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July in Review and a GIFT CARD WINNER!

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Don’t you hate it when you’re pulled into an article with a smooth “tickler” phrase, only to find out that you have to read through a post of some 3,698 words to find that tidbit your looking for?  Me too.  That’s why I’m going to announce the winner of my recent drawing right up front!  After that, if you want to continue to read my July in Review, that would be swell.

So with the proverbial drum roll sounding in your head, dum-dum-dum-dum, the WINNER of the $100 Amazon Gift Card drawing is: 

BARB!

I’ve sent you an email Barb, to double check how you’d like to receive your card.

Now on to my month in review:

LOVING:  Summer.  Still.  When everyone else is crying for Fall to hurry up and arrive, I am basking in the warmth of Summer.  We had some pretty hot and humid days in July but this week (60’s at night, 80’s during the day) is my idea of perfect weather.

READING:   Chase the Lion: If Your Dream Doesn’t Scare You, It’s Too Small by Mark Batterson.  This book came into my hands at the perfect time and it is one of the most motivating books I’ve read in a long time.  Voices In Summer by Rosamunde Pilcher.  Her book The Shell Seekers, ranks right up there among my favorite novels for women so I hope this one doesn’t disappoint.

LISTENING TO:  Bird song, cicadas humming, dogs playing, and anything else going on in the great outdoors.  From the haven of my screened porch of course.

(Sort of) SHOPPING FOR:  We’ve been keeping our eyes open for a piece of lakefront property where we might one day downsize and retire.  That fell under what I was dreaming about last month.  This month it has escalated to “sort of shopping for.”  Nothing serious yet.

EXCITED ABOUT:  The flowers in my new backyard flowerbed.  I planted Zinnia seeds this year and they may be my new favorite flower.  They germinate quickly and have fantastic blooms!

WORKING ON:  Setting my alarm for the wee hours and putting some serious hours into writing.  Book dreams!

ENJOYING: For the first time ever, I’m in a mentor/mentee relationship.  I know I might be a bit old but I am the mentee.  My mentor is helping me with some goals, praying for some big needs, and is holding me accountable.  This is a four month mentoring commitment I signed up for with a local church and it came at just the right time.

USING:  Hats and sunscreen for all of our outdoor activities.  I’m pretty amazed at my daily facial moisturizer and how well it protects me from burning, even all day out on the boat.  This is what I use: Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream with SPF 30

WEARING:  Well, right now I’m in my PJ’s but all Summer long I’ve been in shorts, Tees, and cool dresses. I am particularly fond of this pair of Crocs flip flops.  So comfy that I wear them pretty much every single day!

PLANNING:  A blogging break.  You might be be surprised at how many hours are devoted to creating good content for a blog and I have some other things I need to put more time into for awhile.  I’ll share more in my Friday post.

SINGING:  I’ve been requesting mostly Hillsong Worship from Alexa lately. Y’all know Alexa right?  The gal who lives inside my Amazon Echo?

LEARNING:  It is not a good idea to stand on furniture to get a perfect shot with your camera.  It is especially bad to stand on tippy footstools which might tumble over and throw you to the floor, wrenching your back and leaving bruises on your body where their pointy little feet whacked you on your way down.  Footstools are meant for resting feet, not standing feet and my footstool taught me a lesson. 

WISHING (praying) FOR:  I’ve always said that when I get old I don’t want my only topic of conversation to be my health.  BOR-ING!  That said, I am praying that I will find relief for some back pain that I’m dealing with.  Sciatica.  Isn’t that every old person’s complaint?  It wasn’t helped at all by doing the footstool tumble 🙁

DOING:  Summering.  That’s all.

DREAMING OF:  Funny that one of the books I’m reading,  Chase the Lion: If Your Dream Doesn’t Scare You, It’s Too Small, is all about our God given dreams.  Not so funny that a childhood dream of writing is being renewed.

NOT CRAZY ABOUT: The fact that we lost my mother-in-law in July.  She was 98 and lived a good life but I feel bad for my father-in-law Jack, who is now alone, and for my own hubby, who has never lost a parent before.  It is never easy.

