July Reflection

I really love reflecting with Emily P. Freeman’s monthly newsletter questions, even if it takes me half a month to post. Here is my July reflection.

What are three words to describe the past 31 days?

Heat. Joy. Prayer.

This was one of the hottest Julys on record, apparently, and I was so grateful to have a cool house to be in. We went out of town and suffocated through the first part of a Royals game in strong heat, all of us sucking on our drinks, but then night fell and it was cooler, and I settled in and enjoyed the summer baseball I love. July was full of moments like that–moments of joy I planned and that still somehow delighted me in their uniqueness that I couldn't have totally expected. I didn’t know the Royals had waterfalls in the outfield. I didn’t know how good Arthur Bryant’s barbecue would be. I never remember accurately the very specific joy of driving in a strange city, drinking in all the sights until some of them begin to be familiar. And July sped toward the end of summer, which brought a lot of prayer as I tried to stay present in the joy of the moments, but my mind was trying to shift back into work mode, and it was very difficult to balance the two.

When was a moment of joy in July?

I flash back to those days in Kansas City, shopping at Rainy Day Books, driving over the river into Kansas and back, searching for Buck O’Neal’s grave in a beautiful old cemetery while the rain poured down. I watched my son peruse card shops and my daughter buy herself a hat, and all of us together laughed in the hotel room as we begged Joe to turn down the air and stop freezing us all. Vacations, those escapes from reality, provide a very specific joy that I’m always chasing until the next trip. I am in love with travel, no matter how big or how small.

What is one thing you’re looking forward to in August?

I’m looking forward to football! College football is my favorite, but I’m also happy that high school games are starting this weekend. I’m hoping for some good new snack recipes to try for game days, and for how much fun it is to watch with Joe.