Beach Bound

Last year, in the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving, I found myself feeling completely overwhelmed as our calendar filled with three different Thanksgiving meals and already seven family Christmas events booked. I was several months pregnant, tired and with the needs of my two toddlers on my mind, I just didn't feel up to the pressures of all our family obligations.

We love our families dearly, don’t get me wrong, but there are times when a small young family begins to feel lost in the doing, and misses the simple act of just being. Being together, being happy, being a family.

At the moment when I felt nearly swept away with all the talk of sweet potato casserole and dinner rolls, some friends mentioned they were headed to the beach for Thanksgiving and suggested we go too. Tony and I locked eyes and the decision was made.

We didn't mean to disappoint our families, and in many ways hated to miss the time with our immediate and extended families, but in the end, the salty sea air was calling, and we felt compelled to follow.

That week was the best vacation our little family has ever had. We ate great food, slept in,  and played in the sand. We read books, watched movies, walked on the beach. We fell in love with the beach in the fall. The perfect weather, the high spirits of everyone, the magical experience of the quaint Seaside town decorated for the most wonderful time of the year. Our family fell completely in love with Thanksgiving at the beach.

This year we decided to come again. Our family looks different this time with our sweet Marlee here to make it even better.  We look forward to days on the beach, afternoons in the pool, evenings to watch a movie, eat delicious seafood, to fall in love even more with our sweet family.  We look forward to drawing close the five in our family and to realize how dear each person is in their own special way.

This year Tony has done a lot of traveling, working very hard for our family. But this week, we all get to go along and the only work will be setting up our beach tent in the morning and taking it down each night.

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!