I’m a summer girl! In the middle of winter, I start anticipating when the first signs of summer will appear. The first fireflies bring back memories of summers spent at camp. The hot, sticky weather reminds me of days upon days at the local pool. But mostly, summer looks like slowing down and pressing pause on some of the busyness that fills the other nine months.
This year, June arrived and so did summer. Spring did not linger this year, but instead, the gradual warm-up in temps became a sudden flash of hot and humid. Just to be clear, my body and mind does better with the slow move into the hot temperatures, but this year there was no such luck.
June is a time for new beginnings. We celebrate the same in January, but it looks different as June approaches. Each year, I look forward to the start of June. It reminds me of school years ending and summer vacations beginning. Pools open and the desire to spend time outside pulls me toward long walks, capturing God’s beauty, and just “being”. In my mind, the gift of June has no end.
Now that June in all her glory is over, this is what I am learning, loving, and living.
I am learning …
Laughter is the best medicine. Click HERE to read more.
Sometimes, other people recognize something in you before you do. (Thanks Jennifer Dukes Lee for handing the #TellHisStory torch to me!! 🙂 )
Taking long walks is one of my love languages.
How life is so much better with community. (Thank you #TellHisStory peeps for being here.)
I am loving …
Books by Lynn Austin. I am currently reading the Chronicles of the Kings Collection. A book about King Hezekiah, that for whatever reason, seems to parallel everything else I am reading now. Click HERE to order your own copy. (Affiliate link)
Seamless, a Bible study by Angie Smith. I did not grow up reading the Bible so walking through the major stories and learning about the main characters from the beginning to the end, is fascinating.
Everybody, Always by Bob Goff. My son and I listened to about half of the book driving to and from the mountains. The best part is listening to Bob read his own words. My dilemma is how am I going to finish the book since my son has the Audible account?
I am learning …
What it looks like to inherit a community of beautiful writers and welcome new ones into the fold. I am so blessed by the words I read each week when #TellHisStory opens its doors. You all are incredible and I love how you love each other well.
How to surrender my changing life to an unchanging God. It always leads to more than I imagined.
About the joy of having a small garden again. Now let’s hope I can keep things alive. So far so good.
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Thank you all for sharing your own stories each week. I love reading your words. Will you help me spread the word so others know that #TellHisStory community is still open for others to join? You can help me out by sharing on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Also, if you don’t follow me yet, you can find me hanging out at the following: Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
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Sounds like the perfect start to summer, sweet friend! Blessings!
It was! Such a treat to see you here today! 🙂
“What it looks like to inherit a community of beautiful writers and welcome new ones into the fold. I am so blessed by the words I read each week when #TellHisStory opens its doors. You all are incredible and I love how you love each other well.”
I am so excited for you and grateful to you for continuing this link up and community of faith writers. Never in my wildest imagination did I think that my tent pegs would become so wide with friends from around the world. Thank you, Mary, for being one of my writer-friends and for providing an opportunity to share our hearts here.
I bless you with continued rest, musings and ponders in God’s Word, in His presence through conversation, and with your dear family.
I find that God knows how to create amazing encounters. I am still in awe that it worked out for us to meet for coffee. Now that we know each other in person, we have a deeper connection that I am sure God will grow. Thank you for your blessing. It has been such a gift to have you here as part of this community.
I am thankful for June and the warmer weather. I feel much the same way about community and am so blessed to know so many through blogging. Blessings!
You have been instrumental in teaching me about community and what it looks like to create an encouraging place. I realize how many people I know because of this blogging world. It was such a nice surprise to see you here today.
I was recently telling my husband that linkups have opened my world of writing to new hearts and minds. It’s like every linkup has the sam folk and I got to know them all March-June.
So glad for it too.
Lord knows I was looking for such in Kenya but He made a way.
I’m also a fan of the sun. I’d pick it anyday over rain, cold or cloudy days which just about sums Kenya’s seasons. June-July is our coldest and the flu courtesy of a sore throat from home karaoke has me in bed most days.
I’m living vicariously through your summer 😊
I’m blessed you are part of this community and feel comfortable to share your stories. Please feel free to live through me as we celebrate our summer season here. I pray you feel better soon.
