In the Meadow

Sally Strebel, New Board Member

Introducing Our Newest Board Member, Sally Strebel

A Seasoned Leader Sally is a gifted entrepreneur, team builder, and strategic leader. She co-founded and grew a pioneering technology company that helped shape a multi-billion-dollar industry. She eventually guided the company through a successful sale in November 2021. Along the way, she’s worked alongside Fortune 500 organizations in high-stakes environments and created conferences that…

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We had some excitement at Charlson Meadows

During this stretch of frigid temperatures, a pipe connected to our sprinkler system burst, setting off a blaring alarm at 3:45 a.m. and sending water where it most certainly did not belong. The impact moved downward. First, water hit the Gathering Room, then the Living Room below, and eventually the water made its way to…

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Hope in the Quiet

As the year comes to a close, many of us find ourselves in the in-between. The rush of the holidays may surround us, yet there are quieter moments like early mornings, long evenings, and pauses between gatherings. This season asks a lot of us, but it also offers small pockets of rest if we’re looking…

Williow Cabin in tree.

Wind Phone in the Willow Cabin

Tucked into the willow trees sits one of our guests’ favorite spots along the Life Journey Trail, the Willow Cabin. Two rocking chairs in the simple shelter are intended to offer a space to be held within nature.  Recently, we added a new special feature, a wind phone. This idea originated in Ōtsuchi, Japan, where…

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Inspired to Give

Nature is generous. The sun rises each day, pouring out light and warmth with no expectation of thanks. Trees offer shade and shelter, whether anyone notices or not. Flowers bloom, their beauty shared freely with whoever passes by. Again and again, the Earth reminds us that true giving asks for nothing in return. At this…

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Inspired to Live Free

“Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air.” -Ralph Waldo Emerson The wildflowers in the meadow don’t worry about where they belong or how they’ll be received. They simply open. Each petal unfolds in its own timing, in its own place, just as it is. Sometimes others see the beauty, and sometimes…

guest playing with bubbles

Inspired to Play

Inspired to Play There’s something in the natural world that gently invites us to play—not to achieve anything or be productive, but simply to enjoy. This month, we hosted our Reflective Walk, continuing our “Inspired by Nature” series with the theme of Play. Guests blew bubbles at Sky Vista, greeted chickens at the Chick Inn,…

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Inspired to Shine

“Shine! The world needs your light.” Look What’s Waking UpIn early spring, the forest floor at Charlson Meadows quietly comes alive. Before the trees unfurl their leaves and the canopy closes in, tiny wildflowers—known as spring ephemerals—make the most of the sunlight. For just a few precious weeks, they bloom beautifully, soaking up every bit…

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Inspired to Love

Winter’s Gentle ReminderWinter has a way of slowing us down. The world outside is still, and we’re invited to pause, reflect, and soak in the warmth we carry inside.  It’s a season that nudges us to think about love—not just in the big, sweeping moments but in the small, everyday ways we care for ourselves…

Sunset over the meadows

Inspired to Dream

The Power of Dreams Dreams are more than fleeting thoughts; they are seeds of possibility, shaping the paths we walk and the lives we build. When we allow ourselves to dream, we step into the role of creators, envisioning futures filled with hope, growth, and transformation. Dreaming in Seasons Just as the meadow at Charlson…