Ocean Therapy

The smell of saltwater.

The white sand glistening in the sun.

And the food. Oh, the food. Louisiana Lagniappe last night and Fisherman's Wharf  tonight. To our delight, the little boy found the sharks hanging from the ceiling and the saltwater fish tank at Fisherman's Wharf to be even better than his popcorn shrimp.

While I still love a good seafood restaurant, I don't desire coming to the beach to bake in the sun as I did in my teenage and college years.

These days, I yearn for the serenity and calm of sitting beside the ocean and being able to just BE with my children with no demands on my time.

It's moments with a precious daughter leaning against me and squealing with delight as the cold waves gently break on her feet. 

It's the little boy digging to China and back.

And when that little boy asks if God is bigger than all of the waves and the endless sand and the creatures in this vast ocean, I know he is seeing it all so clearly. This life and all that it entails is the true marvel.

"Let us bless the Lord God living and true! Let us always render him praise, glory, honor, blessing, and all good things! Amen. Amen. So be it! So be it!"
                                                                                                         -St. Francis of Assisi

For this is what it's all about. This blog, these trips, this life. Not just this week or this month, but always thankful for the blessings, whether they are overflowing or barely noticeable, and giving thanks to the God who has done wonderful things.

And blessed to spend two days in Destin making memories with their grandmother. Blessed to have such wonderful and generous people in our lives that let us stay in their condo for free. Blessed to be together. Blessed to be reminded of the greatness of it all. 

Blessed to be a mother and know what love truly is.

Uuumm

I think the only way to describe the condo we are staying in right now is WOW!

THE BEDROOMS:

Large Bedroom #1

Large Bedroom #2

Large Bedroom #3

Regular-sized bedroom #4

 THE BATHROOMS:

Bathroom #1

Bathroom #2 - I'm loving the shower curtain

I somehow missed snapping a picture of bathroom #3. It is by far the largest and also includes a HUGE bathtub.

THE VIEWS:

The Front

The Back Patio

What you see from the back patio

 THE REST (Yes, there is more!):

The letters at the top say it all

A big thanks to the Brinsons (long-time friends of my mother-in-law and husband) for letting us stay.

The Beach (in November?)

For all the preparation travel requires, and the weariness that can follow a trip, one of the many benefits is breaking the going-through-the-motions cycle that is a frequent contributor here in motherville.

It's been in full swing for two weeks, and a change of pace and scenery is needed to help me re-focus before the rush and madness of the holiday season officially begins.

I’m unable, and quite honestly unwilling at times, to respond to all the voices that surround me. I love his stories and multitude of questions, and I love that she now calls me “mommy,” but I’m distracted by much. Let's see, the grading overload that always accompanies the end of a semester, the sadness of a family falling apart, trying to keep up with everyone else's life on Facebook, not to mention the endless cleaning and cooking. 

Sound familiar?

 

I’m hoping that sitting in the cool gulf sand as the wind whips around us will charge my battery and mind.

It may not all go as planned (does it ever?). We've had one serious derailment already with a second looming in the background. 

I hope by Monday or Tuesday I'll be writing about castles in the sand.

Friday with the Girls

Lunch with the girls and an afternoon showing of Breaking Dawn.

What more is there to say?!?!

We laughed about being too old to think Taylor Lautner is a hottie - it would just be gross at our age. We laughed about Kellan Lutz (a.k.a. Emmett Cullen) being something of a ditz in real life. We laughed through the chessy and awkward parts of the movie.

Then it got serious, and I thought I was done with Twilight for good.

I'm a book purist, so the twist at the end had me ready to walk out. If you haven't seen it yet, don't despair. My opinion of the movie changed by the ending credits.

It was a good way to kick off Thanksgiving break, and a nice treat for a mom that usually makes it to the movies only to see kiddie flicks!

CSA Wednesday

On Wednesday we head to a local farm to pick up produce as part of a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program. Here's what we got today:

  Collard Greens

Squash

Eggs

Sweet Potatoes

Lettuce

I should add that the hubby walked in the door last Thursday night and surprised me with some squash and white radishes. After forgetting it the night before, he felt bad and met up with the farmer to get some.

I don't give the man near enough credit!

I'm That Girl

...that loves pop music.

...who seeks and desires to do what is right, but often falls short.

...that desperately wants to be creative, but is so not.

...who homeschools her kids and is still worried what others think of it.

...who was probably not very nice to you in high school, but has regretted it a thousand times since.

...that lets her kids sleep in her bed.

...who is awkward with small talk.

...that often gets on her high horse and speaks before thinking it all through.

...who once clung to the lie that it was possible to have it all.

...that blushes easily.

...who fights feelings of anger and resentment daily.

...that was terrified to have kids because of a poor relationship with her own mother.

...that is trying to hold tight to the joy and bliss of having two children rely on her for almost every need instead of focusing on the stress and, oftentimes, overwhelming nature of motherhood.

...whose tears don't come as easily as they once did, but sometimes wishes they would so that she might know this world hasn't done damage beyond repair.

...that still loves slasher movies.

...whose voice and hands shake when nervous.

...whose age says she's no longer a girl, but will always be a girl at heart.

A Rainy Day

Rain and a Monday afternoon. The two fit well together.

I'm sure those on the East Coast would hope to never see rain again after Sandy. And when the winter comes and rain is in the forecast too often, it won't feel as pleasant.

But on a cloudy fall day in the South, it's a welcome sight.  Especially when the steady, comforting sound of rain has been absent for too long.

Lisa-Jo Baker over at The Gypsy Mama once wrote about how in the season of rain, to pray for more rain.

Even though it's not the season of rain here, I could go for a few more days like today. Being an indoor girl, I'll take any excuse I can to stay inside.