July.
July always summons up memories and pictures of hot sunshine, water spraying, and long days.
It carries me back to childhood and carefree days and summertime living.
Stirring up lemonade or Kool-Aid in the burnt orange Tupperware pitcher and wedging the lid on top.
Eating popsicles, orange or red, purple or green….licking them quickly to beat the heat of the summertime sun, feeling the rays burn down on the top of my head.
Long evenings, chasing lightning bugs, as we called them……fireflies a more “official” name. One summer I had a little wooden Bug Barn constructed of wire mesh, wooden ends and complete with a swinging door. Perfect for catching and collecting a few of the lovely and almost magical light-up bugs.
I loved peering out the car window as we swooped home on a dusky evening, watching as firefly lights bobbed and blinked above the bushy, green soybean fields.
The taste of summertime…warm raspberries bursting flavor on my tongue, picked straight from the bush and popped into my mouth. Finding the ripe, red fruit among the leaves was delightful fun, as long as the stickery branches stayed far enough away from my arms. Still, a few scratches were worth it in the gathering of my favorite fruit.
July.
July also meant tip-top excitement in my young life because it was my birthday month.
I was always delighted that my birthday came right-smack-in-the-middle of the year. That meant December and Christmas, and six months later, July, summertime and birthday celebration!
This year, in July, I’m celebrating a milestone birthday. Anyhow, it’s one we human-people, like to consider a milestone! 🙂
I’m turning forty! And I’m endeavoring to grasp it and relish in it and celebrate it!
{AND, I’ve instructed my husband and daughter to TELL ME if they know of any surprise birthday plans for me. I really plain don’t enjoy surprise parties. It’s taken me a long time to figure it out, but I don’t. Honestly, I think this very much fits my personality. I’m slow to switch gears and I quite often don’t like unexpected things dropping into my life. I’m a personality test junkie. They fascinate me and I like to take them and figure out what makes me tick and what makes other people who they are and thus, what draws some people together and why some relationships are so tough or tricky. I digress….as usual. Back to surprises. I like looking forward to an event with friends and I like to prepare. I like to know my plans and dress for what I’m doing. NOW, I do love little surprises like happy mail and bouquets of flowers dropped by my door or brown paper packages tied up in string. Just don’t throw me a surprise party. I will love you better and enjoy it much more if I know what we’re doing.} 🙂
Yes, I am pressing into celebrating forty. For, every day is a gift. Every year is a gift. Not everyone gets forty years. Nope. Not at all. No guarantees.
Turning forty makes me laugh! It doesn’t feel real. I don’t mind it. There are actually a lot of things about growing older I very much appreciate. I’m just not sure how my man and I reached this middle-age thing this quickly and how our toddlers turned into teens. On the inside I don’t feel that differently than twenty years ago. Yet, my bones tell me so, most days. 🙂
If I live another forty years, I think time will always stay a mystery to me. How I grasp it and rush it, count it and dash after it. How it runs fast and slow all rolled together. Time is mystery to me and gift.
I’m grateful for every year and every day and every memory….made or yet-to-be……..
As one way to celebrate with YOU…….my friends from far and near, who show up and share this space with me, share my words and my love of beauty, my delighting in the daily among the mundane, bless me with your kind words and emails and prayers…………. we have several giveaways for you to share in during the month of July!
Yes. I want to share some of my favorites and bless a few of you with gifts from these giveaways. {No surprise parties.} 😉
I’ve loved getting to offer some super-fun giveaways and I love fixing up gift packages and this seemed like a terrific way to celebrate.
The end of August will find A Delightful Glow celebrating seven years in the blog world and I find that impossible too. To be honest, I don’t know why I’ve always kept showing up and I’ve frequently wondered if I really have anything to offer anyone. And I often find, the words are what I need more than anyone else. And the truth is, most things in life hold those moments of questioning and doubt and we keep on keeping on, because many times this is where we learn or find a hidden treasure for our hearts. Blogging has blessed me in countless ways…..even in the days I’m pretty sure I’m going to shut the laptop lid and not open it again. 😉
I’m SO PLEASED to tell you our first giveaway is sponsored by GraceLaced. I’ve long loved Ruth’s art and I have a little collection of her prints. Flowers make me happy and her beautiful work paired with Scripture adds touches of beauty to my home. Thank-you, Ruth! I’m really glad you showed up for the hard work and you’ve shared your gift and talents with us.
