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Jumping from June to July…and Grace and Truth Link Up

June 25, 2021 by Lauren 22 Comments

I threw a party.  For the reunion of my favorite show Friends.  That’s how I kicked off my month and it was fun! 

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Friends themed decorations and name tags for everyone featuring supporting characters of the beloved show.  Ugly Naked Guy?  Frank Jr. Jr., Spackle Back Larry?  They were all in attendance.  Did you watch?

We piggybacked on my inlaws’ generosity and took a little jaunt to the beach.  My daughter and her friend baked themselves crispy fried on the first day despite many warnings and pleadings to reapply the SPF.  We took in the Texas State Aquarium where we saw a flamingo couple guarding a nest.  Shelby fell in love.

 

I began serving as a subject matter expert for NETA to help them develop their next certifying exam – an interesting process during which I get to meet fitness instructors from all over the country.  We have two Zoom meetings under our belt and several more to follow.

 

Shelby attended her first of two summer camps.  This one sits only an hour away from home and gives her dad and me a nice respite from caregiving.  Super bonus – she has a blast!  The report I got?  She had a great week and was the happiest camper there.  That’s my girl!  My youngest volunteered at three sessions of children’s day camp at our church and lead worship for the youth.  That’s my other girl!

 

The whole extended family (almost) sat out in stifling heat with zero breeze to support my niece in her dance recital.  That’s love.  My husband and I caught the That Sounds Fun Podcast Tour with Annie F Downs when it came through Dallas.  It was funny and endearing and I felt like God had a message for just my husband and me.  Now THAT’S a good show.  And the same week we got to pick up Georgia peaches from The Peach Truck and deliver to family over a Father’s Day celebration.  I have a good one and I’m married to a good one.  And there was much rejoicing.

 

It’s been a movie month for us.  So glad to see new quality films coming to theaters.  We got to Finding You, which may be my new favorite.  After taking it in with my husband, I took my daughter to it the very next day.  It’s a sweet and clean romance (a rarity) with a lot more going on than the love story.  I can’t wait until it’s streaming so I can see it again.  We saw Queen Bees.  Not as clean but funny and sweet.  And at home we caught an edited version of football movie The Replacements and an oldie – The Fortune Cookie starring Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau.  Last, the whole family plus my sister enjoyed In the Heights.  I may be in the minority, but I love, love, love a good musical.

 

Lastly, I was glad to see Juneteenth become a federal holiday!  And that about wraps up the last 30 days.  I hope all the daddies out there had a great Father’s Day.  Shout out to the ones in my life and especially my Heavenly Father.  And as always, I love you, I thank you and I hope July treats you well.

 

And now for this week’s featured post from the linkup!

 

I found Katie R Dale‘s blog bipolarbrave.com for the first time this week.  And I’m so thankful.  Her vulnerability in sharing her struggles with mental illness and the intersection of God’s healing and grace gave me much pause for thought.  If you suffer from, are curious about or have experience with someone else’s mental illness, do a deep dive on her sight!  Especially It Happened One Summer.  Thanks, Katie.  Grab the button below for your site.

 

Grace and Truth_Rules

1. Share 1 or 2 of your most recent CHRISTIAN LIVING posts. (No DIY, crafts, recipes, or inappropriate articles.) All links are randomly sorted.

2. Comment on 1 or 2 other links. Grace & Truth linkup encourages community.

3. Every host features one entry from the previous week. To be featured, include this button or link back here on your post (mandatory to be featured, but not to participate)

 

Grace and Truth_Meet Hosts

We encourage you to follow our hosts on their blogs or social media.

MAREE DEE – Embracing the Unexpected
Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

HEATHER HART & VALERIE RIESE – Candidly Christian
Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

LAUREN SPARKS
Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

LISA BURGESS – Lisa notes
Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

Now Let’s Link Up!

 

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Filed Under: Christian, entertainment, Grace & Truth Link Up, monthly review, Uncategorized

Comments

  1. Donna Reidland says

    June 25, 2021 at 10:53 am

    What a busy but blessed month you have had! I thank God for good summer camps, the people who run them, and volunteers. They can be such a blessing. Even though my situation was different than yours, I remember one summer early in our marriage when we were working to blend two families. Having the older kids away at camp for a couple of weeks and the younger ones in VBS gave my husband and me some much-needed breathing room.

    Reply
    • Lauren says

      June 25, 2021 at 11:38 am

      Such a blessing. Thank you for sharing.

