little back to school shopping. When we got back in town we hit the ground running with Freshman orientations for parent and child, fundraisers, meetings, volunteering and a pep rally – all in preparation for the first day of school. Both girls met the challenges of the first weeks with grace and aplomb. I’m so thankful. Allie will be in two choirs this year and had a lake party to get in tune with her new friends (see what I did there?). And next week we have a meeting to kick off another round of Special Olympics for Shelby.
In entertainment news, we took the family and two of Allie’s friends to see Blinded by the Light. So good. This movie, based on a true story, follows a Pakistani teen in England in the 1980’s. Bruce Springsteen lyrics motivated him to rise up from the persecution he faced and the old fashioned patriarchy of his family to chase his dreams. I liked it so much that I woke up thinking about it the next morning. Critics agree with me. Fourteen year old middle class American girls – not so much.
Chuck and I (big Dallas Cowboy fans – don’t come at me, haters) got to tour the world headquarters of America’s team at the Frisco Star. We had such a good time gawking at this state of the art facility and hearing about some of the fun history of the team. Did you know Emmitt Smith’s scouting report shows him to be careless with the ball and lacking work ethic? Please, did you SEE him on Dancing with the Stars? Yeah, me neither. We also saw the back-up QB Cooper Rush and Jason Witten, who is my husband’s favorite player. Probably mine too. I won’t post those pictures because I accidentally illegally took them. I somehow missed the announcement that we could take pictures of anything except other people. Oops.
I just finished reading The Wondering Years by Knox McCoy. I love, love, love the Popcast podcast he co-hosts with Jamie Golden and was stoked when my best friend surprised me with the book. If you enjoy some snarky humor and an unorthodox take on growing up as an evangelical Christian, grab a copy. And use my link. I would so appreciate it. Today, I picked up Sex, Jesus, and the Conversations the Church Forgot by Mo Isom. It comes highly recommended. And last, I’m using Seeing God’s Hand: Through the Art of Sign Language by Connie Rowland in my daily time with the Lord. The author sweetly encourages me through the pages to look for God’s hand in the world. What a timely message for us all today.
And that’s my month. The good, the bad and the sweaty. Thanks for following along. I’d love to hear what YOU did this month. Or what you’re reading. Or watching. Drop me a comment below. Until next time, I love you, I thank you and I pray September treats you well.
Sounds like you’ve been having a lot of fun!
Jennifer
Effortlessly Sophisticated
Work, fun and rest. Trying to strike a balance.
Wow, Lauren, your busy (and sweaty) schedule makes my head spin! I admire such energy and drive, not only in you, but your daughters, too. May God richly bless you in September!
Thanks, Martha.
Lauren, this post made me smile and chuckle in the best of ways. Sounds like it was a good August. May September be equally as wonderful, only cooler 🙂
From your lips to God’s ears, Joanne. Thank you!
Congrats to your younger daughter for making the volleyball team and your older one for her successful completion of camp. I am lobbying to go see Blinded by The Light too. I’ll have to show hubby your post! 🙂
Yes. Neither my husband or I are even huge Springsteen fans but the story telling was compelling. I think as a writer you would have an even deeper connection to it.
You’ve had a lot on your calendar this month! Blinded by the Light caught my eye. Good to know you really liked it!
I would definitely recommend it!
Not sure I could take all that heat! Living in “The Land of Eternal Spring” Guatemala City) is more for me. I hadn’t heard of that movie and will certainly keep an eye out for the DVD.
It does get to me this time of year. I reach a point where I have had enough.
You are one busy lady with a lot on your plate!
Well, I didn’t write about all the time I spent on the couch! Ha.
Mine was hot too her in Ga., still is. You do have a lot to be proud of.
Praying we both get some cooler weather soon!
Ahhh… Lauren, your August was full of great memories! So thankful for beautiful places like Camp Blessing. They do wonderful work there.
Thanks for linking up at InstaEncouragements!
Me too, Patsy. Thank you.
Hi Lauren! Sounds like you had a super busy month! I love reading about your girls and I’m so glad they’re having an exciting end to the summer. Thanks for mentioning my book Seeing God’s Hand, I really appreciate you! God bless! 🙂
It is my pleasure, Connie. I am enjoying using it in my daily office with God.
Lovin’ this hot weather here in AL. You’ve been busy! Thanks so much for linking up at the #WednesdayAIMLinkParty 44. Shared.
Didn’t know you were in AL. My dearest friend lives in the Montgomery area.
Your schedule sounds a lot like mine, lol. I am so glad that Fall is finally in the air here in Eastern Kentucky. I am reading The Daniel Plan and Free of Me. I put on 16 pounds during a back injury that ended in surgery and my dr advised me to lose it, so a friend and I started doing The Daniel Plan together, so far so good. Enjoyed reading your monthly update. Thanks for sharing!
I’m so sorry about your back injury! Been there done that. It sounds like you have a plan to tackle the issues, though. Good luck!
Oh yes… I, too, adore Knox and Jamie and the Popcast (and I loved his book and am so excited for his second!) I keep seeing that movie in ads but didn’t know the backstory… good to know it is one to watch! (To be honest, we went to see Yesterday –which is a totally different thing, but between that and the Queen movie and the Elton John movie –I think this one may have easily gotten lost in the shuffle, so thanks for reminding me about it!) Glad we are Linky neighbors! (And here’s to be SO READY for Fall!)
I loved Yesterday and Bohemian Rhapsody too!
What a fun month! So good to know about that movie – it’s on my to be watched list!! Here’s to a great September for you! xo, Biana
Thanks, Biana. Hope Sept treats you well!