i still remember the beach...

so i know we have only been home like 3 days, but i still remember the beach!  there's this thing about being in a place where the world kinda ends...and there's no appointments or distractions or practice or work...and we're all just us.  family. together. always.

i mean, we still have our spats and there's still time outs and life isn't perfect at the beach, but it's kinda like a glimpse of peace...which is sometimes hard in and amongst the reality of our busy daily lives. i took the picture below the last morning we were at the beach house...coffee and beach.  man, does life get any better?

that same morning at the beach, paige, jada and i went on a walk while ryan, sof and brooke took some "relaxing" time at the house.  i mean, when does your 15 year old just walk with you...talk with you...relate to you?  i can tell you...it's on the beach, where there's no cell service and lots of time to think and talk.

paige and i have a great relationship...always have.  maybe it's partly bc i was a single momma with her after her dad and i divorced.  i don't  know, but we have always been open with each other...that "open" is easier to get at the beach, tho.  and it makes me question...why?

i think in this daily life, i have so many "things" i need to get done...you know, a checklist of this and that...and in all the "to do's" the time slips away.  i am so busy with groceries and laundry and softball games and OT and speech and working out and well, you get the idea...that there's so much less time to just "BE" with and around everyone.  i mean, i spend almost every waking second with my kids now, so they have me in their presence, but i'm doing life too...and why is it on vacation that i will stop cooking and answer their questions about why birds poop on cars and not in toilets...but i won't do that in the normality of life.

i don't know...but it got me thinking about Heaven and how john in revelation describes how glorious and awesome and wonderful it was.  i mean, the bible says that john could hardly describe what he was seeing because it was so far away from what we can even understand.

and somehow i think God gave me the beach and a beachy vacation to show me a small little glimpse of how beautiful and wonderful life can be here on earth.  it doesn't take money or things, it takes real committed time for myself to worship Him.  because once i worship the only One who deserves my worship, the other stuff starts to fall in place.

i've said it before and i'll say it again, but why don't i spend time in awe of God like i do at the beach?  maybe it's the vastness of the waters or the constant lapping of the waves or maybe it's just that i take time to sit, listen and worship my King.  my Creator.  my Lord.

i'll end with these awesome words from paul in ephesians 6:13-24...written while imprisoned...i feel like i really needed to read this today...so you get to too!

"Be prepared. You're up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it's all over but the shouting you'll still be on your feet. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You'll need them throughout your life. God's Word is an indispensable weapon. In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other's spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out.

 And don't forget to pray for me. Pray that I'll know what to say and have the courage to say it at the right time, telling the mystery to one and all, the Message that I, jailbird preacher that I am, am responsible for getting out.

 Tychicus, my good friend here, will tell you what I'm doing and how things are going with me. He is certainly a dependable servant of the Master! I've sent him not only to tell you about us but to cheer you on in your faith.

 Good-bye, friends. Love mixed with faith be yours from God the Father and from the Master, Jesus Christ. Pure grace and nothing but grace be with all who love our Master, Jesus Christ."

i wanna be  tychicus...to be dependable and serve my Master.  i want that "love mixed with faith" in everything i do...not just when i find the time.  i love jesus...i really do...i serve him in so many ways...but i want more.  i want to be more with Him.