Three Nights in a Van – Part 3 An Invitation

On By Lauren Scott, AuthorIn Poetry

Dear Family and Friends,

For those of you who have followed me since Part 1, thank you! I thought today’s Part 3 would make a good Friday post. On a morning hike, I became inspired to write, and once we returned to camp, I had to jot down my thoughts fast before they drifted away. So, if you missed Part 1, which will provide the full context of this series, you can check it out here, and for Part 2 click here.
I hope you enjoy! ❤️

An Invitation

Smooth granite invites contemplation and reflection.
Please, take a seat, relax, watch the lake’s ripples
perform their water dance. Does the shimmering surface
remind you of stars presenting a ballet in a brilliant night sky?

Note the tall pines swaying in the breeze,
you can gently sway, too, if you feel the need.
Let the depth of your soul bathe in the beauty.

Permit calm into your core
slowing the anxiety in your weary bones.
No worries weigh heavy on your mind.
Simply absorb nature’s tranquility, enhancing your mindset,
and sensing your body slipping into a state of bliss.

The sun touches the stone like the caress of an adored lover.
Feel the warmth seeping into your skin and open your eyes
to the wonder around you,
to the tail-free lizard heading somewhere fast alone.

When you feel like you can’t keep up
with a world spinning out of control,

When joy has been suffocated
by tragedies incomprehensible,
and you fear it won’t breathe sweet air again,

When hope has been emptied to the last drop
and you fear it won’t be replenished,

Consider yourself truly blessed with this precious moment,
transporting you to a safe place of escape.

© Lauren Scott

Lizzy the lizard.
Clay, the camper van.
Our escape.

© Lauren Scott, Baydreamerwrites.com – All rights reserved.

Perfect for summer blue skies or for when
the leaves change their wardrobe in the fall.
In this collection, I prompt you to reminisce
and reflect on your past, present, and future.
Through the ups and downs,
what matters most is to love and live ever so gently. 💚🩵

87 thoughts on “Three Nights in a Van – Part 3 An Invitation”

  1. You’re killing me Lauren. When my wife and I first met years ago, we used to go camping in the Shenandoah National Park in Virginia. My wife has been after me to take a long weekend in Sept/Oct before it gets really, really cold. I keep pushing away the idea but my wife’s arguments mixed with your pics and post are wearing me down. Ha ha. Beautiful post.

    1. Haha, Brian! I hope you decide to appease your wife! We visited Shenandoah when my son lived in Virginia and we loved it! Such a beautiful park, and the key chain that holds my keys is a keepsake. 🙂 Thanks so much for your awesome comment. I’m glad you’ve enjoyed this series, and today’s poem and pics. I can’t wait to see pics of your future camping trip. 😉 🥰

  13. I am delighted to arrive here even if a little late for the adventures in the Van.. I loved your poem.. and it looks as if you are finding some tranquil moments of relaxation and peace along your trip Lauren…
    Sending you some hugs as you hike and explore…
    Much love to you xx ❤

    1. You are never too late, Sue, and I’m always grateful for your visits and feedback. We’re home now, so I’m having fun sharing our experience. It was hard to leave because of the lake calling us into its tranquil embrace. But I’m so glad you loved the poem! More fun to come! Sending you hugs and lots of love. Hope all is well with you! 🩷🌷🤗

  14. “When hope has been emptied to the last drop
    and you fear it won’t be replenished,

    Consider yourself truly blessed with this precious moment,
    transporting you to a safe place of escape.”

    Goosebumps! Thank you for this precious meditative moment, Lauren.

  20. Hi Lauren! Wow, it’s ages since we connected! I think you were just getting back just as I was taking what turned out to be almost a month off blogging with our youngest son’s wedding, our oldest and his family visiting from the UK, a cottage week, then getting sick, and all that preceded by a mad rush to get our post-rewiring house repairs and paint done after waiting for months to get a contractor on the case.

    I love the serenity of your poem and will try to get back to the first two parts. The part that really enchanted me was the mention of swaying… that gentle and comforting movement of nature, in us and outside us.

    I hope you are doing well, my friend!

    1. HI Steve, I know, it seems like years! 😁 You’ve had a lot going on, and your contractor issues sounds like ours with our new roof that took 2 months instead of 2 weeks, and the contractor wasn’t the best. The work quality is good though. But a frustrating summer that took us by surprise. Anyway, Congrats on your son’s wedding and I hope everyone is healthy now.
      I appreciate your kind words about my poem, and don’t worry about visiting the first two parts, unless you absolutely want to. All is well now, but still busy with home projects (checking one by one off the list). And in 2 weeks, we visit our daughter and SIL in TN. Can’t wait! Take care, and it’s great to connect again! 🤗

      1. Hi Lauren, whoa, you’ve been so busy, too and it sounds like exciting things to look forward to! Yes, it’s very nice to reconnect! 🤗

  21. A beautiful and relaxing post Lauren, you took me deep into nature! Thankyou… I will check out your previous journey in the morning when I wake up… enjoy❤️ much love

  22. A lovely Part 3 to you camper van adventure, Lauren. The invitation to just be and notice the beauty of nature made me relax and smile, even while sitting in my chair with a computer on my lap. 😀 Thanks for sharing your travels and your beautiful poem. ❤

    1. What a lovely comment, Diana. Thank you, and I’m glad you could relax even while busy on your laptop (I’m doing the same now). I appreciate you following the series, and I’m happy that you’ve enjoyed the posts. Hugs xo

  25. Your photos are as beautiful and inviting as your poems. What a beautiful spot to camp, soak in the views, wiggle your toes in the pristine water. I feel my entire body calming as I imagine sitting beside you on that slate and enjoying the lake. Hugs, C

    1. Thanks, Pooja! We love lizards, so I was happy to get a photo. We’re home, but I received so much writing inspiration from this trip, which is the reason for the series. But I think Part 5 will be the end. 🙂 I’m glad you’re enjoying! xo

  27. Gwen M. Plano's avatar Gwen M. Plano

    What a lovely journey. Inspirational, beautiful, and beckoning. We will be traveling soon to a lake area in Idaho. I hope it’s as relaxing as your journey, Lauren. 🌞

  28. Made me feel calm, Lauren. I wish I was there. We’ve yet to find similar places around here, which probably means we have to search more. I chuckled at “to the tail-free lizard heading somewhere fast alone.” That’s a lizard that has learned the value of moving fast and is just thankful that whoever wanted to eat it only got its tail!

    1. I’m glad my poem caused a peaceful reaction for you, Curt, Mission accomplished! You and Peggy would love this lake! And I love lizards, but we don’t see many anymore, so I was happy to have caught this tail-free friend in a photo. 🙂 I hope you’re having fun wherever you are. I’m behind on reading, but I’ll visit you today sometime. 🚐🥾⛺️

      1. I’ve camped on your lake before, Lauren, and I can understand your love for it. We are back in Virginia now, Lauren, getting ready for a trip down the Danube. The blogs are still catching up with me, however. 😊

  30. Inspiring times lead to inspired poetry.

    You have shown this to be oh so true!

    Thank you Lauren! This has been a wonderful series.

    I’m going to check, but I believe I’ve read 1 & 2!

    xo🌹🫶💓❦xo

    1. I’m so glad you’ve enjoyed this series, Resa. I had hoped it wouldn’t get boring for everyone, which is why I did something different in each post. Still, after 5 parts, it was time to call it a day. But it was fun to do. Thanks for all your awesome support! Hugs xoxox

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