The holidays allow more time for dreamy days, adventures, talking more, playing more, and escaping from routine. Of course, in these times, at least as much as in other times, we are still facing our own challenges, edging around complicated feelings and finding our way in our relationships. In all the seasons, we do our best to live well in spite of our flaws and circumstances, and, as Jack Kerouac wrote, “we are all in it together” (more on him another time).

I’ve had a few dreamy days lately. We went glamping and, walking through wildflowers and butterflies, sitting by the pond and listening to the birds, I felt I had come home. We spent an afternoon and evening just sitting and reading, talking, walking and filling the outdoor bath. We cooked on the BBQ and sat by the firepit at night.

We did a lot of driving around, some of the time in circles, down unfamiliar lanes. I had missed the freedom of going off somewhere new with only the loosest of plans. I only wished we had a map instead of our phones. One day we travelled by train. I love the slowness of sitting on a rural platform, then boarding the train and watching the countryside through the window, free to daydream, people watch, sit quietly and talk about nothing much.

I love to walk, too, and we crammed a couple of short walks into our time away. There is something about being in woods that I find therapeutic. There’s a sense of belonging there, too.

We ventured to the city and enjoyed the change of pace, but we were glad to retreat again to the swallows and the trees, the changing sky and the largeness of the outdoors.

Back home, there remain significant challenges in our family life. I messaged a friend, close to despair, asking her to pray for us. Without going into details, we have seen a beautiful sweeping in of healing and overcoming and goodness even over just a couple of days. We worked hard at it all, but it was the prayer that covered us in peace and power as we did so. Then, we saw things – and ourselves – brought back from a very low place. Every moment we’re seeing our sense of life and joy increase again.

How is your summer looking? What are your dreamy days and adventures? What are the things you need to cover with prayer? How can you receive healing and peace today?