He Restores My Soul

Through my circumstances over the years, I have become a workaholic. Even though it’s no longer my job to be “in charge” of supporting a family, I haven’t quite tossed this out of my personality. My husband has tried very hard to convince me to ‘throw caution to the wind’ and go on vacation-guiltless!

Well, this has been the “summer of Judi”! Two week long vacations almost back to back; one to Maine to celebrate the year of turning 50 with my high school girlfriends, and an unexpected-last minute trip to Oregon with my mom and daughter. Lots of girl time!

After being back for a week, I realized how much more relaxed I feel around the house and attending to my work. The verses from Psalm 23 keep popping through my mind: “He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul.” The “summer of Judi” has been a summer of restoration.

The shoreline of Kennebunkport, Maine was indeed refreshing…so invigorating that I ran like a teenager into the waves never expecting thewater to be so cold, it literally took my breath away. Spending time with five of my long time high school girlfriends was a blessing I never expected. How priceless our time was together…sharing stories, creating memories and “pinky-promising” to do it all over again in two years! Somehow I forgot all about work back home.

Before I had time to settle back into my work, my mom and I were headed to Oregon. The view of Oregon’s endless towering, emerald green trees is still fresh in my mind as I enjoyed driving hundreds of miles with her to pick up my daughter from working at Camp Myrtlewood-a retreat all its own. How blessed we were to spend two days with my daughter and witness first hand how God’s beauty and stillness had transformed her into a calmer, young woman with a servant’s heart. Priceless memories-forever dear to my heart.