Windy Gap 2009

This year, I got the best Mother's day present I could hope for...a weekend away investing in my sweet family. (What a bonus to have my good friend, Suzanne, and her crew there as well!)

The setting, just outside of Asheville, was picturesque. But for an hour long thunderstorm, conveniently timed for much-needed naps, even the weather cooperated.
There were countless activities to enjoy. We participated in frisbee throwing, basketball, foursquare, competitive family games and 'pony rides' (P rode the largest horse I have ever seen, by the way).

There was swimming, a huge water slide and zip line into the lake (which we did not do), even beach volleyball. R, predictably, enjoyed the competitive sports while K & P (heads in foreground) spent hours playing in the sand.

Best of all, was quality playtime with Daddy with no pager, and no Internet or telephone access.
The smiles on everyone's faces were all the proof I needed that the weekend was a hit. We danced. We sang. We caught worms and bugs. We got really dirty. We played air hockey and ping pong. We laughed (a lot).

While the adults got to hear from an insightful guest speaker (singer/songwriter, Allen Levi) at various times throughout the weekend, our children were entertained by awesome college students.
This is its own special ministry, by the way, allowing preschoolers to incorporate you into their sidewalk chalk mural!
And as our children sat in the club room and sang silly songs followed by lyrics reminding them of God's incredible love, I could not help but shake my head and smile at the crazy way God weaves our lives. Nineteen years ago, I was a hyperactive, over-permed teenaged girl who didn't have a clue what God had in store for my life. I sat on those very same stairs and sang many of those very same songs.

What a kick to think of how then-me would have reacted to a glimpse forward to now-me! Can you imagine?? (Triplets! Like, O.M.G!!!)

How thankful I am for those who invested in ministering to me back then. How committed it makes me to paying it forward to the lives of those sitting in those spots as teenagers today. Have you thanked anyone in youth ministry lately? (I know many who read this blog are in some way involved. How thankful I am for you!)

But for the insanely dirty laundry I must deal with, tonight I am thankful and contemplative. I am content. I am blessed.

I can't wait to share more about the message of the weekend. It was incredible, but this tired brain cannot do it justice tonight.