Monday, November 2, 2015

Come Away

The older I get the more I appreciate God's creation.
What I might have missed as a youth - captivates me now as an adult. I'm drawn to discovering the beauty in the woods, specifically, and even more specifically the woods in the Autumn. :)

We spent the weekend at a place that I affectionately call "our cabin", although it's neither "ours" or even a cabin, really. My husband had been recruited to teach a youth retreat and the girls and I got to tag along - just so happens it was at our favorite place. The camp is called Hidden Acres - it's out in the middle of corn fields and then BAM a camp, surrounded by trees. Beautiful. Restful. It's become so very dear to our family as a place of respite and renewal.


Saturday morning I woke up early and stole a few minutes alone outside. The sun was on its way up and it was chilly. Perfect. In my jammies, robe, and leopard print rain boots I trekked through the woods around our cozy cabin - camera in one hand, coffee in the other. I hadn't used my real camera in awhile and it was fun to play around with the functions again. I'm a sucker for the close up macro shot. :) It's all dirt and broken nuts and what not - but so beautiful!



The beauty of dying. Every plant is fading and wilting - yet, it's beautiful. I'm sure there are deep thoughts I could tie in with this, but today is just a post of beauty. Stopping to appreciate what's right under our feet.


The light coat of dew was fantastic! Look at those perfect beads of water.


Ascribe to the Lord, O heavenly beings,
ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.

Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;

worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness.
The voice of the Lord is over the waters;
the God of glory thunders,

the Lord, over many waters.

The voice of the Lord is powerful;

the voice of the Lord is full of majesty.
The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars;
the Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon.

He makes Lebanon to skip like a calf,

and Sirion like a young wild ox.
The voice of the Lord flashes forth flames of fire.
The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness;

the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.
The voice of the Lord makes the deer give birth
and strips the forests bare,

and in his temple all cry, “Glory!”
The Lord sits enthroned over the flood;
the Lord sits enthroned as king forever.

May the Lord give strength to his people!

May the Lord bless his people with peace!
Psalm 29 

The sun continued to make its way to the surface - and it happened fast. Thinking about scripture and talking to God (alone) always refreshes me. As a mom to young kids - the quiet has become valuable to me. These pictures are special because I can feel and remember the quiet. 



We are blessed to serve the Lord with our lives in full time local church ministry. It's a dream come true for us, really. It's easy to let weeks and months go by without getting some good down time - to come away from the day to day and refocus. I needed those calm mornings. While my hubby was busy preaching to teens on the other side of camp, I was enjoying my indoor fireplace and hot coffee and some time in the Psalms. The girls ran around outside, played in the bunk beds, and explored camp. Time was a treasure this weekend, to this mom heart. 

November has begun and the usual activity of holidays, family visits, ministry appointments, special activities, etc. is upon us. We'll go back to "our" little place here in a few weeks - only with 50 other family members, so it'll be a bit different. I'm thankful we had this time this weekend and I'll look forward to going back in the spring to take pictures of things coming to LIFE! 

Where do you go for refreshment? Have you made time to come away from the busyness of life? 
Happy November, friends! Hoping it's the best one yet!