It's Unbelievable!! The school year is almost over. Yes, with hot days on the way and cool school days behind, it's time once again to enjoy the summer, catch a few rays or fish, veg, or pick rock.( pick rock?) I hope you have started to figure out how to make the best of the summer. Sue and I have planned out what weeks we will be gone and we look forward to spending time as a family. We are going to spend some time to Shannon and Trevor this June in the cool climates of Tennessee and Florida. It should be not hotter than 110 degrees.

It is good to sit down and decide how you are going to spend time away with your family to build relationships and connectedness. Whether it's a week at a time or a few hours at a time, it is important to plan it in. It seems to me that when we plan for our time together, it will happen and we love it. But when we try and live moment to moment something else always seems to take priority.

My conclusion to all of this planning talk is that we will plan into our lives that which we feel is important. If you feel your family and friends are is important, you will plan time to be with them. This goes for everyone in the family, kids and adults. Husbands and wives take time to spend together your relationship is that important. One of you take the initiative and set it up.

For a moment I was tempted to make a deep spiritual application about how this holds true to our life of faith but I will save that for another month. Time with our families is more important than just a lead in to another spiritual truth, it is a spiritual truth. In a day of disconnected families and troubled kids our faith is lived out more and more through how we set our family priorities. It becomes an example to and for our children and youth.

Sit down this week and make some plans to enjoy this summer. Don't demand it; ask. Don't order, listen. Remember the goal in planning is to figure out the best way to grow your family into the likeness of Christ. This summer we have set aside some family events that you can join in on.

I'll see you at the beach.



Pastor Craig