“Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land.”
~ Song of Solomon 2:12

Reflection:

Ah, sweet summer!

June ushers in the days of sunshine and warm breezes that we so look forward to all winter.

So, while I await the edit of my next book, releasing in September ’27, I’ve created a summertime bucket list. Here are a few of the activities I hope to accomplish during my summer off from the regular research and writing schedule.

1) Taking day trips to the Colorado high country with my husband, Dave, backpacking with delicious picnic food and hydrating drinks while soaking up the majesty of foothills, mountain peaks, and our wide, blue sky. There is such peace in nature, jah? I can almost smell the raw, earthy scent of the foothills. I can also imagine my Lancaster County Amish friends harvesting their first cutting of hay, and, oh, the joy they will take in filling roadside vegetable stands with riches from their gardens!

2) Organizing my home office. What’s fun about this is discovering paper files to shred. Do you have paperwork just languishing and waiting to be sent to the cloud or discarded in File 13? Maybe things you really don’t need anymore, or things that your children wouldn’t want or know what to do with someday if they’re downsizing the house?

3) Taking time to encourage family and friends with kindness and just listening (like Ella Mae Zook loves to do) over iced tea or ice cream sundaes, the latter of which I love to make. What special treats do you most enjoy preparing or eating on hot summer days?

4) Visiting friends near and far and recounting the blessings of God over the past year. What things has the Lord taught you that might go a long way in lifting up someone in need?

5) Reading my TBR list of authors. Being a writer myself, I cherish time to fall into a book that is completely different from the ones I write. And I love reading at my leisure on the back deck surrounded by potted flowers and hummingbirds, without a deadline to distract me. Can you picture this? Do you have your own favorite summertime reading spot?

6) Attending outdoor concerts with a cooler of healthy snacks and drinks, watching the sky change from its brilliance to twilight, and then the stars appearing to dazzle the moment. Breathtaking, and beautifully punctuated by wonderful music–one of my very favorite things!

7) Taking extra time to read and study God’s Word with our small group and individually at home. I like to journal what I’m learning as I walk with my Savior, growing and flourishing in the faith. Do you attend a Bible study group or a Bible class? They are such a meaningful reason to gather and share this journey called life with others.

8) Starting a new family album (scrapbooking). I haven’t made the move to making digital albums yet–maybe you have and can tell me the pros and cons. For now, I’m old school, cutting and pasting and using pretty decorations on each page featuring actual photographs. This is one of the ways I relax, and it’s a great way to pass along my memories and thoughts to my children and the next generations to come . . . always with our family’s spiritual heritage in mind.

These are just a few of the things I’m looking forward to enjoying this season. Please feel free to share your summer bucket list in the comments below.

And a very happy Father’s Day to all the dads!

Happy summertime, dear friend,
Beverly Lewis