You Are Loved

I had a little birthday a few weeks ago and I got to spend it up at my childhood home with my parents, brother and my children.  Sadly, Daddy Bear was back down in LA working!  But when we returned, he had a little celebration planned for us!  I felt so loved.

This was one of the fabulous gifts he gave me!

 LOVE IT!

 And... My husband is an amazing artist and has made these large wood signs that we hang over our fireplace. I love them! 

For summer, I had asked him to make one that speaks of the verse:

Matthew 5:16
In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

Shine.  Shine out your light.  Shine like the summer sun.

Here is what he came up with!

LOVE IT!

My birthday kinda marks the middle of the summer and at this point I start to worry that it’s going too quickly and there is still so much more that I wanted to do and haven’t yet!  I feel a sense of urgency to get it all in before school starts!  Last summer I was prepared.  I had a wonderful time memorizing scripture with my children, doing our chore charts and prize baskets, making crafts, going to the beach every Tuesday…  I felt very prepared and we did so many fun things while being relaxed and casual.  It was one of the first times in my life that I felt on my game as a mom and it was awesome!

 This summer came while I was already on the ground, sucking for air.  My girls’ first year in school left me exhausted, stressed and overwhelmed.  Sounds dramatic, but in many ways, it was a dramatic year (for reasons that will not be shared here!).  We’ve already had some wonderful summer fun from VBS, dance recitals, Grammie Camp, Uncle Camp and lots of visitors, but as school is just 4 short weeks away, I’ve been thinking about how I can be intentional with the rest of our summer. 
We're going to memorize a verse a week until school starts.

 I sat and thought, “What do I want my girls to know before they start 1^st grade?  What is most important for them to grab hold of and know deep down?”

And it hit me -

They are loved!

What could be more important than that?  They must know that they are dearly loved by their family, but more importantly, by God.  So the verse we are memorizing this week is:

The Lord your God is with you,

he is mighty to save. 

He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love,

he will rejoice over you with singing.

Zephaniah 3:17

Isn’t this a great verse that tells how much we are loved by God?

How are you being intentional with the rest of your summer?