this is summer.

we are feeling quite settled in these days. we have developed a routine, we have found the grocery stores where we like to shop, and i am actually able to go on walks without getting lost in our neighborhood. our days have a nice rhythm to them.

we usually wake up around 7 (although our neighbor's barking dog usually wakes us up around 3 am and 6:30 am, and after that it's just dozing until the little one wakes up). after breakfast, jeremy either works at home, the church, or a coffee shop. i clean up the kitchen, do whatever housekeeping tasks need to get done, and then take the little one on a walk. we spend the rest of the morning playing in the backyard and i usually get the opportunity to read a book as the sandbox, kiddie pool, and trucks (left by the previous people who lived here) keep the little one occupied.

we come in for lunch and jeremy joins us, then it's naptime. most days, i take advantage of naptime by doing whatever bills or menu planning i need to get done, and then sitting down with a book. some days you could even catch me sneaking in my own little power nap! jeremy works on his sermons at home in the afternoons. being away from home and most of our belongings has simplified my life in a {mostly} nice way and i am enjoying the slower pace of afternoon reading time. so far, i have read la's orchestra saved the world, prodigal summer, and the bean trees. i just finished the kitchen house. all good reads, in my opinion.

i say that being away from home has mostly simplified my life in a nice way because there are many things i miss from home. sometimes it's just a little thing: my jar of ribbons to make a hair bow for our girl, or a comfy pair of pants i left at home. sometimes it's something bigger like my griddle, when i try to make pancakes on the griddle here and the whole project is a flop. mostly i miss my craft supplies as i am finding a lot of inspiration for crafts and don't have any supplies to make them. i was feeling so desperate for a craft project that when i got the book big little felt universe for my birthday a few weeks ago, i knew i had to get started. it's perfect because i have plans to make a play kitchen for our little one when we get home, and this way i can have food already made to stock it with! i used some of my birthday money to purchase a supply of felt online and am eagerly awaiting it's arrival in the mail.

despite the things (and people) i am missing, i am finding that it is surprisingly easy for me to appreciate this summer for what it is. there are so many things i am enjoying. we are able to drive for 20 minutes and land on the beach of the ocean. the ocean smells so good. even though the days get hot, it cools down wonderfully at night and cool breezes blow in our windows. we are close to family and our little one recognizes and knows the names of each of her cousins, aunts, and uncles. we are experiencing what pastoral ministry looks like for the first time and are finding it challenging and exciting. it is a different, and good, summer.

my favorite time of the day comes after dinner when our little one is clean from her bath and we head out for our nightly walk around the block. we wave at neighbors, look for cats and dogs, and our little love spies every ball and basketball hoop we walk past. the ocean breeze is already cooling the air as our little family of three soaks everything in. this is summer.