No Rush

No Rush

Have you ever met someone who is never in a hurry? Can you think of someone who always seems to be in a hurry? I tend to lean toward the latter. As much as I have longed to be just someone who can say, “I’ll get to it when I get to it. It will wait,” I am not that person (yet). It’s as if I think that if I keep at it I’ll reach that magical point when all the duties and chores will just be done, as in finished – never to need an update or revisit. And that if I don’t get right to it in the mean time, it will pile up and bury me alive. Oh, drama! hahaha!

To be fair to those like-minded individuals, life sometimes just demands an extended period of busyness. But maybe we could still try to take a minute in the short windows between the next thing to do or place to be. I’m mostly talking about a mindset.

-Lake Tahoe-

Those who are never in a rush seem to possess a secret way to navigate life’s demands without panic over the when, where, how it will all get done. I haven’t figured it out yet, but I have learned to take the initiative to lean into the current more freely than I used to. One of our family members recently said how she loved the wave pool at the water park – the one with so many stories of people having a near-drowning experience in it. It’s tough to know what the waves will do once you’re at their mercy, so many panic and fight them. Another family member said that the LAZY river was his favorite. I laughed at him choosing that over all the other exhilarating experiences the park has to offer. He’s got the idea!

This is the day the Lord has made
-Lake Tahoe- near sunset

It’s wonderful how different we all are. We can watch and learn from each other. Different stages of our lives hold different priorities. Different people enjoy different things. One of the gifts that can give us time and inspiration to consider those values and reflect on how to live them and where we are in it all is the beauty of God’s creation.

No Rush
-Lake Tahoe- very windy day

It is not always possible for a get-away or for a retreat into the mountains to hike or to soak in the sun on a beach, but given the opportunity for even an hour or two outside for refreshment, I will take it. That’s when I find it easiest to forget about my to-do lists and my worries.

No Rush
No Rush
No Rush
-Lake Tahoe – looking as vast as the sea

This last weekend we were able to spend a few days at Lake Tahoe. Last year we stayed at the same time of year, before the official start to summer, and it is just the best way to experience the lake! There is NO RUSH. There are no crowds blocking the way or standing in lines. It’s quiet and peaceful. Starting just next week, that will all change for the next few months. People come from all over the world to visit this magnificent lake, and they are willing to make their way through the sea of tourists. It’s that great a place!

No Rush
-near Nevada Beach on Rabe Meadows Trail-

We stayed at Zephyr Point in an old cozy cabin that had a wood burning fireplace. That was our favorite thing – the crackle of the wood and the movement of light that performed so beautifully to create a sit-and-stay atmosphere. Just what we dreamed for our weekend.

No Rush
-cabins at Zephyr Point-

The Zephyr Point Conference Center where we stayed is a Christian organization. These pillars have the names of the four gospels engraved on them: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John

No Rush

A couple cabins down from ours was the first cabin built on the grounds – 1920s (I believe the barista said) and is now a coffee spot. Cozy, nostalgic, and great coffee!

I will take as many opportunities as I get to enjoy the warm weather and the sunrises, sunsets that happen every single day. Some of my favorite pictures throughout the years are those I took all alone on an early morning walk before that day’s hustle and bustle demanded my attention. I’ll try to remember and notice and drop the “hurry” more often.

No Rush
How Precious

How Precious

Throughout our lives, people come and go. We change jobs, move to different neighborhoods or cities, find new interests; the reasons are many. Rarely is there one who is with us from the very beginning of our lives to the very end. Family members are the most likely to fulfill this, however, there isn’t a single person, not even a twin, who can know EVERYTHING about us, the depths of our hearts and the entirety of our understanding.

How Precious
– local walking trail –

There’s nothing that we need to explain to God in order for Him to comprehend something about us. He already knows and understands, fully, as no one else ever can.

How Precious
– Fallen Leaf Lake, CA –

Psalm 139:13-16 tells us that God was the One who was there from the very beginning of our lives; He formed us in our mother’s womb and fashioned our days. He is the Creator of life – yours, mine – life to our bodies and eternity to our souls.

God knows us completely. He knows our thoughts, our past, present, future. He knows where we are at all times. He knows what we will say before we say it.

