{LAKE NORMAN...}

a few weeks ago I went to visit my mother for a week, with the kids. I haven't been to visit my mommy in so very long. she lives far from me and between the lack of transportation and brian's minimal time off, it hasn't been possible to make the trip. that is, until brian's sister and her husband called to ask if i would like to ride with them to see my mom?!?!???

just so happens, she had to take a board exam around the area that my mother lives and they rented an air bnb near the lake to stay for the week. wait, what???

so the kids and i packed up and headed off to spend the week with grammy :)

the week leading up to our trip i experienced one of the most difficult anxiety attacks of my life. it lasted for days and was pretty hard to push through but with each day that passed, i pressed on. while my mother was still working the first couple days of the week, we spent the night on lake norman with tia and tio to relax until grammy was free. i rolled our suitcases back to the two rooms we would be sleeping in and was met with this message of truth the carried me through the remainder of my fight...

"IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL!!!"

Psalm 121 (NKJV): "I will lift up my eyes to the hills--From whence comes my help? My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD is your keeper; the LORD is your shade at your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul. The LORD shall preserve your going out and your coming in from this time forth, and even forevermore."

and with my painted nails chipped, my lips swollen from a terrible anxiety attack and rocking my visionary tee that was a major reminder to me that i am to chose to see what it seems impossible for me to see in this very moment.... i was reminded to look to HIM and HIM alone. 

despite any of my feelings, we had such a great time. we stopped by to pick up a fishing license and i convinced the boys to take a few pictures with their mama :)

^^^ my biggest boy heading out for his very first time fishing at the lake :) ^^^

^^^ my baby girl getting ready for her first trip in a canoe ^^^

"It is well" by Bethel Music...
Grander earth has quaked before
Moved by the sound of His voice
Seas that are shaken and stirred
Can be calmed and broken for my regard
Through it all, through it all
My eyes are on You
Through it all, through it all
It is well
Through it all, through it all
My eyes are on You
It is well with me
Far be it from me to not believe
Even when my eyes can't see
And this mountain that's in front of me
Will be thrown into the midst of the sea
Through it all, through it all
My eyes are on You
Through it all, through it all
It is well
So let go my soul and trust in Him
The waves and wind still know His name
It is well with my soul
It is well with my soul
It is well with my soul
It is well with my soul
It is well it is well with my soul
Through it all, through it all
My eyes are on You Lord
Through it all, through it all
It is well with me

we had such a great time on our first day at the lake!!! Of course, I filmed as much of the day as i could. we made such beautiful memories and the only thing missing was daddy :/

from syreena, with love