I still have a vacation with my best friend’s family to look forward to. Otherwise, I might feel like our summer is practically over. I can’t believe how quickly my kids will return to academia. So before it gets away from me, I’m thinking back on our July.
A wedding in Austin, Texas kicked off the festivities. A dear friend married off her last kiddo at a beautiful resort with a scrumptious dinner and fun DJ. I enjoyed getting all dressed up with the hubs. It’s been a while. The next morning we stopped at a hole in the wall donut shop on our way back home. We met Vanilla Ice there. And no, we did not stop, collaborate, or listen! We also saw this homespun motorcycle (below) at a gas station.
On Independence Day, we went to church with Chuck’s brother and family to witness my niece’s baptism. Then spent the afternoon eating and visiting. No fireworks or cookouts, but I got to stay in air conditioned comfort the entire time. That’s how this avid indoorsman prefers to celebrate.
Shelby went to her 2nd summer camp while her sister stayed with my parents and served in their church for the week. So proud of Allie giving away 3 weeks of her summer (between my parents’ church and ours) to serve children and tell them about Jesus.
While the kids were away, the adults did a lazy version of play. We treated ourselves to a couples massage and two trips to the movie theater. We saw 12 Mighty Orphans and Black Widow – both of which we really enjoyed! The biggest splurge of all? We ate every meal out. I didn’t cook or do dishes one single time.
For my Shelby girl’s 21st birthday, we took her and a few of her fans to a Texas Ranger baseball game. The Rangers aren’t any good, but I still enjoyed my first visit to their new indoor ballpark. It was 72 degrees the entire time. (See above avid indoorsman comment).
As a newly coerced (I mean recruited) member of the school choir booster board, we got invited to meet Allie’s soon-to-be new choir director at one of my fave Mexican restaurants. As much as I resisted volunteering in this way, I think I may enjoy it after all. Kudos to all of you parents that jump at the chance to bless your local school.
The last big hoorah of July was a little camping trip with my husband’s side of the family. The campsite had swimming, a water park, petting zoo, crafts and a fire truck ride for the kids and grandkids. And plenty of Texas heat.
With an empty house for several days, we watched quite a bit of TV. Mike Tyson: The Knockout documentary series was more interesting than I imagined as was the movie The Last Samurai with Tom Cruise. The Summer of Soul (…or When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised) and The Legacy of Black Wall Street immersed us in two very different time periods of black American history. We revisited some old favorites with Back in Scrubs: Reunion Road Trip (I loved that quirky show.) and Field of Dreams: 25 Years Later -which is already a few years old. Golden: The Journey of USA’s Elite Gymnasts fed our anticipation for the summer Olympics and we restarted season one of The Chosen. Not sure why we abandoned it the first time, as we are now firmly into season 2.
I read The Masterpiece by one of my faves – Francine Rivers and Home Fire: A Novel by Kamila Shamsie. I can’t remember where the recommendation for the later came from, but I would recommend the former.
And now for this week’s featured post from the link up!
As a voracious reader, Linda Stoll gave me a lot to think about with What’s Your Bookish Life Looking Like? She stated that our reading life is a vital component of who we are ANd who we hope to be. I have honestly never given my reading choices that much thought before. But this year more than ever, I have been very intentional. I feel the needs to do some reading and studying on a topic that’s very hard for me. I know it’s important, but because it’s so emotionally hard, I intersperse it with books that are just for fun. My mental health demands it. Read Linda’s post and see what you learn about yourself.
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).
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!
Sharing is caring! If you liked this post, do me the huge honor of using the buttons below to share it to your favorite social media accounts. And if you want to get these essays emailed to you once a week, subscribe! Lastly, my posts may contain affiliate links and I earn from qualifying purchases. If you buy 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.
To find some great places where I might be sharing this post, click here.
Sounds like you had a great month. I never heard of that orphan movie, but I really want to see it now. I’m also excited about that Francine Rivers book. She’s my favorite Christian fictional author. Thanks for the party!
I highly recommend both.
I LOVED The Masterpiece when I read it 🙂 Sounds like you had a very full July. May we hold onto these summer days for as long as we can!
It’s gotten way to hot for me to want to hold on. Come on fall!
It sounds like it was a busy and fun month. How wonderful to have some no-cooking-alone-time with your husband! I haven’t read a Francine Rivers novel in a long time. I always enjoy her books. Her “Mark of the Lion” series is one of my favorites. Hope you have a great weekend.
I loved Mark of the Lion too. I almost gave up on it but someone told me, “you have to get through the first 100 pages and then it gets so good!” And it did.
I’m with you on being an avid indoorsman! Sounds like a great month, and it’s nice there’s one more fun event before summer’s end. I’d love a week with no cooking and dishwashing.
I should have mentioned on my end-of-month post that we’re enjoying watching Making It, a summer program in its second season. It’s a little quirky, but fun. Contestants put together various crafts according to different rules each week, and one goes home until one is left.
I have heard of that show. I need to check it out!
So – did you really meet Vanilla Ice (Ice Ice Baby) – or was that a Donut-Shop play on words? LOL What a treat to be Home Alone (I so understand indoor sportsman when it’s hot – I don’t do hot well – unless it’s food). I just told my two boys that for 48 Hours I just wanted the house as empty as possible (my husband’s out of town) – no cooking for people unless I just want to cook. No-one asking me to do anything – I am so enjoying it! Have fun with the rest of the summer!
I really met Vanilla Ice. But was too embarrassed to tell him I knew who he was! And it sounds like you have created a little haven space for yourself too. Enjoy!
So wonderful that you had a great time as a couple!
Yes, it was nice. Thank you, Michele
Lauren, I found myself smiling through this whole post. It looks like July treated you well. I am cracking up over your status as an avid indoorsman! And how fun that you took Shelby and fans to a Rangers game! I bet you made some fabulous memories there. Thanks for sharing and linking with me.
Shelbee
http://www.shelbeeontheedge.com
It was a good and long and hot and hard and precious month. I am holding it all close. Thanks, Shelbee.
So many joyful times with family and friends for you last month. Thank you for joining my weekly link-up.
Rena
http://www.finewhateverblog.com
Yes. I’m so thankful, Rena. Thank you for reading and commenting.
It sounds like you had a lovely July! It’s amazing how fast this summer is flying by and I just know my kids will be starting back to school soon too.
So fast. My kids start next week!