It’s June and normally we would be enjoying the start of our summer outdoor season, but with all of the rain, it sure has made it hard to get outside, hasn’t it?

But June is really here, and that means it’s time to celebrate Father’s Day.  Father’s Day falls on Sunday, June 15^th this year, and you probably want to make sure that you don’t miss this opportunity to have the whole family celebrate the Dad’s in your life.

It’s so easy to get wrapped-up in what material gifts to buy for your Dad on Father’s Day.  The retailers are geared up and the pressure is on to decide what to “buy” Dear Ol’ Dad to celebrate the big day.  Well, here is a piece of news, you can buy Dear Ol’ Dad a lot of things, but what would really make the day the most special of all is to plan to spend the day with him, and take a minute to tell him how much he really means to you.  Take a minute to tell him how he has made an impact on your life and why he is so special.

I really encourage you to host a party to really honor him.  This can be a breakfast, a lunch or a dinner.  It can be at home, or at his favorite restaurant.  June is also National Fruits and Vegetables month, so salute Dad’s health while you celebrate Father’s Day and add a spinach salad or a fruit salad to the menu.  Is Dad a grilling aficionado?  If he is send him to weber.com where the Weber Grill folks have a host of wonderful recipes for the grill, including fruit and vegetable recipes including Basic Grilled Asparagus, Vegetable Au Gratin and Grilled Peaches with Cherry Sauce.  Yum!

For dessert, you could consider making an Applesauce Cake, as June 4^th is National day to celebrate Applesauce Cakes.  And the 7^th is National Chocolate Ice Cream Day and the 22^nd is National Chocolate Éclair Day.  So many decadent ways to celebrate!

Perhaps you would rather focus on a breakfast celebration.  Lucky for you, June 6^th is National Doughnut Day and June 29^th is National Waffle Iron Day.  My kids would love to make waffles for their Dad; I’ll bet yours would too! 

Maybe your Dad is active and would prefer to go golfing, gardening or fishing on his special day.  Perhaps a ball game, the museum he’s been meaning to get to, or an outdoor concert.  (Just a reminder, Greenfield’s Entertainment on the Plaza begins in June and brings musical entertainment every Friday at 7 p.m. at the Courthouse Square.)

Incorporating any of these ideas into your Father’s Day celebration is sure to please!

Our Father’s are important in our lives and in the lives of our children.  Take time out to spend some time with your Dad, and show him how much he really means to you.

June 21^st is the first Day of Summer, and before the whole summer slips away, I think I’ll take a minute to celebrate summer.  Try to think about what made summer special to you when you were a kid.  Share some of those fond memories with your own children and see how they might like to celebrate summer with you.  For me, special summer memories are evoked when sitting outside listing to the tree frogs and crickets.  Collecting lightening bugs in a jar and then turning them all loose before going in to bed.  Nothing is more summery than a wiener roast, followed up with S’mores. 

June 10^th is National Iced Tea Day, so I’m thinking of hosting a tea party.  I’ll invite some friends over and plan a little outdoor event near my flower garden (well, that is where I’ll plan it if the rain ever plans to stop for a minute.) 

And finally, June 26^th is National Forgiveness Day.  Isn’t it nice that there is a day set aside for us to seek forgiveness of our trespasses?  If you have someone near and dear to your heart to whom you have owed an apology but have not yet been able to bring yourself to say you are sorry, this is the perfect excuse to send a note, make a phone call, or make an invitation.  I have some apologies to send, and in order to get through my long list, I’d better stop by the card shop and pick up a whole set of “I’m Sorry” cards.  Perhaps if I send one or two cards a week, I’ll make it through my list of apologies by the end of the month.  You’ll feel better after having made your amends - as though a large weight has been lifted.