Ideas for a Summer Break

Now that it’s mid-June, I hope you are able to breathe a little! I’ve always thought May to be one of the fullest months. It seems to last six weeks—into mid-June! Graduations, Proms, weddings, end of the year celebrations, athletic tournaments—each year the list grows and life becomes a blur.

We desperately need a rest! Or at least little pockets of time to sit in nature without our phones or to-do lists and breathe. It’s hard to do because so much of our identity is caught up in what we accomplish, and for many, it’s hard to sit when so many little people are pulling on our bodies and making demands!

Even Jesus needed to escape. I think of the times He left His disciples and went into the wilderness or out to sea for brief moments to simply sit with His Father. To soak in His presence. If Jesus, the Son of God, needed these moments, how much more do we! (Mark 1:35, Luke 5:16, Matthew 14:13.)

Escaping doesn’t have to be a big deal or a fancy trip. While our culture emphasizes big, sometimes it’s more valuable to think small. A thirty-minute walk in the woods alone with no devices. An early morning rise to watch the sun make its debut into a glorious day. Sometimes, regularly scheduled escapes can refresh us more than a big deal vacation. But even on a big vacation, it’s helpful to plan some quiet time alone with our Heavenly Father.

I need to take my own advice!

So, I’m taking a break from blogging until the end of August. However, I’m leaving you with a few favorite blogs of mine, and some recommendations for summer reads.

Some of my blogs to check out:

• Two Dangerous Phrases
• Importance of Not Growing Lazy in Your Marriage
• Multigenerational Friends
• One Surprising Thing Every Marriage Needs
• You are the parent, not your child
• A Short Devotional—Joy

Here are some of my favorite authors who write “feel-good, not stressful, books”:

Jan Karon, Peter Mayle, Diane Mott Davidson, James Herriot, Louis L’Amour, Wendell Berry.

For my still favorite reads, check out my summer break blog from last year:

Fun Reads, Blogs, and Thoughts for a Summer Break

I pray that your summer is filled with deliciously quiet moments!

I’ll be back in August with news of my 10^th Big hike in the Northwest Cascades with my friend Melody!