Our family likes a good escape.
It helps us stay strong.
It’s healing to find refuge in a quiet place amidst the busyness of the normal pace of life.
One December, we snuck away to a mountainside retreat in the Smoky Mountains right outside of Asheville, North Carolina. As we drove along seemingly endless winding roads, making my belly rumble with every turn, I was assured that THIS place would serve our family well, being so remote and hidden from the rest of the world.
A small waterfall with the accompanying sounds of running water filled my attention as I sat peacefully on the porch swing overlooking the steep incline and surrounding whimsy. This house was a gem of a find, with eclectic thrift store treasures lovingly and intentionally placed in all of the right places, right down to this colorful coffee cup that I happened to grab for my morning quiet time.
With the crisp early morning air filling my lungs and beautiful puffs of white clouds wafting above me, I grabbed this shot. I lifted my coffee to take a sip and saw the clouds and pergola above me reflecting so crisply in the cup.
This quiet, isolated moment of peace and escape was a gift.
Moments like these give me the space to be present and reconnect my head and my heart.
This picture reminds me that I can stay strong if I take the time – protect the time I need – to stop, take notice, and reflect on what’s most important to my heart.
Stay Strong.