Share Four Somethings May 2021

Welcome to another round of Share Four Somethings. I can’t believe we’ve wrapped up May and are headed into full summer! I have some lovely things to share with you this month, so without further ado, let’s get to it.

Something Loved

I never knew I wanted a white denim jacket until . . . well, until I wanted one. I was surprised by how much I like it. It’s crisp and versatile and comfortable. And the one I bought is a lightweight denim with a bit of stretch, so it’s incredibly comfortable, even for wearing to work from home. It goes with everything–particularly jeans, giving you the style of a denim jacket without the “Canadian Tuxedo” effect of head-to-toe denim. I don’t know why I didn’t buy one years ago.

Something Read

Even though I have numerous friends who are big fans of The Green Ember series by S. D. Smith, it took me a few attempts to get into it. The first few chapters flowed a bit slowly for me, but once I was in, I was hooked. The adventures of Heather, Picket, and the rest of Natalia’s rabbits with swords captured my imagination in a way few books do. It’s not Tolkien or Lewis, certainly, but the series definitely falls somewhere in that vicinity. I’m in the middle of book three at this point and steadily cruising. “My place beside you, my life for yours, til the Green Ember rises or the end of the world.” Indeed.

Something Treasured

One of my favorite endeavors of early summer is strawberry picking. Last year, the fields were closed to pick-your-own efforts, although we were able to buy a few gallons from the farm’s roadside stand. This year, it was so good to get back out into the fields and collect our own trove of jewel-like berries. Harvesting seasonal produce by visiting a pick-your-own farm is a small way to connect with the earth and appreciate both God’s provision and the work of local farmers. We got up early and headed out to the strawberry fields while the dew was still heavy on the grass. The girls, as always, reveled in filling their baskets brimful. Strawberry shortcake, strawberry-topped French toast, and fresh strawberries with cream graced our table for the days following, and several quart-size bags in the freezer will mean smoothies and treats throughout the rest of the year.

Something Ahead

In a few weeks, we’re heading to Michigan, our home state, for some with extended family. One of the highlights will be a trip to the town of Frankenmuth and Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland, touted as the world’s largest Christmas store. I can’t count the number of times I visited Bronner’s as a child growing up, and it still holds much of the same wonder and warmth for me today. My girls look forward eagerly to choosing a new ornament for the Christmas tree. But mostly, the joy is in being surrounded by twinkling lights, decorated Christmas trees, and all the trappings of Christmas. It’s like encountering the glow of Advent in midsummer, a taste of the coming joy during Ordinary Time. And yes, it’s mostly decoration, but you can still sense the magic. Jesus is everywhere.

Happy summer, friends!