The Summer We Needed

6/16/2026

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Every year, it happens.

Summer arrives with all kinds of expectations.

We imagine backyard barbecues where everyone gets along. Family vacations without meltdowns. Weekly adventures worthy of social media posts. A summer packed with memory-making moments that somehow leave everyone refreshed, connected, and ready for the next school year.

And then reality sets in.

Schedules conflict. Budgets are tight. The weather doesn't cooperate. Kids argue. Parents are exhausted. Ministry responsibilities continue. Work doesn't stop. The laundry still piles up.
Before we know it, the pressure to create the "perfect summer" can steal the joy of the summer we're actually living.

Maybe this is the summer we stop chasing perfection.

Maybe this is the summer we embrace what matters most.

Let Go of Pinterest PerfectioN

We live in a world that constantly invites us to compare.

We scroll through photos of elaborate vacations, color-coordinated family outings, and endless lists of "must-do" summer experiences. While there is nothing wrong with creating special memories, comparison often leaves us feeling like we're falling short.

But the families our children remember most aren't necessarily the ones with the biggest adventures. They're the ones where they felt seen, loved, valued, and connected.

Your family doesn't need a picture-perfect summer.

They need you.

Present. Available. Engaged.

Comparison has a way of robbing us of gratitude for the gifts God has already placed in front of us. Instead of asking, "Are we doing enough?" perhaps we should ask, "Are we paying attention to the people God has entrusted to us?"

GATHERED IN THE HIGHAM HOUSE

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST

Choose Connection Over a Packed SchedulE

Summer calendars can fill up quickly. Sports camps. Church events. Vacation Bible School. Family reunions. Mission trips. Vacations. Sleepovers.

None of these things are bad. Many of them are wonderful opportunities.
But if we're not careful, we can become so busy making memories that we miss being present in them.

Children often spell love differently than adults do.

Adults tend to spell love A-C-H-I-E-V-E-M-E-N-T.

Kids often spell love T-I-M-E.

The goal of summer isn't to maximize every minute. It's to maximize meaningful moments.

Faith formation doesn't only happen during big events. It happens around dinner tables. On evening walks. In car rides. During ice cream runs. While watching fireflies dance in the backyard.

The ordinary moments often become the sacred ones.

Focus on a Few Intentional Moments

What if, instead of trying to do everything this summer, your family chose just a few things to prioritize?

A weekly family movie night. Saturday morning pancakes. One family service project. A monthly adventure day. Reading Scripture together before bed.

Intentionality matters more than extravagance. Years from now, your children may not remember every activity on the calendar. But they will remember how your family made them feel. Were they welcomed? Were they heard? Did they laugh? Did they know they belonged?

Those moments shape families.

Summer doesn't have to be extraordinary to be meaningful. Sometimes wisdom looks like slowing down enough to notice the gifts we've already been given.

Create a Family Summer Bucket List

Rather than creating a summer checklist designed to impress others, create a bucket list designed to bring your family together.

Invite everyone to contribute ideas. Keep it simple. Keep it realistic. Most importantly, keep it focused on connection.

Summer Bucket List Ideas

Have a backyard campfire and make s'mores.
Watch a movie outside.
Visit a local ice cream shop.
Go on a family bike ride.
Attend a minor league baseball game.
Have a water balloon fight.
Explore a new playground or park.
Volunteer together as a family.
Go on a prayer walk through your neighborhood.
Watch the sunset together.
Have breakfast for dinner.
Spend one day completely screen-free.
Visit the library and choose books together.
Write encouraging notes to friends or neighbors.
Build a blanket fort and play board games.
Create a family gratitude jar.
Take a day trip to somewhere nearby.
Make homemade popsicles.
Stargaze in the backyard.

Ask each family member, "What is one thing you hope we do together this summer?" You don't have to complete every item. The goal isn't accomplishment. The goal is togetherness.

A Final Thought
At the end of summer, your children probably won't remember whether everything went according to plan.

But they will remember whether they felt loved. Whether Mom and Dad laughed. Whether there was space to talk. Whether family time mattered.

So here's permission to release the pressure. Your family doesn't need a perfect summer.
They simply need you—showing up, slowing down, and choosing connection one intentional moment at a time. And maybe, just maybe, this imperfect summer will become the one you needed most.

Family Discussion Questions

What is one thing you hope our family does together this summer?
What is one tradition you'd like to start?
What helps you feel most connected as a family?
What activity could we remove from our schedule to create more margin?
How can we make space to grow closer to God together this summer?
This Week's Challenge
Gather your family around the dinner table and create your own Summer Bucket List.
Choose 10 simple experiences that prioritize connection over perfection.
Write them down.
Hang the list on the refrigerator.
Then enjoy the gift of an ordinary summer lived with extraordinary intention.

We'd love to hear from you. Leave a comment, question, or encourage below.

- jay & amy

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FROM OUR FAMILY TO YOURS