1. Summer officially begins this week (in the northern hemisphere)…what was your favorite thing to do in the summer when you were a kid? What do you like most about summer now?
Interesting! I have very few memories of “summer” as a kid. Since we lived in West Africa, summer was just an extension of the hot season and since I was homeschooled I also don’t remember a big to-do about it suddenly being maximum free time. Our family often did go to a different country (Nigeria) for a rest/respite at the beginning of summer, so I guess that counts!
As a teenager I worked as a camp counselor at a Salvation Army camp in NE Pennsylvania during the summers. A lot of the smells and looks of summer make me really nostalgic for that summer camp feel.
Now, as an adult, I mostly just love the chance to slow down and feel like there is some breathing room for us. As a teacher/homeschool Mom, summer means that there is much less on my plate and I enjoy every second of that!
I love, love, love summer!
2. Something you’ll celebrate this summer?
We will celebrate the 4th of July, and lots of family time! My FIL just turned 70 this weekend, so I’m sure we will be celebrating that!
3. Summer tastes like? Smells like? Sounds like?
Summer tastes like watermelon, mulberry lemonade popsicles, and eating outside.
Summer smells like freshly mowed grass, heat rising from the parking lots, and sunscreen mixed with sweat.
Summer sounds like kids jumping on the trampoline, airplanes frequently flying overhead and the mower running.
4. June 18th is National Splurge Day…what’s the last thing you splurged on? What might you splurge on today?
I probably don’t need to splurge on anything! The last thing I “splurged” on was a dress at the thrift store that I LOVED. It was $12, which is really high for a thrift store item, but I loved it so much that I went ahead and bought it. If I were to really let go and splurge on something today, it would be a pool membership or camp for the kids. Those are two things that we really want as a family, but they aren’t really in the budget.
5. Share a favorite summer quote, saying, song lyric, or meme.
Country music really shines in the summertime 🙂
Also, a favorite song that we are loving right now is Awesome God by Phil Wickam. I LOVE the old school chorus with the new upbeat verses.
6. Insert your own random thought here.
I always feel a little gut punch when I realize that we are approaching the longest day of the year and the days are only going to get shorter from here on out. I just have to choose to not focus on that! Summer is flying by already and July will be a busy travel month for us, so I’m really trying to s.l.o.w d.o.w.n and not let June fly by. So far…it’s not working!
Also, for summer solstice this year I plan to catch the sunrise and the sunset! Anyone else do something like this?
I try really hard not to focus on what the summer solstice means either as I always want summer to just last and last and last.
Same!!! Soaking up all these longer days. I also remind myself that it works the other way, too- from December on the days are actually getting longer!