By the Sea

My first trip to the beach this summer was with Anna and her friends Emily and Josh. All of them graduated from high school this year and it is tradition to do a photo shoot at the ocean. Anna's favorite place is the ocean. Even though it was May, and in Maine people don't swim or hang out at the beach in May, it was imperative that we go. The tide was out so the sand sculpuring was beautiful.

The next time I made it to the beach was with my friend Karen. I posted a photo from that visit in my Odyssey of Friendship post. Here are more. I had never gone right at the fork at Reid State Park Beach. 15 years I've lived here. If only I'd known about this picnic area sooner!

Finally, Anna made it back to Reid. She hadn't been there all summer! She invited Avery and Kendra and they enjoyed the waves for a long time. I grabbed a book and read, and shivered, for a while. 

My most recent visit was on Labor Day. The meme at the beginning of this post was inspired by that day. The heat and humidity back at home was at it's worst, so Charissa and Kori picked me up, and Iced Coffee in hand we were ocean bound. It was beautiful. It was what I needed. The whole experience calmed me, and cooled me down!! We even saw a porcupine in at tree. I've never thought of porcupines beyond spoiling a dog's day, or road kill! 

I remember reading one of Anna's essays for her literature class last fall. It was all about her love for the beach. I had no idea! I grew up in the midwest and then attended high school in the Berkshires. College and our early marriage was in the southeastern PA, and the mountains of Maine and NH, and the desert of AZ. We didn't move here until we were in our 30s. How did the beach become Anna's favorite? She was born in Arizona!! Then as I did the math, it made sense; she was only18 months old when we moved here. Got it. All her life that has been the "fun place". It reminds my of my cousin Wendy who loves the shore. She grew up within driving distance as well. She loved it so much that as a "grown up" she bought a house in walking distance. This photo of Anna was taken right after we moved to Maine and visited Wendy's family and went to her local beach.

Where we go and what we do while raising our children makes an impact. Carefully consider your priorities. Be sure to add fun memories, and as important be sure to add rest and beauty. Give your kids something to come back to. Whether it be the love of the ocean, or the rest and safety of a family that loves them. There will be times that that is their most desparate need.

God can be that rest and safety if we would only tie into believing that. The vastness of the ocean is a reminder to me that I am small and the grand scheme is so much bigger. My struggles and tears are not a problem for the One who created the incoming tide that washes away any marks I've made. Then it goes out again leaving a clean slate. What a wonder just that is. He can do that with our hearts. He will use his spirit to come in and wipe our hearts and souls clean, so we can try again.