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Hello, Reader.

Summer is officially started, and I hope you are enjoying yours immensely. The weather has been lovely in our little corner of East Texas, and I've enjoyed lots of time in the sun as a result. Bring on the vitamin D!!

Watermelon has been on our daily menu this week, as have mile-long walks in the cool of both mornings and evenings. And this week's link list features seven more ways for you to make the most of the summer months. So let's get to it!

7 Sensational Ways to Spend Your Summer:

• Reading - check out these Summer Reading Rewards Programs for all ages
• Talking - use our Summertime Discussion Prompts to get the conversation going
• Resting - Jesus promises rest to the weary, as noted in this hand-drawn coloring page ​
• Having Fun - peruse this Summer Bucket List for Inspiration
• Making Plans - discuss with your family what they think would Make Your Summer Better​
• Playing Games - start by racing to see who can solve our Summer Fun Word Scramble first
• Spending Time Outside - consult our list of 50 Ways to Enjoy the Great Outdoors​

What I'm reading this week:

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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I purchased The Art of Making Memories thinking it might offer some fun ideas for making this summer one my children won't soon forget. But the book was much more scientific than that Rather than the bucket list of suggestions I was expecting, it contains a treatise on how memories are made and stored and retrieved, along with a few hacks for optimizing the process. I still found it a fascinating read, although it is not written from a Christian perspective and consequently falls short in some of its conclusions concerning the attainability of deep and abiding happiness.

This week's reader request:

This week's reader request comes to you courtesy of my son Gabriel, although he didn't ask for it, per se. I saw him trying to repurpose a summer reading log I designed years ago as a running log, by tracking miles jogged rather than books or hours read.

So I volunteered to make him a more appropriate chart for tracking progress on his personal goal of running 100 miles. Here's what I came up with.

I've been logging a mile or two every day, as well, although I'm working on establishing lots of other good habits, as well, so I use this chart to track my progress. Exercise is important, so hope you'll make it a priority too (whether you keep track of how far you've gone or not).

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On the podcast this week:

I didn't get a new podcast published this week, but am linking one from the archives on the topic of something else many people do during the summer months for fun, and that is taking family vacations. If you haven't already heard it, I hope you'll listen in.

Loving Life at Home: Episode 42 ​TRAVELING WITH CHILDREN​ Over the years, our family has found ways to make traveling with children more enjoyable, economical, educational, and easy. Listen to this week’s podcast for a treasure trove of tips you can use on your next family vacation. Listen Now

Progress on last week's goals:

For the second week in a row, I got everything done on my published to-do list: I ✅ hemmed a dress for my mom, ✅ attended my daughter's graduation dinner, ✅ had a wonderful time playing Clue with friends, ✅ reviewed the book of James & quoted first two chapters to a friend, ✅ dropped another daughter off at the airport, ✅ emptied two more boxes in the garage, ✅ donated one two filled boxes to Goodwill, and ✅ weeded one two flower beds in my backyard.

Personal goals for this week:

• organize craft cabinet
• repair broken vase
• paint lap desk
• review new game for Timberdoodle​
• buy fabric for snowman quilt
• attend Indiana Fever game in Dallas
• attend church picnic
• replace burned out light bulbs
• inventory Christmas gifts
• send fall syllabi to students/parents

If you enjoy this newsletter and would like to support my work, there are five ways for you to do that (pick one):

1. Forward a copy to a friend with an invitation to subscribe, OR
2. Follow me on Instagram and comment on a post, OR
3. ​Buy one of my books and leave a positive review, OR
4. ​Listen to my podcast, then leave a review on your favorite platform OR
5. Hit reply and say hello 👋

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Thanks so much for all your help! I'll be back next week with more links, reviews, and resources. If you have any special requests, just hit reply and let me know. 😊