beach recap.... a little late

You know how you plan your vacation, you pack, you drive (or fly) for hours, you un-pack, you grocery shop, you unpack, you try to keep your stuff from looking like it exploded everywhere(!!!) and then as soon as you get settled into a really good "relaxation routine" it's time to pack up and do it all over again!?!?! Well, that is how it always seems to play out for us. I am SO not complaining. I know there are lots of young families who do not even get the opportunity to take vacations (thank you mom and dad!!!). It just seems like finally by the last day we have our system down and then "bam" it's time to get back to reality. Well, we have a fantastic final day on the beach while we were there a couple weeks ago. Here is the recap... (by the way, this is a long one! memories, memories.)

My darling girl... she hates the sand. It is "dirrrty" as far as she is concerned. But, our last day we put on her beach shoes and just distracted encouraged her to dig and play...voila! She walked in the sand.

Sand toys finally being put to good use.... 

I found her little rash-guard suit at lands end (it is 60+ spf). I love all of their swimwear, for big girls and little! 

The boys love to throw the frizby and play paddle ball on the beach. They get super sandy and then jump in the ocean. 

Here is Rinnie (Chaz'a bride) and SJ playing in the sand. Rinnie is one of Scarlett's favorite people of all time.

Busy getting sandy... that a girl! This picture is really neat because that building in the background is the only building I remember seeing as a little girl while playing on the beach besides the building that my grandparents' and parents' condos used to be in. The building they owned in for years and years was completely destroyed by hurricane Ivan. Now it is just a bare, sandy lot. But we have some pretty sweet memories from this very beach....

We had 3 VERY exciting catches this day... 1- Chaz caught a shark. I declare it was a baby Great White! It looked exactly like jaws just miniature. So fun to see up close on our turf, not his... 

Then my Dad reeled in this really cool "sucker" fish, for lack of better marine biology terminology. Ha! 

How cool is this? Is even "latched on" (again, for lack of better term) to my Dad's hand. 

His "suction cup" side...

Uncle Chaz was out casting for another good one! 

This blue heron, Big Bird as we call him, was loving the fishing action... 

Scarlett likes to give Big Bird a stare down. 

Cheering for Big Bird as he flew away...

Our sweet girl...

Daddy found a sand dollar out by the sand bar...

So little and delicate... (the both of them) 

Nonni, Rinnie and Scarlett...We really owe it to Nonni for Scarlett finally walking on the sand... 

Me and my man.

XOXO...

And then it was snack time. The best time. 

SJ decided Rinnie's lap was the best spot for a rest....

Mitch getting his snack on...

I love these two sweet faces. 

Our little honey baked HAM....

Our 3rd and probably neatest catch of the day, a stingray. 

Sea World style... up close and personal.

My sweet Daddy and his neat catch. 

Our beach compound... 

Waves of mercy, waves of grace...

Everywhere I look, I see your (GOD) face...

Until next time beautiful white sand and warm salt air. We will miss you!!!! 

our morning at the zoo and missing you...

Scarlett and I spent our morning at the Zoo with Lolli (Mitch's mom) and her kiddos. It was a hot one, that's for sure, but that did not keep all of these little, smiling faces from having a good time! Seated here on the rhino: Jack, Isabella, my SJ, and Kavin. 

We stopped for lunch under some trees for a little relief from the heat. Scarlett and Kavin were being silly together...

We had a nice morning, thanks Lolli and company :)  

Don't you know walking out in the heat for close to 3 hours always guarantees a nice afternoon nap for my girl. That was a blessing for me today because I have felt like my to-do list is out-of-control. I went to run some errands after nap time and thought Scarlett would want to stay with Nonni at the house for a little while, but she insisted on going with me. She has been extra "clingy" lately and I think it has to do with Daddy being away. But, I don't mind that at all.... I know it won't always be that way. Speaking of Daddy being away, in case you are getting a chance to read, Mitch, please know we are missing you BIG time!!

We have been taking a nightly walk to get SJ's wiggles out before bed. She loves it and Callie loves the attention. Scarlett is crazy for Callie. Here they are running up and down the driveway....

Although it seems like I am non-stop during the day, I feel like I have a lot of time at night to just think. Normally that time would be filled up with spending time with Mitch or at least talking with him while working around the house. It's different with him away. I usually spend part of my night tucked away in my room, thinking. Specifically I think a lot about our baby that we lost in April. I think about how different our move to South Carolina in a couple weeks might be if we were still expecting in November. We would be concerned with packing up all of our baby gear (baby swing, highchair, pac n' play...). We would be trying to move Scarlett into a twin bed to make a spot for baby in the crib. I don't want to be "negative Nancy." However, I do feel like it is healthy to be real with myself and others about the fact that I still think about what could have been. I found myself today at the Zoo noticing that other mommy's who had a toddler Scarlett's age were pushing double strollers or were carrying a baby while holding their toddlers hand. I know it is not a comparison game at all, I just noticed this and it made me sad for a little while.  I want Scarlett to have siblings. I want them to be close enough in age to play and relate to each other. Sometime I have to stop myself and remember -- I trust God and know He is always working for our good. It's just that my human, flesh wants to think about the way things would have been had that precious little baby's heart not stopped beating. I am praying that God will grow our family in His time and ask of Him that it might be very soon (upon Mitch's arrival back home, of course!). Until then, I will continue to cherish the precious miracle who is daily right before my very eyes -- my Scarlett Jean. Asking our generous Father for grace in my moments of wondering... 

1 down, 4 to go.

