It’s hard to believe it’s already July, isn’t it?
It seems like I was just looking out my rainy spring window as the tree blossoms popped pure whites and brilliant pinks.
How has your summer been? Have you made glorious memories?
And by glorious I don’t mean complicated or extravagant. I mean memories that will last a lifetime and make you happy deep within your soul.
One day last month, on my way home from work and daycare, my husband texted me and said, I’m setting up the sprinkler for when you get home with the kids. Don’t tell them. It’s a surprise.
My kids are 5 (Elias) and 2 (Adeline). Elias had only run through a sprinkler a few times and Adeline never had. I was SO excited to see their faces… and I was not disappointed.
For 45 minutes before dinner they shrieked and squealed running back and forth through that sprinkler. I tried to capture the moments on my camera, but frankly, the most beautiful ones could only be captured with my heart. I was so thankful that Matthew broke up our normal routine for that activity.
I will never forget that spontaneous, simple, joyful night.
Because, you see, making memories doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive.
And while at the beginning of summer, I made one of those Pintastic summer bucket lists, the most glorious memories have been made in the ordinary moments of popsicles and pool visits.
I think we often get consumed by the comparison game of what it takes to make a “great” summer. My Facebook and Instagram feeds are full of people on “perfect” vacations with Mickey and the gang, on the boat or at a beach. Trips are wonderful, but so are bike rides at sunset and dinners on the deck.
Comparison is a thief.
Proverbs 17:22 says “A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.”
Comparison can crush one’s spirit quickly, can’t it?
Don’t look at Instagram to judge what makes a good summer memory. Look in your own backyard.
Because you WILL see the glory of God in sandy shoes left next to the sandbox and hoses strung across the yard.
I have seen it every day and it has made my heart full. No, we won’t be taking a beach vacation this summer. But yes, our summer will be glorious.
What glorious summer memories have you made this year?
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Lovely post. It can be quite daunting when we have the long school holidays ahead of us without the structure of normal life. But it’s true that the simple things can provide our families with great memories and wonderful times. Thanks for the inspiration, Jessica. Blessings.
Jessica,
With grown children, it is sometimes harder to make those spontaneous, glorious summer memories. But, one of my favorites with my daughter is sitting outdoors while eating, relaxing, and talking “girl talk” at our favorite little French bistro. Ahh, c’est la vie! Thanks for the reminder that I need to do more of this because time flies by too quickly!
Blessings,
Bev
We often take an after-dinner walk and one evening we took a “night walk.” It was so fun to explore the neighborhood in the dark, fireflies, frogs, the sun disappearing – staying up later was so fun for the children. We all remember it and want to do it again.
I am in my seventies now but have a treasure chest of those glorious memories – not only summer, but year round. Christmas, birthdays, vacations on the beach, and just those ordinary days that were made extraordinary, simply by being together. Yes, time passes quickly – dont miss the opportunities that present themselves each day. Too often we look elsewhere for happiness, when truly it is indeed found in your own backyard
I love this – “a treasure chest of memories.”
Yesterday, driving south along the coast (for an hour, to get to a violin lesson!) I saw campers parked along the road next to the beach and I love campers but don’t own one. Grace thought flashed into my head: but I have a lovely house and a five minute drive to the beach, I just don’t go enough. On the way home we stopped at the beach and the fog had lifted and friends were there and it was a perfect beach day in every way.
A five-minute drive to the beach?! Yes, lots of grace and joy is yours. We are 8 hours from the beach.
Such an excellent reminder! Last summer was a tough one so this summer is refreshing (even in the Ga-Bama heat + humidity). We bought a little pool that all four of my boys love to splash around in – and it is pure joy to hear their laughter and be sprinkled by their joyful splashes. I’m doing my best to savor the small, priceless moments and God is generously opening my eyes to see them. Love your words here!
I love kiddie pools.
I have a 2 1/2 and a 3 1/2 year old, both boys. We are also finding the simple things are the most fun. Right after a rain storm we all went out and the boys splashed around in the puddles and watched the rainbow. In the morning the boys like to go out when the dew is still on the grass in their bare feet. They like to share my iced coffee with me. Best of all, it is free! Thank you for reminding me that we can do something that is free or almost free. It’s the being together. Blessings, Joanne
I bet that splashing made for tons of fun!
