We decided to spend some time at the lake for our last hurrah of summer. I crawled out of bed with the help of all of your kind words and well wishes and prayers. The weather dipped down in the 60's and we suddenly layered in sweatshirts and jeans. I just decided to go. I just needed to do it.
And magically- I took that leap of faith- and it hurled me right into the midst of so many of my favorite things. Magic- like medicine- to heal and restore and replenish.
We ate pizza at our favorite summer pizza place. I had stocked up on some meds to ensure I could eat. Wow- did the pizza taste good.
We then went for a boat ride and afterwards spent a fun evening with friends at their cabin. Laughter and the company of fun people to be around truly filled me with gratitude.
The sun even came out later in the evening and made for a beautiful sunset. I soaked it all in.
I was doing so well, we continued our weekend at Grandpa Jim's lake home.
I never know what will await me in up-north-country- but I just know it will be stunning.
A nature show is always on hand and it always includes a handful of hummingbirds. I breathed the fresh air. I roamed as far as my lungs would allow. It was serene, peaceful and answered prayers.
Crosby took to the water with Rick and I today. Clearly he belongs to us as he loves being outdoors as much as we do. He was faithfully by my side so much and I adored him being so close.
After cooking us a delicious dinner, Grandpa made sure we had wood for the fire and marshmallows, graham crackers and chocolate for s'mores. We definitely needed the fire for warmth last night.
Rick got this crazy good shot of all the stars last night and the wispy, milky white part of it looks like the milky way to us.
We slept so peacefully.
We awoke to a beautifully sunny day.
After a breakfast at the old logging camp, I got dropped off at Summerhill Farm where I rummaged through all of their season end finds.
One last boat ride.
One last summer hurrah at the lakes.
I came home with some pink in my cheeks and some renewed energy to get the boys ready for their first day of school.
Boys to school- then off to labs, Dr. P, and then onto infusion.
vicky, i know you have infusion today, your schedule the rest of the week? I would like to gather all and have your room done one day when you are gone a couple hours, it shouldn't take more than that. i am not doing anymore than i told you and if i can grab a friend of 2 of yours while you and rick and the kids are gone, then it would all be ready for you to relax in when you get home. everything should be here and ready on thursday or friday. i love you and i hope the easiness of this will help you relax.
ReplyDeleteHi Barb,
DeleteIf I didn't live in Spokane, Washington I would join you in a heart beat! What a great idea!
God Bless!
Linda
Thank you Linda, What a nice friend you are. Praying she had a good day today. Thanks for thinking of helping, I appreciate it
Deletea lot! :) Barb
Barb, I am streaming tears as I read this. I have told Vicky many times but it is such a pleasure to tell one of you DEAR, DEAR and loving friends of hers how very much your loving care of Vicky ministers to me, and I'm sure to ALL of us. Thank you for your heart and your care and your sweet outreach that puts feet to faith. I'm in California and knowing Vicky has friends like you is an amazing joy to those of us far away. I'm with Linda and share in her gratitude to you. God bless you and all those who hug the sweet girl we all love so much.
DeleteI could see all three of you women coming together and having a wonderful time just based on how big your hearts are :) So fun to read this and see!
DeleteOh, Robynn…Wow, Talk about tears…Oh my! It is funny because reading your post brought me to question who you were talking about….I see it how you see it now but Vicky and Rick allowing me into their private sanctuary to do as I please? Oh, how self centered of me to think that I should or would be allowed to do that. Yet it just came together so quickly because she has to write in privacy but not too far away with too much privacy. I cannot wait to see the outcome, her outcome, His outcome. God Bless you, Linda, Vicky, Rick ,Nolan, Coltan…the boys are all going to help….and you and Linda will also be there….Thank you so much. xxoxoxo Barb
DeleteThinking of you as you do your infusion today. It is hard to believe how fast summer has gone and fall is just around the corner. Glad you were able to enjoy the week end! Love you bunches and think of you often.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Verna- I pray you and Bud had a great summer and are ready for fall! Love and blessings to you and yours!
DeleteSo nice that you had such a good weekend, sweet Vicky! I hope your week goes really well. Thinking of you and sending hugs!
