Happy Friday, friends! I am halfway through summer school and SO excited to be done with summer school and jump into full on SUMMER in July. It can’t come soon enough! Today, I’m linking up with A. Liz Adventures, Fitting It All In, Life in Leggings, and Running 4 Cupcakes to share some random Friday thoughts! Enjoy, and feel free to head over there and link up as well!
1. My first summer DIY project is this hutch. It’s a beautiful piece we inherited from family and I’ve been hesitant to paint it and “ruin” it somehow. But I’m feeling pretty confident after my Ikea Rast Hack Nightstands and am taking the plunge! I started prepping and priming it last weekend and was still finding paint in my hair three days later. So…there’s that.
2. One of our favorite easy summer date nights is Chili’s. They have $3 margaritas and cheap endless chips and salsa, and this is one of our go-to places on a hot summer night when walking outside doesn’t sound so appealing (thank you humidity that lasts until 10:30 PM).
3. I’ve been teaching ELL and Spanish in summer school this year, and I’m loving it! I taught ELL for two years before I taught Spanish, and I love working with these resilient students whose families and stories span continents. One of my new students wrote this ridiculous paragraph to introduce himself to his new ELL teacher and had me cracking up when we read it as a class. I hate raccoons too, buddy.
4. I’ve been rereading Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers for the fifth or sixth time this week. And y’all…it STILL makes me cry almost every 15-20 pages. This book draws me in and makes me fall in love with Jesus a little bit more every time I read it. It is a beautiful love story and makes me want to run away and live on a farm (as long as there are Target and Starbucks close by, of course). Check it out!
5. Lately, we’ve been soaking in the long days by sitting on our front porch. This little cutie is content to just sit with us (and occasionally try to eat some grass) and I love the slow, quiet moments of just being with our sweet, little family.
Happy Friday, friends! Enjoy some slow summer nights and front porch sitting for me!
Your home is gorgeous. Our favorite family night is to go to Chilis. They have great food and drinks too.
Tess recently posted…Addicted To Caffeine?
Thanks, Tess! Chili’s cheeseburgers are one of my favorite things in the whole world, so I hear you there!
Your hutch is going to look divine painted! Can’t wait to see it!!
Anne@DesignDreams recently posted…Farmhouse Dining Room with Painted Hutch
Thanks, Anne! I’m pretty excited!
What a fun post, Lauren. I can’t wait to see you transform that hutch. I have some painting projects that are awaiting me to be inspired and brave. : )
Crystal Storms recently posted…5 Ways to Affirm Your Husband
Thanks, Crystal! I’m excited to see how it turns out too!
Hi Lauren,
Thank you for the book recommendation. I absolutely fell in LOVE with Redeeming Love. This was my first Christian fiction novel and it really hit the spot. Since coming to Jesus, I just don’t agree with or enjoy most contemporary fiction like I used to. I’m thirsty for more novels like Redeeming Love, full of God and his love. Do you have any other book recommendations? I’m a teacher, too (2nd grade) – and have a few weeks left of summer to fill with books!
God definitely sent me to your website. I’ve been really down about teaching recently, but you’ve helped jump-start my bad attitude about teaching. Thanks for writing 🙂
Oh. My. Gosh. How sweet are you! I’m so glad you liked it! I’ve read that book so many times and love it even more each time I read it. Let’s see…if you’re looking for Christian fiction, I really like The Shack by Paul Young. Another favorite of mine is A Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp. I’m a big fan of anything by Henri Nouwen too! I hope that helps…I’m so glad you’ve been enjoying my posts! That’s so encouraging and I appreciate you taking the time to say it!