Summer 2018 Update
The past few months have been pretty crazy around here. I'm actually anxiously awaiting September to roll around, because it's one month that we don't have anything on our calendar (yet)! Here's some updates on all we've been up to:
May // I live with a boy now
Joe and I moved in with each other on May 1st! It was a whirlwind month, trying to merge all of our belongings into 1 place, but we love our new home - and so does Lily!
We have a fireplace, a guest bedroom, a gorgeous private patio, lots of windows, and a garage (!!!) It's really the simple things in life, guys. ;)
May // Joe joins the "30" club
Amidst the insanity of moving, we also celebrated Joe's 30th birthday. We went to a Cubs game (in Denver), and I also booked us massages for post-Canada relaxation.
On the actual night of his birthday, he requested surf 'n' turf in our pj's - and to NOT do any moving. So I got to work in the barely-put-together kitchen and made him ribeye & scallops a la Chrissy Teigen. Don't mind the in-transit mess behind that perfectly content birthday boy...
May + June // Family time in Illinois
Less than a week after moving in together, we flew back to Illinois for a few days to celebrate Joe's sister's graduation from college. It was so wonderful to see his big family - and meet many of them for the first time!
Once the school year was over (and after our week in Canada), we went back to Illinois for almost the entire month of June to spend time with family (and I taught summer school at my alma mater for the 9th year running...ugh I'm old).
Truly, we love Illinois. Although we have no desire to ever leave beautiful Colorado, we both agree that being back at home near our families, near our home-teams, and near a Portillo's, wouldn't be so bad...
We miss you, Portillo's. And family.
June + July // Celebrating the Bride-to-Be in San Diego
My cousin, Brook, is getting married!!! I am so happy that I will be standing by her side on her big day, and that I got to celebrate with all the girls at a bachelorette weekend in San Diego! Events included: hanging out in the awesome penthouse we rented through Airbnb, hanging out on our own catamaran, bar-hopping seeking the best dancing music and least creepy dudes, lounging on the beach, and lots of laughter and memories made.
July // A Short Week at Home with Joe + Lily
I had exactly 7 days at home in Colorado this summer in between all of our travels. I told Joe that I wanted to plan nothing, and be able to say "yes" to everything that would bring us memories.
So we took Lily on a hike.
We watched the 4th of July fireworks from the bed of Joe's truck.
And baked a cake for America's birthday. Funfetti on the inside OF COURSE.
We took Lily into the mountains to hang out with our friends, the Reasoners.
And that was about all we did! I was happy and content just being lazy in our new home, as our tiny family of 3.
// Goodreads Reading Challenge
Earlier this year, I mentioned how I was doing the Goodreads Reading Challenge. I have read more this year than any year in my life I think. Amongst the busy-ness off life - especially this summer - I find myself reaching for a book more than the tv remote or asking Alexa to play music.
I've read 18 books so far this year! Last time I wrote on here about it, I only had 6 books read. I wanted to share the ones that I absolutely loved and would recommend over and over again:
- A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman (This is a new favorite author for me because of this book. I loved it. So. Much. I just added all the rest of Backman's books to my birthday list...)
- Room by Emma Donoghue (Loved the movie. Loved the book.)
- A River in Darkness: One Man's Escape from North Korea by Masaji Ishikawa (I have never sat in silence after reading a book like I did with this one. Heartbreaking and incredible.)
- I am Malala by Malala Yousafzai (LOVE her.)
- Slade House by David Mitchell (So unexceptionally haunting and creepy.)
2018 // Thoughts
Personally, this year has been incredible for me. I fell in love with the man I had been praying for for many years. We adopted the best dog ever. I finished year 4 at a school I love, and saw some truly amazing kiddos graduate and gear up for their next big step in life. I got to spend wonderful quality time with family. I traveled to new countries and explored this gorgeous world yet again.
But on another level, this year has felt torturous for me. Each moment that I spend talking to God and growing in His love, I grow more steady in the fact that I am a Christian first, and a daughter/sister/girlfriend/niece/granddaughter/friend/etc second, and THEN an American third.
I find myself reflecting more on the 8 Beatitudes lately, rather than the 10 Commandments as my guide to life. In Matthew 5:1-12 Christ explains that he wants us to:
- be poor in spirit
- mournful
- meek
- hungry & thirsty for righteousness
- merciful
- clean of heart
- peacemakers
If we are all of these things, there will most definitely be people who persecute us, insult us, and speak evil against us -- Jesus even warns of this. BUT! If we are all of those things, He will:
- bless us
- give us the kingdom of heaven
- comfort us
- give us land
- satisfy us
- show us mercy
- show us God
- call us the children of God
- reward us in heaven
Those sound infinitely more awesome than the "promise" of lower taxes or security by a wall being built (to name a few...)
That being said, I've made a firm decision to start acting more Christ-like. He wants me to love everyone. E V E R Y O N E. He doesn't exclude immigrants, LGBTQ, minorities, women, or even Trump himself from His unconditional love. So I will do my very best to act everyday like Christ wants me to.
Will this ruffle feathers when I voice support for families torn apart at our border? Yup. Will I anger people in my church when I call my LGBTQ friends my brothers and sisters in Christ? Yup. Will people call me "ignorant" when I march for unborn babies? Yup. Will the people I march beside still stand by me when I call for an end to the death penalty? Most likely not.
In the end, it's not them who I'm trying to please. The angry rhetoric (in the news, on social media, in the lunch room) of 2018 has shown me that.
///
2018, you are 58% over and done with. And you've been so good to me so far. In relationships, in spirituality, in adventuring, in my profession, and in morality and peace-of-heart.
Now let's wrap this year up with nothing but love, love, and more love...
xo,
Jaclyn
