When Serenity Replaces Stress

Here's the second post that I didn't publish from our trip, this was from our stay at a campground outside of Yellowstone.

My paddle board's brand is "Serene Life" which I have chuckled at before, especially when I evaluate my life and would never use the word "Serene" to describe it. And yet, today I had a serene day. I had two incredible moments in my day, smashed into many other incredible moments, and during those really wonderful times, I felt such an immense amount of peace and serenity. 

We decided to go for a bike ride with our kids in bear country. I thought it was fun to go off the beaten path and look for bear tracks in the mud, our kids thought otherwise. About two miles in they wanted to head back but I was just getting started! I was feeling the rush of excitement that I get when I am exploring and there is an element of danger involved and I wanted to keep going! So, they turned back and I headed out to the main dirt road that we had driven to get to our campground and I kept going. I love riding really fast on my bike and getting to the place in my mind where everything lets go and I'm not even thinking. I just go and go and go, not worrying about a thing, just taking it all in. I passed a gorgeous meadow that left mountain views open for a few minutes as I passed by. We are about thirty minutes from West Yellowstone and it is gorgeous here, the kind of gorgeous that inspires anyone, nature enthusiasts or not, but for me it is absolutely breathtaking. 

For the rest of the day after our bike ride we spent it at the lake that we are camped by. It's a large lake with jet boats but plenty of room for kayakers and sup's as well. I went out on my sup and found a quiet nook of the lake. There were fish underneath me, mountains in front of me and birds above me. The rhythmic glide of the sup through the water and my paddle reaching in the water propelling me forward calmed me to the core. I felt completely at peace, completely rested and refreshed. 

We spent the whole day on the lake today and it was glorious. Our kids played with sticks and mud and water and were so happy to be outside and at the lake. We laid in the sun, we played in the water, we read books and we relaxed, something we haven't done in awhile. When were were done we just simply walked back to our camp sight for the evening. We didn't have to drive anywhere or pack up our stuff, we just enjoyed a whole day at the lake. 

I needed this so badly, and I didn't even know it. I knew that I was tired and worn out, I just didn't know what the remedy was. I was reminded today of why we are even on this trip, this crazy across the U.S. trip in our RV. I was also reminded of God's goodness and his kindness to give us this gift when we needed it most. I feel guilty sometimes for getting to take off a year and not work, to be traveling when others are staying home, to be seeing beautiful places that others only dream about. But I also consider this an immense gift and I believe that the Lord has given it to us, and so I try to receive it and not buy into that shame or guilt. Instead, I openly receive this gift and I let it refresh me and renew me to my core. I accept that this was the Lord's will for our family and I'm so grateful for this gift.