Despite brutal traffic on Friday, Kristyn and the kids arrived with smiles, eager for the boat ride that would blow all the driving and city tensions away. They must have brought summer with them, because the coolish temperatures we'd been having up here so far, surrendered to the sun's brilliance through an impossibly blue sky.
And it was summer all weekend. We even finally got in the water, although I admit, it was Abby who led that campaign. Such a cottage natural, that girl! She was in the water as much as possible, with an unfortunate problem -- how to keep from choking when you can't stop smiling and laughing just from the sheer joy of it.
Zachary loved the chipmunks, and was remarkably still and quiet, once he realized that a toddler's wild dance and shrieks of delight are somewhat counterproductive. Of course he was so happy to see his Grandad!! Especially because Grandad has really fun kinds of cereals and other breakfast treats that Mommy, who's getting a chance to sleep in, doesn't.
Loved having my daughter here. Wish it could be longer. Someday, maybe next year, it can be. And that way, after the kids are in bed, we can have even more games of Scrabble, and cups of tea, and long talks about deeply important things, and side clutching laughing fits about random, "you had to be there" silly things. And she would get the kind of holiday she so definitely deserves, but really hasn't been able to have for some time now.
The weather was still perfect Sunday morning, for the opening service of Cognashene Community Church, a hearty congregation of cottagers that have been meeting together for over 100 years. Well, us and our ancestors. I have the enormous privilege of leading the first service of each season; always a meaningful time, but this year there was an extra sense of God's Spirit. This was particularly felt as we met over in the Tranquility Garden to dedicate the plaques of four individuals who have left us since last year. The love and comfort that was so freely expressed to the grieving families was a beauty to match the place.
For the whole of it then, the canoe rides and birthday cake and frogs and "fishing" and BBQ meals and happy chaos of small children about....yes, a perfect weekend.
Except...Ken's vacation time is done, and he went home with the crew today. What a easy, joyful time we had together for our time alone this year. In 33 years of marriage there are certainly going to be times of stress and challenge and difficulty. This was not one of them. I started missing him the moment the boat disappeared down the channel.
So, a perfect weekend. Almost. The only better way it could be, a better way I am asking God for, in His time and His plan, is to have everyone, our whole family, here together at one time. It's a common desire of those of us with grown children and grandchildren. But it's a tall order for us. There are lots of hoops to jump through yet, and some significant changes required on various fronts. I'd say it was impossible even...if God wasn't involved. But He is, and I watch Him do impossible things, everyday. So, we'll see.
And now....I eagerly step into that holy place my Loving Shepherd has prepared for me. Solitude, for the next five days.
There's that saying, that exclamation of gratitude and amazement, do you know it? "All this, and Heaven too?!!!"
Yeah, that's me, right now.
Sent from my BlackBerry device on the Rogers Wireless Network
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