A place for me at the BackCountry Cabins at Abingdon, VA | Paxton says | DONNE TEMPO
A place for me at the BackCountry Cabins at Abingdon, VA
June/28/08 03:51 PM Filed in: Paxton says
I don’t always take good care of myself. I get
caught up in the 900 daily things I HAVE to do –
and I forget to make time for ME!
You probably do the same thing. It’s part of being a woman, we tend to put everyone and everything ahead of ourselves.
And then something wonderful happens, and we’re reminded how much we need to be nourished and nurtured, too.
In my case, I spent two incredible days and
nights at the BackCountry cabin at Whites Mill,
on the outskirts of Abingdon, Virginia.
To be honest, I was a tad nervous about taking my entire family to a cabin I had never seen. Then we arrived and met Tracy Mitchell. She and her husband, Mark restored the cabin about five years ago, and their love and commitment to the romantic bungalow is evident in every corner.
Mark Mitchell, currently serving in Iraq, crafted all the hand-hewn front porch, the fireplace mantle, the wooden vanity and the kitchen island. The house is furnished and decorated with love – with handmade curtains in the two bedrooms and autographed local interest books on the coffee table! Dishes and pans and a coffeepot – complete with coffee – were waiting in the kitchen. The television doesn’t get great reception in the mountains, but VHS tapes were abundant. It was the perfect tiny house.
But the spectacular views from the front porch answered the yearnings of my soul. The cabin is on a hill behind historic Whites Mill, and the front porch offers you a glimpse of the mill (complete with stream), mercantile store, and three or four adjoining mountains dotted with cows, sheep and goats. Spring flowers brightened the vision and pleased the senses. The call of the birds and calves entertained us far better than network television.
I could have stayed there forever. I could feel the tension and stress leaving my tired shoulders and neck as I relaxed and breathed in the serenity.
This is why people go on retreat – to relax and rejuvenate their spirits.
I had been denying myself this essential ingredient of spiritual health – it just didn’t seem practical.
I’ve learned my lesson. Regardless of the stressors of daily life, we need and deserve a chance to relax and rediscover the joy of living.
Abingdon, Virginia is an incredible retreat destination – far enough from home to feel different, but only half a day’s drive away. I look forward to revisiting her gracious bounty, and the BackCountry cabin with the best front porch in town!
You probably do the same thing. It’s part of being a woman, we tend to put everyone and everything ahead of ourselves.
And then something wonderful happens, and we’re reminded how much we need to be nourished and nurtured, too.
To be honest, I was a tad nervous about taking my entire family to a cabin I had never seen. Then we arrived and met Tracy Mitchell. She and her husband, Mark restored the cabin about five years ago, and their love and commitment to the romantic bungalow is evident in every corner.
Mark Mitchell, currently serving in Iraq, crafted all the hand-hewn front porch, the fireplace mantle, the wooden vanity and the kitchen island. The house is furnished and decorated with love – with handmade curtains in the two bedrooms and autographed local interest books on the coffee table! Dishes and pans and a coffeepot – complete with coffee – were waiting in the kitchen. The television doesn’t get great reception in the mountains, but VHS tapes were abundant. It was the perfect tiny house.
But the spectacular views from the front porch answered the yearnings of my soul. The cabin is on a hill behind historic Whites Mill, and the front porch offers you a glimpse of the mill (complete with stream), mercantile store, and three or four adjoining mountains dotted with cows, sheep and goats. Spring flowers brightened the vision and pleased the senses. The call of the birds and calves entertained us far better than network television.
I could have stayed there forever. I could feel the tension and stress leaving my tired shoulders and neck as I relaxed and breathed in the serenity.
This is why people go on retreat – to relax and rejuvenate their spirits.
I had been denying myself this essential ingredient of spiritual health – it just didn’t seem practical.
I’ve learned my lesson. Regardless of the stressors of daily life, we need and deserve a chance to relax and rediscover the joy of living.
Abingdon, Virginia is an incredible retreat destination – far enough from home to feel different, but only half a day’s drive away. I look forward to revisiting her gracious bounty, and the BackCountry cabin with the best front porch in town!
|