Summer Solstice Celebration

Two weeks ago, my friends and I gathered at a quaint little park in Berks County to celebrate the summer solstice. It was the longest day of the year, and the sun rose to the occasion (pun intended) - the temperature was perfect, and the sunshine was welcome after several weeks of scattered rain. We ate delicious homemade snacks, caught up on the ins and outs of everyone's daily lives, made cute little crafts, and set the tone for a lovely summer season.

My favorite part of this joyful celebration was the attention to detail we all put into it. From sun umbrellas to sun-themed focaccia bread, to yellow roses and personalized "how I see you" cards, to wicker picnic baskets and flower crowns... each one of us brought something special to the table. Which, honestly, is a reflection of our friendships - we are all so unique, yet as a group we blend together seamlessly and bring out the best in each other!

I want to document some snippets from the party so I don't forget them as time goes on:

• Everyone wore something flowy, summery, and fun. Something that made us feel warm and happy inside.

  
  

• Before the party, the only things we coordinated were the food and drinks. Without any planning, we all brought decorations, crafts, and activities to share... and each one was different from the rest! I love that we just intuitively knew to do that.

  
  

• Two friends couldn't make it to the party - one was unfortunately sick, but the other was off at the zoo petting capybaras! We agreed this was a good excuse to miss a party.

  
  

• The park we chose was in the heart of a Mennonite community in Berks County. We joked that we must look like heathens in our summer dresses and flower crowns, celebrating the solstice! Luckily no one kicked us out.
  

• Our crafts and gifts included "sun water" (scented sprays using water that was "charged" in the sunlight for a full day), suncatchers with colorful beads, "how I see you" cards that reflected parts of each of our personalities, and packets of wildflowers with adorable pins included!

One thing I truly enjoy about getting together in person is hearing about all the things my friends have been up to recently. Sure, we chat in a group text all the time, but texts and audio messages just don't compare to the animated, live retelling of all of life's adventures. Here are some things my lovely friends shared during our gathering:

• One is super interested in pursuing her dream of private practice, specializing in her unique interests. That, or potentially going back to school for a second degree!
  

• One is writing a book - a full-on, legitimate novel! She talked all about the cover art she's trying to have commissioned, and her dreams for publishing this work of art.
  

• One friend was lucky to make it to the party. The evening prior, a gigantic tree in her yard was torn down by crazy winds! Luckily the damage to her house was small, and no one was hurt (except for the poor tree). We joked about husbands/partners and how their first reaction to events like these is to immediately call the insurance company. Problem solvers, I guess!
  

• One shared her photo album and stories from her recent trip to Japan, filled with anecdotal stories of silly Japanese deer (that headbutt you!) and memories that will last her a lifetime.

As we do after each of our get-togethers, we all agreed that we need to plan the next one as soon as possible. Getting a group of adults together, especially when some have kids and we all live busy lives in scattered places, is always a challenging task. But on the days when we actually pull it off, we fall right back into step with each other. I always leave these gatherings feeling loved and content. This summer solstice celebration was no exception, and I'm excited to carry that energy throughout the summer season!