Summer around here + July Goals

Thanks for all of the love on my last post. I’m learning that vulnerability breeds vulnerability and since sharing I have had the privilege to hear from so many with similar stories of loss and hope. My heart goes out to all of those who have lost children — whether in the womb or out of it — and I can’t wait to meet these Heaven Babies one day.

Well, we are in the thick of summer! This season is always a quiet, slow season for me, even though I’m still working full time and we have trips or plans every weekend. But my time and schedule are more relaxed and the long sunny days make time slow down.

Our culture is always looking forward and getting you ready for the next season. It’s only a few days after July 4th and already I’m receiving email promotions for this fall, and the other day I was in Target and walked by their Back to School display. Too soon, advertisers! The first day of Summer just a few weeks ago!

It’s not just our culture, but my nature that plans ahead. It has been a hard few months and there are daily reminders of what I lost everywhere I turn. All I want to do is rush through and get this hard part over with, but I’m trying to give myself grace to be sad. Because losing a pregnancy is worth being sad over. I’m trying to feel my way through it, finding the gifts in the midst of pain. When I am still and start to look, I see moments of grace and joy all around me. I don’t want to rush through and miss those.

So I’m trying to enjoy this hot summer moment I am in today. As cliche as it sounds, I literally will never live this day again. How incredibly fleeting is that!

It’s been a few months since I’ve shared my goals on here, so here are mine for July:

• Get back into the blogging habit and write 8 blog posts, even if I don’t publish them all
• Average 10,000 daily steps on my jawbone
• Finish reading two books
• Go to the pool at least once
• Go blueberry picking
• Limit grains, sugar and dairy during the week to balance out my fun food-filled weekends
• Continue tidying up my home, specifically the kitchen and pantry this month
• Be mindful of what I spend my money on and don’t spend any money on clothes or accessories

What are you up to this summer?