Beach day

This was just a really incredible cloud before we left for the beach. Has nothing to do with the beach :)


Trip south:
We had a wonderful time at the We Care headquarters catching up with our colleagues, our kids playing with the other kids, playing card games late at night, etc. We always feel like we are with family when we are there.

We drove down Thursday afternoon, dropped off our things in Atmore and then went to the Pensacola beach for the evening. The weather was nice and we enjoyed getting our feet in the sand. We were told on the way in that the jellyfish were really bad and we quickly confirmed that it was true. Apparently Hurricane Dolly was stirring things up and the jellyfish were plentiful. So plentiful that we were not able to even get in the water. Hadden was soon ready to leave because "we can't get in the water, and there aren't any seashells". Later we did find some shells up further in the sand.

Friday, we had our staff meeting and it was very interesting hearing the testimonies that were presented. Amazing and exciting to see how God works and to see those now professing Him! John and I had our segments (thanks for your prayers!) and then we had a nice supper together.

Saturday morning, we got up early and went to Navarre beach with some friends. It was a beautiful day. There were fewer jellyfish, more seashells so everyone was happy! I found my first almost whole sand dollar and then later found another. You have to understand that this has been a long outstanding goal to find a whole sand dollar, so I was thrilled.

Isn't the water beautiful? Aaahhh. It was nice and warm, too.


Another girl and I were out enjoying some of the deeper water (and looking for more sand dollars) when John came out and told us that they had just seen a shark pass by between us and the shore! I had just finished reassuring the girl that sharks are normally out in the deeper water and she didn't need to be afraid - oops!!

I am so thankful that John loves the beach as much as I do. That is one thing that we can definitely easily agree on!! :) These two enjoy it very much also.




The new-to-me thing that I have seen for finding some really nice seashells is to use a bait net to fish them out. On the way to the beach, we stopped at WalMart for drinks and snacks and also got two bait nets. It really is a handy little tool to grab that seashell without getting plummetted by the next wave that comes in.

It is also handy for catching things like this ... isn't he cute!!! :) Oh - and the crab, too!


Here is a close-up of the little fella. After showing him to the guys, we turned him loose back in the water. He was a pretty feisty little guy - when John was holding him, he was doing all he could to try to get a piece of John's hand. I should have video'd him (now I think of that!).


Needless to say, we could have stayed longer, but we really enjoyed our time away. Our doggies were happy to have us home and to be back at home. Now to catch up on the laundry and get back into the routine.

I was looking for the verses that talk about God setting the boundary for the sea and found these really cool verses along with it from Proverbs 8:22-36: Christ is the "I" - rest on these a little, they are very cool!

The LORD brought me forth as the first of his works, before his deeds of old; I was appointed from eternity, from the beginning, before the world began.

When there were no oceans, I was given birth, when there were no springs abounding with water;

before the mountains were settled in place, before the hills, I was given birth, before he made the earth or its fields or any of the dust of the world.

I was there when he set the heavens in place, when he marked out the horizon on the face of the deep, when he established the clouds above and fixed securely the fountains of the deep,

when he gave the sea its boundary so the waters would not overstep his command, and when he marked out the foundations of the earth.

Then I was the craftsman at his side. I was filled with delight day after day, rejoicing always in his presence, rejoicing in his whole world and delighting in mankind.
"Now then, my sons, listen to me; blessed are those who keep my ways. Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not ignore it.

Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway.
For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the LORD. But whoever fails to find me harms himself; all who hate me love death."

I told you it was cool :)
Blessings!
Shirley