My eyes shot open this morning at 6:46 am at the sound of my husband's loud snores. "I could go for a run." I thought for a brief moment but quickly talked myself out of. After all, it is vacation and sleeping in should be on the agenda. So instead I drifted back off into peaceful sleep. An hour and a half past before I woke again...this time for good. Leaving my snoring prince to continue his slumber, I got to work on his Father's Day breakfast. I was soon greeted with the droopy eyes and smiling faces of my girls. They were hungry and ready to head to the beach. Breakfast almost ready. Bacon, eggs, toast and strawberries were on the menu but they turned up their noses and voted Fruit Loops for themselves. The smells of food brought our guy out of the bed and into the kitchen. "Happy Father's Day!" us girls greeted. With a grin and a thank you, he sat down to eat.
Soaked in sun screen and drapped in bathing suits, we headed outside to gather our things for the beach. Like the first settlers to America, we staked our claim on a plot of sand and called it ours. The Reds quickly got to work on sand mounds and hole digging while I cracked open my book and Seth headed for the waves. Soon after Joci was ready to venture out with Dad, boogie board in hand. Lila, on the other hand, has decided she is much like her mother with no desire to ride the waves. Several times I asked if she wanted to go out but was always answered with a quick "No"...just like the Capital One baby, that one.
Joci is a quick study and learned to boogie board like a champ on this first real day in the ocean. Lila, we discovered, loves the art of sand throwing and not just up in the air...at her sister's head. (She sat in "time out" quite a few times today for that.)
A little girl, bright red hair and able to claim my family if she wanted, came across my path crying and looking for her mommy. I waited a few moments to see if a woman would come to comfort before I approached this pitiful one but no one did and so, gently I asked if I could help her find her mommy and with big puppy dog eyes she agreed with a head nod. Her name was Sidney and after ten feet of walking in the direction she came, dad showed up with a smile and shouted her name. All was right again as she rushed into his arms, back to safty. Thank you Jesus!
I have found myself trying to pray a lot but the Spirit constantly is telling me, I'm covered so I sit in peace. No thoughts, no worries, no longings...very out of character for me to be quite honest but I will admit, I am loving the peace.
The girls have gone to bed without a fight and Seth is out to a movie for some down time on his day. I think I'll take advantage and read a bit more. So far, so perfect!
Sunday, June 17, 2012
Saturday, June 16, 2012
Day 1 of our Beach Vacation
With only three bathroom/food/gas fillup stops, we made it to our cozy beach house in seven and a half hours. It was mostly uneventful if you don't include the 15 minutes of bumper to bumper traffic on old faithful (I-20) due to a minor fender bender, oh and the constant job of breaking up a fight about who touched who first between a five and two year old.
As the ocean appeared on the horizon, us girls became giddy in love while Seth breathed a sigh of relief. "WE MADE IT!" There is nothing like seeing the smiles on young girls faces and watching firey red hair blow in the wind as the roar of the ocean breeze rolls in with every wave.
It took about an hour to unpack and get into our bathing suits before our feet were able to soak themselves in salt water. Perfect. The first touch always is, washing away the cares of this world like some powerful potion. Daddy took the oldest red out a little deep for mommy's comfort, but that's what Dad's do...promote courage in the midst of danger. Little Red and I stayed ashore and covered ourselves in sand. Already, close occupants are asking where they got their ginger tops from, confused as they take in the sights of my or my husband's blonde hair.
Hours pass and tummy's grumble. Dinner needs to be had and no grocery's have been bought so back into the car we go after cleaning the grinds of sand from our bottoms. Shopping at Wal-Mart, at the beach, is like shopping on Black Friday. People pushing and shoving, trying to get the last jar of pickles and bottle of wine. "Why don't they stock sufficiently", I wonder as I mozy through the aisles with my train of a cart. You know the one. It has a huge bench seat that attaches to the buggy that my girls INSIST we get but never ride in after five minutes into the shopping trip. Oh well. Stress, interestingly enough, does not find me in this chaos...toes in the ocean already took care of that a while ago.
So back at our home away from home I now sit. Cupboards full, belly full, feet up, relaxing and writing, gazing at the ocean from my back porch seat, missing Mack, who is on a wonderful cruise with his beautiful Mom. Time to hunt for some sea shells. Joci hasn't forgotten that I told her we would tonight and she keeps reminding me every five minutes. Back onto the plush white sand I go!
As the ocean appeared on the horizon, us girls became giddy in love while Seth breathed a sigh of relief. "WE MADE IT!" There is nothing like seeing the smiles on young girls faces and watching firey red hair blow in the wind as the roar of the ocean breeze rolls in with every wave.
