July Reflections

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July reflections

I was just telling a friend that I’m usually longing for fall by the end of summer, but that yearning is already upon me. July has had some fun spots, but it’s been hot and muggy. I’m glad it’s about over.

One of the highlights of July was celebrating Independence Day with the family, with the usual burgers, hot dogs, and fireworks. Another was my middle son’s birthday.

Jason birthday

The rest of the month was made up of enjoyable everyday activities.

Creating

This card was for Jason’s birthday:

Birthday card for son

The “happy birthday” was embossed with the Cuttlebug. The letters in “son” were puffy stickers. The blue squares were cut from a thick cardstock with a chevron pattern, though that doesn’t show up here.

These two were for ladies in the church who had surgeries with long recovery times.

Thinking of you card
Thinking of you card

The words were made with a stamp.

Watching

We haven’t really seen much I would recommend except Another Mother’s Son. It’s based on the true story of a mom in the Island of Jersey during WWII. The Germans occupied the area and brought in Russian POWs to work. One escaped, and this mom took him in because she would want someone to do the same for her son.

Reading

Since last time I completed (linked to my reviews):

  • Every Ocean Has a Shore by Jamie Langston Turner. Three people who happened to be together during a crisis continue to play a part in each other’s lives.
  • When the Day Comes by Gabrielle Meyer, audiobook. Libby Conant is a time crosser who lives in 1774 Williamsburg and 1914 New York. She’ll have to decide by her twenty-first birthday which timeline to live the rest of her life in. Excellent, and a unique twist.
  • In This Moment by Gabrielle Meyer, sequel to When the Day Comes, audiobook. Maggie is a time crosser, but because both her parents were as well, she has three timelines instead of two: 1861, 1941, and 2001. Excellent.
  • Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachan. I’d seen the film with Glenn Close years ago but had not read the book til now. Excellent writing and story.
  • Blogging for God’s Glory in a Clickbait World by Benjamin Vrbicek and John Beeson. Very good.

I’m currently reading:

  • Be Worshipful (Psalms 1-89): Glorifying God for Who He Is by Warren W. Wiersbe
  • Humble Roots: How Humility Grounds and Nourishes Your Soul by Hannah Anderson. I finished it in June but felt like I needed to go through it again.
  • Dreams of Savannah by Roseanna M. White, audiobook
  • The Words We Lost by Nicole Deese

Blogging

Besides the weekly Friday Fave Fives, Saturday Laudable Linkage, and book reviews, I’ve posted these since last time:

  • Do You Want to Be Free? The world thinks freedom is being able to do whatever one wants. They don’t realize they’re in bondage because their chains are so pleasurable. But the pleasures of sin only last for a short season.
  • Devotional Time in Different Seasons of Life. It’s okay if our Bible reading and prayer time looks different in different stages of life.
  • How to Return to Your First Love. We can get a little stale in both our romantic and spiritual lives, and some of the same advice can apply to each.
  • The Most Important Way to Change. We like self-help articles and blog posts, but we overlook the primary means God uses to work change in our hearts.

I need to forewarn you that I’m going to have to change themes sometime soon. I’ve had some behind-the-scenes trouble with my blog and have been advised that my current theme (blog layout) is an old one which isn’t implementing all of WordPress’s newer programming. I’ve just started looking at other themes and none has grabbed me right off the bat. But I wanted to let you know why things might suddenly look different here in the future.

I didn’t realize it until yesterday, but today is my 17th blogging anniversary! Thank you for reading, responding, and making blogging such a blessing.

Writing

I’ve been able to incorporate the edits from my critique group in my manuscript. I’ve also worked on a devotional that I think is almost ready to submit to an online site.

Looking forward

August is a big month for us with two birthdays and my oldest son’s visit from RI. We usually work some family outings in during that time and enjoy a lot of time together.

How was your July? Are you looking forward to anything in August?

(I often link up with some of these bloggers.)

19 thoughts on “July Reflections”

  3. Happy Blogging Anniversary!! Such a sweet picture of your son and grandson. I always enjoy seeing your new cards too. Yes, very hot/humid here as well (today and tomorrow are to be the worst of it). Today and tomorrow I’m sending out the fall piano schedule so things will get busy, plugging kids into slots. Then in a couple of weeks, away we go with another school year. Sure goes quickly!

  4. I am definitely NOT ready for Autumn and not because I have to go back to teaching…because I’m retired now! But because here in New York we LOVE LOVE LOVE our summers. I will take this heat and humidity over the snow and temps in the teens anyday! I’m looking forward to August though because it’s usually cooler here then and NO BUGS while in the woods/hiking the mountains. Plus usually we can turn off the central air most days and nights.

    I’m also looking forward to a trip out to Lake Huron/Michigan to visit a childhood friend the end of the summer.

    • I’m not fond of snow and teen temperatures either–that’s why I like fall and spring better than the extremes of summer and winter. I think our autumns are probably longer and our winters shorter than yours (not according to dates, of course, which are the same but according to how they feel).

      • Yes, sometimes here in the cap reg we have no snow until March!! it’s so odd. Out in the mid and western parts of NY where i’m originally from we had snow from november all the way to april! Here in the Albany area we tend to have milder temps and weather extremes……autumn is my absolute fave time of year (or hiking season…June through Mid November ) 🙂 We are praying August is cooler and less humid!!

  5. Happy Blogging Anniversary! That’s commitment! I’m with you, my friend, on wanting fall. This heat has been brutal, and I basically hibernate. I know you’re looking forward to your son’s visit next month. Stay cool and enjoy!

  6. Happy 17 Blogging Anniversary, Barbara! May you have a smooth transition when you discover your new theme in WP. Your cards are beautiful! Thanks for sharing them with us. The movie looks intense, but moving.

  7. Happy 17th blogging anniversary! That’s amazing! I wonder how many of those years ago I began following you. I’m so glad you’ve continued!

  8. This is a lovely post that I saw at #SSPS272. Love your creativity and thoughtfulness with those “care packages.” At the party with #57 through 61 (some of my best posts for summer reading). Enjoy. Nancy Andres @ Colors 4 Health

  9. Loved hearing about your summer! And happy blogging anniversary! It takes a lot to keep up with it, but it brings so much joy to our lives! I’m along with you, ready for fall. It’s been far too hot and humid throughout July! I hope you have a wonderful August as well! your cards are beautiful!

  10. Your cards are just lovely! We had a very rainy 4th of July but the rest of the month was a lot of fun with lots of warm and sunny days. I vaguely remembering Sarah Plain and Tall when I was in school but can’t for the life of me remember much about it.

  11. Happy Blogaversery!!! Wow 17 years that’s awesome! I hear you on choosing a new theme since I just did it. My Birthday was August 2nd. So Happy Birthday to those August’s in your family. I’ve got to tell you, I love when you guys share book reviews because I always appreciate them.
    Thank you for sharing your great month with Sweet Tea & Friends this month dear friend.

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