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Recently, my family and I took advantage of a teacher’s workshop week where the students did not have school! We decided to take a little road trip, and in doing so, we found peace, solitude, and felt rejuvenated once more.
Today I’d like to share a few things we saw along the way.
Waterfall chasing is a favorite pastime of mine, and my family suffers through. On this particular Fall day, it felt more like Summertime! Rain had fallen most of the night and into the morning; however, lunch time found things heating up more than we had planned for when we set out on our daily adventure. Long sleeves were certainly not my friend as I hiked up the steep mountain and rocky slope for this particular waterfall at Jones Gap. I set out with great anticipation looking forward to the sight I would see at the end of our hike, only to be drenched in sweat looking for our great reward. And, we found it!
Hot, sweaty, and tired, we reached this waterfall where all grumbling turned into great excitement once again. This picture does not do this waterfall justice! Around those rocks we went to the right hand side where we could feel the cool mist from the waterfall as it splashed down the side of the mountain, hitting rocks along the way, refreshing our soul! Ah, it was all worth it in the end!
Another picture from our trip that I’d like to share with you is of another waterfall we visited the next day; Triple Falls.
This waterfall is in Dupont State Park, and a few years back, we rode our horses right on those very trails. I have a picture on my computer at work of me on my favorite horse, Sugar, with Triple Falls in the background. They have had some construction since we last visited, and this time, you could take the steps all the way down to the base of the falls! It seemed like a million steps to get down there, but once we did, it was breathtakingly beautiful! I could have stayed there forever listening to the sound of the water rushing in, with the cool refreshing mist in the air.
I always feel so close to God out in the middle of His beautiful countryside. It just amazes me that He created all of these beautiful waterfalls and makes the leaves change colors in Fall, much to our delight! Although this picture certainly doesn’t show it, there were swarms of people with their tripods and cameras set up trying to catch the perfect angle and shot of this waterfall. The people were almost a bit too much at times, when all you truly wanted to do was enjoy the peaceful serenity this sacred place had to offer.
Feeling spiritually connected, we longed to visit “Pretty Place,” an open air chapel on the side of a mountain. We stumbled upon this jewel a few years back, and we visit as often as we can. It took us three attempts before we finally made it up to our special place due to the fog that settled in after the rain. Determined as we were, we were not giving up and going home without sitting in the seats of this chapel and praying to God up there on that mountain! And so we sat in silent reverence, heads bowed, praying to God above.
After sitting there for quite some time, I decided to really take a look around at the plaques lining the front of the chapel. I walked up to each one and read their message and the dedication in memory or honor of this person or that person. The words seemed to leap off of the bronze right into my very soul.
Grow
I sit in awe of my daughters at times. Feeling incredibly blessed by God, I thank Him repeatedly for allowing me to be their mother! I have witnessed them grow right before my eyes; what a distinct honor and privilege! From tiny newborn babies with pink wrinkled skin making their grand entrance into this world; to toddlers bouncing around the house learning how to walk, climb, and find trouble around every bend; to school aged children soaking up the material taught to them as they fill their brains with lots of knowledge; to teenagers testing the water and pushing the limits; and finally to an adult getting ready to spread her wings and fly from the nest in the near future.
My babies have grown up right before my eyes. I thank God for allowing me to be here to witness it all.
And I’ve grown, too.
Along the way, they have made me a better person. They have me striving to be the best I can be because I’ve known for quite some time that their little eyes are watching me. They see, hear, and witness more than we think they do, and at a young and impressionable age, we need to be mindful of this. We don’t want to have a double standard with “Do as I say and not as I do …” No, we want to be good roles models for them.
They are like little seeds planted in the garden of our hearts needing nourishment, constant care, and our undivided attention. What an honor to shower our love upon them, washing over their hearts, as we watch the green buds split open the earth and the most beautiful flower emerge.
And that is when you know you have lived life to the fullest, as you watch your babies grow!
Read
4 Love is patient, love is kind.
It does not envy,
it does not boast,
it is not proud.
5 It does not dishonor others,
it is not self-seeking,
it is not easily angered,
it keeps no record of wrongs.
6 Love does not delight in evil
but rejoices with the truth.
7 It always protects,
always trusts,
always hopes,
always perseveres.
8 Love never fails.
1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (NIV)
We’ve probably all read this bible verse. It’s a very popular verse turned into a song, as it was sung at our wedding years ago. What greater verse to be incorporated into our wedding ceremony than this? It is so beautiful and eloquently written. It speaks volumes of the type of love we should strive to have and give to others.
We fall short, though, don’t we?
I know I have.
There have been times I’ve allowed my patience to run short. I lose my cool and say displeasing things. I’m not proud of that, but I’m human and these things are bound to happen.
At the end of the day, though, my loved ones KNOW in their hearts that my love will protect them, shield them, and shelter them as much as it possibly can from harm. Oh how I wish they never had to face any form of heartache or pain. How I wish I could take all of that and endure it for them so they never had to feel any of it. Yet, I am a mere mortal that does not possess that power. Pain is a part of life, and no matter how much I love my family, they will still face heartache and pain. But my love will be right there waiting on them, and I will stretch out my arms to hold them a little tighter and hold them a little longer.
Like a child needing their mother to bandage their skint knee after a fall, I will try with all of my might to soothe their hurting hearts and shower them with my love. I may not be able to kiss it and make it better, but I can stand with them in the gap praying over them and loving them unconditionally through it all.