ReplyDeleteJen- so fun to see you pop up here!! Thanks so much for the hugs- sending one right back to you!
DeleteTruly a wonderful peek into your getaway - and what a lovely time you all had :-)
ReplyDeleteI will be praying with so many others for your infusion day and afterward.
In church Sunday (while back at my old church where I grew up) we sang a favorite song of mine and the chorus brought you to mind and I had to stop to whisper a prayer for you :
"I'm running to Your arms, I'm running to Your arms. The riches of Your love will always be enough. Nothing compares to Your embrace, Light of the world Forever Reign! "
Blessings to you dear Vicky.
Oh Susan- what a great song- love that it has "embrace" in it. I also love that you are "home" and spending time there :) love and blessings to you!
DeleteLooks like an amazing weekend! It did get cold this last weekend though-it was surprising after all of the warmth we have had. I hope your week goes as well as your weekend. Enjoy some peace in your day with the boys off to school. You look great! xoxo
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Melissa- I am truly enjoying the peace and plowing through so much and finally feeling like I am getting some things done! Then the best part is having those boys come home and tell me all about their days :)
DeleteI wonder every day how you are doing and I am glad you had some good time at the lake.
ReplyDeleteSometimes I think going to the lake is the best medicine.
Thank you so much Vic- I sure feel blessed to have so many steadfastly thinking of me :) And yes- the lake is the best kind of medicine for sure :)
DeleteHey, we were at "the lake," too -- my family always spends Labor Day weekend at the Holiday Inn in Detroit Lakes.
ReplyDeleteWe were so close to you- too funny! We love the Detroit Lakes area and sometimes go just for the day. Hope you had as much fun as we did!
DeleteDearest Vicky,
ReplyDeleteI am SO THRILLED that you had a reprieve and had such a special time with your family.
There is something about being at "the lake" (whichever lake holds your memories), that
makes everything taste better and people sleep with serenity. We have been praying non-stop that
even if for a minute or an hour or a day or a weekend...or a week...that you would start to feel better.
Answered prayers, pure and simple. :) Just so you know, the prayer warriors at our church have you on their prayer list. :) They are covering you each day! I am too.
And the start of school, isn't that a bittersweet day? Back to a schedule and the lazy days of summer are a sweet memory. I go back to college teaching in two weeks. Can't wait to see who God puts in my classes.
Just so you know...we are also holding Rick, Nolan and Colton in our prayers daily. You are such an amazing wife and mother and teaching your boys (and all of us) about faith and courage.
Blessings and hugs to you, dear friend. I am praying about your conference with Dr. P today and your
infusion.
God Bless!
Love, Linda
Thank you so much Linda for all of your prayers and sweet and encouraging words. We miss the time at the lake we had as youngsters but are really glad we get a few weekends to sneak away and enjoy it. We still dream of one day having a small camper or lot nearby that we can spend weekends at- just some sand and some good swimming water and a roof over our heads- the right thing will come at some point :) Will update about Dr. P and my visit soon :)
DeleteSo happy to hear that you saw such beauty as well as enjoyed delicious pizza! It's the simple things that refresh our soul, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteSending good thoughts, lots of love and big hugs!
Thank you Eileen- the weekend was filled with all kinds of simple but fun things that I love doing-so blessed in it all :)
DeleteOh, what a wonderful reprieve.
ReplyDeleteand WOW, I am in AWE of that incredible Star shot. Just wow. Beautiful.
I know-Rick got it so well- it was really cool and I don't think we noticed the milky way until we saw the photos- it was spectacular and we sat out there for hours watching. BTW my package arrived and I can't wait to begin to read!! Thank you for thinking of me- it looks so good!
DeleteYou were blessed with a wonderful weekend. I adore your pictures.
ReplyDeleteThank you Francie- I felt truly blessed- it was a wonderfully normal weekend and I really relished it!
DeleteTo enjoy the minutes..to enjoy and see everything as you do..is to truly live...I enjoy your post's so much! you are beautiful to so many..just as you are..in your moments..and I...personally pray for you and your family all the time...thanks for sharring you! it's the best of everything!!!
