By Lori Merrill 
With the blazing heat it is hard to believe the close of summer is fast approaching. However, if you are looking at the same calendar I am then you know we have just entered August, which means school is just around the corner. I realized this fact a couple of weeks ago–knowing this meant that my children will all be leaving for college very soon once again. Where did the summer go? Are you thinking the same thing?
We had many things we semi-planned for our summer. Though we have had a great summer there are many things we mentioned a few months ago that we wanted to do before summer was over. I had many experiences I wanted to have with all of my family together. So, what is a woman to do? Here is what I did:
- I talked to my husband about the things we wanted to do as a family or with our children before we scattered and schedules were full again. The question posed was: What things are vital to do before they leave for college? Things such as “We need to complete the Bible study we started” or “Take my daughter on that get-away that we hoped to accomplish” came up on the list.
- I then went to my children and gave them a deadline to give me a list of 2-3 things (within reason) they really wanted to do either as a family or one-on-one with one of us. Some of the things that appeared on their lists were: eat at a particular restaurant as a family, go with Mom to surprise dad for lunch one day, learn to drive the boat and teach dad to fish.
So, from that list we have chosen the things that we had the means to do and decided we would make the time to do them. Funny thing is—only one of the things listed was costly to us. The rest required time and a determination to do them. So, I encourage you as a mom, a wife, or as a single woman—think about the time you have before summer is over. What did you really want to do a few months ago that you have yet to do? What experience would you like to have before the schedule or weather keeps you from it? Get out that pen and make a list—your very own “Summer Bucket List”!!
