July came begging us to enjoy all she had to offer. And since July is the first month in Colorado we can count on summer feeling like summer, my family was happy to oblige. So once again, I’m listing a few serious and not-so-serious take-aways this month gave me.
In the month of July, I learned:
1. I can literally climb a mountain. And not the usual switchback way, but the straight line way. The elevation gain of 2,000 feet way.
Sure, I stopped for 127 breaks and was the slowest in our group by miles, but I still made it! That’s the nice thing about climbing a mountain: No one cares how long it takes you to do it. (Unless you’re my daughter’s swim coach. But given he is in better shape than most Olympians, I’m not counting him.) As long as you keep climbing towards the sky and eventually crest the top, you get to say I climbed a mountain.
2. A completely lost toenail can take upwards of two years to grow back. Two years! Unfortunately, I’ll find out first hand if this is true. Want to know how I lost my big toe’s nail in the first place? See no. 1.
3. I still love a long and winding alpine slide. I rode my first alpine slide on a family vacation in Winter Park, Colorado twenty-five years ago. This month, I rode another one in Breckenridge and it was insanely fun.
4. When the humidity reaches double digits in Colorado Springs {which it finally did this month}, I can wear my naturally curly hair curly and it stays that way.
5. Not all Joe Wright movies are created equal. I loved {reaaaally loved} his adaptation of Pride & Prejudice and liked Atonement, but Anna Karenina was hard to watch. It had many things going for it: Joe’s stunning cinemaphotography, historical pageantry, and Keira Knightley. But the entire storyline is set on a literal stage. According to an interview I saw with Keira, there was an artsy reason behind this. Apparently, the Russian aristocracy of the 18th and 19th century behaved more French than Russian. They spoke French, ate French food, wore French clothing, and decorated their homes in French styles. So in their effort to be trés French, they acted more like characters in a play than their true Russian selves. I get all that, but watching this movie play out on stage felt disjointed and just plain odd. {But not odd enough to keep me away from Joe Wright’s next historical epic.}
6. It’s a beautiful change to see the world unequivocally united in excitement and anticipation for a special event. May you be blessed today and always, Prince George!
7. While I always believed Princess Catherine to be chock-full of grace, humility, and courage, she has even more of those qualities than I realized. Every woman who has given birth knows that twenty-four hours post delivery, you feel more like the Hunchback of Notre Dame than a princess. But when Kate walked out of that London hospital and faced a literal sea of faces and questions – all while refusing to hide her post birth baby bump? Well, I wanted to give her a standing ovation. And in the quiet of my living room, I did. {For an amazing, 360 degree image of Prince George’s introduction, click here.}
8. Red geraniums are one of my summer love languages.
9. The R&R Café in Black Forest is my new favorite writing spot. Delicious menu + rustic location + friendly people = win.
10. The Message translation of Hebrews 10:22-23 not only resets my internal compass towards true North, it also beautifully sums up why I blog:
“So let’s do it full of belief, confident that we’re presentable inside and out. Let’s keep a firm grip on the promises that keep us going. He always keeps his word. Let’s see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out…” Hebrews 10:22-23
Friends, I pray you find an inventive way to love someone in your circle of influence today, and may God moves someone to do the same for you.
What did beautiful you learn in the month of July? Join me in linking up your own list at Emily’s.
Climbing a mountain girl…you are amazing! Love the view. So many sweet Scripture truths about something like that. I pray it filled up you soul.
I loved the whole Royal Baby event. What a sweet blessing. Of course, every baby is. Just nice when the world notices.
Miss you tons!
Oh my friend! I miss you. And I totally want to go on an alpine slide.
Oh the Incline. It feels like you’ve conquered something amazing doesn’t it? Even if it feels like you might keep over doing it? I’ve only climbed it once but hope to again soon. And R & R has some of the best coffee and atmosphere in town. Welcome to Colorado!
Soooooo in love with R & R!
And thank you, Linds!
Loved your list — and the Message translation of Hebrews 10. Those geraniums are beautiful. 🙂
Stopping by from Emily’s.
Such a delightful post!
I love your insights about climbing mountains, ruminations on Princess Kate (she and George made my list as well!) and the picture of your adorable family!
WoW bravo what a climb!This gram would love to climb one of our smaller mountains Benson in our smaller coastal city on Vancouver Island BC. But it does not have a public path up I was told for families of all ages & stages.You have rough the face 🙂 with some unsteady footing.Surely I said there must be a road to gradually go up it. Every mountain has a road path even those of Green Mountains Vermont or where we lived in St.Hilaire Quebec! Well I will just have to explore.
AS for that slide now that is a brave new world ¦0
Loved your link up. Thanks for sharing. I, too, was so proud and impressed that Kate showed off her post-baby bump without a second thought (or so it seems). Way to go. What an exciting time for the world to unite over a tiny babe.
Wohoo! Great climber – that looked like quite a stretch. And the toenail? I won’t ask…
I think many of us shared about Princess Kate. What a profound moment. No photos of my 24 hours after, please. She is a true princess. As we all are, as daughters of the King, a lesson I have been learning in deeper ways this month.
Kristen,
Ooohh! I LOVE alpine slides…one zip down and I was hooked! I hear the Sound of Music “Climb Every Mountain” when I look at your vertical accomplishment – way to go!! Thanks for a light-hearted and fun post 🙂
Love and hugs,
Bev
Yes! “Climb Every Mountain” is totally what went through my head! As well as “I can do all things through Christ.” As well as “Don’t lose a lung, Kristen.” Ha!
Fun list!! 🙂
Very impressed with the mountain. I would need an elevator. Oh yes, I love red geraniums, too. And Hebrews 10 is powerful. Thank you for sharing.
The mountain climbing? You go girl!
I loved all the hype around Prince George! It was amazing!
This link-up is way super fun. I feel as if I’m gobbling up everyone’s list! However, I do not like alpine slides…yikes!
I love stopping by your place- always. You make me smile. But I have to hand it to you- you ROCK. I am a girl who does not sweat. Ever. So 3 cheers to you!
Is that the Manitou Incline? My husband climbed that a few years ago with some high school students & he still says that’s one of the hardest things he has ever done. I love a good alpine slide! I have been on the one at Winter Park and it’s so much fun! How I wish that I could sit down and have a conversation with Kate! She just seems like such a genuine person and I’m with you – I was giving her a standing ovation! {stopping by from emily’s}
Caroline!! I’m so thrilled to see you in my neck of the woods.
And yes ~ that is the Manitou Incline. I’m with your husband: it’s crazy difficult, although more than one 70 year old passed me. Ha!
that slide? oh my word. It looks scary and fun all at the same time!
Love your list!
You get to sit in a cart where you control the brakes, so it’s not too bad!
Always lovely to see you, Amanda!
I love the Message’s translation of that verse – “Let’s see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out” is running through my head right now. Thank you so much for the encouragement… and now I really want to find an alpine slide in the state of PA.
How great that you climbed that mountain! I see a spiritual application in that one. I have lost my big toenail more than once and it does not take two years to grow back. For some odd reason it happened to me a few years in a row. I’d lose it towards the end of winter (just in time for flip flop and sandal weather) and it would grow back over the year, and I would lose it again right before spring! But, that hasn’t happened the last couple of years so I’m thankful for that. I don’t know what caused it; it was sure odd. But anyway, it won’t take two years, but it may take a year!! – I was looking for “Out of the Blue” and realized I missed then end of the month link up again! I’m putting it on my calendar for the end of August!