I'm still making my way through all those PNW vacation pictures. Thanks for indulging me and letting me share;) On this particular day Sasha had a whole special event planned out for us. We were going to stroll the grounds of one of her favorite places, snapping pictures, sitting by the sea sipping sweet tea, and the grand event...kayak with seals. Sounds picturesque doesn't it??
When we got there it took about 5 minutes for her to realize the kayak rental place was closed. I watched disappointment spread over her face. I get it. She wanted to make a memory. She wanted to give me an experience. One with salty sea air and seals under our oars.
To be completely honest I was a tad relieved. I love the water...looking at it. I love hearing the surf and breathing in that air, but the thought of possibly overturning in a sea kayak with enormous seals nearby about did me in. It would have been magical I'm sure...but quite possibly it could have been SCARRING! Like nightmares for years scarring! Eeeeek I say God knew. HE KNEW and he closed the place down just for me. Ha!
We did the next best thing and found old rusty buildings to take pictures of.
And quite honestly our detour got me thinking about friendships. I have so many precious friends. They live all over the map. Sasha is one of my original blog friends. We've moved way past that initial connection, but I'll never forget when her bubbly comments started showing up in my inbox. Her spirit was full of life. She had enough energy for 12 people. She was crafty like me...loved to decorate like me...and she loved Jesus...like me;) The similarities were uncanny. Seriously sometimes it was like we shared a brain. How can this chick who lives on the otherside of the country...whom I've never even talked to in person be just.like.me??
It's interesting the people God weaves into your life. Some are weathered and true. Some only stay for a short season, but for anyone who has let someone in close you know they inevitably leave their mark. They become a part your being somehow...and you carry them with you always.
This picture is special to me. We were sitting on a deck over looking a misty ocean scene and it looked like we were just gazing out into water that went on forever. There was nothing to see...not one building and then Sash said look over there. And at first I couldn't see anything, so I turned away and about a minute later I looked back again and it literally made me jump. What wasn't visible before (at least I couldn't see it) turned out to be an entire city on a hill...right there.
Maybe just maybe...there is something right in front of you that you don't see. I don't know what. Maybe God has a detour planned...a change of course and it's ultimately for your protection. Maybe you need to be that city on a hill and be seen. Take what you want, but it's going to be good. It's going to be just what you need. Drink in His perfect peace and trust the Master planner for your day...your destiny.
Have a blessed day.
787. being flexible to change
788. the salty sea air
789. making memories without grand plans
790. friendships with strangers that become more
791. how weathered things are even more beautiful
I thought of 2 quotes when I read this post:
ReplyDelete1. "Some people come into our lives, and quickly go. While others come in, leave imprints on our hearts and we are never the same."
and
2. "The will of God will never take you where the Grace of God can not protect."
God's dreams and plans far exceed anything we could ever imagine. I'm learning to trust the process. Trust the journey. Trust HIM. Trust myself.
Hugs to you my blog friend. You have made an imprint on my heart. :)
Still loving your pictures! I am with you on being happy-sad that it was closed. Happy to keep your feed on dry land and sad for a good friend in her disappointment.
ReplyDeleteYour words about friends and opportunities that are soooo different, unexpected, and yet RIGHT THERE are so true. Thanks for sharing! God is good to give us both!
I feel the same way
ReplyDeleteabout friends.....they
are like a garden. I
have annuals, perennials,
even bi-ennials, and
some that I'm not sure
of, yet. It takes a lot
of years for a garden
to flourish : )
Beautiful thoughts, B!
And the pics match them,
perfectly.
xo Suzanne
Becky, such lovely photos how lucky are you to spend such special time with Sasha, so happy you have shared with us!
ReplyDeleteI love change it keeps things interesting and your mind opened to learn something new!
Have a great day!
I've just started following you, I discovered you through Kelle Hampton, and even though I have only been following a couple weeks, I have been so blessed by you! I love your love for God, your family and the things your so passionate about. I'm considered one of those "blog stalkers" since I don't take the time to blog, so I hope I don't creep you out. :) Thank you for making my days brighter by reading your posts and seeing your pictures on Instagram.
ReplyDeleteI love both your blogs! You're both very special people. Fabulous pictures
ReplyDelete~FringeGirl
Lovin your photos! Sounds like you had a fabulous time~Blessings Kim
ReplyDeleteI thank God every day for the detours that led me to you!:)
ReplyDeleteAwesome pictures! I am a sucker for texture photos., Beautiful words in this post as usual.
ReplyDeletePraying I strike up a friend via blogging and create a friendship like yours and Sashas. :)
Aww such sweet photos. Such fun to have those memories together even if they were supposed to be of BIG EXCITING adventures!!! Just so good to be together no matter what we end up doing.
