adjusting the urgent

I don't know what to do.

Well, I do know. Laundry is calling my name {after a vacation to the lake laundry for a family of nine is a beast of its own}. So it unpacking. Lawn mowing. Garden weeding. Garage cleaning. Grocery Shopping. Emails {another beast}. Vacuuming out all of the sand sitting everywhere. Putting the fishing rods away. Sigh.

I miss the lake.

I miss the freedom that was to be found at the lake. The freedom to wander down to my parent's cabin with my wind swept frizzy hair and sit at their table and drink coffee and talk to my dad without having to worry how many emails were sitting in my inbox. You see, on this vacation, the digital world was literally taken from us - no power equals no internet equals no smart phones charging. It was freeing.

As I drove home, with a vehicle stuffed with items that were no longer organized so nicely as they were a week prior I pondered how to keep the freedom feeling from the lake and to yet do life without the frenzy feeling. I want family first. Yet, I know that the world we live in {unless I choose to live cut off from the grid in Northern Minnesota} is fast paced, busy, and full of urgent things to do. I know that I can't reclaim that absolute freedom feeling that was earned on a week of vacation. But, I can learn to adjust my idea of urgent.

I can learn to grab moments of freedom with my family. Carve out game nights, and fun meals, find time to take those walks that were all too often told in a minute but didn't come -- maybe it's a further embracing of finding the good, the joy, in the midst of the everyday. Leaving for a bit made me realize just how frenzied and busy I live and how I allowed too many things to be defined as urgent. Vacations allow for margin, for space in an energy-filled life, that allows one to reexamine the real importants. Returning makes me realize how I want to be even more intentional with my time.

I can't recreate the freedom of a vacation but I can choose to live different. I can adjust the urgent and can create and cultivate space within life.

Live intentional.
Live awake.
Live grateful.
Live laughing.
Live.

Really truly live. That's what I learned.

Again.

the lake friday favorites. {link up}

Okay. Crazy last couple of days here. We had power and then we lost power. And let me tell you, losing power in Northern Minnesota after a gigantic storm has ripped through days prior does not mean that a) power will be restored asap or b} that you will have running water or c) that all that you've saved in the freezer and the fridge will last. Story of my last couple of days. Really. But, as I told Hannah as we were walking to the beach - you either grumble or you embrace what you have and what's good.

We chose good.

But, needless to say, I don't have those fabulous pictures to share -- I only have some sweet little vintage looking it's hard to see what they look like in the sun instagrams to add to my list. It was way too humid to take Hannah's camera out {it disrupts the sensor} and then it was raining and then we had no power. Yep, seriously. So,  today for Friday Favorite Things you'll get some more snippets of beauty caught in the everyday moments of our vacation.

Here they are
some dear vacation
friday favorite things
#fridayfaves

dear electricity,

I had no idea how much I depended upon you.

Thank you for coming on and for the lights that you light up.

dear hammock,

I could sit on you for hours.

I could fall asleep there as well.

Love.

{thanks to my brother Joel for bringing you.}

dear sunscreen,

I wish you kept my

Caleb

Elijah

Samuel

Grace

Chloe

and

Hannah

from burning.

Thank you for keeping Brennan sunburn free.

You are 1 and 6.

dear woodland,

I love you.

Even if you don't always have power.

dear leeches,

I really don't like you.

In fact I like you less than mosquitoes.

And that's really low.

dear samuel looking at the lake,

you melt my heart

my little boy who

doesn't like fireworks

or the big fish that you caught.

I believe you told us to 

get it out of the boat. 

dear social media,

It was good to take a break from you

and to sit on the dock

and the boat

and in the cabin.

dear lovely readers,

thanks for all the kind comments

and sweet well-wishes

for my vacation.

I was blessed.

dear waves,

I will miss the sound of you lapping against the shore.

And the sound of laughter

as my kids dive and jump and splash in you.

dear friday,

I am done writing now because I am planning on sitting back
{love those chairs}

and enjoying

my last day of vacation

before I return to reality.

and that?

this week's
{short but I can't wait to share more when I get back}
at the lake 

friday favorite instagram things.

