The icy wind was beginning to hit the windows of the three-room cabin, and with it, came a slight hum from the pine trees that seemed to be dancing with the passing breezes.
We had been receiving warnings of potential snow and ice for a few days. But with the sun shining down on us the previous day, my husband Jason made the decision to continue onward with our trip to an Arkansas cabin to celebrate my 40th birthday this past weekend.
And although there was concern in my thoughts over the possibility of traveling home over potential icy highways, I trusted him. Loaded up with our suitcases and the coats on our backs, we headed off to a three-room, rustic cabin in our neighboring state.
And the weekend proved to be perfect.
The first day was smooth sailing. The roads were fine, and it was even a little warm as we made our way through the Delta. It was just before the sun began to settle into the flatlands, when we were greeted with a beautiful sight. The entire sky appeared pink with the setting sun. And the clouds stretched across that pink hue. It reminded me of sunsets I had seen in the desert, but it was none other than the Delta.
It truly was a beautiful sight created by God, the ultimate artist of beauty and nature.
To me, I took it as a sign to use the trip to slow down. Soak up my surroundings and appreciate those small, little things that turn out to be the greatest gifts.
We arrived safely at the cabin, and it was already well into the night when we got there. Loaded down with bagged food from a fast food joint up the road, my birthday supper included a sandwich, seasoned fries and a large Dr. Pepper. But surrounded by Jason and our three kids, it was better than any steak house. We laughed a lot, settled a few arguments leftover from the road trip and ate until we were full.
I went to bed that first night tired but happy.
The next morning, the weather was starting to take a turn. So we used what little time we had left to walk the historic district of the nearby town. We got a hot breakfast plate from a local diner. We looked through racks of “tourist traps” merchandise at a quirky gift shop. And we ended the morning inside the lobby of a historic hotel, which was right up my alley.
Heading back to the cabin, we stopped at the grocery store to gather up food to cook for supper. The temperatures were steadily dropping, and the wind began to toss around ice flakes.
We arrived safely back at the cabin, and we decided for one last adventure before the potential snow arrived. Hiking a few miles, we made our way to a waterfall. We were the only ones on the entire trail, and other than the waterfall emptying into a lagoon, it was pretty quiet. We were even approached by a family of deer who were not afraid of us. Watching our kids hiding behind a tree to get a closer look of the deer and the waterfall’s sweet serenade behind us made the hike all the more special. It didn’t matter that it was 30 degrees, that ice flakes were beginning to hit my face and my toes were solid with cold. It was a simple moment in nature. And once again, God provided the scenery. It was better than any warm theater or tourist ticket around.
The weather really got cranked up when we returned to the cabin. Temperatures continued to drop, a few flakes of snow began to fall, and the wind was beginning to resemble that of a scary movie.
But inside the small cabin, we had a roaring fire going that warmed all three rooms. We had two large pizzas in the oven and an exciting football game on the television.
Jason even got out his guitar and played a few tunes. Elsie opened up a “hair salon” in the kitchen, and we were all customers. Jase was gathering up rocks from outside under the snow, fascinated by their textures and colors. And James, being a teenager, provided the gift of gab with a few jokes and stories. The same teenager who was pretty quiet the entire trip was finally opening up, and we were all ears.
We managed to make a few small snowmen. We ate every piece of pizza. And we piled in bed in front of the fireplace. Again, I was tired but happy.
The snow began to melt the next morning, and I was happy to see that we wouldn’t have to worry about icy roads for our journey back home. We even managed to stop and take in a few historic sites as we took a side road back home.
It was a simple but perfect weekend. It didn’t cost us a lot of money, and the joy I experienced with my small family was worth more than I could have imagined.
And it all began with a little uncertainty, perhaps a little fear. Driving into the night, I didn’t know what to expect with the weather or where the road might take us.
But Jason said “trust me.” And this weekend reminded me of why I do.
