As we are going to be gallivanting through the realms of Disney World this week, I asked my fellow bloggy writer and friend Amy Sullivan to guest post this week. Amy has devoted this year and her family to the practice of gracious giving. And in the process, she has pushed me to think more of and attempt to do more with all that God has given to me. This post will give all of us mom’s needing things to do a head start for the summer!! Be sure to check Amy out at Amy Sullivan!
When The Summer is Long and Your Patience is Short
After running through sprinklers loses its appeal and swinging and swimming grow old, your kids may be driving you insane searching for something constructive to do during the lazy days of summer.
Seize this opportunity and bam! Hit your darlings with fun, service projects they can complete right from your home.
Check out a few favorites:
Make a Child Smile. Write letters and send words of encouragement to children who are chronically ill.
Plan an Almost Sleepover. Kids from every state in the USA are participating in an Almost Sleepover to help raise money for your child’s local charity of choice. Discover the details and start planning your own sleepover.
Feeling crafty? Check out one of Craft Hope’s latest projects. In Project 12, kids make bracelets to send to kids in Russia, and Project 13 encourages crafters to create security blankets for tornado victims. Not crafty? No problem. Step-by-step instructions are available.
Too little to craft much? Color A Smile collects and distributes crayon drawings to nursing homes and Meals on Wheels programs across the country.
Everybody can be great because anybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love. – Martin Luther King Jr.
Here’s to helping raise souls generated by love and filling our summer days with purpose.
Confessions of the Pastor's Wife 
I love these ideas! I plan on using some of these as part of our summer fun and service! Thank you!
Theresa,Oh, so glad! I've talked about all of these before, but they are faves (of not just me, but my kids too!).Thanks for stopping by.
definitely love the quote, and of course the ideas are wonderful. i'll be printing them out to have on hand for "those days" because they will come! 🙂
Oh, I'm a big fan of the quote too, Lor. MLK Jr. said so many amazing things, don't you think?
Wonderful ideas Amy. We have just been thinking about summer and keeping the kids occupied–I should include potential service activities in our plans.
Craig is faxing the media release for Almost Sleepover tomorrow when he goes to work. So. Excited.
Love, love, love the way you include your kids in service. Yes!!
Amy, Your suggestions are always so helpful to me! And now you've introduced me to Sara – thank you.
Brian,Thanks for stopping by. I hope you get to try a few of these activities with your kids. . .way fun!
Jen,Yeeeahhh! You, Alicia, and I need to do some kind of fun combo thing together. We have narrowed it down to two charities for the Almost Sleepover. We are going to visit the second one next week.So fun we are doing this together.
Jennifer,Thanks for stopping by! Always good to hear from you.
Courtney,You'll love it here at Sara's. She's funny, witty, and very real!
These are great ideas. I especially love the Color A Smile because even toddlers can do that. So cool!
Joybird,Yes, that's what I love about Color a Smile, and how many pieces of "art" do we have lining our own fridges already? We can pass a few items on!
Amy these are great ideas. I have been thinking about planning my summer so that it goes easier. These will be helpful when I do it.Thanks.
Michelle,Me, too. I love summer, but a little structure is good.
I am all for this Amy – I immediately think of Gabi. I continue to read posts from her mom on how people from all over…even ones she has never met are writing her and sending her gifts. This is what the " church " is all about isn't it? I love the heart gave you for giving love, joy and hope to others and setting the example for your children to see. xo
T,Yes, this is what the church should be about. Surrounding each other in love, even those we don't know in real-life. Gabi, a perfect example.