I LOVE YOU JUNE!!!

I have a friend named June. I love her too but this is a shout out to the month of June!

I don't know about you, but I feel like I'm coming out of a cocoon. It's like I've been inside a wrapping not completely able to take a full breath. Maybe as we get older we feel the harsh climate more acutely. I don't know.

But suddenly, since the beginning of June, I want to be more intentional with the time I have, to contribute in whatever ways I can, as I feel this surge of new energy.

I will make a separate post about some of the latest developments with our beloved heritage building now known as The Glenarm Hall but for now...

Thank you June!!! And summer weather!!!

Something I've noticed, contrary to what I once expected, is that life becomes more challenging as we grow older. I used to think that raising children, navigating marital difficulties, and balancing a career would be the greatest challenges I would ever face.

However, I see that the truly difficult years often come later. Watching people we love become ill and suffer brings a different kind of burden—one that is often accompanied by a sense of helplessness. At the same time, life does not pause. We continue trying to meet our daily obligations, care for those who depend on us, and manage the countless other responsibilities that demand our attention.

What makes it even harder is the knowledge that this is not a temporary season. For many of us, with friends and family members who are the same age or older, these challenges are likely to become more frequent and more complex in the years ahead.

This leaves me feeling a responsibility to make a difference while I can, despite juggling significant commitments and the realities of everyday life.

In the midst of it all, caring for ourselves can begin to feel like a luxury rather than a necessity—something we know we need, yet often struggle to find the time, energy, or resources to prioritize.

I'm not complaining. Rather, I look back at my younger self and realize how unaware I was of the bigger picture. I was so consumed by the challenges of what I considered my "normal" life that I failed to appreciate how fortunate I truly was.

I should have been grateful—for everyone's health, for ordinary weekends, for my daughter being young, for the daily chaos that seemed so overwhelming at the time, for the promise of the future, and for the energy and vitality I simply took for granted. Instead, I often focused on minor inconveniences and the moments when things didn't go according to plan.

Only with time have I come to understand that many of those things I viewed as burdens were, in fact, gifts. The noise, the busyness, the responsibilities, the constant demands of family life—these were all signs of a life that was full, vibrant, and rich with possibilities. Looking back now, I see them through a very different lens.

As June brings longer, brighter days and more opportunities to reflect and create lasting memories, I am deeply grateful for the many wonderful people who have been part of my life's journey, often through what feels like serendipity. Their presence has enriched my life, shaped my experiences, and left me with memories I will treasure always.