Breezin’ Through Summer with a Sweet Summer Kiss

Summer Kisses

Soft kisses on a summer day,
laughing all our cares away,
just you and I
A Summer Song by Chad and Jeremy

Kisses are sweet.
Tender.
Gentle.
Small gestures that somehow carry big meaning.
The kind you offer to the ones who matter most.

But summer kisses…
They flit in differently.
Lighter. Softer.
As if out of thin air.
The kind that find you before you even realize they’re there.

Summer kisses are warm.
Smooth.
Memorable.
They happen when least expected.
On boat docks.
On porches.
In oceans.
On lakes.
Under trees.
On the sand.
And everywhere in between.

Kisses show affection.
Presence.
I see you.
I hear you.
You matter.

They teach us to:
slow down,
savor the moment,
and open your heart to let someone in.

Affection is more than a gesture. It’s a language of touch—through hugs, kisses, and quiet acts of care.

— Nadia Crane, Sacred Affection (in process)

And summer has a way of reminding us of that truth.

This summer,

May every soft kiss lead your heart toward what it longs to feel.

#BreezinThroughSummer #Summer #SummerSongs #SummerVibes #SummerKisses #LightAndAiry #SummerWhimsy #TasteOfSummer #Seasons #ThePaisleyFrog

Breezin’ Through Summer at Summer Camp

Summer Camp

Have fun at summer camp.
Have Fun at Summer Camp by Spencer Sutherland

Summer camp.
Fun.
Scary.
Lots of kids.

Cabins line up in rows.
Bunks that creak.
Mattresses stained.
A mixture of pine and sunscreen fill the air.

Flashlights.
Band-aids.
Sleeping bags.
Insect repellent.

So much to do —
canoes,
swimming,
archery,
horseback riding,
craft tables.
Which one do you choose.

Summer camp.
Fleeting friendships.
Campfires that sizzle.
Hot dogs on sticks.
Rounds of songs as nighttime falls.
Memories that last a lifetime.

Summer camp teaches us:
to try new things,
to be brave in a new place,
and to remember that we don’t outgrow wonder —
we just forget to look for it.

…Camp Cherith.
That is where I learned to do archery, shoot a rifle (BB’s),
and go horseback riding.

– Nadia Crane, I and Thou: It’s Summertime! (Blog, 6/10 /21)

This summer,

May your days feel a little like camp again —
full of surprises, new talents,
and the kind of courage that invites you to try new things.

#BreezinThroughSummer #Summer #SummerSongs #SummerVibes #LightAndAiry #SummerWhimsy #TasteOfSummer #Seasons #ThePaisleyFrog

Breezin’ Through Summer Just Singin’ a Song

Summer Songs

We all live in a yellow submarine.
Yellow Submarine by The Beatles

Summer songs.
Silly songs.
Songs that make you smile and dance.
As you roll down your window, cruisin’ along.

Beach songs.
Sand, surf, and tidal waves.
Strolls on the boardwalk,
searching for seashells,
and dipping toes in the water.

Car songs.
Songs in rounds with kids in the car.
Day trips, road trips, near and far.
Laughing and singing
til your voice goes hoarse.

Campfire songs.
Soft and smoky, the scent of fire.
Sparks sizzle and light up the sky.
Songs that somehow bond buddies together
and, North, South, East, or West,
teach the world to sing
in perfect harmony.

Summer songs remind us:
to be silly,
to laugh,
to seize the moment,
and to echo through the hills and valleys,
a call for peace throughout the land.

As I lay in bed that night at Amelia’s, I think: What a comical yet complex day this has been — the singing cards.

— Nadia Crane, Wine & Faith – 19 Days in Napa

Summer songs come from everywhere—
from yellow submarines to singing cards,
from car radios to campfire rounds.
They remind us how music moves through the stages of our lives
and how each of us,
in our own special ways,
can teach the world to sing.

This summer,

May you find your very own yellow submarine —
a bright little place of joy
floating in a sea of green beneath the waves.

#BreezinThroughSummer #Summer #SummerSongs #SummerVibes #LightAndAiry #SummerWhimsy #TasteOfSummer #Seasons #ThePaisleyFrog

Breezin’ Through Summer on Vacations

Summer Vacations

Vacation, all I ever wanted.
Vacation, had to get away.
Vacation by The Gogo’s

Summer vacations.
The bigger adventures.
Pack a bag.
Grab a map.
And follow the open road, train, boat, or plane.

State parks.
Tents flapping in the wind.
The sounds of crackling campfires.
Mesmerized by an endless sky of stars.

RVs hugging narrow roads.
Mountain lions in the distance.
Archeological finds waiting to be discovered.
It’s a small world looping in our minds over and over again.

