Circle – Weekly Photo Challenge

It’s is Sunday morning and life has turned full circle for me. A scant two weeks ago, Christmas Break began and now, two weeks later, it is over.

early Sunday morning, the lake has changed and the ice is moving and Ivy patrols her yard
early Sunday morning, the lake has changed and the ice is moving and Ivy patrols her yard

This year’s break is like all the others before it, I have enjoyed the time with my family and I have rested, relaxed, and rejuvenated for the new semester and I am ready to go back, to return to a routine and a schedule.

We’ve enjoyed the last several days Up North by the lake. Our place by the lake has incredible restorative properties; the kids spent a day skiing and snowboarding and another day resting and relaxing. I spent a couple of days cooking and enjoying the cottage with Ivy. B and I have enjoyed relaxing with friends and ringing the New Year in with a roaring fire and a full cottage. Now, it is time to pack up and return to our lives. For W, it is finals and his last semester in high school, for O it is seventh grade and halfway through middle school. Next year, is seemingly far away, but it is closer than we all realize.

Four days in the life of the lake…..

This morning when I woke, I looked out over the lake as the sun began to rise and I noticed the lake ice had changed. Thursday when we arrived, there was little ice, only along the shoreline. Friday morning, ice had formed and extended almost a hundred yards to the drop off. Saturday was sunny and a beautiful day. This morning, the ice had regressed and broken under yesterday’s sunlight and warmer temperatures. It’s the cycle of freeze and thaw. Soon the entire lake will be covered in ice, but we’ll be gone before it happens. When we return this summer the lake will be ready for us to boat, swim, and fish. It is a cycle, a circle where one season is followed by another, and so forth.

Ecclesiastes 3
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
King James Version

Indeed, there is a time for everything under the sun. For now, it is a return to school and work and the routine of life. It’s gonna be a great day, it’s gonna be a great a week; I know it and I can feel it. So, I’d better jump up, jump in, and seize the day. Making the Days Count, one day a time, one point on the circle, the cycle of life.

How is 2016 begun for you?

This post is in response to the Weekly Photo Challenge at WordPress.com, have a wonderful week. With 2016 officially here, we face forward to take on what’s next. It’s a time of endings and beginnings, so I wanted a broad theme that could be simple, fun, and festive, but also complex and introspective. And so, circle it is.

mecottage01022016
“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven” Ecclesiastes 3:1

15 thoughts on “Circle – Weekly Photo Challenge

  1. This is so much what my life was before I retired (except, as a college teacher I had a longer break)–we left the city for the lake at the holidays, opened the place up, and pretended the time wouldn’t come to go back to work. Now we live full-time at the lake and have new routines. I hope your semester is wonderful for you and your students!

    1. It was good to get back – my students seemed to be ready to get back to school and were so full of energy all week long. We did a countdown of events leading to the Civil War and they were seriously into it Friday. We’ll finish the countdown Tuesday with John Brown @ #5 and #3. I am looking forward to the day when there are more days at the lake and less of looking at a screen or grading papers, but there is a season for everything under the sun. Have a wonderful weekend. Enjoy.

    1. Thank you Mary. We left early Sunday afternoon and it was a beautiful sunny Sunday. The lakeshore had changed even more, the area is expecting a winter storm with more snow. I’d love to see it, really I’d love to be up there, but reality calls. I have a ticket for tonight’s PowerBall drawing, but it’s just a dream. If I win, I’ll let you know! Have a wonderful weekend.

    1. Thank you. We drove home in the sunshine and then when we got close to Lake Michigan we drove through a little lake effect snow. Now we’re home and we have light flurries blowing outside. Last year at this time, it was bitter cold and Tuesday’s school was called due to dangerous wind-chill temperatures -20 to -25 degree wind chills. This year, much milder weather. Thankfully. Good luck with your warmer weather. Happy New Year!

    1. Thank you – we got home a couple of hours ago, we’ve unpacked the car – it is a 6 hour drive (if all goes well) and 360 miles – fortunately it is ALL expressway and I’m putting together the finishing touches on tomorrow’s lesson. The tension is building to the Civil War – it will start (in class) next week. Have a wonderful week.

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