      Reply
  2. Barbara Harper says

    June 25, 2021 at 2:02 pm

    Sounds like a great month! Glad the summer camps went well. When I clicked through for Finding You, I remembered seeing someone else recommend it, too, but I’d forgotten about it. I’ll have to see if it’s around here.

    Reply
    • Lauren says

      June 25, 2021 at 2:51 pm

      I highly recommend it, Barbara!

      Reply
  3. Debbie-Dabble says

    June 25, 2021 at 10:33 pm

    Sounds like you had a busy month!! Thanks so much for stopping by!! Stay safe, healthy and happy!!
    Hugs,
    Debbie

    Reply
    • Lauren says

      June 27, 2021 at 4:55 pm

      Thank you, Debbie! You as well.

      Reply
  4. Maryleigh says

    June 28, 2021 at 1:31 pm

    What a sweet month full of the best kind of memories! June is my busiest month after Nov-Dec – but it was filled with the best kind of memories that make the hard easier. I’m looking forward to maybe a restful July? LOL

    Reply
    • Lauren says

      June 28, 2021 at 1:51 pm

      I will pray for that restful July for both of us, Maryleigh!

      Reply
  5. Anita Ojeda says

    June 30, 2021 at 8:23 am

    It sounds like you had a lovely June ❤️ It’s so good to be able to roam about the country and return to normal activities, isn’t it?!

    Reply
    • Lauren says

      June 30, 2021 at 10:34 am

      Yes it is.

      Reply
  6. Rena says

    June 30, 2021 at 1:05 pm

    It sounds like you and your family have had a fun and busy month. My husband and I enjoyed the Friends Reunion show as well. My only complaint about it is that it was too short and that it was only one show (ok, I guess that’s two complaints). Thank you for joining my Fine-Whatever link-up.

    Rena
    http://www.finewhateverblog.com

    Reply
    • Lauren says

      June 30, 2021 at 2:08 pm

      I agree, Rena. I would love to see a lot more!

      Reply
  7. Shelbee on the Edge says

    July 1, 2021 at 10:33 am

    I am so glad that Shelby had such a great time at summer camp! And how wonderful that you got a little caregiving break, too. I love that you had a Friends reunion gathering! It was such a great show to watch! I laughed and cried countless times.

    Shelbee
    http://www.shelbeeontheedge.com

    Reply
    • Lauren says

      July 1, 2021 at 4:26 pm

      I’m one of those who never stopped watching Friends and can have whole conversations with my sister or a girlfriend in Friends quotes.

      Reply
  8. Robyn Jones says

    July 1, 2021 at 5:03 pm

    It sounds like you have had a very well-rounded month with a balance of work and play as well as rest and relaxation. Happy Summer and God bless!

    Reply
    • Lauren says

      July 2, 2021 at 10:40 am

      Happy summer, Robyn. Thanks for visiting.

      Reply
  9. Joanne says

    July 2, 2021 at 5:57 am

    I have been slowly making my way through all the old Friends episodes (again!). My boys bought me a boxed set for Mother’s day so I can just watch them on a continual loop… not that I couldn’t quote most of them by heart anyway. I just love(d) that show so much! It sound like you have had a great month!

    Reply
    • Lauren says

      July 2, 2021 at 10:37 am

      I have a couple of friends who can practically have whole conversations with me in Friends quotes!

      Reply
  10. April Harris says

    July 2, 2021 at 8:39 am

    I’m so pleased you had a good month and a Happy Father’s Day weekend, Lauren! It’s nice that your daughter enjoyed camp so much and that you got a little break as well. Thank you for being a part of the Hearth and Soul Community. Take care.

    Reply
    • Lauren says

      July 2, 2021 at 10:35 am

      Thank you for hosting, April.

      Reply
  11. Mandy Farmer says

    July 6, 2021 at 3:50 pm

    You have had a busy summer so far! Its always nice to read what others are doing with family. Thanks for linking up at Legacy.

    Reply
    • Lauren says

      July 7, 2021 at 11:57 am

      I agree, Mandy. That’s why I started doing a month wrap up post because I always enjoyed reading others’.

      Reply

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I love Jesus, my husband and caffeine. The order of these can change depending on how tired I am. When my two daughters, stepson, and 4 grandchildren get to be too much, I practice yoga. God graciously allows me to share our adventures, victories and flub-ups from my laptop. May He be glorified here.
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