The Beach Is My Solace

I have come to the realization that the beach (both the sand and the ocean....mostly the ocean) are my solace, my catharsis, a great blessing in my life right now. When I am out in the water with the waves crashing over me I feel like it is washing away my stresses, my sadness, my frustrations, my loneliness...well, you get the point. I can't help but think about God and all that he has created and is capable of doing as I sit on the sand and watch the waves crash in. I am so grateful for my knowledge of him and that I am his daughter.

So, on Saturday the kids and I went to the beach with a friend (Veronica) and her two kids. It was such a beautiful day! When we got there it was overcast, but not cold at all. It stayed that way for a few hours and then the clouds completely disappeared. We had such a good time.The kids and I had gone a few weeks earlier and the waves were pretty tame. This time they were crazy! The longer the day got the bigger the waves got! It turns out that we had plunked our stuff right in the middle of the area where there was a rip current. We didn't know that at first. Of course I was letting Parker go out and ride the board. He LOVES it. If we lived closer, he would totally be taking surfing lessons. Veronica and I took turns on who stayed on the beach with whatever kids were there and who went out body boarding.

I spent some time with Kylee helping her learn how to use the board when the water was over her head. She went out farther than she had ever gone before. She was scared but then thrilled when she learned out to work it. One of the waves we both caught together and rode it in side by side. We were on it for about 20 seconds (it was a long ride) and she kept looking over at me and was laughing the whole time. She bit it a couple of times and all you could see was her board for a minute. After that happened 3 or 4 times, she decided it was time to go in. We did it again later, and after the 2nd time she was done. It was really getting wild out there. Parker went out with Veronica a couple of times and then with me at the end. He also found a group of guys (they were huge...muscley huge) to play with. The were doing some kind of a baseball type of thing and were very kind to include him. He LOVES anything like that that adults will let him do. lol

I was out with a group of guys (I was not with them, but with them as in the same area) and I ended up loosing the top of my suit a few times. Not my happiest moment in life, but the waves were huge and totally merciless! Sometimes they were so big it took my breath away as I watched them getting ready to crash over me! I did think about James and missed him being there. There has only been one time that we have been able to be out in the water riding body boards at the same time, and that was because my aunt (who does not like to go out in the water) was on the beach with them while we went. (thanks Patrice!) I wish that he had been able to be there (his being gone is part of my loneliness). On our way home we stopped by Denny's (they have 'kids eat free' on Tuesdays and Saturdays from 4:00-10:00 Yay!!!!) and fed the kids (thanks Veronica) and then headed home. It was such a lovely day. It is good to be with friends and the beach!

Kearney, Kylee and Ireland
Parker, riding the waves. This was before they got HUGE!!!!

My friend Veronica and me.

Me and Kylee

Kearney, Parker and Ireland. Eating lunch.