June 2023 Monthly Wrap-Up
June was not a great month. Chronic illness stuff hit me very hard almost this entire month, and we don’t fully know why. I did make a few nice memories like visiting my grandpa (watch a music video of the trip); singing (spontaneously) at the grand opening of a new local music studio/art gallery that I’m really excited about; and the rare days when I had the energy to run errands or sit on my balcony. I won’t say June was a complete wash, because there was value here, too. But it didn’t feel like it a lot of the time.
This month I’m…
Reading: Tune It Out, Jamie Sumner. Betsy and Joe, Maud Hart Lovelace (reread). Disfigured: On Fairy Tales, Disability, and Making Space, Amanda Leduc. Systemology, David Jenyns. Under A Dancing Star, A Snowfall of Silver, and A Sky Painted Gold, Laura Wood (rereads). All My Knotted-Up Life, Beth Moore. Paris, Paris Hilton. Happy Place, Emily Henry. Hitty: Her First Hundred Years, Rachel Field. Invincible Louisa, Cornelia Meigs. 12 total.
Listening to: My June playlist. The Good Witch, Maisie Peters’ new album (IT’S HERE AND IT SURPASSED MY EXPECTATIONS). Kelsea Ballerini (never thought I’d say this, but I am fully in my Kelsea Ballerini era).
Watching: YouTube–Sailing Zatara; Finn Whitaker; Jordan Bauth; The Frey Life. Movies–Take Care of Maya (read my review of this documentary). TV shows–Shiny Happy People; The Summer I Turned Pretty season 1 (rewatch).
Writing: This month was tough in this category. Most weeks, I struggled to work for 5-8 hours. It felt like I was forced to take every other day completely off. But I did my usual volunteer work with People Hope and the Diamonds Conference; wrote letters to friends; and made progress on working toward recording my music.
Buying: A new phone case (OBSESSED). Some devotional books and prayer journals. Butterfly stamps and butterfly earrings. A new journal and a 2024 planner. Overalls.
Grateful for: Being able to run fluids wherever I am. Blue jays. Late night arguments, complete with demonstrations, about what words mean. Fresh sheets. The hot breeze while driving barefoot. Girl talk. Days that feel like hope. My friend and I falling in love with the same music artist at the same time. Signing with new clients. No more home health!! Energy for errands. Chapel time.
What did you do in June? What music is defining your summer this year?
