Fireflies and mud-pies, running through the sprinklers at dusk and the music of the ice cream truck making its rounds in the neighborhood, high summer is here. Summer has its own rhythm. Even for those of us who will still be getting up every day and going off to work, there is a different feel in August. The light lingers and we are able to take some of the evening time as a gift to enjoy the wonders that can be found outdoors. Even if it is just around the block, now is the time to take your child for a walk and discover again the wonders of God’s creation that exist all around you. Children give us the gift of a new perspective. We can rediscover the marvel of a stray feather, or the amazing colors in rocks as we indulge the curiosity of a child. So, let the dinner dishes sit awhile and go find out what miracles are waiting for you and your child-guide.
 


Book: Noah’s Wife: The Story of Naamah by Sandy Eisenberg Sasso
 




Activity:
Gather a dandelion bouquet and blow dandelion seeds.
At the grocery store, count the plants (fruits and vegetables) you put in your grocery cart.
Plant something!
 
Prayer:
Dear God,
Thank you for the flowers, seeds and the plants.
Thank you for the plants that we eat (add your favorite fruits and vegetables to the list).
Thank you for the sun and the rain that helps them grow.
 
Say the Lord’s prayer together

July begins with Independence Day. It is in many ways a day of dreams. Our nation was founded on the hopes and dreams of those who came before us. They dreamed of a place and time that was better. We do as well. In our dreaming, we participate in God’s dream for the world. In the Lord’s prayer we pray that “God’s will be done, on earth…”. We pray that God’s dream for our world becomes a reality. In helping our children to dream, we give them the seeds to see how the world can become more like God’s dream for all of us. Happy Dreaming!
 
Book
God’s Dream by Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Douglas Carlton Abrams
 
Activity
Lay on your back and find pictures in the clouds.
Take a bubble bath and see pictures in the bubbles.
Have each member of the family draw their dream place.
 
For older children
Look up a faraway place online or take a book out of the library. Imagine going there. What would you like to see? Would it be hot or cold? Would the language be different? Perhaps look up how to say “Hello”? What kind of food would you eat? Maybe cook an item from there? Have fun with it!
 
Prayer
Dear God
Thank you for the wonderful things we can dream about.
Thank you for the wonderful places in our world.
Thank you for ……… (let each person add their dream)
Amen
 
 
Say the Lord’s prayer together