Parish and I knew that the holiday season would be busy, so we planned our getaway for December 27 – December 30. We decided to continue this annually, but stay longer! James River State Park will be our go-to. WOW! We love this park for so many reasons. Even though your cabin is near the water, you can’t go to it, but you can hear it in the distance along with the faint whisper of the train on the tracks, and your view is private from your porch. We could keep our blinds open in the back of the cabin and not feel exposed, or sit on the porch, and you felt like it was just you and nature. We stayed in cabin #9. They have two lodges, a few three-bedroom cabins, and numerous two-bedroom cabins.

On the way, we stopped by Spring Hollow Farm Market. This Amish market is conveniently located off Route 60 and is easily accessible from the Chesterfield/Richmond area. This stop, along with our food from home, provided all our meals. We never left the park. Can you say AMEN! We wanted peace and quiet!

No television. Quiet, Nature. A fire is roaring. We have all the time in the world to read, craft, crochet, talk, walk, ride bikes, and simply be together.

My favorite meal is cooking hot dogs over the fire along with the Vidalia relish I purchase at the Spring Hallow Farm Market, which, for some reason, I can’t find anywhere else! I bought several! You know, when you find that yummy, yummy thing you crave, that is this relish for me. It harkens back to when Parish and I were in our 20s, cooking hot dogs over the fire and using the same relish. That was a magical night in our dating years.

I made some serious progress on my oyster shell ornaments.

I’m also almost done with my book, “The Paris Wife.” Our little ladybug guests decided to drop by for a visit, and I thought I’d be the perfect host by trying to feed them. But alas, Parish proved to be a popular choice for these tiny critters—one took a dive into his drink, while another thought his ear was an invitation to party. I tried explaining that they just wanted to be his best buds, but he wasn’t having any of it!

This park offers numerous walking and biking trails. I can’t imagine this place in the summer with the monarch butterfly trail and all the foliage. Some of the trails run along the James River, and the area features numerous ponds and lakes. They offer exceptional primitive camping if that is your thing.

We took a class, Nature Journaling, with park ranger Tess. It was fabulous, and we plan to continue what she taught us – recording observations, being present, and learning about nature through journaling and discovery. We learned a lot about the local beavers, who were causing some flooding, and how they utilized their skills to work on the trees.

On Monday night, we had a clear sky and went to shelter 3 for the stargazing observatory! We made hot chocolate to take with us for warmth. To say this was magical is a cliché; it was soul-filling, and we felt overwhelmed by the glory of God. Later that night, we slept with the blinds up, and the moon was so bright it shone like the sun inside our bedroom.

The picture of the tree, located at the bottom left, features a beehive. Can you find it?

I’m having significant issues with my neck and shoulder, which were undoubtedly a thing that journeyed with us, but I did not let that stop me. One thing I loved was waking up, which is often the most challenging part of the pain, early in the morning. I would sit on the deck in the cold weather, letting the cold air soothe my joints through a cold nature compress, and rock in my chair, which naturally massaged my shoulder. Watching the sun rise, listening to my Pray as You Go App, and talking to God. Praying for family, friends, and reaching out to those I love.

This morning, December 30, we awoke early to pack, and Jupiter was above the trees, radiating its faint, mesmerizing glow in the dawn sky. I decided to take a moment to watch this beautiful planet fade as the sun gently crept over the horizon, slowly washing the world in warm hues of pink and blue – always there, yet hidden from the day’s rays behind the brilliance of the rising sun. There was just something profound about watching, rocking gently in my thoughts, and engaging in a silent conversation with God, feeling a deep connection to the universe as I reflected on the beauty of the moment and the journey ahead.

Parish brought his guitar, and we are still working on our set. We have a goal to see if we can sing together at a local spot. During this time, my brother sent a text, not knowing we were playing, and sent a YouTube video of Pink Floyd, “Wish You Were Here”, and I saw this connection as symbolic of love and family. It was a good exchange. The holidays bring memories of those we wish were with us. So many. Missing our daddy.

Music is healing. A way to connect. We acknowledged we have some serious practicing to do. 🙂 LOL

On our last night, I made Vivian’s favorite cookies, and Parish made sausage, egg, and cheese biscuits for the early morning on the last day of packing. Those came in handy as we packed and enjoyed a yummy bite with our coffee.

I celebrated a significant milestone birthday this year. Life is so different now. The way you view your future, the present moment, and realizing how grateful I am for the blessings. Realizing that loss comes whether we are ready for it or not, it somehow seems like it was all part of what was supposed to happen, even if we can’t make sense of it. We stop trying to make sense of things and simply live with what we have before us. You can live a long time wondering if things will ever change, and suddenly they do.

The ride to the park was remarkable – so filled with back roads and new discoveries. I pray that we continue this journey and discover God’s beauty all around us, but most importantly, within us, in our minds, at peace.