Favorite Things, Grief, Life, Universe, What I Kept

What I Kept – July 2026

Kari

I began writing this series in May of 2022, not intending to make it a tradition. But it stayed, and so did you. Thank you for showing up each month.

Over time, I’ve realized these posts are really my own practice of the art of noticing. This idea has become more common lately, but the heart of it is simple: paying attention to the small moments that might otherwise pass by unnoticed. These posts are me noticing life, keeping those little moments in my phone, and sharing them with all of you.

I found this at one of my favorite used bookstores. This album, along with a few others, takes me right back to my childhood.
source
Lettuce that doesn’t make you poop yourself, thanks to my mom’s neighbor. 💜

This made me smile. I saw the graphic above on TikTok this month and imagined all of us!

Then, a few nights later, this drawing appeared in my Pinterest feed:

The table is set for us. 💜
A week later, this showed up in my feed! I’m pretty sure the universe is trying to tell us we need to have a meal together.
Life growing among the ashes
I bought this “new” book only to discover it wasn’t new after all. I bought it a very long time ago and tucked it away in a drawer to give as a gift.
I’m not mad. I have questions.
Did Donna even give it to Gina? Or did Gina return it? Did they ever get together??
My new blog friend Jeanne sent this to me in July. I love getting mail, and a new book arriving in the mailbox is my favorite kind of mail.

I can’t believe I didn’t share this plant (a prayer/zebra plant) in my plant post! It is one of my favorites. Every night, its leaves move upward from their coiled position. Here it is in all its nighttime glory. 💚

This just came on by itself one day. Probably a battery glitch. But I will forever love little moments like this.
And this…111
And this… my friend Erin was carrying this same quote with her in July too. 💜
We’ve started a fun new summer tradition of going to DQ after dinner on Friday nights with my mom, Mike, and Ella. We get cones and go for a drive afterward.
Much better for our nervous systems than true crime. 😂
The dog version of a weighted blanket
source

This month, I held space in my heart for two people walking through one of life’s hardest goodbyes.

One is a dear blogging friend who said goodbye to her mom after a long journey. The other is someone I’ll likely never meet, a woman whose TikTok videos documented her dad’s cancer until the end. She has no idea who I am, but her family’s story stayed with me.

Grief has a way of changing us. For me, it has meant quietly holding space for people I’ve never met, simply because I recognize the road they’re walking.

But I’ve also realized that holding space isn’t only for grief.

This week, I’ve been holding space for Mike, too.

Today he graduated from cardiac rehab after 36 weeks of showing up three days a week. It was hard work, and I’m so proud of him for sticking with it. Tomorrow he turns 57. His grandfather died of a heart attack at 56, so it’s been an emotional week for both of us. Mostly, I think we’re just grateful.

As part of cardiac rehab, each graduate creates a playlist that reflects their journey. I’m sharing Mike’s because I love the idea of telling part of your story through music.

Mike cardiac rehab – Spotify

Mike cardiac rehab – Apple music

I’m also sharing the song Lisa used in a photo collage of her dad. It has become one of my favorite songs, and now every time I hear it, I think of him. And now, I think of Jill and her mom, too. And I think about Mike and the journey we’ve been on this past year—the fear, the uncertainty, the healing, and the gratitude I feel for where we are today.

I’m also sharing links to both Jill and Lisa’s spaces on the internet. If you’re so inclined, maybe you’ll visit, read their stories, or simply hold a little space for them, too.

Gratitude: Open Space Practice

The Thin Place: Lisa Joy Christman

Timmer on the Internet (her TikTok account)

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53 thoughts on “What I Kept – July 2026”

  2. So much beauty and goodness this month! Your prayer plant is stunning, and love the repeat messaging about gathering and sharing a meal around a large table. Finally, a big congrats to Mike!

    Isn’t is interesting how much life and death, improvement and decline, and hope and helplessness seem to coexist and intertwine? Sometimes, in the noticing, the beauty and the tragedy are one and the same. 💜

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    1. Thank you so much. 💜

      I love how you put that. It really does seem like all of those things are happening at once, don’t they? The beauty doesn’t erase the hard parts, and the hard parts somehow make the beauty stand out even more. And thank you for celebrating Mike with us. Reaching this milestone feels really meaningful.

