Well, it’s time for a my monthly post! Here are a few highlights from June:

Jonathan performed in his first formal piano recital this summer. He did well, and we’re very proud of him!

Austin, Jonathan,  and I are working on finishing our projects for the fair in August. Above is a picture of a quilt I’m working on. The fabrics are leftover scraps from when my Grandmother made her own clothes. I pieced together a small lap quilt using the scraps, and it’s almost done.

I got my driver’s license this month!!! That was a happy day. The test went well (OK – except for the parallel parking) :). I have my own set of keys with a heart-shaped key chain that says “Each day is a gift from God”. I got that key chain years ago when I was little, and I saved it with the big-girl dream of having my own keys someday! :) Now that “someday” is here!

Going to the bowling alley on a hot summer afternoon….

….is a great place to have fun and keep cool! :)

  Last weekend, Mom competed in her first triathlon of the year, and she did very well, despite the 95+ degree weather!

At the bike transition.

Here she is taking off on the last leg of a triathlon – the run. Imagine running 3.2 miles after already swimming and biking. Yep. She’s pretty amazing! :)

And she won first place in her age group! We are so proud of you, Mom!

Post-race pic of Mom and Daddy. :)

I was given some very timely encouragement by an older friend, and I’d like to pass it on to you. Here is what she shared with me:

“To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.” Ecclesiastes 3:1

Enjoy every season and every event. Do not spend time wishing you were somewhere else, or waiting for the next best thing. “Can’t wait to be grown up, can’t wait to get married, can’t wait to have a baby, can’t wait until they are out of diapers, can’t….”

Life is so precious, enjoy it!

“And whatsoever you do, do it heartily as to the Lord and not unto men.” Colossians 3.23

 “But may the righteous be glad and rejoice before God; may they be happy and joyful.” Psalm 8:3

To learn this right now, as young ladies, is so incredibly important. I have definitely not mastered this, but I’ve realized that all too soon, the years will pass and our lives will look different than they are now. So take this time where you’re at now, enjoy it, and live each day to its fullest to the glory of God!

Hello everyone! I’m sorry for my lack of posting this week. Busy summer schedules have pushed “blogging” down my to-do list. :) But I’m back, and I hope to post some interesting things this week.

For today, here are the lyrics to a song by Sovereign Grace Ministries, entitled “As Long As You Are Glorified”. I’ve been encouraged by this many times. It challenges me to trust in God at all times. He is good not only when we reap blessings, but also in the days when we face hardships.

Shall I take from Your hand Your blessings
Yet not welcome any pain
Shall I thank You for days of sunshine
Yet grumble in days of rain

Shall I love You in times of plenty
Then leave You in days of drought
Shall I trust when I reap a harvest
But when winter winds blow, then doubt

Oh let Your will be done in me
In Your love I will abide
Oh I long for nothing else as long
As you are glorified

Are You good only when I prosper
And true only when I’m filled
Are you King only when I’m carefree
And God only when I’m well

You are good when I’m poor and needy
You are true when I’m parched and dry
You still reign in the deepest valley
You’re still God in the darkest night

Oh let Your will be done in me
In Your love I will abide
Oh I long for nothing else as long
As you are glorified

So quiet my restless heart; quiet my restless heart
Quiet my restless heart in You

Oh let Your will be done in me
In Your love I will abide
Oh I long for nothing else as long
As you are glorified

 May we seek to glorify God, abide in His love, and embrace His will for us with joy in our hearts!

It’s been pretty busy around here lately. Busy, but blessed. The weather has been unbelieveably cool for it being June in southern Missouri! We have been weeding the landscaping for several days now, and it is almost done!

Our blackberry bushes are producing quite the crop this year! I had no idea there were so many of them on our land! I pick berries to eat them, but Austin, the entreprenur of the family, picks them to sell. He is hoping to sell them at farmer’s market when they’re ripe. :)

Speaking of farmer’s market, yesterday was our second week of selling baked goods at our local market. Austin and Jonathan make giant cookies to sell, and I make bread and cinnamon rolls. I did a post (http://www.bungalowofblessing.com/?p=108) on it last year, and that pretty much explains what we do this year as well! It has been great to see old friends and customers from last year! :)

Last weekend we enjoyed a peaceful and relaxing afternoon at a creek. I got this picture of Jonathan – he was swimming around with his head under the water, watching all the minnows. :) I like how this turned out!

I made these amazing little peppermint patties this week (found here: http://www.elanaspantry.com/peppermint-patties/). They are DELICIOUS, and healthy too! If you decide to make them, here are a few tips: I used 1 1/2 teaspoons peppermint extract, which helped to hide the coconut taste. Make sure the chocolate is cooled before you dip them. You can substitute honey for the agave nectar. Make sure to store these in the fridge or freezer….if they last that long!

So that’s a little peak into our summer days. We are missing Wesley as he works at camp, but God has been faithful, and His mercies are indeed new every morning! Have a blessed evening!