You made it! Congratulations!

Finals week is over (praise the Lord from whom all blessings flow), and we've all scattered our separate ways, and now we're home and getting settled in for the summer.

Some of you may be missing your college friends (I know I am) and wondering what on earth you'll do without them these next few months-- but fear not! This sudden free time you've got is no reason for boredom and restlessness; there are so many ways you can make the most of every minute of this summer, and I've compiled a small list of them here.

1.) Read a book! (Or ALL the books.)

As an avid bookdragon who has been tragically deprived of pleasure reading during this school year, this is honestly one of the things I am most excited about for the summer. I've got my Goodreads to-read list; I've got my Kindle, library card, and a Barnes and Noble ten minutes from home. I am so ready for this. In all seriousness, how can someone ever be bored when there's an entire world of fictional realms to be discovered? Enjoy the time that you have to read something fun while you can; you'll be missing it come September.

And if you don't like reading... I mean, I guess you could watch Netflix. But that leaves less scope for the imagination, and is less fun to do whilst drinking tea and eating cookies.

2.) Explore new places.

Because things at home have changed in the months that you've been gone, and now you've got the time to properly discover all the newness around town. Go on a walk in both old places and new. Grab your family or some friends and just go for a drive one day. Try new places to eat. Hike a trail you've never been on before. Go on vacation if you can. Take pictures, yes, but don't forget to live in the moment and marvel at the beauty of new things. After all, what is summer without an adventure or two?

3.) Invest in your siblings.

This is so, so important-- especially if your siblings are younger and still live at home. They may not ever admit it, but they've missed you just as much as you've missed them. Your relationship may have changed over the past year while living in different cities/states, but that is no excuse to keep from hanging out over the summer. Get caught up on what they've been up to lately-- play games-- see movies-- go on what my brother and I call "sibling days" where it's just the two of you going to your favorite places. Be intentional about spending time with them, and have fun while doing it!

4.) Create.

Ah, summer: the time of the year when you can spend a full day working on a creative project and feel not the slightest hint of guilt over it. If you write, take this time to write and plan all the stories that have flitted through your mind throughout the school year, and then share them because the world needs your words. If you are an artist, go crazy with your pencils and paints, and share that beauty with the world (again, it needs you). If you're a musician, take up your instrument again (be it voice or piano or whatever it is that you play) and play the music you want to play. If you don't see yourself as creative, that's okay too! Find whatever it is you do that makes your heart happy, that you feel a calling deep within your soul to do-- and do that thing. Enjoy every moment of it, and give the glory of what you create and/or accomplish to the Lord, always.

5.) Pour yourself into eternal things.

And this is, of course, the most important thing. As you're enjoying this season of relaxation and fun, don't get so caught up in it that you're not spending time with the Lord and growing in your walk with Him. Take time every day to spend in the Word and in prayer. Go on a literal walk with your headphones in and enjoy the beauty of His creation and your favorite songs of worship. Find ways to share His love with others this summer, be it on a mission trip, through your job, or simply in the mundane such as running errands or service opportunities around the house. Don't spend the summer so focused on yourself and your own enjoyment that you lose sight of what matters most. As you depended on the Lord for strength to get you through the semester, also depend on Him through the less-stressful seasons of life.

Happy summer, everyone! I pray that yours is filled with all the joy and adventures that one summer can possibly contain.