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At The Picket Fence with Vanessa Hunt

Where Ideas for your Home Meet Inspiration for your Heart

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August 21, 2011

Rooted…Simply Sunday

Hello dear friends!
We returned on Friday after spending a glorious week at the Sunriver Resort in Bend, OR.
It was the perfect way to cap off our summer and we made such wonderful memories together.
If you have never been to Central Oregon you are surely missing out!
It is absolutely gorgeous and the drive alone is one of the most breathtaking experiences.

Photos of Sunriver Resort, Sunriver
Source
While there we rode bikes and explored and went swimming in the pool every single day.
We awoke to crisp mornings which gave way to wonderfully warm afternoons
and lost count of how many deer we spotted.
My daughter named each one ‘Bambi’ of course.
Determined to make this a true adventure for our kiddos, we decided that a float down the Deschutes River was in order. We rented a canoe and the 4 of us set off for 2 hours of awe inspiring scenery and memory making moments.
Photos of Sunriver Resort, Sunriver
Source

As we “merrily rowed along”, the kids kept spotting trees which had tumbled over into the water with their roots exposed and mangled.

Photos of Sunriver Resort, Sunriver
Source
Still others remained standing but were brown and leafless while
ones on either side remained lush and green.

Why, the kids wanted to know, would one tree be so visibly alive
while the one next to it was apparently dead.

So we talked about roots…and our hearts.

And Daddy explained how what we see on the surface is
 only a reflection of what is happening below the soil.
Because what is happening underneath that dirt is what determines whether or not that tree will live or die.

The trees that had toppled over with their roots exposed for us to see, no longer had a foundation from which to draw strength and nourishment. Instead, they were now at the mercy of the elements.

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.”
John 15:5-7

But, what about the other trees?
The ones that still stood tall among their peers but no longer bore any signs of life.

“Will their leaves grow back?” our son asked.

Will those branches ever again be lush and green?
Will they bear “fruit”?

“It all depends on those roots”, Daddy replied.

“…And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power…to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge-that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”
Ephesians 3:17-19

Thank you for joining me today for this Simply Sunday at the Fence,

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17 Comments Filed Under: Simply Sundays

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Comments

  1. Barbara F. says

    August 21, 2011 at 2:32 PM

    Great post, love the photos. A very valuable lesson to teach your children. xo,

    Reply
  2. Pam@OurAdventuresInHomeImprovement says

    August 21, 2011 at 2:49 PM

    I love this post. Sunriver is a lot of fun! Glad you got to canoe too. Happy Sunday!

    Pam

    Reply
  3. Ginger Zuck says

    August 21, 2011 at 3:58 PM

    Beautiful country. Would love to visit there. The canoe trip looked like a fun experience.

    Reply
  4. Reannah @ {Shaped by Grace} says

    August 21, 2011 at 4:21 PM

    I LOVE this post!! So simple, and so true. Way to make every moment a teachable moment! Great verse at the end of it as well. Thank you so much for sharing. xo, Reannah

    Reply
  5. Thoughts for the day says

    August 21, 2011 at 7:11 PM

    WELCOME to Oregon my home state. We did a canoe trip last summer and was completely in awe of the beauty and the birds, we even saw an eagle or two high up in the trees. So glad you experienced a bit of our ‘world’… I live in the rural area of Portland about 45minutes away. Sunriver is about 3 hours or more from my home but we still go there to enjoy the ‘sun’.

    Reply
  6. Dayle says

    August 21, 2011 at 9:21 PM

    Beautiful countryside.

    Happy Sunday!

    Reply
  7. Dayle says

    August 21, 2011 at 9:22 PM

    Beautiful countryside.

    Happy Sunday!

    Reply
  8. Marie C. says

    August 21, 2011 at 9:47 PM

    A beautiful lesson…and lovely pictures! It makes me miss living in Central Oregon. Your trip sounded very enjoyable.

    Reply
  9. Carol says

    August 21, 2011 at 11:12 PM

    Can we go with you next year?

    Can hardly wait!

    Mom and Dad

    Reply
  10. Mona Kay at Blissfully Refurbished says

    August 21, 2011 at 11:23 PM

    It looks so clear and cool and beautiful!! Nice contrast from humid & rainy here in NJ!! Thanks for sharing !

    Reply
  11. elizabeth says

    August 22, 2011 at 1:30 AM

    Wonderful post Vanessa, and a great spiritual truth shared. Also love the photos and am proud of our beautiful Oregon!

    Reply
  12. Judy says

    August 22, 2011 at 1:48 AM

    Awesome post. I look forward to you and your sister’s Sunday posts. They are always so inspirational.

    Reply
  13. Debbie says

    August 22, 2011 at 10:17 AM

    Wonderful, Vanessa! What a teachable moment for your family.

    Reply
  14. My Cottage Charm says

    August 22, 2011 at 12:07 PM

    Lovely post Vanessa…I love the part about the roots. We all have to have a strong, rooted foundation to grow..so good!
    This part is for Heather…
    Thanks for your comment on the cabinet feet..I can’t believe I’m the only one you know of that’s tried them..they make such a huge difference and are SO cheap! 🙂 You’re welcome for the shout out..I would never do anything without giving credit where it is due..You had a brilliant idea, so you should get the credit! 🙂
    Hope you both have a great day!
    Missy

    Reply
  15. Kristin says

    August 22, 2011 at 7:47 PM

    Beautiful post, Vanessa!
    Loved the photos!
    Loved the back drop!
    Loved the analogy!
    We will be taking a vacation soon, very similar to this and I can’t wait!
    Much love to you and your family!

    Reply
  16. Susan (My Place to Yours) says

    August 24, 2011 at 1:03 AM

    Way to go, Mom and Dad! Teachable moments in such an undistracted setting are rare. So glad you didn’t miss it — and that you shared it here, too. It’s a great life lesson review for all of us!

    Reply
  17. Always Nesting says

    August 24, 2011 at 2:12 AM

    This is a beautiful post and oh how well I know Bend. This past spring I couldn’t take one more gray day or I thought I would lose my mind so Steve and I went in search of sunshine. That took us all the way to Bend for lunch. Fabulous day. Love your photos.

    Reply

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Happy Friday!! I’m working on a blog post to sha Happy Friday!! I’m working on a blog post to share all of the details of our family room shelving makeover but I’m super impatient and just had to give you all a sneak peek!! We are SO happy with how they turned out and it finally looks like I’ve always envisioned. Our quick fix years ago (scroll to see the before photo) never felt quite right but now? Soooo much better!! 🙌🏻 Big shoutout to our amazingly talented friend Matt @redemptive_woodworx for bringing our vision to life and doing such impeccable work.

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Welcome June!
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