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  3. So beautiful as always, Kari. These little bits always give me a boost of positive energy. How wonderful that Mike graduated from Cardiac rehab. I’d say that’s a huge thing to celebrate! I’m so happy for both of you!

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    1. Thank you, Michelle. This really means so much to hear. 💜

      And yes, Mike graduating from cardiac rehab feels like a much bigger milestone than either of us expected. We’re really grateful to have reached this point. Thank you for celebrating it with us.

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  4. Congratulations to Mike for reaching such an important milestone. My paternal grandfather died at 47, before I was even born. I think about that sometimes and reflect upon how lucky I am to have had 10 more years (and counting…hopefully counting a lot). Life is truly random and unfair, but at least that has fostered an appreciation in me.

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    1. Thank you so much. Reaching this point has definitely made us pause and appreciate what we have in a way we probably didn’t before.

      I’m so sorry your grandfather died so young. Life really is random and unfair, which makes the ordinary days feel even more worth noticing.

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  5. Now I have that Chicago song stuck in my head, but I kinda like that. It’s better than so many other songs that hang out there, and it reminds me of childhood summer. For me, this summer has been about taking care of myself. Some health numbers changed, and that was enough to finally get myself to take my well-being seriously. Or I was just in a place to be ready, who knows? The more I read to figure out what I need to do to get back to a better place, the more I kept seeing what your book says:  diet, movement, sleep. (Also, relationships and purpose) I’m so glad to hear that Mike and you have reached such a significant milestone in his recovery. It’s so true that we can’t really care for others if we don’t care for ourselves. As I’ve been practicing that this summer, I can see the ways in which I can be more present for everyone I care about. I see these ideas all through your collection for July.

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    1. I love that Chicago is stuck in your head now. Honestly, there are worse songs to carry around, especially when they bring back memories of summer and childhood.

      I’m so glad you’re taking care of yourself and noticing how that changes the way you show up for the people you love.

      And yes… diet, movement, sleep, relationships, and purpose. The unglamorous but powerful things. I’m still learning this too. Mike’s journey has been such a reminder that caring for ourselves isn’t selfish.

      Thank you for seeing those threads in my July collection. It means so much that you notice. 💜

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  6. Congratulations to your husband. My husband graduates tomorrow after three months of PT for his knee replacement. It’s not as big of deal as cardiac rehab, but he’s happy his knee is no longer the worst they’ve ever seen! You had so many special moments to share this month.

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  7. Congrats to Mike on his recovery, I like that idea of getting together for dinner…all of us 😁. I was saddened by that quote by Marjane Sartrapi who it seems after who husband died of cancer at age 53, she went into deep depression and died of a broken heart 😔 I read and saw the film adaptation of her graphic memoir Persepolis and read her additional graphic memoirs.

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  9. Happy Birthday to Mike! So glad to hear his recovery has been going so well. I’d love to have dinner together! I’m curious about the book inscription too.

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  10. Such beautiful nuggets of gold. I was thinking as I was reading that I feel like I savor your posts, viewing each thing slowly so as not to miss a thing, and then when I got to the thoughts on holding space, I realized that’s what your posts do … they hold space for the reader to feel, breathe, connect, and reflect on your observations. It feels reciprocal and like your energy is flowing through it. Thank you.🙏💞

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    1. Oh my goodness, thank you for this beautiful comment. 💜

      I love the way you described savoring a post, because that is exactly how I hope people feel when they visit here.

      I never thought about my writing as holding space, but I really love that. Thank you for sharing that with me. I think the connection we create through these little corners of the internet is special. 💞

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  11. Happy birthday to Mike. What a milestone to graduate from cardiac rehab. I hope this means he is feeling well and doing well? What a road to walk, I am sure there were so many hard emotions involved, my friend. Sending all the love on his special day.