Which one is your favorite?
Mine is Mesa Verde National Park—
where cliff dwellers turn back time,
stairs lead to fire pits and kivas,
and petroglyph panels reveal a language all their own.

*Image Credit: “Mesa Verde” by Elaine from Sheffield, England is licensed under CC BY 2.0.*

Summer Vacations.
The beach calls.
The ocean waves pull you to surf.
You can feel the salt on your skin.
And you can taste it too.

Vacations nudge us out of our comfort zones.
Trying new foods.
New locations.
New trails
New adventures.
Discovering courage you didn’t know you had.

So, go ahead and lean into the fun and see where it will take you.

Summertime is fun!
Summertime is a time for unexpected adventures!

– Nadia Crane, It’s Summertime – Part 4 (Blog, 8/29/21)

This summer,

May your adventures lead you somewhere unforgettable —
toward wonder, toward joy, toward the part of you that wakes up when you wander far from home.

#BreezinThroughSummer #Summer #SummerSongs #SummerVibes #LightAndAiry #SummerWhimsy #TasteOfSummer #Seasons #ThePaisleyFrog

Breezin’ Through Summer with Outings

Summer Outings

I’m sailing away
Come Sail Away, Styx

Water calls to us in summer.
Do you hear it?
Rivers. Lakes. Oceans.
Cleansing us.
Reflecting on us.
Refreshing what feels old and stale.

Summer outings.
Going down the shore.
Or to the beach, depending on where you’re from.
Sand in my toes.
Ice cream on the boardwalk.
Salt in the air.
Light, airy, and bubbly.

Summer outings.
Day trips.
Lakes.
Or ponds.
Floating. Fishing. Sailing. Canoeing. Kayaking.
Still water that settles the soul.

Summer outings.
Day trips.
Rivers.
Tubing. Jumping off rope.
Rafting down the Buffalo.
Getting to know someone special.

Summer outings.
Day trips.
Little escapes.
Change the ordinary to the extraordinary.

Relinquish fears to set sail.

— Nadia Crane, I and Thou: Happy New Year! (Blog, 12/31/23)

This summer,

May the Spirit meet you in your outings—
in your comings and your goings.
May the water wash away fear and anxiety and
refresh you where you need it most.

#BreezinThroughSummer #Summer #SummerSongs #SummerVibes #LightAndAiry #SummerWhimsy #TasteOfSummer #ThePaisleyFrog #Seasons

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Breezin’ Through Summer While Wandering

Summer Wanderings

I wonder as I wander out under the sky.
I Wonder as I Wander, by Jacob Niles (performed by Barbra Streisand)

Summer wanderings.
Days that last a little longer.
Inviting us to drift.
No agenda.
Just a quiet nudge to explore.

Wanderings.
Unhurried.
Unplanned.
Moving from one place to another — or no place at all.

Through farmers’ markets.
Flea markets.
Grocery aisles bursting with color.
Strawberry reds.
Blueberry blues.
Lime‑green grapes.
All calling our names to take them home.

Down shaded trails.
Along cobblestone roads.
Toward waterfalls tucked out of sight.
Into bookstores brimming with books.
Past marinas where boats wait to sail far away.

Summer wanderings teach us:
to slow our pace,
to follow our nudges,
and to notice the beauty of the in‑between places.

Wander.
Meander.
Wherever you go.
Chatting.
Reflecting.
Alone or with a friend.
Go lightly. Follow your heart.
To all the places your spirit leads.
Even if it’s…

Wandering in a plush green forest…

— Nadia Crane, The Dance of Love, Florida Writers Anthology

This summer,

May your wanderings lead you somewhere unexpected —
toward joy, toward peace, toward the place your heart
has been trying to find.

#BreezinThroughSummer #Summer #SummerWanderings #SummerVibes #LightAndAiry #SummerWhimsy #TasteOfSummer #ThePaisleyFrog #Seasons

Breezin’ Through Summer Finding Summertime Friends

Summer Friends

We stick together and can see it through
cause you’ve got a friend in me
You’ve God a Friend in Me by Randy Newman

Friends are like pearls.
Found in an oyster.
Lots of people come and go.
But real friends stick around.

Summer friends are different.
Lighter. Less intense.
They stretch you.
And make you smile and laugh.

Summer friendships come and go like breezes.
They teach us:
To let go of complication.
To let joy in without overthinking it.
To be free.

Sure, friends come and go.
Hang on to the ones who are uplifting.
Let go of ones who aren’t.

– Nadia Crane, I and Thou: Summertime Part 3 (Blog, 7/15/23)

This summer,

May the friends who cross your path bring you simple joys, lightness, and a kindness that reminds you to
step out of your comfort zone every now and again.