How about you? What are your favorite things?
To join Friday Favorite Things - and I hope you do - it's intentional gratitude
1.Write your own post or link a favorite post from the week
2. Grab the button or link back here {thank you}
3. Add your link below and join the favorite things on Friday fun.
4. Take a minute to visit others who have linked and build community. #fridayfaves

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the search for the mighty mississippi

Yesterday we trekked northwest to Itasca State Park - which is where the headwaters of the Mighty Mississippi are located. Even the great Mississippi starts as a teeny tiny stream - one that we wandered down and across. In fact, my kids love to tell others that they've - walked across the Mississippi - how many people can say that? The pictures that I'm sharing are from my phone - little snippets from our adventure exploring Itasca State Park.

We arrived the day after fierce storms ripped through Northern Minnesota - storms that were packed with 70-80 mph wind gusts. Winds that simply ripped trees up out of the ground. Thankfully, where we're staying, even though some trees fell, nothing that fell caused any permanent damage. When we drove into Itasca State Park {which my boys think looks like the moon of Endor in the Star Wars Series} we could see evidence of those winds as we saw hundred old pines ripped and twisted and now resting on the forest floor.

The pics below are a couple of pictures from around the resort after that storm. One was the tree that snapped next to the shore and the middle on is of a dock that flipped over when the straight line winds came rolling in. And for those of you wondering about my fishing ability - last night Samuel and I {with the help of my Aunt Debbie} pulled in a Northern and a Rock Bass. Samuel was not too excited about those slimy fish. I however, was quite proud.

So, now today, on the Fourth of July, we're off to celebrate some more. Swimming, games, and off to see fireworks - and of course spend a gazzilion at Dairy Queen on Blizzards for all. Until then - enjoy these last pics of our day exploring the Mississippi's source. That top one on the left? That's the Mighty Mississippi - starting as a wee little stream. :)

rest is needed. family matters. most.

taken by my daughter Hannah - first night's sunset

I've been pretty silent in the online social media blog world. Intentionally. We left on Saturday morning for our annual trip to the lake - I've been coming since I was a child - and this week is truly a week celebrating family, embracing rest, and taking a step back out of the busy frenzy of life.

The resort we go to is like a snippet back in time. Simply, no frills, and yet beautifully located, full of memories, and completely restful.

taken last year

It's hard to sit in front of a computer when out of my window is beauty.

So I've chosen to take some time off. Especially after the frenzy in which it took for me to get our family of nine packed. Let's just say I might have been up till 2 in the morning and then up again at 5:30 trying to get everything done. And I still forgot things - thankfully I can purchase those things {like coffee} up here. I didn't forget my Keurig though - just the coffee. :)

I've already been playing in the water with the kids, fishing, on boat rides, playing games, learning to play the game Kubb {any of you played it?}, talking walks, and just being still and laughing with my family.

instagram of Hannah playing Kubb
find me on instagram  - finding_joy

Now, today, it's 7am, and the sun is shining and this is my view.

an instagram morning pic

I'm getting offline. I hear Samuel waking up and he's chattering away about being at Woodland.

Joy.


******

Interested in reading an article on how I homeschool multiple ages? I was blessed to guest post at Home Educating Family last week -- here's the link  -- Six Tips for Homeschooling Multiple Ages
.
linking with Carissa, who totally knows my heart about Woodland and why this trip is so meaningful to me. She's a kindred spirit and a dear friend.

read my weekend notes

Weekend notes.

- Vacation -
In less than two weeks our family will be leaving for our annual week vacation to the lake with my extended family. It's a joyous time of family, fishing, swimming, playing games, doing nothing, and eating. I've gone every year since I was either eight or nine - this is a huge deal and is a tremendous defining moment of our summers. My father is proposing a media free week up there. I'm mulling that over. I mean look at this view - high def naturally.

Any vacation plans for you?

- Elijah -
He's doing better since his boy meets captain's drawer incident. Besides having quite the shiner he's been a bit more tired - so we're encouraging that four year old of ours to rest as much as a four year old will. Which, in case you forget, is almost impossible. I'm still watching him carefully to make sure that he mends up and gets back to his incredibly precocious state.

