I’m feeling blessed, relaxed, and grateful for these sweet days in Sweden by the lake. It feels like my second home here now, having stayed every year since meeting Anders, yet it is still new too. The cool air tonight, gazing through the window at silver birches in the forest, the last birds calling goodnight, another beautiful heart day. Though we are on holiday, and not going far at all yet, every day seems full and rich and colourful; the tastes, colours, and sounds seem brighter and clearer to me. It might be because it was cloudy and rainy a lot in Malvern when we left, but I feel it’s due to a special nature magic here.
I love being here with our children, staying with Anders’ parents. We enjoy the beautiful nature and are slowing down, going at a gentler pace. There are challenges every day as well, but bouncing back quicker, and laughing at the comedy within the chaos of twin toddlers.
They love the playparks here, we discovered a new one the other day, in the centre of a little close of houses, near the meadow, so relaxing as they had little cars there to sit on, and toys. Anders and I had a lovely chat in the shade of trees whilst they played, and we all went down the slide a few times. But the absolute jewel of this place is the big shining water lake, where everyone goes to play, swim or cool down. It’s still early in summer so there are a pleasant number of people; often only us on the little beach, between the children jumping from the wooden water tower, and the enclosed pontoon pool, where people like to relax and chat.
Our little beach in the middle is lovely, a few ducks swimming calmly by, and the water’s surface to the right side is covered in lily pads with yellow flowers peeking out, by tall green reeds. Seagulls and coots cry out or glide by too. Our children play with their arm bands, usually throwing them into the water with glee rather than wearing them, but we just play together in the shallow water, keeping them safe and enjoying their enthusiasm and laughter in this happy place.
I feel so grateful for this experience, to relax more and enjoy the warm yet sometimes breezy days, (and we got caught in a brief heavy rain shower the other day), and to watch and see my children more clearly, and love them and relate to them even more. It’s much less stressful here in this neighbourhood, as no need to cross roads at the moment, we are by a forest and wildflower meadow by the lake, and also it’s flat, phew no hills! I find great pleasure in listening to what our children say, the cute way they pronounce words in either language, and short sentences now.
It always amazes me how we shift by travelling to a different place; we notice more, and feel joy at things which perhaps we take for granted in busy home life, and live more simply. I love space to breathe and be, and cherish sweet moments in Sweden with my beautiful family.