A Friday Five

I've recently been connected up to the RevGalBlogPals, where there is some fun posts happening. One of the things they do there is post a "Friday Five," a series of five questions each Friday. I think it looks kind of fun and I'm going to try running with it. So with that, here is today's five.

1. What is your sweetest summer memory from childhood? Did it involve watermelon or hand cranked ice cream? Or perhaps a teen summer romance. Which stands out for you?
This is hard one for me. I think I might have to go with the summer following 3rd grade when the neighbor gal and myself created our own Olympics. Perhaps the best were the water events (we were blessed enough to live on a lake).

2. Describe your all time favorite piece of summer clothing. The one thing you could put on in the summer that would seem to insure a cooler, more excellent day.
I don't know about a real specific item, but a swim suit has always been a sign of a better day for me. There is not much in this world better than an opportunity to be in water. I sometimes wonder if the theory of multiple lives were true if maybe I was a fish previously.

3. What summer food fills your mouth with delight and whose flavor stays happily with you long after eaten? This one is a bit of a toss-up. It is a close call between watermelon and corn on the cob, both signal summer and long lasting goodness.

4. Tell us about the summer vacation or holiday that holds your dearest memory.
One of the best family vacations was biking on the Elroy-Sparta Bike Trail. I find it now almost ironic that I married a woman that grew up in one of the towns along the trail. However, I think my favorite might be the summer my grandmother took my sister and I to Wisconsin Dells. At the time Noah's Ark consisted of approximately 8 slides and looked nothing like today, but it was awesome. One night after brushing my teeth, getting ready for bed, I came out of the bathroom and asked, "Who's teeth are in there?" What was I thinking. It was Grandma's boyfriend who was along with us. I also loved traveling with Grandma on the train to Duluth.

5. Have you had any experience(s) this summer that has drawn you closer to God or perhaps shown you His wonder in a new way?
Surprising not much happening this way for me. Typically summer is filled with many such experiences. Part of that is the anticipation of a new born child (t-minus two weeks today) overshadows most everything and certainly invites you into the wonder and goodness of God in itself. However, I can't say it's a "summer" experience. So I'm going to with our vacation in which we spent a couple of days camping. I got to go for a run through the trees, along the river and it most certainly renewed me in a way that was very needed.

Bonus question: When it is really hot, humid and uncomfortable, what do you do to refresh and renew body and spirit? If you paid attention to #2, then it will be no surprise that I need to get in the water. It doesn't matter if it's a pool or a lake, but cooling off in water is one of the greatest healers in the world.