Lake Superior Psalm

Lake Superior Psalm 23

The Lord is my Shepherd

I shall thank him.

He allows me to come to Lake Superior

and hear the calming waves.

He restores my soul.

He guides me on the trails of the Superior Forest

And leads me along the rocky shores.

Even when the waves are rough – even when the lake is calm,

I look forward to coming

And He is with me.

His creation and His majesty, they comfort me.

He anoints me with many blessings

My cup overflows and I am grateful.

Surely I will praise you and follow you

all the days of my life,

I‘m grateful to dwell in your presence

on the shores of Lake Superior.

 

                                                (Valerie 09/08)

Anticipation

In front of cabin

About this time of year I get so excited thinking about our annual trek up to the “north shore.” For the past 31 years we have been going up north in September (except a few years when the boys were in sports and we had to go in August.) The shores of Lake Superior is one of my favorite places to be and I always look forward to our time at a cabin we rent right on the waters edge.

We started out looking for a cabin in 1985 (if only we had bought our own place back then!) wanting to find a cabin we‘d want to return to each year. We found a quaint 1940’s era cabin at Surfside Resort, a family- run business. We loved the cute little cabin #6 (with a seagull we named Mingo – he had one leg and hung out at the cabin for a couple of years.) The small Cabin #6 was just right for our family and we have so many wonderful memories of our times there.

Then a big business came along and bought out the small business and built lovely, but expensive, condominiums that we couldn’t afford. So we found a different cabin to call home for the brief amount of time we get to stay there each year.

Looking through the cabin windows

Going up to the north shore of Lake Superior has become my “new year.” Instead of making resolutions on New Year’s Eve I take time up north to think about the previous year, look ahead to the  next year and contemplate what life is all about for me right now in this fall season. I sit on the rocks with the large lake in front of me surrounded by stunning beauty and just sit…and think…and write…and read. The whole natural surroundings are a great place for reflecting, refreshing, refocusing and rejuvenating.

Waves, rock and sky

So I will print out our packing list, make the chili and wild rice soup, gather the throws, coffee and books, collect the hiking and biking gear and anticipate another wonderful year up at the cabin on Lake Superior!

A Porch With A Cabin

image“We bought a porch that had a cabin attached to it” are the clever words my friends used to describe the purchase of their lake home in northern Minnesota back in 1991. It’s a basic cabin with a huge, screened-in porch that has room for two additional double beds and an eating area.

I am blessed to be able to go up north with my friend to her cabin. We relax and enjoy the lake during the day. At night we fall asleep on the beds in the porch, feeling the cool breezes off the lake and listening to the loons.

It’s a wonderful porch – with a lockable door so no critters, like raccoons for instance, can get in!