The giveaway is for an 8×10 print of this favorite of mine. {frame not included…so sorry…}{You can find it at Wal-Mart right here}
My print like this has been recently been shining its colors and words in my laundry room.
May the Words of My Mouth
You’ll find this print on Gracelaced’s site right here.
I love the fruit and flowers and colors in this print. Love the verse and prayer that it is. It’s a good print for summertime!
You’ve heard me talk about Ruth Chou Simon’s book GraceLaced. I really do love its beauty and inspiration. If you’re new to my blog or to the GraceLaced book, you’ll find it in this post and this post. {Or if you’d like to re-read these posts. 🙂 }
This post shares a little about Ruth Chou Simon’s new books that will be available this month! {A planner and a GraceLaced guided companion book}
Friends, if you would like to celebrate forty with me 🙂 and would like a chance to win this print, enter the Rafflecopter below! I’m delighted to share this with you.
I hope your July is full of popsicles and splashing and summertime fun!!!
Happy Happy Birthday month! Your words are such a blessing-praying these words bless you!😊
Thank-you for the birthday wishes, Debbie, and your always-kind words! They bless me very much! Have a wonderful week and a happy fourth of July!
My favorite birthday memory is about my three youngest children who all have birthdays in October. When they were younger, we used to rent a local roller skating rink so they could all invite their friends, it was always a wonderful time.
That sounds like a super-duper fun time!
I loved to rollerskate when I was a kid and had a pair of pink and white rollerskates with stars on them and pink wheels. I adored them! 🙂
October was a pretty special month in your family! My kiddos birthdays are both in January and my husband and I both celebrate July birthdays.
Happy birthday! I am pressing close to 51, and thankful for every day also! Ruth’s artwork is so beautiful and encouraging- what a great giveaway! Thank you for sharing!
Yes…..every good day!
GraceLaced is one of my favorite places to browse beautiful artwork!
Oh, it’s my birthday month as well but, my dear, I’m wayyyy past 40 but am so grateful for every year the good Lord has given me and hopefully I’ll have a few more. Never forget that age brings wisdom that nothing else can so enjoy and celebrate big time. Now, I’m with you on surprises, I have to know what is around the corner if possible. Happy birthday month!
Thank-you so much for your wise words and kind encouragement! I appreciate it. There’s much to be learned from the women who’ve walked life ahead of us.
Yes, I tend to like to know what might be happening……. 🙂 🙂
AND wishing you a terrific birthday and birthday month as well!
LOved the time I received a teddy bear from my grandma
That sounds like a super special memory!
Happy Birthday month! Actually, Happy Birthday year 🙂 For some reason, 40 doesn’t seem half as old as it use to, it just sounds so wise. I hope you have a fabulous month!
Thank-you so much for your fantastically sweet words! 🙂
Mine was a few years ago. My husband and I went out to dinner, we came home and our (then teenage)daughters had made cupcakes and had presents for me. My birthday is in October and it’s rare that my husband and I get to spend it together because he farms and he’s usually harvesting then.
How super fun and special! I love cupcakes! 🙂
And I quite understand the harvest thing! Always busy seasons on a farm!
Happy Birthday. I hope yours is blessed and lovely. That it is full of fun and laughter and love.
Thank-you so very much for your well wishes! That means a lot to me! Have a wonderful week!
Happy Birthday!
Thank-you so much!
my birthday is July 4th everyone celebrates with me
Hooray! And happy birthday! 🙂
Thank you for the chance. Such pretty prints.
I love GraceLaced’s prints! Their planner and GraceLaced guided companion book release tomorrow! Yay!
Just cake, ice cream and games at home with family and friends.
So fun!
Belated happy birthday! I’m really glad you’re enjoying your life. Life is about embracing every moment, isn’t it? Wishing you a great time 🙂