“It was only gradually that I came to understand that some things are meant to be cherished and not sacrificed.”
~Elisabeth Elliot, These Strange Ashes~

It’s been a busy past few days, the calendar sprinkled with family reunions, trips to St. Louis, anniversary outings, and cousin sleepovers. We had a funeral this morning for one of the founding members of our church. He and his wife were married for somewhere around 70 years. Whenever you see her on Sundays she will ask how you are, and after you say you’re doing well and ask her back, she says, “I’m blessed.”

Our anniversary time went well. We returned to the Inn and this time stayed in the Hyacinth room. We had to go the night before the actual date since all the rooms were booked on Friday night because of the fair. We’ve got a pretty good routine down now when it comes to these dates. I used to feel pressure to make sure things happened according to my particular ideas and assumptions of his expectations. The marriage books often said you needed to give yourself time to unwind while away from the kids.

We’re not in that stage now. We know what we like and don’t need to much veer from it. Last night we had a circuit cookout for pastors and families. We don’t really put it on ourselves, camp just serves as a place to have it. We had a family reunion for most of today. Dad and the kids went ahead after the funeral but I stayed behind and went to bed from 1 to 4. It’s the way it must be done when days are fuller. I met them there.

(Photo: Center Park at Lake Springfield)