Summer days were definitely more exciting when I wasn’t working so that I could embrace the sleeping in and the spontaneous fun that found us.

Don’t get me wrong – summer is still a slower pace than the school schedule, but it’s not such an anything-goes sort of free for all that it sometimes has been in the past.

We’ve got some changes coming up that I’ll be sharing soon and some regular days too.  I like regular days.  And – July Fourth is just around the corner and that has me all excited for a trip to the farm in Virginia, the Motherland.

 

 

funny

 

I saw this large red basket in our fridge.

 

 

“What’s in there?” I wondered.  Has some child find a gigantic stash of blackberries in the field and taken the initiative to pick them and refrigerate them?

Let’s look a little closer.

 

 

Oh no.  Not blackberries by the handful.

Just a tiny tiny amount of choke cherries.

Space well used, children.

flavorful

 

I love anything that is Earl Grey tea or a London Fog.  I once had an Earl Grey tea donut in Charleston that I still think about.

A local restaurant – Hare & Field – is currently offering this gorgeous London Fog cake.

I hope a slice is in my future.

 

 

faithful & fashionable

 

When my currently teenager daughters were but beginners at school, we lived at a summer camp.  And living at a summer camp put us in contact with a large number of college students.  Which led us to meeting one particular young lady who we welcomed into our home with open arms and glad hearts.  Her name was Shelby, know as Miss Shelby to the kids.  And she was a lifesaver to me.  She taught my kids math in a way that was fun and engaging.  She was kind and funny and light hearted and we were blessed to have her in our lives for several school years.  Goodness, I miss the Miss Shelby days.  Back then the kids had tidy folders and binders all decorated and designed by her.  They played math games and used math manipulatives and actually laughed and giggled during their lessons.  (It was really something lovely.)

The kids grew up.  Shelby got married and moved to the coast.  But my affection for her and for what she did for us and for who she was and who she is have not waned.

She’s really fantastic.  She loves Jesus.  And she loves her husband.  And she loves children in a way that is powerful and nurturing and generous.

Shelby and her husband are currently in the process of adopting two little boys from the foster care system.  And they are selling these sweet t-shirts to help support that endeavor.

 

 

I’ve already ordered one – in midnight blue if you want to be matchies.  ORDER YOURS RIGHT HERE!

Adoption is a beautiful and broken story (like all of our stories) and I’m thrilled to be able to help my friend in any way.  I know she’s a good momma and I guarantee she’s a gift in those fellas lives too.

 

 

feels

 

You guys.  Sometimes a video comes along and it’s just kinda great.

I’m a James Corden fan.  He’s just … effervescence.  His joy is contagious – even through a screen.  I don’t know him.  (Obviously.)  But I know that there’a world of junk and mess that comes to us via a screen.  But James Corden is about promoting that mess and junk.  He’s funny and joyful and …. I don’t know ….. hopeful.

This video is long.  But it might be the most satisfying bit of TV you watch all month.

Music is powerful.  And the moments in this video bring all that together.  I sat and grinned while I watched this.  Grinned and even teared up.  Paul McCartney is just a dude too, but he’s lived a long life and played songs that have been the soundtrack for generations and that’s a huge deal and he’s never been the face to be splashed across a scandalous story and he seems like a right good bloke.

Give it a watch.

 

 

 

 

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