Last month marked one year since we went under contract on our home. It also marked one year since we walked inside that future home for the first time — which, as you may recall, was after we went under contract. That day was an extraordinarily muggy one, with an oppressive gray sky. The seller peered at us grumpily from the neighbor’s porch as we pulled up; the selling agent hovered anxiously as we moved from room to room. I mostly felt flustered as I tried to keep three excited children from touching a stranger’s things, and then — yes, there it is — relieved as we got back in our car and drove away. Nothing was wrong with the house, really, but I just wanted to get back to our house.
Now here we are, a year later, and every time I pull up to this house I let out a happy sigh. It is our house in every way. It took a few months for me to get here — see here, here, here — and on this first anniversary it is good to look back and remember how wrong it felt then, and how right it feels now. I am SO incredibly grateful we took the leap and made the move — our life is better in almost every way for it. Praise God!
And one more fun little update: nothing says “we’re here for the long haul” like buying a piano :) We found this little used Kawai on Facebook Marketplace a few weeks ago and took her home. Now we can officially call this nook the piano room!
On my calendar: — A quick anniversary weekend at the coast! We started doing these mini yearly getaways with our tenth anniversary and they have been so sweet. Eternally grateful to my parents for facilitating things back at home for our 14th! — An afternoon at Fantasy Lake! This was the prize the kids chose for completing the Kindness Challenge; after a few months of working together, they got it done. — A baby shower for dear friends who are adopting.
What I’m loving right now: — My new flower CSA membership! Six weeks of fresh blooms to be picked up at the farmer’s market — heaven. — I think I’ve mentioned this before, but don’t sleep on flagging beloved, spendier brands on ThredUp. I snagged this zip-up sweatshirt in a soft green stripe for 70% off and it is my new favorite thing to wear. — John and I just finished watching Band of Brothers for the first time. Though some scenes are hard to watch, it’s filled me with renewed gratitude for the ordinary men who heroically defeated the Nazis in World War II. Just incredible.
As a reminder, you can find allll the things I’ve loved over the last few years neatly organized right here!
What you’re loving right now:
This is where I highlight a few items here that have been popular in the last month with fellow readers, based on my analytics. Here’s hoping this will help you find something you’ll love!
— Our final master bathroom accessory. Looks like a fancy rug, is actually a hardworking bath mat. — Our Halloween candy bowl. Are y’all looking ahead to the next big holiday, too? 👀 — Our board game of the summer that’s genuinely as enjoyable with two players as it is with four. — The best clickable markers. Happy back to school! — This smocked tank dress, my big purchase from the spring that’s still going strong. Even though I opted for a bolder pattern, it has seen SO much wear – the silhouette is just so easy to pull on and feels like the right choice for occasions both casual and fancy.
What I read in August: — Unbroken | Between this one and Band of Brothers I had a WWII month, and I’m not mad about it. This is another absolutely incredible true tale from Laura Hillenbrand, a master storyteller if ever there was one. Unbroken tells the story of Louis Zamperini, an Olympian turned airman in the Pacific theater. It is a story in three parts: Louis’s survival at sea for 40+ days, his resilience in the face of brutality after washing ashore and becoming a POW, and his path to redemption after arriving back home. I was so astounded by this story that I retold bits and pieces to my kids each day as I read, and they were fascinated, too. I’ll be checking out the young reader adaption for a future readaloud! — The Will of the Many | This was described to me as similar to Red Rising, and rightly so: it centers a young prodigy from the dregs of society who is taken in by a rogue organization, is transformed and launched into the highest echelons, and must compete in an academy setting while satisfying his benefactors and staying true to his own purposes. It is an absolute doorstop — 720 pages — and I don’t know that it quite earns its length. I enjoyed it, and will read the second one (if only to satisfy some cliffhangers), but I still think Red Rising is better. — The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion, Volume 2 | As delightful as the first!
