As each month ends, I find myself saying I can’t believe it’s finished. BUT, REALLY, I CAN’T BELIEVE JUNE IS BASICALLY OVER. I recapped some of our summer earlier this month because I don’t want to forget the goodness that’s happening. Yes, life has been busy, but it’s been sweet and joy-filled too. And I want to remember.
So before I forget, here are some things I learned in June …
1. Naming a baby is apparently easier than naming a lake house. I wrote about names and thought about names often the past several weeks. But the short story is we’re adopting a baby girl we’re naming Rachel Elizabeth. {She’s due Sept. 28!} And our lake house is called Shelter Point Retreat.
2. Zac Brown Band has new music! So what if I’m late to the party? It’s been on repeat now that I caught up. {You should get it too.}
3. You can trap a mouse OR TWO with a Nutter Butter bar, colander, and a piece of wood. Our friend Bryan caught TWO MICE at our new lake house when we stayed out there earlier this month. He’s my hero for catching them from his self-made mouse trap. Greg permanently disposed of them, if you know what I mean, and then soon after scheduled the exterminator. Two more were caught in a glue trap. So that’s four, if you’re counting. FOUR TOO MANY. There’s evidence that indicates that may not be all. Yes, THAT kind of mouse evidence.
{You may remember from my camping trip in the spring: I don’t like mice.}
4. I really enjoy reading fiction set in the South. Okay, so I didn’t actually just learn this. But I remembered it as a zipped through Mary Alice Monroe’s Lowcountry Summer Series. {The Summer Girls. The Summer Wind. The Summer’s End.}
For what it’s worth, I like musicians from the South too. Evidence: Zac Brown Band. Third Day. Needtobreathe. Darius Rucker.
But I don’t drink sweet tea, just in case you’re wondering.
5. Our adoption home study visit happened and went well. I don’t care how many times a social worker has been in our house, interviewing us and evaluating our home, it’s always a relief when it’s finished and went well. Birth mom Stacy also met with the social worker this month, so our adoption process is moving along.
6. I earned my first money for speaking. Now I didn’t say it was much money, but I wasn’t expecting any money. I actually spoke twice this month. First, I spoke at a conference in southern Illinois. And then a few days later I spoke to a local Methodist women’s group. Neither went as expected {and that’s not a bad thing …}, but both opportunities included evidence of God’s presence and plan. Both groups gave me sweet gifts for coming and the local group tossed in a small check that was such a pleasant surprise.
How was your June? I’d love to hear what you learned.
I’m linking up with Emily Freeman. Here are previous Things I Learned posts :: {From 2013} June. July. August. September. October. November. {From 2014} January. February. March. April. May. June. July. August. September. October. November. December. {From 2015} January. February. March. April. May.
Want more insights? “Peace in the Process: How Adoption Built My Faith & My Family” is available on Amazon. Like me on Facebook, follow me on Twitter, peek into my life on Instagram, follow 152 Insights at Bloglovin’, or subscribe to receive “Insights in Your Inbox.”
Wow, Kristin! Congrats on the soon arrival of Rachel Elizabeth! I have a Kristin Elizabeth … so your little girl's name made me smile!
And 2 of our 7 grandkids are adopted … so that smile only broadened as I read your post.
And then when I saw you had a lake house … well, what can I say? We're in process of moving into a house near the sea. It's affectionately become known as The Cape House … but your name is so compelling and so much more fun.
What a super visit with you this morning! I hope we'll connect in the future. Blessings!
That's really exciting, about the adoption! Yay!!! I love reading books that are set in the south, too. It's not fiction, it's memoir, but Home is Where My People Are, by Sophie Hudson, was really good.
That's great news on all counts! Even catching of mice is a good thing… and yes, it would be better if there were no mice at all. I'm completely with you on that but extermination is good as well! (stopping by from Chatting at the sky!) BTW… I love "152 Insights to my soul!"… I am a fellow You've Got Mail fan! 🙂 Your tagline made me smile!
So glad you stopped by, Rachel! I always like when people get the blog title reference. 🙂
I haven't read Home is Where My People are, but I read her blog sometimes. I'll have to add it to my list. Glad you came by, Dawn!
Another Kristin spelled the "right" way! Yay! 🙂 I love hearing about all the connections. I too hope we can connect more, Linda!
Rachel Elizabeth is an incredible name…that little girl has some strong biblical heritage holding her up. And…well, you may have ruined Nutter Butters for me. 😉 I can't believe June is over either. Time: it still has me baffled. Great words, friend!
Don't let me story ruin Nutter Butters for you – they're so good the mice like them too. 🙂 Yes, I love the biblical heritage with Rachel Elizabeth and Elizabeth is also a family name on both sides of our families, so she'll have that going for her too. 🙂 Time is quite baffling. Hope you're enjoying your summer!
I always love your what I learned lists, Kristin! And I LOVE the name Rachel Elizabeth. So excited for your family as you grow by one more!
Thank you! These monthly wrap-up posts are my favorites!
Yay for paid gigs… unexpected paid gigs are even better! Boo for mice… no matter how many! And Congrats on the adoption! Super exciting news! Praying for little Rachel Elizabeth and the whole family!
Thanks for your comment and prayers, Karrilee! I'm glad you stopped by!