    I think the art of noticing is really an important one. Too often we can just zip through our days and not remember or notice a thing. It’s so important to look around once in a while, like Ferris Bueller. I know you’ll love that reference.

    I’m so curious about Donna and Gina. I hope they didn’t have a falling-out!

    As always, I love all these snippets of your life, and right now I’m thinking I want a zebra plant! xoxoxo

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    1. Thank you! Yes, he is doing really well. He will actually be able to stop taking two of his medications this month, which is such wonderful news. It has been quite a journey, and we are so grateful for how far he has come. 💜

      I love that you mentioned Ferris Bueller because YES! That is exactly what I mean by the art of noticing. There is so much beauty in the ordinary moments if we just slow down enough to see them.

      Right? I’m rooting for Donna and Gina!

      Also, I highly recommend a zebra plant! They are such fun little plants. 🌿 Thank you for always reading and caring about all these little pieces of my life. xoxo

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  12. It’s 7.30 in the morning here in the UK and, as is my way, I’m catching up on emails, Facebook n Instagram. I only do this once a day before my day starts properly.
    Without referring to specific content in this post I just want to say a heartfelt thank you for letting my day begin in such a special, thoughtful, warm and reflective way.
    I’m still reading your past posts ( from the beginning)to catch up on your blog and am enjoying how you make them so inclusive 🙏

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    1. Oh my goodness, thank you so much for this beautiful comment. It means a lot to know that my words are part of the beginning of your day. 💜

      I’m so touched that you are taking the time to read through my older posts too. That is quite the journey! I love that blogs allow us to connect across miles and share pieces of our lives with each other.

      Thank you for being here and for your kindness. I’m so glad you found your way to my little corner of the internet. 🙏

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  13. I never knew the title of that song, nor did I knew Chicago sang it. That was a nice surprise.

    Holding space. I like the concept. I need to be better at this. Thank you for sharing this.

    It is so good to hear of Mike reaching an important milestone. I like the idea of creating specific playlists for different journeys of one’s life.

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    1. I love that the song was a little surprise for you!

      I’m still learning about holding space too. It sounds simple, but it’s something I’m continually practicing.

      And thank you for celebrating Mike’s milestone with us. 💜

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  14. Congratulations to you and Mike for reaching such a profound milestone. It’s wonderful news.

    You shared some terrific poems in this post. They’re beautiful and vast in their simplicity.

    I hope August treats you well.

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  15. I really enjoyed this post. Being able to hold space is such a valuable gift.

    You might be interested to know that it took me the length of listening to CTA Does Anybody Know What Time It Is to read this particular essay. I’ve always loved that song, and it came out in a good year 😉

    It is a boring world. On the flip side, we also have few ogres or trolls…

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    1. Thank you so much. Holding space has become something I value more and more as I’ve gotten older.

      I absolutely loved that you timed my post by a CTA song! That made this music nerd ridiculously happy!

      And your last line made me laugh. That’s an excellent point. Maybe boring isn’t so bad after all. 😉

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  16. That fresh lettuce was a true gift! I just ordered my first salad at a restaurant last week because they grow hydroponic lettuce. I needed something green rather then veggies! Congrats to Mike! That is a HUGE accomplishment and certainly something to celebrate! Now I’m craving Dairy Queen..lol! I am anxious for their fall Blizzard flavors already!

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    1. OMG, who knew having salad would feel like a gift? I made a salad with red pepper, cucumber, cheese, grapes, turkey, and ranch earlier this week. It tasted so good. Little things.

      Thank you, friend! We are definitely celebrating him this week. Saturday night we’re going to the city to celebrate with the girls, my mom, and Anna’s boyfriend. Can’t wait. 💜

      I crave DQ all week! Last week, the one we typically go to didn’t have chocolate ice cream, so we drove to another one! 🤣

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  17. I always love seeing the photos you’ve saved and words of wisdom from books you’re reading.

    Congrats to Mike for finishing cardiac rehab! I know his heart health will be a lifelong journey (well, technically it is for all of us, haha, but you know what I mean) but I bet he’s glad he doesn’t have to go to a place 3x/week anymore.

