Last night at dinner we were talking about our favorite month.
Abigail: November
Anna: "oh yes, Thanksgiving!"
Scott: July
Me: Well I have too many to say really. There are a few I couldn't live without.
November, yes, I am right there with my daughters. The beginning of the holiday season without the stress yet. The cozy vibes, the cooking, the smells, the early evenings. But I have to be honest. November is a tiring month as a teacher. Report cards are due - those are a lot of work and often require weekend time. Then parent teacher conferences begin. Those are tiring too. The kiddos in my classroom start to get all kinds of sick and usually I'm running on not enough sleep (all that cozy in our house doesn't just happen)... so yes, November is wonderful and tiring at the same time.
October, oh yes, I do love you. It feels like it is the first crisp weather and I am so ready for it. There is our trip to the pumpkin patch and little stores along the way. The leaves turn and I just want and long to be outside every weekend, all weekend.
July ~ Now July is a completely different kind of month. But I love it too. I find it perfectly in the middle of the summer. Far enough away from when school ended (no longer totally exhausted), and school way far way to even begin to think about the new school year. It allows my head to think, my mind to finally relax, and my heart to be happy. I spend every moment pouring into my little girl's hearts, reading to them, teaching them, talking with them. I have extra time with the love of my life... little day trips, talking, relaxing without the worry that can come up during the school year. I have more time for my own quiet time, prayer, journaling, reading devotionals and the Bible. That part is truly glorious.
So yes, I do believe that November, October, and July can be my favorite months of the year. All of them for sure have memories to be made and magic all their own. But that mid summer, and two fall months are the best of all.
Yesterday I started moving things around in my kitchen -- yes, still summer but I love to change things up! So of course it doesn't look exactly like this now but I have to show you the strawberry vintage coziness it was all summer long (so far!)
Here is the view from the middle of the kitchen looking toward our laundry room. You can of course see the baking center that I love with my whole heart.
This little jelly cupboard I found at an antique store a few years ago and I just love changing up each month -- I fill it with things that bring me joy!
Abigail bought me the embroidery strawberry tea towel in Quebec last summer and it's so perfect hanging on the door.
And look at that little ceramic pic! I love pies! I love baking them (I have a peach pie in the oven at this very minute!) I love collecting little vintage ones for decorations all over our house. Pies give it that cozy touch!
That little peach pie is so cute!
This little shelf is at the opposite side of the kitchen. Scott made it for me and I love to have my ironstone plates tucked underneath and stack cookbooks on top. Having my favorite ones out inspire me to take the time to enjoy baking seasonal treats!
I spy another French tea towel!
Here's a view from our kitchen table to some open shelving Scott built for me. In the picture it's filled with ironstone and a few tucks of red, white, and blue. I've since taken that down - I love this in all of the seasons!
Oh how I wanted a peg board built in to the cabinet - of course Scott was able to build it for me. I think the tiny ironstone creamers (great for warm maple syrup) and a seasonal tea towel make it look charming.
Here's a peek toward the laundry room with my cozy pie window. There will be a peach pie right there hot out of the oven in about 5 minutes... I can smell it!
Since tucked away until I decorate for the fall, the beginning of the summer I had out my little general store all set for the 4th!
A little peek toward our family table where more that food is served - hearts are filled, faith is discussed, and each person is nourished mind, body, and soul. Yes, I believe that meal after meal has that kind of power.
My Mother's Day present this year was a teapot shelf that is above the molding. Oh how I love this so so much! It's an idea from the charming Red Lion Inn.
Won't it be darling at Christmastime?
And finally a look at the whole kitchen, my growing collection of wooden spoons, and our windowsill.
Well that's it. Right now I've changed things up a bit and am enjoying it -- happy cozy summer!
Girl's Club started years ago. It is based on the book called of course, Girl's Club by Clarkson. I read it back in 2019 and then in the summer of 2020 I read it aloud to my girls.
Five years later I've pulled it back off the shelf. I've always believed in discipleship parenting
And I find myself in another transition. Sure seeing my girls go from elementary years to middle school years was a transition. And back then it felt big. And maybe one day I will look back at this tranistion in my life thinking it is small. But right now it feels big. Abigail will be headed off to college and Anna to graduate school. While Anna will be commuting she will be involved in an intensive course of study for three years. Another transition.
