AUGUST SO FAR

Happy Friday, dears!

We’ve had a fairly low-key month so far and this week has basically just been settling back in at home after being away for almost two weeks. We took a spontaneous trip to South Carolina to be with my family for what was supposed to be only a few days, but then it turned into a much longer visit than planned so that was fun. Part of the reason we stayed longer was for a family wedding we were already planning to head to in Georgia the following weekend, so it saved us a whole trip back south if we just stayed in South Carolina for the week. Plus, Ben was busy working on some projects for my dad during the days so our extra week was full and went by really fast.

We spent a few days in Savannah, Georgia over the weekend and it was so fun to be there and explore the city again. I feel like Savannah is the quintessential (i love that word, hehe) southern city…so full of charm and character and the prettiest homes and cobble stone streets and shops and restaurants. I took a moment to imagine what it would be like to actually live in one of grand old homes right off one of the beautiful common areas that are scattered all over the city, and then I had to stop myself from thinking about it longer than two seconds because it sounds absolutely perfect and also absolutely unreachable. I’ll just settle for visiting old cities instead of living in them…for now, ha.

We took Ayla out to the beach on Tybee Island one morning and she loved it so much. She would literally just walk right up to the ocean on her own and walk into the waves, and then take off down the beach sing-songing on her merry way. So cute and I love that she feels comfortable on the beach because #beachlifeisthebestlife. Basically, I tell her that she has to love food and the beach and Jesus and her dad and me and a lot of other things and people too…but the beach is very important. So I’m glad she loves it. Besides hanging out in Savannah while in Georgia, we also got to spend time with Ben’s mom, who lives in Thailand for most of the year. We typically only get to see her once a year at Christmas, so to spend a few days with her in the middle of the year was great!

Anyone else keeping up with the Olympics these days? We’ve been glued to the women’s beach volleyball whenever Walsh-Jennings/Ross play, and why they have to play most of their games so late (eleven o’clock pm, sheesh) is beyond me. It was a bummer to watch them lose out to Brazil for the gold medal match, but they still got the bronze so that’s still pretty fun. And maybe now I can get to bed at a decent hour…

I signed up to join a women’s group in our church a few weeks ago and we had the launch meeting this week. And let me tell you:: it was a breath of fresh air to be a room full of beautiful women who love the Lord and who want real, transparent relationships and who are willing to share life and share struggles and inspiration and to hand you a tissue when the tears and snot are flowing. I feel like the Lord has opened my heart wide open in the past few months to a longing for real community and transparent connection with those around me in a new way. It’s been a journey over the past years to learn to let those carefully erected walls around my heart come down and also learning that it’s the true way of life to know and be known by others, without pretense, without fearing expectations and judgment. I’m looking so forward to this group and what God will do in my own heart in the next few months in connecting with some truly brilliant women.

I also have to confess that I’ve starting feeling those fall tinges just this past week. This summer has flown by and I’m not quiiiiiiiiite ready for September yet…but close.

What about you: what has been happening in your August?

I’d love to hear your thoughts!