Vacationing In Our Own Backyard

 June 27, 2026

It has been just over a year since our "retirement." I've never been particularly fond of that word. I don't believe God ever calls us to what we define as retirement. Instead, I believe this season of life is an invitation to devote more time to serving others—to volunteer, to spend quality time with family and friends, to share the gifts God has given us, and, most importantly, to spend more time with Him.

Not that these things shouldn't always be priorities. But during the years of building careers and raising families, they are often the very things that get pushed aside—especially our quiet time with God. Without that intentional time with Him, it becomes much harder to clearly hear and respond to the gentle promptings of the Holy Spirit.

One of the greatest gifts this season offers is the opportunity to slow down. Today, we're heading to a quiet cabin on a small fishing lake for a much-needed respite. Everyone says retirement is busier than expected, and they're absolutely right—we seem to be busier now than ever!

The packing and loading are complete. ✅ Now we're heading north, eager to see what this next week has in store.

We left home around 11:00 am EST this morning. After running a couple of errands, including a Walmart pickup for a few necessities, we were finally on our way.

Continuing north, we followed the winding roads through Lake Linden and Gay before arriving in Lac La Belle. 

It was an absolutely beautiful day—sunny, temperatures in the 70s, and just a light breeze. Along the way, we stopped at Douglass Houghton Falls at the recommendation of our friend Cynthia. It was a wonderful walk and the perfect opportunity to stretch our legs and enjoy God's beautiful creation.

Both Mary and  Cynthia suggested we stop at Bear Belly's Pit Stop. Rick declared that he might have liked this burger even better than Syl's! Uh-oh...I guess we'll have to make regular trips up here now. Although I'm sure Syl's will always remain his favorite.

At 3:00 p.m., we checked into our little cabin on the lake, and it is absolutely wonderful—far beyond our expectations. The owners have thought of just about everything we could possibly need.

As I write this, we're listening to the gentle lapping of the water against the shore, feeling the soft breeze on our faces, watching the occasional fishing boat drift by, and simply soaking in the peace and serenity around us. Now we're looking forward to watching the sun slowly set over the lake.

What a beautiful way to begin this week away.