Revisiting my August goals: Edit June in June (I hate that this got bumped again! I really try to have the last one edited before we start filming for the next one!) Finalize new chore charts for the new school year Schedule and enjoy back-to-school shopping dates with all three kids Tend to this month’s clutter spot: the second-floor bookshelf Film Annie and Shep’s birthday videos
September goals: — Hang Annie’s curtains — Edit June in June (for real this time!) — Film Sheptember — Make apple cider scones for the first day of fall — Sort and tag for the consignment sale — Tend to this month’s clutter spot: the second-floor bookshelf — Listen to Hold Me Tight with John. I always try to read a marriage book in September, our anniversary month, and this year I thought it could be fun to listen to one together while on our nightly walks. Hold Me Tight is available on Spotify Premium, making it an easy win. — Send invitations for a pumpkins and soup party. Do y’all remember this?! It used to be an annual thing, but we haven’t held one since 2017. Almost a decade later, with a big backyard and older kids, we’re going to try to bring it back. — Prep our family Halloween costumes. Very excited about our theme. — Buy a protective router. — Design and order our 2019-2024 family photo album — Clean out screenshots once per day. You may recall I did this with great success a few years ago, but now, instead of taking a year, I’m doing the clean-out in one month: each day, I scan my phone for screenshots or things that need to be filed elsewhere for one day of each month. (So, on September 1st I looked at January 1st, February 1st, March 1st, etc.) It’s working well so far! — Strength train once per week. My saga continues. I have no words at this time, except to say that once per week is better than never per week :) — Meet with our contractor about a potential screened porch — possibly a 2028 project, but I want to start to get my arms around the scope and what’s possible.
Um, wow… after keeping things very reasonable in August, that is a LOT of goals for September, ha! Feeling ambitious now that kids are back in school, much?! I would love to hear something you’re excited to tackle this month, if you’d like to share. xo
When I list everything that took place in July, it’s almost hard to believe it all happened in the same 31-day period. But, for posterity and sheer incredulity, here goes: We road tripped to Michigan for a week. Annie celebrated her fifth birthday with a family dinner and a friend playground party. We hosted family. We prepped June for two weeks of sleepaway camp and dropped her off and picked her up (which takes an overnight stay on each end). We hosted a kindergarten ice cream social for our neighborhood. We celebrated John’s birthday. We finished the swim team season with two final meets and a banquet. We pulled off an Amazing Race-style birthday party for Shep. We hosted our niece and nephew for a week of Cousin Camp.
And that is just the major *events* — not to mention the out-of-the-ordinary projects I also worked on this month, like prepping my message for the Island Sunday service and packing for Maine.
On this side of the calendar, I don’t really have any big takeaways. Do I wish all of those things had been crammed into one month? Not really. Was I tired and overwhelmed at points? Yes. But they are all things we chose, and I never felt alone in the action: we were accompanied along the way by friends, family, and neighbors. So mostly, I’m feeling grateful — but also ready for a bit of a quieter August :)
On my calendar: — A week in Maine! My happiest place. — All the back-to-school things, including a special family dinner, a TTT, and shopping + conversation dates. — The first day of school! The last year of elementary for June and the first year for Annie, with Shep squeezed in the middle and starting second grade.
What I’m loving right now: — While the ubiquitous Lulu was my intro to belt bags, I eventually wanted an elevated version for less-sporty adventures. Copying one of my most stylish friends, Adelyn, made the decision easy: this leopard-print Rivedroite bag. I was delighted when one of my favorite international readers commented with approving surprise that I was sporting such a niche European brand :) — Longtime readers may remember a favorite serial audio story, On the Night Train, that my kids have now listened to several times over. We just discovered something similar — Welcome to Hope Springs — and listened to the first season on our drive to Michigan. Wanted to pass it along in case your family has a road trip in its future! — For your own listening pleasure, I’ll offer up another episode from Tim Mackie’s Exploring My Strange Bible podcast: A Future for My Work. As always, he gave me new ideas to chew on and a fresh perspective.
As a reminder, you can find allll the things I’ve loved over the last few years neatly organized right here!
What you’re loving right now:
This is where I highlight a few items here that have been popular in the last month with fellow readers, based on my analytics. Here’s hoping this will help you find something you’ll love!
