Updates on Dreams and Goals for July 2024

 

Today we bid farewell to July, and I wanted to look over the goals I made for this month! It was a pretty good run! :) 

ONE. Work on our anniversary trip. I spent some time brainstorming ideas for this one this month, and then we had a little plot twist that opened up the potential for an entirely different trip. I’m still waiting to hear whether or not it will come to fruition, so I can’t say this one is finalized, but I can say I worked on it, and that was the goal, so…check! Even if the plot twist idea doesn’t work out, I still have some ideas of what we can do!

TWO. Work on office organization. As you saw from my “office re-vision” post, I did accomplish this! I reorganized the bookshelves, hung up some new (newly uncovered from storage, anyway) pieces on the wall, and tried to tidy things up so it’s easier to work in there. It’ll be an ongoing project throughout the years as my needs change, but I’m very happy with its current look.

THREE. Work on vacation scrapbook. To be honest, I had hoped to completely finish this one this month, but alas, the month took some unexpected turns with my time, so it didn’t get done. But I have a solid start on it and am quite happy with what I have accomplished! I also kept up pretty well on our chronological books.

FOUR. Read for ½ hour every day. I did this and loved it. Both Ryan and I were shocked at how much more I was able to read by merely choosing this for a half hour a day. I don’t miss the half hour of TV I probably would have been watching, and I thoroughly enjoyed the things I read and learned throughout the month. As of today, I’ve knocked out EIGHT books this month. That’s way more than I have been reading each month!

FIVE. Continue the Summer Baking Bingo Challenge. This was so fun! I did five things on the card this month: make pancakes from scratch, eat breakfast for dinner, make a fruit smoothie, make homemade guacamole, and make burgers. I won’t tell you there are still 14 things left on the list that I need to do in August. EEK!!!!

SIX. Work on recipe collection. I did this! I did it in a couple of different ways, actually. I did finally start printing out the recipes that are going to be keepers in our new recipe box, and I also started a new way of meal planning that will hopefully be a time-saver in years to come. More on that once I determine if it really is a keeper. 😊

In addition…

·         As I shared yesterday, we really enjoyed having our hammock back and each of us spent some time this month resting in it and looking out at the beautiful water. What an absolute gift!

·         Ryan had a couple of days off work this month “just for fun,” and THAT was such a great decision. It seems like whenever we take time off, it’s always because we have somewhere we need to go or something we have to do. To have a day off to just sit and enjoy and work on little projects around the house? Game-changer.

·         We had Mom and Dad and my sister and brother-in-law over for a belated Father’s Day get-together. (Mom was sick on Father’s Day, so we postponed our gathering.) We had a gorgeous weather day, we had a cookout on the patio, and we went for a boat ride on the lake. Perfect day!

·         Ryan was on the worship team at church this month and shared the leading responsibilities with another guy from the team. (That guy led the band and chose the songs and Ryan was the “mouthpiece” to the congregation.) He had a great time, and I loved watching him shine in his gifts! He also sang a solo at church one of the Sundays and did a beautiful job.

·         My garden matured and I started harvesting this month. So yummy to have fresh food! Also – when did I become the girl who would run around a garden at 7 a.m. to pick green beans before the heat of the day??

·         Ryan got to enjoy all sorts or water sports this month: paddleboarding, skiing, barefooting, tubing…he had the best time, and I was so happy for him!

·         I helped out with a kids’ event at our church yesterday! If you need me to oversee a game where kids put shaving cream on a shower cap and then throw cheese balls at it, give me a call. It’s now on my resume!

Fun Finds for July 2024

 

Two days left in the month of July! How is this even possible? Before we say goodbye to the month, I thought I would share with you some of my favorite finds from throughout this month!

ONE. This first one is not a brand new find in our lives, but it’s a returned find: our hammock! I told you a few days ago that when we moved everything out of Mom and Dad’s house this spring, we brought home a number of items they had been holding in storage for us, and that included our beloved hammock! It has been a wedding present from my sisters, and we have not had it in our possession since we left for WillowBridge. (Never had a place to put it until now.) But it is back and I’m not sure there’s a whole lot that’s better than a hammock overlooking the water. I do confess that I need the heat and humidity to calm down so I can enjoy it more often, but the times I’ve been able to rest in it this month have been dreamy. (Ryan loves having it back, too!)