Finally, here’s a look back at my month on Instagram:

So now we enter into a new month and the last hoorah of Summer!  Take it easy, wear your sunscreen, stay cool, and find something to be thankful for each day.  Today I’m thankful for you and the time you’ve taken to read this post.

Blessings dear friends,

I’ve been known to link up to the following great parties!!!

Sunday:

SundaysAtHome, 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, 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

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Comments

  1. Oh, Patti! I loved today’s post! You made me smile and giggle and that’s always a good thing. We all need more laughing. Love you, girl! And P.S. – I know a good massage therapist for that ‘ol Sciatica!! He’ll be opening an office in S’ville real soon!

    Reply

    • To hear that my post is a treat in your inbox is a delight to my ears! You and I both know how much time goes into this whole blogging gig. Thank you, thank you, thank you, and have a delightful end to the Summer my friend.

      Reply

  3. Patti… it’s really not funny but I had to smile when you brought up sciatica… I think we might be the same age and I’m wondering why for 3 months now I’m seriously afflicted with this for first time in my life. Please, oh please, if you find something that helps you, post about it, won’t you?

    Thanks so much for your ministry,
    Lori

    Reply

  5. THIS WAS FABULOUS. And the fall? It can be postponed as long as possible. BUT THE FALL, off the stool? Not-so-good. Girlfriend. Hubs and I have a rule – we are not allowed to climb on anything when the other isn’t home. Good rule and I do follow it. xo

    Reply

    • That is a very good rule Susan. Kel did happen to be home at the time and he heard my fall from the bedroom upstairs. He hurried down to find me sprawled out in all my nightgowned glory too! LOL! Thanks for taking the time to read of my humble July.

      Reply

  6. I will be praying for your back problems, you had a great July, growing older isnt fun except were that much closer to heaven.

    Reply

  7. What a great review! We do a “plate”* at Christmas, but it’s hard to remember all the highlights. (I do, however, go back to instagram). This idea of detailing each month would help so much. 🙂

    On a more personal note — I appreciate your highlight of the Olay Regenerist – I was looking at it in the store the other day and wondered… Thank you for the answer! 🙂
    ____________

    * plate — it’s an exercise we do with our kids by drawing on a paper plate a representation of the highlights of our year. We have them going back to 2001… It’s crazy to see how life we then and now! The grandboy had his first “plate” last year!

    Reply

    • Your plate idea is such a great one Lori! That must be so much fun to look back over the years. So everyone creates their own plate right? You could even send your drawings in to one of those companies that imprints them on a melamine plate. You’d have a whole set of memory dishes!
      Do check out that Olay Regenerist girlfriend. I’ve spent a lot of money on many different magical solutions to my ageing skin and this is as good as any!

      Reply

  10. Sorry about the ole Sciatica….been there myself. You do something in your posts that I always love. It’s when a dog is in the picture. Whether they’re on the boat, porch, living room or deck it says ‘real people live here’. Of course I’m a dog person, so that could be why. Enjoy the rest of your summer!

    Reply

    • I’m so glad you enjoy a glimpse of my sweet doggies in my blog posts PJ! We are definitely real people with real messes and real joys! Happy end of Summer to you.

      Reply

  11. Loved reading what you have been up to. Curious to hear about your blogging break. I just took a week off and it was wonderful. It became clear I need to change up a few things in how I do my writing. Blogging leaves very little time for working on bigger projects. Sorry to hear about your mother in law.

    Reply

    • Thank you for the condolences Maree. Blogging definitely consumes a lot of time and I’ve never been able to get ahead with advance posts so I can keep the posts coming. Life is so full!

      Reply

  14. I’m not ready for the last hoorah of summer…time is flying by way too fast!
    Thanks so much for sharing at AMAZE ME MONDAY!
    Blessings,
    Cindy

    Reply

  15. Patti, I’m not ready to rush summer yet either. I love fall, but it will be here soon enough. The crocs sound great and pretty to boot! Zinnias have been one of my favorite flowers for a long time. I only planted small ones this year. Hope your back gets feeling better!! Thanks for sharing with SYC.
    hugs,
    Jann

    Reply

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