one of my favorite places...

a couple weeks ago in the midst of my soap opera, i was able to go to the farm. my grandma lives on a farm in southwest wisconsin and it is one of my favorite places to go. it is in the middle of nowhere, it is beautiful, it is a place full of memories, it is somewhere that i really connect with the Lord, and it is a place where i feel safe. it was something i needed just then. my cousin is getting married and so we were having a bridal shower for his fiancee, so my parents picked me up on their way down and we headed to the farm.

the shower was really fun, but beyond that, i got everything i wanted out of my time there.

saturday morning i woke up and got a cup of coffee, a cinnamon roll, my journal, my bible, my ipod and sat out on the front porch in the sunshine overlooking the valley and spent some time processing with the Lord. i read scripture, i journaled out how i was feeling about everything, the dogs came and cuddled with me, the temperature was perfect, and i even got to finally talk to cathy for a while. it was just what i needed.

at the shower we ate a ridiculous amount of amazing food, watched sarah get totally embarrassed by my cousins (not sure i want them helping with any showers for me), and played with my cousin's kids. it was a fun time.

after the shower, my dad and i headed down to my aunt's bar to grab a pizza for dinner and just chilled for a little while. i love my dad. he doesn't always know what to say, but he still lets me know that he is there for me. he is pretty great.

after our dinner of pizza, dad, mom, grandma & i headed out for a walk through the back fields at sunset with the dogs. one of my favorite things to do on the farm. it was gorgeous of course. and that is where all these pictures are from. it is so peaceful and hard not to see God in all of it. it wasn't a long walk, but it was good for my heart.

that night, i sat out on the upstairs porch and gazed at the stars for a while. there are an awful lot of them there when you are in the middle of nowhere with hardly any lights around. add in some worship music and being wrapped up in a quilt and you have a pretty great night.

the next day was topped off by a visit to church and a lunch of steak and fresh corn on the cob and fresh tomatoes and cucumbers. mmmm...grandma knows what i like!

its a good feeling to know that even when almost everything in your life seems to be going crazy, there is still a place where you can go to escape and feel loved on by your family and by the Lord. it was a great weekend.

"the Lord upholds all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down. the eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season. you open your hand; you satisfy the desire of every living thing. the Lord is righteous in all his ways and kind in all his works. the Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them."

-psalm 145:14-19