TWO. Ryan and I made our inaugural visit to Wick’s Pies in Winchester. If you haven’t been there, and it’s in driving distance, you should go! They have a full restaurant, where you can eat meals (and pie) and you can also purchase pies there. And if you don’t live locally, they do have nationwide shipping on their pies! 😊

THREE. Ryan and I played our first game of pickleball this summer, and while I’m not sure we are going to take it up as a full-time hobby, we did have a great time and would absolutely do it again. I have tried and failed at playing tennis, so I didn’t hold out a lot of hope that I could handle pickleball, but I held my own!

FOUR. It turns out the salad spinner I paid fifty cents for at the thrift store a while back is one of the best investments I made this year. I have been using it regularly to clean lettuce from our garden, and it’s amazing! It’s also a fun stress reliever, so it’s a two-in-one.

FIVE. It’s not healthy, but have you seen the Subway Foot Long Cookie? Ryan got one for me to share with him (and my dad) when my mom was in the hospital a few weeks ago, and it was SO GOOD. I love cookies in general, but store cookies can easily be a wild disappointment and waste of calories. This one did not let us down – and it’s cute, too, so you can’t beat that!

SIX. Ryan and I went to the flower patch to pick out flowers for Mom, and I just have to say it’s one of the most fun dates, I think. If you have a flower patch around you where you can go cut fresh flowers, do it. It’s sweet and fun and leaves beautiful, tangible memories!

            So those were my fun finds for July! How about you? Run across anything I should know about so I can try it too?

Speaking Snapshots: July 2024

 

July has been a month of ministry for us. It has been different, refining, full, and beautiful.

            As you know, I’ve been filling in at our church this summer while our pastor has been taking a sabbatical. When conversations first began about this, I made a list of five things I prayed about specifically regarding whether or not this was something I would be a right fit for. I reread those prayers this weekend and can see specifically how God brought about the answers to each one. (And this is why I love writing prayers.)

            And now we’re almost to the end of that assignment.

            July wasn’t just about speaking, though. Ryan and I also filled in with some other responsibilities at church this month too. Ryan was on the worship team and helped co-lead the music. I filled in with some behind-the scenes tasks, and together, we learned so much about all the things that go into making a service run smoothly each week!

            Our pictures from this month may not be the best ever, but here are a few peeks from the Sundays in July.

            And though these snapshot posts are usually a recap of what I shared, this month I want to share what I learned. Because this month, I really was a student.

·         This month was the first that we resumed Sunday School in our new (temporary) location, and I was reminded that at the core, we’re all really just grown-up junior high students, excited to be with our friends again and nervous about finding out classrooms. It was fun to watch everyone wander down hallways, looking for their class signs.

·         I donned an unexpected hat this month – serving as a coordinator of sorts over the service. I made friends with the ushers, Scripture readers, and visitors as I tried to help everyone find answers and routines. I absolutely loved it. It was one of the best bonus gifts of the month.

·         One of my favorite things this month was getting to hear all the little ways the people in the church are implementing in their lives the things they are learning. Conversations here and there led to learning more about how God is teaching them in between Sundays, and I loved that.

·         Watching Ryan shine in his own gifts of music is one of my favorite things. I loved hearing his enthusiastic voice welcome the congregation to worship, I loved hearing him sing, and I loved his solo last week, too! He is so sweet to encourage me each week, and I loved the chance to point encouragement back his way.

·         Even when some days felt messy and chaotic in my heart, God did a work. I believe it. My prayer each week was that He would overcome my insufficiencies.

·         I have loved getting to know the church staff better and developing new friendships with them through meetings and shared responsibilities. We really have the best staff ever.

So that is how July went in the land of speaking. This month it was all church and no other type of event. And it was completely soul-filling!

Sunday Sentiments: Jesus, I Will Follow You

 

Earlier this summer, Ryan and I brought home multiple tubs of memorabilia that had been stored at my parents’ house since we moved to WillowBridge. It took us several weeks to sift through everything, and along the way, we parted with some memories and held onto others.

            One of the treasures I found in my sifting was a craft project from a Vacation Bible School I went to when I was three years old. The frame was made of popsicle sticks glued together, with a picture of toddler Bekah glued to the back of it. Someone had written on the frame, “Jesus I will follow you.”

            It would be, in fact, three more years before I made the decision for myself to follow Christ, but I know I came to the place where I wanted to make that choice because of the dedication of so many in my home church and other places (like where this VBS was held). These adults poured into me, and because they did, I made that very important choice when I was six.

            I turned the picture over to look at the back and saw that it was taken in the month of July that year.

