Blessed Beach

pure pleasure from the archives… I can almost smell the salt air…

“Something deep in all of us yearns for God’s beauty, and we can find it no matter where we are.” ~Sue Monk Kidd

A last minute decision to move up our vacation. Clothes thrown in a bag and we dashed south. Gratitude jotted down all week…

• all taken care of at home
• “Yeah! It’s the ocean!” ~Lil’ Buddy
• watching a late night lightening storm over the ocean.

• girls rolling in waves
• black skimmers

• calm ocean at sunrise
• cigar smoke from next door, wafting and reminding me of my great-grandfather at the beach. A familiar smell of childhood opening up a flood of memories.
• porpoises gliding, surprising us

• bowls of ocean treasures
• frizzy, beach hair
• blonde heads matching the color of the sand
• sunrise and coffee
• channels and tidal pools

• puffy beach clouds, thunderheads in the distance
• bobbing heads in crashing waves

• not using a hair dryer a whole week
• lots of breaks from laundry
• napping with littlest one

• one square foot beach study and a sand flea
• veggie night

• full moon reflecting on ocean
• waking to break of dawn. Coffee on the deck with only the sea breeze and pelicans as my companions no hurry to make butter rolls
• jumping waves with my girls
• a sea turtle, popping his head up right in the middle of all of us as if to say, ‘how do I get out of this patch of humans?’

• building drip castles
• Lil’ Buddy giggling over waves, showing all his little Chicklet looking teeth
• dripping bathing suits draped over deck chairs
• clouds looking like cotton balls all stacked up
• beach morning glory

• sparkle on sea oats
• beach friends
• leftovers to pull out of the fridge when we are blessedly wave-weary
• pelicans flying in formation
• hide and seek inside
• new-to-us board games
• hermit crabs, shell treasures

• Oreo Truffles. Can’t go wrong with beach and chocolate.

• crocheting girl and Nana patiently teaching
• Jenny’s pink sauce for the hungry and worn out from playing so hard

• starfish. starfish. starfish. starfish!
• late lunch date with my husband (thank you Nana!)
• grouper sandwich and Dr. Pepper

• peaceful beach coffee
• a seven-year-old’s “Good Morning!” startling me then her joining me on a last walk on the beach
• spotting a black bear on the way home through the national forest 9:05 Sunday morning
• Harris Wheeler piano music accompanying us home

• home to kitties, tomatoes and sunflowers

Memories made. Moments savored.

Plus these gifts counted over this last week…

• train tracks and whistles going before the sun rises because of early riser
• backyard bunny visits
• Friday night drive and talk time with Hodgepodgedad
• all that we’re learning with Tapestry of Grace
• such a fun homeschool group. The first homeschool moms meeting of the year and a back to school bash for the children – all in one week!
• ideas for gifts for teachers – it’s time to start making things!
• hummingbird chatter
• two big kids, chuckling together
• stitches out and anticipating swimming again!
• two beachy pastel lessons from Nana we can enjoy again: At the beach and Weather.

Counting gifts 2629-2639

Beauty puts a face on God. When we gaze at nature, at a loved one, at a work of art, our soul immediately recognizes and is drawn to the face of God. ~Margaret Brownley