4th Of July

For the days we step barefoot into summer’s lingering lightAnd remember what has ready been won

Brooke Mousetis
July 02, 2025

Hi Hi!

First off, thank you!!!

So many of you replied to last week’s newsletter, and I can’t tell you how much it meant to read your kind words, especially about the pool liturgy. I felt like we were all sitting on the edge of summer together, letting our legs dangle in the water and our souls take a breath. I’m so grateful you’re here.

And speaking of the pool… we’re still basically living there. ☀️

A few things I’ve been loving lately:

These click-in goggles have been a game-changer for my girls. No more tangled hair, and they can get them on by themselves (major win).

If you’re still working on teaching your kids to go underwater, we always start with snorkel-style swim masks that cover the nose — total confidence booster! Linking my favorite toddler size (which I can only seem to find at Target!?) and bigger kid version for you too.

I’ve also had a few less magical moments this week. Like the one where I accidentally left 24 ounces of freshly thawed breast milk on the counter (hidden behind piles of dirty pots and pans) for way too long… and had to dump it. All. 😭 I’m fine. Everything’s fine. But also that’s just the woooooorrrrst!

On the menu this week: Still working on sneaky ways to up the protein in meals my kids already love. Mac and cheese is a forever favorite around here (but let’s be honest… it’s basically delicious nothing). As a kid, I remember my Mom putting hot dogs in my Mac and cheese, so I’ve been slicing in Tenton Grass-Fed Beef hot dogs (Costco has them, but you can also grab them at Whole Foods). Easy, kid-approved, and a solid little boost in nutrition!

And now, on to one of my favorite holidays of all time: The Fourth of July. It’s second only to Christmas in my heart. Growing up, it was always full of cousins, food, water games, fireworks, parades, and that feeling that summer had officially arrived. Now I get to watch my kids soak it all in, and it’s the best kind of full-circle moment.

So I wrote a liturgy.

It’s not just an ode to sparklers and summer, though there’s a little of that too. It’s a reflection on freedom — the kind we already have in Christ — and what it means to mother from that place. You’ll find it just below, and I hope it meets you right where you are.

Also! If you’re local to Lancaster, PA, I’d love to invite you to something really special: My dad and brother co-wrote a kids’ musical that’s hitting the stage next weekend (July 12th & 13th), and sweet June will be performing in it! It’s a story of pirates, adventure, and friendship, with an energetic cast of kids ages 10 to 15. If you’ve got little ones (or just love local kids’ theater), this would be such a fun family outing. You can buy tickets online, or grab them at the door! We’d absolutely love to see you there, cheering them on!

Quick reminder: walk in love.’s FINAL fall collection ever launches tomorrow, July 3rd. This is the last fall line we’ll ever release (cue all the emotions). I’ll be sharing try-ons in stories, but don’t count on the algorithm to show it to you — that’s so three years ago. 😉 Look us up, go watch it, save your favorites, and set a reminder if you need to!

And finally, thank you to everyone who ordered clean beauty with me during the COUNTER relaunch! My order arrived yesterday and it feels so good to have my hands on my favorites again! Or, I guess my favorites on my face again? Either way. I appreciate your patience (and loyalty!) with COUNTER so much. ❤️

Okay, onward!

Here’s that liturgy for freedom ↓

🇺🇸 A Liturgy for the Fourth of July

For the days we step barefoot into summer’s lingering light

And remember what has ready been won —

You are good,

There is freedom.

Freedom to be held.

Freedom to be known.

Freedom to delight.

Freedom to slow down.

Freedom to rest.

Freedom to be fully ourselves, and fully Yours.

There is freedom in the celebration, the colors,

But also in the quiet heart of a mother who knows

She is already free.

Free to raise her hands in surrender.

Free to choose presence over perfection.

Free to mother from peace, not pressure.

Remind us that every sparkler lit with giggles,

Every berry squished between fingers,

every blanket spread out on a hillside

Every firework exploding in the sky

Is a mini celebration,

Of the freedom that is already ours in You.

May our children watch us run through our days—

not waving the flag of exhaustion or fear,

but carrying the banner

of love.

Of faith.

Of trust.

Let them see a mother who delights in the beauty of it all,

who laughs in lawn chairs

and stays out past bedtime,

who carries love like a torch,

and welcomes wonder without rushing.

May we, as mothers, remember the way our children chase joy,

Like they were made for wonder.

Like they’ve never once forgotten they are free.

And when the sky melts into dusk

and fireflies begin to rise like tiny praises,

may we look up and whisper—

with them in our laps,

beneath the star-stretched-night

This is good.

This is freedom.

That’s all I’ve got for this week! Happy 4th of July! 🙂

Still here — in the middle of the middle,

Brooke

P.S. You can reply to this email if you’d like! Would love to hear from you. :)

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