After Florida, we headed to Lake Gage in Indiana for a weekend getaway with more family. Once again, going offline was key. Surrounded by loved ones, with nothing to do but enjoy each other’s company, my heart felt full. We swam, laughed, and stayed up late, reminiscing. My cousin’s girls have grown up into lovely, wonderful young women, and we were all dazzled by the incredible fireworks over the lake that we enjoyed from the boat.
That weekend at the lake was exactly what I needed to slow down and appreciate the simple joys of life. It reminded me that beauty isn’t always grand—it’s in the small, quiet moments too. Without outside distractions, I found myself fully present in a way I hadn’t been in a long time.
But the real highlight of the summer came later, with a rafting trip through the Grand Canyon. I’ll admit, I was a little nervous about going completely offline for such an extended period. But as we set out on the river, surrounded by towering red rock walls and the rushing of the Colorado River, I realized just how much I needed it. The Grand Canyon has a way of making you feel small in the best possible way. There, I was reminded that the world is so much bigger and more beautiful than we often remember.
Floating down the river, I marveled at the sunlight on the water, the simple joy of sharing stories around a campfire, and the stars—oh, the stars. Without city lights, the night sky in the Grand Canyon is something else entirely. Those nights on the river were magical, and I felt like a part of something ancient and sacred, waiting for us to notice.