Hey...JUNE

The first month of summer and things have moved very very fast in June.   The boys kicked off their June by going on a camping weekend with our church:  Dad & Kids Campout.  You know I've wanted a little girl forever, but this first weekend where the boys bonded with fishing rods and sleeping together in a tent-----suddenly I saw a lifetime of me, alone, having these weekend retreats to myself and I felt a sudden rush of giddiness! :-)

What did I do while they were gone?  Oh yeah, girls night Karaoake!  That Sunday they came back and we had the Hessel family over for dinner - they were in town from North Carolina.

Also this week marks the last day of school for my first grader!

I've been doing a lot of fun girls nights this month.   Love these girls!

Father's Day was very special (at least I think Patrick thought so) not a whole lot of fuss, but I did do a little video for him and the kids wrote cards and he got to celebrate his father as we picnic'd together at Algonkian park.  Beautiful day!

I've also been doing a Marriage Study with an intimate group of gals.  I am LOVING this study, but I'm really enjoying the women.  The lady who leads us has such a heart for mentoring and teaching the younger women what is good (Titus 2).  Also, our Shepherd group wanted to keep meeting over the summer while most groups break for the summer (wow!) and  Patrick is doing a wonderful job of leading them this year.

One of our neighbors is leaving us and moving to a single family.  We did a goodbye party in our backyard.  It was really a fun time and I'm really glad we started entertaining more outside!

And what would summer be without kicking off swimming lessons?  The boys were freaking out the morning we were supposed to go and I didn't know how to calm their fears and I finally just shared a time when mommy was 12 and couldn't swim and everyone laughed at me.  That got them feeling sorry for me and thankful that they have more and more chances to be a good swimmer. Whatever works!!!  First day: Micah swam the entire length of the pool and back!

We've had a few birthday parties (4 year old and a 40 year old), a lot of summer play dates and I'm leaving tonight for a Girls Overnight with my Shepherd Group at one of the ladie's lakehouse.  It's been a wonderful June - with intentional appointments and deeper connections.   I'm not going to lie - I love my life and I'm so grateful for so much.