Sweet Summertime

It is finally here! Summer has begun. We have all survived the busyness of May and all of the end of school activities, graduations, parties, etc. My girls have finished softball, and we are in the final week of baseball for my son. The days have started to slow down, and our schedules have eased a bit.

Summer is one of my favorite seasons. Not necessarily because of the weather; the ninety degree temperatures and humidity that we experienced last week came way too early in the season for my liking. I love summer because it has always signified a slowness and easiness. When I was a kid, summer meant a long stretch off from school and when I became a teacher, those summer vacations were even more valued. Now that I have kids of my own, summer signifies slower schedules, sleeping in, and time together. It's a welcome break from the May madness.

If you are like me, you might be looking for a way to strengthen your faith as a family during the summer months. Below are a few of my favorite resources that my family uses during our devotional time.

The Jesus Calling Bible Storybook by Sarah Young is a great retelling of bible stories from both the Old and New Testament. The stories are short and sweet and are intended for an audience of six years of age and younger. The illustrations are colorful and there is a short bible verse and application at the end of each passage.

The Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones is for an older age group. The passages also represent popular stories from both the Old and New Testament but are for children 7 and older. The stories are lengthier and the pictures are a bit more abstract, which are perfect for children who prefer a more advanced reading experience.

When I take my kids to the library, I always check out the Christian and religious sections. It is a great place to explore different bible stories for children. One I discovered last week is God's Colorful Kingdom Storybook Bible : The story of God's big diverse family by Esau McCaulley. It was released just last year. I have not had a chance to explore all of the book, but my kids have loved the few stories that we have read from it. This book is also intended for a bit of an older audience, seven years and older, but the illustrations are absolutely magnificent. The bible stories are definitely told from the author's perspective and not just a direct retelling from the bible, but it gives the opportunity for real discussion as a family. The book also focuses on God's diverse world and how he created everyone to come together and love each other and him.

Whether you explore one of the books described above, or have your own family favorites, I hope you come together as a family this summer and read God's word together.

Happy Summer, enjoy every blessed second of it!