Lake Geneva

Holy cow!!! What a great "weekend" we had! Huge shout out to the Gleason clan...they stayed at the Furr zoo on Monday night so that Heidi and I could take off to Lake Geneva. What a great time! Thank you, Gleasons! And thank you, Furrbabies...you did great.

Lake Geneva is a great community about an hour from Lake Villa. It's got a great downtown area very near to the water - reminds me a lot of Grand Haven, where I grew up in Michigan.

Heidi and I enjoyed some great dinner, relaxed conversation, football, and ...sleep...great sleep...ahhh. There are amazing little conversations that happen when they can just pop up...different than the ones that take place during a two-hour date or between baths in the evening.

What an incredible woman I am married to. I would so do it all over again. I just love spending time with her - hearing her stories, listening to meandering thoughts, her spiritual insights...it's all incredible for me to just take in. You're a gift, Babe...

These past couple weeks have afforded me a little reset. I knew that I'd need it sometime before the fall ministry season, but wasn't sure what it would look like. God provided and it's been great for me. A little rest...but beyond that just some time to hit the reset button and clear my mind a bit.

God provides rest. There is so much work to do in this little thing we call life...80 years is all we have to make a difference and do our part in God's work in this world. After that, eternity awaits...then there is rest. But even with all the work to do here...we need seasons of rest...God made it that way. Weekly days for sabbath rest - to remember that God is bigger than us and to trust his provision, if even for one day. Monthly days to get away and pray for a longer period of time - to listen and allow for pop-up conversations with God. And annual vacations - to visit friends, sleep a bit more (unless you have kids), and see parts of the world you haven't seen ever or for a while. Different types of rest...all gifts from God.

Thanks, God...for the rest.

M@

road trip...

A quick shout out to the Hamburg-ers who read...it was awesome to see you this past weekend - even if briefly. What an amazing gift it was to hang out in the foyer and connect with so many friends. Your affirmations, prayers, and encouragements fill my spirit to overflowing - thank you!

Heidi, the kids, and I loaded up the van early Thursday morning and drove east along the I-90 for about 10 hours. The shortest I've ever made the trip is 8 1/2, but that's by myself...not with two potty-trained kids who know that if they shout "I HAVE TO GO POOPY!" they get to get out of their seats for a few precious minutes. Libby got pretty good at road-side potty breaks...

The kids did awesome on this trip. In past years, when we've made this trip, we maintian that it will only get better. So far, that's been true. They slept well in unfamiliar suroundings. They played with other kids as if they were long-lost friends (which some were). And they flexed with the changes like champs. I don't think Heidi and I slept all that much, but the kids did great!

We spent a bunch of time with Rick and Carrie...soul-friends who have shared life deeply with us. Their friendship remains such an incredible gift. Rick is the one I've shared is fighting cancer. Please continue to pray for them.

We got to attend an anniversary party for Larry and Audry - another couple of soul-friends. What a special way to spend an evening.

We got home late last night...and no one really slept in the car. They slept in a little this morning, but...still up and at 'em before 7...argh. Heidi showed her love by letting me sleep a bit longer...you're the best, Babe...

And then we spent some time this morning with Chicago friends. The Wamsleys have quickly become great friends for us. Their son, Jimmy, turned 3 today and had a Thomas The Train party. What a great time!!

So...it's family day at the Furr house.

God's good to us...