- Momma's Heart -
Somedays the reality of  Samuel never ever eating for gluten hurts my momma's heart. Last night, after coming home from our sweet neighbor Emma's baptism I stopped to grab Grace a treat. One fry remained on the table. One fry with just a bit of wheat starch in it. Gluten. And Samuel came downstairs, holding that lone fry and looked and big sister Hannah. This gluten free, Hannah? And she told me she hated telling him no. As much as I try to make his world gluten free the reality is that he lives in a very gluten full world and will have many of those no moments - birthday cakes, food at the coffee shop, potlucks and not being able to try - and that is hard.

I know in the scheme of life that there are greater sorrows and harder trials. I know to be grateful for all that he can eat. But, sometimes, my friends, I will tell you that it simply hurts my momma's heart. Or his sister Hannah's heart. It is not fair. Short and sweet.

But, despite it not being fair I will not sit in it. I will rejoice for all he can have and only buy him fries that are gluten free. And I honestly will pray that he continues to retain his amazing strength -- he is two years old and knows to ask if something is gluten free or not and then he is content when he hears the answer. Was he a bit sad? yes. But did he sit in it? No. I don't know if I could be that strong.

That boy is amazing.

- BEECH -
For the last several months I have been working behind the scenes on something amazing. That awesome thing? The BEECH Retreat - Blogging to Encourage and Equip Christian Homeschoolers that will be taking place next year in beautiful South Florida at the South Seas Resort on Captiva Island. Yes, island. Yes, Florida. In the winter. You simply must check it out - and be prepared to be blown away by the absolute beauty of this setting. :)

- Sponsors -
And some closing housekeeping. If you are interested in sponsoring/advertising on finding joy I am now working on wrapping up sponsors for July and the third quarter {can you believe that? I had to check twice}. I am truly grateful for each sponsor - thank you.

- Recap -
Go to the BEECH site and do not pass go.
Share with me your favorite vacation destination.
Tell me iced or hot coffee. {random,  I know}
Sometimes auto-publish is not reliable. Like today.
Have you joined Finding Joy on Facebook? If not, today, when it's 13 from 2000 would be a great day. ;)
Gluten free pizza with pesto, roasted veggies, and fresh mozzarella is amazing. {just had to add this}

And thank you for praying for Elijah.

- Linking -
With my lovely friend, Carissa. Who I am so delighted to call my friend. Blessings, indeed.

did i really do that?

I'm sitting here this Monday in my living room wondering if I really did that trip to South Carolina last week. I knew it when I returned that it would seem like a dream, but I didn't realize it would happen so quickly. As I type my sweet Samuel is resting in my arms, and sigh, that part of being home feels so great.

Starfish. For most of my week in Hilton Head I was like that creature -- embedded in the sand at the edge of the ocean. I just sat there and rested and thought about life and let my heart heal. There aren't adequate words that describe the feelings of and thoughts and joy of that week, but over the next week or so I'm going to try to capture just a bit of it in my writing. I want to remember.

no pics for the first set -- just my words as I describe my late night adventure home.

Flying next to a storm. That's what we did. As soon as our plane left Atlanta my dear friend Julie told me to look out the window. When I did I noticed an amazing thunderstorm. I vacillated between wanting to watch that glory at 30000 feet and not letting the fear of flying and flying by that storm take over. It was an unbelievable experience.

Turbulence and Chicago. That was the next step. I heard the pilot, as the plane was bumping around and the lightening flashed outside, announce that we'd be maneuvering through a couple of storm cells directly ahead. Now those clouds weren't looking so beautiful. About five minutes later, I heard our pilot announce that we'd be landing in Chicago and that the flight crew needed to prepare for landing.

We landed fast. (that needed it's own point -- and for those of you who fly you know what that was like.)

Tarmac. We sat there for a little over an hour -- we didn't know if we'd be sleeping in the airport (as all the hotels were full) or leaving. As the ground crew added more fuel (because we'd have to fly way around the storms) I watched an impressive lightening display outside of my window. I never knew what airport in Chicago we landed at -- but I did manage to sing a couple of lines from the song Chicago -- much to my friends dismay -- hee hee hee, how could I not sing that as I'm sitting in Chicago?  Finally, the pilot was cleared to take off for Minneapolis. As he lifted off I prayed and closed my eyes. That flight? The smoothest of all of them. The turbulence simply felt like the plane was rocking back and forth.  And then I was home. At 1:15 in the morning. I did it. I really did.

