When I list everything that took place in July, it’s almost hard to believe it all happened in the same 31-day period. But, for posterity and sheer incredulity, here goes: We road tripped to Michigan for a week. Annie celebrated her fifth birthday with a family dinner and a friend playground party. We hosted family. We prepped June for two weeks of sleepaway camp and dropped her off and picked her up (which takes an overnight stay on each end). We hosted a kindergarten ice cream social for our neighborhood. We celebrated John’s birthday. We finished the swim team season with two final meets and a banquet. We pulled off an Amazing Race-style birthday party for Shep. We hosted our niece and nephew for a week of Cousin Camp.
And that is just the major *events* — not to mention the out-of-the-ordinary projects I also worked on this month, like prepping my message for the Island Sunday service and packing for Maine.
On this side of the calendar, I don’t really have any big takeaways. Do I wish all of those things had been crammed into one month? Not really. Was I tired and overwhelmed at points? Yes. But they are all things we chose, and I never felt alone in the action: we were accompanied along the way by friends, family, and neighbors. So mostly, I’m feeling grateful — but also ready for a bit of a quieter August :)
On my calendar: — A week in Maine! My happiest place. — All the back-to-school things, including a special family dinner, a TTT, and shopping + conversation dates. — The first day of school! The last year of elementary for June and the first year for Annie, with Shep squeezed in the middle and starting second grade.
What I’m loving right now: — While the ubiquitous Lulu was my intro to belt bags, I eventually wanted an elevated version for less-sporty adventures. Copying one of my most stylish friends, Adelyn, made the decision easy: this leopard-print Rivedroite bag. I was delighted when one of my favorite international readers commented with approving surprise that I was sporting such a niche European brand :) — Longtime readers may remember a favorite serial audio story, On the Night Train, that my kids have now listened to several times over. We just discovered something similar — Welcome to Hope Springs — and listened to the first season on our drive to Michigan. Wanted to pass it along in case your family has a road trip in its future! — For your own listening pleasure, I’ll offer up another episode from Tim Mackie’s Exploring My Strange Bible podcast: A Future for My Work. As always, he gave me new ideas to chew on and a fresh perspective.
As a reminder, you can find allll the things I’ve loved over the last few years neatly organized right here!
What you’re loving right now:
This is where I highlight a few items here that have been popular in the last month with fellow readers, based on my analytics. Here’s hoping this will help you find something you’ll love!
— June’s lookalike Lake pajama set. So cute, soft, and a great price. — Our board game of the summer that’s genuinely as enjoyable with two players as it is with four. — The reasonably-priced taper candles I’ve ordered in so many colors for dinner party decor. — My giant sun hat, because we all know skincare won’t go too far without physical sun protection. — This smocked tank dress, my big purchase from the spring that’s still going strong. Even though I opted for a bolder pattern, it has seen SO much wear – the silhouette is just so easy to pull on and feels like the right choice for occasions both casual and fancy. The other versions, too! Red gingham and pale yellow
What I read in July: — Fellowship Point | From the description, this book was right up my alley: “A story of lifelong friendship between two very different women with shared histories, divisive loyalties, hidden sorrows, and eighty years of summers on a pristine point of land on the coast of Maine.” It was a bit of a doorstop, and while I don’t mind a lengthy book, I didn’t think this one earned its girth. I didn’t love either of the main characters and the writing wasn’t my cup of tea. — The Screwtape Letters | This was a re-read after many years; I was struck again how relevant Lewis’s writing remains 80 years later. If you haven’t read this one yet, you should — it’s short, engaging (the perspective — letters from a demon to his nephew, with advice for tempting humans away from God — keeps you on your toes), and both funny and serious. I’ve added it to the list of books I want our kids to read before they leave our home. — Teatime Discipleship | While I picked this up hoping it would have insight into discipling one’s own kids (and it does!), I left encouraged to engage people in all sorts of relationships. Sally’s writing is like a warm, grace-filled hug, and this book is no different.
Revisiting my July goals: Hang backyard string lights and Annie’s curtains (We hung the string lights in 96 degree heat but we got it done!! Curtains still pending.) Execute Annie and Shep’s birthday parties Edit June in June Tend to this month’s clutter spot: the attic Host the neighborhood kindergarten ice cream social Host and enjoy Cousin Camp Finish writing my Sunday service message Celebrate all of our July birthday folks well, both in our immediate and extended family
August goals: — Edit June in June — Finalize new chore charts for the new school year — Schedule and enjoy back-to-school shopping dates with all three kids — Tend to this month’s clutter spot: the second-floor bookshelf
Let’s see… what does back to school look like for you this year? Do you have kids who’ve already started back, or are you the end of the month like us? Or are you just feeling that fresh-start season for yourself? I’d love to hear!
