Today I used a chop saw for the first time in my life. It was frightening and exhilarating all at the same time.

My sisters and I are having a short retreat the next two days and decided we needed a project to do. Brainstorming sitting by the river, we decided to do something involving the natural elements around us. Things like river rock, driftwood, birch bark caught our eyes.

The next task was to find something to build our project on. Considering several options, we finally landed on using old boards from the farm where I grew up. Approaching my brother, who now owns that part of the farm, he gave us freedom to pull boards off the lean to of the old milking barn. We were thrilled. This project was now transformed from something to pass the time, to a genuine treasure.

How will all of this turn out? I don’t know. Collecting artifacts occurs Thursday at the farm with construction of the individual creations beginning later in the evening. Tonight – Wednesday – we prepped the boards and did some dreaming.

²³Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. ²⁴Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ.

Colossians 3:23-24

It is an honor to have four sisters to hang out with. There is a familiarity and commonness unlike anything else. So, for the next two days, I will cherish the moments we have together eating, crafting, talking, shopping, laughing — just spending time together.

I encourage you to look at your day the same, whatever you might be encountering. We will only have this day once! Let’s make the most of it!