This year, I've drawn up a list of hopes and dreams, and I plan to live out summer more intentionally. This is not a to-do list. I will not be stressing to check things off, and I refuse to look at summer days as opportunities to accomplish something. If I only get to half of this list, that's fine! The list is, for me, a guide for grabbing hold of sweet summer bliss- for avoiding the mundane trap of dinner on the table, laundry in the drawers, kids in the bath, day's done.
My goal is to get to the end of August and know where to summer went. I want to live it up, soak it up, enjoy every minute!
Here's to a summer of sweet and simple memories!
- Learn to sew
- Grow things
- Look for bees
- Read. And then read some more.
- Sleep
- Rise early for morning prayer
- Go camping
- Kiss on new babies
- Explore new places
- Read aloud to the children, an hour every day
- Swim in at least three different lakes
- Get to Mass, twice every week
- Shoot the breeze with friends, with neighbors, with family
- Get out the messy art supplies
- Take random home videos
- Read some more
- Visit Greenbluff. Often. Pick!
- Experiment with iced tea
- Watch a lightning storm
- Deep clean the kids' bedrooms, but only once
- Gaze at the stars with the kids
- Learn some new side dish recipes
Intentional Summer
So...how do you intend to live out your summer?
Sweet list Sarah. You truly will spend it amongst lovely things. :)
ReplyDeleteWish we could be there to go lake swimming with you!
Messy art supplies out is on our list as well. And a trail ride. And ice skating at the local indoor rink on a hot day. The microscope permanently out. Swimming, lots of swimming. Lots of little changes for good, not just summer too. Transitional things like furniture rearrangement, ONE closet cleaned, that type of thing.
And for me? STARTING that gratitude journal. Thanks for your inspiration and example there friend!
You have hit the nail on the head for me. I don't have a to do list as much as an opportunity to do list! I am going to get a big poster-board and decorate it with all of our family ideas for how to best enjoy the summer so we have a vision board to keep us in the right mindset. I'll be referring back here for more ideas!
ReplyDeleteI love you list too. I am making a mental "not to do list" because I have to. Otherwise each day looks like the one before it.
ReplyDeletewhat a wonderful, sane way to approach summer, Sarah! i hope your days unfold in peace and beauty. morning prayer is a good start.
ReplyDeletepeace keep you.
I love this list, Sarah! I too want to look back on a summer that was restful but full.
ReplyDeleteOh this list sounds scrumptious! Living intentionally is always the best way to live. I especially like your "shooting the breeze" line. We don't seem to do this often enough as a community, do we?
ReplyDeleteHappy Summer!
Teaching you to knit;-)
ReplyDeleteGuess you'll need to edit your list...
My favorite summer tradition around here is that whenever a thunder storm blows through, we all stop whatever it is that we are doing and congregate on our big, covered front porch. I'm not very spontaneous by nature, but dropping what I'm doing to get some fresh air with my family and without the phone, chores, etc. is one of my very favorite things about summer.
ReplyDelete