I love summer. It is by far my favorite season of the year. I love to be outside where the warmth of the sun invigorates me. I love going to the beach, feeling the sand in my toes, the misty breeze off the ocean, and hearing the gulls (which, I must say, also kind of scare me a little!) as they wait and hope for a tiny morsel of something we’re munching to fall so they can fight over it and gobble it up! I love a good summertime thunderstorm that comes up quickly and sends us all to the basement, when we’d really rather be standing at the window watching, but we know it’s safer to go ‘below!’ I love the smell after a summer rain, when the air is a little cooler and everything seems new again. I love it that the sun wakes me up in the morning, instead of the alarm clock, and that the sun is still up when Kurt gets home from work, so it feels like we have more time together in a day, and more time to do things together outside. I know it might sound strange, but everything just seems more happy and pleasant in the summertime to me!
Pete’s sermon on Sunday was so helpful to me, to remember that these wonderful summer days are pale in comparison to the beauty of heaven. I honestly have thought about that each day this week! It is such a gift to enjoy life on this earth. But, the truth that heaven will be even better than the best day here, stirs my soul to marvel at the creator and my savior who has bought my way!
One of my favorite things about the summer is the abundance of things to do together as a family. (or maybe it’s just easier, since there are no extra clothes, boots, coats, hats, gloves, etc to get on everyone before heading out!) What do you enjoy about the summer? I’m always looking for new ideas for family time over the summer months. Is there something you do with your family over the summer that you’ve come to look forward to each year? Is there a place you’ve found that lends itself to family memories? is there something you did in the past that you love to recall? I would love to hear about the simple things of summer that bring a smile to your face as you think about them.
Barbara – I love your attitude regarding all of this! What a wonderful woman you are to be “on the look out” for fun things to do with your family. When I was you, I was too busy trying to keep my schedule and life normal, that I wasn’t very open to the spontaneous things around me. I let rush hour/traffic and nap time dictate my days. What you are doing here is far more of an investment than anything you can imagine now. Way to go girl-friend!
P.S. I have no practical suggestions. I’ll wait till your book is published!
I’m with you, Barbara. I love getting up at the crack of dawn and going outside to do my chores before it gets too hot. I marvel at the little things–the hummingbird moths (is it a bug, or is it a bird?), the flowers in my garden, eating dinner on the patio with my family and then making smores around the fire, my bees making honey…it is a wonderful, blessed time of year.
We love to go to Mt. Gretna Area and bike ride on the rails to trails there. Then we treat ourselves to the Jigger Shop. When June berries come in we go to pick them. We might make it all the way home someday with some left in the pail make a pie!
Oops sorry Mt. Gretna comment from Chrissy Ovalle
We have many great memories from Knobels . It is an amusement park that is more geared towards families than most. just a great place near Elysburg. there is also a nice campground right there which was great cause you could do the rides for a few hours then go back for afternoon naps (when they were younger) then back over for more rides in the evening. We went for a number of year and the kids loved it. However that does involve a chunk of money. For free or cheaper things how about going for a hike. the zoo! Pack a picnic and eat at a park. take them to a different playground every other week or so. It’ll feel like something new just because it’s not the same one. there is one at Long’s Park, the one in Hempfield, Oregon Dairy, and there’s more, I’m sure. Oh and you know what else is excellent to do as a family? Extend hospitality to another family. Not only are we instructed to do that in the Bible, but so much could be said about the benefits and blessings and rewards and lessons and fun For the children that are gained through doing so. Oh, and here’s one……go visit the elderly. Could be in a nursing home (you could go from room to room and have your children sing them o song) or just someone that you know of that Is cooped up and lonely. Oh my word, with all your beautiful children…. They would absolutely love that!
well, t hat’s it off the top of my head.
Just to clarify,
the above is from Joanne.
Just went to a local swim hole with the twins and my great nieces. That was loads of fun!!! And it was about 15 degrees cooler under the canopy of trees, so we forgot how hot it was until we got in the car to head back home. It would work for you to go there, but the little ones would have to stay close to the edge where the water is shallow. It is about 10 minutes from my home. But the water is a bit muddy, so if they don’t like that, no fun for you all!
What comes to mind is cherry picking.
We picked and ate and loved it,it wasn’t so much like a chore