    The little health food store in McHenry orders greens from a farm in Woodstock and has the orders delivered to their store. I’ve been picking up fresh greens every Friday. Thank goodness for local farmers! This morning I read that now raspberries and blueberries might be contaminated, too. Guess what I have both of in my fridge?! Oh well, I’m eating them anyway for now. Will say a prayer to the Universe that they will nourish me instead of giving me explosive diarrhea!|

    I love that your family has a Fri night ice cream date.

    The Spotify link for Mike’s playlist didn’t work. :-(

    xoxo

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    1. We said it will be a lifelong journey, but I’m so glad he is taking it seriously. I’m so glad he listened to his intuition in January. There were so many signs he missed, and it could’ve gone really badly. He actually doesn’t miss the 6 a.m. wake-up calls, but he did love the camaraderie of the men in the group.

      I love our tradition. 🍦

      Ugh…thank you for letting me know. I’ll fix it now. 😘

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  18. Having gone through all these moments, I am now sure we have known each other before! 💜. Thank you for the acknowledgment – link and peek at my bookmark. 😊 I am particularly drawn to the quote by Hafiz, that glowing plant, and the ball light with star cutouts (A great gift idea for someone I know), and oh, oh, oh – that ice cream!!

    Is that your little desk? So sweet. And for the empath book mention by Judith Orloff. That might be wonderful to do next year after my year on Trusting Life with Louise Hay. Thanks, once again, for sharing.

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      1. Wow. It’s like a double synchronicity!! First, both books, then the ‘don’t take it personally’ concept. 😊 I’m going to add the empath book to my Goodreads list, and then order it from Thrift books when I next order something. I’m already juggling 3 books, and it’s not good!

        Now .. the desk. I used to have one very similar to that. When I turned 11 or 12, I asked that my room be painted pink and my furniture painted off-white, satin finish. The original real maple dresser is upstairs in my studio, still in a depressive state. This desk? I had my Dad saw off one side and the center, so I had stacked drawers! Still here in my office. Maybe our furniture should meet. 😂😂😂

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      2. Double synchronicity indeed! I love this. And now I’m laughing at you already juggling three books because that sounds like something I would absolutely do. 🤣

        I’m so glad you’re going to add the empath book to your list. It’s actually a daily book with just a paragraph for each day, so it can be read in little doses. I use it as part of my soul homework, so it doesn’t really feel like another book I have to sit down and get through.

        And your desk story! I love that you still have it, and that your dad helped you turn it into exactly what you wanted. There’s something so special about still having pieces of furniture from childhood. And yes, I think our furniture should absolutely meet. I feel like they’d have a lot to talk about! 🤣💜

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  19. I just realized I read blogs, but didn’t scroll down far enough and I missed this one. Sorry I’m here so late. Congrats to Mike and to all of you for getting through a difficult time. Continued good health to him.

    I died laughing at no unicorns, only dickheads, etc. Very funny. I’m also excited for this big dinner that we’ll all be gathered at . . . soon? Bah ha ha.

    I’m so curious about what the deal was there with Gina and Donna. Did Gina never see the inscription in the book cover? Did she not hang out more with Donna, who was clearly open to that?

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    1. You never have to apologize! I get behind so much, and sometimes I just have to miss some, unfortunately. Thank you, friend. We appreciate all of your good wishes.

      Let’s make a blog dinner plan! Wouldn’t that be fun?

      And yes, I want answers too!

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  20. I love your prayer plant, and now I want one for myself. #plantenvy

    I’m SO very happy for Mike, and of course your family. Getting him through this major heart/health event is nothing short of a miracle. May he continue to heal, strengthen, and live a long, long healthy life.

    The reason I can’t have an endless dining room table is because of Dickheads. #billsanddickheads. (Ok, I’m giggling so hard!!)

    We all need to know what happened with Gina and Donna!

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  21. Congratulations to Mike! That is an accomplishment and nothing is more important than a person’s health, so GOOD FOR HIM (and YOU!) My paternal grandfather passed of a heart attack at age 59 and my Dad had his first heart attack at the same age. I was honestly a bit worried for myself when I turned 59.

