Waving farewell to another month, I rejoice in a glance back at my August Appreciation joining Jennifer Goodwin as she hosts a monthly feature called, Share Four Somethings, where writers share the fourth Saturday of each month something in each of four categories from the previous month.
Many readers notice I choose a theme for each month, which often reflects lessons or themes from my personal life.
This month’s theme is “appreciation”, which speaks to my slower pace of savoring God’s goodness in the simple joys of each day.
Each month the four categories remain the same: Something I’m loving, reading, learning, and eating! Jennifer delights me by listing these categories in the present participle form of the verbs rather than the past tense of completion.
Something I’m Loving
Topping the list of my August Appreciation: Share Four Somethings headlines my Something I’m Loving category with celebrating Shalom’s first birthday on August 9th! While she has taught me many things over the past months, one thing stands out: her Joy in simply being present.
Shalom finds Joy in exploring new things, watching birds, rabbits, or even ants crawling on the sidewalk. Patiently absorbing each experience with her helps me remain present too.
Our evening walks together at a nearby park immerse us both in nature, reviving our souls from the day’s demands. Along with the birds, occasional rabbits and ducks, we even observed up close a hornet’s nest which measured about 18 inches in diameter, and at least 24 inches long! Check out the video below!
Something I’m Reading
Often reading multiple books at a time, I also enjoy visiting various blogs for encouragement. This month I was blessed by my close friend and colleague from hospice, Marygrace Lomboy.
“MG” as we affectionately call her, is not only an outstanding nurse practitioner specializing in wound care, but a gifted mindfulness practitioner who shares mindfulness with patients, physicians, nurses, social workers, chaplains and bereavement counselors with compassion fatigue, stress and burnout.
This month she shared a beautiful article on her blog, entitled, “Experiencing the Fullness of All Things” which absolutely spoke life, grace and appreciation anew into my heart. Please take the time to read it, you will be blessed beyond measure.
August concludes my celebration of the words of some blogging friends, as they graciously contribute to my Friends and Fellowship Serenity Summer Soiree.
Each week during the months of June, July, and August, my blog readers enjoyed meeting some of my favorite writing friends and fellowship around the goodness of the Lord.
August featured guest posts from Hadassah Treu, Dawn Ward, Deborah Rutherford, and Paula Short.
Their words inspire, challenge, and breathe life into my soul. Looking for Hope? Check out their posts this month!
Something I’m Learning
Coming in line with my August Appreciation, something I’m learning is more abiding in Christ. God’s invitation to unbroken fellowship and intimacy culminates in learning to “abide”.
But for high achievers like me, more “doing” undermines what Jesus had in mind.
Two verses have companioned me throughout this month, teaching me the blessed rest of abiding:
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.”
I live weary and burdened when I disconnect from Christ as the true Vine, who keeps me, holds me up, nourishes, protects, and prospers me. Choosing instead the life of a solo branch, which no matter the effort can do nothing alone.
Lessons abound in this one concept, all beginning with the acceptance of surrender as I learn abiding in Christ not only gives soul rest but empowers me to accomplish His work.
Something I’m Eating
In a word, PEACHES.
By far my favorite fruit, my joy is full this month as I enjoyed making peach jam, fresh gluten free peach pies, peach muffins, and putting them in everything from salads to smoothies. Even Shalom enjoyed savoring cut up peaches!
My husband and I even enjoyed an impromptu peach picking at an orchard right up the road from our home one Saturday. We thought we were simply stopping at a farm to buy a bushel, only to find it was all “pick your own”, so we went with the moment, grabbed a basket and had a grand time of it. Enjoying the fruit of our labors on my gluten free anise pound cake that evening.
August Appreciation: Share Four Somethings
Thank you for taking a leisurely walk back through my August Appreciation with me! I am grateful to Jennifer for creating such a creative way to review the moments of our days which often slip by so quickly.
Sharing Four Somethings is a way to savor one more time those things we are loving, reading, learning, and eating!
But you don’t have to be a writer or blogger to enjoy this practice. Why not take a few moments and think back over YOUR August Appreciation and share four somethings with me in the comments! Meet me back here at the end of September for more joyful somethings!
Shalom!