While sometimes it can seem a little silly to share family vacation photos year after year — in the same locations, with essentially the same activities, kids just aged up a bit — I was so encouraged by your comments on this month’s TCF free edition, In Praise of the Non-Optimized Vacation. Specifically, Brittany wrote: “As someone who has followed the blog for years and who is on the cusp of marriage and building a family, the way you’ve portrayed family vacations has always inspired me.” Well, Brittany (and other friends), how could I not share this year’s trip with that encouragement?
Here, then, are a few snaps from our time in Northern Michigan this July. A little bit of background for those who are new or hoping to plan a trip:
John’s extended family owns a house on a small lake near Beulah, MI. It’s not quite big enough to fit all 15 of our immediate-extended family (parents, siblings, nieces and nephews), so we rent a nearby house (or houses) to sleep and eat a few meals at and then spend our days with the rest of the family at the family house, which is lakefront. This year, we stayed in this rental and it was wonderful.
Our days are mostly spent on or next to the lake: reading, chatting, taking out kayaks or paddle boards, waterskiing and tubing, playing corn hole, digging in the sand of the small “beach,” wading out to the float for more chatting.
If we venture away from the lake, here are a few things we like to do:
— Hike the Sleeping Bear Dunes or drive Pierce Stocking to explore the scenic pull-offs — Glen Arbor: eat and shop at Cherry Republic, shop at M22 and Cottonseed Apparel — Frankfort: play pickle ball, browse the shops, jump off the jetty, play beach volleyball — Beulah/Honor: catch a movie at the Cherry Bowl drive-in theater, eat at The Cherry Hut, get ice cream at Riverside, tube down the Platte River, play at the river mouth where it meets Lake Michigan, eat at Five Shores Brewing, eat and drink on the lawn at St. Ambrose Cellars — Traverse City: go to a Traverse City Pit Spitters (summer league) baseball game, eat a farm-to-table dinner at Farm Club
And now, here are a few photos of us doing most of those things :)
I know this post is light on the details, so if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask! You can also check out my past posts about Michigan below:
Our drive to Michigan is 15 hours, one way. We usually split the drive into two days (10 hours on the first, five on the second), and this year, our 10-hour return leg fell on Independence Day. It couldn’t be helped, but it wasn’t exactly the most festive way to celebrate America’s 250th birthday. To kill some time and celebrate in a road trip-ready way, John did a very John thing: he used Claude to create an America-themed family trivia game.
I haven’t used Claude much, and so was surprised by, and impressed with, the fancy packaging it created for the game. The questions it came up with were also pretty good, but I edited them to be even better — and added a patriotic song in between each round. The resulting trivia game and singalong kept us occupied for a good two hours in the car, and even though our semiquincentennial has passed, I wanted to offer it to you! Save it for your next road trip, save it for America’s 251st birthday, or do it around the table tonight.
We made this to fit our family exactly (with questions aimed at a 4-year-old, an 8-year-old, a 10-year-old, and an adult), but feel free to flex it depending on your kids and their exposure to history. And also, don’t worry if your kids don’t know all the answers — ours definitely didn’t. These are things we think are worth knowing, though, and a trivia game was a fun way to pass them along.
I’ve included the questions below in plain text, as well as the intra-round song suggestions. The link to a playlist with all the songs mentioned is here and the interactive Claude game is here! (Hopefully it works!)
Round 1:
4yo: What three colors are on the American flag? Red, white, and blue 8yo: How many stars are on the American flag, and what do they represent? 50, the current 50 states 10yo: How many stripes are on the American flag, and what do they represent? 13, the original 13 colonies Adult: Who is traditionally credited with sewing the first American flag? Betsy Ross
Song: “You’re a Grand Old Flag”
Round 2:
4yo: In what year did the US declare independence? 1776 8yo: What document officially declared the colonies free from Britain? The Declaration Of Independence 10yo: Who was the main author of the Declaration of Independence? Thomas Jefferson Adult: Which Enlightenment philosopher’s ideas on natural rights most directly shaped the Declaration’s opening arguments? John Locke (shout-out to my fellow Lost fans)
Song: “This Land is Your Land” by Woody Guthrie
Round 3:
4yo: What country did America gain its freedom from? England (or Great Britain) 8yo: What event involved colonists dumping tea into Boston Harbor to protest a tax? The Boston Tea Party 10yo: What famous phrase summed up colonists’ anger about being taxed without a voice in Parliament? “No taxation without representation” Adult: Who was the ruler of Great Britain at the time of the American Revolution? King George III
Song: “You’ll Be Back” by Jonathan Groff from Hamilton
Round 4:
4yo: Who do we call the brave people who fought for America’s freedom? Patriots (or soldiers) 8yo: Who was the general who led the Continental Army? George Washington 10yo: What do we call the colonists who sided with the British? Loyalists Adult: What two Massachusetts towns were the sights of the first battles of the Revolutionary War? Lexington and Concord
Song: “Battle Hymn of the Republic” (traditional, also a very cool version by Jon Batiste)
Round 5:
4yo: What do we see light up the sky at night on July 4th? Fireworks 8yo: What war was fought to win American Independence? The American Revolutionary War 10yo: Who was the nighttime rider who warned everyone “the British are coming”? Paul Revere Adult: What famous phrase describes the first shot fired at Lexington and Concord? “The shot heard round the world.”
