A Chapter Closed - A Lake-side Cottage

Cabin Number 8 -
beside a yellow lake :)

A lakeside cottage... that does sound so much nicer than a cabin by a lake. But, truth be told, it was a cabin and not a cottage. It was anything but glamorous. Yet, it was enchantingly wonderful! That little cabin (about the size of a lawn mower shed - as I'd described it to friends) was filled with memories woven into the fabric of my very being... memories from when I was a young girl playing in the sand on the shore... memories woven into my mother from childhood into the age of being a grandparent... and her mother... to aunts, uncles, and more! That cabin was a huge part of many lives over the almost 100 years since it had been built along that little yellow lake.

And, a huge, important chapter of my life closed the day I handed that humble cabin over to my cousin, her husband and their 2 daughters. The chapter was full... 

• I'd driven there with my husband (the LOML) and our firstborn when she was barely 4 months old. 
• I'd rowed our boat along the shore of the lake with both of the children (relunctantly strapped tightly into life jackets because their mom loved them so much). 
• I'd attended the Campmeetings sponsored by the church ministry which owned the land and saved crafts made by the children in their day classes while I was attending Bible studies & lectures. 
• We'd taken pictures of the children at "the climbing tree" from the time they were infants until they were into their teens.



the climbing tree

• I'd taken the kids there in the summer for a few days in the week to have "Daddy" drive up & join us on Friday nights after work for the weekend.
• I'd begun friendships there... that will be with me in heaven. 

The memories from that place spill out of me... more than I can write and certainly more than you would want to read. Those memories are so very special. They make me happy & somewhat sad at the same time.

A chapter of my life closed when that place was no longer mine.

the LOML & I
in our little living room

My cousin's family loves that place, as I do. Her mom & my mom are sisters who shared many memories there, including a childhood memory of living there for a summer & fall while they & their missionary parents were back in the states from Egypt on furlough. We had played there together when we were little children. She loves keeping up on family heritage information. She will love & take care of that place. Her girls will make memories there of times in their little cabin by the lake.  

soccer practice as
the children got older

It was a tough chapter to close. We were no longer using the cabin as the children got older. Some of you will understand that... there's a season in all parents' lives when the schedules of the kids rival the schedule of the family. No matter how much you value family time, there comes a day when you know that a season has ended for your family. The time before giving the cabin to my cousin was such a time.

sunrise from the kitchen

There will always be an aching in my soul when I think of no longer owning that place - where I walked along the lakeside as the sun was rising, where I tucked the kids into beds nestled along the slanted roof of the attic loft, where I fell asleep listening to soft music I played for the children as they slept, where I entertained friends for lake days with their children...

fun with friends

There will always be an aching in my soul. Yet, there will always been a deep sense of gratitude & joy that God allowed me to be the caretaker of that family "cottage" for so many years. My life is richer and the lives of my children are richer for having owned & used that cabin. I believe that the lives of my friends & family who joined us there for fun little get-always will be richer for the experience.

For everything there is a season,

A time for every activity under heaven.

A time to be born and a time to die.

A time to plant and a time to harvest.

A time to kill and a time to heal.

A time to tear down and a time to build up.

A time to cry and a time to laugh.

A time to grieve and a time to dance.

A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones.

A time to embrace and a time to turn away.

A time to search and a time to quit searching.

A time to keep and a time to throw away.

A time to tear and a time to mend.

A time to be quiet and a time to speak.

A time to love and a time to hate.

A time for war and a time for peace.

Yes... I believe that for everything there is a season. But, my heart cries that the change of seasons can be pretty rough on one's soul. Yet, God remains faithful!

... the last time we were there.

The first of the A-Chapter-Closed posts:
A Chapter Closed Today...

Linking with Ann Voskamp - A Holy Experience today...