— June’s lookalike Lake pajama set. So cute, soft, and a great price. — Our board game of the summer that’s genuinely as enjoyable with two players as it is with four. — The reasonably-priced taper candles I’ve ordered in so many colors for dinner party decor. — My giant sun hat, because we all know skincare won’t go too far without physical sun protection. — This smocked tank dress, my big purchase from the spring that’s still going strong. Even though I opted for a bolder pattern, it has seen SO much wear – the silhouette is just so easy to pull on and feels like the right choice for occasions both casual and fancy. The other versions, too! Red gingham and pale yellow
What I read in July: — Fellowship Point | From the description, this book was right up my alley: “A story of lifelong friendship between two very different women with shared histories, divisive loyalties, hidden sorrows, and eighty years of summers on a pristine point of land on the coast of Maine.” It was a bit of a doorstop, and while I don’t mind a lengthy book, I didn’t think this one earned its girth. I didn’t love either of the main characters and the writing wasn’t my cup of tea. — The Screwtape Letters | This was a re-read after many years; I was struck again how relevant Lewis’s writing remains 80 years later. If you haven’t read this one yet, you should — it’s short, engaging (the perspective — letters from a demon to his nephew, with advice for tempting humans away from God — keeps you on your toes), and both funny and serious. I’ve added it to the list of books I want our kids to read before they leave our home. — Teatime Discipleship | While I picked this up hoping it would have insight into discipling one’s own kids (and it does!), I left encouraged to engage people in all sorts of relationships. Sally’s writing is like a warm, grace-filled hug, and this book is no different.
Revisiting my July goals: Hang backyard string lights and Annie’s curtains (We hung the string lights in 96 degree heat but we got it done!! Curtains still pending.) Execute Annie and Shep’s birthday parties Edit June in June Tend to this month’s clutter spot: the attic Host the neighborhood kindergarten ice cream social Host and enjoy Cousin Camp Finish writing my Sunday service message Celebrate all of our July birthday folks well, both in our immediate and extended family
August goals: — Edit June in June — Finalize new chore charts for the new school year — Schedule and enjoy back-to-school shopping dates with all three kids — Tend to this month’s clutter spot: the second-floor bookshelf — Film Annie and Shep’s birthday videos
Let’s see… what does back to school look like for you this year? Do you have kids who’ve already started back, or are you the end of the month like us? Or are you just feeling that fresh-start season for yourself? I’d love to hear!
We are back from our week in Michigan, and it was wonderful: 33 cousins on a beautiful lake, fishing, waterskiing, sand dunes, group meals, tubing down the river, skipping stones, sunsets, s’mores, and more. I Bricked my phone for the trip (so, no email or social media), and the feeling of remove from everyday life was almost total. (Aside from, you know, the unavoidable mediating of sibling squabbles.)
The one drawback? The adjustment back to normalcy seems more challenging than if I had kept one foot in the digital world. And there’s been no easing in: I’m coming back to a full-court press of logistics, with VBS carpool arrangements to be made, a birthday to celebrate, a birthday party to throw, a kindergarten neighborhood ice cream social to host, a sleepaway camp to pack for, and a houseguest to welcome — and that’s all just this week. (Whew.)
But the week’s reprieve was worth it, and I’m grateful. On to what’s next!
On my calendar: — Annie, John, and Shep’s birthdays! Lots of number balloons, special dinners, and celebrations in our future. — June’s two weeks at sleepaway camp — a highlight of her year, every year. — Cousin Camp! After a skip last year, we’re thrilled to host our two NC cousins again for a week of sleepovers, bike rides, and bake sales.
What I’m loving right now: — June recently requested a pajama shorts set that was less form-fitting and in the style of Lake. After a little searching, we went with this pair in the blue stripe for the stunning sale price of $10 and they are SO CUTE in person. Very much a Lake look and feel if you have a little lady in your life who wants to coordinate! (This set is also very cute!) — I always enjoy The Atlantic’s cover stories (and appreciate reading them in print, because they’re often 20,000+ words!), but this recent one on online gambling (gift link!) was especially interesting, since it’s not a world I know much about. Worth a read — we’re actually discussing it for Articles Club this month. — Speaking of Articles Club — when I host, I usually line the table with taper candles. These are some of the best I’ve found at a reasonable price and with lots of color options. (And this and this are the newest additions to my tablecloth collection — a weakness, but at least I do use them all regularly!)
As a reminder, you can find allll the things I’ve loved over the last few years neatly organized right here!
What you’re loving right now:
This is where I highlight a few items here that have been popular in the last month with fellow readers, based on my analytics. Here’s hoping this will help you find something you’ll love!