Song: “Stars and Stripes Forever” by John Philip Sousa
Round 6:
4yo: What bird is America’s national symbol? The bald eagle 8yo: Finish the phrase: “Life, liberty, and ____.” The pursuit of happiness 10yo: What is the term for rights that people are born with, which no government can take away? Natural rights, or unalienable rights Adult: According to the Declaration, from where do governments derive their “just powers”? “The consent of the governed.”
Song: “God Bless America” by Kate Smith
Round 7:
4yo: True or false: One person signed their name to the Declaration of Independence. False 8yo: How many people signed the Declaration of Independence? 56 10yo: Name three signers of the Declaration of Independence. George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, John Hancock, etc. Adult: Complete the famous line: “We hold these truths to be ___…” “Self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” (As much as you can!)
Song: “My Country, ’Tis of Thee” by Aretha Franklin
Round 8:
4yo: Who was the very first president of the United States? George Washington 8yo: Which Founder was a famous inventor, printer, and America’s first Postmaster General? Benjamin Franklin 10yo: Who wrote the words to our national anthem? Francis Scott Key Adult: Name one (or more) of the three authors of the Federalist Papers. Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay
Song: “Alexander Hamilton” by Lin-Manuel Miranda and cast from Hamilton
Round 9:
4yo: What is the name of the President’s house? The White House 8yo: What famous document starts with the words “We the People”? The United States Constitution 10yo: In what city was the Constitution written? Philadelphia Adult: In what year was the Constitution signed? 1787
Song: “The Preamble” by Schoolhouse Rock (had to find this on YouTube; not on Spotify)
Round 10:
4yo: What is the name of the character with a white beard, top hat, and striped pants who represents America? Uncle Sam 8yo: What are the first ten amendments to the Constitution called, as a group? The Bill of Rights 10yo: Which amendment protects freedom of speech, religion, and the press? The First Amendment Adult: Who is often called the “Father of the Constitution” and helped draft the Bill of Rights? James Madison
Song: “America the Beautiful” by Ray Charles
Round 11:
4yo: What is the name of our country’s national anthem? The Star-Spangled Banner 8yo: What do we call the famous bell that stands for freedom? The Liberty Bell 10yo: In what city can you visit the Liberty Bell today? Philadelphia Adult: What building did the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution both get signed in? Independence Hall
Song: “One Last Time” by Christopher Jackson from Hamilton
Round 12:
4yo: What do we call the leader of our country? The President 8yo: Name one (or more) of the three branches of the U.S. government. Executive, judicial, legislative 10yo: Name the two bodies in Congress. The Senate and the House of Representatives Adult: What system keeps any one branch of government from becoming too powerful? Checks and balances
Song: “Yankee Doodle Dandy” by Gene Autry
Round 13:
4yo: What color is the Statue of Liberty? Green-blue 8yo: Which country gave the Statue of Liberty to America, as a gift celebrating friendship and freedom? France 10yo: Name one of the Founding Fathers who served as Ambassador to France. Ben Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, or James Monroe Adult:Which French figure played a key role in the Continental Army and American Revolution? The Marquis de Lafayette
Song: The Armed Forces Medley by the United States Army Field Band
Round 14:
4yo: What is the capital city of the United States? Washington, D.C. 8yo: True or false: Abraham Lincoln was a Founding Father. False 10yo: What’s the nickname for the American flag? Old Glory Adult: In which city was the Declaration of Independence signed? Philadelphia, PA
Song: “Take Me Home, Country Roads” by John Denver
Round 15:
4yo: What do we call the day America celebrates being born as a free country? Independence Day 8yo: How many years of independence did the U.S. celebrate on July 4, 2026? 250 10yo: Which four presidents are on Mount Rushmore? George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and Teddy Roosevelt Adult: Two founding fathers’ deaths are remarkably linked. Who are they and what is the link? Thomas Jefferson and John Adams both died on July 4, 1826, exactly 50 years to the day after the Declaration of Independence was adopted.
Song: “American Pie” by Don McLean
How’d you do on the grown-up questions? :) I’d love to hear!
We are back from our week in Michigan, and it was wonderful: 33 cousins on a beautiful lake, fishing, waterskiing, sand dunes, group meals, tubing down the river, skipping stones, sunsets, s’mores, and more. I Bricked my phone for the trip (so, no email or social media), and the feeling of remove from everyday life was almost total. (Aside from, you know, the unavoidable mediating of sibling squabbles.)