It took about an hour to unpack and get into our bathing suits before our feet were able to soak themselves in salt water. Perfect. The first touch always is, washing away the cares of this world like some powerful potion. Daddy took the oldest red out a little deep for mommy's comfort, but that's what Dad's do...promote courage in the midst of danger. Little Red and I stayed ashore and covered ourselves in sand. Already, close occupants are asking where they got their ginger tops from, confused as they take in the sights of my or my husband's blonde hair.
Hours pass and tummy's grumble. Dinner needs to be had and no grocery's have been bought so back into the car we go after cleaning the grinds of sand from our bottoms. Shopping at Wal-Mart, at the beach, is like shopping on Black Friday. People pushing and shoving, trying to get the last jar of pickles and bottle of wine. "Why don't they stock sufficiently", I wonder as I mozy through the aisles with my train of a cart. You know the one. It has a huge bench seat that attaches to the buggy that my girls INSIST we get but never ride in after five minutes into the shopping trip. Oh well. Stress, interestingly enough, does not find me in this chaos...toes in the ocean already took care of that a while ago.
So back at our home away from home I now sit. Cupboards full, belly full, feet up, relaxing and writing, gazing at the ocean from my back porch seat, missing Mack, who is on a wonderful cruise with his beautiful Mom. Time to hunt for some sea shells. Joci hasn't forgotten that I told her we would tonight and she keeps reminding me every five minutes. Back onto the plush white sand I go!
Sunday, June 10, 2012
A piece of heaven
The clock struck three p.m. and out the door, I went; bag over my shoulder full of all things needed to cut hair. Two days ago, a dear friend of mine asked if I would come and cut her parents' hair. Up in age, they are unable to get out of their home, and happily I accepted the opportunity to make a house call. I have met Mr. and Mrs. Evans on one other occasion under the same circumstance; however, since then they have had to move into their other daughter's home (my friend's sister) due to the decline of their health.
As I walked into this unfamiliar place, I was greeted with open arms full of hugs. They all knew me by name. How? I assume my friend had already told them of me but I couldn't be sure. The way they said it, was as if it had been on their lips forever and within seconds, it felt like home. The walls busted at the seams with family members, all there to visit with the couple of sixty six years and to learn from the eyes that had seen much of this life. Did Mr. and Mrs. Evans know they were teaching as they sat in their seperate chairs there in the living room?; teaching of Christ's love over each generation represented that gathered around them (three in all); teaching of commitment and loyalty. I doubt they did but I am certain that as laughter filled the air with stories and jokes floating through, the family learned. I cut hair with slow gentle hands and soaked the moments in...listening, smiling, witnessing. Jesus stroking the hearts of all. Love pouring out of every syllable spoken.
When my work was finished, fresh peaches and strawberries served over warm cream cheese bunt cake was brought to everyone in the room. I sat and ate, the sweet taste on my tongue, cacooned in the romance of my Abba through this wonderful family, listening to the rain. Such peace.
Departing was just as sweet, hugging the necks of all; each whispering words of thanks in my ear. Little did they know, the pleasure was all mine. I received such a blessing being in their midst, an outsider welcomed into this piece of heaven on earth. It will be a moment in time that will remain with me always.
As I walked into this unfamiliar place, I was greeted with open arms full of hugs. They all knew me by name. How? I assume my friend had already told them of me but I couldn't be sure. The way they said it, was as if it had been on their lips forever and within seconds, it felt like home. The walls busted at the seams with family members, all there to visit with the couple of sixty six years and to learn from the eyes that had seen much of this life. Did Mr. and Mrs. Evans know they were teaching as they sat in their seperate chairs there in the living room?; teaching of Christ's love over each generation represented that gathered around them (three in all); teaching of commitment and loyalty. I doubt they did but I am certain that as laughter filled the air with stories and jokes floating through, the family learned. I cut hair with slow gentle hands and soaked the moments in...listening, smiling, witnessing. Jesus stroking the hearts of all. Love pouring out of every syllable spoken.
When my work was finished, fresh peaches and strawberries served over warm cream cheese bunt cake was brought to everyone in the room. I sat and ate, the sweet taste on my tongue, cacooned in the romance of my Abba through this wonderful family, listening to the rain. Such peace.
Departing was just as sweet, hugging the necks of all; each whispering words of thanks in my ear. Little did they know, the pleasure was all mine. I received such a blessing being in their midst, an outsider welcomed into this piece of heaven on earth. It will be a moment in time that will remain with me always.
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