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Sunday, July 6, 2008

Sometime I wonder if vacations are worth all the effort it takes to get ready for them. You know the routine, all the clothes must be washed (I dread the thought of dirty socks left for 10 days in the bottom of the dirty clothes hamper), house must be cleaned, house plants watered, pets arranged for, bills paid, mail stopped, neighbors alerted, car cleaned, kids packed and so on. Whew!

Then there's all the unpacking work when you return ... plus all your work work that piled up. I'll admit I get a little stressed about going on vacation.

However, all I have to do is walk down a shady path holding my son's hand and it's worth it.
Or I'll hike to the top of a mountain and look down at Zion canyon, and it's worth it.
Or sit around the dinner table laughing at an inside family joke and it's worth it.
Or relax on a patio listening to the wind whisper through pine trees and it's worth it.
Or watch my daughters wade through a river for the first time and it's worth it.
Or see my husband really relax and it's worth it.
Or see a black bear and her baby cub and it's worth it.
Or gaze at a canyon so immense that only the hand and will of God could have carved it so beautifully (no matter what geologists say - with all due respect) and it's worth it.

You see, some things just can't be experienced to the fullest in my hurried life. I do "shallow" with ease, but for me, it takes getting away sometimes to do "deep."

So I'll be signing off the for the next 10 days as my family and I head north through Zion National Park, and up to Yellowstone. If you are reading my blog during this time, welcome.

I'm trying my best to practice an unhurried life. Honestly, it takes more will power for me to slow down than to speed up. So I'm submitting the next 10 days to God, and asking for His help to enjoy every moment with my family, and in His stunning creation. I pray to see God's hand everywhere. It's already there. I just need to slow down enough to see it.

In His Love,
Glynnis

15 comments:

Michelle said...

Enjoy your time slowing down with your family and God. Sounds wonderful!

Joyful said...

I just returned from a 9 day vacation as well....and didn't take my computer! The time away was wonderful and refreshing...today it's laundry, laundry and MORE laundry!

How did we get that dirty?
Have a great time,
Joy

Julie Gillies said...

Oh Glynnis,

I can so relate - it's much easier for me to stay busy than slow down.

I've always longed to visit Yellowstone. I pray the Lord takes your breath away on more than one occasion!

Enjoy your family time and post some pix for us when you return.

Sonya Lee Thompson said...

Have a wonderful vacation! I just experienced a great vacation in the mountains with my family. So nice to be together, didn't enjoy the mounds of laundry when I returned home!! :)

Kelly said...

My family just returned from vacation too! I hope you are blessed by the togetherness. And return refreshed and renewed to all the things that we moms do at home.

Please blog about your trip when you return. Can't wait to hear about it.

Anonymous said...

Glynnis, I pray that you have had a wonderful vacation! Time spent with the family and away from all the distractions is so precious.
May God speak to you all as you take time out together. Jo from Aust

Bonita said...

I hope you have a wonderful time getting unplugged from the bustle of everyday life. May you returned with a fresh perspective on everything.

Laura said...

Happy vacation. Sounds so wonderful just to get away! Your post on a personal writing retreat really blessed me, and I'm trying to plan my own...Thank you!

Anonymous said...

After reading your encouragement today July 14, I had to hit your blog because I am always in a rush trying to squeeze things in.

Recently it hit me that there is an actual commandment to take a day of rest, and you know my first thought was "how could I do that? I could barely fit all my tasks in an entire week?". SHortly thereafter I had herbal tea that had this on the tab: "Celtic saying: When God made time he made enough of it."

So whenever I feel stressed and pressured with not enough time, I think of that saying and ask God to help me trust that he provides.

Hope you had a great vacation!

Amy Wyatt said...

I pray you have a fabulous vacation and enjoy your time with your family!

Sharon Sloan said...

Hi, Glynnis!

My heart was truly refreshed reading your devotion about being "Unhurried". Honestly, I felt like I took in an extra breath of oxygen! Thank you! I diligently try each day to be unhurried and unrushed...as unto the Lord and for the love of my family.

Your devotion reminded me of the passage in John 4 where Jesus took the "unhurried" route through Samaria to change one woman's life...and then many more lives through her testimony of Him! (vv. 41-42)

I'll be praying you and yours enjoy a truly peaceful, restful and unhurried vacation together, enjoying the simple pleasures of life! I also pray your re-entry to back "real life" is smooth and that the afterglow of your vacation lingers long!

Warmly,
Sharon Sloan

Anonymous said...

It sounds wonderful, Glynnis. After speaking at She Speaks and seeing how hard you worked, I think you deserve a long, unhurried vacation. Have an amazing time,

Suzie

Sharon said...

Hi,
I am new to visiting your blog, i have truly enjoyed it and look forward to visiting again.
I hope you are enjoying your vacation, infact vacation sounds wonderful. It sounds good to release and get away for awhile.
blessings to you and your family
Sharon

Joanne@ Blessed... said...

Hope you had a wonderful vacation. We just returned ourselves from a six day Disney vacation...

Disney-vacation is such an oxymoron. It's going to take us twelve days to recover!

Blessings, Joanne

Wendy Pope said...

Welcome Back Glynnis!

I am glad you got some much deserved time away with your precious family.