The one drawback? The adjustment back to normalcy seems more challenging than if I had kept one foot in the digital world. And there’s been no easing in: I’m coming back to a full-court press of logistics, with VBS carpool arrangements to be made, a birthday to celebrate, a birthday party to throw, a kindergarten neighborhood ice cream social to host, a sleepaway camp to pack for, and a houseguest to welcome — and that’s all just this week. (Whew.)
But the week’s reprieve was worth it, and I’m grateful. On to what’s next!
On my calendar: — Annie, John, and Shep’s birthdays! Lots of number balloons, special dinners, and celebrations in our future. — June’s two weeks at sleepaway camp — a highlight of her year, every year. — Cousin Camp! After a skip last year, we’re thrilled to host our two NC cousins again for a week of sleepovers, bike rides, and bake sales.
What I’m loving right now: — June recently requested a pajama shorts set that was less form-fitting and in the style of Lake. After a little searching, we went with this pair in the blue stripe for the stunning sale price of $10 and they are SO CUTE in person. Very much a Lake look and feel if you have a little lady in your life who wants to coordinate! (This set is also very cute!) — I always enjoy The Atlantic’s cover stories (and appreciate reading them in print, because they’re often 20,000+ words!), but this recent one on online gambling (gift link!) was especially interesting, since it’s not a world I know much about. Worth a read — we’re actually discussing it for Articles Club this month. — Speaking of Articles Club — when I host, I usually line the table with taper candles. These are some of the best I’ve found at a reasonable price and with lots of color options. (And this and this are the newest additions to my tablecloth collection — a weakness, but at least I do use them all regularly!)
As a reminder, you can find allll the things I’ve loved over the last few years neatly organized right here!
What you’re loving right now:
This is where I highlight a few items here that have been popular in the last month with fellow readers, based on my analytics. Here’s hoping this will help you find something you’ll love!
— My giant sun hat, because we all know skincare won’t go too far without physical sun protection. — The pastel snackle box we used for Teacher Appreciation Gifts this year. Perfect for pool trips, picnics, and beach days, too! — The cleansing balm I’ve added to my skincare routine. I’m now a double cleanser and I’m not mad about it. Easy to travel with, too! — This smocked tank dress, my big purchase from the spring that’s still going strong. Even though I opted for a bolder pattern, it has seen SO much wear – the silhouette is just so easy to pull on and feels like the right choice for occasions both casual and fancy. The other versions, too! Red gingham and pale yellow — Our board game of the summer that’s genuinely as enjoyable with two players as it is with four.
What I read in June: — The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion, Volume I | I am on the bandwagon! My many friends that have read and loved this series warned me that it starts slow, so I wasn’t put off by the leisurely pace. I enjoyed meeting the inhabitants of St. Albans and look forward to picking back up with them in Vol. 2! These are light, delightful, wholesome reads. — Lady Tremaine | Okay — I enjoyed this book, but I don’t think it will be one of my favorites from the year. This is not because it wasn’t good — it was! It was clever, elegantly-written, it had some sympathetic characters, and the plot left me reading longer into the night than I should have, especially in the second half. It’s more of a me-thing, a quirk of my contrarian streak: I can’t help but think that the enormous popularity of revisionist fairy tales right now is entwined with our current culture’s pervasive relativism, something I disagree with. So I guess I’m just not rooting for this book, you know? Feel free to disagree in the comments :) — What Editors Do | I am reading this collection of essays at work in prep for some upcoming responsibility shifts; it is decidedly not a universal recommendation, but as a professional editor and writer, I’m really enjoying it!
Revisiting my June goals: Hang string lights, curtains, and, height ruler with my Dad’s help (We got to the ruler and made some progress on the string lights!) Film June in June Book our 2027 Yosemite trip (Done!! Can’t wait!) Tend to this month’s clutter spot: the attic End the school year and begin summer well Prep for sleepaway camp (Some prep completed, and some more to go) Organize the hot sauce bar at church for Father’s Day Celebrate Annie’s Walk Around the Sun Continue planning for the neighborhood kindergarten ice cream social, Annie’s birthday party, and Shep’s birthday party, all in July
July goals: — Hang backyard string lights and Annie’s curtains — Execute Annie and Shep’s birthday parties — Edit June in June — Tend to this month’s clutter spot: the attic — Host the neighborhood kindergarten ice cream social — Host and enjoy Cousin Camp — Finish writing my Sunday service message — Celebrate all of our July birthday folks well, both in our immediate and extended family
Let’s see… any buzzy book you’ve got a contrarian opinion about? Is there a particular month with tons of birthdays in your family? Have you just returned or are ready to head out on vacation? I’d love to hear whatever’s on your mind as we move into the second half of the year!
