​

Hello Reader,

Whew! This summer is passing fast, isn't it?

Did you know July is "National Family Reunion Month?" That makes it the perfect time to host my dad's side of the family for a little get together this Saturday.

I didn't pick the date; my mother and aunt did -- months ago. But didn't it work out nicely that they chose a weekend in July?

Since I currently have family reunions on the brain, that's the theme for this week's link list.

Maybe you'll find an idea or printable to use at your next family gathering -- whether you meet up in the blazing heat of summer or wait for the weather to cool a bit before congregating. 😎

Free resources for you this week:

• ​Dealing with Difficult In-Laws - learn to get along better than you ever dared to dream
• ​Family Olympic Games - everything you need to stage some friendly family competitions
• ​All-American Potato Salad - our recipe will feed a crowd (goes great with burgers or BBQ)
• ​Conversation Starters - use these dinnertime discussion prompts to get folks talking
• ​Photo Taking Tips - reunions are the perfect time for snap an updated family portrait
• ​Grace & Greetings Coloring Page - welcome guests with joy & send them off with a blessing

What I'm reading this week:

I've gotten four chapters into Smarter Faster Better by Charles Duhigg. So far, this book is every bit as riveting as his NY Times bestseller, The Power of Habit.

Chapter 4 has been so especially thought provoking that I had to take a break in reading to reason through its implications. Here Duhigg talks about our psychological need for closure, and how people who become too focused on closure when setting goals often tend to stick with superficial, easily finished tasks, sometimes to the neglect of deeper, harder, more meaningful work.

As you've probably noticed, I definitely do enjoy marking things off my to-do list! My question is: Is there a better way to harness the motivation I get from doing so to help me tackle tasks that aren't easily accomplished in a week -- or a month or year or lifetime?

I'm still thinking on that. I plan on finish the book -- maybe this week, maybe not. Perhaps the remaining chapters will offer practical suggestions for making that switch.

What we're eating this week:

One of the dishes I stocked my freezer with this week was Mama's Marvelous Minestrone Soup, and we ate the first batch on Monday night. Mmmm-mmm! It is so flavorful, and chucked full of good-for-you veggies!

Progress on last week's goals:

Well, except for ✅ attending a family birthday party and ✅ publishing another podcast, I basically trashed my entire to-do list last week in favor of devoting time to more spontaneous plans.

These included ✅ being interviewed by a local news team for a short story about homeschooling, ✅ restocking our freezer with a dozen new crockpot meals, ✅ giving another sewing lesson to my daughters-in-law, ✅ enjoying a date night with my husband while all our kids were involved with other events.

Personal goals for this week:

• weed/spruce up flower beds
• paint (at least) one more panel on my wall mural
• host a reunion for my dad's side of the family on Saturday
• record, edit, and post episode 3 of my podcast
• order homeschool curriculum/ set schedule for fall semester
• book hotels for upcoming trip
• email syllabi to my algebra classes for co-op

Another poll for you:

I read this morning that actor Alan Alda and his wife Arlene just celebrated their 66th wedding anniversary. They met at a party. The cake fell on the ground, and the two of them were the only guests to still eat it.

Raise your hand 🙋🏻‍♀️ (or hit reply to let me know) if you'd still eat stuff that's fallen on the ground.