#BreezinThroughSummer #Summer #SummerSongs #SummerVibes #LightAndAiry #SummerWhimsy #TasteOfSummer #ThePaisleyFrog #Seasons

Breezin’ Through Summer Under the Trees

Summer Trees

Trees swayin’ in the summer breeze,
showin’ off their silver leaves,
As we walked by
A Summer Song by Chad and Jeremy

Trees are majestic.
They are strong.
Their branches sway like couples dancing.
They give us food to eat.
Shade to rest.
A place for birds to call home.

Trees are deeply rooted.
Unwavering.
They teach us:
To stand firm.
To bend and not break.
Drink living water.
And to reach for the light.

And in the quiet places of our lives, when the wind moves through the branches, we hear a whisper:

Sway with the trees and stay awhile.

— Nadia Crane, Spirit of the Wind (Blog, 7/15/23)

This summer,
May the summer trees sway with you
and lead you toward where your heart wants to go.

#BreezinThroughSummer #Summer #SummerSongs #SummerVibes #LightAndAiry #SummerWhimsy #TasteOfSummer #Seasons #ThePaisleyFrog

Breezin’ Through Summer Feelin’ the Breeze

Summer Breeze

Summer breeze makes me feel fine
blowin through the jasmine in my mind
Summer Breeze by Keith Urban

A breeze is magical.
It’s soft.
It’s whimsy.
It’s freeing.
A feeling of refreshment hits the face.

Breezes are life-giving.
They are gentle.
They arrive unannounced.
They lift us toward the light.

Summer breezes come and go.
They teach us:
To release what’s holding us back.
To move with the Spirit – not against it.
And free us from judgment so we can feel again.

Daisies are early risers, like the tulips.
They grow, thin and slender, swaying in the breeze.

— Nadia Crane, Sacred Blooms: Daisies (Blog, 3/17/26)

This summer,
May the breeze move you in the direction
where your heart wants to go.

#BreezinThroughSummer #Summer #SummerSongs #SummerVibes #LightAndAiry #SummerWhimsy #TasteOfSummer #Seasons #ThePaisleyFrog

Wine & Faith by Nadia Crane: Reflection #4

A Reflection Series for Mental Health Awareness Month

The Stress of Walking on Eggshells

Excerpt from Wine & Faith – 19 Days in Napa

It’s the day before Jill’s trip to Napa. Her husband, Derek, enters the bedroom.

Derek: “Jill, what in the world are you doing?” Derek’s tone exuded disbelief.
Jill: “I’m packing,” I said calmly.
Derek: “…Stop packing!… You’re not going anywhere. Who do you think you are?…”
Jill: … “You told me to go to Amelia’s…You and Dr. Kate agreed…”
Derek: “I didn’t mean that literally. Are you stupid, Jill?”
Jill: “No… Are you saying I shouldn’t believe anything you say?…”
Derek: “…. Go! Get out of here! Good riddance.”

He stormed out of the bedroom in a huff.

Faith Reflection

Have you ever had the feeling of being one misstep away from a blow-up? Or a sense that your words are twisted despite your calm tone and kind intentions?

When we feel this psychological wear and tear, it is exhausting. Over time, the body stays on high alert. Trapped in a never-ending loop of fight-or-flight. Eventually, emotions become harder and harder to regulate.

You begin to second-guess yourself. Then, you start to wonder if you’re the crazy one.

But sometimes, this feeling of walking on eggshells is a signal. It tells us that something needs to change.

In Wine & Faith, Jill isn’t just packing a suitcase. She’s on a quest to unpack years of silent suffering, invalidation, and anxiety.

She is stepping into a place of self-preservation. A sanctuary where she can confront the reality of her life.

To reflect.
To unravel the complexities.
To seek clarity amid the chaos.
To reclaim her identity.

In this pivotal scene, Jill clings to the hope of transformation.

Jill stands up and draws a line in the sand. She wants the walking on eggshells to stop. But Derek sees this moment as a betrayal. A boundary crossed.

God sees Jill’s line. And He honors it.

Even when others twist your words or belittle your truth, God never will.

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” — Psalm 34:18

God knows what was said, what was done, and how it made you feel. He is our safe place.

Haiku

Words dig deep within
Crackling eggs beneath my feet
Divine presence awaits

Reflective Questions

Have you ever felt like you had to watch every word or action to avoid someone’s anger? How did it affect your sense of peace, trust, or identity?

What boundary do you need to place (or reinforce) to reclaim peace in your inner sanctuary?

I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Please comment and “like” this post if you feel led to do so.

#MentalHealth #MentalHealthAwareness #Overwhelm #FeelingInvisible #EmotionalIsolation #WalkingOnEggshells #Relationships #WineandFaith #NadiaCrane #thepaiseleyfrog #LifeJourney