Mercy, friends—I have missed you so much. Life has been a whirl of activity, and although I have a long list of posts I’ve been wanting to write, time has been scarce. Between summer camp, family tasks, and the usual everyday chores, my days have felt like the final, exhausting miles of a marathon: the finish line is in sight, but I’m huffing and puffing and ready for a long winter’s nap.
We’re down to the last two days of our busy camp season, and the rhythm of the house is already shifting. There’s a strange mix of satisfaction and fatigue as we wrap things up. It’s that peculiar moment when you can practically taste the slow-down that’s coming, yet you’re still expected to keep going. If I were a runner, I’d imagine this is when you dig deep and put one foot in front of the other—except, confession: I have never run a marathon and probably never will.
Someone asked me recently whether I’ve finished back-to-school shopping for the boys. Is it really that time already? I’m in denial. There are no fresh notebooks or crisp pens stacked in my house, and several pairs of jeans have developed strategically located holes. With only four days to go, I have a short, energetic mission: find school supplies and mend—or replace—those jeans. It’s amazing how a calendar date can make a small mountain seem like Everest.
While thinking about the school rush, I’ve also been planning what to write for this year’s 31 Days series in October. Committing to one subject for an entire month is both exciting and a little intimidating. Thirty-one days of focused content requires something I love and feel passionate about. I’ve been brainstorming topics, weighing options, and trying to pick something that will be enjoyable for both me and my readers. I hope you’ll like this year’s theme as much as I do once everything is finalized.
With everything that’s been happening, my house is in various stages of pleasant chaos. In the few pockets of time I carved out today, I should have tackled laundry and cleaned at least one bathroom. Instead, I wandered the yard and picked flowers. It felt like the better choice—to bring a little beauty into the mess and remind myself that small, simple pleasures matter. The flowers are a lovely distraction from piled laundry and paint swatches taped to the wall.
Speaking of paint swatches, I’m itching to paint the bathroom. Right now the wall is a gallery of color samples—taped rectangles that represent hope, progress, and indecision all at once. Progress has been slow, but steady. I’ll admit that indecision over neutrals and accents can keep you staring at paint chips for far longer than is strictly reasonable. Still, it’s fun to imagine the finished space and how fresh paint can transform the feel of a room.
I’ve also been harboring a few little creative projects that I can’t wait to share. One of them is something I’ve been itching to reveal—an idea I’ve been working on quietly and that finally feels ready for the light of day. I’ll try to get to that soon and share the details. Until then, I’m balancing finishing camp, preparing for school, picking colors, and finding moments to create.
Before I go, I want to share a sweet bit of news. I received a thoughtful message from Jami at Freckled Laundry letting me know she was featuring my Happy Sign tonight. I’m genuinely grateful for the shout-out and for friends who encourage and support the little creative things I love to make. Thank you, Jami—you made my day.
So that’s where things stand: a messy house, a garden bouquet on the kitchen table, paint swatches on the wall, a to-do list that’s a mile long, and a heart full of ideas. I’ll be back soon with updates on the 31 Days series, the bathroom paint decision, and the project I’ve been dying to reveal. Thanks for sticking around—you’re the reason I keep coming back to write.