Since we are already living in August as I type this post, I am trying really hard to keep my mind on the truth that summer is really not over yet.
But we are getting close to it being over!
I guess it’s something about August 1st on the calendar, the later sunrises, the earlier sunsets, and the change in the hue of the color of the sun that says summer is fading right before our eyes!
I am holding on tight!
June was a beautiful summer month and an exceptionally busy month…maybe they all are???
Blake and I got some date nights in though!!
I LOVE DATE NIGHT!
Have any of you all done a love language test?
My love languages are quality time (surprise, surprise!) and acts of service.
That is why I NEED time from my hubby and date night allows that!!
Sometimes date night is just grocery shopping – but I am ok with that!
This particular evening there were storms heading our way, so we got grocery quick and headed home.
We were down to bare bones though, so it was needed!
Lane truly blessed his mama on one of our scheduled Friday night date nights in June by riding to work with Blake in the morning so he could bring the van home when I came to town for date night.
That gave Blake and I the opportunity to be in the same vehicle!
We have to do that more often!
We tried a new smoothie place, ran errands, and got a yummy snack for on the way home.
It seemed to be a theme for awhile that every date night would be full of storms!
Now you see why I did not want to be in my own vehicle for the long drive home anymore.
The sky was crazy some nights!
Eliza got to move her new hens to our Lil Red Barn in the middle of June.
They are such great looking hens!
We kept them inside the barn a couple of weeks and then clipped their wings so we could let them out in the little barnyard.
They LOVE being outside and they are very fun to watch from the kitchen window!
Family Days in June included River’s 9th birthday and Father’s Day!
River Salem is NINE.
I cannot even wrap my mind around that!!
He is a GEM.
Father’s Day was SO much fun!
I have exactly zero photos of my hubby.
Good one.
We usually get a photo with all the kiddos!!
River got to spend the night at NaiNai’s house for his birthday and we had a blast!
We also have enjoyed swimming on Sunday’s when time and the weather allow.
Found this the day after Rivy was here!
That kiddo makes me smile!
This is my hubby’s honey-do list white board – now with a sweet note attached!
My father-in-law’s memorial service was in the middle of June in Peoria, Illinois.
Twenty-one of us traveled there in four different vehicles, most of us just for the day.
It was a beautiful service, and we were loved on SO beautifully by my mother-in-law’s church there.
I fed most of the crew an early 6 a.m. breakfast before we hit the road!
I am still taking my early morning daily walk, and probably have 5,647 photos on my phone of the early morning sky!
My walk is already getting later and later each morning as I wait for the crack of dawn.
I think my favorite time to walk is at 5 a.m.!
I usually do not meet any cars on our road at that time – but just our local farmer on his tractor.
He is an early bird too!
I also put a bird app on my phone, well, because I am old and embracing it!!
You all know I love birds!
I stand still once in awhile and let my app record all the birds it is hearing.
It is a very neat thing to do!!
The birds are VERY vocal at that time of the day!!
There for awhile I was taking my walk first and then coming back inside for my Bible time.
I would open the shade, see that daylight and sunrise and just could not stay inside!!
I enjoy my morning time very much!!
Jazzy enjoys it too and is my best Bible time buddy.
You can see what she is like when I head out on my walk – let’s just say she is NOT an early bird!!
I also read/listened to the trilogy by Abby Halberstadt and HIGHLY recommend them for any mama in any season of life.
Her books are M is for Mama, Hard is not the Same Thing as Bad, and You Bet Your Stretch Marks.
I need to read them again – they were that good!!
Speaking of that Jazzy girl – we love her.
She is one of a kind for sure.
Cuddly, sweet, spicy, and adorable all in a little grey package!!
She also has two besties, besides us, to hang out with all day.
Sadie will be moving soon with Chad and Kailey, and we will miss her!
I decided to step back from meeting with my Pilates trainer back in May.
It was just TOO much to try to fit that in.
I have been a couple of times since then, because I miss it, but honestly my body misses it a lot.
I plan to start back up again as I am able when school starts for us – which is in just a few days!
I also spent many hours scouring the internet for a dress for Chad and Kailey’s wedding.
That was not easy!
I am glad to say I have one now, but sent back five before I finally found one!
I got to do Kay’s family’s laundry several times while their wash machine was broken!
MADE MY DAY!!
Folding cute little girl clothes is the best!
Tate and Eliza went over one Saturday afternoon to help around the farm and I got a good report that they were very helpful!!
I mostly have photos of my duo that I spend my days with!
I call them my duos, my double caboose, and my besties!
They are my besties and I am so thankful for that!!
We have a lot of fun together, and I spend a lot of my time getting them where they need to be!
I do not have any other driving help here at home anymore – that was a nice long season I lived in, wasn’t it??
Now that Lane is working full time, it’s just me and my van as the taxi cab!
We have music lessons, chiropractor appointments, orthodontist appointments, haircut appointments, work…
It is a busy van!!
We also love being together at home, taking care of this place, pursuing our interests, and hanging out together!!
Look at how cute our old bedroom rug looks in Eliza’s room!
She loves having it there – it is so much more cozy.
She likes to hang out in her room to write letters to her pen pals and talk to one of them on facetime!
To end this very long June post, I will give you a glimpse of the gardens back then!
They change so much day to day and do not look anything like this now.
They are flourishing again this year under Tate’s care and we are reaping the benefits!!
Ok, summertime!!
You are sweet!!
Please stick around a bit longer!!
Signing off until next time, friends!
Love, Steph xoxoxoxo
