June Recap + Closing Out The First Half

And just like that, 2024 is halfway over!

The day this goes live is actually Day 4 of VBS but it's been a great week so far! I have all my little friends and I'm loving it! Little kids constantly surprise me and also bring so much joy to my heart. VBS week is so draining but it's also very life-giving too. It fills my heart up!

Grad parties were fun and I got to meet up with some of my friends who went to New Zealand and hear about their experiences! I read The Tales of Tarsurella book #6 and it was really good! I was scared, because it's called "The War" but it didn't break my heart so we're good :)

My friend Jenna and I finished our mini book club reading "Gentle & Lowly" by Dane C. Ortland. It's a very accessible book, with short chapters. I'm glad I read it and it was fun to read and discuss with a friend!

I got a new phone... twice :) I bought a phone from a friend of my brothers' when he got a new phone and it didn't end up working out. So I traded it in and got an actual brand new phone! How it happened wasn't great but in the end, my dad and I both got phones.

On the business side of things, I was able to start introducing the idea of Novella sessions on Instagram. I started working on my July newsletter (if you want to get that, sign up HERE) and I started a new course! I was not going to purchase Katelyn James' new Composition Course, but it made sense to get it now and I quickly realized how much I actually need this!

I did not get to photographing new locations. The one is STILL CLOSED! It's been a year. I don't know what they are doing over there. The other one is not a place I go ever, so it requires a special trip and it keeps getting shoved by the wayside. Plus, there was a whole week where I stayed inside as much as possible because it was SO HOT!!!!!

I would say that June was fairly uneventful but still good. This was the first month I didn't go anywhere! But we still had a big occasion with VBS :)

Halfway Reflection
I'm pretty pleased with how the year is going. Some of my habits are going better than others, but I haven't completely stopped any of them. I'm not sure I'm really seeing my word in action yet, but maybe what I can't see now will become apparent later in the year. This year, I feel like I am truly living my life in a way I haven't for too many years. It's encouraging, to say the least! Here's the update on my habits:

Daily

• Make bed daily - 154
  
• Wash face each night - 168 (I only missed two days!)
  
• Arm exercise every day - 101
  

Other

• Put laundry away promptly - I am doing GREAT at this!
  
• Start day with 5 minutes of silence - I forget most mornings
  
• Write out books of the Bible - I've done two
  
• Finish devotionals - one done and the other I'm doing next month
  

I hope 2024 is going well for you! Let me know how your goals or habits are going by leaving a comment!

How was your June? What was the best part? What surprised you?

Homemade ice cream Family Adventure Challenge

My mom found this photo on the computer and sent a screenshot to the family so please excuse the poor quality. That's my dad's grandmother, his parents, and his aunt and uncle.

This guy is from one of my first VBS experiences and is getting used again all these years later!

Dad & the boys put down this new floor in a week!