My plan for intentional summer living

hey all.
Summer is here! Yahoo!
Like the kids, I’ve been counting down the days until we’re all home together. There’s just something about summertime.

Walking into the hot days ahead, this one thing I know: I don’t want to blow through our days, merely surviving.  I want to be intentional about this little block of time we have together. 

This year, I’ve decided to write out my commitment to intentional summer living.  It’s not really a commitment to you, but to me.  However, the idea of throwing it out into the blogosphere demands a certain amount of accountability, which I need.  So, without further ado …

Here’s my commitment to an intentional summer:

#1:  Eat more bread.  Making the choice to read God’s Word is the most important part of my day.  I don’t just read the Bible to read.  I read it to find life. But let’s be honest – it becomes more difficult to carve out time to read when the house is filled with kids all day long. If I’m not intentional, the thing that I claim to be my most important thing gets lost in a day filled with kids, water and loads of sun screen. 

Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God. Matthew 4:4
This summer I’m committed to eat more bread by consuming more Truth. My kids will see their mom choosing God first. Period.

#2:  Be present.  When I’m with my kids, I will choose to be present.  Face to face.  Hands free.  That means my phone will not be a constant appendage and my computer will be closed.  Not all day but for a lot of the day – on purpose.  My kids are growing up so fast, and I’m afraid at times I’m missing it by being distracted by a little glowing screen. Not anymore!

#3:  Lead in making healthy choices … be Brave! Sadly, my kids are horribly picky eaters because of me – their ridiculously picky mom.  This summer, however, things are going to change.  Thanks to a brilliant idea from my friend, Shannon, The Rogers family will be embarking on a Rainbow Food Revolution.  Each week we focus on eating a color of the rainbow – fruits and vegetables in each color group. Red and green week are particularly intimidating to me … but I will be brave and lead by example.  3 bites of everything.  That’s the rule.  My husband, Erik, will be so proud! 🙂

#4:  Lighten up.  Here are the facts: when the kids are home, the house is constantly undone.  Some messes are fine, but constant chaos drives me nuts.  This summer, I will choose to lighten up about the messes.  I will practice saying “YES” to the kids more often – even when what they’re asking seems inconvenient or is destined for disaster making.  Our summer pace will be slow and my attitude will be light … by the grace of God!

#5:  Focus on doing the next right thing.  I have the tendency to get stressed out by the big picture and long list of “should haves” and “need to’s” associated with it.  In doing so, I put unneeded pressure on myself by creating a load that I was never intended to carry.  However, here’s what I know: God is faithful.  Because He knows me better than I know myself and He knows the plans He has for me, God knows all I can handle is the next right thing. This summer, I will be intentional about listening to and obeying God in the next right thing. 

Short and simple.  That’s the plan.
This summer, I’m going to be intentional. 
What about you?