Life lately, a recap of summer 2025

June was the last time I wrote a little "life lately" post, and there's been a lot of life since then.

I have written some more topical blog posts since then – notes on my makeup and skincare routines, blurry fireflies (and a heart lesson), an update on my creative projects, details of a visit from my family, thoughts about a trip up to Michigan to see friends, and a post about our twelfth wedding anniversary.

And now, I'll mention other little bits of life that happened between those posts, from June(ish) to the end of August, saving a September catch up for another post!

We had friends over for the fourth of July – Nicholas grilled hot dogs and brats, and we had salad, a mocktail, s'mores, and sparklers on a very hot (and very fun) night.

Food-wise, there were many exciting things. It was black raspberry season (my very favorite!), followed closely by blackberry season. We ate our fill daily from the bushes in our yard, braving the inevitable scratches and mosquito bites. We had our first harvests from the garden (cucumbers and zucchini first, then tomatoes). I made refrigerator pickles several times. After my friend Kathleen served me chicken salad for lunch one day, I went on a (still ongoing) chicken salad kick. Lots of ordinary, but nourishing everyday meals. And I made homemade maple ice cream with our farm store milk. I also made sourdough cardamom bread more than once, which is my personal favorite for a fika treat.

And then I canned three batches of salsa (this is our very favorite recipe! I roughly chop all the veggies after blanching and peeling the tomatoes, and then I put it all through the blender for a smooth texture). This year, I think I made around 28 jars of salsa total.

We had cozy coffee dates at friends houses, complete with yogurt snacking cake and knitting. I love the lighting in my friend Molly's house.

We had another beach day, this time with my SIL, Katelyn, and our new brother-in-law, Devin!

We went for little hikes (me and the three boys) on weekdays! Lots of "treasure" to be found, or in Cooper's words, "Mom, I know you call it garbage, but it’s TREASURE to me,” says Coop after finding an old plastic bottle, a mechanical pencil, and broken windshield wiper. And notably, he finally had the opportunity to inspect a cattail up close, a long-awaited hope fulfilled.

I paused several times, noticing the beauty of the natural light in our home, sometimes snapping a photo.

We met friends at parks for hikes, played outside in backyards, watched as the kids ran through sprinklers in front yards, and sat on blankets together with babies.

Other little happy things:

• daisy season – such cheerful flowers and a sweet reminder of my beautiful mother-in-law, Karen
• finding little scenes around the house of stuffed animals cozied up, usually the handiwork of Finn
• a little cinnamon roll/cupcake/coffee date after a trip to the pediatrician for all three boys
• "Church in the park" with our church family – praising God downtown on a beautiful summer night
• homemade lattes, using a stovetop steamer
• knitting on a sock or other small project in the little moments of motherhood
• zinnia bouquets on repeat, sometimes picked by me, sometimes picked by the boys
• stunning sunsets through our west-facing windows
• I worked my way through Anne's House of Dreams, and then I started Anne of Ingleside.
• A friend from church gifted me a beautiful Amish-made basket, originally made to hold a pie plate. But it's perfect for yarn or a small project. Thank you, Diane! It's beautiful.

And while these are many joyful moments, there were certainly moments of stress, impatience, discouragement, and overwhelm. A blend of any and all of the above with lots of joy. Special moments mingled with the ordinary ones, and many ordinary ones that are actually quite magical when I choose to see them with different eyes.

And that's a wrap-up of a very fun and very full summer. I'll end with a prayer for myself, looking behind at the summer and ahead at the fall:

Thank you, God for a beautiful life. Thank you for the richness of summer in the smell of a fresh tomato, the coolness of the shade and the sprinkler, a light that lingers late into the evening. Tune my heart and give me eyes to see Your goodness in it all around me. In my seeing and acknowledging the beauty, prompt my heart to worship, for You deserve all the glory.