The Last Sunday Journal: Issue 04
The summer edition.
Welcome to The Last Sunday Journal. Published on the last Sunday of the month, this newsletter details simple and cozy observations of our life in West Michigan. Pour yourself a cup of something good and settle in. ✉️☕️🍃
I open my eyes to the small sliver of sunlight that’s peeking through our bedroom curtains. I can tell that Dan is already up with the baby; the coffee grinder is whirring and Eden’s little morning voice is coming from the kitchen. I sit up in bed and stretch myself tall, looking at the closet and debating whether or not this is a laundry day. This summer is just flying by.
The months of May, June, and July have seemingly blended together with a woven thread of hot sunny days here in Michigan. The exception being that we traveled to Prague for two weeks with the baby in June, a trip that I plan on writing about later this month.
Most days are filled with Eden and I making the best out of the humid and stifling weather that we’re having this summer. There’s been a lot of baby pool time in the backyard with cold hose water catching the light, soft blanket lounging in the shade with a few favorite toys, walks up and down our cute downtown streets to get that much needed mid-morning cup of coffee, and of course, hours logged on our front porch with the baby on my lap or in her bouncer, enjoying the breeze through the screened-in windows.
Dan has really enjoyed grilling out this season, and our dinners have mostly been a rotation of marinated chicken, steak, or salmon that’s been charred on the grill. My favorite homemade chicken marinade has included a dollop of chipotle ranch, a squeeze of lime, a generous helping of garlic powder, paprika, and salt, with a topping of olive oil. We’ll make lemon-y couscous and arugula to go along with our main or grill up garlic and peppered vegetables on the side — divine.
This has also been the first summer where our family has been close to the big and beautiful Lake Michigan shoreline. I didn’t grow up going to a beach and have been fascinated by West Michigan lake culture for some time. It somehow reminds me of the East Coast: the sprawling sand dunes and cute small towns and easy going locals.
The baby is still so scared of the shoreline waves — the water crashing onto the sand in front of her eyes. I hold her and soothe her and laugh at her open mouth and quivering lip, but always scoop her up and take her back to our beach tent when I know she’s had her fill.
Dan holds her in his strong arms as we wade out into deeper waters. And this, she absolutely loves. I swim up to her feet and tickle her toes. She shrieks in delight as I bob next to her and pretend to bite her fingers, covering them with kisses instead. I float alongside them in the sun and look at the dunes and my husband and my baby and the sky and feel completely soaked in gratitude.
As each summer day comes to a close, we feed Eden a bowl full of oatmeal before putting her down with a bedtime bottle. Once she’s fast asleep, I’m outside on our side porch or front yard, watering our growing garden of potted plants and newly planted hydrangeas. Dan will cook up our dinner and then it’s time for the kitchen closing shift: dishes and bottle clean up and wiping down all surfaces. Evenings have found me in bed early, trying to stay awake long enough to read a book or watch a show, but hardly ever to write.
I’ve been frustrated with myself for not keeping up a steady personal writing routine this summer, but have let that feeling go in the last few weeks. This has been my first summer as a mother. There have been so many moments that demanded my attention. I will always remember my daughter’s first little words, her curling hair, her small raspy voice when she wakes up from her nap, the way she has changed how she sleeps and how she inspects something new. Moments that make up our days that make up our lives together.
So while there are cobwebs on my keyboard and the fridge in the kitchen needs a good scrubbing and I haven’t gone on a run in who knows when — I’m okay with that. My slow and simple summer is okay with that.
I enjoyed reading this. I love the peaceful voice in your writing. Greetings from London.
What beautiful photos and spaces. And I love the name of your newsletter. 💛