I want to use lots of time this summer to prepare their hearts for the world and places they are about to enter. Of course I know that I'm not doing ALL of the work for this in one summer; it's been their whole lives preparing them for this. I just really want to be intentional with my time this summer and with them.
Still the same copy; we are on our third read now. There are bent over pages marking favorite passages, notes in the margin, and so much underlined. On Wednesday I reread the intro aloud to my girls and this is what we loved:
"One of my overriding goals, though, was to mentor them in their faith. I wanted to pass on a vision for life that would help them cultivate clarity for their place in God's Kingdom work through the living out of their own personal stories." ~ Sally Clarkson
"At its most basic, Girl's Club was simply my mother's way of ensuring little pockets of time with just my sister and me. Whether it was an afternoon tea shop, an evening watching one of our favorite movies, or a trip, my mom make time to bond, laugh, discuss, and dream together." ~ Joy Clarkson
"After all these years of cultivation, being friends is an old habit. But the richness of this time is rooted in decades of chosen closeness, of willed, planned connection." ~ Sarah Clarkson
What I love about those parts from the introduction is the reminder that it just doesn't 'happen". To actually "pass on a vision for life" that would help Anna and Abigail see how their own personal life story would connect with the kingdom work of God, I would have to work on our relationship.
It takes "little pockets of time" to love on them, laugh with them, and talk talk talk with them. This time must be intentional. And it helps if it is yummy, fun, and beautiful.
So this summer every single Wednesday afternoon/evening will be our Girls' Club. I will continue to read aloud our favorite parts from this book but we will also do something together.
Our first was this past Wednesday. I pulled out the book, We had some homemade cookies, and afterword I painted their toenails. (Anna doesn't like polish and chose stick on nails) It was time together and it felt good.
I'm already dreaming of next Wednesday and some topics we can discuss, some things we might eat, and the fun we might have. Simple but intentional
*This was written back in April and now it's of course July. I couldn't post back then because there was an announcement at the end -- Anna's plans for a masters and sixth year at Fairfield. If you missed what that's all about, check this out*
It was Anna's final college orchestra concert and boy, it was an amazing one. Probably the best one in all four years.
I was so excited, beaming, and in tears throughout, especially the end when the seniors were recognized. I'll get to that part in just a bit.
First, I want to start by expressing my gratitude to the College of the Holy Cross Orchestra. That space, that place, those Tuesday and Thursday evenings held my daughter in a beautiful way.
It helped her to grow musically. It allowed her to continue playing her viola. It was safe and comfortable when she was adjusting. Yet it helped her to grow musically and socially beyond high school level.
So so grateful.
Here are some orchestra college posts that I love.
This one was her first picture of her very first rehearsal. I remember being so happy to see this pop up on my phone ~ September 2021
This post is when she showed us her rehearsal space when we visited her for Family Weekend. She looks so so happy! ~ October 2021
This post is her first college orchestra concert (back when masks were required) ~ November 2021
This post is her spring concert freshman year ~ March 2022
This post is her freshman year End of Year concert ~ April 2022
This post is her sophomore fall concert ~ November 2022
This post is her sophomore year Lessons and Carols ~ December 2022
This post is her sophomore year spring concert ~ March 2023
This post is her sophomore year End of Year concert ~ April 2023
This post is her junior year fall concert ~ November 2023
This post is her junior year Lessons and Carols concert ~ December 2023
Then Anna left for study abroad in China from December 27, 2023 - June 2024
This post is her senior year fall concert ~ November 2024
This post is her senior year Lessons and Carols concert ~ December 2024
This post is her senior year spring concert ~ March 2025 (the only one I missed) 😢
And that brings us to her very last College of the Holy Cross orchestra concert ~ April 2025
~ driving in
~ spotting her dorm and her window
~ the beautiful Performing Arts Center
~ sunset over the hill
~ arriving and sending a few moments before the concert began
~ a last concert present
At this point before our favorite song of Holy Cross the seniors were honored. I know that I can express my emotions on this blog but this moment truly took me by surprise. I saw that 'little' girl up there about to be recognized and honored as a college senior and I felt an overwhelming feeling of gratitude to God for what could have been, what she has walked through, and what her life is now. It was something, I tell you!
Here is a video of the concert.
And if you scroll to 1:24:18 you can see her senior night moment.
