Monday, September 12, 2016

Stress Relief

The summer months have past, and this morning we noted that a few of the trees in our area are beginning to show signs of fall. Nonetheless, the boys still ask me to take them to the beach nearly everyday. Most days it's an impossibility, but on occasion we can head down for an hour or so of down time. It's not always the easiest choice for me to make - because down time for me doesn't really include more sand in the car, more laundry, and more rush - but I do it because I think it's important for us. In this busy, busy world in which we live, I feel we must intentionally carve out down time. Kids are under a lot of pressure nowadays, and it is important to create opportunities for stress relief. God's beautiful nature is a wonderful stress relief, as is unstructured physical activity and play. It is good for the mind and the body, and for sibling relationships. I want my kids to reap the benefits and to set a pattern that they can carry into adulthood. And for me, stepping away from work and obligation into fresh, open space sets my mind back onto what really matters most.

I just have pictures to post today. Sometimes my fingers are itching to type out what my thoughts and heart are bursting with, but not today. My thoughts have been communicated in other ways, though, namely in my prayer time and in my conversations with God during some long runs. It has done me such good. Prayer is the absolute best stress relief!

My computer and my camera card are full of summer beach pictures. This set is from a busy August morning when school registration and preparations were underway. We took off for early morning donuts and a dunk in the sea before the day started. Donuts are a rarity, but we did this at the end of summer the previous year, and it seemed like a good idea once again. (Although, I admit, the morning sugar rush reminded why I personally don't do donuts much!)


The cliff cast a cold shadow on the beach because the sun was not yet high enough.


The bravest ones, going first...


Olivia and Jack did Olympic-style warm ups before dashing in...



My turn...


(Below) My head before the invigorating wave washed over me;
Andrew is laughing because he "tricked" me and let me go alone.
;)







"And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."   Phil. 4:7


~Katherine


6 comments:

  1. I love these pictures for so many reasons - you can see the love your children have for one another and how they enjoy the company of each other - and the beach :-) I admire how creative your children are, and how Andrew found and stacked all the stones. They appreciate the simple things and that is beautiful!

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    1. Thank you, Carol! (I know you love the beach, but I look at your green forest with envy sometimes!)

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    2. Wouldn't it be great if we house-swapped for a week?

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    3. Hmm... That's definitely something to consider! I'll file that away in case I can convince Jon to take a rural vacation in the Northwest!

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    4. In all seriousness, if we could ever coordinate a vacation time - I bet we could make it work and be rather affordable. It's kind of a crazy idea, but a fun one too. Like you said... file it away. :-)

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