— My giant sun hat, because we all know skincare won’t go too far without physical sun protection. — The pastel snackle box we used for Teacher Appreciation Gifts this year. Perfect for pool trips, picnics, and beach days, too! — The cleansing balm I’ve added to my skincare routine. I’m now a double cleanser and I’m not mad about it. Easy to travel with, too! — This smocked tank dress, my big purchase from the spring that’s still going strong. Even though I opted for a bolder pattern, it has seen SO much wear – the silhouette is just so easy to pull on and feels like the right choice for occasions both casual and fancy. The other versions, too! Red gingham and pale yellow — Our board game of the summer that’s genuinely as enjoyable with two players as it is with four.
What I read in June: — The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion, Volume I | I am on the bandwagon! My many friends that have read and loved this series warned me that it starts slow, so I wasn’t put off by the leisurely pace. I enjoyed meeting the inhabitants of St. Albans and look forward to picking back up with them in Vol. 2! These are light, delightful, wholesome reads. — Lady Tremaine | Okay — I enjoyed this book, but I don’t think it will be one of my favorites from the year. This is not because it wasn’t good — it was! It was clever, elegantly-written, it had some sympathetic characters, and the plot left me reading longer into the night than I should have, especially in the second half. It’s more of a me-thing, a quirk of my contrarian streak: I can’t help but think that the enormous popularity of revisionist fairy tales right now is entwined with our current culture’s pervasive relativism, something I disagree with. So I guess I’m just not rooting for this book, you know? Feel free to disagree in the comments :) — What Editors Do | I am reading this collection of essays at work in prep for some upcoming responsibility shifts; it is decidedly not a universal recommendation, but as a professional editor and writer, I’m really enjoying it!
Revisiting my June goals: Hang string lights, curtains, and, height ruler with my Dad’s help (We got to the ruler and made some progress on the string lights!) Film June in June Book our 2027 Yosemite trip (Done!! Can’t wait!) Tend to this month’s clutter spot: the attic End the school year and begin summer well Prep for sleepaway camp (Some prep completed, and some more to go) Organize the hot sauce bar at church for Father’s Day Celebrate Annie’s Walk Around the Sun Continue planning for the neighborhood kindergarten ice cream social, Annie’s birthday party, and Shep’s birthday party, all in July
July goals: — Hang backyard string lights and Annie’s curtains — Execute Annie and Shep’s birthday parties — Edit June in June — Tend to this month’s clutter spot: the attic — Host the neighborhood kindergarten ice cream social — Host and enjoy Cousin Camp — Finish writing my Sunday service message — Celebrate all of our July birthday folks well, both in our immediate and extended family
Let’s see… any buzzy book you’ve got a contrarian opinion about? Is there a particular month with tons of birthdays in your family? Have you just returned or are ready to head out on vacation? I’d love to hear whatever’s on your mind as we move into the second half of the year!
I’m feeling the wave of energy that comes with a new season! Yes, I know summer officially begins later this month, and that’s part of it, but my reasons are more personal: our two big home projects are complete, I finally edited Annie’s annual video, swim season has begun, I’m back on track with strength training and daily walks, and my parents are coming to visit this week — which means I will finally get to check off two little home projects that have lingered on my lists (hanging our height ruler and our backyard string lights — thanks, Dad!!). Plus, our trips to Michigan and Maine are drawing ever closer (YAY!) and planning for two July birthday parties has me excited. Lots to look forward to over here. I hope you’re feeling the same way!
On my calendar: — The last day of school! Currently plotting details for our kick-off-to-summer celebration dinner and TTT. — A beach weekend in Emerald Isle. We’ve loved exploring different coastal towns in NC for the past few Junes and are crossing our fingers for the same excellent weather we’ve enjoyed in recent years. (A few past trips here: Bald Head Island, Beaufort, Swansboro/Hammocks Beach) — Father’s Day! I’m organizing a hot sauce bar for the men at our church and celebrating my own wonderful husband, Dad, and father-in-law.
