The Summer So Far

Obviously blogging hasn’t been a very big part of my summer and I still can’t figure out if I’m disappointed or relieved.

Maybe both.

I’m in a season of quiet waiting and I don’t even know what I’m waiting for.  I tend to hope that I’m waiting for God to do something BIG and IMPORTANT and EXCITING but I’m starting to think He wants me to rest and trust in Him even when nothing seems to be happening.

I’ll admit, that’s been tough.

I keep feeling like I’m missing something I’m supposed to be doing.  Hearing this verse at church a couple weeks ago really encouraged my heart:

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Ephesians 2:10

If He prepared good works in advance for little old me, and I’m open to Him, I really don’t think He’s going to let me miss them.  Now if only my brain would start to really believe that ;)

In all of the quiet ordinary-ness, I’ve been trying to be grateful.  Content.  At peace.

There has been lots of time outside, playing on the grass and in the sand.  Lots of play dates filled with splashing and struggles to share.  Grilled dinners, quiet evenings.  Walks around the block.  Trips to the zoo, quiet times in the afternoon so I can get a taste of silence.  BBQs, pancakes for breakfast, birthday festivities and plain old nothing at all.

The girls have played beautifully together and they’ve fought like gladiators.  I’ve calmly resolved issues and I’ve lost my cool.

I’ve spent the better part of many afternoons laying on the couch and I’ve tried to feel accomplished by tackling little projects.

The little DIY project that I’ve been enjoying most lately are the no-sew garage curtains I whipped up a couple weeks ago.  I bought 2 yards of fabric at Joann’s along with some stitch-witchery and a couple of tension rods and now our grubby garage windows are a little more appealing :)

And I had a little fabric leftover to make a placemat to tie the curtain pattern over to the patio which has throw pillows in a similar colored stripe.

They are certainly nothing fancy and the one on the side of the garage isn’t even, so I hung the rod crooked to compensate, but I like them.  They spruced things up just a little and it’s been a fun change.  If you endeavor to do this yourself, I do recommend using a measuring tape and taking your time.

But as I like to joke, “ain’t nobody got time for that!”

This silly selfie is from about a week ago when I drove Grace out to meet my mom for a solo sleepover visit.  She had a wonderful time with grandma and I had a delightfully quiet weekend! Lol

Avery and I had a lunch date at Cracker Barrel on the way home and it was so sweet.  She loved having me and the wooden peg game all to herself :)

The mac and cheese got all over, but she LOVED it.  Totally worth the mess :)

We took Avery to Ikea while Grace was with Grandma.  She sat in her stroller the whole time, nursing a snack bag of goldfish.  Andy and I sat on probably every couch in every display and we drooled over the gorgeous custom kitchens too.

For only $25 we bought some under cabinet lighting and Andy installed it at midnight that night.  What a difference it makes to the dark corner of our kitchen!  I’ve gotta keep my mixer clean now that it’s in the spotlight ;)

I had a lovely birthday that started at the Original Pancake House with a Big Apple and cup of delicious black coffee.  I followed that up with an afternoon of sunbathing at the pool with my sister and then dinner at Ronin Sushi in Royal Oak with my main squeeze.

Grainy selfie before dinner.  We had to wait a while but really enjoyed the cozy bar on the second level of the restaurant.  I’m becoming quiet the connoisseur of nonalcoholic beers. Lol

I somehow convinced Grace to let me try this dutch braid in her hair the other day and here’s the evidence that it existed for that short hour.

I got a post-birthday manicure and pedicure last week followed by a DELICIOUS Thai dinner with a dear friend.  I’ll tell you I straight up crave these drunken noodles with chicken and veggies.  SOOO GOOOD.

Then, just the other day, we had an extended play date with another dear friend and she served up this INCREDIBLE taco soup that she had just “thrown together” the night before.  I wish she had a recipe because it was AMAZING.  The garden tomato, ripe avocado, tortilla strips and lime juice put it over the top.

I’ve been more concerned with comfort than fashion these days.  My belly is not so much “baby” as it is “ice cream” so I’m trying to draw attention away from it whenever I can.  A little bout of cooler weather this week allowed me to pair a loose-fitting chambray shirt (that I scored for $5 from Old Navy!) with my coral shorts.  It was SO COMFY and I felt put together.  Win/win.

But the most exciting detail of summer so far is….

MY SISTER’S ENGAGEMENT!!!!!

Her boyfriend proposed on Friday night and I don’t think I could be any more excited if I tried!  I’m straight up OBSESSED with how sweet they are together, how gorgeous her ring is, and how excited I am to have such a stellar guy as a brother-in-law.

Tomorrow we’re headed to my mom’s for our annual trip to the county fair and next week I’m taking the girls up to my friends cottage overnight, so I’m thinking I’ll probably have some more picture-heavy blog posts coming up.

How has your summer been?  Anything exciting happening?  Any trips planned?

I’d love to hear what you’ve all been up to :)