Happy Monday friends! And thanks for not only coming back but also for the kind wishes/comments while I was away. Hard to believe those ten days have come and gone. It was a wonderful time away. The weather was picture perfect. I could not have asked for anything better. The conversations, the laughs, the planning/dreaming/scheming were all wonderful. I have to admit that I was a tad worried I might wear out my welcome but, thankfully, that doesn’t seem to be the case. A grand time was had by all:)
It is nice to get home though. I quickly got all my ducks back in row (hubbie had done a good job of keeping most of the ducks in their proper place!) and I simply thrive when back in my routine….as well as my comfy place. Aka, comfort zone. I do appreciate my friend opening her home, being such a great hostess and for, literally, treating me so well as to spoil me while I was away. It was a blessing as well as a lot of fun.
Now it is time to get back into the blogging routine. I have to admit, the break from the computer was also much needed and, yes, enjoyed. Now, it is time to reconnect and to return to posting. A monthly daybook entry seems like a great way to do just that. So, let’s press on.
The Weather – is supposed to be really hot this week. We have had a beautiful summer thus far, so I should not be surprised when the excessive heat finally rolls in. But even for this summer-lovin girl, temperatures close to 100 are…well, HOT! Something about a heat dome?!? There seems to be a name for every weather condition/phenomenon out there but, apparently, the dome is upon us! I sincerely do pray for those without air conditioning and/or those who have to work or be outside for long periods of time.
As I look outside my window – I see our beautiful crape mrytle tree. Beautiful in how large it has gotten and the way it fits perfectly in our yard, but not beautiful with pretty pink blooms. At least, not yet. I have mentioned this tree often here on the blog. I love it but it is such a late bloomer. When summer arrives, I start to get impatient for it to bloom. To be all showy and covered in color. Well, that time of toe-tapping impatience (and wondering if this was the year we actually damaged it when we pruned it in the fall) has arrived. Hello, pretty tree. I am waiting……….
This morning, I am – headed out for breakfast with friends. I am remembering the extra yummy lunch (and rather large lunch) we had yesterday for Father’s Day. It was a great meal as we “celebrated” both my husband and my brother. I even splurged on a decadent dessert. It is definitely time to reign it back in today and going out for breakfast is probably not the best start. But I must. While I was away, my friend and I created a nine-week diet and fitness challenge. We are using a point system. And there are prizes!! Like I said, I must get on track…and stay on track!
Lately, I have been thinking about – how quickly life changes. A few things have happened in the last couple of weeks. Changes that I did not see coming. Changes that I can, honestly, do nothing about but that have really impacted me. And will probably continue to do so. That is one part of life that can be challening for someone, like me, who thrives on order, stability and routine. I’ve actually come a long way in being flexible as well as releasing control but, life lately, has me focusing once again on these weak spots.
On the menu this week – there will be more protein. I need more protein (and a lot less carbs) in my life! This takes determination for me. Bring on the protein powder.
What I’m wearing – headbands. They seem to be this week’s answer to the curly hair situation. And cute dresses. I found several (mostly at Kohl’s) that I have been enjoying. They are loose and perfect for the hot weather but not too loose. If you know what I mean.
I’m looking around the house – and I am grateful that my husband did such a nice job keeping things tidy and “together” while I was gone. I came home to vacuumed carpets, clean bathrooms, and an empty laundry hamper. Can’t really ask for more than that.
My To-Do List – for the rest of the week includes a MaryKay party. Did you know they still have MaryKay parties? Have you been to one? You can be sure I will not be wiping my face to its “au naturel” state at said party but it will be fun to see what they have to offer these days. I also have a doctor’s appointment and, as well, I am having my port removed. Finally. Too long coming but I have been patient and that outpatient procedure will happen this week. Pardon me while I do my happy dance!!
A thought to share – This thought from my devotions this week (from Paul David Tripp) was timely especially as life has included some of those “bigger moments” lately. I want to respond “right” – for myself, for the loved ones involved and to have the right testimony as well. But handling the bigger things – or handling them well – comes from a place of handling the little things. Paul Tripp says it much better than I am. Let me just stick to the quote. “It’s the character that is formed in those little moments of life that determines how you think and respond in the few big moments of life that you encounter.” There are lots of little things. Lots of every day, routine moments. Far more than there are big moments. Thankfully. But those ordinary days and those little moments have value and they have purpose. God will use them to mature me and prepare me for the “bigger things.” That is a blessing to remember.
