Watching The Ocean

Chuck and I got away for a few days this passed week. We planned this in January and I'm so thankful we did. Born and raised in San Diego I love the ocean and certainly didn't appreciate it as much as I should have when I lived there. 

We live on the east side of Puget Sound, a waterway between Seattle and the Olympic Peninsula so we're five minutes from the water. But we're a three hour drive from the ocean.

We went to Ocean Shores and got there around 2:30 Monday afternoon. The weather was cold, rainy and windy. Oooh that wind was cold!

 

This was our view when we arrived. And it was like this for a couple days.

 

We went to the grocery store and bought stuff for breakfasts and dinners but we usually went out for lunch. We played games, read books, walked along the beach, we did whatever we wanted! By Wednesday afternoon the clouds began to part and the view was beautiful! There was so much wildlife there too. One night we drove around the peninsula at dusk and saw 24 deer in about 2 miles!

Little Sandpipers were all over the beach. It's a little hard to see them in the second photo but all those little spots are Sandpipers!

 

I walked along the beach every single day. And every day it was different! Shells and rocks, driftwood and shifting sand. Looking out the window one day, I saw a bald eagle! 

All bundled up and ready to go out!

There were two paths going from the back of the building by the pool, out to the beach.

Looking back, our room was on the top floor. I spent a lot of time out on that balcony!

 

In this picture you can see on the right side, the affect the wind had on the sand compared to the ocean washing up on it.

 

Then on Wednesday afternoon the sun came out!! Oh you guys, it was glorious!!

 

Walking back to the condo, I'm coming to the end of the path and run into this... they really were everywhere!

 

On Thursday, I pulled the chair up to the window and I sat there for three hours. I didn't stress about work. I didn't think about things going on in the world. I just watched the water. I watched the waves crash. I watched the tide come in. I just sat and watched the ocean.

 

And I thought about how blessed I am: I have a loving family; I've had amazing opportunities that many haven't had. This trip being one of them. The Lord has been so good to me and I'm humbled by the grace He pours out to me day after day. 

Have you had an opportunity recently to just 'watch the ocean'?

This and That

We had a different Easter this year. Just me, Chuck and Beth. There were 3 services at church and I had to be there to disinfect after each one. Chuck and Beth helped this time too. Then we went out to breakfast and spent the rest of the day at home, watching movies and relaxing.

We recently bought some new blinds for our sliding door and the two big windows in the living room. They'll be delivered and then Lowes will come out and install them. These are the ones we got for the windows. The door will have vertical blinds... I'm so excited!!

Sharaya and Ally went to San Diego last weekend. They drove down with some friends and they drove straight through! It's 22 hours of driving, if I've remembered right. Chuck and I did that a few times but I remember the last time we did it. It was just too hard to keep our eyes open, too hard on our bodies without the rest we needed... oh to be young again! :)

Well anyway, Sharaya and Ally have had a blast down there! The resort they're staying at has a small water park along with the pool; they've been to the zoo, Balboa Park, the beach, they kayaked around La Jolla caves and even rode The Giant Dipper at Belmont Park!

This was built in 1925 and restored in 1993

 

Diana and Peter went camping over Easter weekend. I forgot to ask her where they went but she said they had fun! They're adjusting some wedding plans due to covid travel restrictions and make it easier for some family members to attend. I asked her if she's been shopping for dresses and she said no, but she did bring two wedding magazines on their camping trip. 😄

Well that's about it from our house. I'm getting a slow start on the yard work this year. We get a few days of rain, then sun. Then rain... I hope you're all having a wonderful start to spring!

Have you ever been camping?

Do you like roller coasters?

Aaaand Now the Ending

(I thought I posted this a couple weeks ago!)

Just a few more pics of our time in San Diego.

 We took one day and drove all over town. We saw where my grandparents are buried; I showed Chuck where my dad is interred; We saw the Unconditional Surrender statue that's right by the USS Midway (it's an aircraft carrier and that statue is 25 feet tall!) drove through my old neighborhood, by my high school... after all these years it still seems weird to have something so familiar feel so foreign.

There was a guy blowing bubbles and the kids were going crazy! It was a nice break for the parents. 😊

 

I applied for my very first job at that Wienerschnitzel! They hadn't opened yet and our training was held around piles of flooring and construction workers. Unfortunately about a week after they opened they let a bunch of us go. But a friend offered me a better job so it all worked out!
 

But the part of the trip that I relished the most was the view from the balcony in our room. I'd take my tea out there in the morning, I'd write out there, I sat out there a lot. I watched the sailboats go by, the rowing teams... it was peaceful and so beautiful. And I didn't even have to put on shoes!

Sea World was right across the bay and they still had a tree lit up, plus they had fireworks one night.

Woke up one morning to fog. Even the forecasters were surprised!

Oh you guys it was so nice! I wish everyone could take a few days now and then to just get away and do absolutely nothing.

When was the last time you had a little getaway?

Do you have one planned?