Ah, the start of August. The beginning of the end of the Summer. It’s such a sad month for those of us in the colder climates. We only get a few months of lovely weather before the cold and snow returns. But, it’s not here yet, so I’m going to soak up the rest of it as much as I can! There is a ton to look forward to before Fall arrives, but first a recap of last month and all I’m grateful for.

July was filled with fun. We spent lots of time enjoying family and the Summer. Zach experienced the fireworks for the first time and seemed to enjoy them (though not as much as I expected). It was a warm month, but it wasn’t too terribly humid and hot. July can be brutal sometimes. We had a lot of rain and subsequent flooding in local communities, but fortunately, we were unaffected. Grateful for a house on higher ground!

We took Zach to the park a few times and watched as he started to try to interact with the world a little more. He’s more curious about people and wants to talk to other kids. He’s also becoming braver as he’s starting to go down slides by himself, without us asking if he wants to. He seems so much “older” this Summer. The time goes by so quickly!

Why a monthly grateful post?

So often we get stuck in the day-to-day hustle and forget to acknowledge what’s really important. If someone were to ask “What’s most important to you?” we would be quick to respond with things like family, friends, being a good person, and so on. Unfortunately, we allow ourselves to get sidetracked a lot and temporarily “forget” our priorities. Unanswered emails clamor for our attention, deadlines and “to-do” lists clutter up our minds and steal our attention. As a way to temporarily silence these outside distractions, I like to look back over the past month and remind myself what is beautiful in my life. I try to identify three things that have happened in the past few weeks that I am grateful for and recognize them. I remind myself that these small moments are what make up my life and have value. And for them, I am grateful.

Let’s get into what I’m grateful for this month…

3 Things I’m Grateful for in July

1. Free Zoo trip with family
   Each year, my father-in-law’s business hosts a picnic at the Milwaukee Zoo and it’s always tons of fun. This year was no exception. There was lots of delicious food, all of the attractions were free, and there were lots of little goodies to bring home. This was the first year that Zach was able to really enjoy it. I’m so grateful for opportunities like this for our family to have experiences we otherwise might not do or full enjoy due to financial constraints.
2. A successful rummage sale
   Last month, we had a rummage sale to make some extra money for the Summer while getting rid of a bunch of stuff we no longer need. All of Zach’s baby stuff, save for a few mementos, and some huge things a poker table and a foosball table are now gone. This freed up an area of the basement which we turned into a playroom for Zach. He absolutely loved it. He has his own little space. Plus, now we have spending cash for the rest of our summer activities!
3. A successful guest post
   I wrote a guest post over at the Mrs. Mummy Harris blog last month for her “A Picture Says a Thousand Words” series. Check it out here! It was really well received and I got a little extra traffic from it, as well! All in all, a great success. Thanks for the opportunity to share on your blog, Lianne!
4. The current health and safety of all of my family
   I have a bonus one this month as this has been heavily rooted in my mind the past few weeks. Although I am constantly aware of and grateful for the blessing of a healthy family, that feeling is currently skyrocketing. The sudden loss a family friend experienced near the end of July has heightened my sensitivity to this truly amazing gift. None of us are immune to such tragedy. So, I am thankful that almost every family member I have ever had is still alive, healthy, and happily enjoying life. I have never had to experience the hardship and devastation that so many families have, for different reasons, and that is not something I take for granted.

As we enter August, I’m looking forward to lots of things on deck. There have been some big changes and lots of progress made on some goals. I might have more than four for next month’s list!

I’d love to hear about some of the things you’re grateful for and looking forward to! What are you grateful for last month?

Link up to your own gratitude posts below!

-To your Better Life-

Kira