O LORD, You have searched me and known me. You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off. You comprehend my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word on my tongue, but behold, O LORD, You know it altogether. Psalm 139:1-4
How Precious
– garden –

Some may find God’s thorough knowledge of us disconcerting, frightening as we are all imperfect, flawed, sinful human beings. But God knew everything we would do, say, think throughout our lives even before Jesus, who willingly gave His life for ours, died on the cross to atone for the sins we never could.

In fact, God doesn’t use this all-knowing to harm us or to condemn us. John 3:17 says that He did not come into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved! He doesn’t remove His love for us when we rebel or fall short. His very knowledge of our weakness and sin is why Jesus took our place on the cross, to justify us, to redeem our souls.

How Precious
– Carson River, near Genoa, NV –

This type of love from a perfect God is difficult to fathom, but it is the truth of His Word, His character.

It means that He can love us, provide for us, care for our souls far better than we can understand.

In the 139th chapter of Psalms it tells us that there is nowhere we can flee from God’s presence, that the darkness cannot even hide from Him. Verse six reveals that David, the psalmist, finds this a wonderful thing.

How Precious
– near Genoa, NV –

Imagine that: The God of the universe – the One who spoke light into existence – never loses sight of us. His love for us reaches farther than our minds can comprehend. It is His desire that we love Him in return. He has given us the free will to either choose Him or reject Him.

How Precious

Some will walk away, reject the God who can love us like no one else ever could. Oh, that they would see and understand the gift they are offered and run straight to Him, turn from all the things that could never compare.

If someone refuses God and rejects His gift of salvation, the thought that he or she cannot hide from or outrun God would be unsettling, maybe even terrifying. But if we yield to Him and believe His word, that He is love who came to save us and not to condemn us, the same realization of His all-knowing can be our greatest comfort and hope. When we repent of our sins and follow Jesus, we are admitting our desperate need for Him to be the Keeper of our souls in a way we never can.

How Precious
– Burney, CA –

It is never too late to ask God for forgiveness – to accept His gift of reconciliation through Jesus. He has loved us first. Would we love Him in return?

How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; when I awake, I am still with You. Psalm 139:17,18
How Precious

Hello!

It has been way too long since I’ve posted. I have started on and added to one in particular several times, but it is weighty, and I have yet to finish it. Whenever I have an unfinished project, I tend to freeze up until I have completed the task. But sometimes, the task isn’t meant to be completed quite then, especially if it prevents other good ideas from their development.

homemade banana crumble muffins underneath a gorgeous still painted by my mother

My blog has been on my mind throughout these last five or so months, and I have missed publishing posts.

-beach at Camp Richardson, Lake Tahoe

I’ve had many ideas – too many (written in the notes section of my phone) – piling up into a menacing stack too daunting to tackle. So I came up with a plan to prevent this unnecessary procrastination in the future. I believe the best way to keep the blog going strong is to write more often with less pressure.

spring flowers

When I first started this project I was reluctant to write too often for fear of having nothing of any value to say in between the more serious posts. That worked to motivate me to establish quality content in the beginning, but I need a different approach moving forward.

The plan is for my topics to be as light-hearted (not necessarily inspirational or impactful) as they may be in between the more “meaty” posts. I want to have more fun with it and hopefully engage in a more community feel. My idea was to build an authentic conversation with others who would engage with or appreciate the type of content I put into the blog and have others share as they feel compelled. I do hope to grow in interaction and visitors/followers.

I want to keep the categories I have already created, and maybe create a few more.

garden chive blossoms

It’s been months since I’ve pursued photography as I have in the past. I can’t wait to get out there and get some more great shots for the blog!

springtime

There have been a couple of funny stories (indeed, at my expense) that I could have shared. I may begin to incorporate some of those. 😊

I have discovered that dog posts are by far the most popular. It would be my pleasure to write more about my dogs, and it seems that people like those sorts of posts (though I’ve only written a few so far).

our sweet Scooby

From the beginning, I wanted to encourage and point others to Jesus. I hope to shine His light to others who may be walking in darkness and need hope. For me, this is the most important part of my writing.

Lake Tahoe

This June will be the fourth anniversary of the start of this blog. Thank you for being a part of it. Be on the lookout for more frequent posts!