Fall Break and Other Lovely Things

Before there were teenagers. . .

Before there was rheumatoid arthritis. . .

(Lovely photo of me, I know!)

Before we even knew what celiac (or a blog) was. . .

My travel-loving family began spending Oklahoma's October fall-break at a cabin at Tenkiller State Park. Three or four beautiful fall days of relaxing with our kids. Pretty soon RA came along--you can see my cane in this photo.

We went almost every year, no matter what (one year we had to go to a different park because I couldn't get reservations at Tenkiller). We hiked and waded.

Let the kids go fishing off the little dock and help build campfires.

 

We played together and built a tradition and they grew up.

These last five photos are from last year. As time grew closer for fall break, it became apparent that we were not going to be taking any trip. Some new health problems cropped up for me and we had to stay home. My older daughter is in Japan, but my younger two were amazingly flexible.

We did manage a round of chicken foot before the weekend was over. They even let me win.  


And the kids and I did a little talking, in light of the discouragement we all felt about having to stay home. We've had lots of good years on our camping trips. And hopefully we will again. But this weekend was good, too, in it's own way. And we were together. And we enjoyed each other, which is what the weekend has always been about.


This verse keeps coming to me, in different ways, in different settings, over and over again. It applies here. Not dwelling on the difficult, but on the happy times. And we have had so many happy times. So glad my teenagers still want to be together, whether it is at the lake or at home.


Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.  Philippians 4:8