June Goals

Why was June made?—Can you guess?
June was made for happiness!
Even the trees
Know this, and the breeze
That loves to play
Outside all day.

– “Why was June made?” by Annette Wynne

May 2024, you were filled with dreaming, decisions, gardening, and grief. May began with graduation celebrations, the end of the homeschool year, and all the emotions that tend to come with settling into summer rhythms. The middle of May ushered in an experience I’d anticipated for several months: my best friend’s funeral. Along with that experience, which was devastating and beautiful all at once, came words. Lots of words. I felt God’s call to write, and so early one morning, I did, in Jessie’s honor. Listen to this (the third video in that series) for more of that story.

The last weeks of May were marked with father/son camp for the gents, a tour of Montrose Gardens, and a “mountains to sea” adventure for the whole family. We enjoyed time in the Blue Ridge Mountains with friends and a trip to Corolla, NC, with those same friends the very next week. It was a time of dreaming together about what’s next in this new phase of life.

It’s surprising and interesting to be in this second-half journey. A friend told us that it’s a time when you can take the most risks in your life to try new things and pave new paths without them feeling like the risks of earlier years. You’ve established your career at this point and can reenvision and reinvent in many ways. We’re experiencing that as we test the waters with large projects and new learning. We know these are the days of our lives, and it’s time to do the things we’ve always wanted to do.

One of those things is to finally have a real wedding! We eloped to Las Vegas at the height of the Iraq War and said, “Someday, we’ll have a real wedding.” Three kids and 18 years later, we’re finally doing it—and grateful to celebrate alongside long-time friends. One of the only reasons people gather at these later stages of life is for funerals; we’re gathering to celebrate God’s faithfulness while we’re living. Now, I just need to find a dress. 🙂

It’s already a week into June as I’m getting this post out because of travel and a wild sickness that knocked me out for a couple weeks. I don’t know what it was (I tested for all the things); I haven’t been that sick in a decade. I think the funeral put my nervous and immune systems into sudden stress as the grief welled up, so I’m calling it grief-itis. Praise the Lord for His mercy as He changes us for the better in these experiences. Grief is all-consuming and awful in the moment, and God uses it all. It’s the cocoon that pulls us into transformation. The last few weeks have grown me and taught me.

Ahead in June: Homeschool planning for next year, and Ari and I are grateful to have another marriage retreat coming up. This time we’re headed to Primland Resort in Virginia. We’ll report back!

My PowerSheets goals are extra focused this month—perhaps my simplest Tending List in years. The kids obviously did some decorating for me. After May, I need a month to listen to the Lord, learn (I’ve downloaded several books and courses of various kinds!), and renew my mind in scripture as we reach the mid-year mark.

My June PowerSheets goals grew from my 2024 Goals here.

Your turn! What are you looking forward to this month? I’d love to hear!