Summer is a great time to connect with family after a long school year. From back yard barbeques, hangouts by the pool, and family roadtrips—now is the time to unwind and gear up for a fun-filled summer! But before you go filling up your schedule to the max, make sure you’re prepared to make the most of this summer by keeping growth, unity, and honor at the forefront of your plans.
Take a Breather
The first step to a successful summer vacation: Actually take a break! It may seem obvious, but the start of summer comes with a lot of excitement, and with that excitement comes the tendency (or at the very least, the temptation) to overcommit and overextend ourselves.
Take time to celebrate the end of a successful school year. Reflect on the highs and lows, the good and the bad. Consider the roadblocks you faced while celebrating the victories won! Learn from it. Appreciate it. Thank God for His grace to see you through it.
Plans for Summer
As you begin to look at time off, weekend plans, and visits to family and friends, make sure you’re stepping back to think of the big picture. Start by asking yourself some preliminary questions to help keep you focused on what matters most.
How much time do you want to have at home? Nobody likes getting to the end of summer exhausted right before the school year. Develop rhythms of adventure and rest! Who is on the list to prioritize time with? Before we go saying yes to everyone with an open slot on their calendar, make sure you’re prioritizing your time with the people you most want to see. The friend down the street can come over anytime, but the out of town family member might not get to see you until the holidays!
There are a multitude of questions to ask yourself. But the most critical is this: Do my summer plans communicate who and what matters most to our family?
Jump Into the Summer Fun!
Now all that’s left is to jump into the summer fun! Make sure you’re using this time to grow in your relationship with God and one another; focus on family unity and honoring each other with the extra time together. Make sure you slow down enough to take snapshots (both mentally and with your camera!) of all the summer fun you’re having. Summer is a great time to max out the fun—so go and make the most of it!
5 Prayers for My Family This Summer
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for getting us through this school year. Help us to relax and unwind as we reflect on all that’s happened. We thank You for the strength You gave us to overcome the obstacles and the grace You showed in the victories we won. I pray that this summer is a time for us to focus back on You and on our family. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Dear Lord,
We’re so excited for summer! Help us to be wise in our planning. Remind us of the importance of prioritizing the things and people that matter most. You are so good to us and we want to give You all the glory this summer! Amen.
Almighty God,
Give us rest as we remove the burdens from this past year and give them to You. Thank You for supplying Your Spirit who comforts, cares for, and empowers us. Let us live by the Spirit and experience His leading throughout our summer plans. Amen.
Jesus,
We ask that You be the center of our summer plans. Whenever we lose sight of You, bring us back. Give us hearts of gratitude that remind us to thank You for new mercies each morning and Your steadfast love throughout every day. You are our everything. We love You and pray this in Your name, amen.
Holy Spirit,
Move in our hearts and stir up our affections for one another. Help us to love one another with Christlike love. Whenever there’s conflict, help us to meet each other with compassion, grace, and forgiveness. In Jesus’ mighty name, amen.
3 Cheap and Easy Ideas for Your Family This Summer
1. Ultimate Slip N’ Slide!
Don’t want to go out and buy a slip n’ slide this summer because you know it’ll just end up crumpled in the garage and ruined before next summer? No problem! Just run down to your local hardware store and pick up a box of painter’s plastic! For just a few dollars, you can make a slip n’ slide as long as you want. Run your plastic, drizzle on a bit of dish soap, spray it with the hose, and get sliding!
2. Homemade Snow Cones!
Using a blender or food processor, crush up ice into a snowy powder. The secret is to do short pulses to prevent clumping and hard spots in your “snow.” Snow cone syrup is cheap and can easily be found online or in grocery stores during the summer months. Let family members mix and match flavors—the only limitation is your imagination!
3. Nature Walk Bracelet Bookmarks!
While this one may be most appealing to little kids, this activity is fun for all ages! Grab some packing tape and make wrist-sized loops with the sticky part facing out. Slide it over your wrists like a bracelet and go for a nature walk or hike. As you find flowers, leaves, and any other treasures in nature, stick them to your bracelet. Once you’re home, snip the bracelet off and lay it flat. Cover the sticky side with another piece of tape to seal it all off. And just like that you have a bookmark full of memories!
