I love my state, because you don’t have to go far from home to find some lovely body of water and amazing forests, not to mention the many parks which are the destination for hikers and campers.

Yesterday, Paul and I took one of our short road trips to Hudson, Wisconsin. It’s about a 45-minute drive from our house. It’s a quaint little river town along the St. Croix River. We’ve been there on other occasions, but yesterday was an exceptional weather day, so we decided to go there together. Usually, Paul would be going by himself, because this time of year is just not good for my asthma and allergies. He is entered in a plein air competition which covers the months of June, July and August. Each artist must paint two paintings of one of the local landmarks, a scene on the river or a house with a history. Actually, they can choose what they paint, but it must be within ten miles of the city.

We found a lovely spot right on the river. A class was in session with wannabe sailors from ages five and up. Each was learning to sail in a small boat as they were guided by a larger boat and told what to do. We got there to see them maneuvering in a circle as if they were in their own little regatta. Eventually it was time to stop and bring their boats back to shore. Paul began painting the scene before they landed, but I got a glimpse of each one as they docked. What a delight to see these precious little ones learning this skill at such a young age. I’m sure they will all be successful sailors someday. The experience got me thinking about how we often don’t see the ordinary as anything but ordinary. When we take the time to enjoy the moment, it becomes a memory worth hanging on to. The children were eager to see Paul’s painting and struck up a conversation with him. They asked him questions and, of course, Paul was eager to share his own past experiences serving as crew for some C Class boats many years ago.

We finished our adventure by sharing a fish fry. The air was dry and even a little chilly. The skies were brilliant blue, and the water shimmered like diamonds. We’ve had some struggles this year with health issues and changes in our work situations, but this one day made up for any worries we were experiencing before we arrived. God doesn’t waste a thing when it comes to His creation. The setting was gorgeous, the company was fantastic, and God was there with us, making sure that we remember He is the most consistent part of our lives.

Take time to live in the moment when you can. You will find great joy in it.

“I am installed in a fairylike place. I do not know where to poke my head; everything is superb, and I would like to do everything, so I use up and squander lots of color, for there are trials to be made.” Claude Monet

“Try to be a rainbow in someone’s cloud.” Maya Angelou