Waving farewell to another month, I rejoice in a glance back at my June Jubilations 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 “jubilations”, which speaks to marking milestones both big and small by learning to take the time to “celebrate”.
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
Starting off my June Jubilations: Share Four Somethings was indeed the highlight of my month! June 14th brought the celebration of my granddaughter, Grace Gabriella’s fourth birthday!
This precious bundle of Joy continues to amaze me with her unique personality of resilience, determination, and inquisitiveness.
While she had a little party with a few friends from school the weekend prior to her birthday, my husband and I joined Grace and her mom for a quiet celebration of presents and cake.
After a lovely tea party with her new play tea set, we enjoyed singing Happy Birthday, after which she beamed, “Thank you Everyone”, melting our collective hearts.
A few days later we enjoyed supporting her at her dance recital, where she performed in a “Goldfish Ballet”, executing her part wonderfully.
Her infectious Joy and enthusiasm spreads jubilation in everything she does!
Something I’m Reading
While I can be reading half a dozen books at any given time, my voracity for reading also takes me to various blogs, articles, and snippets, semi-satisfying my own inquisitive mind.
This month finds me celebrating 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 enjoy meeting some of my favorite writing friends and fellowship around the goodness of the Lord.
June featured guest posts from Michele Morin, Lois Flowers, Horace Williams Jr., and (coming 6/28) Laurie Meek Watkins.
Their words inspire, challenge, and breathe life into my soul. But not only those things, but words of celebration in trials along with God’s goodness speak jubilation from their own lives!
Something I’m Learning
In keeping with June’s theme of jubilation, something I’m learning is to celebrate even small wins. We’ve all heard the quips about using the china and wearing the perfume now, instead of waiting for the right special occasion.
Ever the perfectionist, I seldom find anything “worth” celebrating, as if entertaining jubilation had rules and regulations.
Beginning with crossing the finish line with my Court Appointed Special Advocacy (CASA) case to a successful adoption after four long years of hard work, I began celebrating each personal win by acknowledging the accomplishment however small.
From my CASA case to a fun tea party with Grace, to training milestones with Shalom, I made intentional celebration stops to enjoy each step along the way.
Something I’m Eating
This time of year blesses me with eating out of my neighbor’s huge garden. Growing up as a farmer, this man’s “backyard” garden is like a mini farm. He plants so many wonderful vegetables as well as cultivating the most amazing blackberry bushes.
While I receive much enjoyment watching the garden go from seed planting to harvest, my neighbor generously blesses us with his garden’s bounty on a regular basis.
This month I enjoyed cabbage, cauliflower, and peas with the end of our own strawberries.
Free from pesticide sprays, his produce is lovely, and nothing compares to fresh chopped cabbage salad! One of my husband’s favorite vegetables, the peas almost missed arriving at the table, because while shucking, I ate them like candy!
June Jubilation: Share Four Somethings
Thank you for taking a leisurely walk back through my June Jubilations 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 June Jubilations and share four somethings with me in the comments! Meet me back here at the end of July for more joyful somethings!
Shalom!
A very uplifting post, Donna!! Your granddaughter is precious, she does exude joy!!! We do need to celebrate the big and small things, all our victories. I hope you have a great Independence Day!
Cindy, thank you! Grace brings us such Joy. I am still learning to celebrate even the small things! It makes such a difference. Wishing you a fabulous summer!
Happy Birthday to Grace and those fresh veggies look delicious!
Donna, what wonderful jubilations and such blessings. Happy 4th Birthday, Grace!
Visiting today from Share Four Somethings.
Thank you my sweet friend!
Aw, four is such a fun age and your granddaughter is adorable. Good for you in celebrating all the small (and large) wins. Hope you find lots more to celebrate in July!
Thank you, Jean, they do grow up fast don’t they? I’m still learning the art of celebrating, but you have to start somewhere!
Happy 4th Birthday to Grace, who is precious! Enjoy every moment as 4 is such a wonderful and exciting age!
Joanne, watching Grace grow is like seeing each new thing as if it were the very first time!
Happy 4th birthday to Grace! What a gift she must be in your life.
My father always had a huge garden, so I grew up on fresh vegetables. I didn’t realize then what a treat it was. But I wasn’t inspired to have a garden myself as an adult. 🙂
Thank you, Lisa! Grace is indeed a blessing to us, as her name Grace Gabriella (Grace Angel) reminds us. I grew up with lots of fresh vegetables, with relatives having gardens and farms! I gardened a bit more when my children were young, but now I praise God for my neighbor’s generosity!
Congratulations on crossing the finish line with CASA! And, yes, what a blessing to share in the abundance of your neighbours garden!
Thank you, Lynn, my CASA journey was quite an experience! I praise God for my generous neighbor!
Your granddaughter is so cute. Four is such a fun age.
Congratulations on your CASA case and adoption completion! We like to mark celebrations large and small around here.
I’d love to know how your neighbor grows such gardens without pesticides. We gave up gardening to to a losing battle with bugs, even with pesticides, which I was wary of using.
Thank you, Barbara, for your kind words, we enjoy Grace so much! Learning to celebrate has been a challenge for me as an overachieving perfectionist! I’m sure you could teach me a thing or two! My neighbor uses all kinds of special soils and compost, plus he has the time to be super attentive. His motto is he plants plenty knowing some will fall prey to insects, rabbits and birds!
Your granddaughter looks like she is indeed a joy-bringer! What a cutie! Over the last few years I’ve tried to be intentional about celebrating even little things, and I do make sure to use my china a minimum of once a month! Hope the rest of your summer is fabulous!
Thank you, Kym, Grace is a joy bringer for sure! Congratulations on learning to celebrate, especially giving that china a ride monthly!
Grace seems to be the very embodiment of joy, Donna! I look forward to your summer series. What a blessing to have fresh produce from both your garden and your neighbor’s garden. Garden produce is always bursting with freshness and flavor! Congratulations on the adoption victory after 4 years of hard work! That is HUGE! Small celebrations are good for our hearts, Donna.
Thank you for your kind words, Lisa. Grace indeed brings so much Joy to our lives! I just love this time of year with all of the fresh produce, just feeds my body and soul! Still working on the celebration part!
It sounds like you had a wonderful month well worth celebrating! I don’t have the time to garden that I wish I did, so I get everything prepped and planted and then hope my kids will help me keep up with it. We’ve had mixed results so far. Thanks for sharing your jubilations!
Thank you, Bethany! I used to garden much more when my kids were young! Now I praise God for a generous neighbor! Good luck with your garden!
oh four years old is so much fun!!!!
enjoy every delightful minute …
Linda, YES!! It’s like seeing everything all over again through her eyes!