What I’m loving right now: — This is admittedly niche, but in light of last week’s ode to neighborhood swim team, I thought I’d share. One reason my kids love swim is because they get to be part of a team but also compete against themselves. To track their improvement over a season, I made simple charts in Canva, and they love marking off progress after each meet. Feel free to steal and adjust for your own fridge! — This smocked tank dress was my big purchase this spring. Even though I opted for a bolder pattern, it has seen SO much wear – the silhouette is just so easy to pull on and feels like the right choice for occasions both casual and fancy. A few other versions: red gingham and pale yellow. — John’s sister and brother-in-law brought this board game with them on a recent trip and the same day they left we bought our own copy at Barnes & Noble! While it is one of those complicated games that’s tedious to learn, it’s not hard to play, and it’s genuinely as enjoyable with two players as it is with four.
As a reminder, you can find allll the things I’ve loved over the last few years neatly organized right here!
What you’re loving right now:
This is where I highlight a few items here that have been popular in the last month with fellow readers, based on my analytics. Here’s hoping this will help you find something you’ll love!
— The magical, shape-shifting puzzle we took on our spring break road trip — My giant sun hat, because we all know skincare won’t go too far without physical sun protection. — The pastel snackle box we used for Teacher Appreciation Gifts this year. Perfect for pool trips, picnics, and beach days, too! — The cleansing balm I’ve added to my skincare routine. I’m now a double cleanser and I’m not mad about it. Easy to travel with, too! — The book we have June’s teachers sign at the end of every school year. More on this tradition here!
What I read in May: — Meditations for Mortals | This book is akin to a secular devotional based on the author’s previous book, Four Thousand Weeks, which I read a few years ago. Though I took issue with some of his ideas in the original, he also genuinely changed my thinking and behavior as it relates to productivity and time management in lasting ways. I’m reading one (brief) chapter a day and enjoying the refresher. — The Correspondent | I finally read this incredibly buzzy book — and it was worth the wait! (Speaking of wait — I was number 1,364 on the hold list for this book at my library, by far the longest wait list I’d ever seen. I eventually borrowed a copy from a friend to bypass the list!) This epistolary novel, containing letters written by the aged protagonist Sybil and her correspondents, unfolds with richness and surprise. Because Sybil reminds me SO MUCH of my maternal grandmother – rigid, gruff, but also caring and generous – I know this novel will stick with me for awhile. For more on the author’s unlikely story, don’t miss this WSJ feature. — Isola | On to the next buzzy novel! Based on an incredible true story, Isola is the tale of a 16th-century heiress who finds herself abandoned on a tiny island off the coast of Canada with her lover and her nursemaid. As the weather turns bleak, she fights to survive — and finds new dimensions within that will change the course of her life. Recommend!
Revisiting my May goals: See our renovation projects to completion (Done! They finished the final details the day our weekend houseguests were set to arrive!) Hang string lights in our backyard (Lights were purchased and we will hang them with my Dad’s help this weekend.) Edit Annie in April (Done! So cute!) Refresh our plan for summer days at home (More here!) Tend to this month’s clutter spot: the attic (Switched the spot to our master bathroom as I prioritized organizing our new space, so calling this good!) Get ahead on summer TCF newsletters (A little bit, though not as much as I’d have liked.) Block out birthday party details for both Shep and Annie, our July babies (Done! Annie is having the most low-key party possible and Shep is having the most complicated, over-the-top party possible, ha. Looking forward to them both :)) Complete the first draft of my Sunday service (No progress here.) Hang curtains for Annie (They haven’t arrived yet, so no progress here!)
June goals: — Hang string lights, curtains, and, height ruler with my Dad’s help — Film June in June — Book our 2027 Yosemite trip!! — Tend to this month’s clutter spot: the attic — Film June in June — End the school year and begin summer well — Prep for sleepaway camp — Organize the hot sauce bar at church for Father’s Day — Celebrate Annie’s Walk Around the Sun. This is a very Montessori tradition that we’ve never participated in, despite having Montessori preschoolers for many years now. Looking forward to wrapping up our time in the Montessori tradition with this sweet moment! — Continue planning for the neighborhood kindergarten ice cream social, Annie’s birthday party, and Shep’s birthday party, all in July
To close, I would love to hear one thing you’re doing to prepare well for summer! No matter what season of life you’re in – whether you have kids or not, a job that shifts or not – a new season on the calendar always feels like an opportunity to be kind to our future selves :) It could be putting books on hold at the library, deciding on a lunch you can repeat, planning now for a trip, or resetting toy storage… the smallest things can make a big difference! Please share in the comments, if you’d like.
