A Season Ending

And so we bid farewell to Eden for the summer season):  This will be our first year that we have not taken to escape back to this haven on Labor Day Weekend.

Moving Ashley into residence at University has taken precedence!!  I'm sure I will write more about this transition in the coming weeks:)

What a welcomed, restful week it was.  A gift that I had not expected.  I love my daughter and niece to pieces, but I had thought that this lively duo would not afford us much in the way of relaxing.   And yes, we did have our times of taking them tubing--such fun.  And yes, they were completely spun at times with their antics.  But they were a joy to be with.  Hanging out with us was not the focus of their wknd. anyway!! ha,ha

Rach went home Monday at dinnertime which left a threesome for the remainder of the week.

Quiet, leisurely and enjoyable was the theme for our last few days.  I think Ashley and I had a nap almost every afternoon while Brian played guitar, read, or practiced his golf swing:)
We always feast--this time in particular...corn on the cob every night and fresh peaches.  Mmmmm.

Traditionally we make a trek to Eden for Thanksgiving, but that remains to be determined.  By then "our three" will be well into the university workload and midterms so we will have to see how our plans unfold.

With gratitude we close a chapter on summer living at the cottage.

Two peas in a pod:)

Rachel's tubing injury

Slalom skier extraordinaire!!!  (Rach)

Farewell until next time

The Returning

Just days away from

slower mornings

leisurely afternoons

quiet evenings

endless reading of

biographies, magazines, God's Word

journaling

praying

sleeping

feasting

talking

laughing

togetherness

A returning to Eden's tranquility

"Praise the LORD from the earth,

you sea monsters and all deeps,

fire and hail, 

snow and frost,

stormy wind in its rush;

mountains and all hills,

fruit trees and all cedars,

wild animals and tame,

creeping creatures and soaring birds!"

--Psalm 148:7-10


"Oh the sheer delight of spanning the horizon
with a palette of color

Sometimes soft, pale peachy pinks at dusk...
a way to speak gentleness to the earth's inhabitants

Or hues of periwinkle blue and soft lavender
to touch some lonely soul

Other times
   a canon of brilliant orange, red and yellow is set off
and collides in the heavens
to dazzle even the most cynical

For one cannot escape
the tantalizing display of 
a mesmerizing sunset

Splashing praise with a brush 
in the Master Creator's hand"
 

 "I will say to my soul,

'Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years.

Relax, eat, drink, be merry."

--Luke 12:19

"I will say to my soul,

'Soul, your abundance is in Jesus.

All the peace, security, contentment and joy you need

flows from Him.

Not only did He come to give of His abundance

freely--

He is the abundant One!

The abundant life

is a Person!

Oh my soul

rest in Him

draw from Him

He is your 

unstoppable

 Abundance!'"

It has been a number of weeks 

since I have written a prayer from Rachel Hackenberg's "prayer prompt"

as summer and cottage life has interrupted rhythms of life. 

 But this one jumped out at me and was written effortlessly 

It is what the Abundant One has been speaking to my soul about--

His abundance.

And what He has made me aware of again--

that I so rarely live out of His abundance.

Sigh.

How delightful it has been for Him

 to have awakened within me

the beauty and constancy and strength

of His abundance.

I so long to live here.