Do these words evoke strong feelings or memories for you? They do if you live in Minnesota and probably in many other states.
When we started having children Dan and I longed to find a cabin where we could return year after year and make memories with our family. We couldn’t buy a cabin but we hoped to find one to rent that we could make “our cabin” year after year.
I’m afraid I became rather a fanatic and dragged my dear husband to several places where he would rather not have been – like the cabin where our friend got the bedroom that had fleas left by a former renters dog, or the one where the lake was only visible with a telescope, or the one so small you all had to go inside and stand against the wall so you could close the door. Well, you get the idea; we were having trouble finding our dream cabin.
I believe the Lord planted that desire in our hearts and his Word says, “But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep [you] from evil.” – 2 Thessalonians 3:3 KJV
Just when it looked like what we wanted didn’t exist; I came up with one more option… My dear husband really didn’t want to go stay at another disaster, but that wasn’t going to happen. This family wanted to interview us and meet us and check our references before they would even consider renting us their cabin. YIKES!
It was about 20 miles from one of Dan’s aunts so we asked her if we could spend the night with her and go to our interview the next day. At least this trip wouldn’t be a total loss since visiting Aunt Helen was one of our favorite things to do.
Off we went, Emily was 4, Rebekah was 2 and Eric was 3 months old. The owners of this cabin were believers and we hit it off right away with them. When we left several hours later we were signed up for our first stay at their cabin in June 1992.
We just returned from our 24th stay at “the” cabin. We are continually grateful for the Lord’s provision of a place where we can make memories together each summer.
Some things stay the same:
-As we drive down the road to the cabin we still get quiet and wait for that first glimpse and someone to call out, “I see the cabin.”
-We still try to do as many of the fun things we’ve always done there – visiting with family and friends, collecting Monarch butterfly caterpillars and watching them hatch, swimming, fishing, breakfast at JoMama’s, celebrating Father’s Day, going to Bargain Bills and looking for – what else – bargains!
And things are changing too.
-Both of Dan’s aunts who lived in that area have passed on and we miss our visits with them and their children.
-We don’t have a rainy day box anymore. I used to save a box of things that we just opened if it was raining at the cabin – Lincoln Logs, special paints and games. I recently found out that this is one of our children’s best memories. They said they were always disappointed if there wasn’t at least one rainy day.
-We had to put our dog Strider down in August, so this was our first time there without him. When a black dog ran through the yard even I felt my heart quicken for just a second when I thought it was him.
Our children are 21, 23, and 25 now so each year we wonder if there will be another when we are still all together, or if we will be adding a son-in-law or daughter-in-law.
Sameness and change, both are a part of life – And we can handle both as long as the Lord is our rock.
“He only [is] my rock and my salvation; [he is] my defence; I shall not be greatly moved.” – Psalm 62:2 KJV
How do you make memories as a family?
Finding Joy in the Journey,
Phyllis
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Phyllis Sather
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Delightful Homemaking for the Lord
11 Comments
Phyllis
Emily there must be a lot of driveways like this one in WI. We bought the house we are in now because the road to it looks like this and Dan decided to drive down it when we were looking at houses.
Phyllis
Kate, we have very little extended family so we miss those trips. All our parents have died so no grandparents to visit and we both come from very small families. Being able to visit family is a huge blessing too. You are making memories – different from ours, but memories non the less.
Kate @ Teaching What Is Good
Aww, how wonderful! I love hearing about family vacations and traditions. We’ve had only 1 REAL vacation in our 27 years of marriage. One where we did what WE wanted to do as a family. There have been many times when we’ve visited with family, but then it is really different from YOU making your special memories. 25 years…what a blessing!!
Thanks for linking up with me today!
Emily McFarlan Miller
The drive looks exactly like my parents’ cabin in Wisconsin, which is where my husband and I are traveling for the fourth time together this weekend. This year, my family and our friend Kristin all are joining us, and I’m looking forward to relaxing and, like you said, making memories!
Phyllis
I will pray that you find just the right cabin for your family.
Taralyn @ Keep Moving Forward With Me
What wonderful memories to have with your family. My children are 5, 2, and 9 months and we are working on creating some of the same memories. Kudos to you to sticking to your dream even through the crazy cabins.
I am over from the Modest Monday link up :).
Phyllis
Don’t give up! The Lord may have something for you yet.
Wendy
Ha ~ that is exactly what we have been doing…. cabin hopping in MN. 🙂 And I just got finished emailing about a couple of them! We’ve only been renting 3 summers now ~ year one = a trip to the gas station to stock up on cleaning supplies so I could feel like I could actually take my shoes off in the place. Year 2 = super cute old cabin. It reminded me of a quaint, old cottage, lots of windows, lots of rooms, lots (and lots) of stairs to the lake and it smelt old and musty. Last year ~ great cabin! Unfortunately it’s booked for the weeks that work for our schedule 🙁 Great picture and I truly hope we are instilling some beautiful, family memories in our kids!
Phyllis
We joke that we have more company at the cabin than we do at home. That’s partially true since its such a fun gathering place. My sister and bil have a cabin nearby too.
Phyllis
WI is a wonderful place to vacation. It’s been special because of Dan’s two aunts living nearby – we got to spend more time with them than we would have otherwise.
Trisch
Beautiful, Phyllis! We stayed at a cabin up on Washington Island in WI back in 1988. Met friends from MN there and we had so much fun! Wish we could have made that a yearly, but the family sold the cabin. It was so nice and laid back there!
Now we seem to be making yearly trips to FL as a family! 😉
Glad you tried one more time and found the perfect place! Sounds wonderful!
HUGS!
~Trisch