insta-summer

the many (aka five) instagram posts of Summer 2021

---JUNE---

{6.3.21}

The magic of sunny days and cool water.

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A friend watching your kids, then making you lunch and letting you stay at her house for hours longer than planned because she has a way of filling your cup to overflowing and you just don't want to leave.

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Homeschool planning and hopes and dreams for the future.

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Sisters who go out of their way to help you with the things that matter to you.

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Marco Polos with friends that help keep you grounded and connected.

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Watching your children find joy in something new.

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Celebrating 12 years of the best choice in your life.

I don't have all of the words that I want - but I've been so grateful for the blossoms of happiness and goodness that are filling my life right now. 2018 is known in our family as the "Summer of Dreams" and I think 2021 is going to give it a run for it's money.

 {6.5.21}

12 years.

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Loved him then, but love him more than I could have even imagined now.

{6.9.21}

It's not really summer until we get to meet up with this crew. I wish the five of us as high school girls could have seen a glimpse of this day: 22 kids running and splashing in the water- the moms chatting in the shade. Happy lives with meaningful connections to each other. It would have been balm to my worry-prone teenage self.

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We also realized that we are now/are approaching the age that many of our moms and the moms of our friends were when we were friends. 🤯 Its strange to see those mothers through the lens of our own motherhood. But also gives me hope and encouragement.

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I can only hope my kids will gain good uplifting friends like these friends of mine.

---JULY---

{7.29.21}

Olympics 2021 (Tokyo, Japan) 🏅

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David and I love the Olympics. We've been watching swimming, gymnastics (always favorites), and lots of other sports each evening. We had a FHE about Seven Values of the Olympics, which was a hit.

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Austin watched the entire Men's Triathlon the next day because he was so enthralled with it.

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We have our balance beam and small trampoline set up in our living room.

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I spent an afternoon flipping through different sports to watch with the kids, basically in tears the whole time. "Look at how hard that person has worked to achieve this *tear*, This person's country has never before won a medal in this sport-they must be so proud *sob*. Watch how the national anthem plays while they are awarded their medal.😭😭😭" Ha. But truly, seeing so much effort and dedication brings me to tears.

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Also, a plug for Simone Biles as the greatest gymnast of all time. I was going to say something about her being a role model for my daughters, but in truth- she's an incredible role model to ME.

Yay Olympics.

---AUGUST---

{8.8.21}

So happy to celebrate the amazing @brooklynwalker.art this weekend with a viewing party for her just released film VIVO!! She was on the Art/Animation team for this movie and we have watched her work on this project for years. So, so neat to see her artwork on the "big screen". Not only was the animation top notch, but the movie was darling as well!! @brooklynwalker.art is worth the follow.

She's famous! And watch for the "production babies" in the credits because my niece Juniper is listed because she was born during the production of the movie. So so cool.