Hello June!

June: Laying Stones, Digging Deep, and Doing the Work That Matters

Yesterday, a friend came by, and we got to work... The kind that leaves you sore the next day in places you forgot had muscles. Later in the day, one of my oldest daughters grabbed a shovel to help us with the final job. Thank you, DJ and Rozy! The trenches will hold water for my trees and the trees provide homes for precious birds.Before Rozy showed from her job in Tucson, DJ spent the day digging trenches, hauling rock, and she laid a path to the back side of the chicken coop, where the hens leave their little gifts each morning.

Arizona dirt is dusty, and stubborn, and heaven forbid you live on caliche! Thankfully, most of my yard is backfill from digging the crawl space under our house.With each shovel of earth and every rock moved, we weren’t just tidying up—we were carving out something useful, something lasting.

DJ showed up with a big smile on her face, rolled up her sleeves, and helped move what I couldn’t manage alone, and then Rozy came by and grabbed that shovel, I was reminded how important it is to ‘be there’ for each other. That rock path DJ made? It’s more than just a walkway. It’s a reminder that life is easier when someone is willing to step into the dirt with you.

June feels like that too. It’s the month where the real work begins—not the dreaming and planning of spring, but the sweating and doing of summer. It’s the season of effort. And sometimes the most worthwhile work isn’t flashy or fun—it’s trench-digging, path-clearing, soul-steadying work.

So here’s to the friends who show up with strong backs and big hearts. And to the rest of us, dig deep, and do the work that matters.

“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up.”

—Ecclesiastes 4:9–10

This month reminded me that life was never meant to be a solo journey. Whether we’re digging trenches, writing books, or just getting through the week, having someone beside you makes all the difference. Do you know of someone who's been ill? Ask how you can help. Know someone who just moved near you? Take them a care package... Let’s keep lifting each other up—one stone, one step, one day at a time!

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Creator: Caelestiss | Credit: Getty Images