Counting Sleeps

Next week I'll be using my final week of vacation. I'm heading to a lovely place not far from here, to enjoy some "me" time. I am long past the time in my life where that feels self-indulgent or worse, selfish. It is not.

Recently, someone wrote: "ME time makes me a better person in WE time." So very true.

I'm tired. Advent and Christmas were wonderful, life-giving and appropriately busy for anyone in ministry. But I've been waiting throughout January for that feeling of "bouncing back" and finding that renewal of energy to no avail. I need to rest. As a solid and unquestionable Introvert, I need to reclaim that energy in solitude. I love being around people, sharing with people, and mostly - serving people. That is my vocation and my call and I wouldn't want it any other way. But even the most devoted servant needs some alone time, and I am no different.

So, I'm off to this place....


...with no computer, only some good (fun) books that I've been wanting to read. I plan to sit by the fire and read and look out on the lake...



...nap when I feel like napping...



...and spend a day at the spa where they have a pool and a full day of spa activities including a mud pack, massage, and facial.



If you need me next week, you know where I'll be. I love you dearly, but I'll love you better when I love myself back into being that much closer to whole.