The beach is calling. From our balcony on the sixth floor, I hear the rushing of the waves crashing. I gaze at the majestic horizon, and stand in awe and wonder of God’s creative beauty. I breathe in deep the salty ocean air and welcome the cool breeze blowing through my air-dried frizzy curls. I soak in the moments, and hope for a few to call my own.
We gather several items that fit in a small bag to take to the beach — some water to stay hydrated, sunscreen for touch up, my phone, a diaper, and a book I hope to read. We get our beach towels from downstairs. I do not even have to wash them. This deserves a number to be included in counting gifts — #384.
We arrive at the pool deck, and I am ready to walk down the few concrete stairs that lead us to the sandy shore. Toddler Baby Girl drops to her knees and cries, “MO!”, her version of “no”. This plays over everyday, as we have to coax her down, reassuring her that it is okay — not the relaxing quiet I imagined. She cries, and we get stares all around. She wails and whines for sometimes 30 minutes before I gather our belongings and head to the pool instead. I am disappointed. We are here, on vacation at the beach, and toddler screams at it. I love the beach. When I say love, I mean really, truly adore the beach. I want her to love it, too. It is where the pressure and awareness of time melts away, life comes to a snail pace, and I feel God — hear God. Well, not exactly while trying to calm a panicked two-year-old.
I had no idea that our free-spirited, outdoor-adventurer, afraid-of-nothing baby girl, would be petrified of the beautiful ocean waves. Husband had to leave for work a few days of our vacation week, and I am by myself with four children. Not too long ago, this would have had me overwhelmed with a sea of negative thoughts, and waves of frustration mounting, followed by spewing ungrateful, complaining words.
But I am learning, more and more, to yield to the unexpected moments, and find JOY in them. I am learning, more and more, how to lay aside the Want-to-Do’s and relish in the Get-to-Do’s. So, I only got to read from my new book, The Dyslexic Advantage
But I did get to…
385. take a vacation
386. vacation only an hour away from home.
387. forget about chores and school lessons for a week.
388. play.
389. get a tan.
390. help my baby girl overcome her fear of the water, just a enough, so she did not miss out on one of her favorite things to do — play in the REAL sand.
391. finally watch her create and then stomp on her sand masterpieces.
392. watch Daddy and Son be overcome by waves, while boogie boards bounced all around.
393. sit on the balcony, listening to the waves deafen all the noise around.
394. watch dolphins play.
395. have “HOT NOW” Krispy Kreme donuts.
396. reminisce about this being the place where I had my first ever taste of a Krispy Kreme donut. I can thank Husband for that. He took me here while we were dating, over 16 years before.
397. hang out with our new pastors one evening, who are quickly becoming our new friends, that we are honored to support in a new church plant here, in Orlando, FL.
398. know that we are in the right place — right where God Himself placed us.
399. help my eldest beauty get ready for prom.
400. do her nails.
401. find her shoes and earrings.
402. help with her hair.
403. see her wearing her purity ring.
404. drive her to the meeting place on time, since we were so close.
405. capture beautiful shots of her before we left her to her night of celebration.
406. boogie board with the older kiddos, while Husband watched Baby Girl.
407. watch Daddy and Son dig holes in the sand.
408. enjoy Son happy, him thinking this digging is the greatest thing ever — and it’s free.
409. have plenty of sand toys available for play.
410. have a kind resort worker set up my umbrella and chair for me to attempt to lounge near the water.
411. take afternoon and evening strolls on a nearly deserted shore.
412. have quality time with each of my children.
413. swim in crystal clear ocean water, I thought was only possible on the west coast.
414. capture the ocean glistening in moonlight — as well as this amateur photographer could.
415. end our vacation with a trip to Cracker Barrel, although I would not have minded another week at the beach 🙂
416. arrive at home to see a newly slate tiled front porch — best Mother’s Day present ever.
417. come inside the house to find everything neat and tidy.
418. attend a launch team meeting for our new church, a few hours after we made it home on Saturday.
419. linger long after the meeting, laughing and chatting.
420. have dreams realized.
421. lay in bed most of Mother’s Day, although it was to nurse a migraine.
422. have time to update a few pages on the site.
423. receive the loving service of my family, while I rested away the pain.
424. Husband’s hands laid on my head to pray away the pain.
425. have the family take care of Toddler Baby Girl, while I laid in my dark room.
426. feel well enough to enjoy Mother’s Day dinner of steak and lobster, cooked by my very own Husband.
427. also eat a chocolate fondue dessert, much like this one.
428. receive a sweet, thoughtful gift from the kids, because we count gifts.
429. end this night with a beautiful heartfelt, yet seemingly underserving Facebook post from my daughter, this Mother’s Day.
430. know all of this is possible, only by God’s grace and favor lavished on us.