My favorite line: Comparison is a thief. Let us live in the moment, accept with grateful hearts what we are, what we have and what He is doing in our hearts. Snapshots in the heart live a lifetime. I’ve always thought the mansion in the sky that He is preparing is filled with photographs of God moments and He reveals them to me as we laugh, cry and just remember our togetherness.
I love this! What a great reminder!
I feel so blessed to have found a group of moms who enjoy the simple joys with their kids. But even in this ideal group of friends, comparison can wiggle in and crush hearts. I find that when I’m looking at my own life, instead of the lives of others, there is nothing to compare to and I find joy in my own moments. Looking forward to sharing this post with my friends. 🙂
Thanks so much. Yes, comparison creeps in even with those closest to us. I know I have to work to not let it steal my joy. God has blessed us with so much.
My boys are 19,16 and 11 now. They have always been happy with a wide open space, a football and food. Lots of food!
This post brought back memories.
And yes the comparison game does crop up from time to time. But making memories is often about the ordinary times. Happy days!
Glorius summer memories… my husband and I just celebrated our first anniversary… we’ve been trying to date more. Last week, we went mini golfing (haven’t done that since we first started dating) and shopping. Went for evening walks and out for ice cream… these are glorious summer moments for us 🙂
That sounds pretty perfect! We haven’t been mini golfing in years. I think I should add it to our summer list. 🙂
I have grown kids and am so blessed to have come to a place where I understand that this is the truth and can enjoy these precious moments with my grandkids. Wasted too much time, wasting time, instead of living and enjoying each moment. So thankful!!!
What a sweet message of simple joys, Jessica. I think if we all just spend more time with our families and significant others than with our computers we won’t have such a problem with comparison. For as many wonderful opportunities that we have on Instagram, Pinterest, and facebook there are just as many opps for the enemy to plant seeds that can turn even the most humble, content person into a green eyed monster. Our ‘virtual’ worlds can rob us of our real world and leave us feeling empty and deceived. Jesus knew when to walk away and we will do well to learn that from Him. We can unplug from the virtual and plug in to reality. And His amazing grace enables us to, therein lies the beauty of His sacrifice for us. Thank you, Jesus!
Thank you for this – it is SO true that comparison steals our joy every time!!
My hubby and I took a week off together this year. We’ve gone for walks, played games, and gone to Lowe’s to look at home renovation stuff. We’ve also gotten to “talk” and connect on a deeper level. Friday we are going to Asheville, NC to go shopping and spend the day together.
I love the idea of making memories. All to soon people are taken from us and the chance to connect and talk is gone.
I don’t feel the need for a huge vacation with its rush rush rush. I like the quiet serenity of a staycation. This has truly been a blessing for us!
This summer, we’ve made some new memories out of old memories. For our anniversary, my husband and I traveled to the mall where we went Christmas shopping the day after we were engaged. We bought cinammon bears and yogurt pretzels from the candy store, Hello Kitty sunglasses for our daughters, and spent an hour roaming a home goods store looking for decorations for our home. On the way home, we stopped back in our college town to eat at Bea’s Wok-n-Roll, a favorite hole-in-the-wall restaurant from our beginnings, where the food was just as simple and delicious as we remembered. We took a picture on the steps of the restaurant, and it is my computer background right now. It is a glorious memory, because something about being where all of the old memories first happened made me realize even more how there is no one I would rather spend all of my days with than him.
We are having one of the best summers ever!!! Simple things like bubbles, bike rides, ice cream cones and splash parties with friends. We did VBS at our church, in a few weeks we are going to a small town 2 hours east of Denver on a Family Missions trip!!! Fun, service and memories for my grandchildren ages 9, 6, and 5. Oh and grandma too.
I started out our summer comparing because of everyone’s ‘summer bucket list,’ but then I remembered that the best summer memories I had as a kid was riding my bike around the neighborhood with my siblings, and making homemade popsicles. It can be that simple. 🙂
So true, comparison is the thief of joy. And with Facebook and Instagram at our fingertips, so too we have everyone’s “best” moments at our finger tips too. Thanks for this awesome reminder!
We were blessed to make some summertime memories at DIsney this year!! A once-in-a-lifetime event for us with grandma and grandpa!! The best summertime memories are the late nights, bonfires, meeting at the park with friends, … and pajama days!!
So many amens to this one! As my kids are a bit older (20, 16, 13) I now get the privilege of hearing them speak of their favourite childhood memories, and they are indeed the simple, inexpensive ones.
Carole