10 of My Favorite Things About Summer

I’m a fan of summer. Perhaps you love summer, too. While I enjoy something about every season, summer remains my top pick.

Since enjoying this wonderful season is well under way, a top 10 list seems in order to share my favorite things. 

We’ll start at number 10 and countdown to my number one favorite thing.

(10.)  Reminiscing of childhood.

Reflecting on my childhood stirs a mix of good and not-so-good memories. Yet, when I think of summer, I remember fun and laughter and joy-filled moments. Memory lane reminds me of playing outside with my sisters and cousins.

Preteen and teen years meant days spent at the local swimming pool and the first time I jumped off the high dive. Another memory leads to number 9. 

(9.)  Catching lightning bugs.

Called fireflies or lighting bugs, these winged insects start appearing in June and are seen lighting up around dusk and nightfall. Recently, my grandson Foster spent the night. So I recreated this childhood favorite with him by catching lightning bugs and putting them n a mason jar. He insisted I do the catching while he cheered, “Go, Mimi, go!”

(8.)  Connection and Community Events.

Summer naturally gets us out and about in our neighborhoods, our towns and cities, and attending local events. Examples include: neighborhood yard sales or block parties, music and other festivals, county fairs, and community mission and outreach projects. Also, there’s day camps and programs just for kids.

(7.)  A blooming flower garden. 

My front yard sports the cutest flower garden. Encircled with stones, a small tree sitting in the center, the garden showcases several types of flowers. Blooms of stargazers/oriental lilies, African daisies, purple irises, and yellow day lilies. I enjoy weeding, watering, and caring for them to display all their glory. 

(6.)  Outdoor recreation.

No other season provides such great opportunities for outside play time: parks, sports, swimming, sidewalk chalk, bubbles, water games, biking, hiking, walking, picnics, and so much more.

(5.)  Slower rhythm of life. 

Sure, life happens in every season. Yet, for many of us, summer life is slower, more laid-back, and lazy—not ignore-your-responsibilities lazy. But like the “lazy river” at a water park…relaxing while gently floating along with a slower current.

And unless your children attend a year-round school, summer means a break from studies. However, as His children, the good Lord teaches us worth-while lessons when the rhythm of life is slow.

Like resting our weary minds and souls in Him. Or, slowing down and not running through life at breakneck speed.

The good Lord teaches us worth-while lessons when the rhythm of life is slow. Like resting our weary minds and souls in Him and not running through life at breakneck speed. #summer #jesus Share on X

(4.)  Warm temperatures. 

It’s true, I’m a warm-weather girl. Although sweltering temps and unbearable humidity is not desirable, I prefer warmer temperatures to the frosty digits in the dead of winter. Think about it, have you ever heard anyone say, The dead of summer. Not me. Warmth and the season brings growth and life. So give me 70, 80, and 90 degrees anytime over 10, 20 or 30 degrees.

(3.)  Camping.

As I type this blog post, my husband and I are camping at one of our favorite campgrounds in the mountains of North Carolina. Our camp site is beside a small creek. Listening to the water trickle over rocks during the day and especially at night inside our little camper is part of heaven on earth. I hear it’s soothing sound right now.

We cook our meals. We enjoy a campfire and roast marshmallows. And sometimes go to local attractions. Campers camp in the spring and fall. But summer is a busy and favorite camping season.

(2.)  Trips/vacations.

Our family loves to go on trips throughout the year, particularly in the summer. Though we used to go to the beach in July, the last few years we went in May right before summer officially started. But that’s never our last hoorah when it comes to trips. The Smoky mountains is a favorite place to visit Gatlinburg and Dollywood theme park. Just being together makes every trip special.

(Drumroll please.)

(1.)  Long summer days. 

The extended amount of daylight makes my number one spot on the list. In my neck of the woods—east Tennessee—sunset happens around 9:00 PM. This makes for long daylight hours. There are many tasks, activities, work, and more we accomplish when light hangs around longer than usual.

But when my son was young and bedtime came early, he never understood how it was bedtime without darkness. “Mom, it’s not nighttime yet, the sun is still out.” And he had a valid point. In Genesis, God created the heavens and earth. Then, the Lord created light.

“And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.” (Genesis 1:3-5, NIV)

Furthermore, it reminds me how Jesus is the light of the world and in God is no darkness at all. 

The long daylight hours of summer remind me how Jesus is the light of the world and in God is no darkness at all. #summer #lights #topten Share on X

“This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.” (1 John 1:5, NIV)

Your Summer Favorites

What’s some of your favorite summer things?

If you missed it, here’s my blog post, How to Laugh and Play More as a Family.

*Sometimes I participate in these link-ups:

Legacy Linkup/Inspire Me Monday/Kingdom Bloggers/Literacy Musings/Tell His Story/Purposeful Faith/Abounding Grace/Welcome Heart/Recharge Wednesday/Porch Stories/Destination Inspiration/Worth Beyond Rubies/Tune in Thursday/Sitting Among Friends/Heart Encouragement/Embracing the Unexpected/Fresh Market Friday/Faith On Fire/Dance With Jesus and Faith and Friends.

This post has been featured over at Grace & Truth.

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© 2019 by Karen Friday, All rights reserved