One thing that can’t be said for summer is that it isn’t busy. It is a different busy than the school year, but it is still busy.
Last week, I wrote a vastly popular (insert unladylike snort) post entitled 20 Inexpensive Summer Date Ideas. I mentioned in that post that reconnecting in relationships is the foundation of my summer plans. Time with God, my husband, friends, extended family and…
My kids.
I know, I know-I am with them practically 24-7. But summer is the time to hang as a family. Our focus isn’t school work or extra-curricular activities. It is making memories as a family. Memories in the everyday and the once in a life time.
If this is my goal, it requires intentional behavior. It requires scheduling my priority-family time. If I am not intentional, it won’t happen. The summer will fly by in a blur and we’ll be back to school before I can blink.
We have a busy ministry month in June with a retreat (I am cooking for it, and Mr. Hippie is hosting and teaching) a girls’ discipleship week (I am training how to teach kids’ Bible clubs), and 2 vacation Bible schools, but after that, we are free as birds.
We are doing nothing exotic as we got pretty exotic this past winter. We are just living…
What family time am I scheduling into this summer?
–Literary lunches. We started this tradition last summer and continued it throughout the school year. Every day I make my kids lunch and then I read to them for 30 minutes. We have worked our way through the first 6 Harry Potter books, plus 3/4 of Team of Rivals. We will finish HP and Team of Rivals this summer, and then I am on the lookout for another series.
last summer…Meres has surely grown |
–Tuesday evening Blues. From mid-June through mid-August, one of our local small towns hosts a Blue’s concert in a park by a river every week. We join up with the BFF and her family for a picnic, and enjoy the music, conversation and outside.
–Bike rides. I have new wheels, and while I am in training for a tri, my intention is to get all of us involved in this whole biking gig. I will put Meres in a seat, have LC pedal behind, and the boys will be solo. We have several great trails around that go through parks. I see picnics and pedaling in our summer. As soon as we get bikes up to snuff.
–National and State Parks. We within relatively short drives of several of the Great Lakes. Lining the lakes are State and National Parks. I am planning to get to a State park at least 4-5 times this summer. Plus I want to make it up to Sleeping Bear Dunes for a climb to the lake.
–Camper. We own a camper that is parked about an hour from our house. There is not much to do where it is parked, but it is definitely worth going-if only for the campfires. I am thinking of hiring out my living room painting. If I do, the kids and I will spend some time up at the camper. Wading in the creek, swimming in the gross lake, playing at the park, and burning lots of wood in the fire pit.
–Same old. We’ll do the things we always do…we’ll go to the bff’s mom’s pool. We’ll pick blueberries. We eat outside on our picnic table. We enjoy time with both sets of grandparents.
You don’t have to plan a vacation or even a stay-cation to have an intentionally great summer. You just need to plan moments. What are you planning for the summer?
19 comments
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Jenni Mullinix
June 7, 2013 at 10:15 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Fun ideas! Thanks for linking up to Thrive @ Home. BTW, I like the new look of your blog! 🙂
simplyhelpinghim
June 8, 2013 at 8:35 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
🙂 Thanks for stoppin by! I love my new look too! 🙂 Blessings!
Barefoot Hippie Girl
June 8, 2013 at 11:18 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Thanks, Jenni!
momstheword
June 6, 2013 at 9:39 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
It sounds like you are going to have a lovely summer! I have to write down things I want to do or accomplish for summer or, as you said, the weeks will just fly by and it won’t get done!
I have a Monday linky party called “Making Your Home Sing Monday” and I’d love for you to join us and link this up if you’d like sometime! 😉
simplyhelpinghim
June 7, 2013 at 6:25 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Thanks for sharing your link up, I will definitely add it to my link up page! Thanks so much for stoppin by! Blessings!
Barefoot Hippie Girl
June 8, 2013 at 11:18 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I will stop by. I think making a list is key. It allows room to be intentional and flexible.
Rachel
June 6, 2013 at 4:36 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Love the idea of “Literary Lunches”. I might have to add those to my day.
simplyhelpinghim
June 7, 2013 at 6:25 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
🙂 Thanks for stoppin by! Blessings!
Barefoot Hippie Girl
June 8, 2013 at 11:19 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
The literary lunches have been the best part of our days all year. I love it.
renee
June 6, 2013 at 10:53 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Those are some great ideas! We’re reading through the little house series- maybe we should do that at lunch too. We also have a state parks pass and intent to use it this summer!
Barefoot Hippie Girl
June 6, 2013 at 12:06 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Renee, that is a series we need to revisit. I love those books.
simplyhelpinghim
June 7, 2013 at 6:26 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I keep thinking that I need to get a state park pass! I’ll have to look into that again. Blessings hun!
Renee
June 7, 2013 at 11:58 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
You totally should Misty- we could hang together for free 😉
simplyhelpinghim
June 8, 2013 at 8:34 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I think I probably will, but probably not until August. That’s when they start selling the next year passes, so you get like 1.5 years when you do it that way. I know it will mean we can’t do much this summer, but it will allow for fall hiking and not just pay for 6 months of this year. Does that make sense?
Val Young
June 6, 2013 at 10:08 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Great post!
Barefoot Hippie Girl
June 6, 2013 at 12:07 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Thanks, Val! I am going to have to click over to your post, they won’t be socialized. I hate when people tell me that. I also respond, “praise the Lord!” =)
Debi and Charly @ Adorned From Above
June 6, 2013 at 9:42 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Great ideas.
Debi
simplyhelpinghim
June 7, 2013 at 6:28 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
🙂 I’m always so impressed with the posts the ladies have for The Help Meet Corner! 🙂 Thanks for stoppin by! Blessings!
Barefoot Hippie Girl
June 8, 2013 at 11:20 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Thanks, Debi. Have a wonderful weekend!