If you know us in real life, then you know that we live very close to the beach. {I know, I know . . .it's a hard life, but somebodies got to do it} I try to get there as much as I can during the summer for several reasons {1} hours of fun for my kids for FREE. {2} my kids l.o.v.e. the water & the sand. {3} let's be honest, who doesn't look good with a tan, mkay?! So this morning, I surprised the kids after breakfast & we headed to the beach. Of course, it was totally crowded & I just happen to park right where they are having surf school for the week {which Sophie & Ella have begged me to sign them up for, but that's a whole other post!} The water was abnormally rough, but luckily the tide had left a great "kid pool" for all the little ones to play in so we spent most of our time there. About an hour into our fun, I noticed several 20ish age girls lined up along the shore . . . chairs laid back, cold drinks to the side, books in hand . . . and I reminisced back to what seems like just days ago, when I was one of those girls-carefree, not a worry in the world except to what fun spot the evening might take me. I sat there for one moment, in my super sexy swim dress, thinking about the pb&j {and sand} sandwich I had just eaten & how my evening would most likely include laundry, discipline & bathtime and how fast it seems I had gotten from there . . . to here. Just as I was about to give into that thought, out of the corner of my eye, I saw two big sandy sea monsters & one mini sea monster roaring & headed right for me. Before I knew it, I had six little sandy arms wrapped around me & roaring little mouths that gave way to salty kisses. We played & splashed for several more minutes, then I could tell it was getting close to nap time, so we loaded up our bags & headed for the car. I turned around one last time to see the "me" of years gone by and whispered a prayer of gratitude for a God that sustained me through those years. For His sovereignty & provision even in those 'carefree' days and for His grace, that has brought me here . . . to a life, family and journey that I wouldn't trade for anything in the world.{even though, a day on the beach alone with Brock won't be so bad either, just sayin' :)}
I love those little moments we get from Him sometimes- when He reminds us that He is near. I'll take all I can get.
