Wednesday Joys

All week I’ve been wishing it was Friday so I could focus on Happy Things.

And then I realized, I don’t have to wait.

• Small group potluck on Sunday. For our friends who opened their home, for the bustle of several dozen people spilling out onto decks and lawns, sprawled on living room furniture, and milling around a table groaning under the weight of delicious food. For the gaggle of kids – mine included – playing together with wild abandon in the backyard. These are our people!

• Peaches. Fresh fruit can be hit-and-miss, and none seem riskier than peaches. Some years I get so discouraged from past failures, I don’t even try. Well, I took a chance and over the last week have consumed a giant basket of delicious peaches. Juicy, sweet, and reminiscent of childhood summers. My favourite culinary joy has been cutting up two peaches and topping them with a few heaping spoonfuls of vanilla yogurt.

• The movies. We went. Again! Cheap day for the win! This time it was Despicable Me 4 and which was fun and delightful. L insisted on getting a picture with the movie poster. It’s tradition. And traditions bring joy.

• Coffee.

• Hot showers.

• Dresses. I live for dress weather. They are more comfortable than any other form of clothing on me and summer is dress weather. I am here for it.

• A’s enthusiasm for camp. She came home hoarse from the first full week of her summer leadership position and positively BURSTING with stories. When I asked if she wanted to do the same program next year the answer was perhaps the most enthusiastic Yes of her life. She’s away again this week as an overnight camper, with several of her closest friends sleeping in the bunks around her. #BestSummerLife

• Video games. I haven’t had a lot of bandwidth for parenting this week, and the Asphalt racing game brings so much joy to L and much needed quiet time for me.

• A magical sunset. Despite being jetlagged, John was itching for a local adventure this weekend. He loves to chase sunsets. We hopped in the car – grabbing a football on our way out the door – and drove to one of our favourite sunset spots. God delivered. The kids played football and talked while John and I sat on some driftwood and watched the sun dip lower and lower.

• Fresh raspberries. My favourite fruit. A friend dropped some off after visiting a local U-pick. And the same day we found some wild raspberries on a walk.

• New walking route. After living in a town for over 15 years, I didn’t think we’d discover a new local walking route. But we did. And it took us by some lovely wheat fields. What a joy to explore something new.

• Crossing things off my list. I needed to update paperwork for volunteering in the school system. It’s not hard, but it’s fiddly. Done. I needed to renew travel insurance. Not hard, but requires a phone call (and you know how I feel about phone calls). Done.

• Dog library. We managed to combine crossing something off my list with a family walk, and I thought this little roadside “dog library” we passed was ADORABLE.

• Isaiah. I recently complained about the slog that is the book of Isaiah. What a gift it has been to me this week.

Your turn. What’s your favourite summer fruit? Do you have a go-to walking route, or do you like to change things up? Have you ever seen a “dog library” before? Dresses, shorts, skirts or pants – what’s your go-to summer fashion?