Reflections on JUNE
List making is one of my very favorite things. This article is part of a series of reflections on things I love about each month of the year. My hope is that in making these lists, I’ll slow down, take note of beauty, and contemplate the moments that matter. Here’s my list of 10 things I love about June.
1. LONG DAYS
While I wouldn’t call my days the lazy, hazy days of summer, I do love the extended hours of sunlight in June. Mornings are usually cool even if the afternoon temps are soaring and evenings bring lovely pastel sunsets that go on forever.
2. FRESH BLUEBERRY SEASON
Our blueberries begin producing in June and I look forward all year long to the first handful of fresh berries. By the end of June, we’re picking furiously to keep up with the ripening and eating blueberries till we’re almost turning blue.
Read: Big List of Blueberry Recipes
3. END OF SCHOOL YEAR SLIDESHOW
Every year since we started homeschooling, I’ve put together a video slideshow that we watch together at the end of our homeschool year. It’s one of my very favorite year-end things—both creating the video and watching it as a family. I get to relive the year on fast forward as I go through memories from the past summer, fall, winter, and spring.
Next year will be senior year for my oldest daughter and I imagine I will cry all the way through our year-end slideshow. And as all three kids grow up and embark on new adventures of their own, I’ll enjoy reminiscing through these precious years.
I’m so thankful for the technology that allows me to create these sweet memory records of our beautiful life.
4. DANCE RECITALS
June brings year-end dance recitals for my oldest daughter. Four dress rehearsals and six performances in one week. I cry at curtain call of every single performance. The thing that gets me is the progression from awkward, off-tempo, 3-year-olds to graceful, expressive, high school dancers.
You can see the result of commitment, dedication, and hard work in a kind of time-lapse. To me it’s a 90-minute snapshot of the way we grow and learn in all areas of life.
5. GIFTING BOOKS
I love giving books as gifts. For graduation gifts, I’ve started gifting an ESV study Bible along with an Amazon gift card.
This June I had the opportunity to put together a fun book gift, as a relative was turning 60 and requested books as gifts at his birthday bash. I found a book that represented something from each decade of his life and it brought me great joy to give books to someone who loves them as much as I do!
6. HOMEMADE BREAD
My mom makes delicious homemade bread and volunteered to teach my kids her foolproof recipe. After spending a morning with grandma, my younger two daughters brought home two mouth-watering loaves of bread fresh from the oven.
I’m going to try really hard to convince them that breadmaking is a weekly chore. Not sure how that will go!
7. COLD POOL
This is kind of a favorite that’s not a favorite. I hate cold. Really, really hate being cold. My husband does cold plunges regularly, but I can’t even force myself to turn the shower cold for five seconds.
However, in June, I sat in our cold—not cold plunge cold, but still cold—pool twice! I’m adding it to my favorites because I’m seriously proud of myself. Baby steps.
Read: 52 Small Healthy Habits for a Year of Big Change
8. CPK BBQ CHICKEN SALAD
One of my favorite summer recipes is a copycat recipe of California Pizza Kitchen’s BBQ Chicken Salad. I first tasted this salad in San Diego in 2002 and could not get enough of it. Crisp greens and jicama, fresh basil and cilantro, creamy avocado chunks and homemade ranch dress. It’s summer in a bowl!
9. SWIM MEET PERSONAL RECORDS
June brought the last swim meet of the season for my youngest daughter and she did an amazing job. Several first place finishes and personal best times! It’s such a joy to watch our kids do something they love to do.
10. KIDS SLEEPING UNDER THE STARS
Daytime heat and late sunsets leads to kids asking to sleep on the trampoline. Especially if a friend is spending the night! A group of kids in sleeping bags giggling and talking as they fall asleep under the stars is somehow fundamentally representative of what childhood should be.
What to Love About JUNE
A few of my favorites in June were related to random things my kids did, but there were some seasonal or nature-related favorites as well. Here’s the abbreviated list.
- long days of sunlight
- beginning of fresh blueberry season
- end of school year slideshow
- dance recitals
- gifting books
- kids making homemade bread
- sitting in cold pool
- copycat CPK BBQ chicken salad
- swim meet PRs
- kids sleeping on the trampoline under the stars
Finding something to love, whatever the season, is a way to intentionally focus on gratitude.
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights…
James 1:17
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What I Love About JUNE