            July, it turns out, has been a significant month for my faith.

            It was in July 13 years ago that I was baptized in public proclamation of a decision I made years earlier.

            It was in July 28 years ago that my friend Craig died so unexpectedly in a motorcycle accident, pushing me to choose whether I would continue trusting in the Lord. That was such a hard crisis of faith for me, and I will be forever grateful for how the Lord tenderly cared for my soul in that time.

            Yes, July is a big month for me. A big month of memories. A big month of celebrating the ways God has so very tenderly led, one moment at a time.

Saturday Suggestions: Inspirations for Your Weekend

 

Good morning, friends! Ryan and I had the day off yesterday and had the BEST time. Unfortunately, because we were off on Friday, I thought it was Saturday, so now I’m all confused! But TODAY is Saturday! And TODAY I have a list of some fun finds for you. Enjoy!

ONE. 

I happened upon thiscampervan company, and I truly think they have the best floor plans I’ve ever seen. Their hidden toilet design is GENIUS. While these are nowhere in our price range, I love them so much and think they are both practical and stunning. (I think Art House and Eucalyptus are my two favorites.)

TWO. 

Did you see thisbeautiful story about Rory Feek getting married? I remember when his wife, Joey, died several years ago, and I’ve followed the story of Rory starting a schoolhouse for his daughter and other children to attend. All of that made this love story all the more delightful to read! BONUS: Here is the back storyblog post he wrote about how their love came to be!

THREE. 

Check out thisreally cool house that is on the historic register. I think I love the apartment area most of all! Those ceilings!!! BONUS: And if cool houses on historic registers aren’t your thing, how about thishouseboat??

FOUR. 

I stumbled upon this one on Pinterest this week and can vouch for none of the recipes, but I wanted to share it because the idea is just so cool! It is a complete treasure trove of breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert ideas for when you have houseguests. Even if you don’t like everything in here, you might find some great inspirations! And even if you don’t have houseguests, you can find things for YOU in here!

FIVE. 

Did you watch the opening ceremonies of the Olympics last night? I did! Whether or not you’re a huge Olympic fan, check out thisarticle with photos from the 1924 Olympic games. Huge changes in these last 100 years!

SIX. 

Some really good words in thispost about how to find contentment for the season you’re in right now. Even if you’re not struggling with this right now, give it a read! You might be able to help someone else!

BONUS!

Here are this week's capsule outfits!

Saturday, July 20. 2024

Sunday, July 21, 2024

Monday, July 22, 2024

Tuesday, July 23, 2024

Wednesday, July 24, 2024

Thursday, July 25, 2025

Friday, July 26, 2024

Foodie Friday: Steamed Green Beans

 

            When I was little (like a lot of kids, I’m sure) I hated vegetables. Back in those pre-school days, my mom cleaned house for an older lady in town, and I often went with her when she cleaned. I’d watch game shows while Mom worked, and somehow, in those visits, the lady she cleaned for found out about my distaste for vegetables. She sent me home with a jar of fresh, homemade buttermilk ranch dressing, and suddenly, vegetables were my best friend. I had a few green beans with my vat of dressing – willingly!

            While I would dearly love to still drown my veggies in buttermilk dressing, I’ve backed off on that practice and trained myself to actually like green beans. It’s one of the things I grow in our garden, so we’ve been eating more of them lately. When it’s not garden season, I purchase frozen beans and have learned that steaming them is my favorite way to prepare them.

            So today I thought I’d share with you how I like to prepare green beans, and if you want to add a gallon of buttermilk ranch to enhance them, you just feel free. 😉

Steamed Green Beans

4 Cups Fresh or Frozen Green Beans
2 Cups Water
½ Cup Diced Onion
2 Tablespoons Ghee
1 Teaspoon Seasoned Salt

Place water in skillet that has a steamer pan fitted to it. Place the green beans and diced onions in the steamer pan, cover, and steam anywhere from 5-15 minutes, depending on how crisp or tender you wish the beans to be. Put ghee in bowl, add beans and onions, and sprinkle seasoned salt over the top. Combine well and serve.

           We use Green Pan cookware, and the skillet in the set came with a steamer pan. I didn't use it for about the first year we owned it, but now I use it all the time. You could use another veggie steamer if you have one!

            If you don’t like ghee, you can use butter – or you can omit that part entirely. I just like the extra flavor it gives.

            We love adding green beans as an easy side for chicken or fish!