As each break in the school year comes along, whether 3-day weekends, Fall Break, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Spring Break and especially summer, I am often asked where and how I will spend my time off. Sometimes I have big plans like an overseas trip with students, or a trip with my sisters, or a Fall Break trip to Williamsburg, VA with my sister, brother-in-law and nieces. But, my favorite way to spend a break is in my happy place, our lake house on Lake Erie. It is the place where I can simply EXHALE. When I drive through the gates, I can leave everything from home behind. I don’t have to worry about the textbooks I need to process, or the school projects I need to work on, or the house I need to clean, etc., I can simply EXHALE.
What is it about being at our lake house that allows me to EXHALE? It might be the chance to totally unplug (it is kinda in a cellular dead-zone). Or maybe it’s the sight and sound of the waves on the lakefront. Maybe it is the friendliness of the people I see on my daily walks along Ohio’s Most Beautiful Mile or the sounds of the bells playing a familiar hymn every hour on the hour. It just might be sitting on the front porch in the breeze, reading a book and listening to the sounds of families enjoying their time away from the stress of work. It might just be all of these things
This morning I walked down to the lakefront for the sunrise, and realized that if today had been a work day, I would have been getting ready for work, and I would have missed it. I sat on the porch and read a book. I spent time with my parents, siblings, nieces and cousins. We didn’t have big plans, we just enjoyed our time together.
I stopped by the Whistle Stop and got ice cream (a single scoop of blueberry waffle cone in a dish) and walked back down to the lakefront this evening to catch the sunset. God is an amazing artist! The beauty of the sunrises and sunsets up here take my breath away.
So I will take a couple days up here to simply EXHALE and will then return home to step back into all the things on my busy schedule.
I hope you all have a Lakeside of your own. Somewhere where you can EXHALE and get the rest and renewal your hearts and souls need.
John 14:27 ~ Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.