ReplyDeleteCan we do it again soon? :)
Love you girl.
i agree... you two are just alike. probably why i have crushes on the both of you. : )
ReplyDeletei love how God protects us... says no or closes doors that at the time are heartbreaking, only to find out later it was for our protection, our good. He's so amazing like that.
very cool. very true. that God weaves people and places into our lives. sometimes it's hard to say good bye. sometimes it's hard to say hello. and sometimes there's something right in front of you that you just can't see. // now, this is what faith is: being certain of what you hope for, sure of what you can't see. // I think it's cool that you have met such good friends through your blog. I haven't been blogging long, but I think it's very interesting that I get more comments from (and, so, feel more supported in my letting it all hang out there by) people I don't know. This new blog world is a very strange and wonderful place. // glad you had a great visit. I love old, weathered wood & beautiful photos of it.
ReplyDeleteGod's plan is perfect ~ and yes, He places people in our lives for a reason, a season or a lifetime. Beautiful post...gorgeous photos...and stunning women!
ReplyDeletexo
Pat
I love that you get it ~ that a wonderful friendship can start on line and become so much more. You are so lucky to have been able to actually meet some of these wonderful women. I feel like I am out here on my own little island ~ so far away from everyone. I think I need to win the lottery so I can jet around and meet some of these ladies too! Hugs to you and your rusty old buildings. xo
ReplyDeleteYour post made me giggle! The hubs and I went sea kayaking last spring amidst the wildlife, tipped over, and were cut to shreds by the barnicles! We laugh about it now, and did then, too. Now our mantra is: Friends don't let friends in the kayak! I'm glad everything worked out. Isn't God so good that way?! xoxo
ReplyDeleteLove your photos!
ReplyDeleteAnd love your encouragement to press in and be aware of what God is doing in our lives.
He's at work, for sure.
This is why I love you and your blog so much. You are so funny! I toally get the "I dont know about this kayaking thing" I would be completely terrified to do that too. We were in Northern California a couple of years ago with family and everyone went but me. Everyone kept trying to talk me into it, but I know me pretty well and decided I should stay back and sit on the shore with a good book. Im sure it was the best decision.
ReplyDeleteI also love your perspective on seeing the city. Ive been squinting to see it lately. Take care Miss Becky.
Becky, your photography is just amazing. Beautiful.
ReplyDeleteBecky...your pictures are beautiful, but your love for friendship and God are priceless.
ReplyDeletethis is just the sweetest! who have thought blogging could create such amazing friendships!?!! Master planner indeed!
ReplyDeleteyou tied that post together so beautifully.
ReplyDeletei have to tell you, too... "Some only stay for a short season, but for anyone who has let someone in close you know they inevitably leave their mark." this? when i read this, it softened my heart where the hurt was from my lost friend. like a sudden soul realization that it's ok, some only stay a while.
and suddenly, it's ok to let go of that.
beautiful images, as always. :)
Beautiful truths here!
ReplyDeleteFunny ones too....I would have felt totally scared in a kayak feeling if it overturned, I'd be stuck in it and the seals just waiting to eat me?! Lol
Your alternative plans turned out beautiful too! Love the photos and the love of friendship that you share.
Hugs!
Deborah xo
What an encouraging post! I made some great friends while my husband was in seminary, but now we're all spread out across the country. I have longed for a good friend where I am, and have struggled to make a connection. (Life, busy schedules, my own issues, blah, blah, blah) When I look back, I can see many situations in which there was something right in front of me, but I was too busy looking over it to notice it! :) Thank you for these reminders! And your pictures are beautiful, as usual.
ReplyDeleteboy was TODAY that day for me..I picked up this book that I was gifted...12 years ago maybe. It was a rather irritating gift from my step mom..who I don't really like...:/
ReplyDeleteanyway..I read the book..and then over the next years I have read it two other times and every time I saw something new..something I hadn't seen before.
This morning..under my bed..was this book and something said to pick it up
(God:) and I read some pages and wept..and wept and wept. He answered a deep question that I'd had. I wept on and off all day. God is beyond my brain..I give up and in. He is all I need. All i truly want. a detour? don't know..but whatever it is I'm all in. I love you! i am thankful to you sharpen me..love you raw authentic heart..imperfections and all.
xo
Hey girl! Your photos are amazing and painful to look at! Ha! This is the area of the country that we used to live in - that I pine for...still working on that!! Had to laugh at the kayaking with seals. They definitely do like to come around when you are kayaking and I was always worried that they would try to come up on the kayak since that is what they would always warn us about at the kayak rental place. Luckily, in my experience they were just around us - which was so cool. I don't think I would want to end up in the water with them either : )
ReplyDeleteLooks like you had an amazing time and I can't wait to see more of your trip!! xo Ashlyn