Memories of Summertime

So my plans to paint this summer have fallen by the wayside. Blame it on the creek and the swim hole.
The kids and i have been enjoying the water almost every day, whenever the weather and schedules have permitted. While most people work in a garden i work on the creek, trimming branches and cutting weeds. My efforts have been rewarded with a beautiful place to spend many hours and make many precious memories with family and friends. I cannot complain.
My watercolors are in the same exact spot i left them earlier in the spring. They will be there when the time is right and i can start painting. Maybe then i can paint from memory butterflies, dragonflies and lazy days on the creek enjoying God's creation and the company of loved ones.
Those will be the best paintings because they will remind me of what awaits me next year and fill me with hope during winter's cold.

Looking Ahead

With the end of the school year only a couple of weeks away the kids and i are anticipating all the activites planned for this summer.
We will be starting the season with VBS and church camp. Then there is art camp, field trips and play dates with friends. There other activities we hope to participate in like reading programs, movies at the drive-in and bike rides in the park.
While these things are all good and i am really looking forward to all of them i do intend to start each day in quiet time and prayer. In the hours that the children are in VBS and other endeavors i plan to take advantage of the peace and quiet to spend time in meditation and reflection.
I am missing creative time as well. So much of my time in the last year has been spent running and doing. So little of my time has been spent just listening to God. It is time to slow down and change that. God is the One who inspires creativity and gives peace. Time without Him saps creativity and destroys peace.
What i desire more than anything else right now is to spend my time drawing closer to God, enjoying my relationship with Him and with others He has blessed my life with. In doing these things i know it is going to be a really great summer and an awesome time of growth in Him. I pray that i will stick to this plan and continue through every season of my life.

What to do?

Finally. A few moments of peace and quiet at the end of what has been a busy day in the midst of a hectic week.
It is during the crazy times such as this that i long for a less demanding schedule. But then i wonder what i would do if i had nowhere to go and nothing pressing to do.
Tonight was the last of the children's soccer games and next week will be our last week of school. It is difficult to say who is more excited, the children or me.
We all have some pretty big plans for our summer vacation. To keep our minds sharp we will continue our studies without the structured classroom setting. Trips to the library, parks and other places will provide nice, stimulating outings when we need them. There is also a week of VBS that everyone is looking forward to.
I am hoping to make lots of pictures and paint some masterpieces! I'm just kidding about the masterpieces but i am hoping to break out the paper, pencils and watercolors and see what kind of creations come from the inner artist who is screaming to be let out. My reading list is also growing and i want to start reading some of the many titles collecting on that list. I would also like to start writing and blogging again regularly. There is way too much on my mind to keep it all locked up inside.
Well, with all the plans we have summer should be anything but dull. And you know how plans are...there are sure to be some surprises along the way. The next few weeks should be interesting and i am looking forward to making the most of every one of them!