My glorious day!
Today was really the most GLORIOUS day! If only everyone could have as beautiful day as mine, the world might be a happier place. My wonderful husband made this day possible by keeping our kids and not calling me every 5 minutes to find when I'm coming home. Since he was gone to Hawaii for two weeks (still not bitter. Really.) and he's going on another 2 week trip this fall, he promised me a weekend of my own. After looking at our calendars, we realized this weekend was our only free one until...well...next year? I didn't want to actually go anywhere, so I gave myself a stay-cation.
Now please don't think me too shallow. In all seriousness, I'd been waiting for an opportunity like this weekend for awhile. I needed a chance to regroup. Over the last many months, I'd let myself drift back into crisis mode. I'd let the urgent take priority over the important which led to half of my important things becoming urgent AND important. The other half of my important things got pushed to the bottom of my list and incidentally never got done. I consider things like cleaning the bathtub important, but it takes a looooong time to get to urgent! Don't judge me, please.
This day was my opportunity to remember the important things. So this morning, I got up, cooked breakfast for the family, and was out the door a little after 10am. I got a mocha frappe because I'm an addict. Then I had to decide where to go. I'd intended on going to the beach, but it just didn't feel right. I needed a quiet, somewhat private place, preferably outside, where I could sit and think/read/write/pray without being disturbed. And then I remembered the perfect place. A place I hadn't been to in years, but as soon as I remembered, I knew it was exactly right. Mepkin Abbey.
Mepkin Abbey is this monastery in Moncks Corner. It's beautiful and on the river. If you've never been, you really should sometime. It's one of those places that exudes peace and tranquility. I went out to the gardens, walked around for a little while, then picked my spot overlooking the river. And that's where I stayed for the next 5 hours or so. I wrote out lists, prayed to God to show me the things I need to focus on, read my book (7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess by Jen Hatmaker), and just listened. By the way, do you know how hard it is to just sit and do nothing? It's HARD! My brain would not. stop. talking. It took at least half an hour to shut down (okay, slow down) the constant stream of talking in my head.
Every now and then I would get up walk around or move my blanket a few feet. I might have spilled tea all over my blanket the night before. I started to see a few ants, and when I looked to the left, I saw a veritable ant army marching over as quickly as possible. The sporadic relocation was necessary to stay ahead of the infantry.
I finished out the night with dinner at Olive Garden with a friend, sat in a Starbucks for an hour drinking coffee and reading my book, then went to see Hope Springs by myself. I don't mind going to movies by myself. Mr. Inc won't make me go see The Expendables 2, and I won't make him go see a chick-flick about empty nesters reigniting their marriage. Win for all!
So there's my glorious, peaceful day for you. I believe I will make this a quarterly event in my life from now on. By the way, I had lovely pictures, but they keep coming up sideways. I have a love/hate relationship with technology. This week I've been a hater.
Now please don't think me too shallow. In all seriousness, I'd been waiting for an opportunity like this weekend for awhile. I needed a chance to regroup. Over the last many months, I'd let myself drift back into crisis mode. I'd let the urgent take priority over the important which led to half of my important things becoming urgent AND important. The other half of my important things got pushed to the bottom of my list and incidentally never got done. I consider things like cleaning the bathtub important, but it takes a looooong time to get to urgent! Don't judge me, please.
This day was my opportunity to remember the important things. So this morning, I got up, cooked breakfast for the family, and was out the door a little after 10am. I got a mocha frappe because I'm an addict. Then I had to decide where to go. I'd intended on going to the beach, but it just didn't feel right. I needed a quiet, somewhat private place, preferably outside, where I could sit and think/read/write/pray without being disturbed. And then I remembered the perfect place. A place I hadn't been to in years, but as soon as I remembered, I knew it was exactly right. Mepkin Abbey.
Mepkin Abbey is this monastery in Moncks Corner. It's beautiful and on the river. If you've never been, you really should sometime. It's one of those places that exudes peace and tranquility. I went out to the gardens, walked around for a little while, then picked my spot overlooking the river. And that's where I stayed for the next 5 hours or so. I wrote out lists, prayed to God to show me the things I need to focus on, read my book (7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess by Jen Hatmaker), and just listened. By the way, do you know how hard it is to just sit and do nothing? It's HARD! My brain would not. stop. talking. It took at least half an hour to shut down (okay, slow down) the constant stream of talking in my head.
I finished out the night with dinner at Olive Garden with a friend, sat in a Starbucks for an hour drinking coffee and reading my book, then went to see Hope Springs by myself. I don't mind going to movies by myself. Mr. Inc won't make me go see The Expendables 2, and I won't make him go see a chick-flick about empty nesters reigniting their marriage. Win for all!
So there's my glorious, peaceful day for you. I believe I will make this a quarterly event in my life from now on. By the way, I had lovely pictures, but they keep coming up sideways. I have a love/hate relationship with technology. This week I've been a hater.
Here's my beautiful view. Sideways.
Here's my contemplative face. Sideways.
Finally, here's a beautiful statue carved out of a fallen tree. Sideways.
And now you neck hurts from looking at my pictures. Sorry about that!
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