That last morning. I went for a walk and was greeted with the most amazing sunrise. As my feet wandered around the beach -- as I was looking for shells for my kiddos -- my heart was content and at rest. Throughout my week in Hilton Head I was being taught important lessons. Most ones that I couldn't have prepped for, and yet experienced. I'm looking forward to sharing how the Lord worked on my heart in South Carolina.

Unbelievable Low Country food. (just look at the picture -- again no words needed --man, the food was awesome in South Carolina.)

And an even more unbelievable meet-up. In Charleston. At the beautiful Poogan's Porch on Queen Street. With a now even sweeter and dearer and truly life-long friend. I can't wait to share more with you moreabout it -- and how the meet-up was truly a gift from the Lord -- and how it simply could not be a coincidence.  It's a touching and unbelievable story, my friends. Beautiful. Makes me tear up even remembering it.

The pig. And of course I need to end with an obligatory picture of the store (or a semi truck from the store) where we shopped in the South. No CUB Foods or Super Targets or Marketplace Foods. Nope. It was the Piggly Wiggly.  Love it. And now I have a 99cent Piggly Wiggly bag that I'll be using when we go to the library. Memories. And wondering how it ever got the name Piggly Wiggly. :)

I'm hoping to get back into my regular blogging schedule. Adjusting into normal life is a bit more challenging than I thought it would be -- I'm so grateful to be home -- and yet, I don't know what to do first -- and surprisingly I'm so tired (must have been that super long flying experience) -- and I'm still processing the trip. Thanks for sticking with me last week and my infrequent posts, and prayer requests, and chatting about the beach. You guys are the best.

Rachel

rest. sweet, glorious rest.

After a day of getting up at 2:40 am and flying and plane transfers in Atlanta and driving from Charleston down to Hilton Head Island and then finally checking in --

I've arrived.

I've swam in the ocean, and then just sat at the edge of the ocean and just let the water rush over again and again while basking in the sun and chatting with my dear friends.

I can't remember sitting still and being quiet like this in a long time.

It is sweet rest.

Even though I miss my family so so so so much.

And it's shows me just how important they are to me.

So now, this very tired momma of seven is going to rest.  And catch up on some sleep....

and she's going on a plane.....

.....at 6:30am Sunday.

Who?

That would be me. Tomorrow morning. Heading on a plane with some sweet friends.

Going to Hilton Head, South Carolina.

It's a blessing.

My ticket? Paid for via frequent flyer miles earned eleven years ago when I went to Alaska and from my trips to San Diego when we moved there. My place to stay? Free. Thanks to my dear friend Amy's inlaws. It's kind of a once-in-a-lifetime trip.

But, I'm nervous. About flying {yes, I'm the gal with the white knuckles gripping her seat}, and leaving the kids {haven't left them in eleven years -- when I went to Alaska -- which, by the way, is breathtakingly beautiful}, and well, just leaving. But, I also know that this is a beautiful opportunity to rest. The last six months have been quite hard -- from dealing with Samuel's Celiac Disease diagnosis to my hubby's business to the ongoing vehicle sagas to financial strain to just daily life -- and I've been feeling very mentally and physically exhausted.

I am grateful for this trip.

Even though I'm nervous.

{a google map if we drove}

So tomorrow morning -- think of me -- as this momma of seven goes through the security gates {please don't go off} and takes a plane from Minneapolis to Atlanta and Atlanta to Charleston, and says a teary good-bye to her wonderful kids -- and I'll be grateful.

Next update? From the beach.

{vehicle update -- thankfully it was just the battery that needed replacing in our little Saturn. One vehicle fixed, one big one to go. In time. Thanks for the kind words and encouragement for me as I stared at two non-working vehicles in our driveway. I'm grateful.}

chairs

Well, I'm home. And with being home it brings a flood of emotions -- happy and sad and grateful and nostalgic and exhausted {is that an emotion?} and melancholy and more.