Happy birthday to Shalom! We haven’t had a dog in a few years (is it unpopular to say I’ve loved living unfettered when we go out of town, not having to make plans for our dog?). 🙂 I have several friends and family members who have dogs though and they let me love on their dogs.
A lovely month! I have not had anything peachy in a while. but a fresh peach pie sure sounds good.
It’s a amazing that even though abiding in Christ is so vital to us, we forget. I suppose that worn-out feeling might be a reminder that we’re leaning on our own efforts too much.
I’ve not done the “four somethings,” but I did an end-of-month recap yesterday.
Thank you, Barbara, we love peaches around here, and my husband can’t seem to get enough peach pies!!!
I love a post dedicated to just appreciation! I also love that you were able to go peach picking! Now I want to find something near me where I can do that. Have a great day!
Thank you, Cindy for stopping by! I don’t think I am near appreciative enough, and definitely enjoyed reflecting through the lens of appreciation this month! We are surrounded by farms and orchards here which all started with cherry picking, now peaches and soon apples!!! (not to mention pumpkins!)
Abide is such a deep word, Donna, “God’s invitation to unbroken fellowship and intimacy culminates in learning to ‘abide’.” Walks with Shalom, blogging with friends, and picking peaches with your precious husband – what delightful moments in August. Thanks for sharing a glimpse of your month with us. Praying the Lord gives you grace in all that you are experiencing behind the scenes.
Lisa, I am learning just how “Deep” the invitation to abide really is. It definitely is more of a “journey” than a quick concept!
Donna, I love your four somethings – thank you for sharing your world, precious pup, peaches yum, friends, fellowship reads – all so good. Thank you for having me as a guest this August.
What a beautiful month…and one with peaches! I don’t think I have ever picked peaches…but I am looking forward to picking apples. I guess that will be next month – oh my! Happiest wishes to Shalom…doesn’t she look so cute in her party outfit!!:) The furry loved ones in our lives are such blessings!! Have a wonderful day –
Thank you Jennifer! The peach picking was so easy as the limbs were close to the ground, and they practically fell off at the lightest touch! I hope you enjoy apple picking! I’ll look forward to reading all about it in next month’s Share Four Somethings!! Thank you for the birthday wishes to Shalom, I think she looks fabulous in her birthday outfit too!
I love peaches as well. They are my favorite by far! And the hornets nest … we had to call an exterminator as a huge one was discovered on the side of our garage. I was told the humidity and rain caused them to build quickly this summer. The exterminator asked me to send him a photo of ours before scheduling an appointment. I am sure he thought I was embellishing, but quickly responded that I was right and responded with gusto – “It is quite large!” It’s gone now 🙂
Peach season never lasts long enough for us! Wow finding a huge hornet’s nest out in the woods is one thing, but I sure wouldn’t want one near my house! I did notice on my recent walk this week it had been removed. I felt sad somehow, all that work gone!
So much to be thankful for, Donna. But oh my goodness … how can you get that close to such a huge nest without getting stung?!! I’ve been buying peaches for my daughter Lilly and she has been enjoying them to the fullest, just like you.
Lois, it was amazing, I was all but sticking my nose right inside the nest! Shalom was right there with me. Truly an amazing wonder of God’s creation!
So many yummy sounding fresh peach recipes! YUM. Your nature walks sound wonderful but I can not get over the size of that hornet’s nest.
Thank you, Joanne for stopping by! The hornet’s nest was truly a wonder!
Peach everything, oh yes please! What a luscious post, Donna …
A joyful weekend to you.
Ha! me too, Linda, bring on the Peaches, the season is too short for me! Wishing you Joy in the Lord this weekend Linda!!
Oh my, that is a huge hornets nest! Good theme of appreciation for this month – I especially liked your thoughts about needing to rest in the Lord and not always be driven to DO. While I certainly do need to learn better time management so I can actually get things done, I also need to embrace rest and peace. Hope you have a great week!
Kym, I was shocked at the size of that hornets’ nest, and that we could literally get up close “nose to nose” if you will and watch! I could see inside through the opening! Abiding IS hard for me too, Kym, I feel like the Home Depot tag line, “More Doing”…. but I’m also learning rest isn’t stagnant or sometimes even stillness, it’s a change, a willingness to let go of the status quo and try something different!