currently hodgepoding

 

Happy Wednesday, friends! For the first part of today's blog post, I'll be linking up with Amy and Marsha. For the latter part of the post, I'll be joining Joyce! 

sparkling: I love sparkling drinks! 

I couldn't find any pictures with actual sparklers. 

grilling/cooking: I've been eating the chicken that Jonah has been grilling! 

He is a master griller! I've also been eating the delicious food that Chris has been cooking. ❤️

heating up:

It's heating up here this week, so I've been in the water a lot lately!

using: I've been using my new clutch that I bought while I was in Louisville; I love it so much!

celebrating: I'm about to be celebrating Chris's birthday! He turns 43 on July 12.

I love him so much; clearly, we never have any fun together, as you can see from these pictures. I can't wait to spoil him a little. 

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1. What do you love most about your country? The thing I love the most about our country are the freedoms that we have. I don't ever want to take for granted these things that I often do: speech, religion, etc. Our country is not perfect, but I am so grateful to live here. 

2. What's your favorite patriotic song? I have always loved My Country 'Tis of Thee.

3. Red, white, or blue? Stars or stripes? Something you own besides a U.S. flag with some combination of these colors or decorations as part of its design? I don't love to wear the three colors together, but I love all of these colors separately and wear them pretty regularly! I would choose stripes over stars, and I have a new dress with them that I've only worn once. The only thing I own with this design is a flag.

4. What's one thing you want more of this summer: fun, rest, adventure, connection, quiet, or confidence? Elaborate. Without a doubt, the one thing I want more of is connection. I love people and I love being with all of mine!

5. What was your ultimate go-to summer activity when you were a kid? Do you still do any version of that today? If you answered yes, does participating in this activity as an adult make you feel like a kid? My favorite activity in the summer as a young girl was sleeping over with friends or having them sleepover at my house. I still do this today, with friends when I trave l with them, and every single time, I feel like I'm young again. It's the best!

6. Insert your own random thought here. See pictures below.

I've spent some time drawing this week; my little student can't go to recess when it's this hot, so we sit and either read or draw. I love doing this! 

I can't wait to read your posts today! Thanks for reading my blog today, friends. Love to all!

Jen ❤️🩷

summer things

 

Happy Tuesday, friends! I'm here to talk about the thing things I've been making more time for lately; I'm also going to talk about the things I've been wearing recently. For the latter part of this post, I'll be  linking up with Amy for her weekly fashion files.

Since I've been "off" work for the summer (I said "off" like that, because I am still working and never was fully off), I have tried to make more time for noticing the beautiful sunsets we've had.

I've been making more time for being with friends; I love spending time with the women in my life. This could be a friend like Marilyn, another friend, or my sister, or Mom. I love getting to sit in or near Marilyn's pool on these hot summer days!

I'm always trying to make more time for noticing my beautiful surroundings; this could be while I'm on vacation or when I'm in my own hometown. 

I'm always making more time for driving around and dreaming of places to live when I see my home in a few years. I love to do this! I think it's fun to dream about what the future will look like in a few years. 

Do you ever look at your phone or watch at 11:11? I do almost everyday, and I've been making more time for texting someone in that moment to tell them I was thinking of them. I did this yesterday morning as I got dressed for work that morning. I try to use the little time that I have to reach out to the people I love. Are you like this? 

I'm making more time for drinking things I love, like this delicious iced coffee you see pictured from Seven Brew. 

 

I'm always trying to make more room for grace; for both other people and myself. This is so much easier said than done. Are you as hard on yourself as I am?

Moving onto the outfits that I've worn lately...

My outfits are boring, but it's hot and these dresses are easy breezy. I've been wearing them nonstop, and I've been wearing a swimsuit with a coverup as well! 

What things are you making more time for in your own life? I'd love to hear from you! I'll see you back here tomorrow, friends. Thanks for reading my blog! Love to all.

Jen ❤️🩷

weekending

 

Happy Monday, friends! How was your weekend? Mine flew by! I'm linking up with Holly and Sarah for today's blog post. I'll jump right in! 

I finally got to enjoy a Friday when it didn't rain! Marilyn and I made plans last weekend to have lunch and swim together on Friday; we were both excited about the weather being perfect. She had the makings for nachos, so that's what we had for lunch. It was delicious! We floated and talked about all of life's problems right here for the next few hours. It was the best day because I didn't have to rush off; I had all the time in the world to linger over coffee and blog reading. I did some laundry and did a few other little chores while I was home, then I left at eleven to head to her house. I was back home by three; I showered and got dressed and took a nap. 

Chris and I went to Longhorn Steakhouse for dinner and shared their parmesan crusted chicken; we also got a shrimp appetizer to share, and I got their house margarita. It was a great dinner! 

We went to see if he could find some new work shoes after dinner (he didn't), then we came back to my house and went night swimming. I love to swim at night! I also love it when he writes me sweet notes. ❤️

I made plans to swim with my sister Saturday; we floated in the pool for several hours, then I came back in to shower and get ready for dinner that night. Chris and I made plans to meet up with his dad for dinner that night; we went to Red Lobster. It was good! He made me laugh the entire time by making me wear a bib and pose for this picture. 🤣 I especially loved it when he put my glasses on and took a picture of himself.

I went to a new church Sunday! This will be one that I stay at for a good while. I loved it the most of the three I've visited so far; the size is small, the preaching was Godly and relevant, the music was good and singable, and one of my best friends goes there as well. I'm excited about next Sunday already! 

After church, I went to lunch with Chris; we went to Mugshot's and split a hot dog and Rotel. After lunch we grocery shopped, then came to my house for a while before swimming later in the afternoon. I watched TV Sunday evening and worked on blog posts for the week before turning in early. What about you? How was your weekend? I'd love to hear from you! Thanks for reading my blog today, friends. I'll see you back here tomorrow. Love to all!

Jen 

p.s. Saturday was Share 4 Somethings; I'm leaving the link open for another week if you want to join in at some point. And if you'd like to read that post from the weekend, here's a link for you.

Share 4 Somethings (June 2026)

 

Happy Saturday, friends! Thanks for being here today to talk about something you loved, something that sustained you, something you're carrying forward from this month to the next, and something you're making space for. I'll jump right in! 

I loved:

This month I loved seeing Beauty and the Beast at The Orpheum with my sister, getting started on summer themed books, date nights spent outside with my guy, and days at the pool. 

What sustained me:

Good food eaten with friends and soft serve margaritas sustained me this month. I'm kidding about the margaritas...but I do enjoy one of these on occasion. I'm not kidding about the time spent with friends, though.

 

What I'm carrying forward from this month to next:

I'm carrying forward reminders like this from now until this time next month.

What I'm making space for: 

I'm making space for doing things I love next month: listening to music, witnessing a sunset, enjoying the brilliant summer colors in nature, doing things I love, drinking delicious iced coffee, Bible study, and being with the people I love most.

I can't wait to read your posts! Thanks for joining me today, friends. I'll see you back here Monday. Love to all!

Jenn 

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