Happy July friends! Can you believe how fast my favorite season of the year is flying by?
SLOW down Summer, so I can drink you in!
Today I’m going to share with you what I learned in the month of June but I also want to offer you a
great BIG bribe . . .
Let’s start with the winner of the 52 Commands Book Launch Giveaway which I ran a couple of weeks ago. Drum roll please ——–and the winner is:
Marilyn Collins!
Please check your email Marilyn so we can get your prize in the mail to you right away. You’re gonna love it!
Now, on to the bribe. In all the time I’ve been blogging I’ve never taken a reader survey. Readers surveys are important because they tell me what you want to hear from me here at Old Things New. This blog is a combination of Old Things New transformations – furniture makeovers, budget decorating, thrifting, etc., and faith based posts (Freedom Friday) where I share stories of my life as a Christ follower, and hopefully, encouragement for you.
I don’t want to write just what I want to write. I want to write what best serves your felt need. This survey asks several questions that will help me focus my efforts more to my readers and also has spaces where you can write brief comments that will give me insight into who you are.
In appreciation for your time (it will take about 5 minutes) here’s the bribe:
One of you will win an Amazon gift card valued at $100!
Woot, woot!
That’s how important this survey is to me. Even though I’d like to give every one of you a prize there can only be one winner. However, the big win for the rest of you will be a blog that is (hopefully) more geared to what you want from Old Things New.
So here’s the ten question survey. After taking the survey please come back and comment, letting me know you’ve completed it (so I can enter your name in the drawing) and then allow me share with you my June in Review.
Finally, my month in review. I first stole the idea of doing a monthly wrap up post from my friend Susan at Hope, Heart, Home. Now I’m stealing this list format from her as well. I didn’t steal her whole list though, only part of it. Does that make me any less a thief?
Now on to my June in Review:
LOVING: Summer weather and as much time at the lake as I can get. We got to share a week at a cabin on Lake Keowee with good friends 🙂
READING: Nothing Christian/inspirational at the moment. In the Summertime my guilty pleasures are mysteries and psychological thrillers, as long as they aren’t dirty or freaky. Tough to find. I’ve begun reading BLINK by K.L. Slater and so far, so good. I’ll let you know if I have to delete it from my Kindle. I’m also reading The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein. It’s research for the book my dog Snoopygirl is writing.
LISTENING TO: Whatever Alexa (my Echo lady) plays for me when I shout out that I need some praise and worship!
SHOPPING FOR: Nothing right now. Trying to save money.
EXCITED ABOUT: Life. I feel like we are so blessed to be where we are at this stage of life and all we get to enjoy living here in South Carolina. It is more than we deserve.
WORKING ON: We just finished building a new gate (with a beautiful salvaged, scrolly, antique insert) and I’m trying to get it stained in between the daily bouts of rain (it isn’t supposed to rain for 24 hours after staining). I will share pictures on the blog when done.
ENJOYING: Morning coffee on my new patio. That too will get it’s own blog post during the month of July.
USING: My new Norwex mop. A lot. It’s great for cleaning up muddy dog paws and disinfects as it cleans, all with water alone!
WEARING: Summer dresses, shorts with tees, and flip flops every day.
PLANNING: The rest of my Summer so I can set aside some serious time to work on my book.
SINGING: It is Well. Yes, it is an older song but I need to keep reminding myself that no matter what is going on in the world that it is only the physical realm. What’s most important is spiritual, and my relationship with God, and as long as it is well with my soul God will take care of the rest.
LEARNING: How to give hard and painful situations over to God so that He is released to do the work He desires to do on my behalf.
WISHING (praying) FOR: The fullness of God in my children’s lives. He has a plan for them and it is GOOD.
DOING: Adding plants (a few at a time) to a new back yard planting area that was created when we had a slope excavated for the patio.
DREAMING OF: One day (after hubby’s retirement) downsizing to a cottage on the lake. Because sometimes dreams do come true.
NOT CRAZY (sad) ABOUT: One of my children was here in June and wouldn’t allow me to take pictures. She has been very ill and doesn’t like the way she looks. Prayers appreciated.
Finally, my month on Instagram:
Thank you for your willingness to help me out with the reader survey. I appreciate you all so much and desire to give you the best of what I have to offer. Happy July and blessings friends. 🙂
I’ve been known to link up to the following great parties!!!
Sunday:
TheDIYShowoff, LifeOnLakeshoreDrive, SilverPenniesSundays, RusticAndRefined, Spiritual Sundays
Monday:
IShouldBeMoppingTheFloor, TheDedicatedHouse, Dwellings, ProjectInspired, InspireMeMonday, BetweenNapsOnThePorch, CelebrateYourStory, What Joy is Mine/Monday Musings, Darling Downs Diaries, The Art of Homemaking, MomentsOfHope, Glimpses, SittingAmongFriends
Tuesday:
TalkOfTheTown, HomeStoriesAtoZ, AStrollThruLife, CoastalCharm, CedarHillFarmhouse, TuesdaysAtOurHome, TheWinthropChronicles, Rich Faith Rising Unite Linky, Testimony Tuesday,Cheerleaders of Faith,Tell His Story
Wednesday:
SavvySouthernStyle, A Wise Woman Builds Her Home, Woman to Woman Word Filled Wednesdays, Mom’s Morning Coffee, Women with Intention, Coffee for Your Heart, MessyMarriage, ThreeWordWednesday, WriterWednesday
Thursday:
ShareYourStyle, ImpartingGrace, EmbracingChange, HaveADailyCupOfMrsOlson, MyRepurposedLife, ADelightsomeLife, KatherinesCorner, Thought Provoking Thursday, SincerelyPaulas, ThoughtfulThursday, Tune-inThursday
Friday:
FrenchCountryCottage, TheCharmOfHome, TheDedicatedHouseAnythingBlueFriday, ShabbyliciousFriday, Sweet Inspiration, Faith’nFriends, Missional Women Faith Filled Fridays, Dance With Jesus FreshMarketFriday
Saturday:
FunkyJunkInteriors, OneMoreTimeEvents, SaturdaySparks, TheInspirationGallery, Make My Saturday Sweet
What a fun month of June. I love how Susan outlined her post and glad you did the same. Here’s to a happy July.
