A Look Back at August

Every month, I’m looking back at the things I learned, loved, and lived through. This is my look back at August.

Learned

This month, God has been stretching me to emptiness. To live by faith with no return. To be empty without becoming a minimalist.

I also learned that I don’t know how to read more than one book at a time. I barely made a dent in my Summer Reading list, but it’s worth it because I dove into Simply Tuesday by Emily P. Freeman and started Do Over by Jon Acuff. That probably means I’m not a goal-keeper…or I’m a goal-switcher because I switched books to read. Technically, Autumn begins on September 23 so I have time.

I’m determined to learn how to read more than one book at a time, so along with Do Over, I am reading Making Your Children’s Ministry the Best Hour of Every Kid’s Week by Sue Miller, and last night I started on So Shines the Night by Tracey Higley. I had to force myself to stop reading that one and go to sleep!

Loved

If you haven’t noticed, I can’t stop talking about Simply Tuesday by Emily P. Freeman. It just aligns so much with what God has been asking of me lately that I have to pay attention.

I discovered gel highlighters. Did you know about gel highlighters?!? They glide on so smoothly! And they don’t stain my sheets. I’m an in-bed reader and yes, I’ve fallen asleep while reading with highlighters uncapped. I’m a highlighter and bed sheet killer. Gel highlighters have redeemed me!

Temperatures hit the hundreds this month so I loved wearing my kimono style robes on top of tank tops or dresses. I have one each from Old Navy, Ross, and Target. They are all discontinued, but here are two adorable ones from Target. This one has a nice lace detail on the front and this one is longer with a gorgeous back.

I am geeking out over the app game Alphabear. It’s a word puzzle game where you create words and collect bears that give you extra points, bonus time, etc. You might have seen this on my Instagram:

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If I’m not careful, those cute bears with the silliest sayings will be all I post!

Lived Through

I lived through being sick. This month began with me sick. It was horrible. I say that every time I get sick, and knowing that being sick can be nothing except horrible.

This little space turned two! And I released “Faith Infused Life: A 31-Day Devotional” that newsletter subscribers receive for free.

I also held my first ever giveaway! The winner of Emily P. Freeman’s latest book Simply Tuesday (which released this month) is Heather! Congratulations and I hope you love the book as much as I do!

An update on my Summer Goals to be grounded in:

Scripture: I’ve been following along with the First 5 app, but I want to dive even deeper. This is something I need to work on. Props to Kaitlyn Bouchillon for her one Bible trick that really works!

Writing & Art: I did one of these (hint: mine is pink and missing a word in the quote!) during Paint Night with my friends. Aren’t they creative?!? And they said they weren’t….

Physical Health: I went with my brother to his college for tests he needed to take for his summer classes and walking through the campus was an exercise itself because when you’re walking on unpaved sloping trails in the midst of trees, you’re hiking. 🙂 Other than that…*ahem* so I really need to step up on staying healthy.

Looking Forward To

This is a new thing I want to add at my end-of-the-month recap. It’s good to look back, but it’s also good to look forward. For September, I’m looking forward to:

1. The 2nd Annual Blog-tember Challenge!
2. Helping my brother move into his college dorm
3. Attending the Orange Tour in Irvine. I’m all booked and ready to go!
4. Surprising my teachers and VBS volunteers with something like this, but I need to make sure the kiddos don’t get to it first!

What about you? What was your August like and what are you looking forward to in September? And if you’re joining the Blog-tember challenge, please let me know! I’d love to follow along on your journey.

 

Linking up with Chatting at the Sky and What I’m Into at Leigh Kramer.

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