Well, we officially made it through our first week with Daddy away. It was significantly more difficult than I had anticipated. Largely in part because we lost a very sweet family friend (Matt D.) last Saturday morning, the morning Mitch flew out to Rhode Island. Matt D. was Mitch and I's youth minister in high school. He gave me my first opportunity to sing for the vocal team at our high school worship service. He was an amazing man who loved God, his family and people... all in that order. I feel very blessed to have spent a year and a half under his leadership in the staff position I held at the church we belonged to in Lexington while Mitch attended dental school. As our "boss", Matt set up one-on-one meetings weekly with each staff member where we could discuss our personal walk with Jesus and discuss how our roll was playing out in the church. I remember numerous conversations during that time that shaped my view of the body of Christ and my own personal faith. Matt D. will be sorely, sorely missed. To read more about the amazing legacy Matt leaves behind here on earth, go here. Many have come to Christ after Matt's tragic and very unexpected death last weekend. Please pray for the very sweet and very young family he left behind. So thankful that they can rejoice in the hope of a future reunion with him. 

Needless to say, the loss Matt's family experienced this week has really put a lot of things in perspective for me. Mitch has been without any communication privileges this week. I finally got to speak with him for 10 minutes yesterday and a little less than that today. Boy oh boy did I cherish those moments. He is doing well, but has a pretty rigorous schedule right now. Let's just say apparently sleep is not too important for Naval Officers. I am particularly thankful because it sounds like his room mate is really nice, that is something I really prayed for. 

Now, as for little miss busy bee over here... this momma is exhausted at the end of every day. I don't know what the deal is, but it seems like ever since Mitch left SJ has been in hyper speed. She is literally into everything.... and I thought she was "busy" at 7 months when she was just starting to crawl. Ha!

 Scarlett found this darling little, antique pram when we were out shopping at a local consignment shop and she just fell in love with it. My mom and I did too, actually. Ha! She has been pushing her babies around in it ALL the time. She LOVES her baby dolls. I love that about her. She is very nurturing and is always concerned about others. For example, if I get her a cheese stick (or anything!) out of the fridge she will always look at me and say, "Mommy, you want a cheese stick too?" 

Here she was letting her babe say "cheese" so mommy could snap a pic...

We walk up and down Nonni and Boo's driveway a lot. Here she decided to sit down in the shade with her babies. We always sing this little song about it being "cool in the shade" whenever we do find shade... that is something Daddy always does so we have to do it too :) 

The amount of popsicles we can consume in one week's time is near ridiculous....

Miss Callie is living it up at Tara! Here she is being offered some dolls to play with... Wonder who was making that offer?

Great news on the homefront, we secured a house in the neighborhood we were hoping to be in in Beaufort. Thank you LORD! We ended up sort-of doing it site-unseen.... I just saw interior pictures. A little risky, but we had no other choice. If it looks at all like the pictures, I think it will work out really well. I ended up leaving some things in our house after we moved, so I am on the hunt for some pieces of furniture, rugs, etc. I am trying not to fret, but I would love it if our new house in SC could be all set-up and decorated by the time Mitch comes home. There is just something about having him come home to a home, not just a house. You know? 

I will update more later. Thanks for reading and please do pray for our precious friend Matt's family. Aren't you so thankful that this life is not it? 

Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.”Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 

John 14:2

Booms on the beach.

I hope you had a fabulous Independence Day! We enjoyed the "booms" on the beach last night with family. I am trying hard to not think about the fact that Mitch will be far, far away from SJ and I by this time next week. Oh, my heart. We are trying to soak up our last couple days before Daddy leaves. 

This picture of Scarlett cracks me up. I really think she was looking at someone who thought the fireworks were too loud and said, "Well, bless your heart." 

Here we were waiting for Mitch to punch in the code to the beach access so we could enter the virtual warzone. It was NUTS! People were setting off fireworks everywhere! 

Here is the precious couple we love so much... Chaz and Karinne (aka Rinnie) 

"The boys" -- as Scarlett calls them. 

 Mitch, Chaz and my Dad

SJ hates the sand. It is a total drag. So, we set her up on this big wooden storage box where they keep beach umbrellas and she was perfectly happy. It was her own little stage ;) 

 Fireworks over the water....

Mitch's Aunt LouAnn and her family joined us for our 4th festivities because they just live over in Mobile, AL. This picture is for one of my faithful readers, Mitch's Gran! Here are 3 of her grandchildren and 1 of her "greats" all sending love to Tulsa, OK!!

Mitch is super patriotic, so I have become more appreciative of our country through his love for the USA. Thankful for this country and mostly for the blessing that God has allowed us to receive as a nation. I pray that our leaders would recognize more and more that this truly is one nation UNDER GOD. God bless the USA!!! 

sunset with one darling couple...

I will preface this post with the same thing I said to Chaz and Karinne before I took these pictures of them at sunset on the beach... I am not a professional. I am sure anyone who is can find lots of flaws in my photography, but I enjoy it. I was flattered to take a few pictures of my little brother Chaz and his sweet fiance Karinne while we were by the shore this week. I like how they turned out, mostly because I had great subjects ;) 

This darling couple is set to be married on December 21, 2012. Woohoo! 

Happy 4th!!

We have had a wonderful time so far at the beach...

SJ has been enjoying all of her family members and is not too interested in her mommy and daddy, most of the time :) 

Baby doll goes everywhere with us and received multiple diaper changes a day. ha! 

 She is very loved and is currently "drying" on the patio while Scarlett naps because she spent the entire morning jumping in and out of the pool. 

This sweet face just melts my heart....

Scarlett, you are one precious girl!!! 

We went deep sea fishing the day before last and got some great catches! (Karinne snapped the pics of our fish, so I will post those later...) 

 me and Mitch. 

There was a storm rolling in while we were on our way out to sea. The clouds were gorgeous. 

 My brother, Chaz and his fiance Karinne. 

Here is my sailor who has become quite the fisherman... I love you! 

Hope you enjoy celebrating the great U.S.A. today!!!