Thanks Mary. I love the outline format too because it makes it so much easier and quicker to write a post. That Susan, she is a bright one! Happy July to you too my friend.
love this post, Patti….what a great June you had!
I’m learning to remember to ask God for specifics in my life. Also to admit to Him when I recognize my failings… boy do I have a lot of those to own up to!
But one thing I specifically asked for yesterday during our communion time at church was to make me more aware of opportunities to share him. I said, Lord please bring at least one person into my life this week that I can openly and easily share You with them.
HA! Ask and ye shall receive….my neighbor guy talked with me a long time this morning about salvation and how he feels about it, including that he’s not so sure he has it. Whoa….I jumped right in there and we talked for an hour and a half! I hope, and pray, that I was able to say something that makes a difference in his life. I laughed and said, “Steve, looks like I need to add you to my prayer list!” Then he laughed and said, “well, my Mom’s gone so there’s nobody else. Guess it wouldn’t hurt none!”.
Thanks for a lovely update. Now to take your survey!
Muah, hugs and blessings!
Oh Sharon, don’t we all have a lot of failings in our lives? It’s a good thing we are being transformed from glory to glory, one day at a time!
So cool that you had a specific prayer request that was answered so quickly. I’m sure your words had an impact that you’ll never even know. I love that Steve said that there was no one else to pray for him since his mom is gone. YOU are the one that can see life changes through the prayers you pray and what a blessing that will be. I can see that I need to get more specific in my prayers too.
As always, thank you for your comment my friend. God bless and Happy 4th of July!
I LOVE all my Norwex cleaning things! No more chemicals!!! I love your blog, too. Always a joy to read no matter what the subject is for that day’s post (DIY, decorating, personal). But most important of all, I love you, my friend!
Awww…Tammy, I am so thankful for you dear friend and I’m so glad you’re my neighbor here in Simpsonville now too. Good times ahead!
Love your blog and love your monthly summary.
Enjoy these summer days!
I love your review posts. I always say I want to do monthly review posts but find my life pretty boring most of the time. Here’s to a beautiful and blessed July! Was happy to do your survey!
Awww…thank you so much for doing the survey Barbie. I really do appreciate it. As for the monthly reviews, they really became quite easy once I started copying Susan’s great format. I’m sure you’d have plenty to share. Happy July to you too my friend 🙂
I may just try it. How do you get your Instagram to show in a grid? Do you just upload them one by one?
What a great roundup!
As a fashion blogger, I love that you are wearing dresses—I’ve been trying to do that too, even on the days I don’t go anywhere!!
Jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
#tuneinthursday
It’s so funny Jodie but I never wore dresses all that much before moving to the South. They are THE thing for the hot and humid weather and I am in love with them now. Thank you for coming by from #tuneinthursday.
I love your posts on Instagram, but haven’t visited your blog before. Love the way you shared your review.
Patti, can’t wait to see your new gate, patio and planting area! Especially the gate – I so admire people who have the skills to make their fences and gates like furniture! Someday I’m going to find just the right old stained piece to paint, maybe making the top stained as I’ve seen here at Old Things New.
You are so sweet Jean. Thank you for the kind compliment. I’m not sure that the hubs and I are all that skilled. Brave more than anything and it seems to work out. Although, there have been plenty of fails! Haha! You WILL find that perfect piece indeed and I’m sure you make it look great!!!
I love the new format for your month in review, ad WOW.. I even made several of your Instagram photo’s with that crazy husband of mine. HAHAHA – How I wish we could be on vacation with you guys all the time! I also love the title of your post – a winner and a bribe – LOL as if you need to bribe me to fill out the survey 🙂 that’s what friends to for each other… but I will have to come back and do it to give you thoughtful answers later 🙂 just remind me. I’m looking forward to your next post and can’t wait to see what fun adventures July holds for you!
Thank you for commenting Debbie. I’m more than ready for another vacation with you and PJ. Get to work on your edits so you’ll be able to take a break. When will that be? Haha!
Yay for Krank/Kitterman Vacations! we find so much fun, or is it trouble we find ? LOL … I will get a short break mid August while it’s being read by my beta testers and then more rewrites with that feedback for the final due date of Oct 9th – then I am officially on a break! woo hoo! Ok – back to writing I go 🙂
<3 <3 <3
Patti, I enjoy your blog no matter what you share! I am so sorry to hear that about your daughter . Hope she gets feeling better soon!! Thanks for sharing with SYC.
hugs,
Jann
Thank you Jann. You are the best!