Summer 2019 Round-Up

Wow. It's been such a good summer. So many good things. So many good people. So many good laughs, good days, good nights, good conversations.

We got a bit of an Indian Summer lately, which surprisingly - since I was so over-the-top excited about fall - has been kind of nice! I can't wait to change over to sweaters and fun mugs for hot tea, but still...it's hard to say goodbye to summer and I've been trying to soak in the last few weeks of it.

 A huge shout-out to my mom and dad: I know how crazy, and sometimes hard, this summer's schedule has been, but thank you both so much for all you gave all of us! Squeezing in yet another weekend activity, working around the unexpected...thank you so much! Thanks for giving me one of the best summers I can remember. 

Today I'm giving y'all a roundup of this summer! Some of these pictures I've already used in other posts...but it's my blog, sooo...

1. The first amazing thing that happened was the missions trip my brother and I got to take down to NC. It was a crazy inspiring week, and so many God-things happened! I'm not posting any of those pictures, simply because they were taken mostly just for family and church, but just know that it was honestly one of the craziest, and best, weeks of my life. Great memories, great people :). 

2. A trip to the lake with extended family! A gorgeous afternoon and so many laughs and so much fun!

3. Family Picnics - We got to see so much family this summer, and I'm so grateful for that. (The first one is totally random, but I stuck it in there...ha!) All the little moments were so much fun, like the babies picking flowers for Grandma and carrying all the water bottles from the cooler and lining them up on the park bench. 

4. Campfires - There were so many campfires and games of cornhole this summer, it was our go-to thing in the evenings! I loved it so much! 

5. An evening out in the country - Our friends had us over for a cookout, and I chased little man up and down all the hills, we had such a blast! It's so beautiful out there, I always love driving through that part of town :). 

6. Surprise Birthday Party!!

7. Shopping afternoon - I love downtowns, and got the privilege of spending the sweetest lil' girls' day with a couple of the best girls in the world - my sister and my grandma. How cute are they both?? We shopped boutiques, got coffee (of course), and had so much fun. It was the best :).

8. Washing windows - Ha! The other afternoon, I was cleaning and little man wanted to help...with his stuffed monkey...so together they washed the windows. How adorable are they?! 

There was so much more, but honestly it would be impossible to fit it all in here. It was such a good summer, and I'm so grateful that I got to live it!

I've been challenged lately to keep growing in joy and gratefulness, and I've been loving this idea:

Buy a notebook, and keep it next to your bed. Before you go to sleep, write down three things you're thankful for. Then, in the morning, read through them before you start your day.

I'd love to challenge you guys to do this! It's crazy how something so small can change your outlook on your whole day, just because you started it with a moment of thankfulness!