Pull Up a Chair: July 17, 2026

Well friends, we’ve reached the middle of July, and I think it’s safe to say that summer has officially unpacked its bags and made itself comfortable. The heat isn’t visiting anymore. It’s moved in permanently, claimed a seat on the couch, and refuses to leave until sometime around October.

Every year I forget this part of summer exists. In May, I’m excited about warmer weather. In June, I’m enjoying the longer days. Then July arrives and reminds me that there is a difference between “warm” and “the air feels like soup.”

Still, there are things about this season that I genuinely love, even if I spend a good portion of it complaining about the temperature.

One of the nice things about getting older is that you start paying attention to the little things that make life enjoyable. When you’re younger, you tend to focus on the big events. The vacations. The holidays. The milestones. Somewhere along the way, though, you realize that most of life happens in the ordinary moments between those events.

Lately, I’ve been noticing quite a few of those moments.

This week, for example, I found myself appreciating how good a quiet morning can feel. There is a brief window of time before the house fully wakes up when everything feels peaceful. The coffee is hot, the day hasn’t started making demands yet, and for a few minutes it feels like the world is willing to let you ease into things at your own pace.

Of course, that feeling usually lasts about twelve minutes before reality arrives carrying a to-do list.

Speaking of reality, life at Shady Pines continues to provide plenty of entertainment. This week included a discussion about whether anyone actually remembers what it felt like to be comfortable outdoors in Georgia. Several theories were presented. No one could provide evidence.

There was also an ongoing debate about leftovers. I have come to the conclusion that every family has at least one person who believes leftovers should be eaten immediately and another who believes they should be preserved indefinitely like historical artifacts. Somehow both groups live under the same roof and remain surprised by this conflict every single week.

Family life really is fascinating when you step back and observe it.

One thing I’ve been enjoying lately is all the fresh summer produce. There is something satisfying about this time of year when tomatoes actually taste like tomatoes and peaches are sweet enough to make you wonder why we bother eating them any other time. Watermelon continues to disappear from the refrigerator at an alarming rate, which tells me I am not the only one who feels this way.

The older I get, the more I appreciate seasonal things. Not just food, but all of it. The routines, the sights, the little traditions that mark the passing of the year. Summer has its own personality. The sound of cicadas in the evening. Afternoon thunderstorms that seem to appear out of nowhere. Neighbors lingering outside a little longer after dinner because the sun doesn’t seem ready to go down yet.

Those things won’t last forever. Before long we’ll be talking about fall decorations and pumpkin-flavored everything. As much as I enjoy autumn, I’ve learned not to rush through one season while waiting for the next.

This week I’ve also been thinking about how easy it is to overlook the things that are going right. The news certainly doesn’t help. Social media doesn’t help. Life itself sometimes doesn’t help. There is always a problem to solve, something to worry about, or a task waiting for our attention.

But there are also good things happening every day if we’re willing to notice them.

A phone call from someone you care about.

A funny conversation that makes you laugh harder than it probably should.

A good book.

A cool breeze after a particularly hot day.

An unexpectedly peaceful afternoon.

These aren’t headline-worthy events, but they make up the texture of a good life.

I think that is one of the reasons I enjoy these Friday chats so much. They give me a chance to stop and take inventory of the week. Not just the work that got done or the things that still need attention, but the moments that made the week enjoyable.

Because those moments deserve to be remembered too.

As we head into another summer weekend, I hope you find a little time to enjoy whatever is bringing you joy right now. Maybe it’s a family gathering, maybe it’s a quiet afternoon with a good book, or maybe it’s simply sitting in the air conditioning appreciating modern technology.

Honestly, no judgment here.

Around this house, we’re taking our victories wherever we can find them.

Until next week, friends.