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When I was a teenager and all my teenagery angst would get to be too much for me I would run to my secret escape on the shores of Lake Michigan. I would sit with my notebook in hand and pour my deepest thoughts, worries, and heartbreaks onto it's pages. All my high school drama would wash away with the roll of the waves and I would be lulled into a quiet submission.
I don't know what it was exactly that was so stressful in my life back then. Perhaps school. Or friends. Maybe boyfriends, or lack thereof. Homework and my job. Maybe it was just me trying to figure out who I was. Who I am. Who I wanted to be. Maybe that was the stress.
Whatever it was I worked it out. I know who I am now. There is no doubt about that. I don't have homework or a "job", and I certainly don't have boyfriend issues. And yet the stress in my life has multiplied many times over. Only now, even though that same secret serene escape is still where it always was, I am unable to get to it. It is so close and yet so far. And after having a day like I've had today oh how I could use that quiet retreat.
I try it anyway. I go to the spot. Only this time I'm not alone. I bring three other parts of me to feel the strength of the healing secret too. But they are too busy to notice and I am too happy to care. This time it is not the waves that calm me but pure joy. I watch them pick up rocks and throw them in. I watch them splash in the pooled water on the rock's uneven surface. And I watch them hold hands as they are mesmerized by the water. Magically my stress is gone.
And I know that I will have that serene, quiet, alone time at my now not-so-secret spot much too soon.
67 comments:
Beautiful PSF! The pictures,the story, all of it!
Such an awesome post. It gave me a lump in my throat. Then I love the beautiful shot of the children looking out onto the water. Just perfect.
WOW! What a great post! Seriously...fabulous! thanks for sharing.
happy PSF!
What a great reflection spot!
And a sweet, sweet picture of your boys.
I had a similar spot, we grew up in England in a little fishing port. Would often head to the beach or the cliffs to think. We're very lucky we had places to go a lot of kids don't. Lovely post and I still want your camera. Love your pics.
Kirst
What a wonderful recollection! There's some magical thing about great bodies of water, very great t stare at and contemplate.
My PSF entry is posted HERE. Hope you can hop by as well if you have the time. Thanks!
What a lovely read that was Kathryn. Thanks for sharing with us...
Lake Michigan is in my backyard as well. I grew up a few blocks from the lake and now take my own kids there as well. Cute picture.
This was such a beautiful post, we all need those kinds of spots to go and reflect, find peace. How wonderful that you have three beautiful boys to share that with now.
That's so beautiful, and so true! You're smart to realize it, but sometimes when they're driving you crazy, it still doesn't help. Have a wonderful weekend.
great post. maybe your children will come to the same spot when they are older
That was beautiful Kathryn!
How fun to be able to sit and see life go full circle with your boys!
Happy weekend friend! :)
THAT was a GREAT post!!
Lovely photos!
Doood...your place here looks magnificent! I'm loving it!! And, I love this post. So sweet, so wonderful.
i have always gone to the shore for my healing time, too. in college my dorm was across the street from lake michigan. I would go there in the middle of the night sometimes, just to be calmed by the waves
Beautiful PSF! Look at those boys!! :)
I LOVE your reflection spot. I dreamed of one like that when I was all angsty and teenagery. It really is beautiful.
That last shot of your kids? PERFECTION. Really. A framer for sure.
I love the picture!! I stopped here by way of Motherhood for Dummies. Your site is great!
Great post...love the pic that goes with it!
I sooo know what you mean, but for me it was lake Superior. There is nothing like it. It is the one thing I miss.
The shot with your boys is beautiful.
Wonderful story. And the two pictures are just perfect.
Ahhh, pure bliss.
These are the days friend*!*
LOVE that sweet photo.
Wonderful thoughts. And you are right, it all goes by so quickly and youa re back at that serene quiet by-yourself-ness again. But there comes a time, then, that you know it is to be--it is right--and they will take theirs to the shore to throw the rocks into the surf.
(Check out my skywatch post on Katney's Kaboodle. It is so different and yet so the same.)
wow- you're soooooo lucky to have a place like this. I.MUST.MOVE.NEAR THE OCEAN before I die. yep. Serenity indeed.
Sounds like you can now get greater perspective at your oh so secret retreat with the little ones in tow. Life can be busy, crazy and scary at times, but isn't it good to know you have family to love you? Great story. Thank you so sharing!
A wonderful post. I know those days, luckily right now I can retreat to the Pacific ocean. What a blessing that is.
BTW, I'm busy for a week and your whole blog changed - it's gorgeous! I love it!
Everybody needs a little time away, I know there are places I run to when I need that break. Lately it's been my car, but with gas prices on I just humm and pretend that I'm driving somewhere.
I was just thinking the other day about how the ocean is my place like that. It has a calming effect on me like no other - too bad I'm completely land-locked in Iowa, huh?
