summer

I'm still acting like it's the first day of summer break and suddenly it's JUNE.  Matt's been in Memphis all week for Global Methodist Church conference, and we spent most of the days trying to find Lily a good summer job, catching up with friends and staying up too late watching movies we've been waiting to watch with Lily and Sofie like Rule Breakers about Afghanistan's first all-girl robotics team and The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society about the German occupation of the island of Guernsey in WWII.  

The teens stay up late and sleep in. The little get up with the rising sun and play and crash hard, and mama-in-the-middle gets to stay up late AND get up early:)  I would not necessarily recommend teen-ing and toddler-ing at the same time, but I sure am NOT gonna miss out on these sweet seasons. 

This week kicks off birthday season with four summer birthdays...Sofie turns 14 Wednesday and 7 additional teenage girls are joing us for 24 hours of fun! We're also getting ready for Revival next week, VBS in two weeks, art camp, church camp, all the good things. Emma is Incredibly excited about turning 3 in a few weeks with Minnie Mouse, and has told everyone she's willing to talk to about it. I'm glad Matt is back home :)

If you're looking for a SOLID devotional, I'm reading through Upon Waking with Jackie Hill Perry Again, and I'm back to my 30 Days to Resilient by John Eldridge "Pause" App...SO good and resetting every morning and evening. 

The more I fill up, the more He pours out when I'm shaken. It makes sense, that what we put in is what is coming out...but it's sometimes not apparent until we are shaking thin all over everyone that the solution isn't trying harder, but filling more often and deeper!  Summer and extra kids all the time is always a great practice in sanctification!  What we need is coming freely from His throne...head there and drink, ten times a day! 

Meanwhile, I am thankful for:  

two evenings that friends brought dinner when Matt was gone...and stayed to eat it with us! 

kids who love to play together (and on the flip, love to argue). We're focusing on love to play.

a neighborhood of like-minded families for the kids to play whiffle ball and ride bikes with

good worship music that help make monotonous chores times of work and worship

our faithful little small group that keeps us grounded and growing and prayed for

faithful Sunday night family dinner, and the GOOD family that fills our table

blueberry bushes that need quietly picked in the cool sunrise every morning for blueberry muffins

a pool to go to this summer

Haitian friends and family that daily point to Jesus

American friends and family who daily do the same

the Lord, near and good and trustworthy