Adventuring together

Vacation with my parents and siblings has usually meant the beach, specifically Perdido Key, Florida, when I was younger and Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, in more recent years. Greg and I have gone on vacation about every two years since we’ve been married.

This year we decided to go to Lake Placid, NY, which is more in the vicinity of where my sister and her family live than our southern beach tradition. Technically, there was still a beach, but this time the location involved fresh water instead of salt water and was in the mountains instead of at sea level. We hiked, toured winter Olympic sites, ate well, walked more steps than usual, and took a ferry to Burlington, Vermont.

I really loved it.

I don’t say that because I’m surprised; I’m pretty much game for any trip. I just wasn’t sure what to expect and was pleasantly surprised by just how beautiful and fun this vacation spot among the Adirondack Mountains is. While we were there, I learned a couple of hard things about people who I care about in my everyday life.

The freedom and adventure of vacation in a beautiful place were momentarily interrupted by the overwhelming feelings of this world’s brokenness. I remembered then how Christ followers are called to a different kind of life.

When we step into adventures with God, we witness
surprises and beauty – even when stories are hard.

{Tweet that.}

We know God is kind and faithful, yet we manage to be surprised when He shows up and provides what we didn’t know we needed. We know God has a plan, but we sometimes seem overwhelmed when He reveals it to us.

But there’s glory right around the corner, y’all. (See 1 Peter 4:12-13)

Back to vacation, I enjoyed Lake Placid in a way I didn’t expect. I am grateful for the adventure and our time as a family there. (Plus I went down the bottom of a ski jump hill on a tube!)

We had three two-year-old kids with us, so of course it was an adventure! But I really loved being with my sister and sharing this season of parenting toddlers. I learned hiking — even about six miles round trip to and from a waterfall that was about half the size of what we were expecting — is Rachel’s happy place. Ben learned he likes Shirley Temple sodas and lake water in the north is colder than here in Kentucky. Cate was helpful with the many small children and had a wonderful attitude about it. Greg and I got to enjoy our time with each other, our kids, and extended family.

Now we’re home with three weeks until my big kids go back to school as third- and sixth-graders and my baby goes to Mothers’ Day Out two days a week. We’re cramming a few more adventures into summer because that seems to be our love language. (Feel free to follow along here or here.)

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What kind of adventures have you loved lately? How have they reminded you of a faith journey? If this post had a soundtrack, it would definitely include “Keep Your Eyes Open” by Needtobreathe: “… ’cause if you never leave home, never let go / you’ll never make it to the great unknown til you / keep your eyes open, my love …”

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