Mountain Retreat

After our short visit home, we decided to spend a little more time in our families’ terroir: the Appalachian Mountains.  Both Greg and I share our ancestry of being Americans from before the United States formed.  We can trace our relatives entry into the colonies of South Carolina and Virginia as well as sharing Native American blood.  We both prefer the low country of South Carolina and Georgia, but felt drawn to ramble through the winding roads of the Smoky Mountains of North Georgia, Tennessee and the Carolinas.

Luckily for us, we have a cabin retreat in the family, too.  Located near Epworth, GA on the Fighting Town Creek, my aunt and parents own a small. rustic cabin just perfect for us to escape cell phones, internet, computers, television, and all communication except family.  With the chilly, damp weather, we built a fire and ensconced ourselves inside with knitting, good books and great food.

After the whirlwind of seeing familiar faces at home, I felt more conflicted than ever wondering if we had made the right decision to pull the kids from their schools, friends and family.  The cabin became the perfect bubble to relax and forget traveling, budgeting, and worrying over the choice we have made and giving up our main income for one year.  While the kids caught up on school, Greg grilled marinated steak and vegetables by the creek and I worked on knitting a baby blanket for a friend due in December.  

Time Slowed.  I thought of the scripture from the Bible that has always been elusive to me:  “Be still and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10.  In our frenetic modern lives, who takes time to be still?  We have worked so hard to manage this sabbatical year, physically and financially.  Since making the leap, I have felt pressured to make the most of every moment because I know we will never have a year like this again. I didn’t realize until being still at the cabin that God IS.  God is with us in the mountains, at the beach, on the road, at home, at school, at work, and on sabbatical. Everywhere.  The trick is learning to be still to KNOW this.  

That night, after a delicious dinner and a fantastic dessert of roasted marshmallows, we sat together around the fire.  With Wyatt near me on the chair, Emma in my lap, and Anabel next to her dad on the couch, Greg read us 5 Minute Mysteries.  We laughed and applauded each person’s attempt to solve the mystery.  With that one evening of being still together, I forgot all my doubts.  

If you can, try being still with your family this weekend.  I highly recommend it.