New Year's in the Hill Country

Our family took a short trip to kick off the new year. We stayed in some quaint little rustic cabins, nestled in the heart of the Texas Hill Country. Our son, Brandon, brought along his girlfriend (they stayed in separate bedrooms, of course), so needless to say, we had a full cabin. My mother, sister, my thirteen year old niece and eleven year old nephew joined us, staying in a near-by cabin on the same property.

Without the distractions of television, cell phones, and the world-wide web, everyone was forced to occupy themselves with more primitive forms of entertainment. We played cards, read, and just talked as we sat on the deck under the starlit sky. It warmed my heart when frequent laughter and competitive shouts erupted from the cabins as the younger crew played card games until the wee hours each night. My husband, Mark, provided comedic relief with his unsuccessful, yet persistent efforts to convince the kids that a wild animal was invading the grounds. This is a photo of the kids. Fun was had by all!

The weather was extraordinarily warm – in the upper 40’s at night and low 70’s during the day – which made for a beautiful hike at a near-by state park. The first couple miles of the hike were intense, with a steep incline to the hilltops, but the view at the top was breathtaking…okay, we were out of breath from the hike, but it WAS beautiful. As we made our way down the other side of the hillside, we were surprised to see a LIVE armadillo beside the trail - only in Texas! It was a wonderfully refreshing way to begin the new year.

We all need times of rest and refreshment. After the apostles went out and preached and ministered among the people, they "gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught" (Mark 6:30). Jesus urged them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” (Mark 6:31). We’ve visited FoxFire Cabins several times throughout the years when our family needed time away to rest and reconnect with one another.

Please share a little about the quiet resting places God has provided for you or your family by posting a comment.