My Reverse Bucket List — River Made Farmstead

This summer looks a bit different for us then what we are used to, and we are excited to unwind a bit with school done for the summer, and *most* of the big reno's in our lake house complete! Normally a summer in the suburbs for us consisted of trips to the zoo, traveling around to different splash pads and parks, backyard fun with the sprinkler and trampoline, sidewalk chalk, bike rides to the corner store for ice cream or popcicles, lemonade stands, rollerblading, growing our little backyard garden, a week at our church VBS, and usually one week spent up north at a cottage thanks to a VERY generous family friend who was kind enough to share their little slice of heaven with us every summer. We loved our summer's in the 'burbs, but they were busy! Chris worked 6 days a week and usually went on a few missions trips, and I was shooting weddings and portrait sessions all through out the summer months, we were always hustling!

Naturally one of our favourite things every summer was that week we spent up north at a cottage. Where we could be outside in nature all week, enjoy the beautiful lake, birds singing every morning, coffee on the dock, swimming, canoeing, kayaking, hikes, bonfires, concentrated family time and of course toasted marshmallows. We always came away from that week refreshed and counting down until the next time we could go back up north!

Over the past few summer's I have noticed a movement of families making a 'Summer Bucket List' for their time off school over the summer, it gives them things to look forward to and things to 'tick off' during the warm summer months. It is such a fun idea and I think it is a great way for families to stay connected, so there was a time when I thought maybe we should do a bucket list too. Yet, for some reason any time I tried to think of things to add to our 'summer bucket list' I kept coming back to two words in my mind, and those words were... 'Be Still'. Psalm 46:10 has always been one for my favourite verses. "Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!" One of the big things I wanted to focus on in moving up north was to listen for and hear God's voice more. In the hustle and bustle and busyness of our life in the city, I found it harder and harder to 'Be Still'. Yet I felt the Lord calling me to be less busy and live more simply so that I could hear His voice. It's not always easy to be still with so many fun things to do and activities to tick off that list, and not to mention all the Mom duties I have, but my list this year has only one thing on it....to Be Still. I am calling it my reverse bucket list :)

That doesn't mean we wont be having any fun this summer, we definitely will be! I want our family to take the time to enjoy the nature all around us, to listen to the birds, and spot them in the trees, to read new books, play outdoors a lot and make forts with sticks. To work together on our gardens and property, to have family and friends visit. To take long walks, go canoeing, kayaking and sit by the lake, and to just enjoy the simple pleasures. We have SO many around us, and I don't want to miss them because we are too busy running here and there. I want to take more time to read God's word and really think on it, to memorize scripture and be able to see more opportunities to share God's love. Being still isn't necessarily the most simple route, the kids will have to get into a routine of slowing down as well, but having an open summer with not a ton of plans is JUST what the doctor ordered and most importantly what I feel the Lord calling us too.

Thanks as always for reading what is on my heart :) I am looking forward to the next few months and seeing how the Lord speaks to me and our family as I do my best to be still and listen! What are you up to this summer?

Love Always,

Shelley