My husband and I just celebrated our 21st year together. Truly something to commemorate. I’m not sure why I get to be married to him, and the rest of you ladies have to settle for someone else; but no one said life is fair.
We knew we needed to “get away”, but initially struggled with where to go. It’s been a while since we’ve traveled someplace interesting because…life. But after analyzing things like childcare, time and available funds, we opted for a practically free stay at my in-laws lake house. I must admit that, at first, I was kind of bratty about it. I have visited Canyon Lake many, many times in the last 21 years so the idea didn’t seem fun or special. But for us, for now, it seemed most prudent. Prudent. Isn’t that a romantic word?
No matter. The last couple of months handed us more on a platter than we thought we could handle. Family crisis, the death of a dear friend, job loss for friends and family, job changes and stresses for us and major insurance issues. We have cried enough tears to be dehydrated. So in the end, it didn’t really matter where we went. We just needed a break from our regular routine and an escape from the fruit of our loins.
That fruit didn’t make it easy. Allie had a youth retreat weekend at church, but had to work out transportation and other issues. And when she gets stressed, the rest of us feel it. And Shelby. Arranging care for a 19 year old who needs lots of help is not easy. Especially now that our parents are getting older. They are still perfectly capable and generously willing, but we often worry that it could be too much.
Chuck’s parents agreed to keep Shelby for two nights, and my parents stepped in to help with Allie’s logistics. Shelby started the weekend with an ear infection, two straight days of seizure activity, and multiple blow out diapers. If you think an infant’s blow out diaper is savage, you should see one from a 19 year old. But everything settled down enough for us to vacate and manage to relax.
My husband and I spent the whole first day playing. We shopped, ate pizza, and saw two movies in a row at a theater. With snack. Just because we could. Then we drove out to the lake house and had a romantic evening with no child sleeping in our room. Just what we needed. But I think our non-plans for day two excited me even more.
Sunday we agreed to sit still and enjoy a lot of quiet. As much as we needed to focus on each other, I desperately needed to spend time with my first love – Jesus. I spend time with Him every day. But just like I see my husband every day, our time together is often rushed, unfocused and crowded in with lots of other things. I needed time to savor my Savior. And I did.
I sat in a cozy recliner and looked at the lake through five foot windows while I prayed, read my bible and live streamed our church’s service. I researched scripture and I took notes. I took walks out in the world He created. And most importantly, I didn’t rush a thing.
Maybe we’ve started a new tradition. Maybe anniversary weekends will no longer be about what we can do, but what we can not do. I’m really not sure of much past just this minute. But I know this year I really needed to just linger with my first two loves.
Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.[ Psalm 91:1 NIV
Now for an exciting announcement! I have been invited to join the Grace & Truth team and will be hosting a blog link-up here every Friday! For those of you who are readers only, I will continue to post the original content you have come to expect. But there will also be an opportunity for writers to share their work here with you!
Now for this week’s link-up! Let’s bless and encourage one another in our walk with the Lord.
Grace & Truth exists to point people to Jesus! We hope this link-up will be a source of encouragement every week. If you’re a blogger, we hope you’ll use this space as a way to meet new friends within the Christian blogging community. If you’re a reader, we hope that you’ll encounter new bloggers that love Jesus as much as you do! Most of all, we hope you’ll meet Jesus here.
Join us each Friday for the Grace and Truth Link-Up!
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Maree Dee
Lauren Sparks
Heather Hart & Valerie Riese
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Welcome to Grace & Truth link up, Lauren! We’re so pleased to have you!
Thank you, Valerie! I look forward to getting to know you better!
So glad you could have a restful getaway with your husband, Lauren – it sure sounded like you needed it!
The link up sounds like so much fun, but I follow so many blogs at the moment, I may wait a while to see what I can work out. In the meantime, I’ll enjoy your posts as always!
Blessings!
Thank you for being a faithful reader-friend, Martha.
Happy Anniversary!!
What a lovely little get-away! The idea of spending a day in uninterrupted time with Jesus sounds like bliss.
It absolutely was, Katrina.
Congrats on co-hosting Grace and truth linkup. Happy anniversary. It sounds like your weekend away was exactly what you needed.
Thank you, Mary. It was.
So thankful that there are still parties to link up to! I have just found your blog and it is beautiful and welcoming, can’t wait to come back!
Oh, thank you so much, Sarah! And welcome to the Grace & Truth link up. So glad to virtually meet you here.
What a perfect anniversary get away!
It definitely was.
I’m so glad you got some time away from all your responsibilities. You have a lot resting on your shoulders, and it’s so good that you were able to get some rest.
It was so good, Tanya. Thank you.
Sounds like you really deserved time out after so many challenges. All the very best moving forwards and faith is a powerful tool to have to contend with life #DreamTeam
Faith in God’s goodness and plan for my life keeps me going.
Psalms 91:1 – I call that 911 verse. When I need help he is there.
I LOVE that!
Lauren, it sounds like you had a wonderful anniversary getaway and one that was much needed and deserved! Happy Anniversary to you both! And congratulations on the link up! I wish you much success with it. I love hosting link ups. They are such a great way to meet new bloggers and build a bigger and stronger community!
Shelbee
http://www.shelbeeontheedge.com
Thank you, Shelbee. I hope to make many friends the same way I met you!
Sounds like you had a restorative get-away. I LOVE lake houses! What a blessing to have one to use for free!
Congratulations on joining the Grace & Truth Link-up Team
It is a blessing. Thank you, Karen.
Happy anniversary, Lauren!!! 🙂
Thanks for linking up at InstaEncouragements!
Thank you, Patsy.
Happy anniversary! I’m so glad you had that weekend! We were in similar circumstances for our 40th. We had not gone anywhere in ten years due to my husband’s mother’s care. Even though we just went close by, it was so refreshing.
Congratulations on being a new host for Grace and Truth!
Thank you, Barbara!
Sounds like the perfect weekend getaway! Happy Anniversary, Lauren.
Thank you, Laurie.
Happy Anniversary! It sounds like you had a perfect weekend.
Recently my husband and I planned a few days away to ski. I ended up getting the flu pretty bad and was too weak to ski. We ended up having a tranquil few days away.
At first, I was so disappointed and felt like I had put a damper on our time. But God is so good. I had tons of time to be still and hear God’s voice. My husband and I had tons of time to talk, ponder life, and make some decisions that think will be good for us this year.
We think we might make this an annual event. It was fabulous.
However, hopefully, next time, I will slow down without having to be ill.
I am so glad you are part of Grace & Truth.
Maree
Thank you, Maree. I am so blessed that you asked.
Great to have you on the #DreamTeam linky. Please do add our badge when you next link up
Hi Kirsty! Your badge is there. At the bottom of each of my posts I have a link to the link ups I visit. Too many to put on main page. Thank you for hosting!
What a fantastic getaway. It can sometimes feel like we must do something special, go somewhere new, experience what others might define as a ‘must do’ on important dates and occasions, but, there is so much that can be said about getting away and being at peace. Doing nothing, yet taking everything in. Thank you for sharing your thoughts with the #Dreamteam.
It was just what I needed Annette. Thank you.