Thursday, June 10, 2010

Refuge



The kids and I took a trip to Zion National Park for Memorial Day weekend. We swam at the pool, ate pizza in our hotel, drove through the tunnels, hiked to waterfalls, and discovered a perfect picnic spot: hidden from the road, tucked in between two towering sandstone cliffs, a floor of fine, cool, white sand.

A refuge.

In this quiet spot I felt an overwhelming sense that this was a tender mercy from a loving Heavenly Father who knew about the burdens and heartache in my life. A time to refresh my spirit and reconnect with my Creator.

And then Micah threw a bloody stump of a lizard tail at me. I laughed more in those three days than I have the last three months.


If you are planning a trip, do stop at the Springdale Fruit Company. They offer sandwiches on focaccia bread, organic produce, and a porch swing.

Skip the Zion Canyon Giant Screen Theater.

Everyone should take a trip to a crowded public place with a three-year-old at least once. And they should ride public transportation. Announcements like: Mom, I just farted! take on another meaning when you are on a crowded shuttle bus with 50 strangers.

It was a great trip. I fell in love with my kids and being a mother all over again. A girl we met at the pool kept telling me how she admired me for "doing it alone with four kids." I smiled but thought to myself: you don't know my kids.

6 comments:

  1. It looks like you had a great time with your kids. I love all your pictures and that sandwich looks delicious (other than the onions and sprouts).

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  2. Rachel I love the way you displayed your pictures for this story! I am so happy you took this trip. It's wonderful when you are in love with your children.

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  3. beautiful photos, beautiful place, beautiful kids.

    i loved your comment the other day. thanks for always being a reminder to me that motherhood is the best job/best way to create in the world. i cannot wait, and i hope my children are as wonderful as yours. (and that i'm a mother like you.)

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  4. I'm still laughing about the bloody lizard stump! It looks beautiful. I'm glad you guys had fun. And that sandwich looks amazing!!

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  5. What a fun trip. Hey, I just took a three year old in public and on public transportation. Clara only said "I tootied" around family we visited, but she did yell a few inappropriate things like, "Why does that guy have long hair?" and "Look! That guy is wearing earings and a necklace." Ah, humility. :) I love nature, minus bloody stumps of lizard tails. PS Clara saw that picture of you and said, "Look, that's my mom Anna." She thinks we look alike.

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  6. How fun for all of you. You are such a good mom. I needed a good laugh and you had me with lizard stump and fart. :)

    I won't mention the fact that you were an hour away and didn't call me.

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