Summer, Sweet Summer: Friday's Fave Five

Friday May 27, 2011

Can you name five blessings from your week? Susanne from Living to Tell the Story hosts Friday’s Fave Five each week. Click on over and see her if you’d like to join in!

Here are my favorites for this week:

1. Do I need to say it? The school year is over.
I know, you’ve been hearing the countdown for weeks, and now, here it is. It was a little bittersweet this year, as I find myself saying goodbye to friends who are leaving us. I can’t think what it will be like without some of them. Regardless, they have made an impact on kids’ lives and on our hearts.

2. Summer reading. I’m already planning it. The stack by the side of my bed is growing. And I hope to get a good, healthy start on writing a novel that’s dancing around in my head, so there’s some reading to be done for research there, too.

3. Firsts.
A couple of my sons are experiencing firsts, and it’s neat to hear. The pastor son has done his first funeral among other things, and his church is gearing up for Vacation Bible School in a big way. He’s in there, with a hammer and nails, too, as they build the background for the kids. Another son is doing job interviews, getting closer to that first job. And there’s always first real love…

4. An opportunity. I got to pitch a couple of articles for a magazine this week, and I’m hoping at least one of those will happen.

5. A perfect summer quote.

“Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass on a summer day listening to the murmur of water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is hardly a waste of time.”
(John Lubbock)

That’s hard for me to “get” sometimes – “rest is not idleness.” We tend to be a busy family, but when we do stop and rest, I see such a difference – in the world around me, and in my heart.

And one more little -- but very important -- thing. Bigger Picture Blogs has put together Help 4 Joplin, an organization that's hosting an online auction to raise funds for The Salvation Army in Joplin, Missouri. Items for the auction have been donated by a number of businesses, and all proceeds from the auction will directly benefit relief efforts in Joplin. There's more information here about how you can help spread the word, too.

Here’s to summer!

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm reveling in the first days of summer break, too.

Hope your writing goes well!

It's such a blessing to see our sons taking those steps.

Love that quote.

Anonymous said...

How exciting about your magazine article pitch. Hope it goes well and that you hear sooooon.

I find, too, that getting enough rest each week is instrumental for my mental and spiritual health. I am more creative, peaceful, and balanced.

It is exciting when our kiddos experience "firsts" especially as adults and when they handle them well.

Hope your week is blessed, Laura.

Carrie said...

Congratulations on the onset of summer! Enjoy all of the fun reading opportunities it brings with it!

Deidra said...

I have no idea what my five faves of the week were. But you knew that already. : )

Yay for the last day of school and a week of firsts. Enjoy the weekend!

Faith said...

Oh yay for you!! i'm beginning to count down the days, too. Not counting today, we have 26 more days of school....and just 4 weeks from tomorrow is graduation day!!
i love that quote and have seen it often...never knew the source..thanks for posting it. I LOVE being at rest even amidst a busy schedule...so important to have some down time...for reading!! :) OH guess what?? one of the mom friends in my small group bought your book!!!!! and another mom is gonna buy it....:) they both are surrounded by boys

Laura@OutnumberedMom said...

Faith, thanks for plugging my book! Send them here, too. How neat to hear. I appreciate your support SO much.

ellen b. said...

Yippee for the school year being over. Enjoy. That's great that your sons are stepping out and growing in their work and in looking for work.
Have a wonderful restful Memorial Day Weekend!

Jerralea said...

Oh I love that summer quote! I'm going to take it to heart in the midst of my "summer remodeling."

Watching your children experience new milestones in their lives can be so exciting! As a church secretary, I especially am interested in hearing about your pastor-son's experiences!

Enjoy your summer - and the summer reading!

aspiritofsimplicity said...

I am happy to have summer also. I love this season.

Hyacynth said...

Oh, opportunities, summer and firsts -- those are heart-swelling things in my heart, too. :)
{Thanks for another shout out for the auction.}

Karen said...

I know you're glad summer is here. Yes, you are busy-I'm more the look at the clouds all the time, person. Great five, Laura!

Anonymous said...

Summer break is here, yay for your family. Hope you guys all can have a lot of fun this summer and for you not to feel outnumbered. Thank you for stopping by at my blog earlier. Have a wonderful long weekend.

Brenda said...

Love the quote, goes perfectly with your favorite of summer reading (which is one of my fav's as well!)

Anonymous said...

I can feel my shoulders relaxing as I read your summer quote. Perfect. Those firsts in your sons' lives sound like significant ones.

Congrats on making it until the start of summer! Hope you have a productive one but also full of recreational reading and enjoying.

Susanne said...

I'm trying to not to be a bit envious of all you that get your whole summer off. I hope you enjoy every minute of yours and find lots of those restful moments. Love that quote!

Catherine said...

HAPPY SUMMER!! That is a fabulous quote, and I wholeheartedly agree. You have a whole summer to recharge, and I'm sure you'll enjoy it! I'm looking forward to some summer reading, myself! (I've got your book in my Amazon queue, too!)

Melissa said...

Quiet rest and reading combined with writing and exciting firsts ... sounds perfect!

Brenda @ Its A Beautiful Life said...

Ohhhh... this looks like a fun event to join.

I love that John Lubbock quote too. It's perfect, as you say, to remember as we start our summer days.

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