Maybe I should change this post to “What I Did in …” Although I am a firm believer that one never outgrows learning new things; however, I’m not sure I learned anything BRAND NEW!!! It certainly is fun and challenging to write this post and I’m not going to stop now. HA! July 2016 was a good month – we didn’t do a lot and yet the days were pleasant yet quite hot. Living in the mountains we aren’t used to stifling heat but this season has certainly brought a few, “It’s roasting out,” and we do not have air conditioning. July held an awesome road trip that you can read about here. Even as I type this paragraph I am aware of a few lessons – let’s give this a whirl.
- New acronym, created by me, to remind my grandson. H.O.R.L. Honor | Obey | Respect | Listen “Just keep horling.” In regard to his parents. Yes, Lord. Selah. #13yearolds
- Corn Hole is a very cool game. I bought my daughter’s family a game as a Christmas in July present and we had lots of family fun playing it. I stunk. Hubs ruled. I was not born with sports skill. #cornholechamp
- Girls’ Weekends rock. I already knew this but was reminded of it when Marni (aka The Yardist) and Hannah came to the mountains to spend the weekend with me – we were home alone; only one male in the mix, Sam, our four-footed friend! My daughter works so hard at home and spends 75% of her time in the kitchen preparing meals so my goal was for her to do nothing! On the other hand, Hannah was my right-hand girl and we did all the food prep and clean up together (actually she did all the clean up). Our meals were served on the front porch and we languished over them and table talk. Saturday we did a downtown West Jefferson stroll. I did learn all the great new shops available to us. We began our day with strong coffee from Bohemia and ended the day with a stop at the Honey Hole to ooh and aah at their indoor bee hive! SONday we worshiped together at Community Church (our home church) and ended our glorious weekend with lunch on the porch. #hometowns #girlsruleboysdrool (That is an awful saying but it makes me laugh every single time!)
- A mundane Saturday can turn to adventure. Hubs had some visits to make in Marion VA and Sam and I accompanied him. He did his work and asked if I’d like to go on a picnic at Hungry Mother Park – sure thing! We got salads from a fast-food restaurant and headed in. Oh my goodness the traffic was crazy – but we found a space. We learned it was one of the biggest summer events that weekend – Art in the Park! We picnicked and took a very long walk around the lake – I couldn’t believe we had never been there. Definitely a return visit is in order!
- #justdosomething
- I’m learning the in’s and out’s of my new smartphone – yes, out with the old and in with the new. #goodbyetracfone #voxerdropout
- Summer television stinks! We do not have cable tv – we watch everything via ROKU. Hulu offered a new series we had never heard of, Pioneer Quest. Oh! it was wonderful. Loved every minute of this show – hubs and I decided, 20 years ago? We could’ve done this. No spoilers. #realitytvmyfave
- When traveling with my daughter Marni, granddaughter Hannah, and grandson Simon, what was to be a 500-mile road trip can easily be expanded to 1200 miles. No increase in days gone, but miles traveled. Read about it here.
- Oh my goodness – I almost forgot. I remembered I was old enough to apply for Social Security benefits starting in October and applied. Somebody pinch me #icantbethisold
- Losing loved ones hurt even when you don’t know them. My new brother-in-law, Tony, lost his only sibling, Frank. Our hearts hurt.
- On the political front, How can wrong be measured as right? #prayandvote
- My R(ead) P(ray) M(ove as in exercise) DISCIPLINE (word for 2016) is still going strong, 7 months and counting!
- I have learned that I’m not all that bad at book reviews. I thought I was. I’m getting better and reading is a very good thing! I was not on Jennifer Dukes Lee book launch for her “Happiness Dare” but it is a book every one of us needs to read. We need to get over ourselves and take #thehappinessdare
- And, I’ve been reminding myself, and YOU, that #hopechangeseverything
Because it does!
Enjoy some pics:
#hopechangeseverything
xo
See what I mean? When you start thinking, remembering, reading your journal and calendar you realize you did learn a few things and you had a really great month!
Linking up with: Barbie, Beth, Holly, Holley, Jaime, Jennifer, Kristin
I’ve been watching for this end of July post from you! You never disappoint! I love how you so succinctly shared your doings and your learnings. So happy to be doing community with you!
Oh and I’m so glad we have made the connection here on this crazy world wide web! xo Have a great day at the bank.
Fun times my friend! What a wonderful July. You ended up learning many things and I love that you shared them all with us. I did not do a Dear July. It seems I only am able to handle this every other month! Ha ha!! 🙂
I just hate that we missed you in Cincinatti – so close yet so far away!!! I would’ve treated you to lunch.
Well come on back so we can meet and you can treat me to lunch!!! 😉
You just never know, my friend.
You had a great month. I write out goals the beginning of the month, and this sounds like fun, but would take me some time keeping up with it.
It’s hot here too right now, but we have air conditioning. In the hundreds each day and lots of humidity.
#JustDoIt.
Amen!
