How I hate typing those words: Goodbye to summer. It seems like summer just got here! I decided to take a peek through my vacation photographs and recall all of the reasons why I’m thankful for the Summer of 2016.
Vacation time started in June with a family trip to Colorado. We rented a cabin near Rocky Mountain National Park and hiked in the woods and mountains every day.
The beautiful weather and sunny beaches near our home brought visits from dear friends and family members. I loved spending time with them.
One weekly highlight this summer was listening to my husband’s band concerts in the city park by the lake shore.
Beaches. Biking. Picnicking. Sunshine. What blessings!
Now it’s Labor Day weekend and we have one final beach/picnicking/celebrating/extravaganza planned. Our house will be filled with family members and guests and lots of food—just the way I like it!
I think part of the reason I hate to see summer end is because I know what’s coming soon—falling leaves and fading flowers and then the cold death of winter. After the flood, God promised Noah that “As long as the earth endures, seed-time and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease” (Genesis 8:22). This promise of resurrection is built into Earth’s cycles and seasons, and points to the resurrection of Christ—and ultimately our own. I’ve been reading “Home: How Heaven and the New Earth Satisfy our Deepest Longings” by Elyse Fitzpatrick, and she describes what our resurrected life on the New Earth will be like. In many ways, it will resemble my summer vacation; spending time with family and friends, and enjoying the astonishing beauty of a renewed earth. I can’t imagine an earth that’s more beautiful than this one, can you? But it will be. All sorrow will be gone, all tears wiped away. Best of all, we’ll enjoy blessed fellowship with our God and Savior.
But for now, I’ll savor the last of these gorgeous summer days and give thanks for so many wonderful memories. Do you have a favorite memory from the summer of 2016?
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Lynn, that looks like a wonderful summer!! One of my best memories from this summer happened when my husband and I drove over to Pensacola Beach to watch the Blue Angels Air Show. Amazing to see a fighter jet flying low over the ocean. It was a proud moment that made me even more thankful for our military. We had a nice summer with friends passing through and a visit from our son. Now it’s back to work.
That sounds amazing, Lenora!
Beautiful thoughts from a beautiful friend….thank you for challenging us to recall our own favorite moments of summer. Although my husband Paul and I find we “work-a-lot” at our Kottage when we are there, it is a real blessing as each of our five families arrive for their vaca weeks. We are blessed by their love of that place, and all the history it holds for them. Over the years they have brought their relatives and friends, some of whom have been enjoying it for 20 years. And now the grandchildren are bringing their friends….and on it goes! What greater gift is there than the gift of love taught to us by our Saviour!
The Kottage is a very special place. I always feel the peace of God when I’m there. Thanks so much for sharing it with us.
I loved this peek into your photo album! What a beautiful summer you had. :))
It was a fun summer.
I finally got to go to Key West. A place on my bucket list.
I’ve never been there. Would love to go!
I have long enjoyed your writing and I thank you for taking us on an overview of your marvelous summer especially since I am a caregiver to my husband and my trips are mainly to church and Walmart!
Thank you for sharing Elyse Fitzpatrick’s book Home: How Heaven & the New Earth Satisfy Our Deepest Longings. I immediately got the Kindle version! It’s just what I need!