Thankful Thursday - Relaxing at the park

A while back, when the weather was nice and I was majorly stressed, I decided I had to get away from work and get outside for a while on my lunch break.  I'd been eating lunch at work, but I was tired of looking at those walls all day, so I grabbed my food, my Bible, and my journal and headed to a local park just a few blocks from my job.  That was the start of a favorite lunchtime tradition!

Because of my college schedule (I take classes on some of my lunch breaks) I don't get to go as often, but I love the days I do get to head to the park.  Nothing can help me clear my head and sort out my thoughts as much as reading my Bible and writing in my journal as I sit on the deck overlooking the duck pond.  Since the kids are all in school during my lunch, it's very quiet and peaceful, with very few people there. 

When I first started going, that peace and quiet was desperately needed.  My mom and dad were going through marriage problems so severe I didn't think they would last.  (They are better now but still struggling.  This has been going on for over 2 years now.  Hard to believe that can happen after 31 years of marriage...)  At the same time, I was realizing that I needed to make a change and was considering the possibility of going back to school.  Spending time at the park reading my Bible, praying, and focusing on God was a lifeline that kept me going through that time.  I love it.