And, from my camera. Just one of the many photos of this cutie patootie in North Carolina. He will be one in two weeks! Talk about life moving right along. It was so much fun to spend several afternoons with him with I was away. He is a brand new walker with that broad bowlegged gait keeping him upright much more than he falls.. What a cute stage! I do have a few photos (other than sweet baby Tyler photos) and I hope to share some of those on Thursday. But, today, just some cute boy cuteness. Thanks again for stopping by today. I look forward to getting around to your blogs and catching up a bit!! Have a wonderful week friends!
Doing the Happy Dance that your port was removed!!! Fantastic…
Tyler is adorable!
I don’t know what your worrisome problem is but…I’ll pray for you and for it to be resolved, happily!
Big Hug
Donna
Donna – thank you so much! What a blessing to have friends (blog friends included) who will pray for you!
Welcome home! I am so glad to hear that you had such a great trip. I am sure you were glad to be home, once you got there, and how sweet that your hubby did such a great job of holding down the fort! I like the sound of headbands and flowy dresses in the summer. I’m doing the same thing here, and our weather is super hot this week as well. I’m living in dresses, and giant claw clips to keep the hair off my neck. I’m so glad you’re back, I’ve missed you!
Aw, you are too sweet, Jennifer! Thank you….and so glad you stopped by today!!
Glad you had a great time with your friend, Jennifer and what a wonderful husband you have, who kept the home running smoothly while you were away. Your tree sounds beautiful and will be so worth the wait when it finally flowers. Praying that your procedure goes well this week. Take care. God bless. x
Thank you, Beverley. I am looking forward to the procedure…but, then again, I don’t look forward to procedures!!:)
I’m so thankful to hear that you are able to have your port removed this week, my friend! What a blessing! And I also like the Paul David Tripp quote. He’s been blessed with such wisdom. I hope you will post pictures of your Crepe Myrtal when it blooms. I love those! I think your husband sounds like a keeper!
Congrats on the port being removed! So glad to hear you had a great time with your friend… Ten days is a long time to be gone but it sounds like you had a wonderful visit and your hubby kept the home fires going well while you were gone. Tyler is such a cutie. I can see how spending time with him and his family was super enjoyable. Is that a waterfall behind him? Did you go hiking? Please share deets and pictures when you get a chance!
It sounds like a wonderful trip and how nice to come home to such a clean house! We’re having a heat wave this week too and I am so, so thankful for that air conditioning this week.
Great to hear that you had a good time while away. It’s always good to get home. We are already looking forward to getting home and we still have two months on the road!
Oh wow – two months on the road! I can’t even imagine…enjoy your trip!!
Sounds like you had a wonderful trip! And I can relate to life throwing you off your routine. Flexibility is something the Lord has had to teach me over the years. Not all of us are born to be flexible 🙂 It takes work! Have a wonderful week back home!
Thank you, Debbie! It has been a wonderful week at home:)
Welcome home! I am so happy you enjoyed your time away and are even happier you are home sweet home, safe and sound! I, too, operate best with structure and schedule. I do, however, find as I get older, I can adapt to change a bit better! Have a cozy day, and congratulations on your port removal!!!! What a happy day!
Thanks Billie Jo – I am quite happy to be having that port removed!!:)
Thanks for visiting me on my blog. Nice to meet you.
Welcome back! I’m so happy to hear you are having the port removed. Yay!! Praying for a quick and successful procedure. Like you, I love to travel, but I also love returning home to my routine. Tyler is the sweetest little guy. Such a happy baby. Hope you are having a great week! It’s also very hot here where I live in NC! Stay cool.
Missing you, sweet lady. I hope all is well.
Paul David Tripp’s devotional book is a wonderful bedtime read. My soul is calmed and brain refocused so I have a much better chance of settling into dreamland.
What a good milestone to have that port removed – I hope the procedure went well. I am reading about the temperatures that some of the US are experiencing and know that I would not cope well over there! You must live in fear of power cuts that would render air conditioning useless. We are enjoying a warm spell in the high 20s (82F I think!) and that is just fine for me.
So glad to see you back at blogging after enjoying such a good time on your getaway. Glad your husband kept most of the ducks in a row!! Less for you to herd about when you got back.
Congratulations on your happy-dance worthy news. Hope once this port is out, you can close this chapter, once and for all. We are dancing happy over here, too. It seems PC is cancer-free. And we are going to celebrate all summer.
We have had another terribly hot summer again this year so far. I believe it was 107* today. And now, at 9 pm, it is still 98*. We have had less than an inch of rain all year so I am doing regular rain dances – along with the happy dances – and praying that God sends some rain our way.
Why don’t you join Deb and me for the summer scavenger hunt photo challenge. One of Deb’s good blogger friends, Ruth at This West London Life is hosting. It would keep you taking pictures now that you have returned home and your favorite photo subject is no longer easily accessible.