Crowded Beaches, Tortoises, Being a Kid Again

We just finished a week of VBA at church. (Vacation Bible Adventure.) We had over 500 kids this year, and a big family party on Friday afternoon. We heard there were 58 kids who gave their hearts to the Lord last week. That's the whole reason we do it! Our Kids Team did such a great job.

 

 My team was responsible for setting up all the tables and chairs throughout the classrooms, and outside. Then throughout the day to empty trash, refill cambros with ice water, clean up spills, mop floors, they did a phenomenal job! I have a great group of custodians!

 

On July 4th we had family come up from San Diego to hang out at the condo with us. We barbecued and played in the pool all day. Then all of the sudden, fireworks started going off right above us! We don't know who was setting them off, but we had a great view!

 

 

 The next day we drove down to San Diego to see my sister. She loves animals and Adelaide was amazed with her tortoises. It had been about two years since we'd all seen her, so I'm glad we made the time to stop by. I know it meant a lot to her.

We were planning to go to the ocean afterward but we should have known it would be packed on a Friday in the summer. We couldn't find parking so the kids ended up going out to dinner instead, while Chuck, Beth and I took the scenic route back to L.A. driving by Scripps Institution of Oceanography, and Torrey Pines.

Scripps overlooks La Jolla

This was one of the places we were planning to swim

but it was just too busy

The next day we all kind of did our own thing. Sharaya visited an art museum, Diana and Peter went back to Disneyland, Ally hung out at the condo, and Chuck, Beth and I went to Huntington Beach. We set up our chairs and then Beth and I went and put our feet in the water. After that she was done. She actually slept in the beach chair for most of the time we were there! I went back out and spent about 45 minutes jumping waves. And I seriously couldn't stop smiling: bracing myself, jumping the waves, stumbling forward by the force of the water... all with a huge smile on my face! It's something I've looked forward to since we started planning the trip. I grew up in San Diego and have been jumping waves my whole life. It's something I will do as long as I'm able, every chance I get!

 

This was our little spot on the sand

 

I forgot how busy the beaches in southern California can get. 

It was only by the grace of God that we even found a parking spot!

 

The water was quite a ways from the parking lot and Beth struggled to walk on the sand. She did better when she used the umbrellas as walking sticks. It took her a while but she did it! Next time we'll find a beach where the water is closer to the boardwalk.

 

It's time to go fix dinner so I'll close for now. Have a wonderful day!

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'?