    We had one of those prayer/zebra plants growing up but my mom called hers the watermelon plant!

    Ok – this was a huge OMG moment – the ‘I hope something good happens to you today’ sticker?? I saw one on a car about two hours ago! Right in front of me! How crazy is that? Also, the car in your picture is the same car that I drive!

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    1. Thank you, friend. It really is an accomplishment. When he was in the hospital right after his surgery, an elderly male volunteer came into his room while his dad and I were there and gave him this heart pillow that they give to open-heart surgery patients. He told Mike that he’d also had open-heart surgery many years ago, and if he could offer one piece of advice to him, it was to finish cardiac rehab. It’s a huge commitment, but so worth it.

      I totally understand feeling that worry. Genetics are scary, especially when it comes to the heart. ❤️

      WHAT??? That is SO cool! You and I are so connected like this. I love this so much.

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  22. Congrats to Mike! That is a milestone worth celebrating!

    Kari, you posted a while back about lantern lights…. I am still here, still following your lantern light. I just walk slowly these days.

    So this, um… *glances at Internet*… this thing… happened in my life and I found myself in my I Need To Listen to 70s Type Music Phase. I don’t really know 70s Type Music tho? Except clearly my kidhood self does. The kid who was riding in the backseat of the car, listening to whatever the adults listened to (as we did back in the day). And I needed to recreate that time of my life but I was clueless.

    Enter your Blog. I found your Playlist of music for your Dad and sooooo many of the songs I needed were on that list. Bless you and your wonderful Dad.

    I don’t know how you knew someone on the Internet would someday need this playlist but Thank You. And Thank You for keeping the path lit.

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    1. MADDIEEEEE. I’ve been thinking of you! When I saw your name in my comments, my heart jumped in a good way!

      I’m so glad you’re still here, following the lantern light. Just know that you’ve been on my mind, my friend.

      And it makes my heart so very happy that my playlist helped you. That playlist reminds me so much of sitting in the backseat of the car – that time when we didn’t have to make decisions or figure anything out. We just sat there and listened and were.

      Thank you, my friend. For being here all these years. For your beautiful comments. For the gift of your friendship, even though we’ve never met. I hope you know how much you mean to me. 💜

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      1. Aw Kari. Thank you 🩵

        The internet is so mish-mash but I’m grateful it brought me you. Lately your writings, for me, are like the voice of a wise big sister.

        Oh my goodness YES! That’s IT!!!

        That time when we didn’t have to make any decisions or figure anything out. When we rode in the peaceful cocoon of the backseat, our little safe world on wheels, and just were.

        I want that back. Your playlist nudges my nervous system closer. Thank you for that.

        If I were less overwhelmed, I’d make a list of all the ways to create that feeling & then try to indulge in one of those each day….

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  23. Kari, what a brilliant bumper sticker. Thank you for capturing it and sharing it with us all. That clip from ‘The World Could Be Otherwise’ is very timely. Himself is in need of a lot from me at the moment and I’ve been getting very lost in it and not making sure I put some time into taking care of myself. Thank you my lovely friend 💕

    Amazing to see the growth amongst the ashes – brilliant photo. I always keep books which have messages in them, but I also love buying second-hand books which have hand-written notes too. There’s something a bit special about them. And books in the mail is absolutely the best type of mail.

    Love the candle turning itself on – that’s the best sort of energy to come into your life. I’ve taken a snap of the Holding Space page as I find it inspiring.

    And best of all – such brilliant news from Mike. Congratulations to him on sticking to it, I’m so happy for you all 💕

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    1. Thank you, my dear friend. And please remember to take care of yourself, too. It’s so easy to get lost in taking care of someone else, especially when they need a lot from you. I hope you can find some little pockets of time that are just for you.

      I love that you keep books with handwritten notes in them, too. I agree — there’s something really special about knowing a book had a life before it found its way to you. And yes, books in the mail are absolutely the best kind of mail!

      And thank you for being so happy for us about Mike. It has been quite a year, so seeing him reach this point has meant so much to both of us. 💕

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