This is quite possibly my favorite place in the world.
Oh, I know there are more interesting places, more beautiful places to be. And I like all those places in different ways. But this lake is maybe one of the safest places I've known. It's a place where I feel more peace than anywhere else.
This summer has been different in many ways than I expected. Without boring you with all the details, let's just say that I have felt a deep need for peace. And as soon as I crossed the bridge spanning the Niangua arm of the Lake, I felt like I was driving into a 10 mile radius of peace.
I don't know why this place is so safe for me. Maybe because it's almost as if time stops when I'm here. We have no schedule. Real-life demands and worries seem so far away. We have nothing to do but pack a cooler, climb in the boat and disappear for the day. There's nothing like a blazing hot summer day and my family on the boat to lift my spirits.
My family. Maybe I'll write a whole post about them one of these days. But you should know that they are some of the most incredible people. I often like to think that I'm this grown-up, independent young woman, but the truth is, I absolutely love (and need) to be around my family. Yesterday I just got to sit in the front of the boat with my sister, planning and dreaming about her wedding. (Yes, my baby sister's getting hitched!!). I'm so proud of how she's growing up. And my parents...I got to be loved by my them this weekend, in ways that they might not even realize. Some examples: my dad called an auto shop down here to get my car fixed on a day's notice (guess I WILL be making it back to St. Louis now), they let me order the expensive salmon at the restaurant (which tastes amazing when you've been living on oatmeal and salad all summer), and my mom just sat and listened when I needed to let off some steam. My brother and sister-in-law aren't here, but we took time this weekend to marvel at the miracle of little Abby Rose's life (I'll blog about her sometime, too). She's more than doubled her birth weight and the doctors are thrilled with her progress. Born at 1 lb. 12 oz., and given at 50 percent chance of making it, she's our family's real-life miracle. God is faithful.
And last night, our neighbor (a family friend from Pella) called a prayer meeting to pray over me, her daughter (who just got back from YWAM China) and another girl here who is leaving on a YWAM trip to New Zealand. Talk about PEACE overflowing in that room.
This place is safe, no doubt about it. Or as someone said last night, "The safest place to be is inside God's will." Good words to live by.
Peace for now, friends. I think I hear a jet ski calling my name.
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