5 Ways to Make the Most of This Summer

The countdown is on!!

We are wholeheartedly looking forward to the end of the school year.  Just six more days to go!

While I have created a summer learning program and written out reading lists for my girls, I know that within the first week, things can take a turn for the worse!  Settling into a different routine and figuring out the best way to spend our less-regulated days can take a little getting used to.

However, I'm hoping to remind myself often of these five ways I can make the most of these few months.  When school starts again in late August, I want us to look back over a summer in which we'll have created new memories and just enjoyed being together.

1.  Realize that my children will never be this age again.  This is the only summer ever that I'll have a 13-year-old daughter and a 15-year-old daughter living in our house.  We'll be spending a lot more hours of our day together than we have over the past nine months, so I want to enjoy what they're enjoying in this season.  I also want to seize opportunities to teach them things they need to learn at these ages, while appreciating their individuality as I see how God has made them and work to develop the strengths He's given them. 

2.  Understand that our days will not all unfold exactly as I planned.  We all know I'm a planner; I like to have a schedule to follow.  But summer has a way of throwing a wrench in my well-thought-out plans, whether it's the weather or someone getting sick or friends canceling a get-together.  I'm hoping that I'll see these disruptions as God's hand at work and move on to plan B without too many issues!

3.  Consciously choose my attitude each day. This especially comes into play when #2 happens! I can be grumpy about having to drive the girls somewhere on days I want to stay home.  I can go off like a firecracker when they start arguing.  I can wish that we'd made different plans for the summer.  Or, I can choose joy and gratitude, and try to pass those feelings on to them.

4.  Include what works for our family, not anyone else's.  Maybe friends are doing crafts every day or going to really cool camps or doing family campouts out in the backyard.  (I'm allergic to tents ;) Those are all good, fun things, but they may not be what our family enjoys or what fits into our lifestyle.  We like backyard badminton and cornhole; homemade ice cream in our simple Cuisinart ice cream maker; a family game night; an after-supper trip to Dairy Queen; or watching reruns of old TV shows on MeTV.  You do what works for your family without comparing it to what others are doing..

5.  Know that God has something He wants to teach me each and every day.  Whether it's patience or forgiveness or grace, I want to be more like Him when this summer is over.  Sometimes I struggle with being faithful in my Bible study and prayer when our regular schedule is disrupted.  I don't want that to be the case this summer.  In fact, I'm hoping that doing a devotional with our daughters will keep us accountable to each other!

Whenever you begin your summer break, I hope that this season will be a wonderful time for you and your family!

What other ideas do you have to help us make the most of this summer?