The Blessings of Summer

From August through May, my life is filled with school..... school work, school thought, school activities. I say "life" rather than "week" because, even though school is only technically Monday through Friday, it has a way of invading my weekends too. Between all of the things I have to do as a part of my job and all of the things that I do for my own children, I often get so busy that I neglect to give thanks for some of my biggest blessings. Summer brings that down-time that I need to clear my vision, calm my spirit, and help me reflect.

Blessing 1: Another year in a happy marriage

With summer comes another anniversary. This year made 20. As a teen and young adult, I did not have a very active dating life. I had almost given up finding someone to make a part of my life. It was at that point that God sent my sweet husband to me. Both my husband and I realized that God had brought us together. In this day and age, when so many people are separated or divorced, I am so blessed to still be with this wonderful man. God has helped us through many things in these 20 years, and God still remains at the center of our home.

Blessing 2: Bountiful Beauty

I am blessed to live in one of the most beautiful spots on earth. When many people talk about Eastern Kentucky they talk about the curvy mountain roads. I prefer to talk about how beautiful it is. This is true all year round, but never more true than in the summer months. The many subtle tones of green in the grass and the leaves create the perfect background for the bright splashes of floral color. Brilliant orange or yellow wildflowers are tucked away in the tiniest of places along the roads and waterways. From the blue skies above to the dusty brown paths below, I see God's handiwork on display.

Blessing 3: Time with Family

With so much going on in our lives, it is so busy for me to truly spend quality time with my entire family. It is only during the summer that we can convince my sweet husband to give up a few days of work to slip away somewhere as a family. This year, our journey took us to Columbus, Ohio where we visited the Zoo and Science Center. It was only 3 days, but it was so nice to just laugh, talk, and have fun together.

Blessing 4: Friends

The summer is not only time away from school, but time away from some of my best friends. The people that  I work with are actually more like family than they are friends. They help me through the stresses of the job, celebrate my successes, and comfort me when things don't go well. During the summer we all have our own lives, but it is so nice to know that we don't forget one another. Facebook, summer training sessions, and occasional get-togethers help us keep up to date with one another's lives. As for us "girls", we even sometimes have a shopping trip or two to buy those back-to-school clothes.

Blessing 5: God's Protection

It seems that every night the news is cluttered with shootings, car accidents, and deaths. Each day on Facebook I see yet another post about a friend or colleague who has been diagnosed with some disease or condition. Though our health is not perfect, none of my immediate family members are facing anything like that at this time. I am also blessed to know that, if and when we do face a tragedy or a major illness, God will be right there with us, helping us deal with it all.

Yes, the summer is a time for relaxation, renewal, and rejuvenation, but I like to think that it is also a wonderful time for reflection............... a time to remember all of the things that God has seen fit to provide. Won't you join me and take a few minutes to count some of your summer blessings?