Thirteen Thoughts in August…

Here’s a short but sweet gathering of what I’ve been thinking about this last month. As always, thank you for reading and being a part of my online community.

Feeling ever so certain that the things I enjoyed playing with as a child are very similar to the things I enjoy doing with my free time as an adult. For example, when I was younger, playing library, school, and writing letters in the mail when not caring for my baby dolls is pretty much what I do now in my free time ;) Except I’ve traded my dolls for the real version, ha ha. I have been having so much fun playing lately, and it is a real joy to see things come together. (Curious if you can relate to my first sentence?)

Bookmarking a recipe for Indian Curry. I’ll roast some carrots and serve a big pot of basmati rice, and do all I can to NOT sneak spoonfuls of the curry sauce while it’s simmering. I’ve helped my friend make homemade Naan, but I plan to make a batch of my own this week, too :) If you’re in the area on Monday evening, stop by for a plate?

Thinking how fun a refreshed space is. Three of my children share a bedroom, and it doesn’t take long for it to look like it [snort]. Yesterday we spent some time putting things away, filling up the trash can, and overall refreshing the space with a couple of throw rugs, fun framed art for the wall, and new bedding (more coordinating, less chaos – yay!). Playing with color continues to be so fun for me!

Noticing the rain outside. It’s well into the evening as I write, and it’s falling without any bare feet to splash in. That just doesn’t seem right!

Smelling banana muffins baking in the oven right now. As I write this, it’s Friday night; the eve of August first. I have multiple sourdough loaves to bake in the morning, so I need my oven available. With how hard we play during the week, Saturday morning feels like a welcomed exhale for me. Baking these muffins the night before is a gift to my future self.

Loving the LORD and all He has done in my life. There is something I’ve been praying God would help me through, and He’s really made Himself known. Instead of self-soothing with bad habits, I am sitting with my thoughts and processing. This is a much healthier plan for me! Even in the waiting, I know He’s working out something on my behalf, for my benefit, for the benefit of His kingdom. And that is just so so cool :)

Wondering about my hanging flower baskets. They could use a boost of hydration; I need to write myself a sticky-note reminder to get out there after dinner with my watering can. I tell ya, we have been summering h a r d this year! ;)

Enjoying the quiet only the early morning can bring. With it being summer, there aren’t many of us awake in the early morning, and I really treasure being in my home while so many of my children are finishing their sleep. The birds are up and about outside my home, but there’s not much flutter on the inside.

Wishing for some solid beach days this month. We’ve had a good run this summer, but I’m not ready to be done with the sand – or the slowness hanging at the beach with my children provides. Gosh, it’s just so fun to be there with the kids and a cooler of food. BONUS POINTS for me: catching a glimpse of my kids sharing a bag of chips with a sibling while I’m floating with the others.

Reading something new this month! I finally finished reading a biography on an author whose books were popular during my childhood (photo above), so it’s time for a new book! I’ve seen this book floating around and even received two copies for my birthday, from two different friends – that was fun! I’m eager to dive in. Have you read it?

Cooking off an actual menu this coming week! For much of the summer, I’ve bought a variety of meats and veggies that can easily be paired to make a meal, but I’m welcoming the first week of August with an actual menu. It feels so… put together! ;) We’ve got Indian Curry, tacos, hearty zucchini boats & salad, and homemade pizza on the menu. What are you making this week?

Making some very, very special things. I’m playing with words, getting back into long-form writing, composing my next Bible study term, and of course my watercolor palette is full of zesty orange, a deep pink, and a warm shade of yellow. Making is so fun.

Praying for new dreams as a family. Having something to look forward to brings such vibrancy to my life. We are dreaming big and sharing the progress with our children, and they, in turn, are joining us in our prayers.

What’s on your docket for the weekend? Are you making anything special, praying for something specific, or bookmarking anything fun? Share with me in the comments if so :)

xx, Maggie