This past summer has felt like a tapestry woven with music, milestones, and memories I’ll hold close for a lifetime. Looking back, June and July were filled with moments so rich that even now I find myself smiling as I think of them.
A Night with Andrea Bocelli
In June, I had the privilege of seeing Andrea Bocelli in concert in New Orleans. This has been a lifelong dream that I honestly never thought would happen. Sitting there in the warm glow of the stage lights, I was reminded that music has a way of stirring the deepest places in our hears. His voice filled the room with both power and tenderness–and I found myself swept away not just by the songs, but by the beauty of the shared experience with everyone in that audience. It was a reminder that life is meant to be savored in moments of awe.
A New Chapter: Buying a House
July ushered in an entirely different kind of joy — we bought a new house! The process began on my birthday (May 19, 2025) when we saw our house for the first time. We knew this was the house for us…..this was the house God had for us. We put an offer in on June 14th (right before Ben’s birthday June 16th) and closed on July 11th. The process was both exciting and nerve-wracking, but God had His hand in it every step of the way. There is nothing like the feeling of holding those keys for the first time. This house represents not just a place to live, but a space to grow, dream, and create new beginnings…a place where we can hold our weekly life group and not have to sit on top of each other. Each room already feels like it’s whispering with possibilities – dinners with friends and family, quiet mornings with the Word and a cup of coffee, laughter echoing through the walls. (I will go into further detail in a later blog about just how miraculous our house journey actually was.) We will have been in our house for two months this September 12th, and already we have had a full house on several Friday nights. We’ve had our first women’s study luncheon, and we look forward to all the ways God will use this house to build His Kingdom.
Sister Adventures in the Smoky Mountains
As if buying a new house weren’t enough, July was also the month my sister and I packed up for a getaway to Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg. Ben and I closed on our house on July 11th, we started moving our things on July 12th, and then I left for my sister trip on July 13th. (I won’t deny that I was ecstatic I did not have to do most of the moving–our trip was planned in November, long before we were nudged to start house hunting.) This was our first sister trip, and we laughed until our sides hurt, wandered through charming shops, had our adventured at Dollywood, and soaked in the beauty of the Smoky Mountains. One of the highlights was staying at the Inn at Christmas Place – a hotel that feels like stepping straight into the Christmas season no matter the time of year. From the twinkling lights to the festive warmth, it was the perfect backdrop for sisterly bonding. I can only thank God for the restoration of our relationship and the opportunity to go on our first sister trip.
A Season of Gratitude
When I think of this summer, what stands out isn’t just the events themselves, but the way they stitched together to form a season of gratitude. Music that stirred my soul, a house that grounds us in a new chapter, and a sisterhood that filled my heart — all reminders that life, with its ups and downs, also brings season overflowing with joy when Jesus is the center of it all.
A Little Bit of This and A Little Bit of That 