Beautiful post, Kathryn. It gave me chills. "Only this time I'm not alone. I bring three other parts of me to feel the strength of the healing secret too"....so true. These kids of ours carry our hearts, don't they?
THAT was an awesome post, it brought a little tear to my eyes.
Sharing special memories or moments with your children is truly the best medicine. Beautiful post Kathryn!
Kimmy
Well said. I had the end of the dock at our old house on Stratton Lake. The water was incredibly soothing. Now I have a walk in the woods--no water.
Precious story, isn't it amazing how we all suffered with teenge angst? Yet, there you are a the shore with three beautiful sons. God is good.
The new look for your blog is so fun and DESIGNER,, how did you do it? Thanks for the tips about the blog roll thingie, I can read from there now but not comment. I kinda miss the "whole" experience of visitng a blog but it's good when there isn't much time.
thanks again.
I love the picture of your children looking out at the water and holding hands! Awesome!
There's nothing in the world like a Serene Spot.
I love that you could share it with your boys!
How very lovely this post is...and I can so relate to the sentiment.
I feel like I have said this a lot lateyly here, but that is such a sweet picture of those boys. Those curls are just too cute.
I had a tree that I liked to sit under when I was a teenager.
That's so cool. Funny how that works - I went back to college the other day with my family for a "feed" and I walked in the same halls I walked for four years...back when I thought life was so complicated and hard and stressful, and didnt think I had any free time. Oh how wrong I was. Amazing what a little life experience brings you. Great PSF!
Beautifully written! Great pictures of your spot! Life car sure be stressful with kids, but it is oh, so worth it! Here's to more times enjoying the spot together!
What is it about Wisconsin anyway?
Every single chick from that state is Strikingly beautiful!
You have a lovely blog, I've seen you at lime's. Have a great week!
Galen
I feel the exact same way about water and Lake Michigan in particular, even if from the Chicago side that will always be home.
Cute new profile picture, too!
I loved this post! So beautiful!
So gorgeous! :)
it's so good to have a spot like that and even better to pass it on. so beautiful.
Your boys are so sweet holding hands like that!
Beautifully written post, Kathryn! And that last shot is so sweet!
I feel ya. When I lived in Port Washington on Lake Michigan - it's vast beauty was calming - almost as calming as that last shot. Beautiful.
What a totally awesome experience!
J/
I'm betting that special place just got a whole lot more special . . .
How beautiful is this post Kathryn?
I love it!
Thanks so much for sharing.
Awww! What a sweet post! I, too, have a place I go for peace and serenity!!! It is the most special to be able to share that and pass it on to our little ones!!! I hope they get as much from it as we do!!! :))
Thank you for stopping by and saying hello to me!!! It was a nice surprise and meant a lot to me!!! :))
What a poetic post!
I love it!
Becky
Gorgeous pictures. I felt as though as was there too.
CJ xx
Wow that was a good post and You always have Gorgeous photos.
What a great thing to share with your kids. Even if it means it will never really be the same for you. Nothing ever is once we have kids, right?
So beautifully written and captured in photos. I can see what this is your favorite spot :) So sweet of you to share it.
I think it's beautiful and poetic that you share your sacred space with the boys and find that it makes it all the more special, Kathryn.
Beautiful Post
Gorgeous photo to end it.
Take care
Kristen
I have a similar spot near the local beach. Whenever I am stressed, I head towards water. It must be because I'm a water sign.
Beautiful pics!
Wow! What powerful and wise thoughts.
I'm sorry, I just HAD to do it. You've been tagged. hop on over to my place to find your assignment. Hope you have fun with it. I can't wait for the results!
There is something about the sea that is always so calming.
Sea, which is so wild and active , is yet so contained in its place!
Just like human Life!
Wow! Three tiny tots together! Must be quite a handful!
Oh you betcha I'm sassy tagging you! Hehe. I really didn't know you had done it, but you've gotta do it again, but use sixe DIFFERENT things! Oh, I can't wait!
I always run to the healing waters. It used to be the Mighty Pacific, but up here in the mountains (5 hours worth of wind-ey roads between me and sea) it is usually my tub that I seek. I have a HUGE state-of-the-art soaker with ocean wave cds -- it works (With my eyes closed).
I love your reflection in the waters that stretches from youth to now. I feel the same intensity inside as I did back in the HS days, but how lovely the waters of time have smoothed for me, too. I guess that's how life happens. What a blessing.
I love to come here and wade around in the shallows of life with you and contemplate its depths. Its a lovely thinking spot. : )
That's lovely that you can share that spot with your little guys; adding more sweetness to the bittersweet of the teen angst years.
LOVE the photo.
Isn't it the most overwhelming feeling when our pre-kids life collides with our real-life kids? I read a book to my daughter the other night that was my own book as a child. Had I been able to imagine THAT moment all those years back ... well.
LOVE this post Kathryn.
Oh, beautiful, Kathryn!
That is so beautiful. The spot and the boys. Give them an extra hug for me tonight!
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