Aware

This weekend was a special time for our family.

The Suwannee River... beautiful!

Two months ago, I made reservations for our family to stay this past weekend at a cabin in the Suwannnee River State Park. Situated along the Suwannee River in north Florida, it was the perfect spot for our family to enjoy spending time together hiking, canoeing, and reflecting. It's my oldest child's senior year in high school, and I recognize all of our lives are going to change as we all adjust to him going to college. This was an opportunity to slow time down a bit and linger over a cup of tea, play a game of Uno, and spend time with my sweet family. It was an opportunity to be fully aware.

He's a talented guitarist!

To a God Unknown - Steinbeck's Nobel Prizewinner

The Internet banished, we spent time together and separately. Knitting, reading, sketching, writing, cooking, and guitar playing  were some of the activities we enjoyed.

Meat!

Knitting, my happy place!

Restorative and restful as these activities were, the outdoors were still the main stage. The views of the limestone rock formations, the placid river, and the verdant woods called our names. 

A view along the Lime Sink Run hike.

S'mores!

Happy hikers!

The trip was a short one, just two brief nights and then it was time to head back home and to responsibility:  classes, work, teaching. We returned home rested and refreshed, (almost) ready for the week! I hope it won't be long before we are able to return to the wilderness.

A sweet reminder in our cabin.

Paddling off into his future!

Sweet hiker girl!

Mama in her happy place!

And the sun starts to set on the water...