Wonderful Weekend

So we got home and hit ground with our feet running. Spending quality time with our kids was a challenge while behind a few years in laundry and other sorts of things.

Carina (visiting from India with Mark and kiddos) saved the day by cooking this delicious 7 or 8 dish Indian meal from scratch and we all enjoyed it together Friday night. Thanks Carina!

Abi and John pulled off this all-boys birthday party for Sammy with great water and mud and outdoor boy stuff and they let us drop off Evan and Mark and Carina’s two boys for the afternoon there for play. Those were some happy boys! Happy birthday nephew Sammy! (And guys, the the party was perfect timing for us as Michelle and I went shopping for Indian spices and Martini ingredients.)

Rest, sleep and Word time have been tough to capture in sufficient quantities this week… Then our Amazing Man gave us the inspiration and green-light on a sweet weekend plan and helped us pull it off too. So we were off in a flash to the beach house in Mexico. Good thing I hadn’t finished unpacking. -Came in handy just to throw everything back in a duffle bag and a suave blanket over Emmer’s crib to hide the rail-high piles of clean, unfolded laundry.

So off, off at a moments notice with a spontaneous plan that is turning out to be just what The Doctor ordered. I just can’t be in Mexico and not relax. The spirit and life here is so very much different than US. I once thought it was cute when I heard Cassie had said ”I knew if I could just get to the beach house I would be okay.” Now I know that feeling first hand. I knew if I could just get here and get in a run on the beach I’d be ok. I don’t know why I can hear His voice so much clearer here and I don’t know how He does it but He just clears my head so fast here. So thankful to be able to catch up on the Word and make a good connection.

I don’t know if I’ve ever seen my kids have soooo much fun. Really. They are really, really loving it. Ella said today at dinner “Mom, I wish we could live here forever and never ever go back again!” Words stolen from my heart. Well they say children reflect their parents. hrm. The beach has been a lifesaver of fresh air, wide open space, clear blue, and mental decongestion. It’s almost like each receding wave commands my spirit to release its stress. Takes it all out to sea for me and like the waves it never quite rolls back in the same way.

It’s hard to forget Who’s in charge when you look at a such vast creation and realize that He’s keeping eveything in balance, in control, in motion, in relative peace. I always think about how there is a whole world of life under that blue lapping sea that we have no clue about (and have no need to organize or fund or control, or deliberate over). I mean really, what’s going on in the life of each of those creatures under there? Anyone know? Gotta hand it to the Man who does. Reminds me that He might just be capable of keeping my life in balance, control, motion, and relative peace as well.

Children never forget to be happy. 

I’m so thankful for this time. Thanks Lord, for this way of escape that we might….