A sweet childhood memory was of my Granny and Grandpa’s front porch. The adults sat and talked as they strung green beans from the garden. My cousins and I played in the yard until we got hot, and then we’d settled in the shade on the porch.
Since they were working their way through bushels of beans, I realize that it wasn’t all just pleasure for the grown-ups, but the fact that we were all together made it special. Family stories were told, laughter was shared, and sometimes the conversation turned to God and faith. On occasion, the days ended with some of Grandpa’s homemade ice cream.
Other times, rows of tables would be set up in the yard. Everybody in the family brought platters heaped with fried chicken, biscuits, bowls of potato salad and my Aunt Louise’s oh-so-delicious fudge. There was usually so much food that we couldn’t get all the dishes on the tables.
Summer's Simple Pleasures
A day at the beach
For many, summer means the beach, but if a sandy shore is out of reach for you, a trip to a nearby lake or even a nice, long splash in a pool can do the trick.
A tumbler of ice-cold lemonade
Sure, you can enjoy this refreshing drink year-round if you wish, but it'll never taste better than it does on a warm summer day.
Fireflies
No summer evening is complete without just a touch of magic, and few things in life are more magical than watching the fireflies come out just after dusk.
Outdoor movies
It's hard to beat a summer night at the drive-in, but if there's not one near you, no worries: Many cities and town offer al fresco screenings of family-friendly motion pictures in municipal parks, so grab a blanket and go!
Going barefoot
The last day of school has long meant the first day of going barefoot. Kids everywhere look forward to kicking off those shoes and enjoying the feeling of turf or sand between their toes.
Falling stars
Nothing sparks the imagination of kids of all ages like spotting a falling star streaking across a summer sky that's ablaze with twinkling lights.
Electric fans
The refeshing whir of a fan is one of the treasured sounds of summer, and few kids can resist leaning in (but not too close!) to hear their voice made gravelly by the rotating blades.
Hand-cranked ice cream
No self-respecting youngster would ever say no to ice cream, even the store-bought variety, but there's something very special about homemade ice cream that's been hand-cranked in a bin full of ice and rock salt. Make ours peach, please!
Miniature golf
Nothing tops miniature golf for a fun and affordable summer outing for the family. There aren't as many of these courses around as there once were, but that's all the more reason to treasure those that are still going strong.
Porch swings
This old-fashioned form of relaxation is among the simplest of summer's pleasures, but one of the most indelible ones, too. Anyone who's ever watched the sun go down, listened to one of Grandpa's stories or held the hand of someone special while swinging in a porch swing will never forget it.
Playing catch
Tossing a baseball or softball in the backyard can make for the best kind of quality time between a parent and child. No rules, no competition, just a gentle back-and-forth that has a way of opening the doors of communication.
Lightning storms
Fourth of July celebrations are great, but nothing tops Nature's own fireworks on a warm summer night. Watching these atmospheric pyrotechnics inspires a special kind of awe.
Road trips
The romance of loading up the car and heading for the horizon holds an allure for just about all of us, whether we yearn for a family vacation or a solo journey. There's an awful lot of country out there, and it just wouldn't be summer if you didn't hit the road to see at least a small part of it.
Roadside produce stands
Pulling over while traveling a country road to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables from the very people who grew them is a special delight of the summer season.
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There were days at the lake, sleeping in tents or on my uncle’s houseboat. I can still close my eyes and remember the aroma of the breakfasts that Uncle Ellis cooked each morning. We swam. We played ball. We made memories.
I know that my grandparents’ generation didn’t have many of our labor-saving devices to make life easier, but I miss the slower pace of that era. I miss counting the fireflies while rocking on the porch, leisurely Sunday dinners around their table and fun moments shared as a family.
Life is busy for most of us today. I often feel like I’m on a merry-go-round that keeps going faster and faster, that my to-do list stretches from North Carolina to Kansas. Now that our children are grown and have responsibilities, we have to work around numerous calendars to plan anything. Sometimes we get so busy, we miss the precious moments that are zooming by.
My husband and I really tried to spend as much time as we could with our sons while they were still at home, but we wish there had been more. Now that we’re blessed with six grandchildren, it’s even more important to be intentional when it comes to family time. We want them to grow up with wonderful memories of time together.
It takes planning for all of us to go on a trip together, but those days at Disney World or at the beach are priceless beyond words.
Friends, those memories you make as a family are the glue that will bond your hearts together through the years. That’s my message for all of us today: Don’t miss summer. Celebrate each precious day so that years from now, you have a wealth of memories to look back on. What fun family time can you plan today?
