We were driving home last night from the beach and I told honey I literally feel beat up by the ocean. I'm going to refer to that big beautiful expanse as a "she". She seemed to be in a mood yesterday. Deceptive to say the least. No waves to be seen, just calm and THEN BAM! Slam!! No thank ya ma'am. I got walloped I don't know how many times. And I don't do it gracefully like some. I have my top about yanked off. My cute little bandanna rips away. I swallow half the salty surf and come up gasping for breath.
My little chick got smacked around too. Literally! It looked like she was spanked on the bottom. HARD! Shame on her...that moody ocean. She taught us a lesson. Tried to beat us down. And for my little who all of a sudden has been struggling with seeds of fear...that was all it took for her to get the sad face and to pout for part of the day:(
Fear is an interesting thing. All it takes is one bad experience...one scary event to shift what used to be fun...what used to be exciting into something we never want to do again.
What seemed unappealing for us was just the opposite for my big chick. She seemed to thrive with the big waves...egging them on. Come and get me she seemed to say:) Instead of getting pulled under by the waves she went into them face forward...diving into their scary powerful pull. I marvel at my first born. At her bravery with life. I marvel at her eye for beauty and her upbeat attitude. Her, in all of her 12 years of life, seemingly full of knowledge and wisdom. How can a child make me want to be a better person? How can someone so young teach me so much??
We didn't let "her" win yesterday. We got back in. We braved those waves. We had FUN! Ultimately we faced those fears and didn't let them keep us down. A lesson was taught...a pep talk was had:) It was a good day boxing with lady ocean!!
Oh and by the way...my honey had his own boxing match. It wasn't with lady ocean...it was with bad drivers! Talk about some road rage. We need to sign daddy up for anger management courses!! The beach may be relaxing, but getting to and from not so much;)
Have a blessed day.
685. lady ocean...nasty or not...we love you!
686. time observing my girls
687. pep talks and attitudes changed
688. rainbow colored umbrellas
689. people watching...how God made us all big and small:)
So glad you didn't let her win! : ) Love the pictures of your beautiful day!
ReplyDeleteThat close-up of Miss Thang's face may be my favorite photo of yours, so far. The angle is perfect! Those lashes! Those freckles!
ReplyDeleteWere you in VAbeach? I have so many memories of the beach there. I'm glad there was sand. When I took my son there as a little one he would eat sand by the fist-fulls. Great pics. :)
ReplyDeleteI loved your questions: "How can a child make me want to be a better person? How can someone so young teach me so much??"
ReplyDeleteI think about this all the time! I believe its my sons' innocence, their trust, their purity & unbrokenness that make me want to love relentlessly, give effortlessly, and pursue life passionately. Youth is just so...pure.
love those freckles!
ReplyDeleteand seriously, my children teach me so much, it's humbling.
i chat with big chick on IG, and she is such a sweet little burst of Him.
i think to myself, that mama has done a good job with those girls. :)
praise Him!
xo
Oh Becky, I love this post sooo much! You had me laughing & crying. As much as I love being at the beach, my fears often keep me out of the ocean.
ReplyDeleteYour girls sound so much like mine; and my hubby & your honey seem to share some "issues" with bad drivers:)
Love, love, love the freckle picture! I'm terrified of the ocean. I mean, I think I'd get my feet wet, but that's about it. So, you are brave through and through!
ReplyDeleteYour girls are the cutest and sweetest lil things ever! Glad they stood up to Lady Ocean!
ReplyDeleteWow ... you three girls are all impressive and brave (and cute.)
ReplyDeleteI love the ocean......your pictures are great.
ReplyDeleteMy husband will go to the anger management classes with yours......I think it's a guy thing.
((((((HUGS)))))
Oh how I love those freckles ~ what an awesome shot. Get right back in and face "her" head-on ~ it's the only way to do it. Sounds like a grea day at the beach!
ReplyDeletesuch sweet pics of your pretty loves. that big chick, she's really something. i love getting to "know" her and see her heart on ig!
ReplyDeleteYour girls are both
ReplyDeleteso pretty and I love
that you honor and
respect their differences.
I can't wait to get to
the Pacific Ocean,
next month!!
xo Suzanne
Wow these are some really great photos.. Really Great..
ReplyDeletefun!!! i know that beach! wicked ocean days can sometimes be the funnest!
ReplyDeleteGood for you both for facing your fears! Boy, there seem to be a lot of people on the beach with you...no wonder getting to and fro is stressful!
ReplyDeleteOkay I'm laughing at your comment on road rage. Poor guy... it looked stressful when you posted that instagram. LOL
ReplyDeleteAWESOME photos and girl, you are looking cute! I love the braids. I tried wearing a bandana like that the other day and it did NOT work for me. LOL Love your freckles too by the way.
Happy Monday... lets talk today!!! Get caught up and all that.
i love being near her just not tossed around by her. what a fun romp you took us on (a gorgeous one) with this layered and sensitive post.
ReplyDeletesmiles.
michele
those are great pictures looks like you all had a great time.
ReplyDeletesuch a sweet family you have...so glad for the fun you had together....
ReplyDeletemy honey has been known to get road rage, too. :)
how far are you guys from the ocean?
LOVE all these pics! I grew up going to the beach in CA- so many sweet memories! Love that you're creating those memories with your girls. I know exactly that love/hate relationship with the waves- I miss it!
ReplyDeleteThose pictures of your girls are stunning- wow!
And love that pic of you and your hubby- no wonder your girls are so beautiful!
great pics, again, becky... sweetness everywhere, even in that little pout. and i'm also impressed w bigchick's eye with her camera! :)
ReplyDeleteand kids making us want to be better? do better? yes. that. they do do that, they do.