Summer Breezes and Sunny Days

It’s summertime here in Nashville.  Makes me think of the lyrics of the old Seals and Crofts song “Summer Breeze.”

“Summer breeze makes me feel fine, blowing through the jasmine in my mind.”

I don’t know about jasmine in my mind, but I do love summer breezes. This song brings up lots of great summer memories for me;  long, carefree days at the beach, eating watermelons right from the watermelon patch, riding bikes until dark in the neighborhood with friends, enjoying long days when the boys were young without the constraints of a school schedule, traveling to visit friends and family, summer afternoon thunder storms, drinking iced tea and sitting on the front porch.  The list could go on and on.  It’s so much fun to remember and makes me so very grateful for God’s goodness in our lives.

And it begs the question, what memories will I make this summer?  Will I just busily go through my to do list each day with all my projects for the house, and ministry and our travel schedule, or will I take the time to make sweet memories with family and friends in the midst of our busyness? Great memories are made on vacations and trips and planned events, but some of our best memories happen on the most ordinary of days at home or in the  park or on the porch or by the grill.  May we recognize these moments for the gifts that they are and remember and cherish them.

I need to go get the porch ready and make the iced tea and call my friends. What about you? Praying you have a breezy summer filled with sweet days and a grateful heart as you make memories with those you love.

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Image from Ashley Phipp’s lovely website, Simply Designing

Friends and Family

It’s baby time around here.  Grandbaby number two will be here sooner than expected.  His birthday has been moved up to July 23 and we are all excited to meet him.  We had a shower for his mother last Tuesday evening.  It was a lovely summery affair.  We found the cutest invitations with a whale so that became our theme.  Pretty shades of blues to welcome our newest member of the family and shower his parents with clothes and blankets and gifts galore.

Our friends were so generous and kind and we all enjoyed being together for an unrushed evening of celebration for this precious gift from God. Thanks to my co-hosts Sandy Houston and Moriah Murrell.  I love doing parties with you both.  And thanks to all graced us with your presence.  Most of all thanks to God, the Giver of life, for His goodness in our lives.  We are so very grateful.