Our glorious 36 hours

The recent time away was wonderful, not only in its relaxation, but also in the outpouring of love that I have felt from my friends in and out of the AR community about my REALLY GOOD DAY. I wanted to share what my short escape did to help get my psyche back in shape.

From the time we left home, it was sheer perfection. It is a beautiful drive from Colorado Springs to Divide, less than an hour away but far enough to be out ‘in the country.’ We are experiencing the Indian Summers that Colorado is famous for, and this day was flawless.

There was no cell service and no internet, a thought that initially panicked me, but became more and more delightful. I had sold this 2000+ square foot 4 bed/2 bath ‘cabin’ to my client last year with their pledge that any time we wanted to use it, it was ours for the asking if they weren’t in residence. Our Tenth Anniversary seemed like the ideal time to take them up on the offer.

The ‘cabin’ sits on five acres and adjoins Pike National Forest. It sits in the middle of nowhere, with a barn, a pond, a two-story playhouse, a stream, a hot-tub, lots of windows and decks, two wood-burning stoves, and deafening silence. Our first act was to light a fire in each of the stoves to chase away the chill.

Being so new to it, I felt a need to fill the quiet with talking. But then I found that the stillness became its own form of communication, and it was blessed. We grilled steaks on a deck with the wildlife surrounding us and the gurgle of a stream nearby. Even soft music was turned off to fully grasp the sounds around us.

After an idyllic evening, we watched movies and slept for 10 hours, something I haven’t done in as long as I can remember. When we woke the next morning to another faultless day, we decided that a walk was a great way to start. For miles we wandered thru the forest, exploring, taking pictures, and interacting with nature. We laughed and talked in a manner that is not possible with so many people living in your home. We shared as though we had no cares, and returned exhilarated to cook breakfast in the peace and comfort of calm, and we rekindled our companionship for which we are famous.

I found that simplicity is its own beauty, and that it is okay to take time just for ME, which I so often forget. I returned with new resolve to ‘change the things I can, and to accept the things I can’t.’ When I asked him what his outstanding memory was of the weekend, my husband’s response was that it all just distilled down to being with his beautiful bride. I am truly blessed. Here are just a few pictures of our glorious time away.