ReplyDeletePeggy Sue- why thank you- such a lovely compliment. I so appreciate those prayers and am grateful to have you follow along! Love and blessings to you!
DeleteWhat a joy to hear that you had such a great weekend. You certainly came back with some beautiful photos.
ReplyDeleteThank you Susan- I so often see flowers and think, how would Susan see this and shoot this? I'd love a day to just come and learn all of your tips- you have such a lovely eye for this sort of thing!
DeleteI drank in these photos and accompanying words.
ReplyDeleteI, too, am refreshed....just from being here
Thank YOU sweet friend
Thinking of you; holding you right here. (The beating heart of a friend can be heard....)
J.
Love to you honey- thank you- hearing the beats right along side you. xxoo
DeleteVicky, I have to tell you that the photo that LEAPT out at me through them all was Crosby and his concerned and knowing eyes. You can see that he is on the job - the job of being with you, the job of sensing your needs, the job of bringing his whole heart to you. That dog is a little angel sent to be with you, dear friend. I found myself staring into those eyes and felt my breath catch when I first saw him. God is so good to us to send us these ministering angels and yours has a knowing ken beyond regular canine abilities. Sorry to go on so but I'm still pondering Crosby.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you crawled out of bed to embrace the beauty and family and woods and fun friends you need. The elixir only love and nature can supply. Sometimes what we have to give in order to receive is steep, as in your case, but the payoff is greater than the sum of its parts. So grateful that was the case for you. Thank you for a BEAUTIFUL post, Vicky. Praying for your healing and your visit to Dr. P. (((((((HUGS)))))))
crosby is the man- for sure- don't know what I'd do without him :) Will be watching for Hannah news and thinking of you!! Hugs right back to you sweetie :)
DeleteIt made me happy that you were able to enjoy, so much, your End of Summer Hurrah. ;)))
ReplyDeleteAs always, I enjoyed your photos.
Thank you so much Janay- sometimes its all in the choosing and I think I chose well :) Thank you for your sweet words :)
DeleteWell, I thought I posted on this, but I think my trusty iPad wasn't so trusty this time. :)
ReplyDeleteThese pictures convey a LOVELY weekend! I love the idea of the last hurrah and using Labor Day to do it. Because I grew up in the north, we never started school until after Labor Day either so it was always a last big weekend for us as well. Of course, now that we live in Tennessee, we've been in school almost a month and our temps will stay very warm for another 4-6 weeks so Labor Day doesn't seem like such a big deal.
I hope the warm and fuzzies from the weekend carry you through this week!
I have that problem too from my phone sometimes- frustrating! The warm fuzzies are working their magic- its been a good week indeed :)
DeleteSo glad you had such a beautiful weekend. Thanks for sharing it via your photos. Your memories of it will, I think, give you strength in days ahead.
ReplyDeleteWelcome Kim- how nice to see you here! Yes- so insightful- the memories we make certainly sustain and nourish me often- thank you for coming to read :)
DeleteI'm seeing, feeling, living this through your gratitude! What a gift, my friend. Your photo journalism, your Spirit, your Joy.
ReplyDeleteThank you. Thank you.
Such thoughtful and soothing words- thank you for sharing with me! Thankful to call you friend!
DeleteVicky,
ReplyDeleteThank you for your beautiful post.
Hope the boys are having a good first week of school.
Angie- how great to see you here! The boys seem to be doing well. I hope your two kiddos are as well :) Blessing to you!
DeleteI have a little something for Crosby, as I read Robynns' post, I went back and looked at his picture, rally looked at it and saw something that I see in our dogs' eyes, but maybe, if I may, even more intense….so incredibly intense. Anyway, I was at CVS and there in fronton me was a huge bag of Tbonz..ha…I couldn't resist..(sorry Nelli and Bella)….so, if its ok, I would like to drop them…or I can wait until the weekend… xocx to Crosby
ReplyDeleteOhh so sorry to read so late! This weekend for sure :) Will be in touch! xxoo
DeleteSo glad you had lake time and beauty and s'mores and cane home with a bit of energy! Love you, sweet friend!
ReplyDelete