30 Days of June: My Birthday Week

This year my birthday is on Friday the 13th, and that doesn’t intimidate me. What does intimidate me is the overwhelming sadness surrounding the funeral that now shares this date this year. It is a reminder that tomorrow is never promised and to make every moment count. Hold tight to your loved ones. And even when it feels daunting to smile and cheer on another year and have a party- do it. Every year on this earth is a blessing and deserves to be acknowledged.

So here’s more photography and precious memories. Here’s another week of 30 Days of June. Another week worth of beauty and appreciation!

Saturday night in a small town. Children with nets and fishing rods playing in a river. An old mill serving gelato right down the road. The sounds of 90’s acoustic music coming from one of the open barn doors. A river walk dotted with deer sightings as they wander though this shared space with us. Iola, Wisconsin, on a Saturday night. The start of Summer.

Sunday Night Supper. The Road. The gloomy day broken by rays of sunshine.

Monday. Green Lake. Quiet before the tourism season begins. Ours for the next few days.

BONUS: Renovations to check out. History preserved. Terrace Beach Resort.

Tuesday: Norwegian Bay Conservancy.

BONUS: The Bridges of the Hammer’s Trail in Lawsonia, Green Lake.

Wednesday: “Parting is such sweet sorrow.” Another getaway concludes with sunny skies to encourage us to go back home. Back to the garden that is waiting for tending and a party to prepare for, and a family in need of comfort.

“The Queen of the woodpile”

Friday the 13th. My birthday. We begin the day at a funeral and end it smoking meat in the rain with family, friends and puppies….and life is like that sometimes…one minute all the goals and to-do lists and busy-ness of our lives seem to run our days.  And the next you are praying for one more [good day with the ones you love]. Let the dishes pile up in the sink, let the lawn grow long, let all the work wait for another day…for today- this is all that matters.

My wisdom to share this year for my birthday-

Have the party.

If you can.

It might not feel like the right time. You might be tired and worn out. It might be cold and raining. There might be 1,000 reasons to cancel. But in the end you won’t remember the tears from the day. You will remember the smiles. You will remember the faces of those that showed up. And while there is nothing you can do to change the tragedy that occurred- you can choose to live in this very moment and make it matter.

“Oh it won’t rain all the time. The skies can’t fall forever. And though the night seems long. Your tears won’t fall forever.” – song by Jane Siberry

BONUS: Katie Jane’s 5th Birthday…many moons ago…