Cheung Chau Island

presenting Hong Kong island

historical pirate cave, Pirate Zhang Baozai late 1700s - early 1800s

our cabin, 1949

evening dinners with all guests at Bethany

"Hey son,  be a good sport and take a picture of Ma and Pa kissing on the beach."
(I love that son's toes appear on the bottom left!)

"There's Ye-Ye's hometown."

Drew and I both cherish childhood memories from our regular family summer vacation spots. For Drew's family that place was Crosslake, MN at his grandparents' cabin. My family vacationed just 30 miles down the road near Hackensack, MN at my dad's coworker's log house; we called it Randy's Cabin. Northern Minnesota in the summer: Fishing, hiking, turtle races, s'mores, junky aluminum motor boats, orange life vests, dragging sand in, chapter books, feeling afraid of meeting a bear, loons, ladyslippers, bonfires and ice cream.

Cheung Chau island is turning out to be the equivalent of northern Minnesota for our kids. Impressions? Salty sea water. Shark nets. Sea glass. Ferry boats. Junks. Giant ships. Giant snails that come out and cross the paths at night (seriously, so big they look like hot dogs in a bun). Buddhist temples and burning incense. Pirate cave. Geckos in the cabin. Dim sum. Western treats like cold cereal for breakfast. Blue skies over endless seas, green mountains and puffy white clouds. Wind.

Our third visit to Bethany, it's beginning to feel like coming home. This summer we had an entire week, an entire cabin all to ourselves. Our intentional goal was to focus vacation on relationships. You know how sometimes vacations can be driven by destination, sight-seeing, shopping, restaurants, whatever. None of that. We moved between cabin and beach, beach and cabin, reading, cooking and hiking in between. Drew and I took an afternoon and evening to reflect, pray, mark out our goals and focus for the next season. Each evening we shared family-style dinner with other guests at Bethany, hearing their stories from all around East Asia.

My favorite moment? Night swimming, arching my body back and floating lifelessly in the black cold ocean, waves rocking rhythmically, staring up at black sky. Ears covered in the water, soundless, immense sacred space. I tell you, that's a good place to physically sense your frailty and finiteness, and what it is to be held by an endless, eternal God.

(Right about then husband and sons launch a dunk attack!)

It was restorative. Whole -- with creator, spouse, children, nature, family of believers. Drew breathed easy and didn't touch any office work. We basically just played. Together. For a week. And I think Jesus was delighted to be there with us watching us unwrap his astounding gifts.

counting the graces

thank you Father for

all learned, observed and accomplished at BH this week

talks with Auntie Wang, her questions

cancelled plans

new song inspired by Psalm 131 and Ecclesiastes

S, a new friend

boys: hanging mobiles with Titus, Mike's affection, lego creations, expressions of pleasure and gratitude over noodles and milkshakes

"Crown Him...see how the heavenly anthem drowns all music but it's own"

vision and set list for fall concert of prayer

quiet nights all to myself while Drew is away on business