A few good reads...and a summer break.

I hope your summer is off to a good start!

To make space for summer activities (including another hike out West), I'll be taking the month of July off from blogging. Rest can be counter-cultural in a world that encourages us to never stop striving. I hope you’re able to get some “down time” this summer, too!

Before I sign off for a bit, I wanted to share some of my favorite recent blogs and a few oldies-but-goodies in case you missed them. You might want to save this email for encouragement over the summer.

And if you need a good summer read, see my recommendations at the end.

FAITH:

• Feeling Afraid? Remembering God’s Faithfulness Will Help

• 10 Questions to Ask Yourself When You Need to Make a Hard Decision

• Celebrate! Your Recipe for a One-Day Summer Gratitude Extravaganza

FAMILY:

• How Grandparents Can Make a Positive Difference in a Child’s Life

• Help for Parents of Middle School Kids: Insights From My 8th Grade Diary

• How NOT to Raise Entitled Kids: 27 Practical Ideas

• Mothers and Adult Daughters: Understanding One Another

• Mothers-in-Law and Daughters-in-Law: Women Share Their Hearts

• Family Can Be Hard: How to Handle Painful Family Relationships

MARRIAGE:

• Our Best Advice for Your Marriage: What We’ve Learned in 53+ Years

• 8 Things to Do When You Really Don’t Like Your Husband Very Much

• 10 Things Every Man Needs to Know About Marriage

My favorite FUN reads (aka “beach reads”) 

The Ride of Her Life by Elizabeth Letts: This is a true story of a 63-year-old woman, Annie, who in 1954 rode her horse from Maine to the Pacific Ocean with her dog often hopping on the horse’s back too! It’s such a happy, inspiring story! And we need “happy” today.

West with Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge: This is also a true story about a young boy who travels from NYC to San Diego to help deliver some giraffes to their zoo. Taking place during the depression era, it is captivating and inspiring!

Grandma Gatewood’s Walk by Ben Montgomery: Another fun, true story of a 67-year-old woman who, in 1955, determines to walk the Appalachian Trail.  Her walk and its publicity brought about much-needed improvements to the trail. She was the first man or woman to walk it 3 times. She motivates me!

A favorite read for spiritual nourishment:

Living Life Backward by David Gibson: This one surprised me because I’ve never liked Ecclesiastes. In fact I read it again before I began this book and it still felt discouraging. BUT this author completely turned my understanding of this priceless book upside down. It’s theological, practical and positive! His narrative has given me joy!

My prayer for each of us this summer is that we will take time to delight in the JOY of our salvation. Imagine how it thrills our heavenly Father when we delight in Him.

“Show me the wonders of your great love, you who save by your right hand those who take refuge in you from their foes. Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings.” (Psalm 17:7-8)