We’re 10 days into August (whaaaat?!?) and it’s high time we took a look back at July.

Here are the photos:

And here is the video:

And now for the summary:

What did I learn? 
That routines and regular spaces are important to an injured individual. I don’t regret our trip to Maine but it certainly took a toll on Dale. I think being in an unfamiliar and mobility challenging setting was very difficult for him. Thankfully, he has regained that ground and then some and I’m seeing a huge amount of progress in his mobility and all around recovery now.

What was my greatest accomplishment? 
Growing zinnias! I got the seeds in the ground SO late, I didn’t have high hopes for them. They are thriving despite our dry weather and last Friday I picked 51 blossoms!

Where did I go? 
Maine. And it was beautiful and relaxing despite the challenges. Other than that, we’ve been at home. No dining out. No shopping other than the grocery store. We’ve adapted to the routine fairly easily and it mostly doesn’t bother me, I’m sure that’s in large part to the fact that the kids are in our bubble now.

Who did I spend time with? And what did we do? 
Dale, of course. And a few coworkers now that the town has ended the furlough for a few of them. And Jackie. If anyone has accepted the forced changes of the pandemic, it’s him. We took him to a local spring to get water last week and as I got him out of his car seat he looked at me and said, “Nana, I need my mask.” That both breaks my heart and makes me proud.

What brought me joy? 
My family. Always. Hannah and Jess have been so helpful throughout this time of recovery for Dale, I couldn’t do it without having them to lean on.

What do I want to remember? 
I say this every month but I’ll say it again: all of it. Even the hard stuff is valuable, even the low points are important, because those are the moments that illustrate so clearly when the good stuff comes along.

Come before you are ready! Friends, I am back from vacation and have photos to share with you and things to talk about.

Starting tomorrow.

For now, enjoy this photo of a window box full of red geraniums, not from the house we rented in Maine, but from the house next door. It was a lovely thing to see every morning when I opened the side door.

Are the perfect time to set intentions for the week.

I’ll be honest, friends, I’ve been struggling. There’s the pandemic . . . and the news . . . and the obvious (and sometimes not so obvious but just as dumbfounding) racism, not just on the national level but in my own circles . . . and the trauma from Dale’s recovery. It’s a lot and I’m worried and anxious a lot more than I ever remember being.

So. This week I’m setting intentions to help me focus on good things. Things I can control and predict. Things that will bring me peace.

This week I will . . .

Journal every day. I’ve gotten away from my journaling but I’m committing right now to a daily practice again, even if it’s just a few doodles or pasting in a photo that makes me happy.

Stop the Facebook scrolling. I had been doing pretty well with limiting my time there but lately I’ve been drawn in and it’s too much. Between the ignorance and hatred I see in some groups, the frightening news articles well meaning friends share, and the drama . . . well, it’s too much right now.

Focus on things I can do. I can’t predict how long Dale’s recovery will take but I can encourage him to work hard at it. I can’t stop people from risky behavior like attending COVID parties (seriously?) but I can weigh the risks and make decisions that feel right for me. I can’t stop racism on my own but I can choose where I spend my money, I can keep reading to educate myself, and I can call out the hatred when I see it.

Underlying all of this I will breathe. I will look for joy. And I will be open to the gifts that come my way.

Let’s have a good week.