Share Four Somethings: June 2022

Happy Summer! The days are officially getting shorter now, but there’s still plenty of sunshine to be enjoyed in the coming months. (Along with fireflies at dusk, the sight of which brings me all sorts of joy.)

I say this every month, at least to myself, but I can’t believe it’s already time to link up with Heather Gerwing for another Share Four Somethings. Starting with …

Something Loved

Before we went to Yellowstone National Park a few weeks ago, I heard from several people how awe-inspiring it is. I figured it would be wonderful, but I had no idea.

For three full days, we spent hours in the car, gazing out the windows, trying to take it all in. Every time we went on a new stretch of road, it was like entering another country with even more jaw-dropping scenery than the last stretch.

My favorite parts involved water—several waterfalls, Yellowstone Lake, Yellowstone River—and a mountain pass that was both terrifying (for someone who is a bit scared of heights) and breathtakingly beautiful.

Speaking of water, it still boggles my mind to think that three days before devastating floods hit Yellowstone, we had visited the north entrance of the park and driven on roads that basically no longer exist now. I feel badly for all the people whose livelihoods depend on the tourism traffic that is on hold indefinitely, not to mention everyone who had planned to visit Yellowstone later this summer.

We normally take our family vacation in August. I don’t know exactly why we changed things up this year, but I’m so glad we did.

Something Gleaned

Comforting truth from a favorite Psalm:

Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? …

If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.

Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. ~ Psalm 139:7, 11-16

Something Braved

Until about five years ago, I was afraid of making bread. I think it was because yeast intimidated me, I had never done it before, I was scared of messing it up.

Then one day, I just decided to give it a try. You can read all about it here, but the bottom line is this. Overcoming my fear of making bread gave me confidence to push through other, far more significant fears.

I thought of all this a few days ago when I opened up my Magnolia Table: Volume 2 cookbook and made, for the first time with no help from anyone or anything except my stand mixer, a recipe called “Garlic Knots.”

We had them for dinner that night and this is all that was left when we were done:

Are you avoiding or putting off something you don’t think you can do? Go for it, my friend. You never know how good it might feel (or taste) to do it—or how far the ripples will go.

Something Achieved

I’ve been blogging since September 2014, and last week I hit “publish” on my 400th blog post. As I shared in that post, I never set out to reach this milestone. Now that I’m here, though, I’m nothing but grateful. Blogging has taught me so much about writing, about community, about encouragement, about God’s timing and provision.

If posting every week ever becomes drudgery, or stressful, or not fun, I’ll probably stop. But I can’t see that happening anytime soon.

• • •

Now it’s your turn. Please share in the comments if you’ve ever been to Yellowstone (or another amazing national landmark) or if conquering a silly fear has ever helped you tackle something more serious. Or, if you prefer, tell us about your own set of Four Somethings from the past month.

♥ Lois

P.S. I’m linking up this week with Share Four Somethings, #tellhisstory, InstaEncouragements, Recharge Wednesday, Let’s Have Coffee and Grace & Truth