Feeling better already <3
I love Lynn Austin’s books, too, though I still haven’t read that series yet. It’s funny, even though my sons are grown and we no longer have to navigate around school schedules, , there’s still a “Yay, it’s summer!” feel when June comes around.
I will always have a “yay it’s summer” feeling since I am a retired teacher. But summer, for me, signifies a slowing down and a chance to just be. Love having you here as part of this community.
Hooray for another summer girl! Ever time I tell someone that I love summer…they look like I’m crazed! I’m all about summer: the warmth, the long days, the produce, the slower pace….all of it!!
It makes my heart happy to know you are a summer girl too. Being a retired teacher, I treasured my summers and still do. Thank you for being here.
Hi Mary! June arrived hot and humid here too, and I am so thankful for air conditioning. Everybody Always is one of my favorite reads from 2018, and I will have to check out Seamless. Happy summer to you!
Everybody Always is an amazing book that teaches the beauty of love through everyday stories. I think you would enjoy Seamless. It has opened my eyes wider to the thread of stories in the Bible. Glad you are here and joining in the conversation.
I love the Chronicles of the King collection. I need a graphic that says “surrender my changing life to an unchanging God.” I know just where I’d put it to remind me of my one word for this year, surrender.
Maybe we both should develop a graphic for those words about surrender. I love that we share the same word for the year. God continues to tach me so much about surrendering and I love how he blessed me with those words. Thank you for being here.
I read Austin’s Kings Chronicle series a few years ago and learned a lot! I loved reading fictionalize bible stores and referencing the story in the bible at the same time. It really brings the bible alive and Austin does this well! Hope you continue to be able to feed your love language of long walks this summer week, Mary!
I also love reading fictionalized bible stories and loved Francine Rivers, Mark of the Lion series. I’m glad to know we share something else in common. I also hope I enjoy many more walks. The weather here needs to break out of the 90s with high humidity though because it’s been miserable.
Hi Mary,
No, I haven’t fallen off the face of the earth. It’s so good to pop in and read what you’ve been up to. I always love your photographs along your walks. I feel like I’m right there with you. June came in with HOT fury here in the South….sweltering would be a good word. I’m already yearning for fall lol – that’s my season 🙂 Good to catch up!
Blessings,
Bev xo
I figured you hadn’t fallen off the face of the earth. I know you are busy with RCF. The pictures in this post are from the Smoky Mountains. That would be a fun place to walk with you. I imagine if it is hot where I am it is really hot in your part of the country. Thanks for being here, friend!
Mary, I love Lynn Austin and I think two people can use the Audible at once if you log in on separate devices? Or so I thought lol. Thanks for this lovely post today, and yes: hot & sticky are words to describe this summer. Whew!
Lynn Austin is a relatively new author to me. I love her books. I’ll have to check to see if I can work out a way to listen to the rest of the story on Audible. And yes, summer is living up to its reputation.
Mary, I always enjoy these post which wrap up a month. I’m grateful you reminded me to “surrender my changing life to an unchanging God.” Your tomato made me smile as we have already enjoyed a few from our smaller – as in, container – garden. May we realize the Lord has blessing and enjoyment even in the small things!
That tomato is the only thing my garden has produced so far. It makes me smile too. I love writing the end of the month posts. I also love when people like you come to read my words. I pray we always find God in the everyday.
Yes, yes to this, Mary –>’Taking long walks is one of my love languages.’
I never thought of it that way, but you’ve said that well.
Made me smile early this morning …
See you later!
And how much better would it be to take one of those long walks together??? I know it would be wonderful. I love that I made you smile today!
So good to get your musings, Mary, and also to receive your exhortation to “surrender my changing life to an unchanging God.” This is medicine to keep me from becoming grumpy in the midst of many changes.
There is something about looking back at the month that makes me very grateful. I always love when you share your musings too. Isn’t it amazing how God provides lessons at just the right time? Surrender is my word of the year and just when I think I’m in this holding pattern and not moving forward, God passes along a new nugget of truth. Praying for you during your own times of change