Hey friends,

Some of you are jumping for joy because your kids are done with school. I’m happy for ya. Some of us in the Northeast are stuck for another 14 miserable days or longer, depending on the school. 

I’m not going to lie, lunches have gone from Pinterest-Worthy to making my kids a cinnamon bread and butter sandwich. Ask me if I care. Go ahead; I triple dog dare you. 

We’re out here just trying to survive.

And somewhere between asking myself, “How did I get here?” and planning the Last Hurrah at the Hermanns before we move it got me thinking about how we live in a world that’s obsessed with NOW. We want results now, likes now, growth now. Anything less? Feels like a failure.

Need sandals? Amazon Prime

Ran out of sunscreen? Target Drive-Up

Running low on dopamine? Scroll, swipe, add to cart. 

And look, I get it. Sometimes, you do truly need it NOW. Your kid forgot to tell you they have a battle of the books rumble or something, and they forgot the book at school over the weekend. Or you’re out of coffee. That’s an emergency. The same goes for wine.

But sometimes waiting is okay. Sometimes slowing down is the real flex. And sometimes? (Now this is where I’m going to lose some of you.)

God makes you wait because He sees what’s coming together, even when all you feel is silence and delay.

And that’s hard. And yes, you may want to crawl under a blanket with wine and chocolate and cry. Because it isn’t in our human nature to give up control or let go, it can feel like nothing is happening. But I promise you it is. 

It’s just not on our timeline (which is rude imo, but in this season of life I’m learning to let go more than ever before).

With the unofficial start of summer this weekend, I want to offer you this: What if summer didn’t have to be full speed ahead? What if it didn’t have to be packed with content calendars, reels filmed in batches, and overscheduled kids’ activities?

What if you let summer be a Season of Grace.

Of slow mornings and sun-kissed skin and sandy toes. Sticky popsicle hands, forgetting what day it is and jumping into the pool, just because you can. A cup of coffee to be enjoyed, not rushed.

If you’re a parent, this season hits differently. I mean, sure, your kids are now using their home stomachs instead of the school stomachs (why are they always hungry!?), but you don’t have to pack lunches or argue with a kid that’s slightly taller than you to wake up before they miss the bus..again. You will, however, have to fight them on taking a shower because they stink, no matter the season.

That alone is a gift.

This summer, I’m looking forward to hanging out at the lake with friends who are family, taking last-minute road trips, or taking a quick flight to Vero Beach. But don’t ask me to go on a hike. Unless it’s paved and there’s wine and chocolate at the end. I’m outsidey not outdoorsy, okay? (And yes I’m entirely ignoring the moving part here.)

We go wherever the wind blows us because that’s how summer is supposed to be. Simple. Easy. Fun. 

So go ahead. Let summer be a little slower. 

Use this time to reinvigorate your creativity. Let your audience see the messy kitchen or the car full of sand. Let go of the perfectly scheduled you for the summer. I promise it will be worth it. 

More importantly, allow yourself Grace if the answers don’t come immediately. 

Sometimes God makes you wait because the plan isn’t ready yet. 

But you will be.

Here’s to a summer of less hustle, more heart.