Mother Daughter Retreat: Year 6

This last week Gracie and I honored our tradition of the Mother-Daughter Retreat at Eco-Justice Center in Racine, WI that began when she was 6 years old! This was our 6th Year! (You can see the chronicle of our other years here.)

This year was by far our best yet.

As we drove out on Sunday night, I was feeling unsettled. I should be working. Gracie should be in school. It cost so much to care for our animals while we are away.

I didn't voice any of this to Gracie, but she was feeling it too. I miss home. I hope Izzy is ok in the kennel. Mom, I almost asked to go home, I feel like we need to be home.

We fell asleep Sunday night offering prayers for a peaceful retreat and care over our house and animals while we were away.

We woke up Monday morning feeling refreshed. Quickly, I realized something really important. Gracie rarely gets all of me. This was 36 hours we set aside to give to one another. I had no other distractions. It was just Gracie and I, a pile of art supplies, and a load of trails to be explored.

There are loved ones in our lives that deserve us, all of us. It is the gift of self. I have to be really, really intentional to do this....

*****

reunited with the swing!

These Guinea Hens followed us every where, I think they wanted to play soccer

At the start of the trail

We have our adventurin' boots on

we 💗💗💗 rocks

watercolor painting

there is nothing like conquering the tree stump

our watercolor creations

there was a fair amount of crocheting, ukulele playing, and singing

Mesmerized by Fireflies

The smell of fresh cut hay.

A doe sneaks out into the meadow.

The horizon is ablaze with a kaleidoscope of color.

My way is illumined by the flicker of fireflies.

***

A few weeks ago I was gifted with the time for 5 straight days to take a 30 minute walk each day. Talk about gift! These 30 minute days were times of pondering life and all its wonders; in particular I was pondering lifestyle choices.

I have been pondering why we have chosen this lifestyle and what goes into the decision making process of lifestyle choices. 

The choices that I have made make it such that a walk down my street at dusk means sights of a typical country lane. My choices have also made it such that 30 minutes of alone time in one lump sum is a rare gift,  nevermind 5 days in a row. 

***

For God formed man to be imperishable;the image of his own nature he made him.

Wisdom 1: 13-15

This was the first reading for Sunday's Mass back on July 1. It's never a coincidence that the daily readings coincide with what God has put on my heart. These words from the book of Wisdom read beautiful, harsh, whimsical, and challenging.

When reading and re-reading I wonder, why do more people not live as if these words are true?

I am a spitting image of God. So are you. So is your child, your neighbor, the person who honked at you on the commute, the coworker that drives you batty, etc. 

We are all bearers of God. 

Does my lifestyle truly exhibit this fact?