Our Vacation

We left on Saturday for our week long stay in a cabin in the mountains.

It was raining cats and dogs when we left, and the forecast for the remainder of the weekend didn't look good.

I didn't care.

I was eagerly awaiting this vacation of ours, and I couldn't wait to get there.

In attendance: Myself, my son and niece.

When we arrived, well, I knew that my cabin had a deck that overlooked a stream of sorts, but I didn't expect this. It was a babbling brook and the sound, that soothing rushing water sound. . .I immediately relaxed.

We unpacked and the rain subsided so I spent pretty much the entire evening out on my deck, admiring my babbling brook.

Sunday was a busy day because I had company coming. I have friends who live close by to where I was staying, and I had other friends who were camping close by. Everybody was coming to my cabin for dinner.

"You're cooking?" My one friend asked when she arrived, laughter in her tone.

"Yes." I told her. "It happens." I giggled back.

When my other friends arrived, she looked at the table and the appetizer spread, then at me, "You cooked?" She asked with a shocked expression on her face.

"Shut-up and eat!"

We had fun. All the kids played and the adults admired the babbling brook.

I found the babbling brook, the nature, as I always do, a true inspiration. I spent my mornings writing poems, stories, and journaling. . .prayer journaling and journaling about the trip itself because sometimes pictures don't capture what words do.

So, every morning on my cabin vacation I spent out on my babbling brook with a cup of coffee and my journals, Bible and just let the inspiration flow, like the brook.

I knew we were stationed near a State Park and I knew a little about it from the research I did prior to our arrival. I told the kids that today we were going hiking.

They were thrilled.

So we went to the State Park and found a one-mile hike through the woods and right into a water fall. We took so many pictures there I was afraid we'd run out of film. My kid loved the entire hiking adventure, and I made a note to myself to put hiking on our Saturday activity list back home.

We drove around the State Park because I knew there was a lake around here somewhere. We found the entrance to the lake, a few miles from where we hiked. I couldn't see the lake, but the entrance was nice. We would come back another day for our lake adventure, I decided.

It was time to head back to our cabin for dinner.

At this time I completely miffed because I didn't have a cell phone signal, yet the cabin had cable. Actually, in the morning, before ten, with no clouds, I could get a signal. . .but it wouldn't last long.

Tuesday we went to our our friends campsite. We hung out there for the day. Their campsite is right on a huge river and the kids enjoyed the canoe. We ate a huge dinner, and went swimming in their campsite pool. It was a busy day, and I don't know what time it was when we got home, but we went straight to bed. I'm thinking it was like 8 pm or earlier.

Wednesday we spent at the nearby waterpark. Waterpark. My neck still hurts from sliding through a tube all day. The kids loved it. We hit Mc Donald's on the way home and got back to the cabin just in time to enjoy sunset by the babbling brook.

Thursday. Nothing. I decided I wasn't moving. I wasn't getting in a car, and I wasn't going anywhere. After my morning journaling, I found my book that I was attempting to read throughout the week and decided right then and there that today was the official "finish this book and start the next one" of the trilogy that I brought with me. (Reading is a luxury that I don't get to do too often) The kids played, fished and watched t.v. I read. All day. By the babbling brook. Late in the afternoon I started to feel a little guilty because my adult day might not be in the best interest of the children. But, we all needed a little r and r from our already very busy week.

Friday. We were up early and I announced that we would do some sight-seeing this morning. My niece wanted to know how we were going to do that without a computer. So I explained and we got in the car. We found a pretzel factory, candy factory and bakery. My son was in real shock before the sugar shock kicked in.

We went back to the cabin, had lunch, and packed snacks for the afternoon at the lake.

When we arrived, we parked far enough that I still couldn't see this alleged "lake beach" that was advertised both on-line and the signs in the park. So, I unpacked my beach chair.

"Mom, what's that for?"

"There's a beach around here somewhere. Wherever there's a beach, I have my chair." I explained.

"Chair. Book."

We walked for a while before the lake came into view, with it's beach.

I was in awe.

It was absolutely beautiful.

I knew that as I set up my chair and blanket (for the kids) that I found my retreat.

The lake nestled in the mountain with the ducks that just waddle on over, the peace and serenity that eloped my senses, I knew we'd be back again next year, and the year after that, and the year after that. . .

Saturday. We packed up and left. I said good-bye to my babbling brook but I knew I'd be back.

I also noticed that when we arrived, it had rained for a few days so the brook was much higher, and much louder. After a picture perfect week, the water had subsided, and so did the brook. I thought it ironic how when I arrived I was stressed out, and leaving ever so relaxed. My brook mirrored my emotions.

Of course I got deep. You should read the journals.

Today is Sunday, and I'm so very thankful for my vacation, and for the time spent with my son and niece.