Summer!

Summer has turned into my favorite time of year. No its not because I hate winter - in fact I love cold and snow! Actually, I love winter as much, but for its own reasons. This post, however, is dedicated to all the things I love about summer (in absolutely NO particular order, just as it comes to my mind):

my blonde-haired, blue-eyed husband and kids and their brown skin
dirty feet
no makeup, no hair-dos
simple cooking (grill some meat and a salad!)
reading on my porch while the kids nap
swimming
no bundling up children, just plopping them in the car or stroller
bare-feet
gardening
mowing lawn
house that stays cleaner
yard that gets messier!
windows open (house and car!)
long, lazy days
ice pops continuously in freezer
kids running in the yard
riding bikes
long walks
picking flowers
crab-walking babies on grass
hiking
reading to my kids on a blanket outside
garage sales
listening to peepers at night
listening to song birds in the morning
cat naps
t-shirts, shorts and sandals
Memorial Day, 4th of July, and Labor Day
vacation to the ocean
sitting on a park bench with my husband, watching our kids running and laughing

As a kid I loved summer because school was out. Before I knew it, I was an adult, working all summer, except for the one week I took vacation. I'm thankful I am able to stay home with my children, and I feel like I have a chance to enjoy my childhood summers all over again. So what I love the MOST about summer, is having tuckered-out kiddos at the end of the day, who are only tired because they were running around the yard, not because they have a mommy who runs them from this thing to that.

I remember feeling very discontent a few years ago. I hated waking up in the morning with nothing to do. I would take my child to everything, never slowing down to have the Lord work on my heart and help me learn contentment. But the Lord was (and is) my strength, and He alone helped me to learn to be content. Being content is not a natural trait that only a few lucky ones have. No, as the Bible says in Philippians 4:11-13, contentment can be learned, no matter what your circumstances are.

My prayer for you is that you too will be able to slow down, and learn contentment this summer.

Blessings,

Jen