Time Away

Good Morning!  What a wonderful Thankful Thursday!  This past weekend was Memorial Day weekend.  It is the 'unofficial' start to the summer and it is always, for the past 13-14 years anyway, our (my hubby and I) first 'bike' trip of the year.  We go to Eureka Springs, Arkansas every year on our Gold Wing.  We love to ride and getting away from town just makes it that much better.  Arkansas is one of the most beautiful states to ride.  I think I've said before that I would rather ride than anything else.  When you are on a motorcycle, driving or riding, you see God's beautiful creation in a whole new way.  There is nothing like it.

Well, this year marked the 3rd anniversary of our 'bike wreck.'  I will be posting about that as a guest host on my beautiful mama's blog, Who is God?, later this week.  It is an amazing story of God's mercy and healing!  Please be sure to check it out.  For what ever reason, this year, I was a little apprehensive about the trip.  I didn't tell anyone...not even Jim.  But, I just gave it over to God and determined that I was going to enjoy this time away with the man that I love.  And I am so glad that I didn't let the enemy have a foothold.  It was an amazing trip.  It was one of the best that we've had in a long while.  Now, we've been married for almost 35 years so our 'arguments' are mostly just short little disagreements and then they are over.  There isn't yelling and screaming like when we were young.  Usually, when we get time away, we will have a spat or two.  This time, NOTHING!  It was grand.

I know that Jenifer has posted on dating your spouse and she is so right.  We MUST continue our relationship with our spouse from day one all the way to the last breath we take on this earth.  Jim and I have always done this and I truly believe it has made a difference in our lives.  Time away with your spouse is vital to the health of your marriage.  Time away by your self is vital to your general well-being.  Time away from everything and spent with God is vital to your spiritual well-being!  Now for me, time away by myself isn't going out of town or anything.  I have plenty of time by myself for which I am very thankful.  But it is my time away with Jim that I treasure most.  I also treasure any time away that I get to spend with my family.  For several years we have been fortunate enough to do a family float trip with Jim's side of the family.  Not everyone gets to go - he has many brothers and sisters - but the ones that do get to go have a great time.  It's an amazing time to re-connectt with family that we don't see on a regular basis even though we live in the same city.  Besides the 'annual' float trip, there have been several years that one or more of my amazing 4 kids and their families have gotten to go on vacation with us.  That is my most precious of times away!  In fact, in September, 2 of my daughters and their families will be vacationing with us!  I am so thankful for that.  Our time together will be amazing.  It will be sad in a way but only because my son and his family and my youngest daughter will not be able to be there.  But I won't let that keep me from enjoying the time with the others.  Any time spent with family is something to be thankful for. 

Time away is so very important!  I encourage you to plan some time away...with your spouse alone...with your family...all by yourself.  This time away doesn't have to be a big trip, it only needs to be some time...time that you spend with the people that God has blessed you with.  Be thankful for the people in your life and be thankful for the opportunity to spend time with them.  And most importantly, spend time with your Creator!  He deserves time with you...one on one.  Listen to Him, talk to Him...just love on Him and let Him love on you.  You might find that He has something specific and special to say to you!

God bless,