Yet, here I sit tonight, with dinner being prepared, and the laundry churning, and remnants of vacation, of Woodland, slowly being put away. The marshmallows from the smores are sitting on the table and the decks of cards scattered on the island and piles of sand rest by the front door. Waiting to be swept up. So that "real" life can resume.

Vacations make me think about life. I begin to ponder how I spend my time -- how I tend to live in that frenzied sort of existence -- and then how just as quickly I can live in a small one bedroom cabin, with dirt roads, and heavy screen windows, and a lake 30 feet away, and a fraction of my earthly possessions and I can feel more content than I do with all my stuff.

Peaceful.

All the stuff that I think I need to do and have and go and be doesn't really bring happiness. The stuff? It becomes more that I need to manage, put-away, take care of, sort, sell, donate, clean, launder, read, and deal with. And that takes away time from my family.

And that brings me to chairs. Those brightly colored chairs from the 50's were the chairs where my family gathered and sat less than 24hours ago. All of us -- even though there was packing to do -- we took our last moments up at the lake to sit together, around a fire, and live. It's a celebration of family. And of the real important.

I want to live knowing that I've spent time sitting in those chairs -- wherever they may be -- with my family.

It's a slowing down.

I don't want to lose the lesson of Woodland.

I just want to sit for a moment longer.

a vacation wordless wednesday

We've been so busy.

Fishing.
Swimming.
Playing cards.
Eating {too much}.
Laughing.
Reading.
Walking.

Living.

Here are just a few things we've been doing.

{sitting at the beach}

{and riding the boat at dusk}

{or playing cards at noon}

{and having grandpa teach you how to fish}

{or bravely wearing the glowstick hat for fireworks}

{and finally, sitting and enjoying my beautiful view right now. love.}

It's been a really great vacation.

If only I could bottle time.

Which of these pics is your fave?

{all the pics today are taken with my camera phone}
{I've linked up with and then she {snapped} }

Here. Finally.

I am at the lake.

And I am finding joy.

when the plans shift

I am not good at readjusting well. I like my routine -- I like my memories. And when things shift it's easy to sit in them and let that dampen the entire day or week.

The Suburban died -- you know, the big truck where almost my entire family fits and where we can cram loads of beach goodies and fishing poles and towels and stuff in it with a canoe slapped on top and a trailer behind.  And we leave in a couple days for vacation.

{last summer}

Initially, I wanted to just get mad and lament and sing the "why me and woe is me" song. And I did. A little bit. Then after I stepped back {and reread my purple petunias post} I was reminded that even with  the dead truck -- although incredibly inconvenient -- we are still going on a vacation. Maybe we're needing to borrow a vehicle -- and yet, that too, is a blessing -- that we have a friend willing to let our family of nine pile in it for a week trek up to the lake.Very brave, I might add.

{mustache man last summer on the boat}

Then this week, Elijah -- mustache man --, has been sick. With really vague symptoms. Sleeping a great deal, fevers, and strange pains. My mothering radar has been on overload for the last six months since Samuel has been diagnosed with Celiac Disease. Todd had to remind me that kids just get sick and most of the time it's just sick. But, as days pass and it's only him under the weather and the vacation departure date creeps closer I feel that nervous anxiety.

Truth? We can still do vacation even if he's under-the-weather. There are doctors up in the beautiful north country of Minnesota. I can still mother and accomplish all I have to do. And all those to-do's -- the packing and laundry and sorting and organizing and cleaning -- are actually blessings. I just need to keep my mind aware of it as I race from thing to thing to thing to thing.

Remember the blessings, Rachel, remember the blessings.

So that leaves me sitting here this morning with a choice. I could easily complain about everything we have not fitting or being frustrated about the truck or worrying about Elijah or I could rejoice in the gifts that abound. In Samuel running around. That we are blessed with a vacation. That I have family -- extended family -- that vacations with us that I love to be around.

Sometimes having the plans shift helps regain gratitude.

And this morning, I am resting in grateful.

{the beautiful Kabekona Bay in Northern Minnesota at sunset}