Life, lately: summer edition

August is a hard month. This time last year, I was slowly saying goodbye to my Dad. Days felt slow. Long. Painful. But joy was found as well. I spent almost every day with him and my Mom that month, laughing together, remembering together, being together. It's a gift of time God gave me that I'll always cherish. 

​As I navigate through the memory of last year, I'm trying to focus my attention on the present. I've been writing more than I have in years. I've found motivation in unusual places. And I've rediscovered a passion for words I thought I lost. August, last year you kicked my butt. This year? I'm kicking yours.

Here's a bit of what I've been up to this summer and what I'm currently working on/enjoying:

• Celebrated both my birthday and Alejandro's birthday, as well as our 8-year anniversary. Enjoyed one of my favorite meals at one of our favorite local Italian restaurants. Eating, drinking, and talking for hours = perfection. Especially when it includes spaghetti bolognese. 
• Played with my childhood best friend, who came to visit with her husband and daughter. To have her here is soul-nurturing.
• Spent July 4th with said BFF and family at Disneyland. (I'm not crazy. You're crazy.)
• Celebrated my Mom's 70th in Newport Beach with Alejandro, my brother, sister-in-law, and niece. Bittersweet for sure, but we had a blast.
• Shopped the Nordstrom Anniversary sale. Duh. New shoes at discounted prices? YES, PLEASE.
• Celebrated THE NAMING OF COLTON BLACK's two-year bookaversary. 
• Finalizing the draft. More on that to come.
• Writing my way through the book Creating Character Emotions by Ann Hood. It's been invigorating, waking up early to write an exercise a day. (And I am NOT an early bird.) 
• Seeking quotes from book editors for MARKED. It's a story/novel I'd love to revisit. But each time I do, I'm left discouraged and frustrated. I NEED HELP. And thankfully, there are professionals out there who can. 
• Cooking all day everyday. August is a frugal month for us, so we've been eating all our meals in. Which means I'm baking more than ever before. (Sugar and carbs help soften the blow of no In-n-Out for a month, no?)
• Dinners with family and friends. 
• Coffee dates with friends. These ladies, in particular! 
• Watching my mom perform in her tap group.
• Therapy. (Praise the Lord for therapy.)
• Watching movies while working out. (My favorite way to "forget" I'm exercising.) I'm into The Maze Runner series and The Divergent series. (Shock.) 
• Finishing The Bachelorette and beginning Bachelor in Paradise. I am not ashamed. (Maybe a little.) 
• Rewatching The Man in the High Castle (new series out October 5th!)
• Reading The Mortality Doctrine series by James Dashner. Book one, finished. Onto book two. 
• Drinking two cups of coffee a day. (Still wish it were four.)
• Waiting for fall to come. (Who's with me?)
• Jumping on the diffuser train, finally!
• Playing Catan. Anyone play this game? It's addicting and often times LONG. Like 3 hour games. 

How's your summer shaping up? Back to school for any of you? I'd love to know! Once again, thanks for following along. HUGS.