Reclaim Family Time This Summer 🌞

20% off this ground-breaking book on cultivating leisure in the home.

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July 16, 2026 6:43pm EDT

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Cultivate Leisure Intentionally as a Family This Summer!

Summer is a great time to implement new routines, habits and worthwhile pursuits!

The household is the center of daily life, where relationships thrive through shared work and leisure. Yet for decades, we have not lived as though this were true. The result: Widespread unhappiness, isolation, and meaninglessness.

Philosopher John Cuddeback invokes timeless wisdom to help breathe new life into our homes in his book The Intentional Household. Enjoy 20% off this title with coupon code INTENTIONAL.

The art of leisure and taking true rest from our busy lives, is one area our culture struggles with, as Dr. Cuddeback points out:

"But as considered previously, work can and should point to something beyond it, even when it consumes most of the day. The festive break from work—in other words not just the break to catch one’s breath before returning to work—stands as a sign and reminder that we find a meaning and purpose that transcends and fulfills work, even while it animates it."

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Check out these 5 tips inspired by Dr. Cuddeback for reclaiming and establishing leisure in the home:

Raise the bar for amusement.

Anyone can go to an amusement park, but it is possible to have good, clean fun together at home! Weed out the vulgar, exercise in fresh air, and foster eye-to-eye contact.

Appreciate beauty in work, art and nature.

Create beauty in the realm of the ordinary (home or work). Study great masterpieces of art and music and visit beautiful gardens or nature reserves together.

Make "together" time.

Bring back the good old "porch days" for gathering and conversation. Linger around the dinner table and enjoy family sports games and walks.

Make storytime.

Create a culture of story-sharing and story-telling. Read the Bible aloud, share stories from your personal family history, or study a great ballad or Shakespeare play together. The lives of the great saints and fairy tales are always a hit!

Make and take rest on the Lord's Day.

Put your liturgical observance and worship of God front and center. Set the day apart with special family meals and a slower pace. Rest in the knowledge of God's love for your family.