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I wanted calm, freedom, space to breathe, and time away from my inbox. With those few things motivating me, I made a list of things I wanted to do in order to enjoy what was left of this beautiful season. walk around downtown on a Saturday morning, eat another delicious breakfast croissant, and enjoy the terrace walk to the newly renovated Bloom Bindery in downtown Middleton and buy a sweet treat go on more bike rides take more night time walks with good conversation grill out at my parents’ house and eat outside in the backyard take more photos of the lake and my favorite places around the city drive to Devil’s Lake and enjoy an afternoon hiking create space each day for myself. If you had to make a list of things you wanted to do before the end of your summer, what would be on it?

I have never read the Bible cover to cover, or taken a religion studies class, or consistently attended church, so hearing a bible verse for the first time isn’t new. Fast forward to a few days ago, I sat at my desk signing business checks for our accountant and was feeling overwhelmed, frustrated, and regretful because my expectations of how I thought things should be going weren’t being met. How easily I had forgotten this verse and how quickly I was to lean on my own understanding of the situation, and not His. I read this blog post a few days ago and it also reminded me of this exact verse. If you’ve had a few of those days this week where you are feeling alone, or lost, or regretful, let this verse be your guide.

It’s all moving in the right direction which is a good feeling to have moving into the weekend 🙂 I don’t have a regular “gratitude” practice but when I did, writing down five things that I felt lucky to have or was thankful for helped me see out my current situation and focus on the good stuff. It’s about good books to read, has amazing contributors (love Elizabeth Gilbert), and asks a “big” question each month (this month Going out on a week night-A friend told us about free concerts happening on the Monona Terrace on Thursday evenings in the summer

I’ve been working at the Orange Shoe in Fitchburg for quite some time now and last summer Summer is my favorite in Madison and I usually like to spend it going to state parks on the weekend, walking around the farmer’s market, going on bike rides, watching sunsets, checking out festivals, and spending time with friends and family. I feel like I’m catching up on all of the rest I didn’t get during the week. And sometimes when I’ve come to write in this space, I didn’t feel like I could because no one enjoys complaining.