McCall Retreat

Winding down...Yesterday, my husband and I went to McCall.  It's still one of the most beautiful and serene places on earth, and I can enjoy it just two hours from my home. There were very few people there by the lake, because it's still covered with snow...My husband just wanted to get away from the bustle of our daily lives.  I used to do this a lot as a little girl because we lived in the country and went to school in the city.  I got to experience daily retreats of solitude, which is difficult when you live with a family of 8...but I had a pond (neighbor's pond actually) that I would go to and write and just "be."   It felt a lot like the land of Narnia, because could be anything I wanted to be...pretending often...This is where I became a word warrior.  I loved writing and playing with words and witnessing all that was there in this kingdom...I fought my inner battles in this place, and I think it saved my life...I miss that haven.

I wish I was good at shutting out the world without this sanctuary, but I'm not...I let things come in and bug me to the point of self torture.  I neeeeed mother nature to center me and balance me.

The lake is still peaceful and calm because man can't take those noisy boats through yet...and you can just hear the sounds of mother nature, birds gathering and nesting, water gently moving, trees shaking...  After I trekked through the piles of snow, still about 6" thick in many places, I laid on a gnarly old log laying on the beach and soaked some vitamin "D."  I love the sun...It vitalizes and nourishes me...Why don't I take these retreats more often?

I feel more calm and ready to finish the year.  Two more weeks...may I remain patient with these children who have seemingly really lost their minds and forgotten how to be in school.  We're back to the first few days of a lot of crying...I think their anxiousness is due to worries of what will happen next year.  They just realized that I won't be continuing with them next year, which symbolizes another change and another person to get used to outside of mom.  It's scary, and it's hard.  I have to remember this and talk with them and ease them through this tough time.  Friday, they got to experience what it was like to be in first grade because they got to stay all day and eat lunch with the "big" kids and have buddies to do projects with...It's very cool!  For those of you who are so good at praying for me as I am on this journey, please put in an extra prayer...I'll need it...