Susan,
Your July makes me tired reading it, but what fun and I love the recording with words and pictures to mark it as a historical happening. I spent the end of July traveling and speaking to a group of parents reminding them that as we grow from historical being, to historical thinking, to historical consciousness we are learning to record the moments so they bless and teach others. It is a good thing. 🙂
Yet, reading your July moments make me smile. A welcome respite to what will surely be a beautiful August day.
Blessings!
Dawn
Dawn, I am a work-from-home emptynest grandmother and my weekends are BUSY but M-F? Not so much, so I have plenty of time to recharge and rest!!!
Susan, I so enjoy these sort of posts and loved yours! It was such fun to read about your month and the photos!!! You have a beautiful porch! Have a great Wednesday!
Joanne, you are invited to come sit on that porch for a cuppa any time you wish.
What an awesome July! I need to go back and read your book review because I think I need to read that book!
I haven’t written on on the Happiness Dare – haven’t read it yet BUT WILL. You go first. Your happy tank needs filling first! xo
Love your end of the month posts. You are an excellent writer, blogger, traveler, dog lover, Mims!
Watch for your package! It should be there Friday? Saturday? Hope you like it. Thank you Cracker Barrel for 70% off! It works for me.
Your favorite Sistah!
Ooh, presents. Early birthday. YAY!!!
Love the post, love the pictures, love you and your family………that sums it up. *smile*
Learning……I’m a big proponent of “ongoing education”…….in whatever form it happens to come as long as it is pure and Godly. If we don’t keep using these brains God gave us………….well, you know the rest.
Signing up for SS……….I remember “the day” (mine was just a couple of years ago)…….and something about it definitely seemed surreal, but, I am ONE who is grateful beyond words for that deposit that goes into my bank account every month. “I’ve got a whole lot more miles behind me…..on this earth……than I do ahead of me…..” That realization hit me and then I quickly realized there wasn’t anything negative about it. LOL
Thanks for always sharing such wonderful “stuff”!
Love,
Kathy
We are “stuff” people, aren’t we Kath??? xoxoxo
Susan, I love reading these posts! It’s so much fun to peek in to your life and learn some things vicariously from you. You’ve made a life so full! I’m gettin’ there.
Love ya!
It’s never too late!!!
I love how your enthusiasm for life seeps out of your words! So great to read about your adventures and all you’ve learned! (And I was on the launch team too….wasn’t Jennifer’s book great?!)
Becky, actually I wasn’t on J’s launch team but wanted to promote and share!!!
Hey honey, Love reading this, you never disappointed any of us. It’s like getting one of your Best Magazines in the mail, you can’t wait to grab your cups and run to the garden to read it slowly. I The H.O.R.L. I’m going to teach my grandkids this. Love ya, honey
Yes, HORL. Good stuff!
Wow! What a wonderful summer, Susan. We look forward to visiting the Ark Encounter and I will have to google Corn Hole, lol.
Christina, let me know what YOU think of the Ark. Cornhole is a fun, backyard game!!!
We all are continually learning, aren’t we? I love that you are learning your smart phone. It really is fun to have. Oh and the Happiness Dare…so so good! Do you know your happiness style yet? I am a giver with relater being one point behind. Makes a lot of sense, doesn’t it? Loved this post.
I am a DOER with an incredibly close second of GIVER!!!
What a great reflection on those precious and sweet moments in your summer and vacation times, Susan. I often feel like summers are a blur of activity and then we are thrown headlong before we know it into the routines of fall and winter without much thought, unlike you did here. I will have to do this as well, though I have one more week of vacation in August that I want to savor along with my other days of travel and family get-togethers that I’ve enjoyed this summer. Thanks for giving us a peek at your July, as well as sharing your heart so openly, my friend!
These days it seems my heart has one position – O P E N!!! Thanks for visiting, Beth.
Hey Susan … a great big THANKS for sharing your ONE WORD over at my place this afternoon … and inviting me over to see a peak at your journal!
I’m so impressed that all these months later you’re still keeping to the invitation God gave you back in the dead of the winter. Too often it seems like our ONE WORD seems to vanish before the snow thaws.
You go, girl!
I wanted to encourage YOU and you go and encourage ME!!!! Thanks, Linda.
Susan, what a fun and busy month you had! Maybe you can get a little rest now. 🙂 Blessings to you!
Gayl, it was a good month and for that I am very grateful…xo
Your July sounds very full and rich. I think i live relatively close to U. As I recognize Marion and your references to Hungry Mother State park.
Girl time is the best. It just is. I love being packed into a room with all my daughters my sister and my mom. Always.
Lunch on the porch. Sounds amazing. The mArriage of two bests. The best meal of the day and the best room in the house. July sounds like an adventure. Pleasure reading it !
July – oh Somer, if you only knew….thanks for commenting and visiting!
I love you mom!!! Thank you for sharing a lot of your summer with me! We survived July!
You are one awesome M❤️M
A super fun Mimi too.
Love love love.
We survived. #hopechangeseverything xoxoxoxo
I really do enjoy these end of the month posts from you! Your life is FULL. Thank you for sharing it with us.
That’s why I do these posts, Barbie, to remind myself!!!