What’s Saving My Life
The summer delights that are bringing me joy
Hi Friend,
A summer storm rolled through late one afternoon. After the rain stopped, a glowing sky remained with the sun breaking through the clouds. The conditions were ripe for a rainbow.
Walking outside with the kids we scanned the skies and found a full rainbow illuminating the sky. I texted our neighbors: Rainbow Alert! Look out your windows.
Fanning the sky the colors of the rainbow arched above the neighborhood.
calls these “beauty emergencies.” She means that there are moments in your day where you are forced to see, really see, what’s before you. And to give thanks for the beauty in your midst.
Think of the list below as my way of saying, “Look!” These are things that are bringing me joy. I hope they invite you to reflect on what’s saving your life right now and where you’re seeing the light break through. I pray you have your own beauty emergencies each day and invite others to bask in the glory.
A List of What’s Growing (in My Garden)
jalapeños
orange tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, roma tomatoes
my patience
purple okra flowers
delight in watching a bee sip a sunflower's nectar
weeds
determination
sunflowers
zinnias
onions
cucumbers
a desire for stillness
dirt underneath my fingernails
trust in the unseen work beneath the surface
goldfinches
grasshoppers
vines of purple morning glories
did I mention weeds?
hope ✨
Rupe Farm Delivery Box
Every week a box of local, fresh produce is delivered to our doorstep. Every week I give thanks for the local farmers and families providing nutritious food and caring for the land. Some weeks I’m overwhelmed by what to make (again) with cabbage or zucchini! This week I’m making BLT’s, zucchini pizzas, and fried potatoes thanks to our box. And of course, devouring a cantaloupe in one sitting. If you’re local and would like to try Rupe Farm’s weekly or bi-weekly delivery, use my code FRIENDSANDFAMILY25 for 25% off your first delivery! Just add my name to the notes at checkout!
Braver Angels
My friend Bev and I met through a love of fresh and local food and our deep love for community at the Sedalia Area Farmers' Market. Now this love of community, neighbors, and our country has led us to conversations with Braver Angels, an organization that fosters conversation to bridge the partisan divide and strengthen our democratic republic.
There’s a lot of common ground that we all share and through stories and open conversation, we’re hoping to bring a little bit of hope to Sedalia. You can watch our conversation with Let’s Talk Sedalia and if this movement interests you, please reach out. We need one another. Or if you’re involved with Braver Angels in your community, I’d love to connect!
VBS
For weeks my kids were excited to come and learn the songs and eat snacks and play games at Vacation Bible School. This year I led the science section for our Camp Firelight VBS. (One night we made Elephant Toothpaste!) The experiments were meant to enforce the Bible stories they were hearing. Even though it feels like the world is constantly on fire and the news headlines bring me to despair more often than not, gathering with the kids and seeing their energy reminded me that goodness is right in front of me. For one week I got to tell Bible stories and remind kids that they are loved. I reiterated God’s goodness and kindness. I can’t save our world but I can look at God’s children who are in front of me and tell them they are loved.
Books
A list of the books that have brought me joy and hope: The Trouble with Heroes by Kate Messner and Happy Land by Dolen Perkins-Valdez. The kids and I finished The Heartwood Hotel Series. Currently reading The Briar Club for book club and LOVING IT!
Pool
It’s July in Missouri and we have a town pool, need I say more?!
Front Porch
I’m still getting up before anyone else (most days), grabbing a cup of coffee, and sitting on my front porch. The hummingbirds dance and feed before me. The petunias are blooming. Neighbors and dogs are walking. And I’m there to read, write, and sit in the stillness.
’s Every Season Sacred is my companion each morning for prayers and reflections. I’ve been writing in this journal and these are my favorite pens!
Family Book Club
Last month I floated the idea by the kids about hosting a family book club this summer. The premise would be to pick a chapter book and come together with kids and parents for snacks, activities, games, and sharing about the book.
Isaac hasn’t let me forget this idea! We haven’t met yet but I have a group of kids and their parents reading Gary Paulsen’s Hatchet. We’ll meet in August and just talking about the book and preparing with Isaac has been so fun!
Have you done a book club with kids? Any favorite books to add to our list?
I’d love to know, what’s bringing you joy right now? Hit reply and let me know or comment on this post!
To hope,
Kim
To read more summer delights from my friends, check out
’s piece on “How our flock is surviving summer,” and ’s “What’s Saving My Summer Life.”
Family book club is such a fun idea! And I love the thought of beauty emergencies!
My kids know that we RUN outside whenever the sun peeks out during/after the rain to look for rainbows—love that you do this too! I've actually gotten kids out of bed for such beauty emergencies. 😂 This list is lovely, friend. So grateful to be writing with you.