Bar Harbor used to be called Eden and I can see why. This place is an absolute paradise! I wish I could describe in words the beauty we wake up to every morning. But the views are stunning.

It has been a few days now and we have had some great time together exploring Acadia National Park. Every day is more special than the one before it.

Today, we visited Thunder Hole, Jordan Pond, and Cadillac Mountain.

Thunder Hole is a small inlet, naturally carved out of the rocks, where the waves roll in during high tide. As the rush of the waves arrive, air and water is forced out like a clap of  thunder. At it’s zenith, water can spout as high as 40 feet and as it does bring with it a thunderous roar! Although this was not our personal experience yesterday, it was still a beauty to behold. From this spot, you are also able to get some pretty incredible views of Otter Cliff one one side, and Sand Beach on the other.

We also went for a 3 mile hike around Jordan Pond, which is one of the most beautiful of Acadia’s glacier carved ponds. In fact, the water is so clear that at points along the way you can see the beautiful granite and smooth rock floor beneath it. We thought 3 miles might be a bit much for the kids, but they did well. As a treat for their hard work with no complaints, we went up to the Jordan Pond House and had their famous popovers and iced tea, not to mention some blueberry ice cream…yummy!

And then there was Cadillac Mountain, which is the tallest mountain along the eastern coast. It rises 1,530 feet above Bar Harbor and offers some of the most breathtaking views of Frenchman Bay and Porcupine Islands. It also holds the distinction of being the first place to view sunrise in the United States. We didn’t catch a sunrise there just yet, but we may go back for one of those before we leave…stay tuned!

Our house looks out on the ocean and also has a swimming pool that our boys play in when we are not out exploring. Every day I wake up and think to myself how fortunate and blessed I am and we are to have this experience. Increasingly, I see every day as a gift, an absolute gift from God. Of course, it’s easy to do so here in paradise. But I think this shift began to happen in me somewhere along the way in Africa this summer.

This whole experience has definitely caused me to look at my life much differently. In many ways, I am the very same person who left you in late May. But at the same time I also feel that some changes have and are taking place in me that will bring me back to you different. I can’t yet put my finger on many of the specifics for you. But, in time, I believe those will unfold with greater clarity. For now, I just feel a deep sense of gratitude for my life, my family, and for every day I get to wake up and experience a new day with opportunities, adventures, and challenges. This time has been a gift and I feel so blessed!

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