I’m loving the cooler temps in Central California!!! (The majority of our highs have been over 100° since we moved here… 90° has never felt so nice!)

This month has been a little crazy for our family with some quarantines and isolating. But we are grateful for a negative COVID test and for God’s healing! We’re also thankful for the rhythms of work and school, as well as times for rest!

I’ve gathered up a few of my favorite things from the past month. I hope they help and inspire you! And I’d love to hear some of your favorites!

Books:

• All The Feels for Teens by Elizabeth Laing Thompson!! My daughter and I are on the book launch team and are still in the early chapters, but Elizabeth has quickly become one of our favorite authors! Preorder the book here, and check out her new YouTube channel!

• Seek Bible Study from The Daily Grace Co.! Loving my time in the Psalms!

Bible Verse:

• “Trust in, lean on, rely on, and have confidence in Him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts before Him. God is a refuge for us (a fortress and a high tower). Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!” – Psalm 62:8 AMPC

Podcast:

• The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill from Christianity Today. A few people recommended this to us, and it has been both eye-opening and heart-breaking. It’s helpful to hear the stories and have language for some of our past experiences.

Music:

• Sticks & Stones by King’s Kaleidoscope (from the podcast above!)
• Pride of a Father by Hillsong Y&F (covered by Jon Wright Music!)

Hobbies:

• Flower Friday! Days of the week are important around our home… from #MusicMonday to #TruthTuesday to #WritingWednesday. This month I started a new one (for us)… #FlowerFriday on #DateDay! Inspired by my dear friend Kim who always says, “Buy the flowers!” There’s just something special about fresh flowers. (And with the kids all in school again, Jon and I are so excited to have our Date Day back!!)

• Baking! With more time on our hands during our quarantine, we prioritized some baking. Normally I try to substitute ingredients to make them healthier, but my kids wanted cookies like Grandma’s (with all the butter and sugar). We followed the famous recipe on the bag of Nestlé chocolate chips; we just used gluten-free flour!

• Laci and I have also been completing quite a few 1000-piece puzzles this month! Our favorite brand is Buffalo Games!

Drinks:

• Clear Mind Kombucha from Brew Dr.

Snacks:

• Wee Brie! Jon found these on a recent trip to the grocery store… aren’t they cute?! I love to pair them with Pecan Nut Thins!

• Fair Life ice cream!

In My Diffuser:

• Citronella! The mosquitoes are terrible at work, and this really seems to help! (And for the times we forget… the Bug Bite Thing has been a lifesaver!!)

What’s for Dinner:

• Yakisoba – this is my husband’s all-time favorite! We have tried many gluten-free versions at home, but this recipe from MasterCook is the best one yet!