Slow Down.

Steinhatchee, Florida...Never heard of it?  Neither had I until yesterday when my boyfriend had me drive to an address in the middle of nowhere.  It's a small scalloping town tucked away on the West coast of Florida...a hideaway from the normal hustle and bustle of everyday life.

He made me promise not to Google the location of our surprise weekend and I kept my word.  So I literally popped an address into my navigation and set off.  Set off to the middle of nowhere.  In my head we were going to end up at some great little bed and breakfast to relax for the weekend.  However, as I drove through rundown town and rundown town, two things occurred to me:  first, I am extremely blessed to have it so good in life.  I worry about money all the time but at the end of the day, I am one blessed girl and I need to get over myself.  The second thing that occurred to me, was we might actually not be going to a B&B.  There was one point in my drive I feared we might end up in a rundown motel or trailer park (Now let me explain one thing...there are worse places than a motel or trailer park and I understand how spoiled this makes me sound.  However, I am all about transparency.  Even if being transparent reveals flaws.  This is one of those moments when my honest opinion reveals how spoiled and at times ungrateful I am.  Hang with me...and forgive me.).  So as I continued my drive, I was now trying to condition my mind to accept a weekend in a motel.  I kept telling myself, if you end up at a rundown motel you are going to have to pull it together and be happy because a wonderful man planned a relaxing weekend for you.  I literally told myself, stop being a spoiled brat and be grateful.  So I continued my drive to the motel. 

Except I didn't end up at a motel.  I ended up at a great little spot that I would totally recommend to anyone looking for a quiet weekend getaway. 
Check it out:  http://www.steinhatcheelanding.com/

This place is what the 'good old days' were made of.  Today we rode bikes to buy fresh picked peaches.  Stopped at a BBQ shack open only 4 days a week.  Took a walk down to the water.  There is close to nothing here and yet there is so much life.  We've enjoyed great conversation, lots of laughs and overall soaked up quality time together.  As I sat and enjoyed a book this afternoon I got to thinking about how I rarely stop to enjoy the things that matter in life.  I am on the go all of the time.  I work way too many hours each week, even when I try to cut back.  I always have a 'to do' list.  And I rarely stop to smell the roses.  Too often I miss out on things I think God wants me to enjoy because I am busy all of the time. 

1 Kings 19:11-12
The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.”  Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.

Today has reminded me the value in unplugging the phone, ignoring the 'to do' list and being still in order to enjoy the things that matter in life.  The small whispers that remind you God is here.

Psalm 46:10
Be still and know that I am God.

Bike rides, peaches and relaxing weekends,

Ashley Lucille